The Villain Is Obsessed With His Fake Wife

She nodded without realizing it.

 

“Huh!”

 

‘Oh, I didn’t mean to shout out so cheerfully. But I think I was so excited that I couldn’t control my excitement. Is it because there is so much accumulated from Leandro?’

 

Leandro’s eyes twisted as if he heard her.

 

“Now the sacred duel is like a joke-”

 

Clap!

 

Without another word, John threw the glove through her hand and into Leandro’s face. It fit so well that the sound was louder than before.

 

‘Wow, I avoided Leandro flying by raising his head.’

 

He must have taken that into account when he threw it and it hit him right in the face.

 

A red mark appeared on Leandro’s face. His black gloves slowly fell to the floor. The air inside the salon was cold. Leandro looked at her coldly, as if he couldn’t believe that he had been beaten not once, but twice.

 

“Now, hit the mark.”

 

John’s playful voice rang out over his quiet son-in-law.

 

“If I had one more set, I would have let you throw it again. it’s a shame.”

 

“…Duke Blanchett. Do not mock the sacred knightly duel.”

 

Leandro gritted his teeth and picked up John’s black gloves that had fallen on the floor. It seemed like he was trying to protect his last bit of pride by not accepting John’s provocation.

 

“Duke Blanchett, I too know how great your abilities are.”

 

Although it was a bit annoying, Leandro looked like a noble knight from a fairy tale.

 

“However, my midnight sword is not that light either.”

 

Marquis of Felsis. A prestigious family ranked among the top five in the empire. If the Duchess of Blanchett was the most proud noble family, the Marquess of Felsis was a family that seemed modeled after an honest knight. This was because he had served as the commander of the Imperial Palace Knights for generations and had protected the imperial family.

 

‘Of course, I was always told that I was second only to the Blanchett family…’

 

After the Blanchett family disappeared, he was called the only pride of the empire. Among them, Leandro was a man who made greater contributions than anyone else and was even given the title of ‘Knight of the Midnight Sun.’ 

 

Leandro’s sharp blue eyes turned to John.

 

“So you too must be careful not to be eaten by that arrogance.”

 

“If you can do that, you’re welcome.”

 

But John didn’t even blink at Leandro’s momentum.

 

“Rather than that, why don’t you take the reference you said was so important?”

 

Leandro raised his eyebrows slightly and looked at Mireyu, who was unconscious.

 

“What have you done to Lady Juti?”

 

“I only brought her here with the utmost care because she is an important person.”

 

“Is it possible that Lady Juti, who was brought to us with such great care, fainted? That’s a ridiculous excuse.”

 

“Well. I guess she suddenly felt like passing out?”

 

John, who was smiling with his mouth twisted, gestured towards Mireyu.

 

“If you have any more questions, take this woman, not my wife, and ask her.”

 

At that moment, Raymond threw Mireyu, who he was holding in his arms. Leandro moved quickly and caught Mireyu, who almost fell to the floor. Leandro clenched his fists and gritted his teeth at John.

 

“Duke Blanchett, no amount of covering up will erase her evil deeds.”

 

“Let’s expose what that evil deed is and talk about it.”

 

Princess Diana approached Mireyu with an expression of uncertainty and asked, ‘Are you okay, new sister?’ and took Mireyu from Leandro.

 

She looked closely at Mireyu’s fainting state.

 

‘No matter how I look at it, there’s something about that scar.’

 

To be honest, she found out that Mireyu had a scar on her neck while looking into rumors in social circles. To that extent, Mireyu’s scar had nothing to do with her.

 

‘She probably made it up on her own and went around saying strange things.’

 

She didn’t say it out loud, but so that everyone would guess it was Estelle.

 

‘But why a scar?’

 

She understood that Mireyu wanted to be treated well by pretending to be her victim. The worse her reputation got, the better they would evaluate her character.

 

‘There are many better means other than scars.’

 

Mireyu’s situation went well and she met a good husband and in-laws who understood her scars, but most of the time, they avoid brides with scars.

 

‘Scar, scar…’

 

Her thoughts suddenly led to the scars on her body. Until now, very few people had seen her scars. The Duke and Duchess of Libertan, the Duke and Duchess of Libertan’s chief maid, Betty, and the attending physician, Mr. Henry.

 

‘Come to think of it, Mireyu too.’

 

At that moment, her memories of Mireyu came flooding back to her.

 

‘There shouldn’t be secrets between friends. What is the frustrating reason they don’t teach me?’

 

Mireyu was unconscious now, but before her eyes, Mireyu as a child, who was frowning, came to life vividly.

 

‘Ugh. What is this disgusting thing? This can’t be right.’

 

‘How did it come about all of a sudden?’

 

‘Really? I heard that the Duke and Duchess of Libertan hate you very much. How did something like this suddenly happen? And if there was nothing wrong with you, there would be no reason to send me away-‘

 

Miryu persistently picked at the scar on her thigh.

 

‘Has anyone else seen this scar?’

 

‘…no.’

 

‘Yes, you must have been such a bad daughter that God gave you scars like this. Hide it all your life.’

