I Thought a Villainess' Divorce Would Be Easy

It was difficult to accept that Anthea had become someone else’s wife. Nathan took Anthea’s hand out of his arm.

 

“Brother?”

 

And without even realizing it, he wrapped his arms around Anthea’s shoulders.

 

“Oh, brother.”

 

“There’s a tree branch sticking out.”

 

As if hugging her shoulder wasn’t enough, he slowly stroked Anthea’s slightly disheveled hair with her fingertips as if smoothing it. She had a confident and natural demeanor as she used the branch as an excuse.

 

‘Nathan is doing really well, but wouldn’t it be too much to throw gasoline on her over her firewood?’

 

What if the knights who are loyal to their master do something wrong? The look in the eyes of the knight who was patrolling each area was terrifying, as if it would split Nathan in half. Even though she acted cautiously, Anthea began to worry that Nathan would be inflated by her sincerity, openly revealing her affection, and that she might be harmed by him. Clearly, Nathan’s behavior was enough to set the stage for her subsequent divorce from Anthea. Still, she didn’t want Nathan to suffer.

 

Anthea, conflicted between her remorse and her high level of evil deeds, entered the greenhouse/outdoor tea room under Nathan’s guidance. The greenhouse was made of solid, bulletproof glass mixed with magic stones, and the inside was visible to some extent from the outside. Citing that as a reason, Nathan sent all the employees out. Then, he made Anthea sit on a chair in a position where she could not be seen easily because it was covered by a tree. As the inside could not be seen from the outside, a panicked muttering sound was heard, but Nathan paid no attention and focused on Anthea.

 

“Anthea. I arrived three days ago and I was told you were married informally.”

 

“Ah yes. They say it’s a duke family tradition.”

 

“I see. I have researched and know all about the absurd traditions of the Gwyntede family, so …are you okay?”

 

“Your body?”

 

Anthea was troubled for a moment by Nathan’s question. He said she had researched all of the dukedom’s traditions, and she also knows that she had a summary marriage, so he asked how she was doing.

 

‘Is this the first night’s question? Isn’t that asking about her real siblings?’

 

Above all, hearing her answer about their first night only hurt Nathan, who still had feelings for her and Anne Shea.

 

‘No. Maybe this is your chance.’

 

In any case, even if she returned half a year later, Anthea could not dream of her future with Nathan.

 

Nathan, who personally brought Anthea’s trousseau to the Duke’s house for her to be married, showed her innocence like a fool. Thanks to that, she was able to get a chance to accumulate villain points, but Nathan’s sincerity was not light enough to spend it that way. 

She couldn’t let the future of such a good man fall because he was looking at Anthea. Even after her marriage, it was a good time for her to push away Nathan who only wanted to see her. She decided to make a fuss and make up all sorts of random things about her first night. 

Nathan, who sensed that Anthea, who had been silent for a moment, was hesitant to answer, opened her mouth first.

 

“The people of the North are well-known for being blunt and rough. I heard that among them, Duke Gwyntede is, needless to say, ferocious.”

 

“Ah yes. There were rumors like that.”

 

“You don’t know how afraid I was when I sent you to someone like that, Anne. Aren’t you crying? Aren’t you trembling with fear?”

 

“I’m okay, brother.”

 

“Okay. I didn’t expect her to show me this much more beautiful appearance that would put my worries in vain…”

 

Anthea quickly nodded her head at Nathan’s smile, which seemed to be relieved but also somehow tinged with bitterness.

 

“Yes, I’m okay. Everyone is kind and nice.”

 

“Everyone is so kind…”

 

She was able to guess 100% who Nathan was thinking of. Rosa, the head maid. Anthea immediately responded to Nathan’s suspicions with her own.

 

“Ah, there is only one person who makes me uncomfortable, but I came unprepared, so there’s nothing I can do about it.”

 

“Isn’t it Gwynted who didn’t even give us time to prepare? Why would you give that to me?”

 

Nathan, who was reacting immediately to Anthea’s self-blame, shut her mouth as if trying to control her intensifying emotions. Instead, she held Anthea’s hand and comforted her so that she wouldn’t be alarmed. Anthea’s body temperature and the soft feel of her hands quickly calmed Nathan down. She soon felt Nathan’s sweet voice softly sinking into her, as if it were touching her breath.

 

“Anthea. Promise me one thing.”

 

Anthea slowly nodded her head at the harmless kindness that seemed to require unconditional acceptance. Nathan’s smile deepened as if he thought Anthea was cute, nodding her head before she even heard him.

 

“If there is someone who makes you cry. If someone forces you to do something you don’t want to do.”

 

“You want me to come back without looking back?”

 

“Yes. If you are afraid to return alone, send me a letter. I will come running to you at any time, no matter what happens.”

