I Become the Villain's Bride - Chapter 44

Chapter 44

“People aren’t objects! How could they treat our sister like that?”

“I don’t think Matthew would go that far. Nevertheless, Lady Naphier had to consider her family’s position.”

“But that doesn’t give her the right to treat our sister like that. Would Sohee just let it go?”

“Of course not. It’s just that I understand Lady Naphier’s position. I’ve always been on Lily’s side.”

“Sohee!”

Even though their circle of friends had diminished, Lily couldn’t calm her anger.

Freesia was the only one she could call her sister.

The girls they met last time had shyly called Freesia their sister, too, as if they had the right to.

“And you act like you know all about Alster’s books. Me and my sister have been fans of them for a long time.”

“Thanks to Lily, I’ve been reading it too, and I really enjoy it, even if there are still some words I don’t understand.”

Looking at Sohee, who was truly cheerful in a very different sense than Freesia, the anger that had been simmering in her subsided a little. 

She knows best that she’s just grumpy because she lost her sister.

“She’s our sister.”

With tears like pearls in her eyes, Lily rips at the hem of her innocent dress and vents her frustration.

With her younger friend, who still has no intention of graduating from her sister, by her side, Sohee has a special gift for her.

“Come on, come with me to the palace library, my husband says there are some of Alster’s books there that have yet to be recovered.”

“You don’t mean Lady Margaret?”

It’s a fantasy book that even Freesia, who loves Alster so much, couldn’t bring herself to retrieve. Even if she lost her memory, reading it would bring her back to her senses.

“I want to go, I want to go!”

“I knew you would, and I’ve already arranged a carriage for you.”

The boring life in a foreign country is not boring because of a young friend who is always full of events.

At the same time.

“And so, today we’ve decided to go together.”

Madame Benoit expressed her intention to go out after a long time, with the meaning that she couldn’t leave Freesia alone. In response, Rashita also volunteered to wear a dress.

“The palace may be uncomfortable in many ways, but I don’t dislike wearing dresses.”

“It seems like things are getting bigger and bigger.”

Princess Hyacinth, at least to the extent that Freesia knows, is the smart and intelligent daughter of the Emperor.

She thought they were invited just to maintain friendly relations at the level of the Crowford Dukes, but for some reason, everyone is fully prepared as if they are going into battle.

“I hope they don’t peek under the lady’s dress.”

“Still, just in case, let’s fold the axe and take it with us.”

“Madame Benoit, what is that cane?”

“It’s a toy I used when I was a kid, I don’t know if it still works.”

She swung the worn-out wooden cane lightly towards the sky, and with a bang, the tree beyond shattered into pieces.

Birds that didn’t understand English flew into the sky, and Freesia, watching them, asked nonchalantly to Madame Brunoir, who seemed fearless.

“Did you use magic?”

“A little when I was young. It’s not a big deal. Everyone can do this, right?”

She said it so casually, but Freesia couldn’t even think of touching that cane.

At first, it was just a worn-out wooden cane, but upon closer inspection, Freesia noticed that the dots that looked like lines next to it were actually densely packed mahjong stones.

“In that case, the little one doesn’t need to come with us today. What do you think? Are you still coming?”

Rashita looked intently at Luca, holding a folding hand axe.

It meant that she was confident enough that Luca wasn’t needed, but Luca, still young, didn’t catch the hidden meaning.

“It’s my job to accompany Lady Freesia. Besides, I’ve never been to the palace before, so I really want to go this time.”

Even though she had been impolite last night, the Duke had given Luca a way to pass this situation.

“Then let’s go together. Opportunities like this don’t come often, so it will surely be a good experience.”

Freesia gladly accepted Luca’s company, feeling that if she wanted to go, she had to comply for some reason.

“Come to think of it, I was told I had a younger sibling.”

She had heard the story, but for some reason, it didn’t feel real, like someone else’s story. Last time, she didn’t have the experience to properly talk with her sister, which bothered her a bit.

“Madame Benoit, why are you wearing a maid’s outfit?”

“I changed it myself when the household changed. I wanted to try wearing it myself.”

With the attention-grabbing Rashita attracting people’s attention, Madame Benoit disguised as a maid to protect Freesia from behind.

“Why is everyone so cautious?”

“The princess is a bad person.”

Madame Benoit started to scare Freesia, warning her not to let her guard down.

“Last time, Wilfred got into big trouble because of her charming smile.”

“What did I do wrong?”

“Freesia did nothing wrong. If there’s any wrongdoing, it’s the wicked princess’s wrongdoing.”

