Living a Scheming Marriage with a Mad Villain - Chapter 88

Most people would be upset if they heard others talking about them behind their back. But Reus wasn’t the kind of man to care about something like that.

“You can talk all day if you want.”

“You’re teasing me again.”

“Of course not.”

Although his answer was filled with sincerity, Loelle rolled her eyes, pretending not to care.

“Fine. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Her eyes were sharp, and her tone was nothing but mischievous, yet Reus continued to smile softly, as if he liked even that part of her.

Soon, Loelle, who had calmed down a little, began to slowly talk about what she and Helen had discussed. As expected, there was nothing in their conversation to be worried about.

In fact, the topics were so trivial that Reus even felt a bit sorry for making her feel uncomfortable over something so small.

At least until the next thing she said.

“So, I decided to go watch the swordsmanship tournament happening in three days.”

“What?”

The swordsmanship tournament she was talking about—could it really be the one held at the Leveren royal palace?

Did he hear her wrong? Reus questioned whether his ears were working properly. Unfortunately, they were perfectly fine.

“Do you really know what kind of tournament it is?”

Swordsmanship tournaments in this country weren’t about serious duels. They were more like festivals. The summer tournaments were especially known for their very relaxed dress codes.

Loelle answered without a moment’s hesitation.

“Of course.”

A swordsmanship tournament is still just a swordsmanship tournament.

Thinking of the tournaments often held in the Ashelit Empire, Loelle gave him a look as if to say, “What’s the big deal?” Her calm attitude, as if she couldn’t understand why he was so surprised, left Reus completely speechless.

Maybe once they arrive in Leveren, he’ll get to see Loelle’s excited face?

When they boarded the cruise, Reus had been expecting that. But now, it looked like the wrong people were going to see that precious expression first.

Unconsciously growing serious, Reus forgot to control his strength and swung his sword a little too harshly.

There was a reason he was taking this so seriously.

Reus firmly believed that Loelle liked handsome men—especially those with great bodies.

That thought came from what happened during the last festival he attended with Loelle. She had accidentally joined a parade of the winners from the “handsome man contest.”

The look on her face when one of the men placed a flower crown on her head—slightly flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes—was something Reus had never seen before.

Sure, no one dislikes good-looking people with nice bodies. But actually, Loelle had made that expression simply because she really liked the flower crown. It had nothing to do with the contest winner.

But Reus, who was clueless in these kinds of things, ended up completely misunderstanding. In the end, he even started thinking that, to Loelle, he was no different than a random guy on the street.

So of course he was boiling with anger when he thought of Helen telling Loelle about the tournament in Leveren—a place known for its handsome knights with muscular bodies.

His frustration was poured into every swing of his sword, and unfortunately, it was Claude—who had begged for a sparring match every day—who had to take it all.

‘Why does this feel more intense than the battlefield…?’

Just as he thought that, their swords clashed with a fierce sound. Claude staggered back from the force, but Reus didn’t let up for a second, launching another attack. Soon, Claude hit the ground with a loud crash.

The sudden noise made all the palace knights in Leveren turn their heads, but Claude didn’t feel embarrassed at all. Everyone here knew how skilled Reus was with a sword. Still, he couldn’t help feeling a little wronged.

‘I never said I wanted to die!’

He had just started enjoying how Reus was finally spending time with him without complaints. It had been a foolish thought. Reus had clearly agreed to spar just so he’d never ask again.

Claude considered ending the match—but if he did, Reus might never spar with him again. On the other hand, he didn’t want to keep risking his life either.

As Reus stood there in a daze, Claude slowly and quietly tried to sneak away.

“What are you doing just sitting there?”

“I think we’ve done enough for today—”

A heavy sword dropped in front of Claude, cutting his words short. Reus handed over his sword calmly and turned to fetch a new one.

Sadly, the match was going to continue until Reus’s mood improved.

“If I did something wrong, you could just tell me—”

“Pick it up.”

“L-let’s talk this out…! Please!”

“If you really feel responsible for your wife’s actions, pick up the sword.”

