WFMW 29

Chapter 29

Because I Want to See Your Perfect Wife!

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March 29, 2024

Grisha, who had been lost in thought for a moment, raised his eyes and looked at the woman sitting before him.

A bright, lively beauty — nothing like Nelly — greeted him with a cheerful smile.

It was Nelly’s younger sister, Diana.

“Hello, Wizard. You said you came to see my sister?”

Out of habit, Grisha searched for any trace of resemblance to Nelly, but his expression remained purely formal.

“Yes.”

Even if there had been a resemblance, there was no chance he could ever feel any affection toward this woman.

Because he already knew — from Nelly herself — what Diana had done to her.

If this woman hadn’t tried to kill Nelly, Nelly would never have lost her magic.

He wanted to kill her on the spot. But Grisha held back.
There was only one reason.

He didn’t yet know what Nelly wanted.

If she wants her dead, I’ll kill her.
If she wants her to live — to suffer unbearable pain forever — then that’s what I’ll do.

Grisha’s blue eyes darkened, like the deep ocean.

Unaware that her life hung by a thread before him, Diana smiled seductively and continued.

“Well, this is awkward. My sister’s not here.”

“…Did you send her to a sanatorium or a villa?”

“Hm, I can’t just give that information away so easily.”

Her teasing tone made a faint crack appear in Grisha’s emotionless face. His brows furrowed.

“What do you want?”

Diana leaned forward. She had only one reason to provoke him like this.

Could it be… he knows something about my sister?

Not long ago, she had received a crystal message asking if Nelly had awakened.

And now, a young male wizard had shown up looking for Nelly.

It must have been him who sent that message.

She had gone to the Duke of Granite’s residence to check on Nelly’s condition, but had been flatly turned away.

And now, a man appeared who clearly held a clue — of course Diana wasn’t about to miss the opportunity.

“Why don’t we trade? I’ll tell you where she is… if you tell me your name, handsome wizard.”

Her coy tone was calculated.

When people became infatuated with her, they usually grew careless — that was her experience.

“That won’t be necessary.”

Grisha’s curt reply made it seem he hadn’t even noticed her ploy.

Diana’s sharp eyes scanned his face.

They’re not just acquaintances, are they?

As Grisha began to rise from his seat, Diana suddenly dropped a piece of information like bait.

“My sister’s married now. She lives with her husband, of course.”

“…Married?”

“Yes. There’s a man who loved her so much that he didn’t care even if she stayed in a coma.”

Grisha couldn’t hide his reaction.

Seeing that, Diana smiled a thin, mocking smile. It was the smirk of someone who found Nelly worthless.

So even that dull little grub managed to catch a man at the Academy?

And such a fine-looking one, too.

To Diana — who always looked down on Nelly — the idea that Grisha had feelings for her sister was unbearable.

But she wasn’t about to waste the opportunity.

That means he must know more.

He loved Nelly, after all — surely he’d be deeply concerned about her condition.

Noticing that there was information to be extracted, Diana shifted her posture gracefully.

Grisha’s eyes, however, turned wary.

“You acted like you’d never tell me anything — why are you suddenly talking so freely?”

“Well, it’s quite the famous love story, you see. Only someone who’s been buried in the Academy for over a decade wouldn’t have heard it.”

“So the man who claims to love the Archmage is rather famous, then?”

“Of course. Every citizen of the Empire, even a child, would know his name.”

She wasn’t lying. Unless one lived shut away from the world, it was impossible not to know Nelly’s husband.

“He’s Sidor Granite — Captain of the Dragon Knights, the Swordmaster who protects this nation.”

“…!”

At the mention of Sidor’s name, Grisha’s pupils contracted sharply, like a cat’s in bright sunlight.

Assuming his shock was merely at hearing a Swordmaster’s name, Diana rested her chin on her hand and smiled slyly.

“So why not give up on my sister and have a chat with me instead? I have plenty I’d like to ask you.”

