The Villain Is Obsessed With His Fake Wife

Erich’s expression as he approached with great strides was very cruel.

 

‘It’s a crisis!’

 

To be honest, she wasn’t scared when it was just Betty. Even though she couldn’t completely trust Betty, she didn’t force her to find out if she wanted to keep it a secret. She believed that he would probably do as she asked.

 

‘But Erich is different.’

 

The more she tried to keep him from opening the door, the more suspicious she became and the more he opened the door.

 

‘If it had been John, he would have hidden the fact that he was going crazy even from Erich.’

 

It seemed like the situation would become more complicated if John’s collapsed body was discovered. Erich arrived in front of her and looked at her with sharp eyes.

 

“What is this Blanchett family plotting?”

 

“Erich Boulogne!”

 

Betty, who was crying while looking at her, got angry. It was her first time seeing Betty’s face look so scary.

 

“What are you talking about now, ma’am? The lady and I are talking right now, so please don’t interrupt.”

 

“No. I can’t just listen to you and get out of the way. It’s a matter related to the security of this mansion.”

 

Erich, ignoring Betty’s words, tried to open the door. It was at that moment that she unconsciously stretched out her arm to stop him.

 

“Why is there blood…”

 

Erich grabbed her arm. Erich’s eyes shook when he saw her hand.

 

‘Oh. Unbelievable.’

 

It was clear that her hands were fine when she just woke up. But now the wound from the dream has appeared on her hand.

 

‘When did it come about?’

 

She was so out of it that she didn’t even know it happened. Her palms were covered in blood and not just scratches.

 

‘I didn’t know because it didn’t hurt.’

 

She quickly hid her hands.

 

‘What excuse will I make?’

 

Both Betty and Erich looked at her uncomfortably calmly. 

 

Drip. 

 

The blood that could not be wiped away fell on the floor. Betty’s eyes, which were originally moist, became more sad, and Erich’s.

 

‘Why is the reaction like that?’

 

His complexion turned white, as if he had seen a ghost. 

 

* * *

 

Recently, Erich couldn’t stop thinking about Estelle.

 

‘The master has made her a real Duchess Blanchett.’

 

John registered his marriage to Estelle without any consultation. He even received the Emperor’s approval and the seal of the temple. Even for Duke Blanchett, it would have been difficult to kill his official wife so carelessly. John gave many reasonable reasons, but Erich felt like they were all excuses. By then he had run into Estelle. She was sitting on a high tree as if she would fall.

 

‘It’s been a long time, Baron Bougne.’

 

How she climbed up that tall tree with her slender arms. Erich, whose mind went blank, was angry at Estelle. It would have been a good thing for her to die.

 

‘Never mind.’

 

Estelle’s answer was natural. From the beginning, it was Erich himself who ignored and laughed at her, not treating her like a hostess or even showing basic respect as a human being. He also did it even though he knew it would hurt the other person.

 

‘You hate me anyway. I will go down on my own, so you don’t have to interfere any more. I’ll take care of it. I won’t die if she falls anyway.’

 

A resigned voice, like someone who has already tried hard to die.

 

‘Then wouldn’t it be a good thing if I died? If I accidentally die, you’ll be happy.’

 

It was common sense. But from the moment Estelle put the author Boulogne in her mouth, Erich felt an inexplicable despair. Estelle’s complexion was as pale as if she were about to disappear at any moment. Erich blurted out something unexpected.

 

‘…So if you want to die, go somewhere else and do it.’

 

Estelle Libertan. She was merely an adopted child of the family that abandoned the Baron de Boulogne. She was the master’s tool of revenge that would soon be destroyed.

 

‘You are nothing but a fake.’

 

But why was he so scared of her death? Erich ran away from Estelle’s side, blabbering gibberish at her, denying her surging impulses.

 

‘No. It’s my fault for thinking I would talk to someone like you.’

 

He wasn’t talking to Estelle in the first place. Even though he knew that talking to Estelle was pointless, he felt stupid for talking to her again. Erich, who had left the garden right now, was worried about Estelle, so he looked for the tree.

