I Become the Villain's Bride - Chapter 26

Chapter 26

“Come on, can’t you just let it go?”

“Are you planning to give a gift to the author?”

How is he so quick to pick up on things? He seemed to have read Freesia’s mind almost as if he were using telepathy.

“N, no, it’s not like that.”

“It seems like a gift. You mentioned brownies, right?”

Come to think of it, there was a time when Freesia sent him a plate of brownies to keep him quiet because she didn’t even know he had sent a marriage proposal. Everyone loves chocolate unless they hate it.

Freesia desperately rolled her eyes, subtly trying to read his mind.

“Anyway, once baked, a huge amount comes out. I was planning to bake a lot and give it to you this time too. As a token of gratitude for the toast with honey!”

His suspicious gaze was very sharp.

“It’s true.”

While emphasizing that it was just a formality, Freesia secretly made up her mind.

She’d just leave the best part to the author.

He scrutinized her with a calculating look, but Freesia continued with her proposition.

“You can make a brownie parfait by layering brownies on top of sweet cream. This one will be exclusively for you.”

“Hmm.”

Still not fully trusting her, he reluctantly agreed. Although it was a bit disappointing on this end, Freesia attempted to negotiate with him as he suggested.

“If you need anything else, just let me know. I’ll do my best to accommodate you within my limits.”

“Within your limits?”

“Well, it’s easier to fulfill things physically.”

Since the last time she was bombarded with homework, it was practically terrorism, so it was best to physically fulfill whatever he wanted.

Even if she didn’t like the event, she was willing to attend it with her husband.

“You’re good at making risky remarks.”

“What’s risky about it?”

“If that’s really what you mean, then there’s a very easy way.”

He leaned in close, brushing her hair aside, and suddenly pulled her cheek.

“Uh?”

Taking advantage of her momentary surprise, he suddenly pulled her cheek.

“What do you want?”

He gently stroked her soft cheek a few times, then finally found a deal he liked.

“A lap pillow. 30 minutes a day.”

“A lap pillow?”

“You’re not doing anything when you’re reading anyway. I hope you’ve fixed the habit of flinching every time you see me.”

“Even so, that’s a bit…”

“A bit?”

With a sharp look in his eyes, she couldn’t help but feel a little intimidated.

Thinking she had to suffer such humiliation just to pay tribute to the author was absurd, but despite that, the fan sentiment she had accumulated over the years overcame everything.

“I-I think it’s a good idea!”

When she expressed her consent, he urged her to sit down, tapping his chin impatiently.

Thirty minutes would pass quickly, so what book would be good to read? Today, she picked up the third installment of Alster’s series, “The Runaway Duchess.”

“What’s that about?”

“It’s about this.”

It was a melodrama where the duchess, unable to endure her husband’s obsession, fled while pregnant, leaving behind a regretful duke shedding tears.

After buying a copy and reading it together, they would gather in Rose’s room to discuss how trashy the duke was and spend the night debating.

“Trash?”

“Yes, trash. A man who only imposes his feelings is the worst.”

Glancing at her husband, who lay on the bed with his thighs crossed, Freesia looked at the illustration of her husband on the cover.

Come to think of it, the protagonist in this book is quite similar to the duke.

Self-centered and selfish. The only difference was whether he loved his wife or not, right?

“I rather pity the man.”

“No, really. He’s a total jerk, you know?”

He imprisoned her in a place no one could see, constantly harassed her, and whispered for her to love him.

“So, is it a crime for a husband to love his wife?”

“That’s not all. The unresolved issue with the ex-fiancée was the bigger problem. The reason the protagonist hated her husband in the first place was because of the unresolved issue with that woman.”

The reason the duchess fled while pregnant was because she was shocked by the reunion rumor with her ex-fiancée.

Even though it’s a worn-out cliché, the moment of fleeing is the most thrilling, but the duke, who is a novice in romance, can’t understand that taste.

“Especially the scene where the husband regrets so much was so good.”

“…Schadenfreude.”

“Schadenfreude!”

What does he know when he doesn’t even know the taste of regret?

The catharsis that rushes in when seeing someone deeply regret after accumulating all those sweet potatoes is more thrilling than downing ten cans of soda at once.

“Anyway, if she really hated that man, she wouldn’t have come back. But the unsolved plot with the ex-fiancée was the most disappointing part.”

“Is that so?”

“So, shh. I’m going to read now, so whether you sleep or read, do whatever you want.”

