The Villain Is Obsessed With His Fake Wife

The devil laughed as if it was absurd.

 

“What on earth are those cookies?”

 

“Basically, value is relative. What are you going to do with those cookies in return?”

 

“Such nonsense…”

 

John grinned at the devil.

 

“Negotiations have collapsed.”

 

“Hey-!”

 

The devil tried to capture John. However, there was no clause in the contract between the two that allowed them to arbitrarily bind the other party. The devil’s image quickly disappeared. On the altar where the devil, the source of chaos, had disappeared, the Hianco flower bloomed.

 

‘The devil asked for the cookies Estelle gave him.’

 

Estelle had a secret. Maybe there’s something else besides the deadline…

 

Stinging-

 

John clenched his teeth as a sudden headache came on him.

 

‘I think I forgot something.’

 

After confirming that it was before dinner, John visited Blanchett’s secret torture room. The secret torture room was where criminals to be punished are imprisoned within Blanchett. Naturally, there were Libertan servants who were not taken for treason.

 

“Wake up.”

 

John woke up the prisoner hanging on the wall.

 

“B-Duke Blanchett…?”

 

This prisoner was the Duchess of Libertan’s closest associate and a servant who was said to have served Estelle.

 

“I have something to ask you about Estelle.”

 

“Estelle? Adopted by Libertan…”

 

“Yes. The Lady Estelle whom you served.”

 

John asked stiffly.

 

“There were light scars on Estelle’s body. You allowed your lady’s body to get hurt, didn’t you?”

 

“The scar… Have you been?”

 

The prisoner’s eyes became increasingly blurry and his speech became slurred.

 

“Ah, scar. Did she bother all the employees with ridiculous scars?”

 

“Say it straight.”

 

“The scar… Lady Estelle harassed and mistreated everyone in the house because of a minor injury.”

 

John’s rough hands took the prisoner’s breath away.

 

“A minor wound leaves a scar? The acted so viciously to make scars on her?”

 

“It’s true! Treatment… They deliberately prevented treatment! Lady Estelle gets hurt every time she’s at a disadvantage!”

 

The silent prisoner twisted his body and screamed.

 

“I guess it’s to put guilt on you and your mistress! So everyone had no choice but to listen to Lady Estelle!”

 

Bang!

 

John slammed the prisoner’s head into the wall so he could not move.

 

“Watch your mouth.”

 

“Poor master, mistress, my lady. How did you come across such a fake…”

 

“Your lady?”

 

John examined the prisoner’s eyes closely. The eyes were blurry and unfocused.

 

“…Yes, our lovely Miss Yestella. That fake girl stole everything from her.”

 

“So, how did the fake take her away?”

 

John asked in a gentle tone, maintaining his forceful hand.

 

“If you are honest, it will be of great help to your Miss Yestella.”

 

“That…”

 

However, no meaningful statement was made from the prisoner. This was because as time went on, only inconsistent stories emerged. There was only one statement that the prisoner made repeatedly and in the same way. Although Estelle was loved by the Libertan duchy, she was vicious and tormented people. Nevertheless, they did their best to love Estelle.

 

“To the subject who took the place of our real Yestella lady!”

 

“Shut up.”

 

John felt like his ears were rotting so he silenced the prisoner.

 

‘It’s not just this prisoner.’

 

John frowned.

 

‘It’s similar to the statements of other prisoners and our spy.’

 

There might have been at least one other statement, but that wasn’t the case. Common sense suggests that there was a high possibility that that statement was true.

 

‘Are you sure that even that scar was your evil deed, Estelle?’

 

Everyone disparaged Estelle.

 

‘It’s so strange.’

 

If it were the original John, he would have judged according to their evaluation. Because that’s reasonable. If you consider the people and surrounding circumstances at the time, that was the truth. John, who came out of the secret prison, looked up at the sky that was turning black.

 

“The you I see seems more real.”

 

The date of Libertan’s execution draws near. There were now only two days left until Libertan’s execution. Of course, he was not going to let them go that easily, he was planning to snatch them away from the execution platform and make them suffer-

 

‘Is it okay like this?’

 

John clenched his fists.

 

* * *

 

She stood still and looked at Erich.

 

“It’s meaningless unless it hurts this much.”

 

To be honest, Erich’s sadness was none of her business.

 

‘I feel strange.’

 

Her younger self was superimposed on the image of Erich hiding his bleeding hands behind his back. The young her who denied the abuse even after being abused at Libertan, and the young Estelle at the time who thought it was her fault because she wanted to be loved.

 

‘I guess his scars were meaningful enough to make him shout at the saintess, right?’

 

So she said it. Even if everyone denies it, even if it’s not visible, a wound was a wound. He said that as long as he remembers, the moments when he endured pain and suffering never happened. At that time, a beautiful blue rose suddenly bloomed between the bushes. It was Eden Rose.

 

‘I wasn’t even paying attention to flowers or anything right now?’

 

She couldn’t figure out why the Eden Rose suddenly bloomed.

