Living a Scheming Marriage with a Mad Villain - Chapter 42

“I’m not finished talking to Lady Ivelle yet…”

 

“Camilla. I have nothing more to hear or say to you. I came here today because the Viscount and Viscountess Pillaren asked me to, not to waste meaningless time with you.”

 

“What… what did you say?”

 

“And I’m not Lady Ivelle, but Duchess Rochester.”

 

Camilla couldn’t hide her surprise at my unexpected attitude.

 

Well, I was known in the social circle as “Oh, that pushover.”

 

“Unfortunately, it’s sad. I tried to tolerate uninvited guests on the list, but I simply cannot watch your conversation any longer…”

 

“Hah! You can’t watch? What can you do about it? Oh, are you going to run to the Duke who’s proud just because he married well?”

 

“I didn’t expect you to be so cowardly, too. Spreading words just because of some gossip among women… Your Highness? If you’ve climbed that high, shouldn’t you have a generous heart and good judgment?”

 

When I didn’t answer, Sasha also joined in to push me further.

 

“Aren’t you asking too much? Your Highness couldn’t even keep one man, so that’s too difficult for you.”

 

They laughed as usual, so I smiled calmly as usual.

 

“Camilla. If anyone hears, they’ll think I’m the one caught by a weakness, not Elia.”

 

Camilla’s gaze shook for a moment, surprised I would say something so openly. The atmosphere turned cold quickly, and  put down her teacup and stared at me sharply.

 

“W-What strange things are you saying? Now that you are Duchess, are you saying you’re leaving just like that?”

 

“If you doubt my judgment, you can ask others for their honest opinions about today’s events.”

 

Even with a threat in my voice, I walked out calmly, which seemed to leave Camilla speechless.

 

Seeing her lose her composure over a single sentence, it was clear no one expected me—the pushover—to act this way.

 

“You should have tried persuasion rather than threats. Maybe because of how long we’ve known each other, I might have let it go peacefully.”

 

“Hah! You keep twisting your words…!”

 

Camilla tried to speak excitedly, but I cut her off firmly.

 

“I will never let this matter go. For my sake and for the Rochester family’s sake.”

 

Feeling like I would only lose if I stayed any longer, I left immediately.

 

As I was about to fully leave the glass greenhouse, Elia rushed after me and grabbed me urgently.

 

“Your Highness…! I… I really didn’t know! If I had known what kind of people they were, I would never have invited them. They said they wanted to talk… just a little help was enough, so I invited them…”

 

“Is that really the only reason?”

 

Though I expected it, Elia couldn’t answer clearly.

 

“I think this is the end of our time together today.”

 

“Y-Your Highness…! Please, just keep what happened today a secret?”

 

“That’s impossible, Lady Pillaren.”

 

Only then did I realize it wasn’t just ’s group who looked down on me.

 

“W-Why…?”

 

Maybe Elia thought a flimsy lie or a plea would make me overlook it or forgive her mistakes lightly. She must have thought I was easy to fool.

 

But as I said earlier, I had no intention of covering this up.

 

“Then… please don’t let my parents hear about this. Please! I really messed up, Your Highness…!”

 

Elia desperately grabbed me again.

 

But unfortunately, I had no reason to let this pass.

 

“Lady Pillaren, from the moment you involved your parents and summoned me, you should have prepared for this.”

 

“Your Highness…! I’m begging you, just this once…”

 

“No matter what you say, I won’t let this go. I can’t bring myself to say I’m sorry.”

 

Leaving a frightened Elia behind, I walked away. My heart was pounding as if I had done something wrong.

 

I said I wouldn’t let this go, but even two days later, I still hadn’t told Reus what happened at the Viscount’s estate.

 

Reus wouldn’t arrive at the Duke’s castle until this evening, and I wasn’t sure how to start or what to say.

 

‘What if his reaction isn’t what I expect? What should I do then?’

 

Even though I was acting as Duchess, I thought ignoring rude people would stain the Rochester family name. That’s why I refused to overlook it.

 

But what if Reus thinks differently from me?

