The Villain Is Obsessed With His Fake Wife

Yestella excused herself with her eyes wide open.

 

“I can’t bear to see your pain…”

 

“So who asked you to care about that?”

 

Erich, regardless of his wounds, held out his bleeding hand to the saintess.

 

“How can you, saintess, interfere with my scars as you please? It’s my scar!”

 

Erich felt a strange force. His sensitive and tough appearance looked even brighter today.

 

‘Do more, do more.’

 

To be honest, she felt relieved because the saint did not like her.

 

‘I know because I suffered again.’

 

Of course, Erich’s harsh words didn’t hurt me much. He actually found it more annoying to keep talking. But it would be different for Yestella, a saint who had only heard good things her whole life. That was after treating her wounds.

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

Yestella cried, her face greatly shocked. At that time, the priests who were shocked by Erich’s power came forward. They stood in front of her and protected her.

 

“Baron Boulogne! What kind of disrespect is this to the saint?”

 

“Despite?”

 

Erich turned his head and questioned the priest.

 

“Is it rude for me to have some blood on my hands?”

 

The priests paused and blinked at Erich’s harsh answer. Erich sarcastically looked at the priest and Yestella.

 

“It seems that the temple’s legal principles have changed a bit these days. It would be perfect if the newspaper said that he was a ruthless person who opened a wound that the saintly lady had barely healed.”

 

Wow, this was really disgusting.

 

‘When he fought with me, he wasn’t very good…’

 

It felt a bit reassuring to be doing that to the temple people. The priests shouted at Erich with their faces turning red.

 

“Didn’t you yell at our saint!”

 

Erich half-heartedly lowered his head.

 

“Oh, yes. That’s right. I committed the rudeness of yelling at a weak-hearted saint. Of course, all of this was because the saint moved as she pleased.”

 

“-Baron Boulogne!”

 

“Then why do you have the rudeness of yelling at me?”

 

Erich asked them, adjusting his glasses.

 

“I’m telling you because you don’t seem to know, but the Blanchett family is not an easy place.”

 

Crrr-

 

Erich pointed to the magic beast’s leash that had been let go of his hand.

 

“We will not guarantee the safety of guests who ignored our words and did not leave.”

 

The black leopard beast cut his leash with its claws. The faces of the priests became thoughtful.

 

“Anyway, we are official guests of the Blanchett family…”

 

“Even if a customer fails to show up, it’s not our responsibility, right? You are also guests who recklessly disparaged the master at the Duke’s residence.”

 

As the black leopard beast, which was larger than a human, approached one step at a time, the priests became even more pale. The priests hesitated and retreated, but as the demonic beast moved along, they pleaded with Erich.

 

“Ah, okay. Because we were wrong…”

 

“Do you have time for that? You have to survive alone before everyone gets eaten.”

 

The black leopard beast barked loudly. At the sound, the priests grabbed Yestella and ran away. Of course, the black panther demon beast did not chase them. He flashed his golden eyes as if in pursuit, but it only whetted his appetite again.

 

“Ugly bastards.”

 

Erich frowned and loosened his hair with his bloody hands. His long gray hair was flowing down.

 

“My lady. Now that all the guests have left, how about coming out?”

 

She awkwardly got out of the bushes.

 

“Kyaaaung!”

 

“Okay. It’s nice to see you again too.”

 

The black leopard beast ran towards her excitedly. She asked Erich while stroking the head of the black leopard beast, which was gently wagging its tail.

 

“Did you know I was there?”

 

“I knew it from the beginning. If it weren’t for those idiots, everyone would have known.”

 

At that time, a strange feeling of guilt flashed through Erich’s blue-gray eyes.

 

“More than that, are you okay, Madam?”

 

What was okay?

 

‘The back of your hand looks the worst.’

 

He stabbed it so hard that the blood flowed out without stopping.

 

* * *

 

Erich took over the black leopard beast according to John’s orders. For some reason, the black leopard demon beast, who even ignored his master, John, was very calm for some reason. Just as he was about to cross the garden to the main house, the black leopard demon lowered his body and purred, making an unpleasant noise. Erich, who was sensitive to presence, also heard voices in the garden.

 

“As expected, his attitude is very generous and different from that fake one.”

 

“Duke Blanchett is also a Duke, but what on earth did that fake believe that made him look down on the saint so much?”

 

“What did the saint do so wrong? In fact, didn’t the saint come and heal a small wound that would have healed with just a few days of rest?”

 

FAKE. A derogatory term referring to Estelle, an adopted orphan and not a noblewoman.