 

-My baby, you did it! Great!

 

-Yes. That’s how you use fairy power!

 

The trees cheered as if they were going to celebrate. In contrast, Erich, who was shocked to see Eden Rose, began to shed tears.

 

“…sorry.”

 

Erich, who was crying with his eyes red, looked as neat as a water nymph.

 

“I would like to apologize for all the rudeness I have done to you, and for everything I have thoughtlessly judged and pushed you towards.”

 

Then he knelt down and repented.

 

“Sorry. Even if I apologize like this, I can’t change the past, but I still apologize.”

 

She had never wished for this kind of penance.

 

“You don’t have to apologize to me.”

 

But she didn’t accept his apology. Because she couldn’t figure out what on earth Erich was apologizing for. If she accepted an apology that she didn’t know much about, but things could have gotten worse.

 

“Honestly, what the Baron said before wasn’t really wrong.”

 

“No. I am…”

 

“I am not ignoring the Baron’s feelings.”

 

As the wind blew, the leaves of the rose bush behind her made a rustling sound. She smiled, gently tucking her long, flowing hair behind her ear.

 

“But that doesn’t mean I’m not Libertan’s daughter. Just because I’m Duchess Blanchett now doesn’t mean my past disappears.”

 

“My lady…”

 

“The Baron was just doing his job. When outsiders come in, we definitely need someone to be on guard and keep them in check.”

 

Erich twisted his face full of sadness.

 

“So don’t blame yourself. I’m fine.”

 

Erich quietly looked into her eyes and showed me her scarred hands.

 

“My lady. Originally, there was a scar here that I got from being abandoned by my former master.”

 

Fortunately, the bleeding had stopped now. Still, the condition of his hand was miserable due to how deeply it had been stabbed.

 

“It’s gone now, but thanks to you, I can bear myself without this scar.”

 

“Ah…”

 

“I dare to put you in this scar.”

 

Erich, who was kneeling on one knee, assumed the posture of a knight towards her.

 

“Will you allow me to offer you my allegiance?”

 

Erich held out his hand to her.

 

“Are you confident that you will not regret the choice you made now, Baron?”

 

No matter how she looked at it, he seemed to be too swayed by her words. People were bound to regret the choices they made in haste.

 

“Please think about it a little more and then tell me. And as long as you serve John, won’t I also become someone to whom you owe your loyalty?”

 

“It’s not like that. My resolve is firm.”

 

Erich put a faint smile on his lips.

 

“Even if I dare to betray my master, I will follow your will. Even if this is a wrong choice, even if it is dishonorable, I want to offer myself completely to you.”

 

The smiling Erich looked completely different from the Erich she used to know.

 

‘The atmosphere also seems different.’

 

The blue-grey eyes she met were full of sincerity. She slowly placed her hand on Erich’s hand.

 

“Great.”

 

Her white and soft hand looked like a great contrast to his injured hand, which was covered in burn scars.

 

“My Lady.”

 

Without any hesitation, Erich kissed the back of her hand and took the knight’s oath.

 

“To you I give my heart, my eternal pledge.”

 

* * *

 

Leandro was completely broken. He suffered damage to his legs and arms for attacking Duke Blanchett. Fortunately, he spent a lot of money to call a priest after Felsis, and he was able to recover after a few weeks of recuperation. But the question in his mind grew deeper.

 

Leandro muttered, staring out his window as if watching someone.

 

“…Why are you rejecting me?”

 

Leandro was the only knight who could save Estelle.

 

“I could risk my life for you.”

 

Estelle was an even more evil woman than the Duke and Duchess of Libertan. The only knight willing to sacrifice his life for such a wicked woman was Leandro himself.

 

“I tried to take responsibility for even you, the evil woman.”

 

Of course, the situation was difficult. This was because, like the devil, she showed John the marriage contract that had even been approved by the temple. But Leandro did not fall for that trick. Even though they were pretending to be a real couple right now, it was clear that John would deceive Estelle and abandon her. Because she, Estelle, was Libertan’s daughter.

 

‘If not, there is no way the Duke and Duchess would be executed.’

 

His mother, the Marchioness Felsis, was upset to see Leandro devastated. Leandro, who was the commander of the Imperial Knights in good health, could not get out of bed even though his wounds were completely healed by the priest’s treatment.

 

“My poor son, why are you still like this? Is it really because of her?”

 

The Marchioness of Felsis told her second son in his quarters the story of Estelle, who was full of socialites.

 

“She is that kind of woman. She doesn’t care about people like you, and is living extravagantly, buying dresses from every clothing store and robbing jewelry stores.”

 

“…Is that true?”

 

“Yes! She wanted to be extravagant so much that she staged a play of her own and eliminated the healthy Count Hettel family!”

 

Leandro opened his eyes wide. The Marchioness Felsis became even more upset when she saw her son reacting violently to the story about Estelle and shouted.

