Since When Were You The Villain?

Chapter 56.

 

 

“And if my words earlier upset you in any way, I apologize.”

Sophia released the hand that had held him and looked down at the floor.

She had spoken somewhat sharply during her confrontation with Rubisella, which bothered her.

Although it was true that Rubisella had been involved with the Count in an affair, she was immoral in front of Ian anyway.

I must have been in a bad mood because I drove his real mother right in front of him.

In particular, there was nothing more to say in front of him, who was despised as the son of an unmarried mother in his childhood.

‘I already seemed to feel a little guilty…,’ Sophie thought, feeling a bit embarrassed.

At that moment, Ian looked at her intently.

“Why are you apologizing?”

It was his mother who had shouted and tried to chase her away the moment she entered.

Sophia hadn’t said anything wrong.

Ian turned his head as if he didn’t need to accept an apology, then looked at one of the maids who was standing nearby.

“Take Sophia to her room.”

“Yes, young master!”

“Oh, and…”

Ian’s gaze swept over the maids in the room.

Among them was Jenny, the maid who had been responsible for Sophia.

Jenny met Ian’s gaze and flinched, surprised. She recalled a previous incident when she had received a slap for not serving Sophia properly.

“Get another maid to attend to Sophia.”

Ian’s gaze narrowed as he looked at Jenny.

However, Sophia intervened.

“Why are you changing my assigned maid as you please?”

“A maid who can’t perform her duties properly is unnecessary.”

“Well, she’s still my maid! Leave Jenny alone. I find her quite agreeable.”

Ian’s eyebrows furrowed at Sophia’s words.

Since Kilian had taken Sophia away, Ian had become aware of the events that had unfolded within the Fraus family in his absence.

He also learned then that the servants, whom he had thought were just being somewhat neglectful of Sophia, had actually been ignoring and mistreating her, isolating her like an outcast.

“Are you okay with what they did to you?” Ian’s voice was tinged with frustration at Sophia’s excessive kindness.

“But she was my assigned servant for a long time,” Sophia responded, meeting Jenny’s eyes as she spoke.

In response, Jenny appeared flustered and shook her head.

“I went through some trouble to discipline her. I can’t just let her off easily.”

Sophia chuckled ominously, her true intention different from what Ian had thought.

After all, even if it were a different maid instead of Jenny, they would have treated Sophia with the same lack of respect. So, wouldn’t it be better to have someone who has experienced it before?

Jenny was the only maid who had personally experienced the consequences of speaking ill of Sophia. While she still grumbled and acted insolently, she tended to follow Sophia’s instructions when it came to tasks.

‘It’s actually better if you remain somewhat indifferent. Being together 24/7 becomes burdensome and stifles freedom.’

In various ways, Sophia found Jenny agreeable.

“Jenny, show me to my room.”

Sophia pointed towards Jenny. In response, Jenny came forward with a somewhat upset expression and glanced at Ian for his reaction.

However, unaware of the history between Ian and Jenny, Sophia urged her to lead the way.

“Please come this way, lady.”

For some reason, Jenny’s voice seemed more subdued than before.

* * *

Translator: HaileyFranchette. Read on moonlight novels only

Sophia was seated in her room on the third floor of the main building. Jenny, who used to be rather confrontational, now obediently follows Sophia’s instructions without any attitude. She even remembered to bring tea and cookies, which she hadn’t done before.

“Thank you, Jenny.”

Somewhat taken aback by this treatment, Sophia glanced at the tea and cookies placed in front of her. Jenny’s demeanour, with her hands politely folded in front of her, felt quite unfamiliar.

But what was even more unfamiliar was Ian Fraus standing there.

“Why are you here?”

Ian Fraus stood in front of her door as if he were a sentry, guarding it.

Except for when Sophia changed her clothes, he had been keeping watch over her and the door with an unwavering presence.

“I have to keep an eye on things. Make sure things are done properly.”

“What do you mean?”

Ian nodded his head in Jenny’s direction.

It seemed as though there were beads of sweat trickling down Jenny’s spine.

“I heard she did things she wouldn’t have thought of doing when I wasn’t around.”

Jenny’s shoulders twitched.

Ian seemed to be completely unaware of the things the household servants had done to Sophia. All the time, when Ian was present, they would rush to serve him and shower him with attention. Thanks to that, the tormenting of Sophia had momentarily stopped.

Based on what he had observed, Ian thought that the Fraus servants were treating the family members well, serving them properly.

“Being ignored by the servants is also disrespectful towards the Fraus name. You have to maintain a certain presence.”

Ian had dedicated his life to being a knight in Ruchtainer. Such things were important to him.

Yet, he himself was contributing to the erosion of the Ruchtainer’s principles. Humans are inherently contradictory creatures.