 

‘That’s what I said too…’

 

Strangely enough, the word ‘fake’ stuck in Erich’s heart like a thorn. The priests not only distorted the situation as they please, but also belittled Estelle. As they were left alone, the arrogance of the priests grew endlessly.

 

“Not only did he dare to ask the saint to come, the problem is that the Duke manipulated her to move like that! Even receiving God’s punishment is not enough-”

 

Kwaang-!

 

The black panther demon could no longer hold back and howled. Erich had a control tool that could control any number of demonic beasts, but he left it unused.

 

‘How dare.’

 

Estelle was a fake that would disappear someday. But he couldn’t let them talk like that. However, as soon as Erich arrived, he could sense an unexpected presence.

 

‘…Why are you beyond the bushes?’

 

The black leopard beast also seemed to sense Estelle’s presence, and perked up its ears.

 

‘Then did you hear all that noise?’

 

Erich was furious to the end of his head. No matter how much he didn’t know, he talked openly in Estelle’s presence.

 

‘Ma’am…’

 

A person who vomits blood without anyone knowing for fear of worrying people. A person who apologizes even when insulted in front of him and even hides her tears in front of him. 

Erich deliberately released the black leopard beast to make them suffer. Although there was no agreement, the black panther demon beast also dealt with them appropriately.

 

“Calm down, everyone.”

 

At that time, the saint came forward. She was the noble princess of the temple, a clear and innocent woman who seemed to have turned the transparent sunlight into a human being.

 

“But as she is a saint, we cannot just accept her help and move on. Is there anything you need my help with?”

 

She healed Erich by holding his hand, which the saint decided on her own terms.

 

“The burn scars, all… ”

 

The burn scars on Erich’s hands that he suffered when he was kicked out of Libertan as a child. The massive scar, which at one point even told doctors that the arm might have to be amputated, has completely disappeared.

 

‘My hands are so clean.’

 

At that moment, Erich felt a terrible sense of loss. Erich had to go through all sorts of hardships to overcome this burn scar. For months on end, he would just practice gripping objects with his mouth open. Seeing the burns on his hands reminded him of his desire for revenge against Libertan.

 

“Was my repayment helpful?”

 

“…The saint is certainly generous.”

 

The saintess smiled kindly, unaware of his anger.

 

“I got help too.”

 

Erich couldn’t bear to see his clean hands. He impulsively raised his sword and cut the back of his hand, wounding it. The saint asked, turning pale.

 

“Why, why on the back of your hand…”

 

“Of course it’s because of the saint.”

 

Erich found the saintly woman’s shaking face disgusting. She was a saint, but she arbitrarily interferes in other people’s affairs and behaves as if she were a victim.

 

“Shouldn’t you have only treated the saint’s mischievous behavior to the clinging believers? Not someone like me who doesn’t need it.”

 

As soon as the saint was frightened, the priests around her rushed to her. So Erich ridiculed and threatened those not-so-funny things. But even then, he was worried the whole time. Estelle sits quietly in the bushes, holding her breath.

 

‘You’re not crying, are you?’

 

As soon as the saint and her priest disappeared, Erich somehow shook off her uncomfortable hair and called Estelle.

 

“Did you know I was there?”

 

Fortunately, there was no sign of Estelle crying.

 

“More than that, are you okay, Madam?”

 

Blatant criticism. It was an accusation full of fabrications that would have made Erich, not even himself, angry to hear it.

 

“What?”

 

“Didn’t you hear everything those priests said?”

 

“Why is that?”

 

Estelle tilted her head as if she didn’t understand.

 

“There wasn’t much to hear.”

 

“Nothing much… Wasn’t it?”

 

“You’re not saying I had to go out and apologize, are you?”

 

As Erich opened his eyes wide, Estelle smiled faintly.

 

“I’m sorry for disappointing the Blanchett family because of me.”

 

When Erich criticized Estelle, it seemed like she had the same face as now.

 

‘All she can do is apologize.’

 

A serene yet strangely sad smile.

 

“Of course… It’s not like that.”

 

“Then that’s enough.”

 

“Ma’am, why don’t you get angry when people insult you?”

 

Erich blurted out. Erich followed John’s orders and investigated the Labiane Orphanage where Estelle was located. Ravianne Orphanage was a very miserable place. For young Estelle, there would have been no option other than being adopted into the Libertan duchy.

 

‘Another strange part.’

 

The place where Ravianne Orphanage was located was not a place where nobles pass by. 

However, the Duke and Duchess of Libertan happened to see Estelle while passing by the Lavianne Orphanage and adopted her. Moreover, there was no trace that the Duke and Duchess of Libertan had visited any other orphanages.

 

‘Was it incredible luck?’

