My Husband Hides His Beauty - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Leticia Goes To The North

In a place that is always noisy and full of smoke, two unsuitable guests went to the office of the empire’s first adventure guild, <Fireworks>. These guests are Count Grey, a noble gentleman in a fancy attire, and Leticia, the red-haired girl he brought with him.

The guildmaster was busy reading the documents they brought. In the meantime, Leticia couldn’t take her eyes off of a picture on the wall. It was a record detailing the appearance of people who were being burned. If my secret gets exposed, I will end up like them. Leticia was unable to escape from that thought. If so, then I’ll stab the executioner’s eyes and run away. Leticia had no intention of getting played like that.

She prepared herself for that moment and practiced the technique of stabbing one’s eyes. Among her twelve-year-old peers, she was in the top three for the empire. While she was still thinking, the guild master raised his head. He was amazed that the little girl noticed the painting. He hurriedly brought up the topic while scraping the paper.

“So this child is……?” “My niece. She is the only daughter of my brother who passed away.”

Count Grey replied as if he had been waiting for that question.

“I see.”

There was a reason why the guild master had to reconfirm it even when he knew. Bright red hair. Pale face. Dark green shaded eyes. A body that was too small to be considered to be twelve. Faded black dress…… The girl did not look related to the count because of their contrast in clothes.

They looked more like a master and a young servant. As if Count Grey knew what the guild master was thinking, he said,

“My niece is still in the state of mourning for her parents. As written in the papers, my brother and his wife died ten years ago by the demons in the North. He was on a business road and accidentally set foot in the devil’s land, Pandemonia.”

“So you’re looking for an artifact now, right?”.

“That is right. The proof of ownership of our family’s business that I invested in is buried somewhere.”

“But isn’t it your brother’s personal property rather than your family’s property?

“Either way, my niece, who I am taking care of, is their legitimate heir. The adventurers who returned today should have proof within the items that they have discovered.”

“Hm…..

The guildmaster handed over the list with a grungy face. Count Grey looked through the list carefully. However, it was the same this time too. There was no proof of ownership, much less anything similar to it. The guildmaster said this,

“I think it would be better if you didn’t hold any hopes. It’s hard to leave a piece of paper in such a wasteland. Of course, you may not know.”

“I also have been there.”

Count Grey replied back. For the first time, the guildmaster seemed surprised.

“An aristocrat like you? What did you do to come back alive? I am genuinely curious.”

Instead of answering, he showed an annoyed expression. He grabbed Leticia, who was standing blankly, and pulled her out. As soon as he reached a place where there were no people, he screamed.

“It’s still nothing! What are your parents doing in heaven? If we can’t find the proof, you are going to have to pay it all back.”

“Ha…..”

“Why are you sighing like that? Just like an old lady! It’s like you’ve aged fifty years.”

Leticia heard that and was surprised.

“N-No. I’m only twelve years old.”

She replied quickly and shut her mouth.

Her heart was pounding like it had been hammered on.

***

In the carriage, Leticia glanced at her uncle. “I didn’t get caught, did I?’ Count Grey was not a very wise person. However, he had shockingly good instincts and was perceptive.

What he said had unintentionally hit the heart. Leticia was not fifty years old. But one could say she lived many years, because she still had memories of her previous life. That was Leticia’s secret. Her reincarnation was awakened when she was five years old. It was when her two older cousins were joking around, which resulted in her slipping and hitting her head hard in the bathroom.

-AH!

Whilst in shock, many memories suddenly emerged into her. It was the memories of another life from another world. Even if it was called a reincarnation, the memories she gained showed a normal life. Born into a poor family, all she did was study and study until she died as a ‘job-ready student.’ There was a fire in Gosiwon.

‘How sad.’

Whenever she thought of her past life, she was always sad. After suffering from that life, she was reborn again, but lost her parents when she was a baby. She had no child support and lived being treated coldly by her uncle’s family. When she thought of that, she became even sadder. However, this was not the time to be remorsing. She needed to get her head straight. In this world, those who were reincarnated or knew about the future were considered a witch.

If they found out she was reincarnated, there was no possibility that she would live safely.

‘I have no luck.’

