I Become the Villain's Bride - Chapter 77

Chapter 77

“Were you surprised yesterday? You seemed a bit dizzy.”  

“Was it because of the mirror?”  

At Luca’s question, Freesia swallowed hard. Though it had proven to be completely useless, it certainly reflected the future in some way.  

“That mirror is…”  

“It’s already broken.”  

“Broken?”  

Warning bells rang in her mind, screaming that she had seen something she shouldn’t have. She couldn’t remember what had happened, but Ada insisted it was all just a nightmare.  

“It was just a bad dream.”  

Honestly, hearing that it was broken relieved her more than she expected.  

The truth was, she was scared. If the future was already predetermined, then all her efforts would be in vain.  

But the future could be changed.  

“Are you really okay now?”  

“Of course, Luca. I am invincible.”  

Why hadn’t she figured this out sooner? There were so many hints—how effortlessly the disguise suited her, and how Luca seemed to fit perfectly into the story.  

If Luca were indeed the protagonist, everything would make sense.  

“You collapsed yesterday, but you seem better today.”  

“Madame Benoit.”  

As her thoughts drifted, Madame Benoit approached with a cheerful demeanor, asking about the issue that had been on her mind.  

“Was it anemia?”  

“I think I was just a bit dizzy.”  

Freesia wanted to avoid causing unnecessary worry. So she decided to keep the mirror incident a secret from Madame Benoit.  

Sipping her hot tea, Madame Benoit sat closer to Freesia.  

“It seems Wilfred can’t help but find you adorable.”  

“I think he’s adorable too. It’s mutual.”  

They exchanged sweet sentiments, wrapping themselves in each other’s warmth until dawn. Whispering “I love you” repeatedly made her heart melt.  

As she absentmindedly stirred her tea, a smile crept onto Freesia’s face.  

“I’m really happy.”  

“I’m glad to hear that.”  

“Luca, you should go train now.”  

With that, Rashita took Luka outside, and Freesia walked with Madame Benoit toward the parlor.  

“How’s the situation with the princess?”  

“I handled it appropriately. The princess seems busy with her own matters, so she doesn’t have time to focus on this.”  

After collapsing unexpectedly, the situation had become quite awkward.  

Madame Benoit turned serious, looking at Freesia intently.  

“What kind of dream did you have?”  

Where should she even start? After a moment of contemplation, Freesia smiled.  

“It’s nothing significant.”  

“Is that so?”  

While she knew sharing her thoughts might lighten her burden, she didn’t want to lay everything bare. Although she liked Madame Benoit, she wasn’t ready to reveal all her secrets.  

As the rich fragrance of freshly picked flowers wafted in from the garden, Madame Benoit suddenly reminisced.  

“Wilfred used to be like that. Always saying it was nothing to worry about.”  

“Really?”  

“When he was younger, he was quite timid. He cried easily and looked up to his youngest uncle a lot…”  

Her youngest uncle must have been Rashita’s husband. She had heard that he had died unexpectedly while protecting Wilfred amidst the power struggles of their family.  

“I can’t imagine that.”  

“He wasn’t born as such a prickly person. He was quite adorable as a child.”  

Wilfred, born into the Crowford family as a middle child, hadn’t stood out much among his peers.  

“None of us expected he would become the head of the family.”  

“I’ve heard the stories.”  

They had been pushed to the brink of murder over the family’s succession rights.  

It was absurd that no one tried to stop such madness, where one had to kill their own flesh and blood to survive.  

“Not everyone gets along like you two do.”  

“That’s unfair.”  

“Especially considering I never imagined he could manage married life. I wonder where he found someone as lovely as you.”  

She had noticed how caring he had been toward Luca lately, as if he were a second father.  

“Still, I worry a bit about him overexerting himself.”  

“That won’t happen. He’s probably the happiest he’s ever been.”  

“Really?”  

“Someone who wouldn’t step in for bothersome matters is now acting as a guardian. It’s hard to imagine what’ll happen next.”  

“True.”  

Lily had despised Wilfred for a long time, yet now they seemed to be getting closer.  

She didn’t suspect infidelity or jealousy, but something felt off.  

“Somehow, it makes me uneasy.”  

How could two people who once seemed to be like oil and water suddenly come together?  

It felt like an ominous plot was brewing somewhere nearby.  

*  *  *  

“I didn’t expect you to take the initiative like this.”  

“For my cute sister-in-law, I’ll gladly step up.”  

