I Thought a Villainess' Divorce Would Be Easy

And that afternoon.

Fortunately, the recipe Nathan had left behind included the flower pot, so the knights prepared to go on an expedition in a desperate manner to obtain fruit and left the territory. It was not a hunt for demons, but a journey to get fruit, so she wondered if it was necessary to be so desperate, but contrary to Anthea’s thoughts, obtaining fruit was by no means an easy task.

The nearest place where they could get the fruit needed to make the flower pot was a port that took several days and nights to reach. However, this was only if it was a safe route around the forest, and if they risked crossing the mountain range where demons were swarming, they could shorten the journey to a day. That was why the duke’s knights had gone on an epic expedition.

Anthea felt a stiffness in the back of her neck when she heard the news.

She was afraid that someone would see the duke’s knights rushing out to run an errand for fruit.

Even if it was for the duchess, it was an overreaction.

“Wait. Richard… No, isn’t the Duke at home right now? Are you just leaving this situation alone even though you know about it?”

“Yes, ma’am. Chef Harmon personally requested the master to procure fruit.”

“The master sent knights who are good at horseback riding and light in body, so they will be back soon.”

And he didn’t just randomly send them. He even selected the right knights.

Judging from Julie and Ellie’s pleased faces, Anthea didn’t seem to be getting cursed at.

She thought the chef would struggle to make a feast, but she didn’t expect the knights to show up.

It was just a small act of evil, and she made an unreasonable fuss, but things got worse.

“No, this is a really evil employer… Oh, that’s right. She’s a villainess. She’s a villainess…  Why do I feel so bad inside?”

She tried to ease her guilt by talking to herself, but her heart only grew heavier. Considering the cost-effectiveness, it was so absurd that Anthea felt like invisible gold coins were scattered on the floor and disappearing. In the end, she couldn’t rest because she was anxious and wandered around.

While she was walking around the mansion, she saw Rosa and Bianca together.

Anthea was genuinely surprised to see the two laughing and talking.

“How could Rosa laugh like that?”

Rosa’s kind smile was unfamiliar. Bianca also had no reason to be scared of Rosa, so she smiled brightly.

She was torn between whether to call it a female protagonist buff or whether there was something between Rosa and Bianca.

It was because of Anthea’s suggestion that Bianca entered the mansion, rather than thinking that Rosa was up to something.

A female protagonist loved by everyone.

Bianca, the devilish female protagonist.

It was hard to think that way, but Julie and Ellie’s displeased sighs were clear right behind her.

“Oh, mistress?!”

While she was watching for a moment, Bianca noticed Anthea’s gaze and ran towards her like a puppy that had found its owner. Rosa glanced at the sight as if she was displeased, and reluctantly nodded her head slightly in greeting Anthea. Then she quickly turned around, as if worried that Anthea would chase her again.

Bianca, who had found Anthea, quickly approached her with a bright smile. Anthea spoke to Bianca, who was happy to see her.

“You don’t seem to have a hard time with Rosa. Do you know her?”

“Rosa told me a lot about the dukedom.”

She didn’t answer the question of whether she knew him.

Anthea decided to focus on not letting the opportunity to meet Bianca slip away rather than asking about something that wasn’t that important.

“Julie, would you like to go to the warehouse with Bianca? There are a few red boxes among the items that my brother brought this time. Give one of them to Bianca.”

“Huh? Are you giving Bianca a gift?”

Anthea’s question mixed with resentment came back from Ellie, who would normally not have questioned Anthea’s instructions. Anthea smiled faintly, thinking that Bianca must have been quite repulsive.

“No. It’s a gift for the Duke, so I thought it would be good if Bianca brought it.”

Anthea smiled brightly at Ellie, who raised her eyebrows as if she couldn’t understand why she was asking Bianca to do it.

“Do you want to do it? Then you can bring it.”

“Oh, no, ma’am.”

“Me! I really want to bring it, my lady.”

Bianca immediately interjected, worried that she might ask Ellie to do it.

Anthea was satisfied with the heroine’s reaction, who showed such vivid emotions. She couldn’t hide the corners of her mouth from going up.

“Yes. I really want Bianca to do it.”

“Yes, ma’am. Thank you.”

This was not something to be thankful for, but Bianca looked very happy.

As Ellie, who was clearly displeased, took Bianca to the warehouse, Julie cautiously offered her opinion.

“Madam, you’ve only been married for a month. Don’t you think you shouldn’t try to be a generous hostess already?”

“Do I look generous?”

“Yes. I’m worried that you’re trying too hard and collapsing again.”

“You’re not trying too hard. The problem is that you keep getting in the way.”

Anthea, who was about to commit a small evil deed, suddenly remembered the knights who had gone through the forest of demons, and became depressed again.