“What does she have to do with this?!”

What do you think? He meant: Shut up and get up.

Reus gave Claude a final warning look, while Claude’s eyebrows drooped in misery.

While Claude was being beaten up by Reus, Helen and Loelle—who had grown quite close—were sipping sweet wine together.

Loelle’s promise to only drink until she felt good had long been forgotten. Having completely let her guard down, she was now half-drunk. Helen, however, was still clear-headed, only slightly tipsy.

“So, how did you two meet?”

“Hmm… So, Reus…”

Other than her slightly softer eyes, Loelle didn’t look drunk at all. After thinking for a moment, she answered casually.

“He kidnapped me.”

“Wait, kid—what?”

“Well, kind of legally… He told a complete lie to get me to go with him, but technically I walked there on my own…”

Loelle, having fully dropped her guard with Helen, didn’t even seem to know what she was saying. Thankfully, Helen didn’t take it seriously. She just assumed Loelle was more drunk than she looked.

Loelle blinked slowly, waiting for the next question.

“Loelle, are you sleepy?”

“Yes… a little. Just a little.”

This seemed like a good time to end the drinking. As much as she wanted to stay out late, Helen didn’t want to risk upsetting Reus, who was already overly sensitive.

“There’s a guard waiting outside. I’ll have him take you back. Come on, let’s go.”

So their night ended a bit suddenly. When Helen handed Loelle over to Theron, he looked unsure as he glanced at the woman holding his arm.

She was smiling like a happy puppy, and the smell of alcohol lingered around her. Naturally, he had to ask.

“Are you drunk?”

“Hmm… no.”

Her voice sounded fine, but the way she shook her head off-beat gave her away.

He figured it was best to get her back to her room quickly.

“But Theron.”

“What?”

“I’ve got a question…”

Her tone was serious, so Theron lowered his head slightly. Loelle, looking just as serious, asked in a confused voice:

“Why isn’t there any?”

“Any what?”

“Ice cream. Melon ice cream. Why… is there none…?”

“Is that your drunk habit?”

“Drunk habit? Are you giving me a shot? Why…?”

“Forget it. No point trying to talk to a drunk person.”

“Why can’t we talk…”

Loelle’s face turned gloomy, as if she were deeply hurt. Then she stopped walking altogether. But Theron didn’t panic.

“There’s ice cream in your room.”

“Really?”

“Of course. Do you think I’d lie to you?”

Loelle nodded as if remembering something.

“That’s too bad. Anyway, let’s go. There’s ice cream in the room.”

“Okay.”

Unlike the awkward Reus on their first night, Theron smoothly tricked Loelle. Seeing her follow along so easily made him smile genuinely in front of a woman for the first time.

After tormenting Claude, Reus took a quick shower and stepped out of the bathroom. The first thing he saw was a familiar woman’s face.

Her eyes were relaxed, and she was smiling brightly.

Yes, that was the same expression she wore in his arms on their first night.

She was still standing upright, so she wasn’t completely drunk. But that didn’t change the fact that Reus was suddenly in a terrible mood.

He didn’t want anyone else to see Loelle like this. Her half-lidded eyes and dazed smile—he wanted to be the only one affected by that look.

Reus sighed silently and approached Loelle, who still couldn’t stop smiling.

“Loelle.”

His low, pleasant voice immediately brought comfort, even to her blurry, drunken mind. Loelle slowly looked up and stared at his face.

He wanted to scold her, but looking into her slightly dazed eyes left him speechless. After a moment of silence, Reus was the first to look away.

“Duke… Ah, Reus.”

Not in her right mind, Loelle mumbled the title she used to call him. Then she realized and corrected herself, nodding as if satisfied before starting to walk.

Unlike their first night, she walked perfectly fine, and Reus felt slightly relieved.

But then, Loelle stepped forward and casually hugged him.

The gesture was so natural that even Reus, who had just been hugged by the woman he liked, didn’t immediately realize what had happened.

But soon his body stiffened, and all the frustration that had filled his mind vanished in an instant.

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