I Was Meant to Be the Evil Wife, But the Cold Marquis Fell for Me - Chapter 21

During lunch, Leivis spoke to her.

“—Liliana, is there anything troubling you?”
“No, nothing. Thank you for your concern.”

Liliana smiled and ended the conversation.

—It was a lie.

The issue of sending money to her family was still unresolved. But she could never let Leivis know about it.

The flowerpot that had fallen from above, the wax left on the stairs. These worried her, but if she stayed silent, they would pass quietly. If she told Leivis, it might cause a commotion. Perhaps he would dismiss it lightly, but she didn’t want to risk it.

Either way, she didn’t want to make a fuss. If she intimidated the servants, her “bad wife” score would rise.

Liliana decided carefully to keep silent.

“……”

Leivis looked at her as if he wanted to say something. Liliana smiled, silently insisting that “nothing was wrong.”

“—Is there nothing you want?”
“No.”
“…The butler said you mentioned wanting something.”
“That was…”

She had said so, but never specified. She could never admit she wanted cash. Not to the butler, and certainly not to Leivis.

“Anything at all. I could obtain anything in this world. The flower of the heavens, the eye of a dragon.”
“No, truly I’m fine.”

Such grand things would only trouble her.

“I see…”

Leivis looked disappointed.

(Could it be he wanted those things himself?)

Perhaps he hoped she would ask, so he could acquire them under that pretext. If so, she could have said yes.

(No, I mustn’t. Asking for expensive things would make me a bad wife!)

So, she asked for nothing.

In truth, she lacked nothing in this household. She had no interest in jewels or dresses. Even what she wore belonged to House Elsdean, not to her.

All she wanted were embroidery tools and thread and those she already had.

“…Liliana, could you come to my study later?”
“Yes.”

Wondering what else he had to say, she agreed.

When Liliana entered the study, it felt quieter than usual. This was not the office for state affairs, but the lord’s private space.

Leivis placed a bag from his desk drawer onto the table with a soft sound.

“Use this freely.”

Inside was a heavy pile of gold coins.

(So bright…)

The golden shine—cash itself. Exactly what she had wanted.

“Wh-why—”
“There may be uses you’d find hard to mention. If it’s not enough, tell me.”

He spoke as if it were nothing. To hand over such a sum so casually—truly the marquis’s household. But was it really all right?

“Is it… is it really okay? Such a large amount… I have no reason to accept…”

Leivis smiled faintly.

“You ask for too little. But sometimes funds are necessary.”

He glanced at the bag of coins.

“You can keep it for emergencies, or use it however you wish. If it’s not enough, I’ll add more but then, consult me about the reason.”
“……”
“Anything at all. If you don’t want to say, just say you don’t want to. I probably won’t refuse. I may comment, but—”

His golden eyes met hers directly.

“I want you to live without want.”

His eyes, his voice—gentle, full of concern for her.

“Th-thank you! I’ll use it carefully.”

It was a large sum. Exactly what she needed, the key piece to stave off ruin.

Her family’s demands were endless, far beyond this amount but sending it once would make them retreat for a time. For now, she was saved.

—And yet, why did her chest ache so painfully?

She couldn’t rejoice. The thought that Leivis’s kindness would be devoured by her family filled her with guilt.

—But she had no other choice.

Feeling as though she betrayed him, she resolved to send the money home.

“That’s all. You may go. I’ll have this delivered to your room later.”
“Yes… but such a sum, left in my room…”
“No fool in this house would touch House Elsdean’s assets.”

The words pierced her. She had no such intent now, but in the novel, Liliana had secretly sent the household’s assets to her family.

Leivis glanced at the coins.

“And, I’ve placed a light security spell on it.”

Would it burn thieves? She felt uneasy, but bowed.

“Thank you. Then, excuse me.”

Still burdened by emptiness, she turned to leave.

Her twisted ankle throbbed suddenly, and she lost her balance.

“Liliana?!”

She fell yet felt no pain.

She realized she was sprawled on the floor, with Leivis covering her.

—He must have caught her as she fell, but they had toppled together.