Neither of them wore a hint of a smile, walking side by side with an air of tension.  

Rumors had already spread that Lily had been tackling difficult issues on her own.  

Bringing along her gentle sister was practically a death sentence in such an uncomfortable situation.  

“Rose is not really busy.”  

Her older sister, who was all show and no substance, would definitely internalize others’ disdain and end up hurt.  

It would be better to bring someone who wouldn’t be affected by any barbs thrown their way.  

“I knew it.”  

“I figured you would.”  

She was all too aware of how sly her brother-in-law could be.  

He had taken a place beside her weaker sister, pretending to be oblivious while fully aware of everything.

“Duke Crowford, what brings you here?”  

“I’m here as my sister-in-law’s guardian. Is there a problem?”  

Looking around, all the other ladies were with their mothers. But Lily had no one to accompany her to such an event.  

Even though they were alive, her parents couldn’t fulfill their roles. Forcing them to come would only lead to embarrassment.  

For a moment, tears threatened to spill, and she bit her lip to hold them back.  

“Give me your hand, Lily.”  

“Yes, brother-in-law.”  

At one time, their visual pairing was so perfect it could have sparked an official scandal.  

Even standing next to the breathtakingly beautiful Lily, the Duke of Crowford didn’t fall short in looks at all.  

Despite the bad rumors swirling around him, he was undeniably one of the most handsome men in the Empire.  

“Oh my…”  

“How charming.”  

If Freesia had been there, things might have been different, but today, the Duke kept a slightly more relaxed demeanor by Lily’s side.  

“Isn’t that a bit too casual?”  

“My kindness is reserved exclusively for my wife.”  

Though there was an ongoing tension between the two, to onlookers, it merely appeared as…  

“Thank you, wonderful brother-in-law.”  

“Feel free to ask me for anything, our adorable sister-in-law.”  

…an affectionate exchange.  

The unexpected visit from the Duke made the attendants fidget nervously, asking,  

“Shall I switch the chairs?”  

“It seems life at court is quite challenging these days.”  

Everyone had expected that Freesia, not him, would attend this event, so he needed to establish his presence firmly.  

Glancing at the crocodile leather chair hastily brought over, he willingly relinquished it for Lily.  

“Lady first.”  

“You truly are the best, brother-in-law.”  

Lily basked in the spotlight, enjoying the situation with an elegant smile. If Freesia had been present, she would never have revealed her true colors, but here, with no one she needed to impress, she could fully embrace her sinister nature without concern.  

“Our sister looks lovely in pearls.”  

“Really?”  

“I prefer rubies, though.”  

“…Indeed.”  

In exchange for sharing what she liked, she felt she could at least accept a ruby.  

Though her brother-in-law had little more than money to his name, he was willing to pay a fair price to obtain what he wanted.  

Had he even so much as touched her sister’s hand, he would have done whatever it took to break them apart.  

“Keep that in mind.”  

The man who would never extend such kindness to anyone else had come all this way for only one reason.  

He had just one person to protect.  

For that person, Lily could do anything as well.  

“It would be wise not to let the Empress see through your intentions.”  

“Brother-in-law, I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t make any blunders that could bring me trouble.”  

Exchanging warm smiles and gazes, the two engaged in a subtle battle of wits.  

“Oh, how sweet you are.”  

Of course, since the onlookers couldn’t hear their conversation, they merely saw a beautiful scene unfold.  

“I pay my respects to Her Majesty, the Empress.”  

The Empress, who rarely showed her face, finally made an appearance.  

Among the esteemed ladies present, only Lily sat beside the Duke of Crowford. Everyone eyed them curiously, trying to guess her motives without daring to speak up.  

“It’s been a long time since you graced us with your presence, Duke.”  

“Marriage is a meeting of families, so it is only fitting that I, as the guardian, take this step.”  

“I thought the Duchess would be accompanying you. What brings you here in such a fine company?”  

Wilfred smirked as he shot a glare at the princess, who insisted on chiming in.  

“I’ve instructed her to rest well today after pushing herself these last few days.”  

“I heard she collapsed last time.”  

“It’s all my fault.”  

The shameless brother-in-law spoke without a hint of embarrassment, his audacity strangely effective.  

“Well, you are newlyweds, after all.”  

Hearing such unexpected remarks from someone who seemed so composed added a significant impact.  

Just then, the person they had all been waiting for finally appeared from down the hallway.  

“His Highness, the Crown Prince, has arrived.”