Living a Scheming Marriage with a Mad Villain - Chapter 107

Even on the way to the dining hall and during the meal, Reus’s suspicion didn’t fade. But since I didn’t mention anything about Veliata, he slowly let his guard down and treated me as if nothing had happened.

He had no idea that I was making a new plan.

As soon as Dwyn tactfully left the room and we were alone in the office, I brought up the real topic.

“Please let me work.”

“What?”

Maybe it was a bit sudden, because Reus reacted slowly.

“I thought you had no plans to send me away?”

“Then at least let me do what I want while I stay here.”

Pretending to work, I was planning to run away when I had the chance.

“Doing nothing makes the day feel too long, Reus.”

Reus, thinking he was being considerate, had cut off all reasons for me to go out and hadn’t given me any real work. Since I had no attachment to the Empire, I had welcomed it at first.

But looking back, the only time I had a good balance of work and rest was shortly after we got married.

Even though our relationship was at its worst, I found some meaning in managing the ducal household accounts. Time passed quickly, and I would sometimes even feel regret that the day had ended.

But Reus looked a little shocked, as if he had never considered that.

Even though he had seen me waste most of my days eating, sleeping, and resting, he didn’t realize I was feeling bored.

‘If the Grand Duchess’s main duty is reading books, doesn’t that say it all…?’

Anyway, if I started working, I could spend time alone except when I had to talk to Dwyn.

‘Once I’m alone in the office, I can call Theron!’

But Reus didn’t answer easily. His face turned serious, then gloomy. His expression swung back and forth.

“Reus?”

“Working is fine, but… only after you’ve fully recovered…”

“How long are you going to keep saying that?”

“What do you mean?”

“You worry too much.”

Reus looked like someone who couldn’t understand what I meant, and he opened his mouth as if to object.

“But—”

“If you don’t even let me do this, I’ll just run away.”

At the word “run,” Reus flinched slightly. But he didn’t answer right away this time, as if thinking it over more seriously.

‘He’s probably trying to gently talk me out of it.’

I was determined to meet Theron, no matter what. If Reus didn’t agree, I was ready to pack and pretend to run away right now!

“I’ll go pack—”

“If you start working…”

Just as I pretended to stand, Reus quickly grabbed my hand.

“You won’t leave the Grand Duke’s estate, right?”

He wouldn’t answer if I asked why he was holding on to me anyway.

So I had to answer wisely. I didn’t want a repeat of last time when he promised to help me sleep and ended up in a mess like this.

“I’ll think about it while I stay here.”

I thought that was already a big compromise without even knowing the reason. But Reus didn’t look satisfied with my answer at all.

“If you won’t promise, then right now—”

“Alright. But please promise me you won’t overwork yourself, Loelle.”

“Okay.”

It wasn’t a dramatic compromise—more like half a threat and Reus trying to avoid the topic—but at least things turned out the way I wanted, so that was good enough, wasn’t it?

From the very first day I started working, I had to resist the urge to break the bracelet. After observing for a few days, I figured out exactly when my office was completely empty.

It was right after lunch and a walk with Reus—about one to two hours.

And when I felt the time was right, I broke the bracelet today without hesitation. At first, there was no reaction. Then suddenly, there was a loud thud in the center of the office, like someone had fallen.

“Ugh, what the—”

Of course, it was Theron lying on the floor, rubbing his back. Had he been napping? He wore comfortable clothes and even had a sleep mask on.

He told me to call him in danger, but showing up like this made me question the bracelet’s reliability.

Still, he was the only one who could help me now. So I quickly pushed away my doubts and approached him.

“Theron, please help me.”

Theron glared at me like I was the culprit, then slowly stood up and dropped himself onto the sofa like it was his own room.

“I told you not to get caught.”

“What…!”

How was I supposed to predict all this from one passing comment? If someone actually understood that, they’d be the weird one!

“You told me to say the word when I wanted to leave… Well, this is that moment. So help me, Theron.”

