I Become the Villain's Bride - Chapter 4
Chapter 4
“Was that the type of woman he liked?”
“But she’s also kind, especially to her younger sister.”
“That sounds just like me.”
Lying on her knees, Lily was truly adorable.
When Freesia woke up in this absurd world, she felt genuine despair, but the presence of her sisters, Rose and Lily, became a great source of strength. Her cute younger sister followed her blindly, and even to another woman, Rose seemed impressive.
Sandwiched between such remarkable sisters, Freesia was surprisingly content with her current life.
“And what about you?”
“Me?”
“What’s so great about Duke Crawford?”
“Oh, yeah.”
Though she could remember the entire plot vividly, the memories of her past life and Freesia’s current memories were mixed up due to the shock of forcibly waking up. As a result, she couldn’t recall exactly when she started liking him.
“Just because he’s impressive. Besides, no one likes someone like me anyway.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Huh?”
Some seriousness had somehow crept into Matthew’s face.
Freesia swallowed nervously as she looked at him, who was creating an unusual atmosphere. What was he trying to say? Just when she was about to ask, the carriage came to a stop.
“Miss, we have arrived at the mansion.”
Without realizing it, they had arrived home while engrossed in their conversation. Even if she wanted to inquire further, it was too late, and Matthew had to send her off.
“I’ll escort you to your room.”
“That’s okay. Lily, wake up!”
Even though they were like family, Lily was now a debutante who had finished her debutante ball. To avoid any misunderstandings, Freesia chose to draw a firm line.
“Thank you for today. Be careful on your way back.”
“Freesia.”
“Ugh, sis…”
“Hurry up and get up properly.”
Although Lily was truly cute, being the youngest, she had the flaw of becoming endless if she received even a little attention.
After leaving a farewell greeting with Matthew, Freesia entrusted her sleepy sister to the maids’ care.
“Thank you all for your hard work today. Take a good rest tomorrow morning.”
Due to their parents retiring and moving to the countryside, the three sisters were left in charge of managing the household. While Rose handled the practical aspects of running the family, including its affairs, Freesia took care of the estate and household matters.
“Miss.”
“Is it Miss Rose?”
Mileva, Rose’s lady-in-waiting and the head of the Devlanc family, looked at Rose’s room, which still had its lights on. Seeing her trapped in the room at this late hour indicated that something must have happened at the palace.
“It seems like she’s quite angry.”
“Really?”
What kind of monsters were living in the palace that could turn Rose, who was usually composed, into a low-pressure system?
After making sure the half-asleep Lily was fine, Freesia headed straight to the kitchen.
“You still have those, right?”
“Yes, it’s here.”
She grabbed a tray of nut-filled cookies and heated milk in a milk pan. Then, she added a generous amount of honey sent from the Devlanc estate into Rose’s favorite cup.
“Mileva, please take a break too.”
“Thank you. Miss.”
After allowing all the staff to take a break, Freesia cautiously knocked on Rose’s door.
“Even the darkness of the night cannot obscure your radiance. Beautiful maiden, please open this door.”
As the three sisters recited Alster’s sonnet, a sound of approval was heard from the quiet room.
After waiting for a moment, Rose firmly opened the closed door and faced Freesia.
“When did you arrive?”
“Not too long ago.”
Seeing the redness around her eyes, it seemed like she had been crying.
Even a strong person like Rose needed days when she could cry in secret. Feeling that today might be one of those days, Freesia decided to offer her sister’s favorite snacks and listen to her worries.
“How was the ball?”
“It went well. Matthew was with me, and nothing happened.”
She had left her shoe at Duke Crawford’s feet, but that alone wouldn’t expose her identity. For a while, if she avoided the palace events, she could quietly recover. Not wanting to burden her sister further, Freesia willingly chose to keep quiet about that matter.
“Originally, I baked these to share tomorrow, but it’s a secret from Lily.”
“Oh, she’ll have a fit if she finds out.”
Despite Freesia being so obedient to Lily, she often clashed with her older sister, Rose.
Not only did Rose finish a plate of cookies, but after downing a shot of warm honey milk, she finally revealed what had happened today.
“He brought up the issue of rank.”
“Rank?”
“Marriage obligations apply only to viscounts and above, but he decided to pick a fight with me anyway.”
In the hierarchy of nobility—duke, marquess, earl, viscount, and baron—a noble of viscount rank or higher had to marry to inherit the title.
In other words, the law should not apply to Rose, who was set to inherit the Devlanc viscountcy.
“So, that’s why you’re angry?”
“More precisely, Viscount Gondair tried to push his son onto me again.”
After consoling Rose for a while, she finally explained the real reason for her anger.
