I Become the Villain's Bride - Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Sohee joyfully held onto Lily’s hand, finding the sight of Lily pretending to be dead quite amusing.

“I’m glad I could help today.”

“I feel so pathetic.”

With lips sticking out, Lily’s appearance of pretending to be dead was oddly cute.

Thinking of Freesia, who always found her younger sister adorable, Sohee chuckled and neatly combed Lily’s hair.

“Have confidence. You need to protect Sister Freesia.”

At those words, a spark of determination flashed in Lily’s eyes.

Sohee had heard the constant refrain of “Sister Freesia” from Lily enough times. As the two sisters were so close, almost to the point of being jealous, Sohee willingly pledged to push Lily forward.

“Right. We’re supposed to protect her.”

Matthew also added his support to the conversation.

Observing the two seemingly excited friends, Sohee approached the group accompanying Duke Crawford.

* * *

“Countess Blado.”

“I received an urgent letter and came in. They said she came to exchange greetings.”

“How troublesome.”

Although he clearly knew they were coming, the duke continued to speak as if surprised, watching the approaching group.

With exotic long black hair and black eyes, the woman from the eastern continent was undoubtedly noteworthy, but the man standing beside her caught the duke’s attention more.

“Didn’t they mention Freesia’s younger sister, Lily?”

“They said she’s a friend of Countess Blado.”

“What a ridiculous ruse.”

The man standing next to him was undoubtedly the son of Marquis Naphier, someone who had already gathered some information during the preliminary investigation. It was easy for the three of them to deduce the purpose of their visit.

“Isn’t the younger sister better after all?”

“Nonsense.”

While the actual person was even more splendid, she didn’t suit his taste. Especially to properly settle the strong-willed princess, Freesia was a better choice.

“If appearance is the reason, the imperial palace would not hesitate to sprinkle hydrochloric acid on her face.”

“What a cruel thing to say.”

“Isn’t it the truth? It’s a well-known fact for those in the know, just a dark comedy.”

For someone well aware of what the empress was up to behind the scenes, it was far from a joke. While he had confidence in his own cruelty, there was no reason to choose someone else once Freesia had caught his eye.

“Foolishness, but one must know when to yield. Such types are not inclined to undertake adventures recklessly.”

“It seems you’re pleased.”

He never prioritized matters of the heart. He had realized that those with much would desire much more. While the women he met usually didn’t last more than two months, they would gracefully accept the parting with the appropriate compensation.

Freesia’s ambiguous words about not involving her family had various interpretations and intrigued him.

“Quite charming, isn’t she?”

“Excuse me?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

She was a strange woman who, despite trembling as if facing someone sent to kill her, still managed to say everything on her mind.

Who in this country would reject a proposal from Duke Crawford? He briefly considered if her act was a skillful ploy to increase her value but she seemed to have already grasped the fact that the proposal was a mere facade to silence the empress’s nonsense.

To ensure that the empress’s nonsense didn’t leak out, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to keep her close and monitor her.

Lost in such thoughts, for some reason, the younger sister of the glamorous woman, with venom in her eyes, requested an audience.

“I have something to say to His Grace. Please allow me to discuss a matter regarding someone.”

“Lily, was it? Freesia’s sister.”

“She is a friend of Countess Blado.”

“What an amusing play.”

Unlike her composed older sister, the younger one seemed very agitated. Expecting the manners of a duchess from her, despite her beauty, would be unreasonable. What he needed at the moment was someone who could be immediately deployed.

Those around him don’t understand why he would choose Freesia over Lily, but he has his own criteria.

“If you know the circumstances, it would be easier. I heard that our sister lost her shoes. She often loses her way and isn’t someone who would cause harm. So, please, forgive our sister.”

“Forgiveness?”

At the duke’s direct provocation, Lily’s face turned red. Unlike the composed elder sister Rose Devlanc, the younger sister was rather chaotic. Though each sister seemed different, there was a hint of resemblance.

Despite her immaturity, her earnest feelings towards her sister were quite moving.

“Your sister must have sent you to me on purpose. Your methods are quite cliché.”

“You’re talking too much.”

“You shouldn’t be so disrespectful of your father’s position, young Master Naphier.”

They may not be that far apart in age, but they are far apart in position.

He looked down at Matthew, still in the shadow of his parents.

“Thank you for being so willing to give us a tour today.”

“Countess Blado.”