 

Erich suddenly became suspicious of everything surrounding Estelle. If he hadn’t found out about the orphanage’s corruption because of Estelle, he wouldn’t have investigated to this extent.

 

“These are rather strange words for Baron Boulogne to say.”

 

He chuckled as Estelle played with her pale pink blonde hair.

 

“You said I had no right to be angry with you. Why are you curious about that?”

 

“That…”

 

“I’m sure you’re not worried about me, but are you worried that the Duke Blanchett’s reputation will be tarnished because of me?”

 

Erich was speechless. Erich was no different from the priests. Because he also recklessly poured emotional criticism on Estelle.

 

“Do not worry. As you know, there are so many bad rumors that this will not put a dent in the Blanchett family.”

 

“Yes… not.”

 

Those calm words pierced Erich’s heart. Every time he looked into Estelle’s dark blue eyes, he became unbearably sad.

 

“All right. I won’t think about it that way. I think it would be better for Baron Bougne to stop worrying about the wounds on his hands.”

 

Erich unconsciously hid his hands behind his back.

 

“This… It’s no big deal.”

 

“Is it still bleeding?”

 

“That’s what I said. If it doesn’t hurt like this, it has no meaning.”

 

It was something he said without expecting any response. Because she won’t understand Erich’s feelings anyway. Even he couldn’t explain why he did that.

 

“That’s wrong.”

 

A cool summer breeze blew through the garden. Estelle’s platinum hair shone softly.

 

“Wounds don’t give meaning. So just because it disappears doesn’t mean it loses any meaning.”

 

“…lady. What do you know?”

 

“I don’t know. I just wanted to talk to Baron Bougne.”

 

In the silence, navy blue eyes took on a dreamy glow.

 

“Because even if the wound disappears, you know yourself. So as long as you don’t forget, the meaning will still remain even if you can’t see it.”

 

Her pale white face was filled with blue-grey eyes. Like a flower that blooms in an instant, Estelle bloomed inside Erich’s body. Her life, which had been dry due to burn scars, was filled with meaningless flowers, and he lost control.

 

“…”

 

Erich looked at her with tears in his eyes. This was it.

 

‘What I wanted to hear.’

 

At that moment, Erich realized that he had been attaching too much meaning to his burn scars. He treated the burn scar as if it were his life.

 

‘Why did you say that? Of course you are.’

 

Erich dared to be moved by Estelle, who he had criticized and belittled so much.

 

“…sorry.”

 

A tear of repentance flowed from Erich’s eyes.

 

“For all the disrespect I have done to you, Madam.”

 

In fact, Estelle may be just as Erich had guessed. She was an abominable evil woman who knew about Libertan’s evil deeds, but pretended not to know and denied them.

 

“I would like to apologize for recklessly asserting myself and pushing her.”

 

Estelle opened her eyes wide. A blue rose suddenly sprouted and bloomed above the bush behind her.

 

‘Eden Rose?’

 

A blue rose, the symbol of the Blanchett family.

 

 

It is a flower that became completely extinct from the world with the extinction of the Blanchett family.

 

“What the…”

 

Erich knelt in front of Estelle, shedding tears without realizing it. Estelle among the blue roses was nobler than anyone else. It felt strange that Erich was discussing her qualifications. Estelle was the true mistress of the Blanchett family. She was fit for that position and no one else but her.

 

* * *

 

John stood before the altar in the basement.

 

“Come out.”

 

When the altar was kicked, a black hand burst out, tearing the space above the altar. And slowly, a black devil in human form appeared. The devil was the entity he made a contract with by eating the shadow dragon.

 

The devil flashed his purple eyes.

 

“How did you lose all your protection magic? Even black magic cannot be used properly…”

 

“Okay, just tell me what sacrifices you need.”

 

John, who lost his protective ring, had many limitations in using black magic. If he used black magic, he could have ended up being eaten by his own black magic.

 

“Good. I will ask for compensation according to your wishes.”

 

But he wasn’t without a way to recover. With the right sacrifice, you can regain your power by making a deal with the devil.

 

‘The problem is that we don’t know what kind of sacrifice it might be.’

 

Sometimes the devil demanded sacrifices that could not be obtained.

 

“Your cookies.”

 

“…Cookies?”

 

“Give me your teddy bear cookies.”

 

These are cookies that Estelle gave to John as a gift. The devil tore the corners of his mouth and laughed.

 

“It’s a very good offering, right?”

 

“No.”

 

John looked with a straight face.

 

“Not those cookies.”

 

Then the devil was silent for a moment.

 

“…That doesn’t work?”

 

“Yeah, no.”

 

“Then let me just take one of them.”

 

“No.”

 

John was adamant.

 

“That’s mine.”

 

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Translator Note: