I Become the Villain's Bride - Chapter 70

Chapter 70

He had grown so accustomed to his false identity that he often forgot it himself.  

“Do you really think you’re Luca Bailey now?” Rashita’s words hit him like cold water, and his mood plummeted as if he had sunk to the depths of a dungeon.  

“Don’t fool yourself. Freesia is kind to everyone.”  

“I know.”  

He already knew, without needing to be told.  

He knew that he was receiving far more hospitality than an orphan deserved, and that he was deceiving Freesia in the process. Everything was like a glass castle built according to the Duke’s will—fragile and replaceable.  

If not him, they could easily find another substitute.  

“Rashita, the master is looking for you.”  

“You’d better behave. If you keep acting like that, I won’t let it slide next time.”  

“I’m sorry.”  

He knew it had been foolish of him.  

Every time he clung to Freesia, he saw how it troubled her—but knowing that didn’t make the anxiety disappear.  

What would happen if he were expelled from here? Where would he go?  

Gripped by vague fear, Luca made his way to the dining room, where Freesia was waiting.  

“Hello, Luca. I heard you trained hard all morning.”  

“I was sweating a lot. I’ll go wash up.”  

“My lady, the master would like you to join him for lunch.”  

Even the rare chance to share a meal together seemed to slip away.  

“Then what about Luca? I can’t leave him alone.”  

“We’ll take care of him. Please come this way.”  

Rashita’s warning quickly became reality.  

By the time they finished their late lunch, the Duke himself had summoned Luca to his study.

With a sinking feeling of regret, Luca opened the door with his head bowed low, unable to look up.

The sight of the Duke and Duchess seated side by side made his miserable predicament all the more painful.

“Did you enjoy your lunch, Luca?”  

“I’m sorry.”  

“Hm?”  

He wasn’t sure what to say, but he knew he didn’t want to be thrown out.  

Unlike Freesia, who seemed unaware, the Duke’s gaze suggested he knew everything.  

“I made a mistake. Please, just forgive me for this once.”  

“And what exactly did you do wrong?”  

The Duke’s voice was colder than usual, making Luca’s heart drop. After several tries, Luca finally managed to speak.  

“I… I…”  

“You’re unbelievable. Couldn’t you have been gentler with him?”  

Before Luca could finish, Freesia pulled him into a tight embrace.  

Caught off guard, Luca opened and closed his mouth in confusion. Freesia smiled softly, brushing his hair like he was a child.  

“You must have felt so lonely, Luca.”  

“Freesia…”  

“If it’s too hard, how about we visit your mother together? I’ve been so busy lately. I feel bad for making things tough on you.”  

“I don’t want to go. Please let me stay here. I promise I won’t do it again.”  

“There’s still a lot to do, so you should take a few days to rest.”  

The Duke’s firm declaration snapped Luca out of his panic. He had been convinced he was about to be thrown out, but Freesia surprised him with something entirely different.  

“The princess sent another invitation. This time, Fieldram can’t attend, so I need you to protect me.”  

“The guests will probably be noblewomen, so putting on a little show should be enough to keep their attention.”  

“No need for any show. You just need to stay by my side and eat all the delicious food.”  

“I’m… not being kicked out?”  

Before he could stop himself, the words slipped out.  

Freesia ruffled his hair with a mischievous grin.  

“Luca is our child. No one’s going to take you away from us. Isn’t that right, dear?”  

“You can’t run away because it’s hard.”

“I won’t! Never!”  

Flushed with embarrassment, Luca shook his head furiously.  

He had been so certain he would be thrown out, but hearing her call him our child made him feel like crying.  

“I want to stay here.”  

“Of course. But you should still visit your mother sometimes.”  

“That’s…”  

“I’ll arrange a date for you. It’s a difficult conversation to initiate on your own, I know.”  

Thanks to the Duke’s intervention, the delicate situation was averted—for now.  

The Duke stood and tousled Luca’s hair with a rare gesture of affection.  

“I don’t intend to bring any other child into this house.”  

“But…”  

“It’s you. You’re the only one. You’re the one who will protect Freesia—and the one who will protect our future child.”  

Our future child.  

That phrase struck Luca like a blow.

When Madame Benoit’s long-awaited heir is born, it will be his duty to protect that child too.  

That much will never change.  

“I understand, Lord Wilfred.”  

Luca bowed his head and swallowed hard, forcing down the tears that threatened to escape.  

As he stepped out of the room, Rashita greeted him with a smug smirk and gave his shoulder a shove.  

“You’re really making that face over just a few words? You’ve still got a long way to go.”  

“Rashita…”  

“I’ve taught you some things, haven’t I? Until I get a new student, I’ll make sure you’re properly trained. Better be ready for it.”  

“I’ll do my best! I really, really will!”  

Unaware of how loudly he was shouting, Luca’s determination made Freesia burst out laughing along with him.  

It was so easy to read his thoughts—so transparent. Though Luca didn’t realize it himself, one thing lingered in Freesia’s mind.  

“Do you want to have a child?”  

“Why wouldn’t I?”  

“No, I mean… I thought you didn’t like children.”  

In the original story—and even in <Lady Margaret>, which seemed inspired by it—the Duke had shown no interest in having children.  

In <Lady Margaret>, in particular, the Duke had gone out of his way to avoid having a child, making it clear he didn’t want one at all.  

“I thought you hated kids.”  

“I did. My father was a cruel man.”  

“Your father?”  

“We can talk about that later. For now, we’ve got things to do.”  

They still needed to accept the princess’s invitation—and take Luca to visit the Viscountess of Blado’s estate for some practice.  

Their busy schedules loomed ahead, but with Wilfred by her side, Freesia felt she could handle anything. She squeezed his hand tightly.  

“You were really cool today.”  

“This? It was nothing.”  

“When someone gives you a compliment, just accept it. You really have the strangest personality.”  

“And who was it that spent the entire night with this strange man?”  

“Th-that was—why do you always say things like that?”  

Though she’d pushed herself a little too hard last night as a reward, it wasn’t exactly the kind of topic she wanted to discuss in daylight.  

Wilfred smirked and nipped lightly at her neck, making her blush even more.  

“Being a good boy pays off. Just saying.”  

“Enough already.”  

After playfully smacking him on the head, Freesia glanced over at Luca, who was now bubbling with excitement.  

“Maybe that’s what scared me.”  

“What did?”  

“I was afraid that I didn’t belong here.”  

The fear of losing everything—his life, and the tragic future that seemed inevitable—had weighed him down so much that Luca had struggled to confront his own feelings.  

“I thought… if you found someone you really loved, I’d have to step aside.”  

“That’s ridiculous.”  

Wilfred scowled, his irritation showing as he pulled Freesia into a firm embrace from behind.  

“My love is for you. Only you.”  

Freesia hadn’t expected to feel so grateful for the predictable plot of the original story. She had once cursed the fact that her partner was married in the narrative, but now she felt she had struck gold.  

If only Luca had been the protagonist, everything would’ve been perfect.  

Leaning into Wilfred’s affectionate touch, Freesia looked out the window with a peaceful heart.  

—

Receiving the invitation to the upcoming gathering didn’t bring much joy.  

Sophie swallowed nervously as she faced the princess.  

“To think Her Highness would come in person… It’s truly an honor.”  

“You’ve gotten much better at our language. You were so awkward when we first met.”  

“I had a good friend as a teacher.”  

As a countess from the Eastern Continent, Sophie had been ostracized in social circles for her awkward language skills. The only person who had befriended her during that time was Lily, who had also been shunned by others.  

Later, when her husband’s business flourished, people began flocking to Sophie, eager to build connections. But knowing whom to trust or align with was difficult. Lily had become Sophie’s trusted guide in this unfamiliar world.  

‘Remember, the princess is a high-level threat,’ Lily had warned her once. ‘She’s the kind of person who’s already swallowed ten snakes whole.’  

That warning still rang clear in Sophie’s mind. Every word spoken to the princess had to be carefully measured—one mistake, and it could come back to haunt her.  

“I was worried you disliked others since you only spend time with Lily Devlanc.”  

“Thanks to Lily, I’ve made many friends. I’ve even been spending time with Lady Crowford recently, and every day has been a delight.”  

The princess had always dominated the social scene, but Lady Crowford’s entry into high society had shaken things up. With the imperial heir secure, the remaining royals faced lives far from power.  

‘And if Lily really becomes the crown princess…’  

The princess, who already disliked Freesia, would do everything to thwart Lily’s ambitions.  

“Lady Lily can be immature at times. The Viscountess of Blado must have her hands full.”  

“That only makes her more endearing. And since her sister’s marriage, Lily has become much more mature. I truly rely on her.”  

“Really?”  

“Of course.”  

Despite the smiles they exchanged, the air between them bristled with tension. Only the two women seemed able to maintain their composure.  

Each time the princess tried to undermine Lily, Sophie would subtly shift the conversation back to Lily’s virtues, blocking any chance for gossip.  

“There are many who wish to befriend you, but you’re always with Lady Lily. It’s a shame.”  

“Lily is my closest friend. She’s the person I feel most comfortable with.”  

“You won’t regret that?”  

Even though the question was laced with thinly veiled threat, Sophie stood firm.  

“Of course not. I plan to support Lily wholeheartedly in the selection for the crown princess.”