TVIOWHFW 31

Even upon seeing Leandro, I couldn’t move.

“Why is this man suddenly coming to my rescue?”

So many things came to mind. Leandro Felsis, the male protagonist of the original novel, and…

“My ex-fiancee.”

To be precise, Leandro’s fiancée was Yestella, the daughter of the Libertan Dukes. With blonde hair that sparkled brighter than mine, and eyes as clear and blue as a lake. A girl as radiant and lovely as the sun, who would burst into laughter when presented with a flower from a field of flowers. People considered Yestella an unrivaled angel. If that angel hadn’t died of an incurable disease, the engagement would have lasted.

“Especially because Yestella was Leandro’s first love.”

Leandro became engaged to a lovely girl wearing a wreath and smiling in the garden as a child. He embraced that angelic girl as his first love, and to become the man who would protect her, he trained in swordsmanship for ten years in a foreign land and became a knight. After returning from a foreign land, Leandro discovers a girl at the Duke of Libertan’s mansion. At first glance, she resembles Yestella, a beautiful girl with sparkling, pale-blond hair. She resembles his first love so much. However, as the ten years passed, Leandro mistakenly believed her to be Yestella. Seeing his feelings remain unchanged, he realizes the weight of love.

“It was me.”

Leandro, deluded, discovers the girl’s true identity and feels a deep sense of betrayal. Shocked by the tragic death of his first love and angered by the fake who took her place, Leandro breaks off the engagement.

“Perhaps it was only natural.”

It’s true that the Duke of Libertan deceived him. But even so, I didn’t like Leandro so much. Because Leandro broke off the engagement, I was no longer protected as in the original, and was forced to endure continued abuse. If Leandro hadn’t abandoned me like that, I might have been safe. The Marquis Felsis, who was close to being neutral, possessed that level of ability.

“That’s why he tried to run away with me at the end.”

He said he acted impulsively, out of pity for Yestella, who had shone like the sun, but was fading like the moon. He couldn’t bear to let a woman so similar to his first love die again.

[“Don’t worry. Even if I don’t love the Lady, I won’t let her remain in that hell. I stake my knightly honor on that.”

“Do you love me, sir?”

“I’m sorry. I’ve given my heart entirely to her. I believe that saving a villain like the Lady is also a way for her, an angel.”]

The more I recalled the escape in the original, the more my feelings became uneasy. Even if I followed Leandro, I failed. And there was something else weighing on my mind.

“I’ll never escape Yestella’s shadow again.”

Even if I were a fake, destined to be discarded, I wasn’t Yestella’s replacement in the Blanchet household. I couldn’t bring myself to go back to being her stand-in.

“Lady.”

Leandro spoke bluntly.

“I will receive you safely downstairs. So, have courage.”

A strange heat swirled in Leandro’s blue eyes. I unconsciously gripped the terrace railing and asked.

“By the way, sir, who are you?”

Leandro’s eyes hardened.

“Don’t you… remember me?”

“Have we met before?”

It was funny, but it was the right answer.

“I only learned of Leandro’s existence because I realized the original’s memories.”

Until then, I only knew that I was being punished for my ex-fiancé. Leandro and I had never even met before.

“John is here now…”

It was better to cut off the source.

“I’m sorry, but you’re not in my memory.”

“I am.”

Leandro’s blue eyes were filled with memories. He spoke with trembling lips, as if in confession.

“I am the one who owes you atonement.”

“Is that so?”

I tilted my head slightly and refused as naturally as I could.

“But I don’t know, so I don’t think you need to come here and tell me. Goodbye.”

I hope John won’t misunderstand.

“Leandro has his own circumstances, though.”

Leandro had already missed Yestella and abandoned me without even looking at me. Unlike the angel Yestella, I wasn’t kind enough to protect someone who had contributed to my suffering. Leandro would live well anyway.

“You don’t know me, Lady.”

A strange desperation crossed Leandro’s face.

“I am Leandro Felsis, your former fiancé. That’s why I can’t stand to see you suffer.”

“…”

“I’m trying to get my Lady back.”

His thick face and tightly fitting armor accentuated Leandro’s stoic aura. His cold, wolf-like features were deeply imbued with an inexplicable sadness and longing.

