I Become the Villain's Bride - Chapter 40

Chapter 40

Freesia wasn’t the smart older sister or the beautiful younger sister, so why did she choose Freesia? Come to think of it, even that was clearly a statement made by Lady Naphier.

“I know I’m not worth much.”

On the rare occasions she did go to balls, Matthew was always by her side.

Although she thought she was unnoticeable and lacked presence, the rumors in society about Freesia’s reality were somewhat different.

The treasure of Devlanc. The precious young lady.

Even though her sister and younger sibling clearly called her that, why did she always think that way?

“You always told me,” she said, “that even I, so unremarkable, so good at nothing, would find someone who would love me with all his heart!”

“So, is that person the Duke of Crowford?”

As she nodded her head, Lady Naphier burst into laughter.

“It seems you’re too presumptuous without even realizing it.”

“Lady, I…”

“Should I be as bold as Rose, or as lovely as Lily? What was my intention in choosing someone like you, who doesn’t stand out, as my successor?”

Words that didn’t need to be reiterated turned into daggers and pierced Freesia’s heart.

Although she wasn’t as lovely as Lily or as bold as her sister, Lady Naphier’s stern demeanor, who had comforted Freesia many times by reassuring her that someone would eventually recognize her strengths, made Freesia swallow hard.

“Perhaps that was the case at first. But now…”

“Who would have known you’d stab me in the back like this? Even if Matthew didn’t like you, he wouldn’t have given you any attention.”

“Lady.”

“My pitiful son. Even the heavens are indifferent. Despite all the kindness shown to you, you still dare to disrespect me!”

The Marquise forcefully pushed away Freesia’s outstretched hand.

What could be more painful than a rejected hand? Ada and Luca, who heard the commotion, rushed in and supported the staggering Freesia.

“What on earth are you doing!”

“Who are you to say that? It was your side that intercepted Freesia, knowing full well that marriage talks between Matthew and her were ongoing.”

If Lady Naphier herself were to take the lead in this matter, the Emperor, who had been eager to be associated with the Crown Princess, would surely not let it pass.

“No, I never…”

“It’s inappropriate to barge in like this!”

It was then. Shouts from outside the door could be heard.

Not knowing what was happening, Ada and Luca desperately went into defense mode.

“Whatever happens, we’ll protect the lady with our lives.”

With a loud bang, one of the servants flew through the air, hitting another servant hanging on the door, and collapsed on the ground.

“My lady! The Duke of Crowford!”

One of the servants, staggering and clinging to the door, was knocked to the floor by a sideways blow from his companion.

The approaching footsteps, accompanied by a man’s intense aura, made the situation even more frightening.

“What on earth is this rudeness, Duke!”

Naphier’s employees fell one by one into the hands of the soldiers with weapons. Although no one lost their life, the strong smell of blood pierced the air due to the deep wounds on their arms and legs.

As the last employee fell weakly, beyond him, the Duke’s imposing figure with a bitter expression became visible.

Without even acknowledging Lady Naphier’s trembling presence, he looked intently at Freesia, who stood awkwardly in the corner.

In the midst of Ada and Luca surrounding Freesia, a faint red handprint on her palm caught his eye.

“…What’s this?”

“I apologize, my lord.”

Approaching the trembling Freesia, he extended his hand. After hesitating for a moment, Freesia cautiously took his hand. She’d be lying if she said she wasn’t frightened by the vivid bloodstains on his gloves, but for now, she was safe because he had come.

“What’s going on here?”

As if deliberately flipping someone’s attire upside down, the Duke of Crowford casually approached and kissed Freesia’s hand.

“I wanted to see you.”

Biting his finger slightly with his lips, he tenderly caressed the part of her hand with the remaining faint handprint.

As if understanding the indescribable feelings, he held her trembling shoulders tightly and sent a cold gaze.

“We only came to fetch my wife as the party was cancelled, but Lady Naphier seems to think it’s a good time to re-educate her subordinates.”

“What kind of rudeness is this!”

Having turned half of the employees into puddles of blood, the Duke, the main culprit, remained nonchalant without batting an eyelid.

Unfazed by Lady Naphier’s angry accusations, he retorted in a cold voice.

“Seems like there’s trouble with the Dabonne family?”

Dabonne was a name Freesia had seen in the nobility records. They were a newly emerging noble family known for their lucrative pearl trade, but why suddenly mention the Dabonne family?

