Living a Scheming Marriage with a Mad Villain - Chapter 99

“Your Highness! I really am not the culprit…!”

 

Reus sighed, holding back his anger, his eyes tightly squinting. Verodica was frozen stiff, unable to even breathe.

 

“Since I got married, a lot of people have been making silly mistakes. They see me smiling at my wife and think I must be a truly good person like her.”

 

His hand tapped the sword impatiently.

 

“My mercy is not for bugs like you… I don’t understand why you keep making that mistake.”

 

“Y-Your Highness…”

 

“I’ll say this one last time. I have no interest in who gave you Areia, or why you used it on my wife.”

 

“So if you plan to lie now, be ready to lose a tongue.”

 

Terrified, Verodica bit her lower lip tightly and trembled, clutching the blanket. Reus spoke coldly.

 

“I don’t really recommend you keep your mouth shut.”

 

Then he stopped twirling the sword and grabbed the handle firmly.

 

“If you keep doing that, I’ll have to work hard to make you speak.”

 

Reus looked like he could cut her down at any moment. Verodica hurriedly got off the bed and knelt.

 

“Your Highness, please have mercy just this once—!”

 

“So you finally want to talk properly.”

 

“I was wrong… I really was, Your Highness. I’ve committed a terrible sin…!”

 

She bowed humbly, but Reus’s expression did not change. If anything, the noise annoyed him.

 

“You still don’t get it. Apologies are not my concern. Right?”

 

“Yes, yes! Your Highness is right! I was truly sorry to Your Highness…!”

 

Reus shifted his foot lightly.

 

Though it didn’t fit the mood, his calm movement showed satisfaction.

 

“I’m giving you your first and last chance.”

 

Verodica, pale and trembling, suddenly looked up.

 

“If my wife forgives you with a kind heart, I will follow her words without question. I actually listen to my wife more than you think.”

 

“I-I will! I’ll go now and ask for Her Highness’s forgiveness…!”

 

Verodica bowed deeply, and a twisted smile fell over her.

 

“Confident, aren’t you? Maybe because you usually disrespect my wife.”

 

“N-No! Your Highness, that’s really not true. I’m sincere…”

 

Reus harshly pushed the sword back into its sheath. Verodica trembled and fell down quickly.

 

“Didn’t I say I don’t care about your sincerity?”

 

The sheath stabbed into the center of Verodica’s view.

 

“I’m starting to get annoyed.”

 

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. Truly, sorry—”

 

“Stop the useless talk and just answer.”

 

“Wh-what answer…?”

 

The sword sheath spun in Verodica’s sight, like Reus was deciding whether or not to kill her right then.

 

“If my wife does not forgive you.”

 

“Will you accept the punishment for your crimes?”

 

It was not a question with a choice. Verodica’s answer came automatically.

 

“Yes, I will beg Her Highness for forgiveness…!”

 

“Enough.”

 

Reus stood and put away the sword sheath naturally. Verodica cautiously lifted her head.

 

“That’s a sufficient answer, Lady Plona.”

 

Reus smiled comfortably for the first time. If not for the situation, it was a fresh smile anyone could fall for.

 

“Good luck.”

 

But Verodica shivered with fear. It felt like she was enjoying the end that was already decided.

 

We started the journey back to the Duke’s castle.

 

Every time the carriage wheels rolled a little, Reus ordered to stop, making the return trip very long. But after many twists and turns, we finally arrived safely.

 

Even after returning, my body didn’t obey my mind for a while. I often suddenly collapsed and sometimes slept for days without waking.

 

But after careful care, I’ve almost fully recovered. Thanks to Reus, Theron, Dwyn, and all the castle staff, who worried together and helped me.

 

For a while, everything in the Duke’s castle revolved around me. Especially Reus, who never left my side.

 

It was because of the healing. Reus held my hand and apologized for not being of more help, but since I got up from bed earlier than expected by the doctor, it seemed he helped a lot.

 

“My body isn’t quite like before yet… but I’ve come back a lot.”

 

I was staring blankly out the window when suddenly the door slammed open without warning. Someone rushed in.

