I Become the Villain's Bride - Chapter 31

Chapter 31

The speed at which the person moved was almost unbelievable. Even if they pretended to be asleep, they couldn’t move this fast.

She tried to quickly move her body backward, but it was already too late. Just as her body froze in the presence of the chilling blade, the Duke recognized Freesia standing beside him, a look of displeasure on her face.

“What are you doing right now?”

“I was about to bring the tea but you looked tired, so I thought I’d tidy up a bit.”

Although she didn’t know what secret information was written, the handwriting was so atrocious that it was impossible to decipher any information other than the fact that it was terrible handwriting, so there seemed to be no worry about the content being leaked.

Despite the severity of the handwriting, the Duke openly expressed his displeasure and snatched the paper from her hand.

“Did you read it?”

“It’s impossible, how could I read this?”

If Hansukbong were alive, he would have pounded the ground and wept at the existence of such atrocious handwriting.

Although she’s curious about what her husband with such terrible handwriting wrote, he seems to have no intention of telling her.

So she can be more certain about what the content is.

“That’s my scolding, right?”

Due to the piercing pain, the Duke interrogated Freesia with a deeply unpleasant expression.

“Why do you think that way?”

“It makes sense. Especially trying to deliberately hide it.”

It was a serious statement, but suddenly a smile appeared on his lips. It might be because it was too absurd, but while this side was serious, he was laughing.

“You’re not a first-year academy student, right? How can you do this at your age?”

“Because my wife, who hasn’t even had her first night yet, got drunk and hugged me by the nape of my neck. Said she liked me.”

“What?”

As if murmuring about other people’s business, the Duke crossed his legs and sat down, looking arrogantly at Freesia standing in front of him.

“I postponed the wedding night for a year because you were scared. I decided to wait patiently for about a year for my wife to accept me because I don’t have a hobby of forcing myself on women who hate me.”

“Did you, really?”

“Yes, but for some reason my wife doesn’t take off her clothes in front of me, and when she’s drunk, she hugs me and whispers that she loves me?”

“When did I do that!”

Just as she tried to refute that there had been no such occasion, memories suddenly flooded her mind like a flood.

Hugging him tightly and saying she loves him, whispering several times and lightly biting his ear.

She started to remember everything, not leaving anything behind.

“Hmm?”

“No, so, what I mean is!”

“So the dilemma began. What’s my wife’s standard for liking me? If there’s pudding and me, which one will she choose? Something like that.”

“Then, of course, it’s pudding. After all, you are…”

“You are?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

The aftermath of days when only indecent thoughts filled her mind from morning till night remained like this.

“Yeah. Pudding will make your tongue happy, but if you think about it that way, I think I can make you much happier in a different way.”

“What do you mean?”

What are you saying? No, why are you saying this to me?

He rose from his seat without hesitation, emitting a deeply intense and seductive gaze, and approached Freesia confidently until he was inches away from her nose.

“I don’t like how you always flinch and tremble like this.”

“That’s why. I mean, I…”

The Duke reached out his hand and gently wiped Freesia’s cheek. Then, with his hand on her neck, he lightly tapped the spot where the paper knife had touched, as if playing.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t properly said it either. That’s my fault.”

“W-What do you mean?”

“I seem to have developed quite a liking for my wife, Freesia Devlanc.”

Taking a mocking smile, the Duke paused for a moment in front of Freesia. Then, she doubted her ears. There must have been a misunderstanding.

“Why, why would you say that?”

“You don’t seem to like your husband’s confession at all. Could it be that my wife has found someone else she likes?”

She shook her head vehemently in response to the question of whether she had an affair.

How could there be an affair when she was confined to the mansion every day? It’s so absurd that words fail to come out.

With an oddly gentle smile, the Duke lightly tapped Freesia’s cheek.

“Um, Duke. Please, your hand…”

“Hm?”

“I mean, Duke.”

“My name isn’t Duke”

Right. Of course not.

Although he could have just said to call him by his name, he pushed his prominent nose as close to her face as possible and pressed his body closer.

“You must know your husband’s name.”

“Wil..Wilfred.?”

“You can be a little more forward.”

“Really?”

“Not really, in moderation.”

Just as she was about to say something, she immediately withdrew within 10 seconds.

Trying to step back discreetly because he was too close, but then he stepped closer, and as he stepped back, her back hit the corner where the bookshelf was.

Was this what they called being cornered?

“So, you know.”

“In front of everyone, she threw her husband aside and ran to Madame Benoit, exclaiming, “You look so beautiful.”

Lifting the hair braided into two strands and bringing it to his lips, he openly exuded an irritated expression.

“No, it’s just… I spoke my mind while drunk.”