And then she finally brought out what she truly wanted to know.

“Has my sister… woken up?”

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I was still hiding behind a tree, ears straining to catch every word.

“What business brings you here?”

Sidor’s voice was cold — devoid of any warmth. It startled me with how unfamiliar it sounded.

But what shocked me more was the woman’s response.

“What, a mother can’t visit her only son’s house anymore?”

Mother?

It felt like my dizziness hit all at once.

I peeked out from behind the tree before I could stop myself.

Sidor’s mother?!

The two glaring at each other looked nothing alike.

Sidor’s skin was tanned, while the woman’s complexion was pale as snow.
Their hair, their eyes — not a single feature matched.

The only resemblance was that they were both undeniably attractive — but in completely different ways.

Sidor’s features were bold and strong, while hers were delicate and soft.

Honestly, she looks more like she could be Grisha’s mother.

I frowned, recalling the most refined man I knew.

While I was marveling at the mysteries of genetics, the argument between them only escalated.

“Go home! What kind of mother breaks down her son’s gate?” Sidor shouted.

The woman, pretending to smile, suddenly raised her voice again and kicked the gate with her high heels.

“If you hadn’t locked it, I wouldn’t have to! And what kind of gate doesn’t even have a keyhole?”

“What do you mean, no keyhole…?”

At that, guilt stabbed through me and I quickly ducked back behind the tree.

My heart pounded. Even though Sidor couldn’t see behind himself, it felt like he was glaring straight through the trunk at me.

I didn’t mean to! I just… melted it by accident!

I hadn’t meant to dissolve the keyhole — it was the only unlocking spell I could think of in my panic.

Sidor must’ve decided to ignore the keyhole issue for now, because he continued speaking to his mother.

“This is exactly why I keep my distance, Mother. I hope this visit helps you reflect on your behavior.”

“Reflect? Is that something a child should say to his parent?”

“I only hope you realize what kind of parent you’ve been.”

“Sidor Granite!”

His mother’s furious shout was so sharp it made me flinch, even though it wasn’t directed at me.

“How long will you keep acting like a rebellious child? She’s back! She’s here to take your place!”

“It’s not something that can be taken. It was never mine to begin with.”

“You’re the duke’s eldest son! How can you say that’s not yours?”

“Mother, please stop your foolish greed.”

So that’s why she was here — because of the dukedom.

Should I even be listening to this?

Sidor had asked me to keep up our contract marriage, yet he’d never mentioned anything like this.

But I didn’t have time to think further before their argument grew even more heated.

“You’re such a fool — a pathetic, useless fool! How could you throw away your title for something as meaningless as pride?”

“It’s not about pride! Why do you keep trying to force your life on me?”

“You think your life is only yours?”

She jabbed a finger into his chest, each word dripping with venom.

“Your precious talent, your fame, the environment that let you bloom — who do you think gave you all that? I sacrificed my youth for it! And now you strut around, thinking you earned it all on your own!”

Wow… textbook gaslighting.

It wasn’t as if Sidor had asked to be born into the Granite family.
Blaming him for that was absurd.

But Sidor wasn’t someone easily shaken.

Even as his mother hurled those cutting words, he didn’t flinch — his tone remained cool and steady.

“Whatever you say, my life is still mine. Just as your life belongs to you.”

“Incredible.”

She gave a hollow laugh, then smoothed her expression into composed elegance once more.

“I’ll come again tomorrow. I expect you to open this door properly next time — and welcome me in.”

Sidor shrugged lightly.

“I won’t be home. If you have something to say, come to the Dragon Knights’ headquarters. Though I truly don’t see why you’re so desperate to come here.”

“Because I want to see your perfect wife!”

Her mask cracked again — her voice rising in rage.

The sudden mention of me made my shoulders jerk up in panic.

The woman glared at Sidor.

“Do you even have a wife? Or are you hiding the fact that she’s already dead?”