My Husband Hates Me, But He Lost His Memories - Chapter 8.1
Chapter 8.1
Translator: Yonnee
—
Disastrous.
That was the only word I could think of. I already knew about the territory’s condition, so I was expecting it already… But as I got off the carriage and inhaled the air around me, I realized that the situation was much more devastating than I thought.
“This way. Please be careful.”
A knight guided me to the entrance of the village. The two escort knights didn’t seem to hold hostility towards me—this was something I didn’t expect. But even if they did show their disapproval, I continued on.
As I followed the escort knights, I saw how horrible it was inside the village itself. Most people had lost their homes due to the demonic beasts’ attacks, and the injured people who had yet to receive proper treatment were sitting by the roadside.
The most difficult thing to witness was seeing the food shortage. The root vegetables they ate shouldn’t even be called meals.
…I came out here in the simplest dress I had, but even this was made of silk. Suddenly, I felt that I was too lavish. I realized that the bread and jerky we had brought were too little to be considered as proper aid to these people.
“Now, please get in line.”
But I couldn’t help but give them out in the end, and so the relief aid distribution of bread and jerky proceeded as planned. Wordlessly, I watched the people fall in line according to the knights’ instructions. My feelings were a mess.
“Thank you.”
“Thank you for the food.”
There had been quite a few people who openly showed their hostility towards me, but they never did anything to harm me directly. With their exhaustion apparent on their faces, they just received the food, gave thanks mechanically, then they left. It could be that they had no energy left to spend on resenting someone.
Did my father know of this—this hell that he created?
No, that person was… He wouldn’t bat an eye at this sight. Because my father was the kind of man who would reign in hell. He wasn’t born with any compassion at all.
Why was such a person the Duke of Everett?
Will my father be punished someday?
I was lost in thought as I distributed food, this question repeating in my mind. Then—
“Die! You evil witch! Dirty blood of the Everetts!”
“……!”
A villager who was being given food suddenly rushed in and shouted at me. As soon as his mud-streaked hands tried to grab my neck, a knight quickly grabbed me and pulled me back. It was Jeremy.
At the same time, Will, the other knight, incapacitated the villager and bent his arms at his back to stop him.
It all happened in an instant. The villager was now face first on the ground as he was being held there by Will, but as he looked up at me, he stared at me with red eyes. His gaze was full of resentment.
“Excuse me, you shouldn’t struggle.”
Will tried to stop the villager properly, but he seemed to be more concerned about that man than me. As if he understood the reason why I was attacked a hundred times over.
“Let go of me, Sir Knight. Even if I go to hell, I’ll kill that witch and drag her down with me…! Goddamn Everett! It’s all because of YOU!”
I just stared blankly at the man who continued to shout in anger. The entire time, Will tried to soothe the man, and criticism was drawn towards me from all sides.
Everyone was blaming me. However, here, all I did was give out food.
It was because I was Duke Everett’s daughter.
When in fact, he wasn’t even my biological father…
“You! Your father! Your devil-like older brothers! All you Everetts will be cursed! You’ll all pay for your sins!”
The villager who was causing the disturbance was eventually dragged away by the soldiers who came after hearing the commotion, but he continued to shout at the top of his lungs.”
And all those who looked at the man came into view. Among them, the eyes of those who stared back at me seemed to express this as well.
‘There is no one on your side here. We all despise you.’
* * *
“Are you alright, Madam?”
Charlotte asked anxiously. As I skipped dinner late in the evening, I smiled faintly, not feeling hungry.
If Missus Seymour’s intention was to hurt me mentally on this territorial inspection, then she was successful.
Surrounding me on all sides was this—the misery of the Valentino territory, and… I couldn’t erase this terrible nightmare from my mind.
“You may not have an appetite, but please have at least a warm cup of milk before you sleep. …I’m worried. You skip meals too often these days, Madam.”
“…I’m fine. I’ll eat properly starting tomorrow, so don’t worry anymore.”
Charlotte didn’t seem to believe my words, but she didn’t push the matter any longer. Instead, when I said I’d eat tomorrow, she asked, ‘Will you really?’ And I’m not sure if my answering expression was natural enough.
Eventually, Charlotte exited the room, and I was left alone in the dark room. I tried to lie still in bed and sleep, but I couldn’t. As soon as I closed my eyes, what I saw was the devastated terrains of the territory.
Even though I knew it wasn’t my own sin, I felt a heavy sense of shame and guilt.
Even if I wished to step up and help them… They would only see it as an act of deceit and hypocrisy.
But was it possible to just watch and do nothing? I wouldn’t be able to do that.
So I was left with no choice but to find a way.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