“Oh. So even telling me that you like me is your true feelings?”

Even if Freesia nodded like crazy, his stubborn expression showed no signs of relenting. What was bothering him so much?

Fearing their lips might touch if he came any closer, Freesia desperately turned her head away and mumbled.

“Hey, the tea is ready! You should drink it before it gets cold.”

“Is it really true that you like me?”

At the moment when the sincerity of his kindness was doubted, what could she possibly say? Unable to withstand his suspicious gaze, Freesia reluctantly decided to use her ultimate weapon.

Their lips met and parted slightly, and she looked up at him with as much pity as she could muster.

“Could you just let it go? I understand I was wrong, and I promise I’ll never act recklessly or get drunk again.”

Although it was just a very light peck, the effect was tremendous.

“Well, it’s okay to get drunk in front of me. Brandy mixed with tea is quite delicious.”

Fortunately, whether it was due to quick thinking or not, the Duke obediently stepped back and headed for the bookshelf. After rummaging through the deep corners, he pulled out a honey-colored bottle.

“It’s Phillonezan brandy. It has a sweet vanilla aroma that tingles the nose.”

Yesterday, she never would have thought he would personally pour it into a glass for her.

The scent of the brandy mixed with tea stimulated Freesia’s nostrils.

“How is it? Try a sip.”

As he sorted through the papers on his desk, she sipped the warm black tea, deceived.

It had a sweet and bitter taste like honey tea. Unknowingly, she even took a deep breath from the dignified aroma.

“It’s delicious.”

Sipping it once, then again. With several sips, the alcohol began to take effect.

As her cheeks flushed, Freesia looked up and realized there seemed to be a halo shining behind the duke.

“Does it suit your taste?”

“Yeah. Lily also really likes this kind of stuff.”

Madame Benoit had clearly said that if the duke allowed it, anything could be done afterwards.

Freesia sneakily approached him and leaned her head against his shoulder.

“Can I invite my sisters?”

“If there’s a valid reason for it.”

At first, he said it was not allowed, but now he was asking for a reason. Should she be grateful for that?

Recalling Ada’s words about jealousy, Freesia racked her brains to find sufficient justification.

“I have to show that I’m doing well so they don’t worry. Especially Rose, she promised to take care of me for life, so she told me not to go anywhere and stay by her side. But after hearing what her friends said, I’m afraid I’ll attract unnecessary attention again.”

“If it weren’t for that situation, Rose Devlanc would never have allowed you to marry. And, Your Grace, you may be skilled, but I was also a precious daughter in the Devlanc family.”

“I’ve heard that story too. Rose Deblanc said you were the treasure of Deblanc, hidden carefully from the eyes of any man who dared to gaze upon you, a beautiful and mysterious treasure of Devlanc, right?”

Although his expression remained as disdainful as ever, Freesia’s cheeks burned with embarrassment.

Covering her flushed face with both hands, Freesia managed to express her inner thoughts in a voice as small as an ant.

“…It’s really embarrassing when you put it that way.”

“Well, I suppose having the Crowford name allowed me to bring such a lady.”

Yeah, that’s one way to put it. If it weren’t for Lord Gondair’s affair, Rose wouldn’t have allowed such a marriage.

The sudden marriage wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows.

Every night, she heard rumors of clandestine meetings and was terrified. But before those rumors spread, there were also malicious rumors that Rose had sold her sister to obtain her title.

Of course, the kicker was that since the rumor was spread by someone who didn’t know them well, Lily and Freesia information got mixed up, and it ended up being some nonsense about the Duke falling head over heels for the beautiful and mysterious sister. The person spreading the rumor probably didn’t expect it to reach the ears of the parties involved.

The duke shrugged casually with a nonchalant expression.

“Having such a precious sister snatched away by such a despicable husband… I can’t understand the feeling of wanting to shout ‘trash’ to the world.”

“Who says such things? Why do you think you’re trash?”

Despite his nastiness and occasional outbursts, he was still her husband, after all.

Calling someone trash is something that only a scoundrel like the duke in “The Runaway Duchess” should hear.

Facing her with a serious expression, Duke Crowford let out a nonchalant “Hmm” and blew his nose.

“You brought someone you don’t like. You said it yourself, a man who brings a woman he doesn’t like is trash.”

She wasn’t sure why he was making that connection, but judging by how many times he emphasized that she disliked him, it seemed like he wanted to hear that she liked him.

Even though there’s a limit to being humble and submissive, when her own intentions were so strong, there was nothing she could do.

Freesia closed her eyes quietly and whispered softly.

“For now, I do like you.”

“The problem is that you like me less than pudding, isn’t it?”

“That’s not what I meant right now!”

“Smile Love”