Living a Scheming Marriage with a Mad Villain - Chapter 21

I had wished the wedding would end quickly, but the evening party turned out to be even more exhausting.

 

People kept coming non-stop to greet us, so I had to keep smiling the whole time. And since it was the day we were supposed to look closest as a married couple, I couldn’t even be apart from Reus for a second.

 

Thankfully, I was so tired later on that I stopped noticing how close I was to Reus.

 

Thanks to that, we probably looked like the perfect couple to everyone.

 

Even the glamorous party, which felt like it would never end, finally came to a close. I stayed at the banquet hall until the end and then finally returned to our room.

 

What was different from before the wedding was that now I had come not as a guest but as the mistress of the house.

 

Even though that was a pretty big change, I was too exhausted to really think about it.

 

In the end, I couldn’t even continue my thoughts. I completely forgot that this was the marital bedroom and collapsed face-down on the table.

 

“Ugh, so tired…”

 

I didn’t even have the energy to walk to the bed. I should wash up before sleeping, but…

 

I closed my eyes and just lay there when I heard a click from the door connected to the next room.

 

I was too tired to move, so I just turned my head slightly to look toward the door. I stared at it blankly for a moment, then suddenly sat up straight.

 

I wasn’t shocked because someone entered the bedroom.

 

At this hour, who else but Reus would come into the bedroom?

 

What startled me wasn’t Reus himself, but what he was wearing.

 

Standing at the door, looking at me, Reus was wearing nothing but a white bathrobe.

 

The door closed behind him with a heavy thud.

 

Before I realized it, my eyes had wandered to the muscles barely hidden by the slightly open robe. No, it was almost impossible not to look.

 

There were very few lights on for such a big room, so it was nearly dark. But because Reus stood in the moonlight, his body looked even more defined than usual.

 

That wasn’t all. His soft silver hair and almost pale white skin reflected the light so beautifully that he looked mysterious. His clear facial features and especially those transparent blue eyes tonight were just impossible to look away from.

 

Suddenly, I remembered what some noble ladies once said about Reus:

 

“The Duke looks amazing in both military and formal uniforms. He’s a treat for the eyes.”
“Exactly. He’s not a war hero for nothing.”
“His face is handsome, sure, but that body… seriously…”

 

Back then, I didn’t care. To me, Reus was just a villain from a novel—and the reason for my death. Why would I care about his face or body?

 

But now, we were partners in a contract. I had no real reason to keep hating him…

 

“Loelle.”

 

“Y-Yes?”

 

“I thought you had already washed. You haven’t?”

 

“Oh, um… no?”

 

I repeated myself stupidly, and Reus raised one eyebrow slightly. Then, he walked toward me.

 

As he came closer, I instinctively turned my head away from his chest.

 

Then he said,

 

“There are many things you’ll have to get used to.”

 

It didn’t sound like he was scolding me, but it felt like one. I closed my eyes tightly.

 

Was it really criticism? Or was I just embarrassed? Or shy?

 

“Would you like to wash first?”

 

“Yes. Yes! I’ll… I’ll go first…”

 

Right. I should just go to the bathroom—away from Reus.

 

Before he could answer, I ran straight into the large bathroom connected to the bedroom.

 

I slammed the door shut behind me and sank to the floor, trying to calm myself.

 

‘It’s not even a real wedding night. Reus and I are in a contract. There’s no reason to be nervous.’

 

But then I opened my eyes and was shocked again.

 

‘What the…?!’

 

The softly lit bathroom was filled with rose petals, as if someone had planned a romantic night.

 

Scented candles were placed all around, filling the air with a sweet, dizzying smell.

 

I rushed to the bathtub and swept away all the petals, then blew out every single candle.

 

Because I was so aware of Reus outside, I took a long time to wash. In the end, I managed to finish, but—

 

‘Why is this slip so thin and low-cut?!’

 

The clothes the maids had prepared were way too revealing.

 

Should I at least be thankful that it’s long?

 

I couldn’t stay in the bathroom forever, so I pulled the robe tight around myself and stepped out. Reus, who was waiting outside, silently passed me and entered the bathroom.