Theron raised his sleep mask and looked at me sharply.

“Do you really think you can leave without being caught?”

“Well…”

Probably not. I sat in front of him, defeated.

“But how did you know, Theron?”

“Know what?”

“That Reus would act like this.”

Theron stared at me for a moment, then his gaze turned somewhat disappointed.

“Did you ever consider maybe you were the only one who didn’t know?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Right. I knew since you started calling him your brother.”

Clicking his tongue, Theron stared directly into my eyes, then lowered his mask again.

“Anyway, do you know why Reus is acting this way? You do, don’t you?”

“That’s not something I can tell you. It’s not my place to interfere between the two of you.”

Is it really such a serious reason?

Even when all the ships to Veliata disappeared, Reus stayed calm and acted decisively. I assumed that came from concern for me, even if it wasn’t a typical reason.

But if that’s not the reason…

“I can tell you this. Because it directly affects your safety. Reus won’t say it, but I think it’s time you knew.”

Time to know…?

‘Don’t tell me something happened with the Count’s family?’

Otherwise, there shouldn’t be anything that would threaten my safety. Theron, however, spoke with a knowing expression.

“They’re in a rush to cover holes over there. They didn’t even send a letter after you almost died. Doesn’t that say everything?”

“Ah…”

If not the Count’s family, what else would I need to be worried about?

Cassien bothering me? That ended long ago. Even Verodica, who used to harass me over Cassien, ended up in prison. Their whole family was ruined.

‘I can’t think of anything else…’

Then Theron said,

“Honestly, I’m still debating whether to tell you.”

“What is it…?”

From his tone, I could tell he was serious. His hesitation made me feel even more uneasy.

Finally, he spoke again.

“You knew there was a rift between Reus and the Emperor, right?”

“Yes…”

“You also know they pretend to be friendly at the estate for appearances.”

“Yes…”

The more Theron said, the more anxious I became.

Even though I hadn’t heard the full story yet, I had a hunch about what he was going to say.

“The Emperor has started to take an interest in you.”

“What?”

“Seems he thinks you’re Reus’s weakness.”

Just as Reus watched the Imperial Palace, the Emperor must’ve planted people in the Grand Duke’s estate. They probably reported how close we had become, and now the Emperor planned to use that to shake Reus.

In other words, the real danger wasn’t running away from Reus.

If I leave the estate, I might be in even more danger…

Now, I finally understood Reus’s reactions a little.

Even though he didn’t like the tension between us, he stubbornly stayed silent. Maybe he just didn’t want to scare me.

A wave of complicated emotions washed over me.

‘Is fate really something you can’t change, no matter what you do?’

Not long ago, I believed I could leave the Empire and disappear from the original story. But look at me now.

I couldn’t leave the Empire and still stayed by Reus’s side. Worse, instead of escaping death, I’d gotten even closer to it.

Maybe neither of us could escape the ending.

Theron clicked his tongue again as he looked at me.

“I knew it would be like this.”

“Thanks for telling me, Theron.”

“Oh great, now I’m so proud, seeing you thank me with a dead face.”

He grumbled for no reason, but I just smiled, knowing he didn’t mean it.

“But Theron… why are you still lying there?”

“I’m thinking about how I’m going to get back.”

When I looked at him questioningly, he gestured to himself.

“Can’t you see? I came here with nothing.”

“Nothing…?”

“Don’t take it literally. I’m not like your husband, who can use magic. I need stuff. And you yanked me out of bed. It’s not even dangerous, so why’d you break the bracelet like that?”

“Oh.”

He had a real roundabout way of saying he had to walk home.

“But Theron. I broke the bracelet without Reus knowing, right? So I don’t know when he might come—”

Right then, a chill ran down my spine. Theron must’ve felt the same, because he froze.

Together, we slowly turned toward the same direction.

At the door already open at some point stood Reus, leaning against the frame, watching us.

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