I Become the Villain's Bride - Chapter 46

Chapter 46

Could such a thing really be possible? Facing him as she empathized with her husband, Freesia gave a faint smile.

“Who knows? Perhaps it would have been better if those two had never met.”

Suddenly, with a clatter, Wilfred dropped his spoon.

Stopping Freesia from reaching out, he asked, his expression troubled, “Why did you think of that?”

It’s not easy to explain a reason so suddenly.

With him so earnest in front of her, Freesia also spoke seriously, giving her honest conclusion.

“I’m not sure he truly loved his wife.”

“What do you mean?”

“Sympathy or guilt isn’t the same as love.”

If it had been genuine love, he would have cherished her more.

This wasn’t exactly the kind of conversation men might like, yet he was deeply serious as he grasped Freesia’s hand tightly.

“People who grow up being loved aren’t stingy about giving love. But fools who don’t even know how to receive love often make such mistakes too easily.”

“For some reason, it feels like you’re making excuses for him.”

On the way back in the carriage, Madame Benoit had told her that she wasn’t his real mother.

The strongest must wield the greatest power.

In line with Crawford’s teachings, he had eliminated all his half-brothers and taken the family’s throne.

Family, inheritance, successor.

In the stories that followed, his childhood seemed to revolve solely around those three words, with no room for any other descriptions.

“You said it wasn’t your fault I lost my memory in the first place.”

Even Lily, who hated her husband, had made it clear that she was devastated by the betrayal of someone who had been like a mother to her.

“You were always afraid of me.”

“I’m not, really.”

“I don’t like it when you care too much about others.”

“Do you want to control me that much?”

At the large man’s grumbling tone, Freesia smiled lazily and began to tease him.

It would be nice if he could just say so when he feels possessive. Unlike Lily, who openly cried, this man was terribly bad at expressing his feelings.

“I want …… exclusively.”

“I never imagined you’d say something so cute.”

“Cute?”

Even though they were circling around it, there was only one conclusion. But in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to say the words.

With eyes like those of a child who didn’t want to be abandoned, he gently lifted Freesia’s hand and kissed it.

“Are you afraid that I might have an affair?”

“I’m worried that you’ll find someone you like more than me.”

“If I said I wanted to leave, would you let me go?”

The moment she spoke, he shook his head fiercely, biting his lip. It seemed that if she teased him any further, he might actually start crying.

As Freesia gently stroked the glossy tips of his nails, she willingly opened her arms to him.

“Come here. I’ll hold you.”

Though his expression was as cold as if not a drop of blood would spill from him, even he seemed to need warmth. Without any hesitation, he pulled Freesia’s delicate body into a tight embrace.

“If I could see you happy, I would do anything.”

His trembling touch was full of sincerity.

As he buried his head into her chest like a child, Freesia softly stroked his hair, a gentle smile spreading across her face, unaware of anything else.

“You must have been really scared.”

“I was… terrified. I was afraid and struggled with the thought that you, with no memory, might disappear and leave me behind.”

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

The strength in his arms increased, his grip tightening around her. Unlike Lily’s soft, yielding body, he was firm and solid.

“I met Lily today. You know, she recognized me right away.”

“……What did she tell you?”

At the mention of his sister, his brow furrowed immediately.

“You do have quite the reputation. She was crying, saying, ‘My sister is mine,’ so for a moment, I even thought about returning to Devlanc.”

“….”

His hold on her tightened further, a clear sign that he had no intention of letting her go, which only made Freesia laugh.

“Don’t you want to let me go?”

“I want you to stay by my side.”

“Is just sitting next to you enough? That’s disappointing. I want to kiss you, too.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, his lips brushed lightly against hers.

With so much passion simmering beneath the surface, she wondered why he had held back for so long.

As they exchanged several light, fleeting kisses, Freesia pressed her forehead against his.

The answer was clear, yet he found it so difficult to say the words.

“I like you, Freesia.”

“Like pudding or plum pie?”

“…I love you.”

“Good job. I love you too.”

She gave his nose a quick peck, and a blush spread across his usually stoic cheeks.

Even as embarrassment and shyness welled up, his feelings were undeniable. Though saying it for the first time had been the hardest part, he continued to whisper those words over and over as he held Freesia close.

“Will you forget even this moment when your memories return?”

“If I do forget, then it’ll be your turn. You’ll have to remind me how much you love me and tell me gently.”

Even when all her memories had vanished, this person had felt strangely familiar. Amidst strangers, she had instinctively known that this man was the most important person to her.