“Forgive me, I touched you.”
“N-no, thank you!”

As she tried to rise, something tugged.

“……?”

Her hair was caught. Looking closely, it was tangled in Leivis’s shirt button.

“Ah…”

Embarrassment made her voice tremble. Leivis looked startled, then calmed.

“Don’t move. I’ll free it.”
“Yes…”

But sitting on his lap was unbearably awkward. She tried to lift herself slightly.

“…Please, don’t move!”
“Yes…”

At his quiet plea, she stayed still.

He struggled to untangle her hair. It seemed badly caught.

She felt guilty, yet also grew tense from his breath, warmth, and scent. Her heartbeat grew louder.

Then she realized. The heartbeat above her was not her own.

(Is that… Leivis’s?)

The fierce rhythm came from his chest. Liliana gasped.

“…I’ll cut it. Fetch the knife from the second drawer.”
“Y-yes—”

She opened the drawer, took out a small knife likely for letters and handed it to him.

He prepared to cut. Liliana froze, determined not to move.

“…There. It’s free.”

Relieved until the shell button rolled across the floor.

He must have cut the thread as well.

Liliana quickly rose, picked up the button, still with a bit of thread attached.

Leivis smiled.

“Don’t worry. I didn’t cut a single strand of your hair.”
“Eh?”

She had thought he would cut her hair.

“I’d never cut it. It’s too beautiful.”

His casual words made her heart race. No one had ever praised her hair like that.

“……”

She clutched the shell button tightly.

“Lord Leivis, may I sew the button back on?”
“You—?”
“Yes. I’m skilled at sewing. I can do it quickly, even while you wear it.”

She fetched her sewing box and returned. Leivis sat waiting.

“Please stay still. It won’t take long.”

She placed the box on the desk, moved close, and reached for his chest.

“Excuse me.”

She unfastened the shirt, opening it slightly. Leivis seemed tense, but said nothing, gazing out the window.

Liliana checked the spot where the button had been.

Through the opening, she glimpsed his collarbone and chest muscles. For a moment, she was captivated.

—A man’s body, different from hers. His warmth and scent made her feel his living presence.

She threaded a needle with white thread matching the shirt, and began sewing the button back on, leaning close.

—She was nervous, but couldn’t show it. With a needle in hand, she had to be careful.

Leivis sat motionless, staring outside. His hands rested on his knees, but seemed tense. Perhaps he was nervous too.

(I must finish quickly!)

She sewed carefully. Leivis gave a faint groan.

“S-sorry!”

Had she pricked him? She panicked. But he shook his head.

“It’s nothing! Just the movement of your fingers distracts me.”
“I’ll finish soon.”

She worked steadily, making it neat, not too tight, not too loose. Finally, she cut the thread and checked.

—Perfect.

“There, it’s done.”

She smiled. Leivis relaxed, his expression softening.

He looked gentle, though a little weary.

(Did I make him too tense…?)

She fastened the shirt.

“Thank you, Liliana. Your hands are truly skillful.”
“No…”

He touched the button she had sewn, his expression kind. Liliana found herself staring.

“…By the way, is your foot all right?”
“Eh?”
“You were favoring it when you walked.”

—He had noticed.

“D-don’t worry. I just stumbled and twisted it a little… it doesn’t hurt much, and I’m sure it will heal soon.”

“…If the pain gets worse, tell me. I’ll gather the best doctors.”

It was only a light sprain. Left alone, it would heal on its own. And yet how many doctors did he intend to summon?

“Also, the place where you stumbled should be repaired immediately. No perhaps we should eliminate all the uneven steps in the mansion.”
“I only tripped where there was nothing.”

As she spoke, Liliana thought it was fortunate she hadn’t mentioned the wax left on the landing that had made her slip.

(He really is overly cautious but perhaps it’s because I’m his ‘wife,’ so he treats me with such care…)

Liliana had been bought with a large sum of money to bear Leivis’s child.

If something happened to her—if she died, or lost the ability to have children—the one responsible would surely face severe punishment.

Thinking that, she felt truly glad she hadn’t said anything.