I Become the Villain's Bride - Chapter 18

Chapter 18

In the official setting, even if referred to as a married man, the presence of the wife is virtually nonexistent, while the episodes with the protagonist are nothing short of intense melodrama.

The moment the protagonist realizes that the person who had been trying to trap and kill themselves every time was none other than their own sponsor, Duke Crawford, they fall into deep despair.

Although all the plot points haven’t been revealed yet, there were scenes where, for some reason, despite their intense efforts to harm each other, glimpses of the good times from the past would explode on the forum.

Despite hating each other so fiercely, when someone else attacks the protagonist, the Duke, as if deliberately, eliminates the protagonist’s enemies and firmly establishes himself as the main villain.

The passionate chemistry that blossoms within becomes the only light and salt in the exhausting corporate life.

‘Come to think of it…’

The reason why the Duke hated, resented, and tormented the protagonist so fiercely, almost to the point of wanting to kill them, was exactly what?

Although the word “revenge” seemed to have been mentioned in passing, whether it was due to a misinterpretation of the character or indifference to a plot point they didn’t care much about, the exact details did not come to memory.

Although it was undoubtedly there, the plot point involving the wife that they didn’t particularly want to know about seemed to be passed over with a somewhat hazy gaze, so the exact content was not easily remembered.

“If it’s not you, who do you think the Duke will end up loving?”

“Oh, that would be you, of course……!”

……A man.

The reflexive answer that popped out brought them back to their senses.

A distinct male voice. Moreover, for some reason, it felt like a lot of strength went into the hands of the maid who was responsible for the massage.

Hastily opening her eyes, the scene in front of her made her blood run cold.

The dress, now scattered like discarded debris, was far away, and the Duke, with a serious expression, was massaging her legs as Freesia had instructed..

“W-Why are you…?”

“That’s what we’ve been telling you all along…….”

The maids’ pitiful excuses became nothing more than empty echoes.

“Just leave.”

Under the Duke’s sharp gaze, the maids, unsure of what to do, left the room with hesitant steps.

Wearing the formal attire he had on during the feast, Duke Crawford, with a discomforted expression, glared at Freesia.

“Um, Your Grace.”

“….”

“Well… Can you give me that dress?”

He was sitting on the sheet, and since she couldn’t remain undressed like this, she wanted to at least cover herself with the discarded dress. However, for some reason, the Duke, without averting his gaze, stared at her seriously.

“I must look ridiculous.”

“There’s no way. How could I even think such absurd thoughts!”

Kneeling and bowing deeply, she expressed her surrender.

“What do you mean?”

Since they had already entered into a political marriage, and the Duke didn’t even want a child, there was no reason to go through with the wedding night.

“Um, what I mean is… I was thinking, couldn’t we skip the wedding night? You know, it often happens in historical dramas.”

If someone tried to present evidence, couldn’t they somehow get away with a few drops of blood by pricking their finger? Turning to face Freesia, who was only too happy to be in a romance novel, he turned to her with a serious face.

“Regardless of the process, we are officially married. Why do I have to do that?”

“Well…”

As no convincing excuse came to mind, she rolled her eyes and looked at a distant mountain.

They had to find some rational and logical excuse. Fortunately, just by looking at his face, it was easy to tell what he was thinking.

“It’s still scary for me.”

“Scary?”

“Don’t say such things only to me. Take a look in the mirror yourself. With your forehead wrinkled like this and your eyes raised like that.”

Facing her who was mimicking him, the Duke, with a serious expression, looked at himself in the mirror.

Seizing the opportunity, she grabbed the dress and covered herself. Freesia, too, cautiously looked at herself in the mirror on the opposite side of the bed.

Her brown hair was already a mess. After wiping off the elaborate makeup that the maids had applied with great care, Freesia’s appearance wasn’t much different from her previous life, just before her death.

“Even your appearance doesn’t seem so simple.”

Despite the Duke’s sarcastic remark, until he truly fell in love, they had to somehow preserve the Duke’s innocence.

“It’s not that I’m absolutely refusing. So, from now on, for a year! If you give me a year, I think I can prepare my heart.”

Since the protagonist’s first appearance was clearly around that time.

If she, in the position of the Duke’s wife, brought the protagonist to him, the existence of the wife would naturally blur, and the main story of the two would progress.

After nodding several times, Freesia, still smiling, received the jacket thrown over her shoulders by the Duke, who still wore an unsatisfied expression.

“You said you liked me, but it was all lies.”

“Of course I do, given how much I like you, Duke.”

Even if the direction was just a tiny bit off.

Unlike the repeatedly nodding Freesia, the Duke sighed and finally rose quietly from his seat.

“Couples have to share the bedroom. I won’t concede that far.”

“That’s fine. Just holding hands while sleeping won’t be a problem.”