The book she had read earlier also felt oddly familiar. The image of the man who had changed after his wife’s death was vividly clear in her mind for some reason.

The foolish man had seemed to hate the young boy, yet he never killed the boy who was his obstacle. The boy was already too strong to be killed by anyone.

The man must have been smiling as he watched the boy grow up, day by day, because he was already too strong to die at the hands of someone else.

Alas, he wondered if this boy would come to kill him.

“I don’t want you to feel sorry for yourself, because I really do care about you.”

“But you didn’t trust my feelings.”

“Maybe it was because I liked you too much. Even from long ago, even before I could remember, I think I’ve always loved you.”

Though she couldn’t logically explain it, Freesia’s heart raced wildly, different from how it felt with Lily.

The unexpected scent of acacia wafted in through the window. She wondered what kind of love she had shared with this man before her memories vanished.

Why was it that, despite his clumsy way of expressing love, he seemed so endearing as he whispered those words with all his effort?

Freesia, overwhelmed with emotion, touched his cheek and began to pour out the words that filled her heart.

“I used to spend my days wondering what kind of love you would show, what kind of future we would have together to the point where it’s a bit much?”

“That’s quite an honor.”

“I thought it was a love I could never have. But now that I’m married to you, I must have been both happy and scared, right?”

After sharing several kisses, they naturally locked eyes. Freesia entwined her fingers with his and climbed onto his lap.

By now, they were alone in the dining room, with not a soul in sight.

“Maybe it’s because I don’t have my memories… It feels like I’m doing this for the first time.”

“It is the first time. You’ve always rejected me.”

“Rejected you?”

Without pushing away the hand that had boldly slipped under her skirt, Freesia inwardly scolded her past self, who no longer existed in her memory.

“Why would I do something so foolish!”

“Because you thought I had someone else.”

As she undid the buttons on his shirt, Freesia decided to remain silent and feign ignorance.

“That’s nonsense. Just by looking into your eyes, it’s obvious.”

The neatly tied knots came undone, and a deep, lingering kiss followed.

By the time they reached the bed, where no one could intrude, not a single button was left on his shirt.

As her dress, lush like candy wrappers, fell away, Freesia felt a mix of anticipation and fear, with trembling excitement taking hold.

“Won’t you regret this?”

“What about you? Are you confident you won’t regret it?”

Stopping now would surely bring regret.

His eyes sparkled like a lit fuse, igniting flames within them.

In the intense embrace, Freesia tightly shut her eyes.

“Wil, I…!”

“It’s okay. I won’t hurt you.”

The rhythmic beating of his heart swept over her like a wave, washing away her reason.

She felt as though she was on the brink of remembering something, but the overwhelming pleasure left her mind awash with sweetness, as if it had melted away.

As his lips trailed down her neck, biting softly, she realized something.

When she looked into his serious eyes, she understood.

They had come too far to turn back.

“Wil.”

Biting her lip lightly, Freesia squeezed her eyes shut.

The places where his now familiar touch lingered felt like catalysts, igniting an unfamiliar yet intoxicating sensation.

Even the sound of her clothes falling to the floor seemed exaggeratedly loud.

Swallowing her racing heart, Freesia cautiously opened her eyes.

The moonlight pouring into the dark room illuminated his golden hair.

As she gazed into his deep blue eyes, forgotten memories began to resurface.

The Viscountess of Naphier had been wrong when she said Freesia was worthless.

“I need you.”

As she surrendered to the yearning whisper, Freesia struggled to catch her breath.

To be loved so completely felt as if a gaping hole in her heart had finally been filled, making everything feel perfect at last.

*  *  *

Their long-delayed wedding night finally happened.

“Bring the key.”

After Madame Benoit stepped down from the position of Duchess, the inner chamber that had remained vacant for a while was redecorated to suit the taste of the new mistress.

Though she hadn’t interfered with a single detail, the finished room was exactly like the one she had seen in her dreams—down to the smallest detail, so much so that it gave her chills.

“…Freesia.”

He laid his exhausted wife, who had fallen asleep knowing nothing, on the bed. Then, he brought warm water himself and soaked a soft cloth in it, gently wiping away the marks his lips had left on her skin, he tried to erase the wistful visions.

Left alone in this room, filled with traces of her, he grabbed a sharp paper knife and repeatedly slashed his left arm. He wished he could follow her in death, but suicide would bar him from heaven.

“I know it was just a dream.”

But why did the pain in his throbbing arm feel so real?

As he sat by Freesia, who was sleeping like the dead, he was tormented by painful memories.