I Became the Villain’s Wife

Chapter 13

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“Eleanor, I meant what I said earlier that I would put Diego in front of you.
If you want, I can lead the search party to rescue him.”

“… The days are warm, the water is flowing, and the dragonflies are mating.”

Ikshid bowed his head while covering his mouth with his hand.
His back was lowered, and had a difficulty holding back his laughter, his body was shaking slightly.

Eun-woo struggled not to punch the Crown Prince.

Ikshid, who had been hiding his expression for a long time, suddenly changed the subject.
His expression shined like an uncharacteristic boy carrying a crown on his head.

“Oh, about that, Duke.
I heard you found the Royal Princess of Genova.
Is there any news about it?“

“……If you’re talking about the royal daughter that Marquis Miller took as a hostage, I’m sure you’ve heard about it from him first, if I say it, I’d be repeating what he had said.”

“Aish! You seem to be inflexible.
I am asking just in case.
What do you think I’ll ask? Is she pretty? I’m sure she’s beautiful.”

Tashian calmly responded to the Prince he served.

“I’m not interested.”

He looked like he was taking off an annoying fly.
In etiquette, Ikshid did not care about his cheap attitude.

“No matter how much I know, she’s the royal daughter of a country.
If Diego returns with Genova’s royal daughter, there will be a lot of people who will take interest in her.
It’s just that you have to treat her with all your heart.
Will the princess, who is to be viewed like an animal in a cage that has been caught against her will to a foreign country, won’t open her heart to the young duke who treats her kindly?”

Ikshid’s eyes twinkled as he looked at Tashian and Eleanor sitting next to him.

“Isn’t love always bound to develop in unexpected situations?”

 

Tashian couldn’t break the Prince’s smiling face into pieces, so he could only crush the crumbs he held in his hand.

“If that’s what Your Majesty’s wishes.”

Eun-woo felt her heart fluttering, as she watched Tashian calmly answering.

It was something she knew, but didn’t know.
When she thought of marrying him, her heart was about to burst, but when the prince ordered Tashian to pay special attention to the royal daughter of another country, her heart became cold like frost in the middle of winter.

‘This is an illusion.
I’m so absorbed in Eleanor that I’m paying too much attention to him.‘

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Eun-woo made a small noise as if to shake off a vain delusion.
Ikshid stared at her cold, firm expression.

‘Oh well, is that so?‘

He thought that only the Duke was dragged around like a dog on a leash, but Miller’s younger sister didn’t seem to care that much.

He smiled and handed her a joke.

“Don’t worry too much, Elli.
When did I say that this fellow was related to the treason?”

“Wh, what are you talking about?”

Eun-woo jumped up and protested.
They misunderstood whether Tashian and the treasoner were related again.

“E-Even if it’s a joke, don’t say it.
The Duke always puts the words of the public first.
Right, Tashian?”

When she grabbed Tashian’s sleeves and looked up with a tearful face, his body hardened like a stoned statue.

Whether she was surprised by his sensitive reaction, or whether it was unexpected that she praised him in front of the prince, Tashian could not immediately answer.

 

He looked down at her with eyes that were clearly embarrassed.
After a while, he opened his lips.

“… Of course”

“Lord, what is that hesitation?”

Ikshid grumbled.

He felt sick when he saw the Duke responding smoothly, who would not have laughed if he had said this.
He frowned in a strange sense of betrayal and changed the subject while looking at his sister.

“Yeah, Elli.
Tell this Older Brother of yours about your life in Duke’s residence.
How should I say it, isn’t it boring to spend time with the Duke?”

“It’s free.
And I am living in abundance.”

Eun-woo answered truthfully.
She was spending the most peaceful and rich days of her life.

“If there’s something you don’t like, tell me anytime.
There are many empty rooms in the imperial palace.“

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“It will be very lively after the return of the Knights Templar.
Miss needs a place to rest quietly.”

Tashian added in a calm but quick voice.
Ikshid also responded because he was afraid to lose.

“The imperial palace is also quiet enough and peaceful.”

“It wasn’t exactly where I am temporarily staying.”

“It’s largely due to the Duke.
It’s a place where people who are determined to put their fingers on the Duke will somehow gather with lights on their eyes.
And it’s because I allowed unlimited visits of guests when you stayed.
The place where our Elli will be staying will block access to the entire floor, so what’s the problem?”

“…I just gave you unlimited permission.
Didn’t I?”

“Lord.
My skin feels scorching hot.
Are you staring at me right now?

“How dare this humble servant look at his Master?”

He said so, but even through Eun-woo’s eyes, the duke was glaring at the prince.

“If you do that, the expression is somewhat… Even a fierce dog which had been raised in the imperial palace will not be able to growl with your scary expression.”

“Let’s test whether a fierce dog and I are the same way.”

With her in between, the invisible power which struggled a few moments ago between the two men, ignited again.
Feeling as if the air had been struck by lightning, Eun-woo sighed and pulled the refreshment plate back toward her.

“Lord.
Stop it.
Isn’t Elli nervous because you’re so sensitive?“

“That is because, Your Highness caused 80% of it.”

There seemed to be a rustling sound between Tashian’s hands under the table.

“Are you telling me to close my mouth now?”

“You finally understand the advice of heaven, I am very grateful.”

