I Become the Villain's Bride - Chapter 30

Chapter 30

In Crawford, there are three main figures responsible for making significant decisions: the estate manager, the house owner, and the council of elders, composed of long-serving members of the Crawford community.

For example, when the current Handmaiden Ada or the housekeeper Jade retire without any major issues, they naturally join the council of elders and effectively become second only to the estate manager, exerting considerable influence over Crawford for the rest of their lives.

Usually, the house owner position is filled by the spouse of the estate manager. However, in cases like Madame Benoit’s where she is in good health, she can remain in that position until her death, even if a new estate manager is married.

On the surface, it seems like the council of elders and the previous house owners take a formal approach to guide the young estate manager and their spouse, ensuring they don’t go astray…

“I also agree, the council of elders this time is fully aligned with the estate manager’s intentions.”

Despite learning from the history of Crawford that there was rivalry and animosity among these figures, this time, they all seemed to pledge unwavering loyalty to the Duke, the undisputed authority.

“So all you need is permission from the Duke. It’s simple, isn’t it?”

“…Yes, it is.”

‘They don’t know what’s in my heart.’

And understandably so, because the original Duke was much more cruel and ruthless.

A tax collector caught embezzling under the Duke’s tyranny became a beggar with his limbs severed, and a council member who attempted to assassinate the cruel Duke had his throat cut in front of his family.

In order to quell the seeds of rebellion, the duke’s men killed parents and even children.

The protagonist’s struggles against the unbeatable arch-villain and desperate fights on the brink of death under the Duke’s tyranny in the original world were vastly different from the current state of affairs, leaving me thoroughly bewildered.

“The Duke seems very angry.”

“Because of my behavior?”

“For our failure to take proper care of our master.”

While the etiquette manual of Crawford did kindly explain how to handle a drunken master, She remembered playing drinking games with the maids in the carriage, but she can’t recall anything after that.

“Did I perhaps hit someone?”

“Of course not.”

“But why is he angry?”

She felt a pang of guilt hearing that all the maids who rode in the carriage with her were disciplined.

Could it be that simply socializing with others was unpleasant? Lost in various thoughts, Ada dropped a hint.

“You didn’t do anything wrong yesterday.”

“Huh?”

“You were just a little…… too much.”

Ada’s words, saying that she was cute, made her doubt her ears.

“Are you joking?”

“No, I’m not. It was the first time I’ve seen Madame Benoit in such a good mood.”

Despite receiving a series of reprimands like a disobedient daughter, she’s not even feeling bad about it.

‘The way he reacts when I’m being petted is somehow reminiscent of Rose, my older sister.’

“But why is the Duke angry?”

“I’m not sure.”

His thoughts are utterly incomprehensible. If he found her drunken state last night so unpleasant, he should have just sent her home.

Despite saying that, she feels strangely indifferent, unlike before.

“Where is the Duke now?”

“He’s been in his study since last night.”

She can’t help feeling a pang of sadness, thinking that maybe she’s no longer needed by him.

“Well, it’s only natural that he doesn’t want to see me.”

“No, that’s not true! He definitely doesn’t feel that way! He even personally carried you from the carriage to the bath.”

“Did I throw up?”

If he went straight to the bath instead of the bedroom, there’s no other reason.

Ada vehemently denied that she did anything like that, explaining that it was just to relieve my hangover. In Crawford, they often soak the body in herbal baths to lower body temperature and detoxify when feeling intoxicated.

“Really?”

“Yes, madam did nothing wrong.”

“I didn’t drink on purpose…”

To gain access to the Magic Mirror, she had to build a relationship with the princess.

The Magic Mirror in the palace library used to be a reliable advisor for the protagonist whenever they lost their way, providing guidance to choose the right path.

For someone like her who knows the plot, it’s an invaluable asset, a deus ex machina bestowed by the author.

“I dare not speculate on the master’s feelings, but I don’t believe he’s angry.”

“Then?”

“He might have felt hurt. After rejecting his advances, madam ran to Madame Benoit.”

‘You’re pretty, but I hate homework.’

Though one-dimensional, Freesia’s outcry is not a lie, and Madame Benoit confidently drew the line, stating that she didn’t assign the homework.

So, in the end, it was all the Duke’s doing to give her so much homework to prevent her from meeting Lily.

“Jealousy?”

“I hesitate to speculate, but perhaps if it were me, I would have done the same thing.”

Oh, come on. There’s no way.

But Ada, feeling deeply ashamed to say such things to her master, cautiously continued her words, repeating her apologies several times.

“Since the first talk of marriage, the Duke has instructed us to serve you as the future mistress of Crawford.”

Come to think of it, it might seem a bit funny to suddenly appear as an unwelcome guest late at night, but all the employees of Crawford served Freesia flawlessly, with impeccable manners.

“If there are any shortcomings, it’s all our fault. The Duke sincerely values madam.”

“I’ve never felt inadequate or anything like that.”

If he were a real aristocrat, he could receive much higher treatment than a fallen noble, even with only the title remaining.

After all, the successful acquisition of Deverang, which was almost like a lighthouse in the wind, was all thanks to him.

“I’m always grateful to the Duke.”

“Madam, the Duke…”

“I just want him to be happy. That’s all.”

At least that was sincere.

In the original story, the Duke sometimes hunted the protagonist like a prey, swearing to eliminate them in madness.

Of course, he sometimes showed a somewhat sloppy side to Freesia as well, but…

“So it’s scarier that way. What if he starts to dislike me?”

“Madam, why would you say such a thing? That will never happen.”

“Because you never know what’s in someone’s heart.”

She don’t know what causes the Duke to change, but at least Lily and Rose shouldn’t get swept up in it.

So at first, she really thought about running away.

“As long as everyone treats me well, I’m happy. Until they tell me to leave, I’ll stick around here.”

Even after turning twenty, having someone take care of her was strange at first, but Ada meticulously took care of every aspect of her life like a mother.

It’s not a bad feeling to be cared for.

Freesia stood by Ada’s side and quietly leaned her head on her shoulder.

“I wish our mother was someone like Ada.”

“Why would you say such a lofty thing? Please don’t say that.”

Although she said that, Ada smiled with a very happy expression. Freesia could trust and rely on Ada more than Madame Benoit, who was in charge of education.

Freesia stood in front of the study door, tightly closed, and looked at it silently.

“So he’s still in the study?”

“He even skipped meals and seemed very busy.”

What should I do about this? Freesia, who was wandering the corridor, went straight to the kitchen.

“I’ll bring some tea for the Duke. Please prepare some simple tea snacks.”

“Yes, madam.”

Once the Duke was immersed in something, he would often skip meals. Therefore, his wife had a duty to check on his health.

It’s not like she harbored any tender feelings, but if she didn’t properly apologize to the Duke, Ada would continue to be concerned.

As Madame Benoit emphasized several times, Freesia stood in front of the study to confront her dark past.

No matter how many times she knocked, there was no sound from inside.

“I’ll excuse myself.”

As she cautiously approached, she saw the Duke lying on the desk, fast asleep, with a fountain pen in his hand, surrounded by piles of paper.

He seemed very tired.

Could he have fainted from working too much?

Thinking that, she cautiously approached, and as she reached out with paper, suddenly—

“Ugh!”

The Duke, who had just opened his eyes, grabbed the paper knife on the edge of the desk and aimed it at Freesia’s throat.

“Smile Love”