The Villain Is Obsessed With His Fake Wife

Her heart sank.

 

‘No way, just like back then-’

 

John remembered the day he saw Estelle’s trauma. She lowered her long white eyelashes and bit her lip slightly as if she was in pain.

 

“Estelle!”

 

John couldn’t stand it any longer and went inside the gazebo and grabbed her. Then Estelle widened her eyes, as if she had just come to her senses.

 

“Uh?”

 

“Do you know who is in front of you now?”

 

“Yeah… John?”

 

Estelle again tried to ignore it with a nonchalant expression. He grew fond of Estelle, who continued to try hard to hide her wounds.

 

“Yes, I am by your side. Do not forget.”

 

At that moment, sparks flew through the crystal ball and strange events began to occur. There were wild flowers blooming all around.

 

‘This cannot happen.’

 

But it was possible in just one situation.

 

‘This magic tool is basically an item made based on the assumption of a living person.’

 

In particular, the fact that the flower that suddenly bloomed was a lilyflower added further support to the assumption. Hibernian lily was the flower of death. A flower that symbolized chaos, the opposite of God.

 

‘Estelle… Is it saying she is closer to the dead than the living?’

 

John thought, looking at Estelle with sad eyes.

 

“…Estelle.”

 

Currently, Estelle was in such pain that the crystal ball was dyed black. Even though she was so close to death, she did not show it.

 

“You don’t have to try to pretend you’re okay.”

 

It’s a miracle that she moved normally.

 

“I didn’t break it. Thank god.”

 

Estelle seemed to have a general idea of the situation when she saw John.

 

‘…She already knows she has an incurable disease, so she must have noticed.’

 

The attending physician, Henry Hanson, spoke about Estelle.

 

‘Usually Sleeping Beauty does not feel pain, but there are exceptional cases where she feels extreme pain. At first, I thought she was a sleeping princess with no pain…’

 

‘Are you saying my wife is going through extreme pain right now?’

 

‘I saw she showing signs of pain sometimes, yes. I think so.’

 

‘How can that be?’

 

Sleeping Beauty was a disease that literally destroyed the body from the inside out. It was not a pain she could bear.

 

‘It seems like she is used to enduring her own pain. Because she kept trying to hide it from you, master.’

 

Henry Hanson’s diagnosis was accurate, as confirmed with a crystal ball.

 

‘Estelle is still enduring pain.’

 

But John had no way to treat her. He thought Estelle also knew about her desperate situation.

 

“I really like this flower. It’s like John’s eyes.”

 

That was…

 

“There are times when it’s a little sad or scary, but there are times when it feels like John’s sincerity. I’m glad it feels like we’ve become closer.”

 

-She tried to comfort him.

 

‘Really presumptuous.’

 

She was maddeningly lovely.

 

“How can you be so, infuriatingly lovely?”

 

“Do you find me lovely?”

 

John locked Estelle against the wall. Estelle looked at him with her big rabbit-like eyes. It’s an expression that always provokes him.

 

“You are crazy adorable.”

 

“…”

 

“It turns me off.”

 

Estelle was surprised by John’s harsh words. Estelle’s breathing was trembling due to tension. Her white, long eyelashes fluttered like butterflies. John looked at every corner of Estelle with his frantic gaze.

 

‘You’re going to die like this?’

 

In a swarm of crawlin monsters, John went out of his way to save Estelle. As a result, it became difficult for John to use magic as before until he paid a new price.

 

‘Then are you really going to save me?’

 

But Estelle became further and further away from John.

 

‘Why do you want to save me so much?’

 

John slowly kissed Estelle’s forehead and the bridge of her nose. Every time his lips touched her, she reacted sensitively.

 

“I know who will miss it.”

 

It’s completely unacceptable.

 

“Jo, John?”

 

“When you return to the Duke’s residence, plant the flowers you want in the garden. And let’s be together in a garden full of flowers.”

