The Villain Is Obsessed With His Fake Wife

Duchess Blanchett vomited blood.

“Is that true?”

A huge commotion spread through the quiet chapel.

“H-Has she been ambushed somewhere?”

“I know that for sure because I just followed the priests. There was no such thing as a sneak attack. While alone with the saint, she suddenly vomited blood. So they said that the saint may have harmed the duchess.”

People were still familiar with Estelle’s image as a villainess. So the current situation began to feel more unnatural.

“Well, it may be suspicious, but I can’t believe she is involved in such a terrible thing again with the saint.”

“Now that I think about it, it’s Duchess Blanchett and the saintess again. Even if there was no malice toward the saint, don’t you think she was unilaterally causing harm to Duchess Blanchett?”

“It was the saint who called Duchess Blanchett just now. What on earth did she do…?”

At that moment, a devout nobleman stepped forward to protect the saint.

“Ridiculous! Haven’t you all heard the story that the saint used her divine power to heal people? Is she a saint who would harm people?”

“That’s true, but…”

“There must be something going on. It is not too late to understand the situation accurately.”

When one person took a strong stance, her mood flipped again to defend her saintly character. But even so, the remaining suspicions among people did not disappear.

‘She may have done it once, but it’s already the second time.’

‘Rather than just believing that she is a saint, I should go and check for myself one more time.’

The nobles in the chapel cautiously headed to the scene where Duchess Blanchett had collapsed. Perhaps because it had been a while since the Duchess collapsed, the situation had not yet been resolved.

* * *

Saint Stella ran to Cardinal Simon with her face stained with tears.

“My Lord! Cardinal Simon!”

This was because the people who arrived at the moment Estelle fell were casting reluctant gazes on the saint. In particular, there was a lady among them who continued to take her side.

Cardinal Simon patted the crying saint and calmly asked her about the situation.

“Saint, are you okay?”

“Cardinal, I didn’t do anything. Really.”

Stella, with her eyes dyed red, looked so innocent and pure. But she was no more intense than Estelle, who collapsed in front of her and vomited blood.

Rather than listening to Stella’s excuses, people were shocked to see Estelle collapsed. Transparent platinum hair, an unusually pale and white face, and tragically stained red blood beneath the beautiful face. There was no movement at all, so if you make a mistake, you might mistakenly think that he has stopped breathing rather than collapsed.

The priests examined the state of Estelle, who had fainted like a doll whose strings had been cut.

“Cardinal, Duchess Blanchett is safe.”

Cardinal Simon asked, frowning.

“But why doesn’t the Duchess open her eyes?”

“Well, that is not something we could…”

“It seems like she suddenly got a big shock, but I don’t know the details…”

The priests’ eyes turned to Stella, who was with Estelle until the last moment.

Everyone’s eyes turned to Stella.

Stella turned white and took a step back. The tears welling up in the corners of her eyes were sparkling transparently as if they were about to fall.

“Why, why are you looking at me like that? I didn’t do anything.”

In fact, people were not particularly looking at Stella with sharp eyes. Rather, it was just an ordinary look asking for an explanation in a questionable situation. However, Stella, who was not used to gazes other than favor and envy, felt those gazes were hostile. The more confused and fearful Stella became, the more suspicious people looked at her.

Cardinal Simon comforted Stella to calm the situation.

“Holy woman, calm down. Everyone believes in the saint. How could we think that the saint was trying to harm someone?”

“Really?”

“Yes. However, since the person who was with Duchess Blanchett until the end was a saint, I just wanted to confirm the circumstances of what happened just before that. Can you tell me what happened with the Duchess?”

Stella was unable to answer readily.

Her body trembled, covering her face with her two delicate hands. Cardinal Simon was caught in doubt.

Saint?”

“I was having a normal conversation with Duchess Blanchett. Because it’s such an ordinary conversation…”

“That story is enough. The saint must have been very surprised, so please answer calmly.”

Despite Cardinal Simon’s friendly questions, the saint could not give a clear answer.

“…I just said that the sudden influx of people was causing trouble for the temple.”

“And what else?”

“Then the Duchess suddenly pushed me and I fell, and after that, I-”

“Our madam pushed the saint?”

At that moment, a sharp sneer pierced through the saintly testimony.

It was Erich, who had come along to assist Estelle. Erich looked at Estelle and then glared at Stella with sage-blue eyes.

“Are you telling me to believe that?”

“But it’s true.”

“Are you now doubting the saint’s testimony?”

Cardinal Simon reacted displeased to Erich’s suspicions. As the Cardinal was one of the most powerful men in the Holy Kingdom, the nobles did not want to be associated with him. But Erich didn’t care about such things.

“The mistress of the Blanchett family collapsed while she was alone with the saint. Are you saying we shouldn’t even suspect her? How on earth do they do things in the Holy Kingdom so that they can’t even ask a proper question?”

“I’m not saying you shouldn’t ask questions, but I’m saying you should be polite to the saint.”

“If the saint is cleared of the crime of murdering the duke’s mistress, I will treat her with courtesy.”

“Murdering Attempt?! Are you calling the saint a sinner?”

Cardinal Simon was shocked by the unexpected words. Erich, who had been leaning down to check on Estelle, calmly stood up.

“So, you’re saying that because she’s a saint, she’s not a sinner even though she commits a sin?”

“No, that’s not it…”

“So, while the duke’s mistress has been harmed, you are telling us to protect her manners by covering up her words to the saintess suspected of being the perpetrator?”

Erich’s blue-gray eyes flashed fiercely like a vicious dog. Cardinal Simon, momentarily overwhelmed by the momentum, flinched and raised his voice.

“It hasn’t even been revealed that the saint has committed a sin yet?! That is a betrayal of courtesy to the saint!”

