I Become the Villain's Bride - Chapter 34

Chapter 34

They said it was nothing, but by nightfall the Duke was feverish and grunting.

After tending to him late into the night with cold towels on his head, he finally succeeded in calling Rose and Lily home.

“If we’re going to do this, I want to surprise Rose properly.”

Rain or snow, Rose was always worried. She needed a sharp shock therapy to snap her out of it.

With the cooperation of Madame Benoit and even her aunt Rashita, Freesia’s surprise party plan was a huge success.

“Freesia?”

“Rose! I’ve missed you so much!”

Inside the room filled with balloons and a large table with a strawberry cream cake, Freesia, wearing the pink dress Rose had given her a year or so ago, greeted her sister.

“What is this…?”

“I told you to wait for a moment!”

Lily, who already knew what was happening, revived the fainted stewards and returned to the room.

Unable to contain her laughter, and almost fainting herself, Aunt Rashita explained the situation instead of Madame Benoit.

“Freesia wanted to show her sister how well she’s doing.”

“Is everyone okay?”

“Madam, we’re all fine!”

The stewards, who had seemed in such pain before, were now all faking it, clutching their supposedly injured parts.

As they faced the cheerful atmosphere of the Crowford estate, Rose’s tension melted away, and she collapsed onto the floor.

“Sister, are you okay?”

“Come here. I need to see for myself.”

Her skin was smooth and glowing without a single scar. No signs of injury anywhere.

With a relaxed expression and steady breaths, Freesia, who seemed comfortable in every way, hugged her beloved sister tightly with a bashful smile.

“I’m really doing well. So please, don’t worry about me anymore, Sister.”

Her words and smile were convincing, but seeing her sister so well taken care of made Rose feel uneasy.

“Are you really in love with him?”

If only those words were a lie, she could grab her hand and leave this mansion at any moment. With teary eyes, Freesia blushed shyly and touched her cheeks.

“N-No, it’s not that I dislike him or anything.”

If she had bluntly said she loved him, Rose would never have believed her. But when asked what she wanted for her birthday, Freesia would always hesitate for a long time, and then show that same face, saying she wanted something that Rose could afford.

That’s definitely sincere. After all, Rose knows Freesia best, as she’s her sister.

“I… “

How foolish she must be to not feel happy despite her sister now being able to walk on her own without needing her help. Was it her selfish desire to always play the role of the prince on a white horse in Freesia’s little world? Did she want that dream to continue forever?

On the shelf at the corner of the bedroom were Alster’s books, Freesia’s favorite. The sunny room was decorated in Freesia’s favorite colors.

“Why are you crying, Sister?”

Her sister was genuinely happy now, so she should be celebrating. But the moment she saw the faint kiss mark on Freesia’s neck, the fire inside her reignited.

“Why would you say such a thing!”

It wasn’t until after the dust settled and refreshments were served that Freesia realized what Madame Benoit had done.

“It was funny! You should’ve seen Countess Devlanc face turning all red and blue. It was so funny!”

“Enough of that.”

Madame Benoit, who burst into laughter, handed the matter over to Rashita, and Freesia went to comfort her silent sister.

“Are you angry? I’m sorry. I just… “

“Remember when we were young? The night you got lost in the forest alone?”

During the time when the sisters stayed in the estate, after completing their knight training and returning home for the first time in a while, Lily, the youngest, was crying because her sister was not there, leaving only the maids and servants confused and running around.

When Lily went to find the flower she wanted, the deep forest of the Devlanc estate was so treacherous that even adults often got lost.

“Without you, Lily just kept crying, and the maids didn’t know what to do.”

“Now that you mention it, I do remember something like that happening.”

Rose brushed off the protesting maids and went into the forest. After wandering for a while with a compass, she found the hem of the yellow dress Freesia was wearing beyond the torchlight. Rose sincerely thanked the heavens.

“You carried me back then. You were really cool.”

“And I’m not cool now?”

“You are. You’re the best, Sister.”

Even if Freesia fell for the villain’s trickery, if she was happy, there was nothing Rose could do about it.

But what if she saw a single tear in her sister’s eyes? Rose would gladly ride her white horse and rush to rescue her sister.

“What are you two doing over there by yourselves? I went through so much trouble to fool Rose!”

Sticking out her tongue, Lily happily hit her beloved Freesia’s back to cooperate with her surprise operation.

She’s like a mischievous little sister.

Even now, Lily shows no signs of letting go of Freesia, hugging her tightly with love while pretending to cry in front of Rose.

“How dare you deceive me?”