 

Even though we only brushed past each other for a second, I held my breath from nervousness. I only let it out once I heard the door close behind him.

 

Then, I made a firm decision in my heart.

 

‘I have to fall asleep before Reus comes out!’

 

If I stayed awake until he came out, the awkward tension might keep me up all night.

 

With that thought, I lay down in bed without even drying my hair.

 

I stayed like that for a long time, eyes closed. But whether it was the sound of running water or the awareness that tonight was our wedding night—I just couldn’t sleep.

 

In the end, I shot up from bed.

 

“What do I do…?!”

 

With no real plan, I grabbed my head in frustration. Then I noticed the wine and finger foods on the table.

 

‘That wasn’t here before I went in.’

 

It seemed the servants had brought them while I was washing, to celebrate our wedding night.

 

I hesitated only for a moment before rushing over and pouring myself a full glass of wine.

 

I was weak to alcohol, but I drank confidently because I remembered something from my past life:

 

“Drunk habits? You don’t have any. You just sleep quietly—how’s that even a habit?”

 

Yes, I may be weak to alcohol, but I don’t get drunk in weird ways!

 

“Right. I’ll drink and fall asleep quickly.”

 

I filled the big glass more than halfway and drank in one go. The alcohol hit me soon after.

 

‘The wine didn’t taste strong, so I thought it was mild… but if I drink one more, I’ll definitely fall asleep.’

 

Without realizing what I was doing, I poured one last glass—and drank it.

 

Reus stepped out of the bathroom, shaking water from his hair. His slow, heavy steps echoed nicely in the quiet bedroom.

 

It was completely silent, so he guessed—correctly—that his awkward and shy fake wife must have already fallen asleep.

 

But on the bed, only the blankets were messily spread out.

 

Drops of water from his hair fell onto his nightgown.

 

After staring at the bed for a moment, Reus turned his head toward the table. There was Loelle, slumped over, unable to hold herself up.

 

Reus’s eyes naturally went to the wine glass.

 

There were red stains inside—it had definitely been clean before he went in.

 

‘She’s drunk.’

 

It wasn’t hard to understand. He could tell Loelle had been nervous from the moment she entered the room.

 

Reus walked over to her.

 

“Loelle. Let’s go to bed now.”

 

“Hm…?”

 

“You’re drunk.”

 

When his deep voice reached her ears, Loelle lifted her head sleepily and asked,

 

“I’m… drunk?”

 

She used casual words, like she was talking to someone she was comfortable with.

 

Staring into her hazy eyes, Reus gave up on waking her properly. Instead, he just picked her up.

 

Loelle’s light body lifted easily, and even in his arms, she couldn’t hold herself up. With a small sigh, Reus moved her arms to rest around his neck.

 

She naturally wrapped her arms around him. Then she softly rubbed her cheek against his neck.

 

“You’re so warm…”

 

That made Reus stop walking.

 

He froze because it felt unfamiliar—her soft skin touching his neck, which until now had only felt the brush of clothes.

 

Maybe Loelle felt his sudden stop, because she blinked open her sleepy eyes. She tilted her head and looked up at him.

 

She stared at him so intensely, it was almost uncomfortable.

 

After a pause, Reus turned his head and looked back at her. She seemed like she had something to say, mumbling in a dreamy voice.

 

“But hey…”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Did you… bring it?”

 

He had no idea what she was talking about, but she acted like it was something obvious.

 

Since he didn’t answer, Loelle frowned, a mix of disappointment and annoyance on her face. She rested her head against his shoulder again and muttered softly,

 

“Geez… Why didn’t you bring it…”

 

Maybe instead of calming herself with wine, she had decided to challenge him. She even skipped calling him ‘Your Grace’ and jumped straight to ‘you.’

 

“Melon… ice cream…”

 

Of all things she could ask for in her sleep—she wanted ice cream. Reus let out a small, baffled laugh.

 

“Don’t laugh… When you laugh like that… you’re so annoying…”

 

“So you curse people to their face when you’re drunk?”

 

“That’s not true…”

 

Loelle denied weakly, then suddenly giggled.

 

“But hey…”

 

“What now?”

 

“My melon ice cream…?”