 

‘This is so as not to ruin my master’s revenge.’

 

He went to look for her in case she couldn’t come down, but Estelle had already disappeared from the tree. As if the conversation they had just had was an illusion. Erich stared blankly up the tree for a moment.

 

‘What on earth is she?’

 

He knew Estelle had a secret. Because there were only mysterious incidents, from the Amethyst incident that Estelle suddenly revealed to the orphanage. To be honest, it was somewhat reasonable for Erich to feel confused about Estelle. However, most of the Blanchett family did not know these things. However, now he naturally accepted Estelle and treated her as his true wife. Even Patricia, whom she thought would have the same thoughts as her! When she returned to her mansion, she found Erich holding a handkerchief in Betty’s hand.

 

‘That handkerchief. What is that handkerchief?’

 

Bloody handkerchief.

 

‘It’s no big deal. It’s one of the pieces of evidence I collected when I was last dispatched as a spy, and I’m planning to dispose of it now.’

 

‘When was it collected, what kind of evidence is this?’

 

‘It’s okay for you to know.’

 

Strangely enough, it seemed to Erich that the handkerchief was owned by Estelle. So it was even more confusing.

 

“What on earth are you hiding?”

 

At that moment, he discovered that Estelle was plotting something suspicious with Betty. To be honest, he was confident that he had caught a suspicious scene.

 

“What is this Blanchett family plotting?”

 

So, as if he was interrogating a criminal, he argued with Estelle and tried to force his way into the room.

 

‘I will reveal the true nature of this woman.’

 

Even when Betty tried to stop him, he didn’t listen. Estelle’s actions to block the door made him more confident. But what he witnessed was completely different from what he expected.

 

“Why is there blood…”

 

There was blood on the hand he was clenching as if she was trying to hide something. The blood looked like it had just been spit out. He automatically remembered the handkerchief that Betty was holding at that time. He also remembered the story about Estelle’s illness, which he had dismissed as a rumor.

 

‘Did you hear that your wife is terminally ill? He said his wife lived in Libertan, but she was not their biological daughter but an adopted child. I feel sorry for you, Madam.’

 

‘When I saw her in person, she was a really kind and gentle person. Strictly speaking, she couldn’t be said to have sinned against anyone. She won’t live long…’

 

Could it be that the rumor was true? The attitude of detachment from death so far has been explained. Blood on the floor was visible through the slightly open door. The bed beyond might be stained with more blood.

 

‘She was holding back the pain.’

 

Estelle could have used the excuse of being terminally ill to gain sympathy. But instead, she held back the pain and smiled calmly as she endured the Libertan’s sin.

 

‘Why on earth…?’

 

She was not the villain Erich imagined.

 

“I never thought you would really be that sick…”

 

Betty roughly pushed Erich, who was mumbling an excuse.

 

“Are you feeling refreshed now? Are you satisfied after forcefully finding out what she wanted to hide?”

 

Erich fell to the floor helplessly. His glasses were rolling around on the floor and his hair was flying. But Erich didn’t even think to pick up his glasses and he looked at Estelle blankly.

 

“I-I…”

 

“Baron Boulogne. Have all your questions been resolved?”

 

Estelle smiled as if she was in trouble and slowly closed the door, hiding her hand.

 

“I’m sorry for suddenly showing you something you can’t see. Now then, I will rest, Betty. Then I will ask you a favor.”

 

Crash.

 

He heard the door locking. 

 

* * *

 

John came to his senses. But unlike usual, he felt strangely refreshed.

 

‘Is the runaway over?’

 

This use of black magic was beyond John’s calculations. He decorated the magic ballroom to please Estelle, and had no idea that he would be attacked there. It was also the case that he eliminated all of his enemies to protect himself.

 

‘But what about Estelle?’

 

Unlike her innocent and lovely face like a rabbit, Estelle was stubborn and said she would remain by his side. It seemed like he couldn’t force her out and tried to attack her right away…

 

“Ma’am?”