Once she opened the book, she could forget about his existence.

Despite receiving criticism for being a sweet potato, the duchess depicted in the novel was portrayed quite realistically.

If she had known that her husband had another woman, especially if she was pregnant, it would have been even more painful.

As she watched the wife fleeing in betrayal, she couldn’t help but think that love was not something easily attainable.

“Are you asleep?”

By the time they reached the scene where the duke interrogated who the child belonged to, he had already leaned his head on Freesia’s lap and fallen asleep.

It was getting late, and sleep was slowly creeping in, making it impossible to move.

“You must be really tired.”

He’s still a difficult person, but he’s not as bad as she imagined.

Moreover, since he genuinely treated his wife well, it was difficult for Freesia to be rude to him.

“But if I start liking him for real, it’ll be troublesome.”

By the time the original story started, the duke was already the protagonist’s guardian.

Although their relationship seemed quite close, she couldn’t remember the specific incident that caused their relationship to deteriorate.

What was certain was that the duke’s obsession with the protagonist was immense.

He constantly tormented her, vowing to destroy her like he would his enemy, and the protagonist struggled to level up.

Titled “Level Up Because of the Antagonist,” the novel practically suggested that the duke was the real protagonist.

But seeing such humane qualities in him was still somewhat… unfamiliar.

It made her heart beat just a little.

“I need to snap out of it.”

She slapped her cheeks several times, trying to hypnotize herself.

His hair, shining like spun gold, was blinding, but still, it was scary to like him recklessly.

He had taken the position of the duke by knocking down everyone, even his own blood relatives. He said he didn’t love or trust anyone.

Even though he was treating her well now, if there were any reason, he would try to eliminate the obstacle, so it was terrifying.

There’s no rule saying that an arrow won’t come this way.

“I don’t want to die.”

Just like this. It would be best to just get along as friends without any major problems.

Putting down the book, Freesia absentmindedly placed her hand on the sleeping duke’s hair, lost in thought.

***

The head of the Crowford dukedom, Jade, deeply regretted ever doubting the abilities of the duchess.

“I was foolish. Well, whatever.”

Ever since his master got married, his own life had also undergone a drastic change.

There was now a lively energy in the mansion that had been somewhat stiff before, even in the early mornings when they could leisurely enjoy a cup of coffee.

“It might be a good idea for the madam to take some riding lessons before visiting the social club.”

“I’ll make the arrangements.”

Only three people managed the sprawling Crowford estate, which employed over a thousand permanent staff members.

The housekeeper Ada, who takes care of the household affairs and the mistress, and Jade, the steward who oversees the family affairs and external activities.

And finally, Madame Benoit, who oversees the tasks of those two.

Unlike Ada, who shows unwavering loyalty, Jade, and even Madame Benoit at first, did not warmly welcome the presence of the new mistress.

“A social club? So, he allowed that.”

“Given the need for interaction with the royal family, if the mistress can play a suitable role, it would be quite beneficial for Crowford as well.”

Thanks to Ada’s skillful hands, the almost reconstructed beauty was displayed, and with the slender wife standing by his side, even the Duke exhibited a charm that he had never shown before.

Furthermore, the presence of his wife served as a quite useful shield for the Duke, who found everything bothersome. He could use her as an excuse to leave annoying situations early, and even the elders, who treated him like an inexperienced young lord, finally treated him as an adult after setting up a family.

“I had suspected something fishy from the start.”

Madame Benoit laughed nonchalantly, making sinister remarks.

Despite her seemingly tough appearance, she was the wife of the previous generation and the main player in the struggles among the siblings.

Her role was to support her husband and select the best successor to prosper Crowford.

However, one day, when she heard about his marriage to a woman she had never heard of, she skipped the wedding and subtly revealed her dissatisfaction.

“Will may seem like that, but he has a somewhat naive side. He must have been fooled by a bad woman, and I just brushed it off.”

She had tried to trample her pride and acknowledge her own shortcomings rather than resorting to visible childish harassment. But nowadays, Freesia, with her upright gaze, broke through all the tasks she was given with ease.

She seemed confident and charming, with a strong presence that everyone noticed, yet she seemed unaware of it herself.

“Why hasn’t anyone married such a smart and capable young lady yet?”

“That’s because…”

When the subject of Lord Nephier’s affairs was mentioned, Madame Benoit burst into laughter.

“Smile Love”