“What fiancé? You’re going to get me back?”

With wide eyes, she asked Leandro.

“I know I was engaged before, but I thought it was already broken off. And you’re going to get me back?”

“I know I broke off my engagement with my Lady a long time ago, but I’ve regretted it for a long time. Can’t you give me a chance to save her now?”

“Why? I have a husband.”

“Husband.”

His blue eyes grew cold, as if on fire. He gritted his teeth.

“You call someone like that a husband?”

Oops. I tried to dismiss him, but I ended up provoking a resentment.

“I had no legal relationship with John.”

Even though John called me ‘wife’ and treated me like a duchess at Duchess Blanchet’s residence, I was nothing more than a fake wife. In the original, the Duke and Duchess of Libertan gave me a marriage contract with my name on it, but John didn’t even sign his name, let alone submit it.

“Lady! You’re being deceived by that devil!”

I think he just tore it up.

“But if he knew I knew this, he’d be in big trouble!”

Why did he silence the Crown Prince? Wasn’t he trying to pretend as best he could that I was a fake wife?

“I’m sorry, but I don’t have the time to listen to you right now, sir. Even if my husband is a devil, it’s none of your business, sir.”

“If you knew what people in high society are saying about you right now, you’d never say such things. Everyone…”

“Do I really need to know?”

He glared at the dismayed Leandro, who looked a little devastated.

“I don’t think it’s something I particularly need to know.”

“Why are you pushing me away?”

What?

“Come to think of it, it’s been like that ever since we met. I… am doing my best to save the Lady. Even now, it wasn’t easy. It was only possible through many sacrifices and good fortune.”

Leandro spoke with a look of injustice.

“Why are you treating me so coldly, Lady? I’m the only one on your side…”

“Sir, you’re mistaken.”

Leandro’s throat trembled at my calm words. I ignored him and maintained a cool expression.

“We have no relationship. We’re already engaged, and we’ve never even met before.”

“That’s…”

Leandro’s expression darkened slightly. He had a face so handsome that he was definitely worthy of the title of leading man. His silver hair sparkled as if wet from rain, and his eyes were as blue as water. His gaze was drawn to her, a strangely sorrowful expression reminiscent of a rainy day. He looked like a large dog, its tail drooping pitifully in the rain.

“But I don’t like it because it’s creepy.”

I knew my attitude toward John was a bit different, but I didn’t really want to change it.

“The conversation is over. I’m sorry you had to go through all that trouble to get here, but that was your mistake, sir, and there’s nothing I can do about it. Your journey back won’t be difficult.”

Just as he was naturally concluding,

“No.”

Suddenly, Leandro grabbed the scabbard at his waist. His gaze, once filled with sorrow, now held a strange obsession.

“I can’t let it be. I can’t stand by and watch the lady suffer at the hands of that demon. Even if I’m not worthy of it.”

Slurp— The deep-blue blade gleamed in the sunlight.

“We’ll have to call John in the end.”

The battle between the mastermind and the male protagonist. I could already feel the spectacle of chaos, and my head was already aching.

“I’ve lost sight of the Lady, so now I’ll atone for it.”

“I told you to listen.”

A voice muttered languidly, and someone hugged me tightly from behind.

“I was quiet because the lady was holding back, but now you’re spouting nonsense.”

The rich scent of muskwood calmed my anxiety. John rubbed his cheek against my crown.

“Why are you wasting your time dealing with something like that? You should have called me sooner.”

“I thought the Duke would be tired.”

“You were worried about me, after all. But you should have called me right away when that guy was around.”

John glanced up, the corners of his mouth slightly quirking up. But the voice that came out was fierce, as if he were going to tear the man before him to pieces.

“I was worried that maybe my wife had feelings for someone else. I was worried that tearing him apart would break her heart.”

For some reason, her dark magic seemed even stronger than before.

“Doesn’t the side effect make her even stronger?”

Leandro’s expression hardened into a murderous grimace.

“You…”

“Still, I was relieved that my wife didn’t seem to have feelings for him.”

White magic spells, large and small, vividly adorned the space. John’s crimson eyes glowed. The white spell turned blood-red. Just looking at it was chilling.

“Duke John Blanchet!”