If this continues on, the terrible ending of the novel will really proceed here, so Eun-woo quickly intervened between the two.

“Stop it, both of you! Even five-year-old children won’t be this childish.”

Ikshid grumbled with a sulky look.

“No, Elli.
What did I do to be scolded by you? Aren’t I just having a friendly chat with His grace, who is one of his vassals?”

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“Your Majesty is right.
If Your Majesty and my harsh language are caught, you don’t have to pay much attention.
It wasn’t even an important topic for you to care about.“

Even Tashian told him in a calm voice as if it was his daily life for the two of them to do this.

Eun-woo lost what she had to say when she saw the two men gently holding refreshments as if they had finished revealing their claws to each other.

“By the way, Elli.
Isn’t it time for you to return to social events?”

Eun-woo sipped a new cup of tea, which was brought by the maid, almost spewing out the tea water in her mouth when Ikshid asked her that question.
She asked back, unable to hide her embarrassment.

“Yes? Return to social events?”

“Didn’t you stay quiet for quite a while, considering that Marquis was still on the battlefield and that you also suffered a serious trouble of moving to another place? There are so many people looking for your face here and there these days.”

Ikshid tilted inward as he saw Eleanor’s face, which suddenly turned blue.

Was Elli a kind of person who avoided social events? If so, I think she did, and I have to remember something from it.

“Don’t think it’s just nagging from your Older Brother, but do show your face.
At this rate, there will be rumors that the Duke confined you in the mansion.“

At those words, Eun-woo put down the teacup she was holding with a pale complexion.

Confinement in Duke’s residence? When such rumors spread, then, I would lose chances of getting married.

She held her Older Brother Crown Prince’s hand with a straight face.

“Of course… I’ll attend anywhere.
Please invite me, Your Highness!“

“Oh, um… There are a lot of places to do so, right? Horse racing, tea party, lighthouse viewing party….
Just say it.
But I didn’t know you were waiting for a social event like this.
Don’t tell me, the duke really confine you?”

Then there was a crackling sound.
The duke slightly pulled out the knife he had placed next to him with a brutal expression.
He issued a short warning.

“Your Highness.”

His eyes were fixed in the hand of Ikshid being held tightly by Eun-woo.
The knights who were assisting Ikshid, took a step closer to the Duke with their swords pulled out with a tense look on the Duke’s sudden action.

She was embarrassed and hurriedly put away Ikshid’s hand and held Tashian’s arm instead.

“Du- Duke! No, Tashian! Don’t do this! What are you doing?!”

The prince, who was actually threatened, beckoned at the knights as if not to overreact.
Even the relaxation that was not present, was flowing when he sat deeply leaning against the backrest in a comfortable position.
He smiled and muttered in vain.

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“Hoho, it has been hundreds of years since I’ve seen the duke acting so sincerely.
But don’t do this in front of Elli even if it’s a threat or a joke.
Let me see how pale Elli looks.“

Tashian chewed on his lips and pushed the knife into the sheath.
Skrrrt, the noise like from a sword.

Eun-woo swept his chest and let Tashian’s hand go.
Then she looked up at him with resentment.
Tashian murmured as if making excuses with wrinkles between his brows.

“… Your Highness’s joke went too far.”

“But how can you pull a knife in front of a Crown Prince? There’s no law like that.”

In response to Eun-woo’s harsh tone, the Crown Prince came out to help, as if indicating him to not miss this opportunity of scolding Tashian.

“Our Elli is right! You have no manners in the world! I dare you to pull out a knife in front of me, the Crown Prince…”

“For the sake of the Crown Prince, be quiet!”

When she snapped back, Ikshid’s mouth, seemingly like a dog, shut its mouth as if it was rolling its tail.
He cleared his throat as much as he was embarrassed to be yelled at by his sister, and soon opened his mouth solemnly after finding the dignity of a prince.

“Anyway, your negligence of not knowing that Elli is lonely, is great.
Why not watch an athletic event every weekend at Cremons Gardens? The Imperial City holds a night ball every day, so it’s not bad to attend it.“

Cremons; the capital of Hellasium, was an active social venue for aristocrats.
The streets full of aristocrats and businessmen seeking success from all over the country were flooded with colorful attractions and entertainment streets at night.

There were many boring gatherings where young women dressed up in primary colors and competed in horseback riding races under the spring sun, watched exhibitions, and threw off their tops to participate in ball games and bowling.

“Call this Older Brother of yours whenever this clogged human is being arrogant.
At least I’ll make sure you’ll not be bored.”

Ikshid recommended Eleanor with a serious look.
However, Eun-woo’s expression was seriously stiff and pretended to have heard him.
Now her spirit was sold to the ‘social event’ mentioned by the prince.

It was a big deal for her, who was mistaken that the daily routine of a noble lady was all about rolling around in bed all day.
Now that she is in the body of Marquis Eleanor Miller, being sold to people’s eyes was the most appropriate way to make a mistake.

‘What if there are people who notice that I’m different from the usual Eleanor?’

She was anxious, stamping her feet underneath her clothes.

Tashian, who was sitting quietly next to her, was staring at her figure.
Then he opened his mouth in a low voice.

“… Am I a boring Duke?”

“What?”

Eun-woo blinked and answered him.

What does this guy want to imply again?