 

Then, unlike before, Mireyu kindly put her dress down again.

 

‘Estelle. Because it’s me, I’ll let you hear the lie that you’re being abused at Libertan, but other people are different.’

 

The voice of Mireyu, whom she met after a long time, was kind. Just like when she first saw her.

 

‘And this disgusting thing? Oh, you know what I’m talking about, right?’

 

At the end, if she hadn’t broken up with Mireyu by slapping her in the face, if she hadn’t gotten angry after Mireyu told her she was nothing special and was tormenting her emotionally…

 

‘You think you’re special, right? Come to your senses, you were just lucky enough to be adopted by Libertan and are living a good life. I feel pathetic dealing with people like you.’

 

…All her life she would have thought that was true.

 

‘Now I know.’

 

From the beginning, Mireyu did not see her as her friend. She hated her and wanted to harass her. She was no different from the Duke and Duchess of Libertan who abused her.

 

‘It was difficult to even acknowledge that fact before I realized the original work.’

 

Fortunately, even though she was looking at Mireyu’s sleeping face, she didn’t feel anything.

 

‘Anyway, is there a connection between seeing my scar and lying about it?’

 

Honestly, even though there was no connection, it was difficult for her to ignore it because of the lies Mireyu had been telling. 

 

John must have sensed her condition and wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

 

“Estelle, let’s go home now.”

 

The moment she turned around while being escorted by John.

 

“-Lady Estelle.”

 

Leandro called her sadly.

 

“Even if he whispers like a devil, you must not overlook it.”

 

John blocked her ears and tried to take her away so she wouldn’t hear Leandro’s words. But she put down John’s hand and smiled brightly.

 

“Wait a moment.”

 

John narrowed his eyebrows, but she turned her head to look at Leandro.

 

“No matter how past it is, the sins you have committed cannot be completely erased. But people can change at any time. Of course, it starts with repentance-”

 

A strange sense of elation surged through Leandro’s blue eyes as they met again.

 

“Lord Felsis, unfortunately I did nothing wrong. You can’t apologize for a sin that didn’t exist, right?”

 

“If you don’t know, I will tell you. I will guide you on the right path.”

 

She knew it.

 

“No. Don’t teach me.”

 

She raised the corners of her mouth.

 

“Do as the proud Knight of the Midnight Moon did.”

 

“…what do you mean?”

 

“If you think I am a sinner, then follow the imperial law. Find out my crimes, bring my crimes to light, and bring them to trial to be punished.”

 

Leandro, the male protagonist of the original work.

 

‘A knight of unchanging justice even in situations where chivalry changes. An imperial sword with a noble heart.’

 

In fact, in the original work, the only person who tried to save her from suffering was Leandro. Looking at things like that, Leandro was a noble savior.

 

“Don’t bother annoying people who are just giving you a chance.”

 

But he was just a noble savior to all people. She wasn’t important to Leandro. Even if someone had been in her place, Leandro would have behaved the same way, and he would have demanded repentance in the same way. That may be why Leandro didn’t care about her situation.

 

“But know this one thing.”

 

She looked beyond Leandro and into Diana’s eyes and said. Diana was holding Mireyu, and she was looking at Estelle blankly.

 

“A lie doesn’t become the truth just because you don’t want to believe it.”

 

Diana shook her shoulders in surprise. She wavered as if her eyes were filled with confusion.

 

“Because the truth isn’t what you think it is.”

 

“…”

 

“Ah, is this too difficult for someone who told me to atone for sins I never committed?”

 

* * *

 

Even as she was getting into the carriage with John, she couldn’t control her joy. She didn’t do it intentionally, but she thought she did it because she was too excited without realizing it. As she looked out the window and laughed heartily, John chuckled.

 

“Does it feel that good?”

 

She felt like she shouldn’t show that she liked him so blatantly, so she awkwardly touched her cheek.

 

“Have you noticed much?”

 

“It’s only visible to my eyes.”

 

John gently brushed her bangs and made eye contact.

 

“I guess I’ll have to challenge myself to duels more often from now on.”

 

“Why?”

 

“So I can keep seeing your happy face. Is there anyone else you don’t like?”

 

“If anyone hears this, they will think that I hate all people.”

 

But suddenly a thought occurred to her.

 

‘Can John beat Leandro in a duel?’

 

John was a very smart person. If it had been an unlikely fight, he wouldn’t have challenged the duel in the first place.

 

‘But Leandro is the first sword of the empire.’

 

The reason John was able to overpower Leandro last time was because he used magic.

 

‘…The protective magic would also have disappeared.’

 

When she looked worried, John crossed his arms and asked.

 

“What’s wrong with your expression?”

 

“Ah, you said the protection spell was broken last time. I’m not feeling well about that.”

 

She continued hesitantly.

 

“Do you mind if I duel with Leandro? Do you think I can’t beat that one guy?”

 

“Probably you can, but I’m afraid that John might get hurt.”

 

The carriage was shaking. Sunlight came in at an angle through the carriage window.