“Both of you stop it and eat this already.”

“Sister, feed me.”

“Oh my, Lily is still a baby, after all.”

Madame Benoit watched with delight as the three sisters bickered and teased each other, showing how close they were.

“That’s why our Duke is jealous.”

Thanks to the reunion after a long time, the three sisters talked non-stop.

Madame Benoit, delighted just by seeing them, generously provided snacks and tea for the sisters.

At this moment, no one could disturb them.

Even in the usually solemn Crowford Estate, the laughter of the girls was overflowing.

***

“It’s quite lively.”

It was the second day at the estate, and the protagonist found the laughter from inside the mansion quite unfamiliar.

“Madame’s elder sister and younger sister have arrived. Madame Benoit is hosting a grand party later, and we’ll all eat together.”

The senior member of the guard who had been entrusted with his guidance was kind enough to tell the young man who still knew nothing.

“He says he survived by hunting.”

“I’ve managed to catch anything with my bare hands except bears or tigers.”

After catching a wolf bare-handed once, instead of praise, he received a scolding to make sure the leather didn’t get damaged. Since then, he had always been the one to deal with dangerous situations.

“Your posture may be awkward, but you have enough stamina. With a little correction, you’ll soon be able to fulfill your role as Madame’s escort.”

“Can I really do it?”

“Armeia’s recommendation is there. If he confirms your identity, the Duke will gladly entrust you with tasks.”

Born through countless inspections and investigations, he alone knew the truth.

The senior guard kindly informed the young boy about his new mission.

“Now that the Lady has come and the Master has changed,” he said, “it is your job to see to it that anybody who might do her the slightest harm is dealt with.”

Sometimes, there were places or situations where maids couldn’t enter. Especially in social clubs, where only nobles could enter while maids had to wait outside.

Although he had been preparing for this for a long time, he decided to take special measures to protect Freesia after the incident with the princess.

“From now on, you’ll be the Duke’s ward in public, like his son.”

“M-me?”

“Yes. Follow Madame wherever she goes, not just her but also the future little master. Protecting them will be your role.”

Inside the mansion, everyone seemed to already know about it, as everyone he met was kind to him.

Protecting the most precious Madame from the closest place possible. That was the boy’s role.

“Is that really all it takes? If I can just have three square meals a day, I can do anything.”

As an innocent child who didn’t know anything, he couldn’t harbor any wrong thoughts. Even if it was part of the Duke’s calculations, it wouldn’t harm the child.

Ada, the senior maid, who heard his rather unique name, expressed her concern while patting his head.

“It’s a precious name given by your parents, but it might be better to hide that name for now that you’re here.”

To stay by Madame’s side, he needed an appropriate status.

Even when told he would have to live with that name from now on, the boy didn’t shed a tear. He had no lingering attachment to the gloomy past. Since his mother passed away, there had been no one to call his name properly.

He nodded willingly.

Accepting the new identity prepared by the Duke, the boy received a new identification card.

“Luca?”

“It’s the name of the protagonist in Madame’s favorite novel. Since your name also means protagonist, doesn’t it fit well?”

Luca Bailey.

As the son of the noble Bailey Viscount, he visited Crowford as part of his education in manners and etiquette under the Duke’s care.

Holding the senior guard’s hand, he received his first identification card ever since he was born. Through the Duke’s recommendation, the identification card was issued, and the Duke’s name was written as the guardian.

“It was the Duke himself who approved your name after evaluating your qualities highly, so be sure to express your gratitude when you meet him next time.”

“Leave it to me.”

What kind of people could the Duke and his wife be, who granted him such a dreamlike opportunity? They were undoubtedly outstanding and remarkable individuals.

His only duty was to protect Madame. Everyone he met while wandering through Crowford Mansion clearly felt how much they cherished her.

“The Duke has changed after meeting Madame.”

Originally cold and ruthless, but these days, he even smiles sometimes.

The elderly gardener clasped his hands multiple times, urging him to take good care of Madame.

In the evening, they even ate sweet cookies with seasoned spices.

In front of him, a large, beautiful cake, untouched by anyone’s hands, lay whole.

“It was really delicious.”

Holding Ada’s hand, he learned how to properly bathe for the first time since he was born. He neatly arranged his hair, similar to Madame’s chestnut-colored locks, and received new clothes made of high-quality fabric.

Lying on the sun-scented blanket, he pinched his hand several times.

“Mother, please don’t let her dislike me.”

Remembering the smiling figure of the Duchess in the painting, the boy curled up alone and fell asleep.

“Smile Love”