Viscount Gondair, who considered himself the Emperor’s footman, pointed out the low marriage rate among young nobles and saw Rose as an opportunity.
“He suggested, ‘Since there’s no son in the Devlanc family, why not marry my second son and pass the title to him?'”
It sounded good on the surface, a proposal, but in reality, it was a sly intention to place his son, who had no title, in the position of the Devlanc viscount.
As Rose, who had no favor for Viscount Gondair from the beginning, rejected the marriage proposal, he took every opportunity to make Rose’s life difficult.
“If he’s so concerned about passing on titles through marriage, shouldn’t he consider marrying off his daughter-in-law since his father is still alive?”
It wasn’t a bad relationship from the beginning. Viscount Gondair, who liked the spirited Rose, had marked her as his granddaughter-in-law around last year.
“Eventually, everyone will realize how amazing you are, sis.”
This wasn’t an empty phrase; it was sincere.
Instead of her incompetent parents, Rose was currently managing the duties of the viscount excellently. Especially compared to her father, who constantly jeopardized the family’s survival with his frequent mishaps, since Rose took control, the affairs of the Devlanc family had improved significantly.
Even after losing her cream-colored shoes adorned with pearls, Rose didn’t feel any regret. It was the result of her hard work in earning money.
“If the royal family sends a marriage proposal to Lily, we should make sure there’s no shortage.”
There was no reason for a marriage proposal not to come to Lily, who was only two years younger than the Crown Prince.
Of course, Rose would observe the situation a bit more if there was a better match, but she was prepared to seize any opportunity for her younger sister’s happiness.
“It must have been tough.”
“Yeah, it was really hard.”
The heavy burden on her sister’s shoulders, supporting the family alone with her strength, was known only to Freesia.
“Cheer up, sis.”
As Freesia patted her on the back, Rose, with tears in her eyes, hugged Freesia tightly.
“Let Lily deal with that guy quickly, and Fre, let’s just live together, the two of us.”
“Is it really okay like this?”
“Yeah, would your older sister let you starve for a lifetime?”
Leaning her head on Freesia’s shoulder, Rose fell into deep thought.
“Come to think of it, the Duke of Crowford must be in a difficult situation by now.”
As his name suddenly came out of Rose’s mouth, Freesia almost choked.
“Why the Duke of Crowford?”
“If he doesn’t get married within two months, he’ll lose his title, or so I heard.”
Two months is barely enough time to prepare for a wedding. The identity of the groom is unknown, but at least he has no connection to the Devlanc family.
“Whoever it is, let them do it.”
With an indifferent attitude, Freesia rolled her eyes in a pretense of nonchalance.
“Yeah, whoever it is!”
Whoever becomes the wife of the Duke of Crowford has absolutely nothing to do with the Devlanc family.
Rose, covered in cookie crumbs, laughed heartily.
Upon hearing the laughter, Lily, who had just woken up and hugged her pillow, came to Rose’s room.
“Sis, what are you doing?”
“Are you awake?”
Half-asleep, Lily blinked her eyes and then noticed that there was only cookie dust left.
“What is this, eating something without me!”
“Anyway, the smell of what you’re going to eat is supernatural.”
“Rose, sis!”
Almost like quarreling, the two of them lay down on the bed again.
Although it’s a bit cramped now that they’re all grown up, Rose’s bed still smelled warm and cozy.
“Shall we all sleep here tonight?”
“Is that okay?”
“I’m in the mood. Freesia, lie down in the middle.”
Although they might end up pushing each other off the bed, it was Rose’s wish, and they gladly accommodated it.
Lying between her older and younger sisters, Freesia silently prayed for peace to continue like this in the future.
But life never worked out the way she wanted it to.
***
The next day, Rose returned to her usual self as if nothing had happened.
“Freesia, you’re truly amazing.”
According to Mileva, Rose came in last night with dark circles under her eyes, muttering incomprehensible words.
Freesia’s magic seemed to have some effect, as Rose, who was in a low mood last night, was now surprisingly bright and cheerful.
“Amazing indeed. I’m glad that Sister is feeling better.”
With renewed energy, Rose left early for a meeting of noble heirs.
Lily, who had gone to bed late and woke up late, rushed to prepare and went straight to her friend’s house.
“I’ll go by myself today.”
“Are you sure it’s okay to go without your sister?”
“What am I, a child? She said she would send a carriage, so you don’t have to worry.”
Lady Blado, who had come from abroad as the wife of Viscount Blado, liked Lily very much. Normally, Freesia would accompany Lily as a guardian, but Lily waved her hand, assuring her that it was okay.
“I’m really fine now. Don’t worry.”
Thinking about the condition Lily was in when she first woke up, Freesia couldn’t help but feel a bit uneasy.
“Smile Love”