I Was Meant to Be the Evil Wife, But the Cold Marquis Fell for Me - Chapter 7

While Leivis remained absent from the mansion, Liliana continued receiving explanations of her duties as mistress, tours of the estate, and introductions to the staff. Life was comfortable, though she felt guilty seeing the butler and others fuss over her.

“Madam, a letter has arrived from the Valentin family,” the butler announced after lunch.

Taking the letter, Liliana asked her maids Elina and Anne to step outside. Alone, she crouched in the corner, clutching her head.

(Ahhh—it’s here! It’s finally here!)

After agonizing for a while, she opened it. As expected, the contents were simple: “Send money.” And “Destroy this letter after reading.”

(Of course, a demand for money.)

This was the very reason the “original” Liliana had embezzled from the Elsdean household. She had been powerless against her family.

Born of a loveless political marriage, her mother had left soon after giving birth, unable to bear more children. Her father’s mistress became the new countess, bearing him a son and daughter, forming a “perfect family.” Liliana, meanwhile, lived like a servant in her own home.

The new countess and her children lived extravagantly, draining the family’s finances. Liliana’s only value lay in her high magical power, inherited from her mother. Her father raised her with minimal education, intending to sell her to the highest bidder. At sixteen, she was married off to Leivis Elsdean, the cold marquis, as nothing more than a tool to bear children.

In the novel, Liliana had been brainwashed into obedience, indulging in luxury, manipulating the accountant, and funneling money to her family. When exposed, she brazenly claimed her magical power made her indispensable for heirs, daring them to cast her out.

Her magic was her only weapon.

(But I know the truth now. Elina’s magic is even stronger!)

In the story, Leivis revealed this, shattering Liliana’s last defense. He declared that love, not magic, bound him to Elina. Liliana was crushed, denied even her sole worth.

From her perspective, it was unbearable. Raised only to be sold, exploited by her family, unloved by her husband, and finally discarded. She was forced into repeated remarriages, bearing heirs only to be divorced again likely at her family’s command.

(It’s too cruel!)

Her body trembled.

(Yes, embezzlement is wrong but wasn’t the Elsdean family at fault too, for letting their fortune be stolen so easily? Or perhaps they allowed it, to make divorce smoother.)

Leivis had demanded no compensation when divorcing her in the novel, simply casting her out. Perhaps he had deliberately let her commit crimes, planning to sever ties cleanly.

“Cold Marquis indeed…” she muttered.

The accountant she had corrupted was also punished and dismissed.

(Pitiful.)

She knew the path to ruin. That was why she must never send money to her family.

This Liliana was no longer brainwashed. She was the true Liliana. She would avoid that despair.

But the letter sat on her desk, demanding action.

(I can’t ignore it forever! They might not storm the mansion, but I can’t predict them. If they mention childbearing, it’ll be disastrous. If our lack of intimacy becomes known, it could shame me or worse, harm Leivis’s reputation.)

She couldn’t allow that.

(I must stop them! I need money to appease them…)

But how? She owned nothing in the mansion. Even her body belonged to the Elsdean house.

Work? Could a marchioness labor? If asked why, she couldn’t admit her family was extorting her. Leivis, famed as cold and merciless, would never tolerate it.

Even if he helped once, repeated demands would enrage him. He might send her back to her family.

(And as a wife refusing intimacy, why would he protect me?)

Without alimony, her plan to enter a convent would collapse.

Borrowing money? She had no connections, no way to repay.

(What am I supposed to do…?)