I Think My Husband Might Be a Murderer - Chapter 4

***

The city was noisy over the public execution, but only for a short while.

Several things happened in the meantime. For instance, the Young Duke Schultz had disappeared.

I stared blankly at the headline of the daily newspaper delivered to my doorstep.

「Young Duke Schultz Suddenly Vanishes—Where Could He Be?」

Johannes Schultz…

I frowned without thinking. That man, who had seemed so composed, had not been free from the grief of his father’s death either.

Of course, it might have been for a different reason.

“Ha…”

I set the crumpled newspaper on the table and perched on a chair.

Defeat, war reparations, the public execution, and now even the disappearance of the Young Duke.

A torrent of trials had come crashing down on peaceful Musen all at once.

The first few days were chaotic. But reality is never generous enough to concern itself with those stuck in the past.

People soon returned to their daily routines, and though not quite as before, Musen gradually regained its liveliness.

So I, too, had to get myself together.

***

How much would I have left after paying the overdue taxes?

As I counted the death benefit paid by the state for Father’s passing, I realized it wouldn’t even be enough to last a month.

‘I won’t be able to continue my studies for a while.’

I had been studying pharmacy, which wasn’t cheap. Even before, life had always been tight.

Thanks to my father’s support, I’d managed to keep studying…

‘I need to find a job.’

This was where the tears had to stop. My father didn’t raise me to be weak.

My mother had passed away right after giving birth to me, but I had never felt that absence. I had grown up lacking nothing.

Though we weren’t wealthy, I had received love enough to rival any noble, and I was proud of that.

Still, I hadn’t expected that would become a shackle.

‘There’s barely anything I can do.’

All I had was a bit of basic pharmaceutical knowledge and some skill in housework. With no close relatives to turn to, I couldn’t even ask for help.

In the end, I went to see Mrs. Pensler, the neighbor I’d been close with, to ask for assistance.

“Do you happen to have any job postings?”

“Why are you suddenly asking about job postings?”

“Ah… I think I need to earn some money.”

As I rubbed the back of my neck, Mrs. Pensler widened her eyes. She looked terribly worried.

“Edith, I haven’t seen you around lately, and now you look so down. What’s this about money? Isn’t your father sending money anymore? But he’ll be back home soon, so what are you so worried about?”

“Well…”

“Don’t even get me started. My friend’s husband was just declared dead by the military the other day. Said he died on the battlefield. Gosh, it was like a bolt from the blue.”

Instead of answering, I gave a bitter smile. A moment later, Mrs. Pensler seemed to realize something was off.

The smile she’d worn while making light conversation quickly froze. As if convincing herself she was mistaken, she forced her lips into a smile. But they trembled.

“Edith, no… right?”

Her voice trembled. When I neither denied nor confirmed it, she looked at me with a face that knew she was right.

“Oh dear, what are we going to do…”

“I’m all right.”

“I—I’m sorry. I didn’t know… I should’ve noticed when you looked so down…”

Her gaze wandered in the air, then dropped to the floor.

“It’s okay. I think I’m all right now. It was hard at first, but I’ve pulled myself together.”

“Oh, Edith…”

“It’s something I was bound to face eventually. It’s not like my father would have lived forever. I just experienced it a little earlier, that’s all.”

I smiled at her as if to say I was fine.

“We just have to go on like usual. Like we did when my father was away at the front.”

“……”

“Eat like always, do the shopping, chat with you like always. The only thing that’s changed is that now I have to earn money…”

Suddenly, she pulled me into a tight hug before I could finish.

I really was fine.

I smiled through it and buried my face in her shoulder. I gently patted her back. It felt like the right thing to do.

Foolishly, ridiculously so.

And only when I saw her shoulder growing damp did I realize.

“Ah…”

I was crying.

“What are we going to do? Heaven is so heartless.”

“……”

“Stay strong, Edith.”

Her sighing voice scattered into the air, and the harshness of reality bore down on me.

I still wasn’t all right.