“What kind of place is this, Cardinal? How dare you raise your voice in front of our fallen lady! My lady is weak and sensitive to bullshit! Stop talking bullshit!”

Erich shouted at the cardinal as if it were so obvious, and Cardinal Simon was so embarrassed that he couldn’t even speak right away.

‘Well, this kind of person…’

Cardinal Simon had never been so blatantly rude in his life. At that moment, Cardinal Simon realized that his opponent was Baron Boulogne.

‘Baron Boulogne, the mad dog of the Blanchett family.’

He was one of Duke Blanchett’s most trusted vassals, and was famous for his temper as the second most foul dog in the empire.

‘He acts on behalf of Duke Blanchett without any regard for his life.’

It’s not like he was dealing with a crazy person. Cardinal Simon unconsciously took a step back and cleared his throat.

“I’m sorry. I only said this because I wanted the Blanchett family to be considerate of the Holy Kingdom’s position.”

“I understand.”

Erich nodded quietly.

“So, can we interpret that the Holy Kingdom attempted to assassinate Duchess Blanchett but failed and tried to cover up the incident?”

“What, what?”

“Either that, the saintess must clarify her position, or we must find the culprit in the temple and put him to death.”

At that time, Stella pulled Cardinal Simon’s sleeve and said,

“B, but Duchess Blanchett has a chronic illness. What should I do if her chronic illness suddenly gets worse?”

At first glance, that statement made sense. When Erich paused for a moment, Cardinal Simon also gained strength and shouted.

“You’ve been taking responsibility for the temple and all, but haven’t you checked on my master’s physical condition? Come to think of it, didn’t you receive help from our saint to treat Duchess Blanchett’s chronic illness?”

“…”

“And yet, how can you immediately doubt the saint!”

More and more nobles gathered around. No one stepped forward immediately as the situation became increasingly serious, but they were closely watching the situation unfold.

“Duchess Blanchett had a chronic illness?”

“I thought she was just sick, but it wasn’t that she was sick enough to need help from a temple?”

At that time, a young lady among the crowd cautiously opened her mouth.

“But Saint, didn’t you say that you cured all of Duchess Blanchett’s illnesses?”

“What?”

Stella opened her eyes wide. The young lady, who was troubled by the pouring gaze, cautiously opened her mouth.

“I heard that the saint completely cured Duchess Blanchett’s illness with her divine power. So she wasn’t completely cured of her chronic illness?”

Cardinal Simon turned his head and looked at Stella.

“…That is.”

Stella finally caught her breath and clasped her hands together as if praying.

“It appears that Duchess Blanchett’s illness has returned.”

“Wouldn’t it be possible to cure everything with her divine power?”

The nobles who revered the saint, knowing her omnipotent divine power, murmured. The saint lowered her long eyelashes and explained calmly.

“Sometimes, if your physical condition is too bad, the disease comes back.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Then shouldn’t the Saint treat Duchess Blanchett now? Just like she treated her before.”

The saint smiled gently.

“I was already heartbroken because I felt like it was my fault that Duchess Blanchett fell, but I’m glad I can help.”

The saintess slowly approached Estelle and closed her eyes tightly. Her white divine power rose like an aura around the holy woman. It was a sight that evoked awe.

‘Is that divine power?’

‘As expected, the saint is different.’

Everyone was secretly impressed.

“Lord Atea, please bless Duchess Blanchett.”

The saint murmured in a sorrowful voice.

Her divine power surrounded Estelle’s body and was absorbed. Everyone just looked at Estelle’s eyes, which were quietly closed.

‘Is she regaining consciousness now?’

‘I can’t believe I got to see this miracle with my own eyes…’

However, contrary to expectations, Estelle could not open her eyes.

A strange silence came.

‘When did she gain divine power?’

‘Didn’t the saint herself say that divine power can heal even people who are on the verge of death?’

Blinking, people’s patience was disappearing little by little. The person who was most nervous among them was none other than Cardinal Simon.

‘It’s already been a while since she started.’

The effect of the saint’s divine power was immediately apparent. Wasn’t that why everyone didn’t even doubt the greatness of the saint?

‘There can be no problem with her holy power.’

At that moment, a question arose in Cardinal Simon’s mind.

‘Could it be that the Saint did not intentionally heal the real Blanchett by harming the Duchess?’

At that time, Erich asked irritably.

“How long will she be praying and pouring out divine power? Is it really true that my lady will be cured?”

Stella shrugged her shoulders and avoided eye contact.

‘Why isn’t the divine power listening? Why?!’

* * *

She opened her eyes and looked around.

‘Where am I?’

The surroundings were very dark. It also looked like a cave, full of rocks and with a musty smell.

‘But why did I suddenly vomit blood?’

The trees told her that she would never have to vomit blood again.

‘Is it related to the saint’s capture of me?’

Then this place must have something to do with it. I felt around and walked toward where she could see the light.

Clink-

At that time, she unknowingly touched something that looked like a glass on the floor. She tilted her head as she listened to the sound of the gold cup rolling.

‘Why is the glass here?’

At that moment, something that had been hanging down under the bright light slowly stood up. Even in the dark, her shiny blonde hair immediately caught her eye.

“Why are you here?”

His golden eyes, as clear as those of a wild beast, grew bigger.

“Am I dreaming again?”

This was Prince Carlos.

‘Where on earth is this place?’

While she was confused by meeting someone completely unexpected, Prince Carlos came running like a madman and grabbed her.

“It doesn’t matter if I’m crazy looking at you. Looking at you, it became clearer.”

The gold was filled with incomprehensible sorrow.

“I was wrong. I need you.”

…Was he crazy?

 

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