Leticia looked out the window and sighed. The remaining evening routine was drawn quite obviously. She must go back to the attic in her Uncle’s house and withstand the cold to change clothes. Next, she will be called to the library where she will get scolded by her Aunt. Then, the Aunt will accidentally forget her dinner in the kitchen and leave Leticia starving.

As usual, she would spend an evening full of small misfortunes. At that moment, she thought of that. When the carriage arrived at the count’s home, Leticia ran quickly inside the house to avoid her Aunt’s nagging, but the atmosphere was quite weird. The hall was very cluttered, as if a war had swept through.

The Countess, who only showed her perfect nature, was on the floor, collapsed. Her two cousins were next to her, crying and making a fuss. Count Grey got alarmed at the sight.

“Why is everyone like this? What is going on?” “You! What is this!”

The Countess threw a black envelope with a letter inside to Count Grey.

When the count opened it and read it, his face went pale immediately.

Why are they acting like this? As she peeked over Count Grey’s shoulder, she saw the letter was from a Northern manor called the Halstead Castle. Was it related to her parents who passed away? That wasn’t the case because the content of the letter was related to her uncle.

Ten years ago, Uncle Allister made a promise with Halstead’s lord, “The Black Gentleman.’ In return of saving him from the devil’s land……

<One of your daughters must be sent to be my son’s bride.>

Leticia’s eyes widened.

‘My cousin, as the monster’s bride?’

Leticia’s aunt was almost sobbing.

“What kind of nonsense is this! You told me that you made it out of the North with your own strength!”

“That-That was…… If the situation is grim, it’s okay to accept other people’s help! Then would you rather want me to get killed there?”

“That would’ve been better! Do you even know who this ‘Black Gentleman’ is? There’s no way a normal human could survive in the demon’s land! They say that the Halstead’s lord is a terrible monster! Anyone who’s been to the North would know!” “Oh my gosh. How could I give my jewel-like-daughters away to a monster like him……”

“Oh, that’s right! We can break the promise no matter what! What can money not do in this world!”

The count was speaking loudly. To this day, they only solved problems like that. But this was different. The church gave them the answer.

<Halstead and Grey have already woven their bloods. If the promise made from 10 years ago is not kept, the only result shall be death.>

The priests also rejected a large amount of donations and sent out the Count and his wife. Just to figure out the solution on how to break the marriage, the church’s pigeons died vomiting blood. The Count was frightened.

“Now what do I do?”

The family didn’t know what to do and gathered in an area as they had planned. The area had a shrine.

‘No way?

Leticia was frightened. Her Uncle, Aunt, and cousins were all thinking of the same idea. They didn’t say anything but she could tell by their gazes.

They wanted to send Leticia as the monster’s bride.

“There’s no way!’

The one who promised to send their daughter was her Uncle, not her dad. She wanted to run away from this terrible fate. On that night, Leticia packed her stuff and attempted to leave the

house. But before she could even reach the corridors, her Uncle and Aunt blocked her way, as if they predicted she would run.

Leticia spoke with a stuttering voice.

“I’m only twelve years old.”

The aunt spoke coldly.

“You are a noble, you know? Contract marriages don’t care about age. Even a baby that was just born can go into a contract marriage. The other side can handle the rest.”

“But my parents died in the North. I wouldn’t care about any other place, but I never want to go there. Even more, to become the wife of such a terrible monster……”

“Shut up!”

The aunt interrupted Leticia.

“For our daughters, we would do anything for them. It would be best for you to keep that in mind and go to the North quietly. If you can’t fulfill their roles properly…..” They took out a tiny key, as if they wanted her to see it. It was the key for the family cemetery.

“Your parents will fall to hell.”

Leticia was horrified. With a pale complexion, she turned to stare at her Uncle. However, he hid behind her aunt and pretended not to know anything. He was letting his wife do all the dirty work on threatening his niece and was just in the background. That was more evil. Desecrating the dead was an act of rebellion. However with them, they would find a way to remain comfortable while doing it.

It seemed like they could hurt her parent’s graves whenever they wanted to.

No. Please don’t do that……’

Leticia collapsed on the spot, helplessly.