“I will handle it, so could you step aside? It bothers you more than you think.”

“Have you been able to handle it until now?”

“The me from before and the me now are different, Ian.”

“But…”

“So, please leave. Get out of the ladies’ room!”

In the end, Sophia stood up and pushed Ian’s back herself.

But Ian wasn’t easily pushed, even if Sophia tried to push him away.

“Why is your back so sturdy?”

Sophia felt like she was pushing against a rock. He certainly wasn’t just any knight from Ruchtainer.

“Actually, you’re hoping I’ll stay, aren’t you?”

Ian observed Sophia as she pushed against his back, much like a persistent cat.

She was so delicate that there was no way she could push him forcefully like this. Perhaps she was just playfully throwing a tantrum.

“Stop talking nonsense and get out!”

Sophia slapped Ian’s back lightly, as if it were a playful gesture.

But this only added to Ian’s misunderstanding.

‘Is she pretending to hit me while thinking about me? Afraid of hurting me?’

It was unlikely that she had hit him for real.

It seemed like she was playfully hitting him but actually avoiding real contact.

‘She’s good at pretending to hit without hurting.’

Ian was amazed. (T/L: This man 😂)

He was known to cause pain even with gentle touches, so how was she able to swing her arm like that and still hit so softly?

Sophia gently patted his back a few more times gently.’ (T/L: My goodness, I’m dying of laughter at these pairs of siblings.)

It was a truly noble consideration…

“Get out, I told you!”

“Fine, fine.”

Being treated so gently, there was no choice but to leave.

“And if she dares to ignore you…”

“I’ll handle it myself.”

Sophia pushed Ian’s back again, giving him a threatening look towards Jenny.

With that, Ian reluctantly left the room.

After completely ushering him out of the room, Sophia firmly closed the door, making sure he couldn’t come back in.

‘What’s with him, becoming so clingy all of a sudden? When did he start taking care of me so well? It’s absurd, seriously.’

Sophia grumbled to herself.

* * *

Translator: HaileyFranchette. Read on moonlight novels only

On the way back to his office after a military meeting, Nicholas touched his curly hair and cast a fleeting glance at Killian, who was walking ahead. After hesitating multiple times and repeatedly parting and sealing his lips, Nicholas finally mustered the courage to speak up.

“Your Highness, how have you been getting along with your fiancée lately?”

At Nicholas’s question, Kilian’s steps abruptly came to a halt. Kilian turned his head, and his expression didn’t seem favourable, causing Nicholas to regret opening his mouth without thinking.

“Why do you suddenly ask that?”

Killian’s voice held a note of caution.

“Well, you know… I’ve been hearing people talking about it lately.”

“What are they saying?”

“They’re spreading absurd rumours that Your Highness and Lady Sophia are… living together! Haha! It’s utterly ridiculous, isn’t it?”

Nicholas laughed heartily and lightly slapped his forehead.

To think such a baseless rumour would circulate about the commander of the military, known for having no interest in women, engaging in cohabitation.

“Haha, I know, right! It’s been years since you’ve been with her, so believing such a strange rumour… Actually, I wanted to ask you, but the rumour was so unbelievable that I…”

“….”

“I got curious… Is it true?”

As Nicholas chatted, poking fun at himself for believing in baseless gossip, he noticed Killian’s silence. Killian, not denying the rumour, looked back at Nicholas with a gaze and expression that undeniably signalled the truth.

“Oh, my goodness!”

Nicholas widened his eyes to the point that he could swallow his fist.

“That Kilian Viprons Rivelon is living together with a woman! The world is turning upside down!”

“Don’t be so shocked, Nick. It’s not what you’re thinking.”

Killian reassured the astonished Nicholas.

It seemed that the word “cohabiting” carried a much larger misconception than Killian had anticipated. Perhaps it was best not to jump to conclusions.

“It’s not what I’m thinking?”

Killian pondered for a moment.

He was concerned that if he affirmed the rumour, it might negatively affect Sophia, as Mikhail was worried about. However, on the other hand, denying it would likely lead to its exposure sooner or later.

Being upfront and honest to prevent excessive rumours seemed like the better option. Besides, Nicholas had been his comrade ever since he was appointed as the commander of the military police, making him a trustworthy person to confide in.

“I just gave her a temporary place to stay, so she used an empty room.”

Killian explained in a hushed voice, making sure there was no one around to hear.

“But Fraus is right there?”

Nicholas couldn’t comprehend why Killian needed a place to stay when Fraus was right nearby.

“There are several reasons.”

“Is that article true, by any chance?” (T/L: No bro you are hallucinating, eheheheeh) 

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TRANSLATOR:

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