I Become the Villain's Bride - Chapter 29

Chapter 29

“Poor girl, to miss such a precious sight.”

Pressing against Madame Benoit, Freesia choked up.

“I don’t like homework. Studying is too hard.”

Madame Benoit had assumed she wouldn’t do everything because she had spent several nights working on it, but Freesia had completed it all.

Sympathizing with Freesia’s unexpected response, Madame Benoit firmly held her trembling hand.

“It must have been really hard.”

“I missed Lily so much…”

That was the only reason she had tried so hard.

Even now, just mentioning her sister was enough to make Freesia’s eyes moisten.

“Don’t blame me. The culprit is this way.”

“Really?”

“Were you resenting me all this time? It’s unfair.”

Freesia nodded several times, glaring at the Duke. Without another word, the cause of all this scooped her up in his arms and headed straight for the bedroom.

“Prepare the bath.”

“Yes, sir.”

He ordered the hot water to be filled with hangover herbs, then ran his hands over the dress that wrapped around Freesia’s body.

As the intoxication rose, falling asleep like this meant she would surely suffer from a hangover tomorrow.

“Take off your clothes.”

“I can’t take off this dress by myself.”

After untying the firmly knotted dress, only a white camisole and drawers remained.

“…”

He led her into the bath, still wet, and she squirmed in his arms, protesting with her whole body.

“I don’t like the strange smell.”

“Do you dislike it that much?”

He hugged her closely, wrapping his arms around her neck.

Unable to resist the comforting touch, he brought Freesia back to the bed.

Today, she seemed particularly cute as she begged. Unlike usual, she couldn’t hide her inner feelings.

So, he became curious. What did she think of herself?

“Do you still despise me?”

The Duke’s question made Freesia hesitate for a moment. She fidgeted with her lips for a moment before nodding and tightly grasping his hand.

“Despise? Who would dare to speak ill of our Duke?”

She looked around, promising to scold anyone who dared to speak ill of him.

Even though she had said she would punish anyone, she never let go of his hand.

“You’re drunk. Let’s go to sleep.”

“Duke, you have to live kindly.”

Muttering incomprehensible words, she stared blankly at the Duke standing before her.

She didn’t know the meaning of living kindly, but one thing was for sure. Even halfway through her drunkenness, the woman in front of him was not in her right mind.

So, he had to somehow sober her up with herbs and gently put her to bed… Freesia suddenly chuckled and lightly placed her hand on the Dukes’ cheek.

“Do you know how much I liked you?”

Her languid gaze momentarily halted his breath. The honey-brown hair tumbling over her disheveled camisole teased his skin.

“Perfect looks. Sharp intellect. Overwhelming strength. You’re the best.”

The endless praise made the Duke’s cheeks flush red.

Wrapping her arms around his tense neck, Freesia whispered softly with a trembling voice.

“I’ll support your love more than anyone else’s. So, please find true love…”

Leaving only those words, Freesia rested her head on his shoulder and slumped down.

“…”

Looking at her limp body, sound asleep, the Duke was enveloped in confusion and lost words.

What should he do with this woman who still couldn’t understand his words?

After much deliberation, he called the maids and handed her over to them.

“Let her soak for thirty minutes, then let her sleep. Don’t forget to dry her thoroughly.”

“Yes, sir.”

Thanks to witnessing the previous commotion, the maids supported her more confidently than ever.

After closing the door behind him, he fell into deep contemplation.

“Perhaps I have not conveyed my feelings properly.”

It’s understandable that she feels burdened by this sudden marriage.

They weren’t really lovers, just companions for convenience, and she seemed convinced that she would eventually fall in love with someone else.

It’s understandable that she doesn’t trust easily.

So, he agreed to a grace period, but if she thinks that his heart could change in just one year, it’s a perfect misconception.

“How did I get it?”

Something inside him is saying that.

The most intense longing that remains vividly in his fleeting memories. The reason why that one piece is shaking his heart now is simple.

‘I really like that piece. Our artist is the best.’

The woman in my dream, who was shyly smiling, died before I could even tell her my secret.

I didn’t even have a chance to tell her that I was the writer, and she left for a place where she could never return.

I can’t repeat such a tragedy again.

“Ugh.”

As he tried to recall it more vividly, a terrible pain seeped in.

The darkness that had crawled up from beneath his feet now enveloped his entire body, and he cursed in his ear.

‘Why live? Just die. Worthless trash like you should just die. I’d rather you died with a broken arm than this piece of trash.’