Seeing Lady Naphier, who looked bewildered, Wilfred grabbed Freesia’s hand.

Then, he whispered softly, audible only to her.

“Wouldn’t you leave this to me?”

Why did his affectionate voice make her feel like crying more than ever?

She still remembered the day she first came to the Naphier family, before she had grown up.

In the days when the three siblings almost fought every day, Freesia had envied Matthew so much. Unlike the divided cake shared by the three of them, Matthew monopolized their parents’ love all to himself.

She sometimes sincerely imagined herself in his shoes, hearing their parents always saying they wanted a daughter.

It was a wish she could never express in front of her siblings.

Now that she heard Lady Naphier’s true feelings, whom she had always trusted and relied on, her head was spinning.

“Escort the lady.”

After sending his pale-faced wife away first, the Duke approached Lady Naphier without hesitation.

The frightened maid sank to her knees, and the once self-assured Lady Naphier’s face now clearly showed signs of fear.

“Do you think you can just overlook such rudeness?”

“If we don’t overlook it, we’ll only retreat further. If there are no witnesses or evidence, who will judge me?”

“What?”

How could he speak so boldly? The blade in the Duke’s hand gleamed ominously.

“Before our marriage, I investigated thoroughly. Freesia Devlanc made no engagement, and you were nothing more than a guardian of the three siblings.”

“…That’s absurd!”

“I’ve already learned about all the nobles you’ve contacted. Regarding the position of Matthew Naphier’s wife, which you hoped to obtain, you speculated on various possibilities.”

Strictly speaking, Freesia was a kind of insurance for Lady Naphier, nothing more or less.

While parading Freesia around, Lady Naphier always drew a clear line.

“Everyone heard it. You said you only pitied her because she was so pitiful compared to your sisters.”

Even Freesia, who sincerely followed Lady Naphier, had come to expect such words as a matter of course. It was clear why Lady Naphier had become so outspoken.

That way, she could manipulate things as she pleased.

“When Rose was in trouble, you contacted Dabonne for a marriage proposal. You even went as far as to agree to Rose’s marriage this time, just like Lord Gondair wished.”

“Enough!”

“You tried to establish a connection with Dabonne, but even that failed, so there was nothing visible.”

Moreover, Matthew still couldn’t let go of Freesia. The three siblings only knew Lady Naphier as someone who sincerely cared for them.

“Is all of that true?”

Matthew, who rushed in upon hearing the commotion, couldn’t close his mouth in the face of his mother’s true intentions. Lady Naphier, pretending not to see her shocked son, no longer hid her vile intentions.

“I should be grateful, shouldn’t I? Who helped those who had no place to go, looking like that?”

“Mother!”

“You struck my son behind his back without even acknowledging the favor, and you expect me to forgive that girl?”

If it had come to losing the title to Lord Gondair, it might have been a different story. The Devlanc now had become an attractive family in their own right.

Rose’s business ventures were raking in money, and if Rose, who had no intention of marrying, were to die, the title would naturally pass to Freesia’s child, the second in line.

No title, no estate, and no bothersome parents made it even more appealing. The situation had turned a troublesome ugly duckling into a goose laying golden eggs, sparking even more greed.

If the two were to part ways, the royal family would gladly hand the princess over to Duke Crowford. They would willingly repay the title of Duchess, even if it was just for their son. There was only one villainess needed to take care of their one and only son.

“Please forgive her, please.”

While Lady Naphier remained relentlessly proud, her employees knelt down and begged for their mistress’s life.

Facing her, who seemed to have no intention of apologizing, the disheartened Duke Crowford turned to face a despondent Matthew.

“Do you still hold a grudge against Freesia?”

“…No. Freesia is just my closest and most precious friend.”

“Matthew!”

“Having dreams is fine, but you chose the wrong person.”

Lady Naphier couldn’t possibly have acted so arrogantly on her own, so there must be someone behind her.

Her frequent visits to the Empress’s salon lately were certainly not a coincidence. It would be simple to expose her, but…

‘If that happens, Freesia will surely be hurt.’

Just imagining her cowering in fear was painful. He couldn’t bear to be hated by her for such a reason.

“Twice won’t happen.”

Leaving behind a cold warning, the Duke Crowford walked away without looking back at the mansion.

“Smile Love”