The Elven Duke Reluctantly Marries The Cursed Lady - Chapter 58
“Still, the Magic Division doesn’t just let anybody unrelated to go in and out as—”
“I shall make an exception and allow it.”
Prince Magnolia, a special councilor for the Magic Division, gave his permission.
Still, the creases between Hydrangea’s brows did not relax.
“But what if something else happens? I might not be able to protect you.”
Violette rested her forepaws on Hydrangea’s arm and looked at him pleadingly.
[Even so, I would feel unsafe to be left alone at home, so please.]
“…..”
He folded his arms and bit his lip.
Violette’s words aside, a cat’s voice must be heard.
That was Hydrangea’s rule.
“You’re right…”
Should I just put my trust in the barriers that the First had set around the mansion, or should I protect Violette myself? Right now, I’m confident that I could rely on my power.
But if I took her to work, I have a feeling that I would have other problems.
Violette turned up the charm when Hydrangea started wavering with his decision.
[I promise I’ll behave.]
She firmly pressed her squishy paws against the back of Hydrangea’s hand.
[Pleeease?]
If she pleads like that, then I could only nod.
“Very well. As long as you do not leave my side at any ti—”
[Thank you very much!]
However, we cannot just execute the plan right away. We have to make some preparations first.
“But I will only take you with me after you have mastered the basics of magic.”
For the meantime, I should increase the number of gargoyle statues and be more vigilant of our surroundings. Now that Tritoma Celsia has become my enemy, I must show no mercy and crush him thoroughly.
“Hydrangea, you look terrifying.”
“It’s only natural. They have tormented both my wife and her family for a long time after all. Now that the House of Count Northpole has made a connection with me, I shall take on whatever they throw at me.”
Besides, they even tried to harm the king. I cannot forgive them for this either.
“Hydrangea, please call on me as well when you carry out your plan.”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
A battle was looming over the horizon. [1]
◇◇◇
Violette seemed surprisingly comfortable as she continued to sit on Hydrangea’s lap even after Prince Magnolia had left.
[…I’m sorry you got mixed up in such a huge mess.]
Violette murmured.
“It’s not like I can turn a blind eye on it anyway.”
[Thank you very much. I appreciate it.]
“What’s wrong? You seem quite dignified today.”
When Hydrangea stroked underneath Violette’s chin, she squinted her eyes without reluctance.
Although it was a dream-like situation, Hydrangea tried to keep a straight face because it would appear strange if he broke into a grin.
[My brother said that he was deeply grateful to you… for supporting our household.]
“It’s nothing.”
[I was wrong about you.]
Hydrangea looked away and narrowed his eyes.
Looking back on my life, I have never been called a good person before.
Just the other day, I was even feared as a devil.
“……”
[Are you not curious as to why I was mistaken about you?]
“I could imagine.”
[Why don’t you tell me what I thought then?]
“He looked evil, but he was as evil as he looked.”
Violette laughed at his response.
[Fufufu, aren’t you talking about yourself?]
“I’ve had several people say that about me before.”
[Ahh, how interesting.]
After laughing for some time, Violette voiced out her appraisal of Hydrangea.
[Well, at first I did think you were a bad person but—]
Her blue eyes seemed to melt as she gazed up at him and spoke bluntly.
[You’re not as bad as I thought you were.]
“What’s up with that? It’s not any different from your earlier impression.”
[Goodluck on changing my opinion of you then.]
“Unfortunately, it’s not that easy to change one’s nature.”
Although they took a jab at each other, the atmosphere between them appeared better than before.
Almost everybody noticed this but them.
Translator’s Notes:
[1] A battle was looming over the horizon – The original is [戦いの火蓋が、切られようとしていた/tatakai no hibuta ga, kirareyou to shiteita] while the original idiom is “戦いの火蓋が切って落とされる”. I was so tempted to translate it into “The beacons have been lit” lmao. The idiomatic expression is used to express “the beginning of something” since opening fire with a flintlock pistol signaled the start of battle. If you’re familiar with old war movies, it’s the part with the two sides facing and one side opens fire (usu w a hand pistol) before they run into battle.
With the addition of the grammatical pattern “…you to suru” (about to), it becomes “A battle (was) about to start.” Source: [1][2]