 

I already knew it wasn’t Reus by the rough entrance, but the unexpected visitor made me open my eyes wide.

 

“Verodica?”

 

Verodica hurried into the room as if chased, then fell awkwardly on the carpet. She didn’t get up but crawled toward me.

 

“Your Highness, I’m truly sorry. Please forgive what I did, please…”

 

“What is this all of a sudden?”

 

“Your Highness, it’s all my fault. I beg you, please forgive me, Your Highness!”

 

At that moment, Reus quietly pushed the door open and came in.

 

“Sorry for the surprise, Loelle. Lady Plona opened the door on her own.”

 

Everything happened so suddenly, but Reus sat next to me and gently brushed my hand with his thumb.

 

The careful touch seemed to say it wasn’t a big deal.

 

“Lady Plona begged to ask you for forgiveness.”

 

“Your Highness, I was really wrong. If you forgive me just this once, I promise I will never show up in front of Your Highness again. No, not even in the Elysian Empire… I will leave forever! So please forgive me just once, Your Highness…!”

 

I looked at Reus awkwardly, and a cheerful voice that didn’t quite fit the situation spoke.

 

“Loelle, say whatever you want.”

 

“Reus.”

 

“Anything comfortably.”

 

We were definitely in the same room, but it felt like we were from different worlds.

 

Especially Reus.

 

He seemed to know I was confused, but his usual gentle hand rubbed my cheek and his eyes were softer than ever.

 

“Loelle.”

 

His low voice almost encouraged me.

 

I carefully spoke.

 

“Wasn’t it Lady Plona who said she hoped never to meet me again?”

 

“I—I really tried to keep that promise, to never appear before Your Highness… I’m sorry, really sorry, Your Highness.”

 

I only said a few words. But Verodica trembled all over. I couldn’t watch her for long.

 

Reus turned my head away from her.

 

“Loelle. What will you do?”

 

It was impossible.

 

“I’ll do whatever you want.”

 

Reus looked down at me like he was about to enjoy something good.

 

“Reus…”

 

“Yes, Loelle.”

 

The Reus I know is not like this.

 

When I stared silently, Reus smiled as if to say I was right.

 

“Your Highness, please have mercy just once… Yes? Please!”

 

Verodica was now lying flat, begging. I opened my mouth to speak, and Reus said:

 

“Loelle. If it gets noisy, I will take her away.”

 

“No, Your Highness!”

 

Startled by Reus’s words, Verodica crawled forward on her knees. But before she could get close to the bed, Reus blocked her legs.

 

Terrified, Verodica trembled violently and fell backward.

 

“I—I didn’t mean to scare Your Highness…”

 

Her words broke off into tears running down her cheeks.

 

Sniff… sob…

 

I stared blankly at Verodica for a moment, and Reus took both my hands.

 

That was all, but I understood what he meant. Didn’t we have a promise? Don’t you have something to say now?

 

“Verodica, I…”

 

“Please, please, just once… Your Highness, please—”

 

“I have no intention to forgive you.”

 

Verodica’s face darkened like a death sentence.

 

“So please leave.”

 

She stared at me, shocked and empty. Before I could react, she lunged at me. But once again, Reus was faster to stop her.

 

“Your Highness! I begged like this! You have to forgive me now! You never really thought about forgiving me from the start, did you? I’m so sincere! You’re just the same, ugh…!”

 

The knights who came into the room covered Verodica mouth and dragged her out.

 

Her cries faded away and then were completely blocked by the closed door Reus shut.

 

It felt like a storm had passed, leaving everything in chaos.

 

Reus seemed to know my state and gently laid me on the bed.

 

“Loelle. Sorry for the noise. If I knew you would hate this, I wouldn’t have allowed her to enter in the first place.”

 

“No, it’s okay.”

 

The blue eyes looking down at me showed nothing but worry. Looking into Reus’s eyes, the recent events felt like a fleeting illusion.

 

“Are you sleepy again?”

 

“No, just a little tired…”

 

Instead of answering, Reus gently stroked my cheek and smiled brightly.

 

“Loelle. I’m really glad you kept your promise to me.”