All day, she was anxious about the knights’ return, and when she saw the knights who had returned the next afternoon, her stomach ached.

The knights who had returned covered in wounds and the fruits they had carefully brought.

Anthea, startled by the news of the knights covered in dirt and blood, ran out immediately. The knights covered in wounds held up a bundle of fruits as if they had brought news of victory as soon as they saw Anthea outside.

“We saved them all without missing a single one.”

“The shop owner thought we were thieves and ran away, so it took a while to pay.”

“That’s why I told you to take off your bear skin and go in.”

They all had a lot to say, so they burst into laughter, and blood gushed out from the wounds on their arms and cheeks.

‘Wow, I can really act like a villain. This isn’t right. This is getting too big.’

She should have just thrown a plate.

Half a year later, if they kept sending Bianca to Richard as often as they did now, they might have divorced sooner.

The knights, who didn’t know that fact, were smiling, willingly going back for the Duchess who wouldn’t even last half a year, even though their bodies were hurting.

“I’m sorry. I said something unnecessary…”

The guilt surged toward them like a wave, and tears flowed out unintentionally.

Even without it, Anthea, who was already small and bright as if sprinkled with light powder, shed tears from her large eyes, which were as lovely as a painting.

The knights each handed over the fruit bundles they were holding to their servants and knelt down toward Anthea.

It was not the kind of knightly behavior one would expect in this situation, but the sturdy black knights’ knees sunk deep into the dirt in an attempt to comfort the little, crying mistress.

“Next time, I will come back faster without getting hurt like this.”

“Just having the mistress welcome me is enough for all of us.”

“It’s getting cold, so please go inside. The chef will finish the food in no time.”

All the knights were affectionate and kind, as if they were comforting a child or a beautiful woman.

Anthea finally burst into laughter at the sight of the black bears squatting down.

The knights searched through their pockets to offer Anthea a handkerchief that was smiling brightly while shedding tears, but they were all covered in blood or dirt.

“Madam.”

Richard approached without a sound and gently pressed Anthea’s cheek with a soft handkerchief.

Anthea had been avoiding the idea of ​​having a meal together all day, making excuses, but this time she didn’t. No, she couldn’t avoid it.

She unconsciously accepted Richard’s light touch.

“Are you surprised by their hideous appearance?”

‘You say your knights are hideous?’

Anthea shook her head vigorously for everyone to see and denied it without hesitation.

“No way! I’m crying not because I’m scared, but because I’m sorry.”

“Why should I be sorry? They’re the knights of the duke’s house. Madam, you can use them as much as you want.”

Anthea was momentarily speechless at Richard’s use of the expression “you can use it” toward people as if it were a given.

The wounded knights’ eyes sparkled at Richard’s words. They were all dressed in bear skins and covered in wounds, so I thought they were all adults, but when I looked at those shining eyes, I could see traces of their youth.

‘Aren’t they younger than me?’

Anthea quickly shook her head.

“No. I can’t call important knights for something like this.”

“They are still insufficiently trained to become the Black Knights. They are rookies who aren’t even mobilized to subdue demons. If you want, I’ll pass through the forest as many times as you want.”

“Yes! I’ll run through the forest day or night for your Majesty and Madam!”

“Madam, you’re so beautiful!”

Judging by the excited knights who couldn’t read the mood, I guess they were really kids.

“I’m really fine.”

Even if she had to break every jar in the mansion, she would never sing the song of fireworks again.

Richard sensed Anthea’s determination and calmly ordered the prostrate knights.

“Isn’t your lady surprised at our immature behavior?”

“We will do our best!”

“We will start training right away!”

Anthea hastily stopped the knights who were about to rush straight to the training ground without even getting treatment.

“Training? You should all get treatment first.”

“It’s okay. The wounds for the lady are a badge of honor.”

“I don’t know if it would be an honor for Snow Rabbit to scratch them…”

“Ahem, just call me whenever you want.”

“Let’s all go to the training ground!”

“Waaaah!”

Anthea didn’t have time to stop them any longer.

Anthea was dumbfounded as she watched the knights quickly moving away in a restrained manner.

She didn’t want to have the Duke’s Knights move in an organized manner just for the Duchess’s snacks. However, if they could somehow work hard and join the Demon Beast subjugation, that would also be a good thing for the Duke. Anthea, who had finished thinking this far, suddenly wondered why Richard was still staying in the mansion.

The reason the Duke, who should be busy with the subjugation of the demons, was staying at the Duke’s house was suspicious. Could it be related to Bianca’s earlier appearance than scheduled?

“Duke, aren’t you going to hunt the demons?”

“I guess you want to send me away.”

Anthea, who was hit with the punchline, was flustered, but calmly smiled instead.

It was such a bright and lovely smile that even the maids who saw Anthea every day had to put their hands on their hearts and calm down.

 

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