I Was Meant to Be the Evil Wife, But the Cold Marquis Fell for Me - Chapter 19

Liliana fled into an empty room and quickly shut the door. Her heart pounded like a drum, cold sweat running down her back.

(Did he see me…?)

Had she escaped without Leivis noticing? The timing made it unlikely but at least she had avoided facing him directly.

Her relief lasted only a moment before footsteps approached outside the door.

Liliana held her breath, body stiff. Surely Leivis would just pass by. Even if he had noticed her, he was clearly avoiding her or had lost interest altogether.

Even if he thought her behavior suspicious, he wouldn’t involve himself.

She prayed silently that he would pass without stopping.

Yet deep inside, she hoped he would come to her.

A shameful hope. A useless hope, certain to be betrayed. Foolish, knowing it would only hurt her. She tried to shake it off.

“Liliana, I’m coming in.”

The door opened without hesitation, and Leivis entered.

(Eeeek!)

She screamed inside, but managed to keep it hidden. Liliana turned timidly.

Leivis looked somewhat flustered. Their eyes met then both turned away.

“……”

He closed the door behind him. In the small room, they were alone.

The awkwardness made Liliana lower her gaze.

Why had he come in? He had clearly followed her after she fled.

(…Because I ran?)

She had run, so he pursued. Perhaps it was that simple.

Silence stretched. Neither looked at the other, both keeping their distance.

What would he say? Liliana feared it would be something terrible. If it were good, he wouldn’t hesitate so long.

At last, Leivis spoke carefully.

“…Elina is your maid, isn’t she?”
“Yes…”

Liliana trembled at what he might say, yet was surprised he knew Elina’s name and position without her introducing herself. He must know all the servants already. Perhaps he had asked her to state her name as a prelude to punishment.

—Or perhaps he had been watching Elina for some time.

“She was chosen because she’s close in age. I’ll have her reassigned.”
“…?!”

Liliana gasped.

“W-why?”
“Why? You saw her yourself. Her behavior was intolerable.”

He spoke firmly.

Liliana panicked. That would change the story. Elina was supposed to remain her maid until just before the end.

“C-couldn’t you give her one more chance? Her rudeness was due to my poor guidance.”
“…I think it’s her nature…”

Leivis muttered. Liliana felt uneasy again.

Elina and Leivis were supposed to grow closer as if by fate. Why had he treated her so coldly?

(…No, appearances aren’t everything…)

His attitude seemed cold, but perhaps inside he felt differently.

“…Are you going to make her your maid instead?”
“What?!”

Leivis’s startled voice rang out.

Liliana thought he meant to take Elina as his own attendant.

“I have no such intention.”

He declared firmly.

“Her behavior simply doesn’t suit her current post. I meant to move her to a place less visible.”

In other words, laundry, kitchen work, cleaning, storeroom duties—important tasks, but hidden from noble eyes.

—That would truly change the story.

“Lord Leivis…”

Liliana wanted to plead again, but felt she had no right. She was only a nominal mistress.

“…Very well. Since you insist, I’ll give her one more chance. If she misbehaves again, she’ll be reassigned. If she refuses, she’ll be dismissed. Agreed?”
“Y-yes… thank you.”

Liliana felt surprise, faint joy, and gratitude. She hadn’t expected him to heed her wishes.

For now, the story would not change further.

Relieved, she realized—

(…Wait! Am I actually talking with Lord Leivis?)

His demeanor seemed closer to how it had been before. Not exactly the same, but…

Though there was more distance, though their eyes didn’t meet, it was far better than his recent coldness.

Her helplessness and loneliness eased. And she noticed. He hadn’t left yet.

He still had something to say.

“That promise, about the lessons—”

He looked away, arms crossed, hesitant. The word promise made Liliana’s heart leap.

Surely, he meant the magic lessons. They hadn’t had time together lately. Finally, progress—

“…Forgive me. Forget that promise.”
“…Eh…?”

Did that mean not now? Liliana didn’t mind waiting. They could make a new promise.

“…The reason is this.”

Leivis closed his eyes tightly, speaking like a teacher.

“Stimulating magic after puberty once grown disrupts what had naturally stabilized. It causes unforeseen effects. In your case, your magic became unstable. I observed until it settled, and now it’s nearly back to normal.”
“…Y-yes.”

He spoke logically, quickly. Liliana nodded without understanding.

“Further stimulation would be dangerous.”
“Yes…”
“…And besides, using my wife as a research subject feels wrong.”
“……”
“In short, the burden and risks are too great. Please understand.”
“I—I understand…”

She barely comprehended. She only echoed his words.

—What was clear was that Leivis would not use her for research.
That she would never receive magic training from him.

Before Liliana could process it, Leivis turned and left.

The door slammed shut, almost as if to say don’t come closer.

Liliana stared blankly at the door. Alone in silence, she slowly understood.

(…I really am useless…)

She wasn’t fulfilling her duties as wife.
She wasn’t managing the household.
She couldn’t even help with his research.

—She had no reason to be here.
Yet she had nowhere else to go.

“……”

She wandered back to her room.

In her bedroom, she gazed at the magic crystal by her pillow.

—The crystal Leivis had given her was flawless. Perfect beyond compare.

It seemed a symbol of something forever beyond her reach.

(No! This is fine…)

In the novel, Liliana and Leivis were never shown working together. There was no depiction of her receiving magic training.

The “correct story” must not be distorted—for Leivis’s happiness, for the world itself.

So, this was fine.

Liliana convinced herself of that.