I Become the Villain's Bride - Chapter 23

Chapter 23

“Of course, why won’t you throw such a spiteful remark at me? It’s disheartening nonetheless.”

Despite his bitterness, Matthew’s poignant emotions led to a slight change in the Duke’s attitude.

“Pudding, huh? I didn’t think she particularly liked it.”

“You still don’t know.”

Finally, the moment to gain the upper hand had arrived. With a triumphant look, Matthew spilled all the information he knew about Freesia.

“She likes toast with plenty of honey. Her favorite tea is Earl Grey, and she loves chocolate, but she won’t eat more than three pieces a day.”

“Why?”

“Because she was quite chubby when she was younger.”

No matter how Matthew tried to accumulate something by meeting him late, the time that had already passed couldn’t be reversed.

While pouring out joyful memories with the sisters, Matthew confidently stabbed the Duke with his revelations.

“That’s why saying she likes something doesn’t hold much significance!”

Still leaning against his chin, the Duke watched Matthew rise from his seat and leave without saying a word for a while.

If it were any other day, the Duke wouldn’t have let such rudeness slide. However, today felt somewhat strange.

After Matthew left and a considerable time passed, Jade cautiously inquired about the master’s intentions.

“Master, why did you let him go like that?”

“Equivalent to honeyed toast.”

“Pardon?”

“The honey from Barona is famous for being sweet.”

Jade, the faithful chambermaid, quickly recognized the intent in her master’s decontextualized words. Thanks to Matthew’s ramblings, the duke had gotten enough information without having to go through Freesia herself.

“Be sure to emphasize that I have made arrangements.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Even though she said she liked him, Freesia’s words still seemed a bit suspicious.

Thinking about the times she didn’t even spare him a glance, the Duke recalled the image of her carefully cradling her books.

“What’s so good about that?”

The way she turns at the touch of the book is unfamiliar.

With a thin smile, he willingly set about the task of discovering Freesia’s true intentions.

* * *

“Now you’ve truly become a splendid lady. This is a gift from me.”

Accepting the necklace Benoit handed her, Freesia fell into despair.

“This wasn’t supposed to happen.”

If she had known, she should have been expelled outright.

Because she had been so absorbed in wanting to see Lily and neglected her homework, Freesia ended up passing Benoit’s test with outstanding marks.

“Studying is like that. If you repeat it enough times, it becomes yours.”

Smiling, Freesia tried her best to hide her despair in front of the satisfied Madame Benoit.

“Well, uh, yes…”

Exhausted from the overwhelming workload and even falling asleep on her days off, she couldn’t even call Lily anymore. All that was left was the diamond necklace Benoit had given her as a congratulations gift. It was indeed beautiful, but she would have to return it when she left anyway.

“After all, this is part of Crowford’s property, isn’t it?”

“Yes, and everything of Crowford’s belongs to the mistress, Freesia.”

Although she smiled brightly, in the end, nothing was in Freesia’s name personally. If she wanted to secure Alster’s complete works for later, she couldn’t afford to put her neck on the line for things like this diamond.

“Well, I think I need to rest.”

The maids who had been watching her efforts from the side all knew how hard she had worked.

Madame Benoit left, and preparations for receiving guests in earnest began.

“Lily will be here soon. Cheer up, My lady.”

“Thank you, everyone.”

She was a bit afraid of being accused of trespassing, but fortunately, Crowford’s employees were all kind. She had stayed up late every night because she missed her family so much.

Finally, after eagerly waiting for lunch, Lily finally visited Crowford Mansion.

“Sister!!”

“Lily!!”

Finally, after yearning for her sister so much, they were reunited. Particularly radiant today, Lily, wearing the new dress Freesia had sent her, displayed her dazzling beauty.

“I already liked that dress the most. I knew it would suit you well.”

“Sister, you’re silly.”

She already knew she would be resentful. Even though she was complaining a lot, Lily didn’t seem to have any intention of letting go of Freesia, holding her tightly.

“Please come inside. I’ve prepared some refreshments.”

As soon as they entered the room, the sweet scent of honey tickled their noses. On top of toast generously slathered with thick Barona honey was piled with fluffy white cream.

“This is…”

“Master sent it.”

Despite even the maid’s efforts to emphasize her husband’s sincerity, there was still a wall in Freesia’s heart.

There was no doubt who was behind the daily homework bombs. Though she briefly twisted her insides in anger, sweet honey toast was innocent.

“Wow. It looks delicious.”

“Come here. I’ll cut it for you.”

“Feed me. Ah-“

Lily’s playful antics and cheerful demeanor were a great comfort to the worn-out Freesia. She wiped the cream off Lily’s mouth and even brushed her hair while she was at it.

From the perspective of an all-knowing older sister, the once very hands-on younger sister now seemed quite grown-up.

