Living a Scheming Marriage with a Mad Villain - Chapter 83

“Ah, right. I think it started when I was seriously sick because of the monthly sickness.”

After I got sick, the person became a bit gentler, and then, not long after, suddenly asked about a birthday present. From that point, our relationship gradually improved until it reached what it is now.

“As far as I remember, it was after I got sick. It was well over two weeks after Reus returned from the battlefield.”

Theron, who had been silently looking at me, suddenly asked an unexpected question.

“But don’t you think anything when you see him acting so crazy like that?”

“Um… At first, I was a little surprised too, but now I’m a bit used to it…”

“To think you could get used to something like that. That’s amazing.”

His voice sounded somewhat stunned, so I quickly added,

“At first, it definitely wasn’t that bad…!”

“Hah, yeah, it wasn’t. Even a small touch would cause such a fuss.”

After a sigh that sounded like a sigh of frustration, I couldn’t catch what he mumbled, so I asked again. Theron just shook his head as if it wasn’t anything important.

“Anyway, that’s that. But right now, he really isn’t in his right mind. What do you think every time you see him?”

I hesitated for a moment before carefully answering,

“Actually, from a certain point on, he has treated me so well that it confused me a little.”

Theron raised one eyebrow, as if he understood what I meant right away.

“So I asked why he treated me so well, and he said there wasn’t any special meaning behind it…”

“He said there wasn’t any special meaning?”

“Not exactly in those words, but the tone was that he treats me well because I’m his benefactor.”

“Huh…”

“Anyway, I was just mistaken. But when I thought about it, it was a natural reaction.”

Not knowing what happened between my father and Reus, I always vaguely wondered if I had made a big mistake.

But recently, when I saw Reus crying bitterly while talking about my late father, I thought maybe the emperor wasn’t the only one connected to the death of the former duke and duchess.

Because Reus especially kept an eye on the royal family and… the Count Ivelle family.

“That’s why he said that before.”

[“I couldn’t separate Count Ivelle and you.”]

The always scornful look aimed at me. The reason why, out of many people, he openly despised me.

“Even though Reus and I get along well now… I’m not just a benefactor.”

Because I’m the child of an enemy.

If I could, I wanted to ignore this fact until the end, but after that day, I could no longer pretend not to know the truth.

“Honestly, I still don’t know exactly what happened between my father and Reus. Even so, I vaguely feel that Reus made a big decision to accept me.”

“But because I feel like I’m being treated so kindly just because I once saved his life, sometimes I feel sorry, wondering if I deserve this much consideration…”

Theron, who had been silent as if lost in thought for a long time, finally spoke with a face completely without a smile.

“I kind of understand how you feel… but you don’t need to feel guilty.”

His calm voice sounded somewhat unclear. It almost seemed like he was unsure or that he was speaking to someone else, not me.

“If you don’t know for sure, don’t try to find out more. Just live your life like that. It’s not even your fault. You’re not going back to Ivelle, right?”

“Of course not…! I never want to cause Reus any trouble, whatever it is. I will never be a burden.”

Theron stared at me. Sometimes when he smiled, sometimes when he was expressionless like now, he seemed as hard to read as Reus.

“Well, yeah. As long as you’re not going back to Ivelle, that’s fine. Don’t dig a hole for yourself and just live comfortably. And why that guy is acting so crazy… it’s better not to know.”

When I nodded slowly as if understanding, Theron continued.

“What could be so important between people who will part anyway? Maybe the most important thing is the right distance.”

“Whether it’s a relationship or the truth tied somewhere.”

At that time, Reus kept getting distracted by the familiar sight of the two people and couldn’t focus on the conversation.

What were they saying to stare at each other for so long?

He couldn’t shake the thought that assigning Theron as his guard was a mistake. Though he had no intention of leaving Loelle to someone else, it was still uncomfortable.

At first, Reus only glanced occasionally, but finally stopped his talk with Dwyn and stared hard at the two.