“Quiet!!!”

As he pounded the wall with all his strength, a severe pain shot through his left arm. Only after destroying himself to such an extent could he finally escape the auditory hallucinations.

Malicious words filled with resentment, coming from an unknown source, pierced his mind, causing him to harm his left arm every time they attacked.

Though he tried to conceal them with his clothes, there were already numerous wounds on his left arm that wouldn’t be visible unless seen up close.

But his right arm must remain unharmed.

Because there are still things to be done with this hand.

‘If I were to name the best person in my life, it would definitely be Alster.’

She always said he was the best. That’s all he needs to hear, no matter what anyone says.

“I…”

With the image of her holding a newly received book tightly in her arms and sparkling eyes in his mind, the Duke clenched his left arm, which was trembling with a bitter smile.

Upon returning to his study, Jade didn’t know what to do when he saw his left arm, completely broken again.

“Weren’t you doing fine recently?”

“I’m fine, just leave me alone.”

Since the incident with Mustang, it’s been happening more frequently, but he had been quiet ever since he got married. So, he thought he was fine now.

Seeing Jade’s sad eyes, who brought painkillers and coffee to the study, he couldn’t say anything and silently withdrew.

It was a quiet night. In an empty room. Holding a blank white sheet in front of him, he silently grasped the pen.

Under the faint light emitted by the magic stone, the black ink turned into letters and covered the paper.

Page after page piled up, and throughout this night, there was no sign of the light in his study being extinguished.

***

She dreamed of running through a flower garden full of tigers.

For some reason, she realized that it was madness and woke up as her eyes blinked open.

“Are you awake?”

And the moment she saw Madame Benoit sitting next to the bed, she realized that something was seriously wrong.

“You really don’t seem to remember anything.”

“I’ve…I’ve sinned gravely.”

On the night of Lily’s coming-of-age ceremony, Freesia realized for the first time what it meant for the film to cut off after consuming an enormous amount of wine due to being moved.

The sisters, who usually maintained their composure, shouted together for the first time.

‘Don’t drink outside! You have to drink only in front of us!’

They had a fierce fight over who would take care of Freesia afterwards.

She can guarantee that it was never intentional. It was just necessary to have some level of acquaintance with someone in the palace to infiltrate the royal palace to see the magic mirror.

Because you need the endorsement of someone in the royal family to bring in outsiders. Fortunately, the princess mentioned the palace library first, so all the conditions were perfect.

Even if she hadn’t accepted that final bit of apology.

“They said it’s customary to have a company dinner after the club ends… I thought it was okay because you told me to get a good night’s sleep to recover from the exhaustion.”

“I guess it’s because my training policy was too strict.”

“No, no! It’s definitely not like that.”

Seeing Madame Benoit tearfully as if she was hurt, Freesia’s mind went blank, unsure of what to say.

Could it be that she cursed in a drunken stupor? Or perhaps she shook her by the collar? Desperate to avoid those thoughts, Freesia launched into a desperate flattery strategy.

“I admire Madame Benoit so much. I trust and rely on her teachings, just like I do with my mother.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I mean it.”

Though the reason had changed slightly, it was still something she couldn’t refuse.

With an unusually sincere smile, Madame Benoit gently combed through Freesia’s messy hair.

“Is this what it feels like when a child comes home after causing trouble? I didn’t understand what others were saying before, but now I think I might.”

Though she appeared youthful, there was a hint of age in her voice, suggesting she had experience.

Madame Benoit painstakingly tidied Freesia’s hair, ensuring each strand was in place.

“I’m sorry…”

“You have nothing to apologize for. The one who should really be sorry is our Duke.”

With a few firm braids, Madame Benoit’s lecture came to an end.

“My dear duke has done nothing wrong in being grumpy,” she said, “but I hope you will understand that I feel sorry for his dear wife when she cries for her sister.”

“My, did I even say that?”

She looked quite aggrieved, even the maids behind her knew why Freesia had gone to such lengths to finish her homework.

It wasn’t a major offense, more like an embarrassing moment, perhaps a dark past.

“Well, I like playing with pretty girls too. It wouldn’t be bad to invite the sisters for tea if they’re willing to include me.”

“Really?”

But the joy was short-lived as the earlier words still bothered her.

So, naturally, the homework bomb was indeed the Duke’s mischief.

“You’ll have to ask the Duke himself for permission.”

The stern mother-in-law, who was never easy to please, stroked Freesia’s frightened head and smiled more beautifully than ever before.

“Smile Love”