Leandro shouted, clutching his sword, imbued with blue energy.

“Don’t be rude to the Lady any longer!”

Based on their actions, they seemed justified, while this one seemed evil. The original text confirmed this sentiment.

“Righteous Leandro, evil John.”

At that moment, I unconsciously grabbed John’s arm around my shoulder.

“Should I kill him?”

Then John smiled gently.

“No. I’ll have to cut out his tongue first.”

“He’s a demon. Lady, please get away! He’s in your house!”

Whew! Countless blades shot out from the red magic circles, rapidly rushing towards Leandro’s mouth.

“Should I rip that presumptuous mouth that’s been targeting you off?”

At that moment, I realized.

“He’s trying to shut you up.”

I sensed desperation in his gestures. John’s pulse quickened, and his eyes, anxious, constantly checked my condition. His firm grip held me with the desperation of an animal starved for affection, but I felt he was somehow cornered.

“Oh no. I missed.”

His blood-red eyes gleamed.

“I’d rather rip his head off.”

The blades now flew sharper, as if they were about to rip Leandro’s head off. Their attacks were concentrated on Leandro’s mouth and head. Perhaps the reason was that he didn’t want me to know the truth. He wanted me to know nothing.

“The original.”

John had controlled Estelle to keep her from finding out the truth, but he didn’t care if she found out. But now, it seemed like he genuinely wanted me to know nothing.

“Why?”

In the space where the magic circle was destroyed and blades flashed, I looked up at John.

“John. What are you afraid of?”

As if he didn’t want to be hated.

“Lady Estelle!”

“Don’t listen, Madam.”

His large, thick-boned hands covered my ears, preventing me from hearing a single sound. But Leandro was the strongest knight in the world. He threw his sword, which had been dodging and deflecting the blades, and aimed at me. More precisely, at John’s hand covering my ear. The moment I saw the blades rushing towards me, John was faced with a desperate choice. To use more powerful magic, he had no choice but to release his hand. Leandro’s voice echoed throughout the room.

“He’s not the Lady’s husband or anything! Do you really think he’s the Lady’s husband?”

The noble knight Leandro rose from his kneeling position. He too must have taken a blow from deflecting the magic, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

“He didn’t register his marriage with the Lady! He probably didn’t even get it sanctioned by the temple.”

Sacramental sanction. That was quite important.

“A marriage approved by the Emperor can be divorced, but a marriage sanctioned by the temple is difficult to divorce.”

That’s what it meant to marry in the name of a god. John, who had been intimate with the Libertans, deeply despised the temple. There was no way he would have gotten it sanctioned.

“This is a disaster. What should we do now?”

He considered a new strategy. What if he pretended to believe John’s excuses innocently?

“Why is John’s expression…?”

But John remained frozen in place. A man who could have leisurely covered up his sins and moved on, could do nothing. What are you afraid of?

“Come with me.”

The knight extended his hand.

“Estelle.”

The knight spoke the name of the “fake,” a name he hadn’t even dared to mention. I unconsciously grabbed John’s sleeve.

“Who said that?”

John’s lips curled in response. He looked calm, but he looked as precarious as a tower on the verge of collapse.

“I have nothing to say about the destruction of the family, but I can say for sure that Estelle Blanchet is my wife.”

John pulled out a document. A marriage contract with my name on it. The original John had torn it up in a fit of laughter. A gold seal was embedded beneath the contract. It bore the emperor’s coat of arms, as well as the temple’s emblem.

“Estelle, you are my true wife.”

He whispered sweetly in my ear and kissed me.

“Hand over my wife? That’s truly presumptuous.”

John glared at Leandro with murderous intent.

“If you say something like that, you must be fully prepared to die. I already wanted to cripple you.”

Amidst this chaos, I stared blankly at the marriage contract.

“Your real wife.”

I’m a fake. My entire life has been a fake. Has something… changed?

~·~·*· . ·**##^^##**· . ·*·~·~

Hey there, It’s Green Rose 😉

Since I human I might have make some mistakes while translating so please if you find them let me know here in the comments or in the Discord group so I can correct them and be careful in the future so they do not repeat.

Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

~~~Next Chapter~~~

Next chapter will be released Tomorrow.

See you then!!