 

‘I heard the Pillaren family has had a long relationship with them…’

 

Maybe I was overreacting? Maybe I was making a big deal out of nothing?

 

While I worried, a good idea came to mind.

 

‘I should ask him for a favor…’

 

Right! There was a favor.

 

The bedroom door handle quietly turned, and the door opened softly. Reus met my eyes but quickly looked at his watch and said,

 

“You’re not asleep?”

 

“I couldn’t sleep tonight…”

 

“It’s late.”

 

He answered and went straight to the bathroom after picking up his robe. When the door clicked shut, my racing heart calmed a bit.

 

‘Yes. I’ll ask for a favor. Don’t be so nervous.’

 

Taking a deep breath, I prepared what to say.

 

Should I start by explaining my relationship with , or start from when I arrived at the Viscount’s estate?

 

I thought carefully for a long time.

 

‘Maybe I should start by explaining what happened first.’

 

After some time, the bed I was sitting on suddenly sank, and I leaned backward, about to fall. But something stopped my back.

 

Turning my head slightly, the first thing I saw was a wet towel.

 

Reus took the towel off my head. My silver hair, still wet and covering my forehead, and my delicate face appeared clearly.

 

“What are you worrying about now?”

 

How did he immediately know I had something to say?

 

I wanted to say, “I’ll tell you tomorrow,” and fall asleep, but delaying would only make it harder. So I closed my eyes and said,

 

“I have something to ask of you…”

 

“A favor?”

 

He didn’t seem to dislike it, so I quickly nodded.

 

“How many small favors are you going to ask?”

 

“It’s not small.”

 

I answered firmly, and Reus raised his eyebrows in surprise.

 

“So… Actually, there was a small problem at the Viscount Pillaren’s estate.”

 

As soon as I said this, his eyebrows twisted tightly.

 

I turned my head away, remembering the usually relaxed face, but seeing this upset expression reminded me of the old Reus. I looked away again.

 

“It’s not a big problem, and maybe just a small one…”

 

While avoiding his gaze, I spoke, but Reus turned my face back.

 

“Why are you looking away? I’m sure you didn’t do anything wrong.”

 

“Um… You might think I overreacted…! Of course, I didn’t cause the problem, but depending on the person and viewpoint, it can be seen differently. Some might think it’s a problem that can be ignored. But…”

 

“Loelle.”

 

“Yes…?”

 

“I thought you only talked a lot when you’re shameless, but you do it when you’re embarrassed too.”

 

“W-What…! That’s not it…!”

 

I blushed deeply at his unexpected remark. Even though I was the cause, Reus just nodded casually.

 

“Okay, I’ll assume you’re not wrong. Keep talking.”

 

His words and expression didn’t match, but he did it well.

 

A little annoyed, I continued.

 

“Um… So, when I arrived at the Pillaren estate, the Viscount and Viscountess weren’t home. I heard they were on a patrol of their lands…”

 

“Inviting guests and then going on a patrol?”

 

It was true, but the fault wasn’t entirely theirs. There was another story, so I shifted to Elia.

 

“I suspect Elia did something. I didn’t know before, but during tea time, she called other people…”

 

“Other people?”

 

Suddenly, the atmosphere changed sharply, making my nerves tense. Looking into Reus’s darkening eyes, I couldn’t speak.

 

“I’m not angry at you, so keep talking.”

 

He softened his expression, probably to reassure me, so I continued.

 

“Elia invited , Sasha, and Camilla. But I didn’t get along with them well… Of course, Elia didn’t know that.”

 

“Even now, you’re quick to protect others.”

 

Reus frowned openly, maybe upset by my words.

 

“I think Elia was caught at a weak point… Not that she did something wrong, but she just became an adult. So, first, she should talk with the Viscount and Viscountess…”

 

“That means Lady Pillaren is an adult who must take responsibility for her decisions.”

 

“I agree, but I don’t want to push her too hard.”

 

“So… is that all you want to ask as a favor?”

 

“Yes…?”

 

“You’re asking me to let it slide just because she’s young, aren’t you?”