Now Loelle had completely turned his body toward Theron, speaking seriously about something.

When the woman’s kind eyes looked at him, it felt so sweet, but when that gaze was for someone else…

I felt annoyed inside, and my eyes naturally squinted.

There was a reason why Reus was paying more attention to the two than usual.

Loelle was kind and gentle to everyone, but strangely, he seemed especially comfortable around Theron.

When looking at him, Loelle still often couldn’t hold eye contact or turned his head away, but when talking to Theron, he never avoided his eyes.

At that moment, a feeling welled up inside Reus that was hard to describe.

He didn’t know what word to give it, but he knew exactly what he wanted right now.

Even if he couldn’t control how others looked at Loelle, he wanted those clear blue eyes to belong only to him.

Feeling something strange, Dwyn stopped taking notes. But today, the owner’s gaze seemed different.

When looking at Vizinha, it was full of affection, but now the eyes looked similar but with a subtle difference.

Beyond affection, they looked a little obsessive.

Loelle and Theron were, by coincidence, still talking about Reus.

“So I think maybe Reus sees me more like a younger brother…”

“Yo-younger…”

If Reus heard that, he’d lose it. It was so ridiculous that Theron couldn’t finish the sentence and quietly frowned.

Feeling embarrassed, Loelle quickly explained why he thought so.

Because of things that happened the last time they went to the festival, and usual words and actions toward him.

Though it seemed like Loelle skipped a lot, hearing his side made the reason somewhat understandable.

On the other hand, Reus’s feelings were similar. Knowing best that they would have to part someday, he probably used the word “benefactor” to avoid burdening Loelle.

It seemed this misunderstanding had caused such trouble.

“Well, it’s his own fault… but he must be frustrated too.”

“Huh?”

“No, I wasn’t talking to you. Anyway, that’s really not it. Who would talk to their little brother like that?”

“Uh, um… Maybe because Reus didn’t have siblings, he doesn’t know better…”

“No, that’s not it.”

“It’s not…?”

Without a word, Theron answered with his eyes and then gave serious advice.

“Don’t say that to him, okay? I think even you would get a big reaction. Just think of him as someone who’s so grateful he cried because you saved his life. If you don’t get it, just remember that. Don’t provoke the crazy guy.”

Though Theron meant something different by “provoking,” Loelle thought it would upset Reus and nodded quickly.

“But is it really necessary to define exactly how he thinks of you? Like I said before, just think he treats you well because he’s thankful.”

At those words, Loelle hesitated for a long time before speaking carefully.

“That’s… because I don’t want to be mistaken.”

It seemed Loelle also had some feelings for Reus.

‘Well, it would be strange not to feel that…’

Having spent his whole life in revenge, but now spending every day close to Loelle, even the dullest person would notice subtle emotional changes.

‘It’s no wonder he falls for it.’

Just from the fact that he asked for as many and as fast as possible medicines he couldn’t use just because he caught a cold, it was clear how he usually treated women. He must have acted like he would give the stars and the moon themselves.

Then, Roel said in a slightly timid voice,

“I don’t want to make any mistakes…”

His trailing words carried deep guilt. As the daughter of an enemy, he didn’t want anyone to know he dared to have affection.

The love given to me, and the feelings growing inside me. The guilt that made them all useless. Seeing Loelle struggle with mixed feelings worried me strangely.

‘Maybe because she’s a woman in a similar situation.’

At that moment, a shadow fell over the two, and Loelle, who had been looking at Theron, raised his head sharply.

“Let’s return to the room, Loelle.”

“Is the talk over?”

“Yes.”

Without blinking, Reus lied smoothly and reached out his hand. Loelle hesitated for a moment but then took it and left.

Theron, watching their backs, frowned in disgust. His dark glance brushed past me, clearly warning not to cross the line I drew.

“Little brother, my foot. Look at those eyes.”

He’s really lost it.

Theron clicked his tongue roughly and left the lobby.

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