TVIOWHFW 76

The blood in my entire body suddenly turned cold.

The sound of my heart pounding echoed loudly near my ears. Seeing John flinch and narrow his eyes at my startled reaction, I instinctively kept my gaze steady.

“Why, do you think my revenge is too cruel?”

“Just a little?”

My mouth went completely dry.

But I didn’t look away from John’s gaze. I quietly met his eyes. Today, his crimson eyes looked colder and more ominous than ever.

“I don’t really understand why it has to be that extreme.”

“Well, I guess so.”

John’s thumb brushed the corner of my mouth. The intimate touch sent chills down my neck.

Everyone has their reasons. If you try to judge the severity of sins, it’s endless. Everyone faces situations they can’t help, after all.

…Can they really carry out revenge by weighing all these factors?

John whispered in a languid voice. It was a gentle tone, as if he were drowsy, but the coldness etched in his voice couldn’t be concealed.

“There’s no such thing as ‘that much’ in revenge from the start. If you’re truly determined to end things with your opponent, you have to use any means necessary to achieve your goal.”

Somehow, it felt like he was speaking not just to me, but to himself.

The dark John, who had thrown his life into the inferno of revenge when nothing was left, the John of the past.

“But John,”

I grabbed John’s right hand, which was cupping my cheek.

“What if someone ends up taking revenge on you?”

“Me?”

“Of course, John, you’ve probably handled things meticulously. I mean, I was merciful, so there’s likely no one daring enough to try revenge on you.”

Indeed, John was very capable.

Even now, I couldn’t quite grasp how much he knew about me or what was impossible for him.

“But still, not everything in this world goes as you wish.”

According to the original story, I should have been killed by revenge by now, but I’m still alive.

In fact, I’m even living well, right beside John, bearing the official title of his wife, even more stably than during the Liberte era.

‘Could I have been part of John’s plan?’

Even if I couldn’t be certain about John’s feelings, it was clear that something had changed.

“As long as you’re human, there are things you don’t know. And the blade you wield now could come back to your neck.”

“Are you warning me?”

“More like a concern, rather than a warning.”

John carefully brushed my hair. It was a tender gesture, as always, but I couldn’t hide the inexplicable fear I felt.

“If you happen to be the target of revenge, your decision won’t change, will it?”

Our eyes locked.

We gazed silently at each other’s faces for a while.

Suddenly, the carriage creaked as it moved, and my toes barely touched the ground. A shiver ran down my spine again from the cold prickling sensation.

John, with a blank expression, only lifted the corners of his mouth in a smooth smile.

“I will never change my decision.”

It was a cold, resolute response.

“I always make the best decision at the right time. Even if it’s the wrong choice, it’s still my choice. I suppose there’s no helping it.”

“I see.”

“But don’t worry. I don’t know what you’re worried about.”

John’s voice sank deeply, full of gravity.

“I don’t make wrong choices. So don’t be afraid. No matter what attack comes, I will protect you.”

What I fear isn’t anything else.

“I feel safe.”

That’s you.

“I’m so glad that John is my husband.”

Even though I expected John’s reply, it still felt like a fragment of trust was breaking apart. I nervously fiddled with my suddenly cold fingers.

‘But John can’t control everything, after all.’

This is all a matter of my own heart.

It’s because I have a habit of overcomplicating things and thinking things are difficult and exhausting. I tried to suppress my cold, distant heart beneath the surface.

‘Estelle, you understand that John couldn’t help it too.’

His words weren’t logically wrong. I knew John’s past better than anyone. So I couldn’t help but understand and empathize.

‘John doesn’t see me as just a target for revenge.’

Since arriving at the Blanchet estate from Liberte, my situation had improved immensely. Moreover, unlike in the original story, John had never threatened my life.

Maybe he even loved me.

‘I’m okay.’

I closed my eyes quietly, then opened them again, feeling genuinely indifferent.

“But after Mirieu’s wedding ends, we’re supposed to go on a date together. John, what did you prepare?”

Holding his hand with both of mine, I asked, and John looked at me with a loving smile.

“Our honeymoon.”

Huh?

~·~·*· . ·*· . ·*· . ·*·~·~

Crown Prince Carlos visited the Empress’s palace.

As always, the Empress was hiding in the deepest part of the palace, holding her breath. Carlos stood at the door, sneering at his mother.

“You’re still the same, Mother.”

“…Crown Prince,”

The Empress called him gracefully.

“Now that you are finally released from confinement, behave properly without defying His Majesty’s will.”

“Yes, I already received the imperial directive from my father, just as you wished.”

Carlos sneered and showed a letter stamped with the emperor’s seal.

“Where is the Grand Minister Ortega, whom His Majesty cared for more than me? He’s so busy that he has time for his deficient son.”

“His Majesty treasures the Crown Prince deeply,”

The Empress warned Carlos cautiously.

“He’s just raising you strictly so you’re worthy of succeeding to a great position in the future.”

“You always say the same thing, Mother.”

“One day, the Crown Prince will understand my words.”

“I don’t want to.”

Carlos tilted his head sullenly.

“Well, there’s no need to understand my mother’s words, anyway. You’re stuck in the palace, just doing as your father wishes.”

“…Carlos,”

The Empress softly called his name. Her hands, which had been busy, trembled with surprise.

“Are you angry with me for saying that now?”

The Empress remained silent. Carlos sneered at her.

“I won’t marry a woman like you. Choosing someone who won’t interfere with my power and living comfortably—that’s not my taste.”