***

When people in Dochilia think of “Musen,” the general perception is this:

A city wealthier and more peaceful than others. Always lively, with relatively more job opportunities, and people who are relaxed and kind.

“That’s all in the past now. Ever since the defeat, the whole country’s in disarray, and Musen’s no different. Plus, being the Duke Schultz’s city doesn’t help its reputation either.”

Mrs. Pensler said this with a frown.

Most factories were full of men. The places women could go were very limited.

“Everyone’s either working at pubs or serving as maids for noble families. A lot of them work as housekeepers in rich households, too. But most positions are already filled, so the only option left is the pubs. Edith, don’t you dare step foot in a place like that!”

So I had only one option left.

“About a month ago…? I think they posted a hiring notice then. The Russell Marquess family in Boeln is looking for a maid to take care of the old Marchioness, but no one seems to be applying. Probably because it’s not a live-in position.”

The Russell family in Boeln.

A family led by an old lady born with a knack for business, who struck gold in the railroad industry.

She was also said to be a financial powerhouse, someone who controlled massive funds and made decisions based on cold calculations. Even the royal family supposedly avoided offending her.

A person that meticulous would be hard to please.

“Still… I’ve heard the old Marchioness Russell has a terrible temper. Plenty of people have been driven out. Are you sure you can handle it?”

Mrs. Pensler asked again and again, but I couldn’t afford to be picky.

It took a full three-hour train ride to get there, but the pay was good, and the Russell family even covered train fare. There was no reason not to go.

All I had to do was sleep a little less.

And if she was difficult, then I’d endure it. If I could get hired, I’d have enough not only for living expenses but to continue my studies.

By the time I’d finished thinking and come to my senses, my feet had carried me to the front of the post office.

The bustling street looked no different than it had before the defeat.

“Tulips, rare in winter! Half price today only!”

“Latest issue of high society gossip!”

Hearing the shouting cleared my gloomy mood in an instant.

I made my way past the crowd and into the post office. The waiting line inside was huge.

After waiting a full hour, it was finally my turn. I walked up to the counter, where the clerk looked utterly exhausted, and quickly stated my business.

“A call connection, please. To the Russell Marquess residence in Boeln.”

“Long-distance starts at 30 rubels. Is that all right?”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

“After 10 minutes, it’s 1 rubel per second. Please keep that in mind.”

After confirming the fee, the clerk connected the call.

The butler of the Russell household was extremely strict. He grilled me on my background and even asked if I had any illnesses or medications.

He didn’t forget to warn me that if I lied about anything, the job offer could be rescinded.

After answering honestly, I finally secured an interview date.

Even before hanging up, the butler warned me repeatedly that the old Marchioness got furious if anyone was late or canceled appointments at will, so I must arrive on time.

By the time the call ended, I felt like I had done hard labor. It wasn’t just my imagination.

I began to understand why the Russell job listing hadn’t been filled.

But I wasn’t afraid. I actually felt more determined.

The thought of having to do everything on my own was scary, but in some ways, it was a relief. It was better to stay busy than sit idle and fall into dark thoughts.

‘Yeah, how long am I going to stay like this?’

I steeled myself once more.

And just as I was heading toward the exit of the post office, a headline from today’s newspaper caught my eye.

「Royal House of Windsor Revokes Schultz Family’s Financial Privileges」

「Vanished Young Duke Schultz—Will He Return the Embezzled Funds to the State?」

Johannes Schultz was still the talk of the town.

Everyone took the royal statement as gospel and tore him apart.

Were they just looking for someone to tear down? Or did they truly believe it all?

Even if the former Duke Schultz had embezzled a fortune, the Young Duke was on the battlefield. He couldn’t be involved.

There was no guarantee the money was in his hands.

I furrowed my brow at the thought and lifted my head.

“Huh…?”

I saw a tall figure standing in front of me and parted my lips slightly.

I glanced between the newspaper headline and the person in front of me several times.

Golden blond hair like sunlight, deep blue eyes like the sea, and features so flawless you could never forget them after seeing them once.

“I heard you were missing…”

It was Johannes Schultz.