 

Even if she told him not to come in half a year, he would go. Her words alone were reassuring, but Anthea let out an ambiguous laugh as if she couldn’t do that. When she answered with a smile, hiding her true feelings, Nathan only patted Anne’s hand as if he felt sorry for her. Enough of the affectionate atmosphere. Anthea tried to change her mood and told Nathan about the things that were bothering her.

 

“Brother. This is what if.”

 

“Yes. What if?”

 

“I did something bad, but people don’t say it was bad. Why is that so?”

 

“Huh?”

 

It was a question so unexpected that a question appeared on Nathan’s face, which was only showing a friendly smile. On the one hand, it was a question that seemed obvious to a child.

 

“Did you do something bad?”

 

“He refused the food I had prepared with great care without giving any reason.”

 

It was her first official step as Anthea’s villainess. She had had an argument with Rosa the day before before she moved into the Duke’s residence, but she couldn’t tell Nathan about it. The moment she brought up the story with Rosa, she kept it in because she thought it would escalate if she found out that it was Anthea’s experience story. Maybe that’s why Nathan’s expression was ambiguous when he heard the beginning of her evil deeds.

 

“Oh, I even broke the precious-looking jar on purpose.”

 

“Are you hurt?”

 

“I’m fine… Well, I don’t know that either.”

 

As she turned her horse around, Nathan carefully examined Anthea’s hand that she was holding, turning it back and forth. She tried to give an example, but Nathan seemed to already know that this was Anthea’s story. It seemed that even if she said that she bought a dress she didn’t need, it would be of no use to her, and Anthea confessed her evil deed to her strongest point.

 

“I told them to keep the skinny and dirty children out of sight.”

 

Was this strong? She confessed with that in mind, but Nathan still asked back with an ambiguous expression.

 

“How was it processed?”

 

At the mention of her handling, Anthea felt the back of her neck become cold and gently rubbed it with her hand.

 

“Leave that to her maids…”

 

“Did you kill him?”

 

“No! He washed and fed her well, contrary to her intentions… Well, child labor exploitation is definitely a bad thing, right? She made me carry heavy, dirty dirt. They just pound the floor and fill it up.”

 

Why did the more she explain it, the more it sounded like she was playing with dirt? She couldn’t even bring up the story of her moving her meals here and there. The more she confessed to Nathan, the more she reflected on how poor a villainous plan she had come up with. At Anthea’s sullen reaction, Nathan’s hand stroked her head.

 

“Why did we, Anne, try to do something bad?”

 

“That…”

 

To be kicked out after half a year. To be honest, Nathan would probably be more willing to help. Instead, her heart for Anthea would also burn as it was. Therefore, she expressed Anthea a little differently.

 

“They say that if you are the duke’s mistress, you have to be cold-hearted sometimes.”

 

“She’s the duke’s mistress…”

 

Nathan’s previously sweet smile once again became bitter.

 

“Our Anne is trying to become a duchess. Then her brother should help her too.”

 

Even though she didn’t want to help, Nathan was as kind as always, out of concern for Anthea. So she was able to smile at Ann Shea, but she was embarrassed by what she heard next.

 

“Didn’t you like the cooking?

 

Then she just needs to fire the chef.”

 

“But it’s a matter of taste. It’s not the cook’s fault, but they don’t cut it.”

 

“As expected, good Anne. But if the Duchess doesn’t discipline her, she will continue to give power to the chief maid.”

 

It didn’t matter. However, she had just made the excuse that she had to be cool as a hostess, so while she was hesitating, Nathan continued speaking calmly, without hesitation.

 

“If necessary, it would be good to use it as an example. Because I’m a chef, I cut out her tongue.”

 

“Brother!”

 

“It would be good to reprimand the person responsible for bringing in the jar.”

 

“Oh, no. I just woke up because I was bored.”

 

“It would be good to punish the employee who neglected Anthea. Whipping them out is an easy way to spread rumors.”

 

Who was this person? Was this really sweet honey guy Nathan Leslie? Nathan’s gentle smile deepened as Anthea’s eyes fluttered.

 

“They are dirty kids… It looks like you met an orphan or a commoner child.

 

“If it’s about dealing with those kids.”

 

“Brother, it’s enough now. I don’t think I need to listen any more.”

 

She was afraid that something harsh would come out of Nathan’s mouth, so she quickly stopped him. Anthea broke into a cold sweat at Nathan’s answer, which was more extreme than expected.

 

‘Did it have to be that bad? I was complacent, I was complacent.’

 

Anthea in the original was branded a villain so easily. She thought that the path to becoming a villainess was easy for her. As she listened to Nathan, this was not an easy road. Just looking at Nathan, who lived the common sense and life of an aristocrat, he was so different. Anthea, who had lived in the warm embrace of her countess without her modern common sense, was full of things she could not do. She had to completely change her future evil deeds, but she could not even follow Nathan’s example. If this is the case, she might be seen as a tomboyish young lady, as Nathan sees her, let alone a villainous woman. Then she was in trouble. Anthea’s mind became confused as she had to revise her plan.

 

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