“Does it smell different?”
Suddenly, I doubted my ears.
“Why do I not sense any hostility in the voice?”
And the person harboring that hostility didn’t seem to be me. Somehow, my wrist, which still bore a red mark, was burning, so I quickly pulled it back and awkwardly asked.
“Do I smell strange to you?”
“I’m just sensitive to body scents, that’s all.”
John briefly glanced at my wrist and then made eye contact with me.
“So, who is it?”
There was no reason I couldn’t answer, but the strangely oppressive atmosphere made it hard to speak. John then opened his mouth again in a voice without a trace of smile.
“Who?”
“…I met Lord Baron Bloné in the study. Are you talking about him?”
John’s eyes darkened a bit more. He tilted his head slightly and asked.
“How do you feel about meeting Erich?”
I expected this question.
‘In the original story, Estelle didn’t tell John about her subordinates.’
It seems that in the original, Estelle had high expectations for her husband from the very first day of marriage, which is why she was so open. But I certainly wouldn’t fall into that trap.
‘Knowing what’s coming makes me feel a lot more at ease.’
“Lord Baron Bloné was a very nice person. At first, he seemed surprised that I came into the study, but later, we even talked about books.”
One of John’s eyebrows slightly raised in disapproval.
“What kind of books did you discuss?”
“General talk about books? I don’t think we went into anything too detailed.”
“Anyway, sounds like it was quite interesting.”
John smiled elegantly. But somehow, unlike usual, the corners of his lips seemed to twitch slightly upward.
Ah! He’s unhappy about my becoming friendly with the subordinates.
Having the target of revenge and my subordinates getting too close might be problematic. It could lead to unnecessary trouble. It’s good that I recognize this because I often hear similar things in Libertan. I smiled brightly, waving my hands.
“Nothing special happened after that. I recommended a book and left right after.”
“Lies.”
John’s large hand gently approached my eye. His thumb leisurely brushed my eyelid.
“What’s this tear stain?”
“Oh, this.”
Perhaps because of the recent contact, I became overly sensitive to even minor movements. I quickly covered my cheek, trying to dispel any misunderstanding.
“It’s dust in my eye that made me cry.”
I did argue with Erich, but the reason I cried was because of dust. So, what I said was true.
“I’m generally quite emotional, so I tear up easily over small things.”
When I raised my hand to touch my eye, he caught it, interlocked my fingers with his masculine hand. John, who had been silent for a moment, said something completely different from what I had anticipated.
“Aren’t you upset that people hate you?”
My eyes widened involuntarily. But it wasn’t a difficult question.
“Who hates me like that?”
“You know what I mean.”
“Um. I really don’t understand.”
I looked into John’s red eyes and shrugged.
“No one really hated me that much here. And even if they did, I wouldn’t be upset.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s natural for people here to dislike me.”
John tightened his grip on our interlocked hands.
‘Am I giving an answer too unworthy of a daughter of Libertan?’
But honestly, since I’ve hardly experienced any hardships at the Blanchett estate, I couldn’t come up with anything exaggerated.
“I’m not even the biological daughter of the Libertan family, and I didn’t bring a dowry. The Duke of Libertan isn’t even a close relative who helps the Blanchett family…”
Thinking about it now, I truly felt the reality of my situation.
‘I really am useless.’
If I weren’t the target of revenge, I probably wouldn’t even dare marry John.
“And I don’t have any particularly useful connections or skills in high society either.”
Getting into more detail would be even more pathetic.
‘Being turned down twice isn’t common.’
First, I was disowned by Estella’s fiancé as soon as I was adopted, and then the crown prince, who was considered a good prospect, also broke off the engagement.
‘Even if it’s not my fault…’
The fact that I was in the middle of all this made me look especially bad.
“So, of course, I wouldn’t seem favorable. Even if I did, I wouldn’t be upset.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s only natural for people here to dislike me.”
John squeezed our linked hands tighter.
‘Is this answer too unworthy of the daughter of Libertan?’
But honestly, I haven’t had enough trouble or unfairness at the Blanchett estate to even make something up.
‘I’ve been rejected twice— that’s not common.’