“You’re not crying every day because I’m not there, are you?”

“Well, since you’re not there, Rose and I decided to share the chores. I’m still a bit clumsy, but I’m trying my best.”

It was Freesia who took on the responsibility of managing Devlanc’s household affairs in place of Rose, who was busy supporting the family alone. From managing the servants to going through reports from the estate and budgeting, she did it all. Being able to catch up with Lady Crowford’s lessons in a short time was not thanks to memories from a past life but rather due to practical experience gained in the field.

“You’ve really grown up now.”

“Well, who am I, if not your sister?”

While Lily might hear some envious remarks from others, in front of her sister, she was simply an endlessly adorable younger sibling.

Just seeing her bright smile made Freesia feel unexpectedly happy, so she took Lily’s hand and showed her around the bedroom.

“By the way, I got Alster’s latest book this time. It’s the deluxe edition with all the special features included.”

“Really? I want to see it too!”

“There was also a new release yesterday. Only the first volume has come out so far, but it was really interesting.”

Unlike other authors, who had mixed reviews among the sisters, all three of them were proud fans of author Alster.

Although she had cuddled up with it and put it neatly in the bookshelf before going to sleep last night, the new Alster book seemed to have disappeared without a trace when she tried to show it to Lily.

“That’s strange. It was definitely here.”

“There were rumors that the new releases were delayed recently. Was it really a new release?”

“Yes, it was. I’m sure I read the whole first volume yesterday.”

Even the maids responsible for cleaning didn’t know where it was.

It was such a popular book that if you missed the first edition, you had to wait for a while.

Even after Lily left, Freesia couldn’t stop thinking about the book.

“I asked them to check if it went into the laundry or clothing cleaning. But if it’s really gone, I’ll contact the publisher and ask for another one.”

It was the first edition of a book by a truly beloved author. Even if a new book came out, it wouldn’t be the same book I read.

Although she couldn’t take her eyes off it for a moment, her heart suddenly sank again over the missing book.

Even at the dinner table with the Duke, who had returned from his official duties, she couldn’t relax her expression. Even with her favorite pudding, she was just poking at it instead of eating it, and the Duke, setting down his spoon, asked.

“I thought you’d be happy with your sister here, why the long face?”

“My book is missing.”

“Is it the one you were cuddling with last night?”

Freesia nodded weakly.

Freesia searched everywhere, from under the bed to under the mattress, even in the laundry where the bed sheets and pajamas were washed, but the book was nowhere to be found.

The maid responsible for the Duke and Duchess’s bedroom, although there were three of them, said there was no book in the bookshelf when they arrived.

So, there was only one suspect.

Freesia’s gaze turned to the Duke.

“If it’s about that book, I took it.”

“Why would you take my book!”

Even in the face of her genuine anger, the Duke calmly offered her the pudding in front of him.

“I heard you like pudding.”

“I do. I really enjoyed the honey toast you sent me earlier.”

“Good to hear.”

As the Duke nodded, Jade, standing beside him, returned Alster’s new book with the bookmark still in place, exactly as it had been seen last night.

Even after confirming that the bookmark was still in the place where she had fallen asleep reading it last night, Freesia continued to glare at him, holding the book tightly as if she were blaming him.

“What’s all this about?”

“Before you get angry, you should open it.”

His unnaturally confident attitude made her feel suspicious. Opening the first page, Freesia almost lost her mind.

“This, this is…!”

The handwriting was so beautiful that it seemed to emit light from the pages, flowing in an elegant script. The owner of this signature, more beautiful than words can describe, was undoubtedly the author Alster. Moreover, it was clearly not printed but drawn by hand as if dripping.

“I prepared it because I thought you’d like it. Seems like I made a fuss for no reason.”

“That’s not true. Not at all.”

With trembling hands, Freesia read the writing in the book again.

[To dear Madame Crowford, to Freesia. With gratitude and love.]

“Gratitude and love…”

It was none other than her favorite author who personally signed and sent the book with her name.

Moreover, with gratitude and love.

Although she knew it was a conventional expression, tears flowed from her eyes for some reason.

“…Why are you crying?”

“Because I’m happy.”

The Crowford’s power, which had always been burdensome, had never felt so welcoming.

Although the author Alster had always avoided exposure, it seemed that even such an author could be met by the Duke of Crowford if he set his mind to it.

“He was flattered to hear that you’re a fan. He said he’d like to send you the manuscript first and hear your feedback before publication.”

“R-really?”

She was so surprised that she stumbled over her words.

Being able to see the manuscript of her favorite author first.

“If you don’t want it, you can refuse.”

“No, no, I would never refuse.”

Freesia kept staring at the page with her name written on it, trying to suppress the laughter bubbling up inside her.