She assured that there would never be any advances, and the Duke seemed to reluctantly accept the situation.

Resting a large hand on his icy forehead, he stared at her wordlessly, his face somehow dripping with regret.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Is it a crime for me to look at my wife?”

Suddenly, their faces drew close, and his lips lightly touched hers before pulling away.

It was somehow far from being called a kiss, and the Duke casually planted a kiss on Freesia’s forehead.

“What are you doing all of a sudden?”

“I don’t like it.”

For some reason, he looked infuriated, stood up, and abruptly left the room.

“But that doesn’t mean you can go to another woman! You can’t do that!”

Especially when there is a legitimate wife. It would be quite difficult to have an affair with someone else.

“……That’s ridiculous.”

Leaving behind a cold remark, the Duke left the room, and the maids rushed in to start preparing for the night.

After soaking in warm water and putting on fresh, silky pajamas, Freesia covered herself with a blanket.

“He may be a wicked man, but he’s not a man of two minds.”

Looking at him with such an absurd expression, the Duke would probably not make the first move.

Rather, the one Freesia couldn’t trust was herself.

After washing off the makeup and shaking off water droplets from her wet hair, she realized that she might change her mind at any moment if she saw such a coercive appearance.

“Ah, my mood feels strange.”

She was convinced that the best route was to be paired with the charming character, but now that the situation had turned out like this, she was confused about whether to laugh or cry.

This was going a bit too far. Suppressing the exploding delusions, Freesia pulled the sheet tightly and went to sleep.

* * *

On the morning after the wedding, Rashita stayed at the mansion, happily assisting in preparing the couple’s first breakfast.

“Did both of them sleep well yesterday?”

“Madam seemed a bit tired, but both of them entered the bedroom in a proper manner and had their meal together.”

“Hmm, that’s good to hear.”

Nodding satisfactorily at the maid’s report, Rashita checked the date on the calendar hanging on the wall.

“They are still young, so maybe we’ll hear the sound of a baby crying next year.”

“Perhaps. According to the priest who treated Lady Freesia, they should be able to form a truly blessed family.”

Although she had been hit by an arrow, her rare healthy constitution allowed her to recover quickly, and the maid didn’t spare any praise.

“I envy them. I wanted a child with my husband too.”

“Rashita.”

“Why did he have to die so early? My husband.”

Even though he was ten years younger than her, Rashita was a sturdy and massive woman, while Vino was a frail man who seemed like he might break if touched.

He promised to protect her with his life, even though he was so fragile.

However, her husband got entangled in the power struggle among nephews fighting for the succession, and he tragically lost his life at a young age.

“He used to say it like a habit. The Duke’s successor should be Willfred; he suits the position the best.”

To fulfill her late husband’s wish, Rashita willingly took up the axe.

After eliminating all those responsible for driving her husband to his death, her nephew ascended to the position of the Duke, but the aristocrats, being who they were, tried to take Willfred’s position by claiming he hadn’t married due to his lack of interest in marriage.

“Who on earth did they bring in? Our youngest is truly adorable, isn’t she? Even when making marriage vows, she looked like a dozing sparrow.”

The moment of swearing the marriage oath seemed to be just like a cute little bird.

Whatever Rashita said, it just looked adorable to her eyes.

“An uncut gem must be referring to such a person. I’m really looking forward to how she’ll blossom in the future.”

Although her face usually looked demure, it could create various atmospheres like a blank canvas.

Rashita, enjoying a pleasant conversation with the happy head maid under the warm morning sun, fully embraced the morning.

“That rascal probably hasn’t heard the news yet. It’s fortunate. Otherwise, he might have turned the wedding venue upside down.”

“Come to think of it, Fieldram has left his post.”

“Yeah. It’s about time for him to return.”

“What on earth is this!!!”

With a loud bang, a commotion erupted at the entrance of the mansion.

Holding an axe hidden under her skirt, Rashita, herself no less refined than the nobles, met the gaze of Fieldram, the captain of Crowford’s guard, with bloodshot eyes.

“It’s been a while, Fieldram. Did you catch any dragons?”

“Why is this crazy lady causing a ruckus here early in the morning?”

The shimmering blade of the silver sword flew fiercely, clashing with the axe blade with a grinding sound.

In the midst of Fieldram charging as if to kill, a madness flickered in his eyes.

“What kind of nonsense did you hear and come here to make trouble?”

“I’ve heard it all already, that the outrageous wench has used her beauty to bewitch Wilfred into giving her the duchess’s place!”

“What?”

Rashita faced Fieldram, who seemed to have brought some absurd rumor after seeing Freesia, whose eyes were rolling like a squirrel.

Faced with Rashita’s insane laughter, Fieldram couldn’t hide his confusion.

“Smile Love”