 

“Are we going to go back to the Duke’s residence now?”

 

“I think it would be difficult to get treatment here.”

 

Looking at Estelle who was surprised, John smiled kindly.

 

‘I will save you.’

 

He would save her somehow. By any means necessary.

 

* * *

 

John announced that he would be moving up to the Duke’s residence in just three days. 

This happened after he canceled all the plans he had originally planned to make when he came down to the Duchy of Blanchett.

 

‘I see so much work.’

 

Even as a layperson, it seemed like John had a lot of work to do. In particular, the work increased because she was not good at using magic and could not use movement magic. 

Meanwhile, she spent the few days she had left visiting Betty and Blanchett’s Castle. They said they had made a lot of preparations so that she could rest, and they really did prepare a lot.

 

“Ma’am, this is what the master has prepared so that you can freely choose when you come.”

 

“This much?”

 

She asked because the room was filled with dresses that came across the sea. Then the duchy’s dedicated maid responded politely.

 

“Of course, this is not all. There are about 10 more rooms like this. All of these dresses are of the highest quality and can be altered to fit your measurements at any time.”

 

“…10?”

 

“Sorry. Even though we had to search all the way from the Duchy of Blanchett to the capital to prepare in a hurry, this was the best we could do.”

 

The dedicated maid seemed to think that her reaction was insufficient.

 

“The master has made reservations at a famous clothing store, so from now on, I think we will be able to fill it with clothes that suit your level and taste.”

 

In addition, John prepared dresses, jewelry, famous works of art, and even sculptures. It was clear that he was completely prepared.

 

‘I heard that the first thing John started doing was making money…’

 

It seems like there’s so much money that it’s really rotting away. But John’s excessive spending did not stop there.

 

“If you go up to the Duke’s residence, it will be stocked with new dresses tailored to the lady’s measurements.”

 

“…That would be enough to spread the word around the capital.”

 

If you buy a costume like this, naturally, a lot of rumors will spread in social circles.

 

‘I can see what everyone is talking about.’

 

The best evaluation would be that Libertan’s fake was sold out.

 

“Don’t worry about those things. Time is too precious to do that.”

 

“That’s right, that’s not what’s important.”

 

“If you go up this time, a high-ranking priest will be there to treat you.”

 

She was very surprised to hear that he was a high-ranking priest.

 

“If it’s a high-ranking priest…?”

 

“The cardinal is most likely to come.”

 

John had a very bad relationship with the temple. This was because there were traces of the temple’s involvement in the demise of the Blanchett family.

 

‘And yet you still call him?’

 

That too for her. There were only three cardinals, high-ranking priests, in the entire Holy Kingdom and Empire.

 

“How on earth could you call him?”

 

“I had to listen to what the temple demanded. I happened to be able to hand over the area the temple needed. As a result, the conversation became easier.”

 

John spoke as if it was nothing.

 

‘There is no way a high-ranking priest would move to an ordinary place.’

 

They probably spent a lot of money on something else.

 

‘Ah, I feel like it’s a waste of money.’

 

It wasn’t her money, but it was such a waste to spend that much on a day when she wasn’t even sick. John asked cautiously, looking at her reaction.

 

“Is there a problem with a high-ranking priest coming from the temple?”

 

“No. There is no such thing.”

 

Priests often came to Libertan, but they had nothing to do with her.

 

‘There was no use of divine power to heal me.’

 

All she could do was watch from afar.

 

‘It may be a bit of a problem to be close to Libertan.’

 

The person who would be more offended by that part than anyone else was John, so she decided to let go.

 

“I hope John doesn’t push himself too hard because of me.”

 

“This is not unreasonable. And if divine power doesn’t work, just find another way.”

 

John held her hand tightly and smiled sweetly.

 

“By the way, all the property confiscated from the Count Hettel family was returned to you. I’ve put a list of his belongings in your room, so take a look when you have time.”