First, I was disowned by Estella’s fiancé immediately after being adopted, then I also lost the engagement with the crown prince, which was considered a promising match.
‘Even if I’m not at fault.’
Being in the middle of all this, I inevitably look especially bad.
“So, how could I possibly look good? Even I wouldn’t want someone like me as the Duchess.”
The summer breeze swept between us. John held my hand tightly and looked at me pensively.
“Don’t you think it’s worth enduring all that just to bring me here?”
“To me, is it worth that much?”
“Yes.”
John, wearing a proud smile, tidied my hair that was fluttering in the breeze.
“Don’t you think I look stupid for risking such losses to bring you here?”
The man under the sunlight looked full of confidence. That sight was so mesmerizing I almost lost myself.
“What if my first failure was with you?”
You’ve already failed. You don’t have the worth to take revenge on me. Even if you kill someone like me painfully, the Duke of Libertan would never suffer.
They would probably be relieved that I’m not their own flesh and blood.
‘I can’t say that, though.’
Strangely, my voice was tinged with moisture.
“Honestly, Duke, it’s not like I can keep succeeding forever.”
“That’s impossible.”
John gently took my chin with his remaining hand, making me meet his gaze.
“I never fail.”
“…”
“If you don’t trust yourself, trust me.”
My heartbeat thundered loudly near my ears. His gaze was arrogant but kind, comforting even.
‘I see why I fell for the original story’s unrequited love.’
The warm sunlight, the gentle warmth on my skin, the look that made me feel so special just by looking— all of it was a perfect lie. Even I, knowing it was fake, wanted to overlook it.
“I’ll go inside now.”
I stood up before the situation worsened.
“Whenever you’re having a hard time, just tell me anything.”
“Really, anything?”
“Yes, anything. Anything that comes to mind.”
John spoke in a soft voice.
“For example, you can go see your parents.”
“Already?”
Most noble women didn’t visit their families for a while after marriage. He casually shrugged.
“As long as you want to go, what does it matter?”
But right now, the Duke and Duchess of Libertan would be in prison.
‘Still, they’re not immediately executed because they’re nobles.’
At least, it was clear I, their daughter, wouldn’t be in a situation to visit. Most importantly, from John’s perspective, it wouldn’t be good for me to go, as it would increase the likelihood of me uncovering the truth.
‘But he still mentioned it.’
A shiver ran down my spine. The dark conspiracy doesn’t act without purpose. I had a premonition that something was happening behind my back, something I couldn’t understand.
‘Right now, I have to appear as harmless as possible.’
I shook my head.
“I’m fine. Besides, I haven’t even fully adapted to the Blanchett estate yet.”
“You’ll miss it a lot, though?”
His crimson eyes pierced through me sharply.
“Oh, that’s nothing.”
John took one of my hands as I stood up. I stared at him silently.
“But don’t get too used to holding back so much.”
He handed me a bag of cookies. As I checked the bag and our eyes met, John smirked.
“These are a token of my thanks.”
Apparently, the cookies I gave him before left quite an impression.
“You don’t have to give me things like this…”
“I want to give it to you.”
He covered my fingers with his hand, holding the cookie bag tightly.
“And you have to eat this alone.”
“I usually don’t eat with others anyway.”
“But this one’s only for you. Because it’s yours.”
His sharp eyes softened into a pretty, teasing smile. My heart pounded again.
“Can I also give some to the Duke?”
John nodded.
“Sure, to me too.”
A strange feeling crept from my toes. I tightly gripped the cookie bag with both hands.
“Then, I’ll eat it well. Thank you.”
I left, stepping out of the garden’s trees. I walked as if not to seem to run away too obviously, but I felt like I was rushing to escape. Still, John’s smiling face wouldn’t leave my mind.
‘Why am I like this?’
It was just empty words, just a cookie I received. The words John said probably weren’t sincere either. After all, his plan for revenge was still the same.
‘My cookie, mine.’
I clenched the cookie tightly, feeling as if I might crush it. It was silly, but for the first time, I felt that I had something of my own. It was so strange I wanted to be alone with it.
~·~·*· . ·**##^^##**· . ·*·~·~
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!!
