MSDH CH 04

Chapter – 04

Noah’s gaze wasn’t on me—it was fixed on the bulletin board.

Following his line of sight, I spotted a wanted poster hanging at the edge.

One was a pickpocket with prior offenses.
Another was a beggar who ran off without paying for drinks.
And another… was a fraud.

Someone who had scammed a person big time.

“Hic!”

Suddenly, a large, warm hand touched my back.

Startled, I hiccupped again, and Noah turned fully toward me.

“What’s wrong, Hazel?”

His hand slowly stroked down my back.

“It’s nothing. I just suddenly got hiccups.”

I subtly stepped to the side.

He didn’t just look at that and think of me, right?

Something like, That idiot couldn’t be caught so there’s a wanted poster, but I’ve already got her in my hands—some kind of superiority like that…

In the end, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I couldn’t properly enjoy the market and used being tired as an excuse to return home.

I never thought a date I had been looking forward to would become this frightening. I had promised myself I’d act normal today.

Only after soaking in warm water did I finally feel a bit more at ease.

When I entered the room, Noah had already bathed and was waiting for me.

“……”

Should I try using illusion magic now, since no one else is around?

“Hazel, come here.”

As if he had been waiting, Noah patted the bed.

He knew well that I liked naps on days we came home early.

Though it felt a little strange to see him lying there in broad daylight with his robe loosely open, it suited him so well that it became a problem.

I really didn’t want to use it on Noah.

There are many ways to use illusion magic, but since it usually invades the target’s mind, it inevitably causes some mental strain—even if the illusion is pleasant.

If the caster has no intention to harm, even a child wouldn’t notice it—it would be nothing more than a speck of impact.

But even that, I didn’t want to inflict on Noah.

That’s how much I loved him. I never intended to use illusion magic on him…

But if he’s Noah, he wouldn’t resist me, so even a low-level illusion would work…

And if he’s Kailus Hadid, then no matter what I do, he wouldn’t see anything at all.

Even though I was already convinced in my heart that he was Kailus Hadid… just in case.

I steadied my trembling breath.

Meeting Noah’s eyes, I spread my energy into the surroundings and walked toward him.

Clinging to a thread of hope, I couldn’t bring myself to show anything harmful, so I slowly made flowers bloom around us.

In an instant, the room filled with blossoms.

But Noah’s gaze didn’t waver even slightly.

Instead, he simply patted the bed again, telling me to come closer.

“Noah.”

“Yes, Hazel.”

To his left, a woman identical to me climbed onto the bed. She reached out and placed her hand on his cheek, as if telling him to look.

Please, look. Look at it!

In my desperation, I suddenly set fire in front of him.

At that moment, the previously unmoved Noah jumped to his feet.

Did he see it? Did he notice?

Just as relief and joy were about to surge—

Noah walked over and pulled me tightly into his arms.

“When did my wife learn how to make me so desperate for her?”

…He didn’t see anything at all?

I barely gathered myself and pulled away from his embrace, grabbing his arm.

“Noah.”

“Yes, Hazel.”

“Do you… not see anything?”

“See what? If it’s my wife, I see her very clearly.”

“No, not me…”

He tilted his head, completely confused by what I meant.

No matter what illusion I showed right in front of him—he saw nothing.

Which means… he really isn’t Noah Edisi…

I let go of his arm and stepped back.

Noah, who had been about to carry me to the bed, raised an eyebrow.

“I… don’t think I can nap. I suddenly remembered something urgent I forgot. I’ll go to the office for a bit.”

With that, I quickly turned away and left the room.

He really is Kailus Hadid. He’s not Noah Edisi.

If he weren’t Kailus Hadid, then he’d have to be the final boss—the ultimate embodiment of all evil—and that’s impossible.

Even though I had already confirmed it through the documents, seeing it with my own eyes drained all my strength.

My husband is the man who came to kill me.

All that love… was fake.

Was I really that unforgivable?

I didn’t even need to ask why he hadn’t killed me yet.

It was obvious.

To give me the greatest possible pain.

To push me off a cliff at the moment I’m happiest.

Still… how could he go this far?

Compared to his wealth, what I did was less than dust on a glove.

Honestly, even the wanted notice felt excessive.