 

“All of Count Hettel’s wealth came to me?”

 

“Of course it’s yours.”

 

“But isn’t Count Hettel still on trial?”

 

She heard that an imperial trial was held to judge their crimes.

 

“The deprivation of rights to property was ruled before that. So I put it back in your name.”

 

As a result of the ruling, the Count Hettel was completely expelled from the list of nobles. The Count and his wife were sentenced to life imprisonment for their serious crimes, and their daughters had their names taken away and were driven out as commoners without a penny.

 

‘It’s just as John said.’

 

“Then I’ll go back to work.”

 

John kissed her cheek and left to go back to work. She went up to the room and checked the document John told her about. Indeed, all of Count Hettel’s property became hers.

 

“…Can it become my property like this?”

 

Although the Hettel family was a poor count, the count was a high-ranking nobleman. Even the property that Countess Hettel brought as a dowry became her share, so the size of the property was larger than she expected.

 

“Why not? The master decided that way.”

 

Betty showed her the letter.

 

“Ma’am, use it for whatever you want. When I read the letters they sent, it seemed like they had no intention of reflecting.”

 

It was an apology letter from Count Hettel’s family. They seem to think that if they receive forgiveness from her, a way out will somehow open up.

 

‘It must have been difficult to get out of Libertan in the first place because you were involved with Baron Penula.’

 

She saw a document about the Hettel estate in the list of properties of the Count Hettel family.

 

‘They really ripped it off so bad.’

 

It seemed that Count Hettel’s situation was really urgent. She said while looking at the report on Hettel territory.

 

“Betty, can you do me a favor?”

 

“Please, of course. Please tell me anything.”

 

Betty was really capable and did things that ordinary maids could not do.

 

“Then sell the money and jewelry here and donate it to the orphanage and poor people in the county.”

 

“…Donation?”

 

A sponsorship format would be better. Not only Hettel territory, but also places that had it very difficult.”

 

Betty blinked for a moment.

 

“Aren’t you using it for yourself?”

 

“I’m doing this for myself.”

 

She didn’t donate or support because she was a good person. In any case, Count Hettel’s properties were officially recorded, so it was difficult for her to use them when she ran away from John.

 

‘All I need is the money that Baron Penula has in the bank.’

 

“Then shall we create a foundation in your name?” asked Betty, her eyes watering.

 

“When I think about it, I think it would be better to have a foundation in order to provide support for a long time. Can we establish it soon?”

 

“Of course. Because you have money, you can just buy a foundation that is failing and get it going.”

 

“Betty, you know very well.”

 

Betty answered in a confident tone.

 

“If you want to work as a spy, you have to know all of these things.”

 

It was fortunate that many things are included in the basic knowledge of a spy. If you do it wrong, you may have wasted your money on something else.

 

“I’m glad. Then, please do so anonymously when making donations and sponsorships.”

 

“…You want me to do it anonymously, not under the lady’s name? Why on earth?”

 

“Well, they wouldn’t want to take that, would you?”

 

People hated her. They would probably hate her no matter what she did, thinking she was doing something stupid.

 

‘It doesn’t matter if I’m the only one hated.’

 

It was clear that those who received her support would also suffer damage.

 

“Lady. That can’t be possible. Even if there are people who view you negatively, there are people who will understand your true feelings…”

 

“Please.”

 

Betty eventually nodded to her unchanging opinion.

 

“I understand, ma’am. But madam, you still have to cheer up.”

 

Betty nodded and left to do what she asked her to do. While she felt that Count Hettel was sorting things out. It was already time to go up to Duke Blanchett’s residence.

 

* * *

 

John prepared some potion for her.

 

“If you drink this, my wife will be able to use the moving magic circle without any problems.”

 

“Is there something like that?”

 

“Only I can do this.”

 

She drank the potion that John gave her right away.

 

‘Ugh. You use it.’