Seeing the powerless Empress who couldn’t even scold him, Carlos suddenly felt disgusted. He tousled his own bangs in frustration and left the palace without a word.

The Empress didn’t try to stop him.

‘Stupid woman.’

Carlos despised his mother more with each passing moment. For someone wielding such overwhelming power as the Empress, she was useless and only watched silently, which he found foolish.

‘…They really are the same.’

At that moment, Carlos strangely thought of Estelle.

‘Despite her insignificant bloodline, she’s doing quite well.’

‘Your Majesty, there’s been a scandal in the social world!’

‘Princess Jutti, who was previously a victim, is actually staging a fake victim act, tormenting the innocent Duchess Blanchet!’

‘There are many rumors that her notorious reputation as the daughter of the Liberte estate was all just malicious gossip, since no one ever spread it for sure…’

Even while under confinement, gossipmongers kept passing along updates to him, eager to stay connected.

‘She’s made it this far, huh?’

Now that she was cleared of false charges and officially became a duchess, her position as the crown prince’s potential bride probably didn’t even cross her mind anymore.

‘…She’s forgotten about me?’

Suddenly, anger flared inside.

‘How dare she?’

All the while, Carlos was thinking of Estelle.

‘Does he even want to marry me?’

A strange feeling of unfairness suddenly surged.

Every time Carlos thought about Estelle, an emptiness grew in his heart. To fill that void, he drank and sought out women similar to her, but it still felt incomplete.

‘She wasn’t even worth all that trouble.’

His ideal of an empress had been firm since childhood: a woman who could stand proudly beside him, supporting him, even if it meant risking her own power. Carlos didn’t want a weak, easily manipulated partner, even if it meant losing Estelle.

That was also why he missed his chance with her.

‘Why do I keep looking at her like that? Do I want to keep her close?’

It was troublesome, but seeing her look sad when she was with other women annoyed him.

‘Unfortunately, I don’t really enjoy doing things with three people, but since I have urgent matters, I’ll wait until I finish my business.’

‘But I need to go back on time for the appointment…’

‘Then just go. Why should I bother caring about you just because we’re some kind of couple?’

But…

‘Why can’t I think of anyone else but her?’

Bang!

Carlos slammed his head against the palace wall with a loud thud.

‘That woman is not suitable for your conditions at all.’

Above all, she’s someone else’s woman.

‘But if it’s Estelle…’

A sharp pain pierced his chest.

Getting involved with such a scandalous woman wasn’t fitting for the crown prince. If another incident happened, it wouldn’t end with just confinement.

“Seeing her succeed somewhere else annoys me.”

Maybe, I need to try filling that void once more.

‘I have to meet her again, somehow.’

Just once.

Once I see Estelle become a noble duchess, just like any ordinary noble lady, realizing she’s become one of the boring, common women, it would all be over.

‘Nothing special anymore.’

~·~·*· . ·*· . ·*· . ·*·~·~

John’s words weren’t lies.

As soon as we returned to the Blanchet estate, we hurriedly packed our belongings and moved near the Hermil coast using a teleportation circle. Fortunately, John’s potion this time wasn’t used as it was before.

‘It’s a failed attempt, but it should work.’

John said it was a failure, and he didn’t like it, but…

‘Creating a new potion like this is already impressive.’

Though the trip was sudden, I was excited because it was the first time I’d see the sea.

“John, there’s a sea nearby! Let’s go see it right now!”

“The sea? That’s so amazing?”

John looked at my excited face and smiled lazily.

“Yeah. It’s my first time seeing it, so I’m really looking forward to it. Have you been to the sea before?”

“A few times? Once with my family, and another time for some urgent matter.”

“How was it when you went then?”

“The sea from the Cefirote coast, as always, looked the same.”

John answered in a somewhat unenthusiastic tone.

“I booked a ferry for us to tour the coastal waters. You can enjoy the scenery to your heart’s content on that.”

“A ferry?”

I blinked in surprise.

‘Will there be many people there?’

Seeing my concern, John smirked and pressed my hat down gently.

“Don’t worry. Right now, most of the nobles are flocking to the capital, so there won’t be anyone who would recognize you. Why would you come all the way here, away from the capital?”

“Oh, I see you’ve been thinking about that too.”

“Of course. If it’s about you, I think of everything.”

I held onto my hat’s ribbon and looked up at John. He was dressed more casually than usual, and he pressed his forehead against mine.

“And I’m right here with you. What are you worried about?”

John, whispering with a gentle smile, said.

“If you’re still anxious, I’ll go and cancel everything forcefully.”

“No! That would just make us stand out even more!”

John hugged me tenderly.

“Then shall we go, madam?”

“Yes, husband.”

I leaned into John’s embrace and relaxed.

“Yeah, let’s trust John.”

All of this felt too real to be fake—John was too charming and kind.

“But what do people usually do on a ferry?”

“Well, I have some sort of event prepared for you.”

“What did you prepare so much for?! Now I’m even more scared.”

“Just wait and see.”

“…Should we just not go?”

“I won’t let you off.”

No matter what anyone says, this moment was real.

~·~·*· . ·*· . ·*· . ·*·~·~

In a dark prison.

After a few days, Mirieu, looking pale and gaunt, saw someone approaching. Her tired, dead fish-like expression suddenly brightened as her eyes snapped open.

“Why are you here…?”

~·~·*· . ·**##^^##**· . ·*·~·~

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!!