 

“Don’t worry, my body is perfectly fine.”

 

“Really? Still-“

 

But her worries didn’t go away. Since the start of the duel was to protect the knight’s honor, the use of magic other than the sword was strictly prohibited.

 

“You can’t use magic in a duel.”

 

“But he can’t beat me.”

 

John squinted one of his eyes.

 

“There are many weapons I can use besides magic.”

 

It was different from Nawan who had to deal with the sudden attack of Diana and Mireyu alone. A person with the courage to deal with any situation with ease. She met Johan’s red eyes, which contrasted with Leandro’s blue.

 

“Even if you win the duel anyway, people won’t believe me.”

 

The wind blew and the carriage curtains shook.

 

“They probably will think that power has made good Mireyu’s scars disappear. Then John’s name might be tarnished.”

 

The sunlight coming in at an angle cast shadows on John’s sculptural face.

 

“No, it was inevitable that John’s name would be tarnished the moment he took me as his wife. But you wouldn’t have had to keep getting caught up in such troublesome matters.”

 

“What do you want to say?”

 

“…John, do you trust me?”

 

The words came out of nowhere without going through her head.

 

“Everyone thinks that I made Mireyu a scar by bullying her. After all, I am the daughter of the notorious Libertan. An adopted child who doesn’t even know the topic.”

 

John was still crossing his long legs and crossing his arms. The face looking at me was noble, like that of a high-ranking noble.

 

“Do you think I did that too?”

 

“No.”

 

John answered quickly.

 

“I don’t think you can do that.”

 

“… why?”

 

Her heart started pounding like crazy.

 

“You saw Mireyu’s scar, which she said was hurt by me. A wound that looks like someone cut it with a knife. There are even witnesses who saw me commit evil deeds.”

 

His head swelled with ridiculous anticipation.

 

‘This is too much.’

 

“And yet you believe me?”

 

“I trust you, even with things like that.”

 

“It’s not like John saw it himself. Can you just say that I’m right?”

 

For some reason, her words became more pointed.

 

“Ah, is it because I’m the Duchess Blanchett anyway so it must all be false rumors?”

 

At that moment, John stretched out his long arm and touched my forehead. John released his legs and slowly brought his face closer to her.

 

“Don’t cry.”

 

Funny enough, she didn’t shed a single tear.

 

“John, I’m not crying.”

 

“To me, it looks like you’re crying.”

 

John’s long fingers stroked the area around her eyes. Strangely enough, unlike when tears often flowed without her realizing it, no tears fell.

 

“How can I think you’re lying?”

 

John whispered to her in a deep voice.

 

“Even though everyone brings evidence and witnesses, I don’t believe anything. I only believe what you say.”

 

“Why?”

 

He slowly raised his eyebrows.

 

“You love me.”

 

Her heart dropped.

 

* * *

 

The day of the duel came. Before the duel, Mireyu’s fiancé, the Crown Prince of Hesse, came to visit Leandro.

 

“Thank you, Sir Felsis. You are moving for my wife’s honor.”

 

“It’s no big deal. Aren’t you two just engaged yet?”

 

“Since we are going to get married soon, it is no different if I call her my wife.”

 

The Crown Prince of Hesse smiled gently.

 

“Now that I think about it, if Lord Felsis hadn’t stepped in, my brother would have been in trouble too. I have to thank you again for this.”

 

“Again, you don’t have to. Princess Royam, are you okay?”

 

Diana hasn’t been going out at all since her days at her salon. Rumors abounded that she was in great shock.

 

“Even though she grew up in a royal family, Diana is a strong child,” she said. “I’m sure she will wake up on her own just fine.”

 

However, the Hessen Crown Prince’s expression did not look good.

 

‘Oppa, is everything my step-sister said really true? Have you never suspected anything?’

 

This was because Diana, who had been stuck in her bed all day, was intoxicated by her strange thoughts.

 

“More than that, if you do not win the duel, we, the Kingdom of Royam, will take responsibility together. It’s my wife’s job.”

 

“Has Queen Isabella also given permission?”

 

“Yes. Mother also gave permission. She is like a sword, but she is generous when it comes to her family.”

 

At that time, someone knocked on the door from outside and came in. It was Prime Minister Orteca.

 

“Hello, Lord Felsis. Today, under orders from His Majesty the Emperor, I have come to judge your duel.”

 

After giving his elegant greeting, Prime Minister Orteca sat down on the sofa and looked at Leandro and spoke.

 

“So, this is my second time seeing Blanchett go to court with the duchess. It’s a bit different this time because it’s a duel.”

 

Leandro’s eyes narrowed.

 

“Are you talking about Count Hettel?”

 

“Yes. I am sorry for him spreading malicious rumors about the Duchess.”

 

“It’s malicious…”

 

“The rumor is that the Duchess deliberately framed the Count Hettel family. Have you never heard of Sir Felsis?”

 

Leandro has also heard of it. So, didn’t she intentionally take a harder stance on Estelle?

 

‘That’s a malicious rumor?’

 

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Translator Note:

I’m back 😉