 

“A close lady said that she was jealous of all women, and that not only did she try to monopolize the Duke Blanchett, but even the chancellor, Orteca.”

 

“…”

 

“Your Majesty the Crown Prince, why do you make this mother so sad because of that woman?”

 

But Leandro could not hear any more words from his mother.

 

‘Duke John Blanchett-!’

 

Enraged, Leandro smashed the handle of his bed. A mysterious look appeared in his blue eyes.

 

‘How much longer are you going to make her commit her sins?’

 

* * *

 

The Blanchett family was shocked by the news that the Eden Rose had bloomed. After having dinner with her, John also went out to the garden to check out the Eden Rose.

 

“…It’s really Eden Rose. How Eden Rose.”

 

“I do not know either. Did you get lucky?”

 

Betty was so happy that the Eden Rose was blooming.

 

“Look at this! Now, no matter what anyone says, you are the true Duchess Blanchett.”

 

“Is it that much?”

 

“Sure. In the Blanchett family, the Eden Rose is truly a symbol of the family. It was a flower that only bloomed in the Blanchett family.”

 

Maybe that’s why the employees were more aggressive about her. Of course, that wasn’t what mattered to her. Because she also didn’t know why the Eden Rose bloomed. She looked at the back of her hand and spoke to the tree.

 

“Honestly, I don’t know how Eden Rose bloomed. Because I didn’t use it consciously…”

 

-Don’t worry. What’s important is that you succeed the first time.

 

-Yes, from now on, take care of that Eden Rose and keep practicing your fairy powers.

 

“…Something won’t suddenly happen again, right?”

 

The trees were silent for a moment.

 

-They say the power of a fairy is a miraculous power, but is that really true?

 

-Yes. Stop worrying about things that haven’t happened yet. Just look at it, you’re so worried.

 

If, as the trees said, something strange happened, then it’s something to think about.

 

‘I have to keep doing my job.’

 

She was finally planning to open Baron Penula’s safe today.

 

‘I also have to go to the auction and check out the jewelry related to the fairy that the tree told me about.’

 

In order to prepare a way to escape, there was a lot of work to do. The problem was that no matter what you did, it was difficult to hide it from the thorough John. It was difficult to fool the entire mansion with just Betty’s help. But Erich solved all the problems.

 

“My lady. I have prepared a way out.”

 

Honestly, even though Erich was loyal to her, she never thought he would do this for her. Erich even said one thing at that time.

 

‘So, what do you need right now?’

 

Erich prepared everything right away without even asking why she was leaving.

 

“But you have to come back within 6 hours so the master won’t catch you. I had prepared a reason in case you got caught, but…”

 

“Thank you, Sir Erich.”

 

When they called each other by the mutually agreed-upon name, Erich awkwardly rubbed his eyes and said,

 

“No. I’m just happy to be able to help you.”

 

So she went to the Imperial Bank with Betty and checked the bank vault. And in the safe…

 

“They really have a lot. Even if it were me, I couldn’t give up.”

 

“…I’m also used to a reasonable amount… In some ways, the Baron is an amazing person.”

 

There were truly enormous gold coins!

 

‘This should be enough for escape funds.’

 

Perhaps because Baron Penula himself was a fugitive, the safe could be taken out by anyone with the key. Thanks to this, she was able to easily exchange gold coins for checks and go to the auction house. It’s a bit tight due to the time limit, but she thought she would be able to achieve all her goals for going out.

 

‘How much are those jewels worth?’

 

She also wore a mask to avoid getting caught by John. Then she sat down at her seat and waited for the auction to start. Betty was away to check the auction order. At that time, someone looked at her blankly.

 

‘No, why over there-’

 

The other person also found her and walked towards her with great strides.

 

“Lady Estelle.”

 

Leandro grabbed her wrist as she was about to turn around with a solemn face.

 

 

‘Huh, how did you find out?’

 

Even though the crown prince’s face was covered, she didn’t know how she could be recognized so immediately. Was her stomach that weak?

 

Leandro asked her in a sad voice.

 

“What crime are you committing in this auction?”

 

At that time, Leandro’s blue eyes fell on her bracelet. It was a bracelet that John gave as a gift.

 

“What everyone said was right.”

 

Leandro went ahead and cut off her bracelet arbitrarily.

 

“Have you become so immersed in luxury and pleasure that you don’t know the extent of it? Lady, how far are you going to ruin yourself! Come to your senses!”

 

Leandro’s blue eyes suddenly became faint as he scolded her.

 

“There is a way to be saved even now. Take my hand and get out of here right now-”

 

“No, I do not want.”

 

She strongly shook off Leandro’s hand.

 

“Don’t touch my body carelessly.”

 

“I have no choice but to take responsibility for you-”

 

“So why do you say you are responsible for me?”

 

Leandro came to her when she was still and tried to sell her and forcefully drag her away.

 

“Lord Leandro Felsis.”

 

She looked directly into his blue eyes and smiled.

 

“How about you wake up from your illusion?”

 

Match-!

 

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Translator Note: