Chapter 3

Of course, Moretti knew better than anyone.

‘Just how much of a class snob the current Duke is!’

The only reason Moretti could hold such authority in this villa was because she came from a knightly family.
Meanwhile, even though I was an illegitimate daughter, I was still from a viscount’s family.

Her face twisted with humiliation and jealousy as she glared at me.

Ah, now I understood.
She had reigned like a tyrant in this villa until now.
But with me here—someone of higher birth and holding the title of Young Lord’s wife—she suddenly felt threatened.

‘So she tried to crush me first.’

I couldn’t let myself be pushed down.

Moretti tried to fight back.

“But the Duke would never allow you to side with Edmund! You’re lying, aren’t you?!”

I gave a short laugh, forcing myself to stay calm.

“…Wow, you’re really foolish. Are you even qualified to be a tutor?”

“Wh-what?”

She overreacted to those words. Strange.
Still, I continued smoothly.

“Why else would I act like I was protecting Edmund? To make him trust me, of course.”

“You mean… it was an act?”

“Of course. Like you said, the Duke is the one who sent me here.”

Naturally, I had no intention of obeying the Duke’s orders.
But it was useful to let Moretti believe otherwise. That way, she wouldn’t get in my way.

“Unlike you, who only bullies him clumsily, I can use my head.”

I gave her the most villainess-like, sinister smile I could muster.

“He’s just a thirteen-year-old child, after all.”

Of course, Cassia’s body was also around that age, but I deliberately ignored that fact.
I couldn’t let her remember it.

“Just show him a little kindness, and he’ll open up right away. Then it’ll be even easier to handle him. That’s the level the Duke expects, don’t you think?”

“The Duke… would never approve of that…”

Moretti’s mouth opened and closed like a fish.

I gave her the final blow.

“I already sent the Duke a carrier pigeon reporting this plan. Whether it’s effective or not—that’s for him to judge. Not you.”

“….”

What I really meant was: Unlike you, I’m in direct contact with the Duke. So stop overstepping.

And that landed squarely.

Moretti had no argument left.

I frowned down at my wrist, still gripped in her hand.
Because my body was smaller and younger, I was weaker, with thinner limbs. Naturally, I couldn’t match her strength.

My wrist hurt badly. It might even bruise.

But when I looked her dead in the eyes and sneered coldly, she faltered.

“Does it hurt?”

“…Ah!”

As I glanced between my swollen wrist and her face, her expression paled, and she finally let go.

I shook my now-free wrist and sighed.

“Look what you’ve done. My skin bruises easily.”

“Th-that…”

Stammering, Moretti eventually lowered her head.

“F-forgive me, Madam.”

I smirked.

“Finally, you remember how you’re supposed to speak. At least you’re not completely brainless.”

I tapped her shoulder lightly as I walked past. She couldn’t even lift her head.

“You’ll remember my order to stay confined for a day, won’t you?”

Her back trembled. I smiled faintly.

‘Good. Step one complete!’

I clenched my fist in triumph.

This was the first real achievement since I had possessed Cassia’s body.

I had made tons of plans based on what I remembered of the original story—but plans meant nothing if I couldn’t carry them out.

And right now, there were two priorities:

First, stop Edmund’s abuse and lay the groundwork for earning his trust.
Second, subdue Moretti.

She wasn’t completely broken yet, but this was a good start.

Not bad at all.

Of course, Edmund still treated me like a stray cat baring its fangs.

‘But that’s fine. Time will fix that.’

After all, I had plenty of experience dealing with kids from my orphanage days.

As I walked along feeling rather pleased, my nanny suddenly came running with a panicked face.

“Little Madam!!!”

“Ah, sorry, Nanny.”

She must have come to drag me back, since I had rushed out without even washing my face.

“I’m fine now—kyaa?!”

“There’s no time for this!”

She grabbed my wrist and started sprinting toward my room.

“What’s wrong, Nanny?!”

Her next words froze me.

“Master Patrick has arrived! You must get ready!”

“P-Patrick?”

Being dragged along, I recalled the name.

Patrick Cohen.
The Duke’s eldest son, and Edmund’s cousin.

And of course—a villain in the original story.

Worse yet, another memory made my blood run cold.

‘Wait… wasn’t Patrick Cassia’s lover in the original?!’

Patrick Cohen was a villain who schemed endlessly to steal Edmund’s title.
Naturally, he and Cassia had connections.

With his handsome looks and smooth tongue, he flattered Cassia’s vanity.

[“Once Edmund is dead, I’ll make you my wife. Then you’ll be the true Lady of Cohen.”]

Of course, in the original story, Patrick never became the heir, and Cassia never became the real Lady Cohen.

And this time—
‘I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen either!’

But still, I had to fool Patrick.
He needed to believe I was loyally following the Duke’s orders, here to ruin Edmund.

‘Besides… both Cassia and Patrick are still young. Nothing should happen yet.’

I clung to that thought as I let the nanny dress me up in a hurry.

When I finally went out into the garden, Patrick was already there.

And by his side—someone all too familiar.

“It’s such an honor for you to visit us in person, young master…”

Eyes sparkling, cheeks flushed, tongue oiled with flattery—
It was Moretti.

So fast.
And what happened to my order for her to stay confined?!

Patrick was a striking young man, with golden hair and deep blue eyes.
At just sixteen, he already looked far more mature than his age.

No wonder Moretti was swooning.

‘Right… wasn’t Patrick considered the most eligible bachelor in the capital?’

Many believed he would be the Duke’s heir.
Women must have been lining up to become his wife—or at least his mistress.

But Moretti was already in her mid-twenties.

‘No matter how much you want power and money… isn’t over ten years’ age difference a bit much?’

Watching the petty villainess fawning over a bigger villain disgusted me.

Just then, Patrick noticed me.

His long eyes narrowed into a sly smile.

“Ah, Cassia!”

And he called my name right away.

‘Huh? Were we that close already?’

But when I searched Cassia’s memories, there was nothing.
The only time she had seen him was three days ago, at the wedding contract signing.

We weren’t close enough for him to call me so warmly.

I widened my eyes in surprise.

Patrick brushed off Moretti’s chatter and came straight toward me.
Moretti’s face stiffened in humiliation, and she immediately shot me a glare.

‘What? Why are you looking at me like I did something wrong?’

Patrick extended a white-gloved hand.

“Nice to see you, Cassia.”

I smiled politely and bowed slightly.

“An honor to meet you, Master Patrick.”

He deliberately sounded hurt.

“To treat me like a stranger—it saddens me. Though I must admit, your modesty is charming.”

“We met at the wedding.”

“Yes, exactly. So let’s speak more comfortably. Just call me Patrick.”

He wiggled his fingers playfully.

“My hand’s getting lonely.”

“Oh—sorry.”

I reluctantly placed my hand in his.

With perfect elegance, Patrick kissed the back of my hand.
His lips lingered a bit too long… or was that just my imagination?

‘You’re only sixteen! In Korea, you’d still be in high school!’

Then why did he feel so greasy, like pure butter molded into human form?

I forced a refined laugh and asked:

“What brings you all the way to this remote villa?”

Patrick’s eyes drooped even more as he whispered smoothly:

“Speaking like that makes us sound like strangers, doesn’t it?”

“….”

We are strangers!

No—worse than strangers.
Patrick and his father were plotting Edmund’s death.
They were the ones behind all the abuse in this place.

Even if my marriage was just on paper, as Edmund’s wife, they should have been my mortal enemies.

Of course, since the Duke had arranged my marriage and, in the original story, Cassia and Patrick had schemed together, he wasn’t completely wrong to say we weren’t strangers.

‘But I fully intend to stay a stranger to you!’

Naturally, I couldn’t say that out loud.

So I plastered on a smile, accepted his escort, and let him lead me.

That was when it happened.

Clack!

The sharp sound of a window shutting came from above.

I looked up—and through the glass of the now-closed window, I met Edmund’s crimson eyes.

They were burning with fire.