Back then, it didn’t seem like it was about the money—but about the audacity of me deceiving him.

“…So cruel.”

I knew there was only one solution.

But my heart hesitated, stubbornly resisting.

I only left the office at dawn.

When I didn’t come out even by evening, Noah—or rather, Kailus Hadid wearing Noah’s face—came to find me.

But I sent him away.

I said I was too busy and had to stay.

Of course, he couldn’t bear the thought of me skipping meals, so he brought me galette and a warm salad.

Still, it was the first time since our marriage that we didn’t share a bed.

I felt a sense of loss and emptiness, but I couldn’t go back.

In the end, it was past 4 a.m. when I finally stepped out.

Click.

As I carefully opened the office door, I saw Noah’s back by the window, bathed in moonlight.

“……”

His reliable figure overlapped with the ominous image of Kailus Hadid.

He turned toward me.

Under the moonlight, Noah’s face looked dangerously beautiful.

Even his red eyes gleamed coldly in the darkness.

I should’ve come out later.

I regretted it—but if I went back inside, he would probably follow.

“Hazel.”

Noah quickly walked toward me.

“Noah, why aren’t you asleep?”

“How could I sleep when you’re not there?”

“…So you waited here the whole time?”

Instead of answering, he pulled me into his arms and buried his lips against my neck.

As if he could finally breathe, he inhaled deeply again and again, brushing his lips against my skin.

Out of habit, I stroked his hair, and as if he had been waiting, he lifted me into his arms.

“Noah?”

“Are you done with your work?”

His lips brushed the corner of my eyes, gentle as ever.

“…More or less.”

“Hazel. Then let’s go sleep, even if just a little.”

“Now?”

“Yes, Hazel.”

I blinked, looking slightly troubled.

“…But won’t I be even more tired when I have to get ready for work later?”

Noah stared at me, then let out a short laugh.

“W-Why are you laughing?”

“What kind of thoughts make you think you’ll be more tired?”

It was obvious he was teasing me.

I glared at him and muttered,

“You always say we’ll just sleep, but you never mean it.”

Noah buried his face into my shoulder and chuckled.

The small vibration made me almost smile.

“I wasn’t planning to do that at all today.”

“…Really?”

“Yes, really.”

I still looked at him suspiciously.

“That better be true. If it’s not…”

Noah chuckled again and carried me toward the room.

Noah’s words were only half true.

Come to think of it, he has never once kept his promise to “just sleep”!

Was lying just something built into him from the start? Otherwise…

Half-asleep, I forced myself to stay awake when Noah returned.

He walked in humming happily, carrying a tray with an omelet.

I’m the only one suffering here again!

I grumbled under my breath.

“Liar.”

Even when I snapped at him, Noah simply smiled and set the table for me.

I watched him quietly.

Even something clearly bothersome—he did it while humming, placing the knife and fork like it was enjoyable.

He looked especially happy today.

“……”

Fine.

I decided to accept that my lovely husband is Kailus Hadid.

And that I had scammed my villainous husband.

That’s reality.

Now that I know everything, even if we kiss like before, it wouldn’t taste sweet—it would be bitter.

Just as that thought crossed my mind, Noah smiled at me.

“……”

…Bitter things are good for your health.

Maybe it’s okay to keep a little bitterness in life.

Again. Again!

I almost melted at his sunshine-like smile—but slapped my own cheek.

Get a grip. That’s poison. Don’t fall for it.

Noah immediately rushed over, his face pale.

“Hazel, why suddenly…? Does it hurt? Did I exhaust you too much last night? If you wanted to hit something, you should’ve hit me instead. Look, your pale cheek is already red…”

He clicked his tongue, looking distressed, his touch incredibly gentle as he held my face.

“……”

Even as he worried about me, I couldn’t respond.

I made up my mind.

All of this affection being an act…

No, this won’t work. I’ll wither away at this rate.

I need to plan a perfect divorce.

I can’t keep being deceived like this.

I looked up at the guild office I had built with my own hands.

From a single-room office to this large two-story building—how hard had I worked?

And now I have to leave it all behind…?

Sob… do you even know how much commission I earn every month?!

Quitting the Imperial Knights and starting a mercenary guild—it had all been almost accidental.

With distant eyes, I recalled the past…