 

Estelle was right next to him, her head down, asleep. In her hand was a wet towel, as if she had been nursing him all night.

 

‘She is alive.’

 

Although he was very relieved by that fact, he was also very puzzled. From the moment he felt the signs of a runaway, John quickly tried to move to a place where he could control it. Normally, he would have moved no matter what anyone said. No matter who the opponent was.

 

‘But the side effects don’t necessarily mean I will die. If the Duke allows me, I want to stay by his side forever.’

 

But Estelle’s voice slowed his actions. So everything changed. John was unable to move to a hiding place where he could relieve the side effects as usual, and the mansion should have been destroyed due to his power.

 

‘But…’

 

From the room to the mansion. Strangely enough, everything was fine.

 

‘What happened?’

 

At that time, Estelle slowly woke up, rubbing her eyes. Her creamy pink platinum hair was flowing and fragrant. It was a scent that stimulated him.

 

“Duke?”

 

Estelle looked at him with emotion, her eyes wide like a rabbit. Navy blue eyes as deep as the deep sea, looking at John as if he were the only person in the world. John thought every time he looked into Estelle’s eyes. Estelle always looked at his red eyes with wonder, but what was truly more beautiful than jewels were those mysterious navy blue eyes. No jewel would be able to capture all that mysterious light. Estelle tilted her head and fluttered her long eyelashes pitifully. Whenever John saw such a shy or vulnerable appearance, he would feel a strong urge to destroy it with his own hands. He thought even the brokenness would be beautiful. The brilliant morning sunlight came through the window. Estelle was wrapped in sunlight. She smiled as dazzlingly as clear sunlight.

 

“I’m glad you woke up. How are you feeling?”

 

John had never thought of the sunlight shining. In his life, the sunshine was just sunshine. But when he saw her looking at him in a room full of sunlight, he felt like he could tell that there was something different about her. The sight of her smiling between her teeth was so sparkly that it was redefining what it meant to sparkle. Suddenly, defenselessly, he looked at her outstretched wrist.

 

‘Those marks…’

 

Red marks left on the wrists, palms and fingers that looked like they were injured. Even the wound on her neck.

 

‘Why did I think nothing happened?’

 

Why didn’t he think of it right away? There was no way the side effects of black magic could be prevented without causing any damage. If there appears to be no damage, it meant someone took care of it.

 

‘No matter what happens, I will endure it.’

 

Of course, this alone couldn’t explain the calming of the runaway. He needed to find out how Estelle coped with the side effects…

 

“I think I’ve become strange.”

 

John couldn’t take his eyes off Estelle, as if he were fascinated.

 

“You…”

 

He swallowed dry saliva and twisted his drowsy eyes painfully.

 

“Why does it look so shiny?”

 

It was clear that his heart had been broken to the point where he couldn’t bear it. Because of that ridiculously stupid woman. 

 

* * *

 

The side effects of black magic seemed to be dangerous.

 

“I think I’ve become strange.”

 

His usual cold and ruthless appearance disappeared and he said something difficult to understand with blank eyes.

 

“You… Why does it look so shiny?”

 

She felt awkward, so she scratched her cheek and looked toward the window. ‘Has he not regained his senses yet?’ He said that for some reason, his fever did not go down for a long time. Now that John was awake, she needed to give him some air.

 

“Let me open the window for a moment.”

 

She got up and opened the window. Cool air rushed in. She couldn’t even open the window properly because she was afraid someone would come in. At that time, she felt an unfamiliar gaze outside the window. She lowered her head. Then, right below, a man was looking at her with an affectionate gaze. A classic handsome man with short-cut silver hair and blue eyes, with a stoic appearance. If John was a man who reminded her of a languid black panther, this was a man who reminded her of a noble knight. The wind ruffled the man’s short silver hair. The man continued to stare at her expressionlessly.

 

‘That man…’

 

She realized it the moment she saw it.

 

‘Leandro Felsis.’

 

Leandro, the male protagonist of the original work, arrived to save her from the Blanchett duchy.

 

“Lady, I’m here to save you.”

 

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Translator Note: