I May Be A Villainess, But I Won't Live My Life That Way - Chapter 73

Chapter 73

It had been a very satisfying shopping trip.

Commissioning designs from a renowned dress designer in the capital, and obtaining exquisite fabrics that were hard to come by from luxury imports, the tailor-made outfit delighted Viscount Wensbury.

As he returned home with a contented heart, he was greeted by his daughter Maria as if she had been waiting for him.

“This is absolutely outrageous, Father!”

Maria’s dress was torn halfway, as if someone had ripped it apart, and the lace attached to her dress hung loosely. The brooch on her chest was askew, her red hair was tangled, and one side of it was crumpled as if someone had pulled on it.

Not only that, but one side of her cheek was swollen red, as if she had been slapped.

Viscount Wensbury’s eyes widened at the sight of Maria, who seemed to have been subjected to something unbearable.

“What on earth happened? Who did this to you?”

“Yes, something did!”

Maria shouted back angrily, as if exasperated.

Seeing his usually quiet daughter burst out like this, Viscount Wensbury realized that whatever had happened was not ordinary.

“What happened? Who made you like this?”

“Who else could it be?”

Maria stomped her foot in frustration and bit her lip.

“That wicked Bianca!”

At Maria’s words, Viscount Wensbury’s eyes widened even more, and he scrutinized Maria’s appearance again.

Did Bianca Croft, the Bianca he knew, really tug on Maria’s dress, pull her hair, and even slap her?

It was an unbelievable fact.

“Are you saying Bianca Croft did this to you?”

“Who else would it be?”

The Marquis of Wensbury’s tone, as if he doubted her words, made Maria’s answer even more disintegrating. It was as if he were accusing her of not believing him.

“Do you mean, then, that Miss Bianca Croft came to you and did this?”

“Yes, she came to me, demanded I give her Lara, and made me like this!”

“Lara?”

“The name of the orphanage girl she sponsors. She’s missing. I’ve been to the orphanage a few times, so I know the girl too. I even obeyed her orders. But she went berserk as if I kidnapped the child!”

Now noticing that the lace on her sleeve had fallen off, Maria attempted to put it back on nervously, but the torn dress made it impossible.

“Right. It seems like you’re telling the truth. You mentioned the young girl Bianca cared for before.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Why would Bianca blame you for the girl’s disappearance?”

“She probably wants to blame me for anything. She might think I’ll take Ricardo away from her.”

As the lace didn’t cooperate as she wanted, Maria eventually gave up and reached for the crooked brooch.

“Maria, my dear.”

Viscount Wensbury grabbed Maria’s hand as she attempted to fix the brooch. Speaking in the low voice he used when commanding his knights back in his days as a knight commander, he addressed Maria.

Maria’s gaze shifted from the brooch to Viscount Wensbury, sensing that he was about to say something serious and important.

“Bianca would not suspect you without any evidence. Did she say anything else?”

“She rambled on about some nonsense, but it was indeed nonsense.”

Maria, feeling a bit uneasy at her father’s unusual seriousness compared to his usual jovial demeanor and affection, responded dutifully to Viscount Wensbury’s solemn tone, as if she were an obedient subordinate.

“What nonsense?”

Despite calling it nonsense, Viscount Wensbury wanted to hear the story as if it were of utmost importance.

“She said something about the girl being enchanted.”

“Enchanted?”

“No, not enchanted, but something about an enchanted artifact?”

Maria spoke, tilting her head as if confused by Bianca’s words.

“Be more precise.”

With a hint of frustration, Viscount Wensbury squeezed Maria’s wrist harder. He realized he had been gripping her wrist too tightly when she winced in pain.

“Ouch, Father, you’re hurting me.”

As Maria slightly twisted her wrist, Viscount Wensbury loosened his grip, acknowledging his own strength.

“Okay, did Bianca specifically mention what artifact it was or how it looked? A necklace? Earrings?”

“She didn’t mention any of that.”

“What exactly did she say about the artifact?”

Viscount Wensbury fixed his gaze somewhere on the floor, deep in thought.

“Father, what are you thinking?”

“Oh, nothing.”

When Maria asked him a question, Viscount Wensbury hastily lifted his head and looked at her.

“I understand your story. Let me and I’ll try to resolve this matter.”

“Resolve it? Are you going to Croft Manor?”

“If necessary.”

Viscount Wensbury nodded with a smile. He looked just like the caring father Maria remembered from before, a sight she hadn’t seen in a long time.

“You are now a legitimate Viscountess just like Bianca. I can’t just stand by when someone treats you, another Viscountess, so disrespectfully.”

“But wouldn’t that make things worse? You said before that the Croft Viscountcy is different from the ordinary ones. Didn’t you say that the Crofts are as influential and prestigious as a marquisate?”

“That’s true.”

“I heard a rumor…”

“What rumor? What is it?”

As Maria trailed off, Viscount Wensbury urged her on, clearly curious about the rest of her words.

“Rumor has it that you wanted Bianca to be your daughter in law.”

“…….”

“But I heard you gave up when you realized she was the Duchess of Winkaiser.”

“She’s the only daughter of Croft Viscount, isn’t she? Anyone would have coveted Bianca.”

He tried to dismiss it with a smile.

“That’s all in the past now. There are no such feelings towards Bianca anymore.”

“Really? But didn’t you mention before that if I were to have a good relationship with Riccardo, you would consider Bianca’s position favorably? I thought you saw her as a suitable match for my brother.”

“That’s also in the past.”

A fleeting smile crossed Viscount Wensbury’s face.

It wasn’t his usual affectionate smile or friendly laugh. It was a malicious smile, one that looked down on others or gloated over someone else’s misfortune.

If one were to indulge in imagination, it was the smile of a petty person delighting in hearing about the misfortune of someone who had rejected them.

“Don’t worry about it now. I have no intention of welcoming a woman who has harmed the one who gave birth to my daughter as my daughter-in-law.”

After erasing that brief smirk cleanly, Viscount Wensbury reassured Maria. She responded with a somewhat awkward smile.

He looked at her with reassurance, as if to say there was nothing to worry about, and patted her shoulder.

“I’ll be going now.”

“You just came in, and you’re leaving already? If you’re going to Croft Manor, there’s no need to rush.”

“No, I have other things to take care of. Anyway, I’ll be back.”

Ignoring Maria’s concern about his tiredness, Viscount Wensbury left the way he came in.

After he turned his back, Maria couldn’t see the affectionate expression he had shown her moments ago change to a cold and ruthless one. Similarly, Viscount Wensbury didn’t know that Maria, who had been worried about him just a while ago, was now staring coldly at his back.

“Smile Love”