In an attempt to restrain the arrogant Duke Crawford, Sohee stepped forward. The Devlanc family name might not be noteworthy, but Count Blado had firmly established himself as a rising power in the trading routes of the Eastern Continent.

Although the Duke had no particular reason to consider him an enemy, the only weakness of the foreigner of petite stature was that he was the only one unfamiliar with the Duke’s inner workings. Wilfred, the Duke’s son, greeted her with a kind smile, reserving the courtesy for her alone.

“Please be generous with my young friends. I don’t know what mistake Lady Freesia has made, but I’m sure she’s sincere in her love for the ball.”

“Sohee, what are you saying!”

Ignoring the distressed outcry from Lily, Sohee faced him with a composed smile. He, hearing what he had never expected, repeated her words.

“Are you saying that Lady Freesia has feelings for me?”

“I heard that Lady Freesia was shocked after receiving a letter. Even if she made a slight mistake, please understand the sincere heart of a shy girl.”

Though things were going well for her, they hadn’t yet figured out what was happening on the other side. He looked at Matthew and Lily standing side by side and graciously thanked Sohee.

“Lady Freesia making a mistake. That’s hard to believe.”

“What then?”

“Well, what should I say about this?”

Looking at Matthew and Lily next to him, he felt a bit guilty, wanting to tease them more.

“For now, let’s say she fell in love at first sight. Since she came just after delivering a proposal.”

* * *

“Are you crazy, are you out of your mind?”

The place where the duke had left had been ravaged more murderously than a battlefield.

Freesia, who had already been beaten to a pulp, hid under the covers, while an agitated Lily tried to pull her sister out of it.

“Just calm down, we need to hear the story of what happened.”

Matthew, attempting to pacify Lily, seemed grateful for her energy but had no intention of taking her out.

It wasn’t until the nanny arrived and took Lily away that Matthew sat down at the head of the bed and gently ran a hand through Freesia’s hair, which was peeking out from under the covers.

“I think I deserve an explanation, at least.”

“I didn’t do it on purpose. I really thought it was a duel or something.”

“Duel?”

Freesia, barely out from under the covers, pulled out a mangled letter.

The handwriting was atrocious, but Matthew, familiar with similar types of letters, read it skillfully.

“As a nobleman’s responsibility for the prosperity and well-being of the empire, marriage contracts must be handled with the utmost discretion, and as your character and disposition are indeed admirable, I hereby propose to you in the name of Crowford. In fulfilling your future responsibilities as a nobleman, you will pay the price of honoring the name of your country and your family…….. This is a marriage proposal?”

“I thought it was a sincere invitation to fight with a grudge.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“That’s…….”

If she said anything about what had happened between the empress and the duke, it could escalate.

Pushing through her frustration, Freesia tried to come up with an excuse that no one would believe.

“I made a mistake with the Duke, and I lost my shoe.”

“The Duke said it was love at first sight when he saw you.”

“Nonsense!”

What a strange thing to hear. All she wanted to do was cry.

But Matthew was serious, gripping her shoulders and repeating over and over again.

“The Duke is in a hurry to marry you . I don’t know why he’s holding onto you, but there’s nothing we can do. You must marry me.”

“What did you say?”

“Let’s get married, Freesia Devlanc.”

She doubted her ears at Matthew’s words, which she had never considered before.

It was not a situation to joke about, but he tried to persuade Freesia with an endlessly serious face.

“If you are designated as the wife of Viscount Naphièr, the duke cannot proceed with the marriage as he pleases.”

“That’s…”

She already knew that he wasn’t someone to listen to nicely, but she couldn’t just involve Matthew recklessly.

“Do you think I’ll step back obediently just because you’re using me as an excuse?”

“Don’t underestimate the name of Naphièr.”

“This is my problem.”

Although the Naphièr family was highly regarded as an aristocratic family, it couldn’t withstand the anger of Duke Crawford.

What he wanted was silence, and what use was it to clumsily use someone else’s excuse?

“Miss, Miss!”

The urgent voice of the nanny interrupted them.

“Nanny, what’s the matter?”

“Please calm down and listen. Lord Gondair…”

As they approached the lobby, Lily’s angry voice became audible.

“Are you calling that an explanation?”

“Poor thing. Since we can’t have a conversation with a child, bring your sister.”

“Talk to me. Lord Gondair.”

Lily, still a child, didn’t have the strength to confront the elderly man.

With Freesia in front of him, Lord Gondair eagerly handed over a document.

“Smile Love”