 

If possible, she should avoid using movement magic. She shook her head and moved toward the moving magic circle. The moving magic circle was shaped like a multi-layered red magic circle stretched horizontally like a pillar of light in the air.

 

‘I think I’ve seen this somewhere before.’

 

The red letters in the magic circle billowed like smoke. The letters were crushed and became new letters.

 

“Be careful?”

 

“Be careful?”

 

At that time, John standing next to her asked. She was even more embarrassed by that question.

 

“What did I just say?”

 

“I just told you to be careful. Is there anything strange?”

 

When she blinked again, the text she had just written had disappeared like a lie.

 

“No. I guess I was mistaken for a moment.”

 

She smiled at John and took his hand. John stared at her for a moment and said.

 

“Okay. If you close your eyes and open them, you will be at Duke Blanchett’s residence.”

 

Following John’s guidance, she stepped into the red magic circle. However, the inside of the magic circle was a little different from what John had said.

 

‘He said I would be moved right away?’

 

The surroundings were all dark. Then darkness began to engulf her entire body. Little by little, her body disappeared, starting with her limbs. The moment she was about to scream in fear.

 

-Don’t worry too much, baby.

 

The surroundings became bright with a warm voice.

 

-I will protect you until the end so that you can be happy.

 

Her body, which had disappeared, began to appear again.

 

‘Who are you?’

 

But what was heard was laughter, not an answer. It was a sound of laughter that made even her sad.

 

* * *

 

She felt dizzy.

 

‘What is that voice?’

 

She thought it was different from when she was talking to the tree.

 

‘It’s frustrating because things keep happening that I don’t know about.’

 

There were limits to learning about black magic in the Duke’s library.

 

‘I think I need to find out more in earnest.’

 

When she stumbled, John was right next to her and caught her.

 

“Of course, there’s a problem if you use magic.”

 

When John frowned, she smiled at him.

 

“I think it’s okay that John holds me like this.”

 

“Let’s quickly go into the Duke’s residence and rest.”

 

Erich greeted them as we arrived at the Duke’s residence through the moving magic circle.

 

“Master. I was just waiting.”

 

“What’s going on?”

 

Erich, who briefly glanced at her injured foot, reported to John.

 

“Someone from the temple has just arrived. I think it would be better for you to go and see for yourself.”

 

“It would look good that way.”

 

As soon as John saw her, he said:

 

“I want to go with you too.”

 

“You also?”

 

“If it’s such an important event, I think it’s right for me to go along.”

 

For some reason, she continued to feel an ominous feeling. In the end, John listened to her wishes. So she followed John out the front door. At the main gate stood a pure white carriage richly decorated with gold decorations. Eventually, the carriage door opened.

 

Priests appeared from the carriage.

 

“I will catch you.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

Finally, escorted by a beautiful woman, she gracefully stepped out of the carriage. She was different from other priests in her appearance. She wore a pure white nun’s uniform, but it exposed her shoulders and neckline, making it look like her dress. So she seemed like a noble princess rather than a priest who served a god. Her blonde hair, as dazzling as the sunlight, fluttered in the wind. She smiled shyly as the woman gently smoothed her shiny blonde hair with her thin wrist. Clear blue eyes looked straight at John.

 

“Ah.”

 

Her long eyelashes quivered, and a rosy blush appeared on her innocent face. The woman, who thought she would say hello right away, approached while hiding behind another male priest as if she were embarrassed. The male priests approached us, surrounding her as if protecting her. When they finally arrived in front of them, the woman behind the male priest carefully stepped to the side.

 

“Hello, Duke Blanchett. My name is Saint Yestella of the Holy Kingdom.”

 

Stella smiled brightly and lifted up her nun’s uniform like her dress to greet her.

 

“You were desperately looking for me?”

 

She immediately recognized her identity, even though she had never seen her before.

 

‘Yestella Libertan.’

 

He was the real target of John’s revenge.

 

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