With a playful smile, Madame Benoit firmly held Freesia’s hand, adorned with a neat decoration.

“If you put your mouth to the food from the other world, you can never return to this world. So, no matter who gives you something, don’t put your mouth to it carelessly. Got it?”

“If I knew this, I would have been better off not making any promises.”

The reason for visiting the library was stated to be Freesia’s strong request before losing her memory. Now, she claimed it was to read the fantasy book that was not even being sold, but Freesia had no memory of that book.

It seemed like everyone was getting annoyed, so at first, Freesia considered canceling the meeting.

“He said that. He said if your memories come back, you’ll surely regret it.”

“…I didn’t know. Wilfred, who was always stuck in his corner, turns out to be such a pure-hearted guy.”

“Rashita too. She’s so blunt with us. I wonder how affectionate she is towards Freesia.”

“In that case, boy, during our visit to the palace, you should make yourself scarce.”

“What? But I…”

While escorting was the purpose, as long as Rashita was in the carriage, there was no reason to worry about her safety.

Using this flimsy excuse to chase Luca away, Madame Benoit firmly grasped Freesia’s delicate hand and quietly began to probe her thoughts.

“By the way, it’s already been six months since your marriage?”

“That’s what I heard.”

“What do you think of Wilfred?”

She might not be her biological mother, but legally, she was her mother. Madame Benoit gently probed Freesia’s thoughts with a soft voice.

Even though the two were young, succession issues were important. Madame Benoit, who once distanced herself from women, now meticulously scrutinized the carriage, fearing potential scandals.

“I still don’t believe it, to be honest,” she said, “because he’s such a wonderful man.”

“I’ve heard before, that Freesia likes handsome men.”

“Well, that boy’s face is simply stunning.”

Embarrassed by the two ladies’ onslaught, Freesia’s cheeks turned bright red. For some reason, even though everyone’s preferences were openly revealed, there was no need to hide anything.

“I feel excited just watching him.”

“Since the lights never go out at night. We’re curious about what the two of you are up to.”

“Uh, well, that’s…”

For Freesia, who had lost her memory, Wilfred willingly took out her favorite book from the shelf.

Late at night, under the flickering light, wearing glasses, he read her favorite book with a tender voice.

“He read you a book?”

“At first, I wasn’t very interested just by the title, but I listened attentively because of his sincerity.”

With a pregnant wife running away and his past being revealed, the male protagonist seemed nothing but trash. But when he said that, for some reason, Wilfred smiled warmly and gently stroked Freesia’s head multiple times.

“Is that all?”

“Oh, we kissed before going to bed.”

With no memory at all, it felt like experiencing the first kiss all over again. In front of the bashful Freesia, the two ladies were caught in a serious dilemma.

“I think this is serious.”

“Yes, it is.”

Gripping Freesia’s hand tightly with a bright smile, Madame Benoit asked with a serious expression.

“Do you know how babies are made?”

“Of course. I remember all the basics.”

Freesia chuckled. But unlike Freesia’s carefree laughter, Madame Benoit clutched her head like a burned-out matchstick.

Since the relationship between the two was so good, there was no need to worry about these kinds of concerns. Waiting for the sound of a baby’s cry to come someday, Freesia felt quite excited, but that was just her own misconception.

* * *

“Rashita, you are entering the palace. The sun must have risen in the west today.”

Despite Rashita’s unexpected appearance, the empress managed to maintain her composure.

“I was grateful last time. I came to express my thanks on behalf of Crowford.”

Since they would hold a grudge about giving their child alcohol and sending them back, Rashita openly showed her enmity.

Even though both were smiling, why was there so much tension in the air? While Rashita dealt with the empress, Freesia glanced halfway into the open library.

“I’ll excuse myself for a moment.”

Madame Benoit stepped in first and inspected the interior. After thoroughly scanning with magic, she tapped Luca’s shoulder reassuringly.

“You can rest assured there’s no ambush, and I’m going to go help over there, since Rashita won’t be able to do it alone.”

In the empty library, Freesia watched the endless rows of books.

“So this is the royal library.”

The repository of knowledge, the root of the kingdom. The place where all the books published within the kingdom gathered.

“…This book.”

Even though all her memories were gone, her body remembered.

Amidst the countless criticisms hidden in the dusty shelves, the moment she faced the lone book that had carried on its lineage despite everything, a faint memory surfaced in her mind.

[The lonely duke’s only understanding; the goddess of victory, who had saved him from danger at every turn, was cursed and driven into a deep sleep].

The first sentence of “Lady Margaret” felt strangely familiar, as if she had seen it somewhere before.

“Smile Love”