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Anton shouted out as if he found it absurd.

“What—!”

“It mayseem foolish, but even if he’s a wicked person, I want to believe once more in the image of the Duke that I saw.”

I straightened my face and looked around for something to defend myself with. Surprisingly, there was nothing but a pillow on the bed.

“The Duke isn’t necessarily a good person, right? But the Duke I know isn’t like that. He must have a reason.”

“Even if the the Duke and Duchess are desperately searching for the young lady?”

Anton’s face twisted into a grotesque expression at my calm response.

“They’re my parents’ arranged marriage, so they’ll understand me.”

Finally, Anton shouted in frustration.

“Do you even know what that man did to your parents? Right—”

“I don’t want to hear it!”

I replied firmly.

“I will hear directly from my husband about what happened. Until then, I have no intention of listening to anyone who slanders my husband.”

Honestly, I was extremely anxious. When will he come…?

“You stupid girl.”

Anton gritted his teeth menacingly and strode toward me.

“Did you not understand the situation just because I treated you like a lady?”

Eventually, he threatened me with a dagger and grabbed my wrist tightly.

“Ugh, this—”

At that moment, Anton’s face contorted as if he’d been burned. In fact, he had sustained a burn on his hand.

‘Really…?’

Anton yelled as if betrayed.

“You fed and took care of that street orphan girl, and now you dare to betray the House of Libertan!”

His flickering brown eyes grew closer. I was scared, but I couldn’t bring myself to touch my body again.

“Stop talking nonsense and come with me!”

“No—”

“I’ll kill you!”

Just as Anton swung his dagger toward me. Snap, clack. The hand that was about to strike the dagger twisted abnormally.

“Kyaa—!”

Blood vessels burst in his eyes, which were red with pain. Anton foamed at the mouth and rolled on the floor. The thrown sword flew and stuck heavily on the ground. Soon after, the man who entered stepped on the sword with his shoe, pressing the blade down. I heard the sound of sturdy steel shattering. A sharp bang! The world suddenly fell silent. John was standing there. A man with black hair, red eyes, devilishly handsome and beautiful. I could barely speak and called his name.

“…Duke?”

John was dressed in a black suit, wearing black gloves. Despite the dark atmosphere of the room, the moment he appeared, it seemed as if only John existed in the world. He looked at me with a drowsy smile.

“Hello, madam.”

The familiar scent of musk and the strong smell of blood suddenly hit me. He ignored the broken piece of the broken bed that he was stepping on. His piercing gaze was directed solely at me. His eyes, filled with an almost suffocating madness, looked deep enough to be overwhelming, and John gently asked, as if comforting me.

“I’m late, aren’t I?”

His gaze shifted to Anton, who was rolling on the floor. John twisted his elegant lips with contempt, as if looking at a disgusting bug.

“Even a petty rat like you shouldn’t be missed.”

The remnants of the dagger on the floor turned into black smoke and disappeared. John, walking toward me with a strong presence, exuded an intense madness. It was on a different level from Anton’s madness. John’s madness was so profound that it seemed endless, almost hypnotic, even sensual.

“This rat tried to hurt my wife.”

He lightly pressed his foot on Anton’s bleeding wrist. But that was the same force he used earlier to destroy the dagger. Anton couldn’t withstand it and flailed.

“Ugh, ahhh—! L-let me go—!”

“Don’t be so clueless.”

He pressed his shoe casually on Anton’s wrist. Such scenes had never appeared in the original work. Originally, Anton kidnapped Estelle but was punished and killed neatly. That was the best punishment John had given. So… since he moved according to his purpose, he had awarded him accordingly. But suddenly, his eyes, full of rage and murderous intent, seemed to be contemplating something.

“You don’t even realize what you’re doing.”

Blood was seeping from Anton’s wrist. Anton gritted his teeth and trembled violently. John whispered in a languid tone.

“It’s amusing to see a rat that’s been released still unaware of its place.”

“L-let me go—please—!”

“Don’t worry. I won’t kill you easily.”

John smiled faintly as he watched him.

“You’ll have to pay for touching my wife.”

That relaxed attitude oddly revealed a rough, savage ferocity underneath. A cruel violence that could break or destroy anything easily. Anton, however, stared back at John with eyes full of defiance, not showing fear.

“You dare to—touch—that woman—? Gasp—”

If I were him, I would’ve surrendered long ago. That brutal scene was overwhelming. And probably, what Anton was about to say was that John, who was defending Estelle, his enemy’s daughter, was strange. Since that was information a spy would surely know.

‘It really is strange.’

Honestly, it didn’t make sense. Leaving things as they were would definitely get Anton killed. John wouldn’t kill him easily—he wouldn’t die from blood loss, but he would die painfully. But I still… wasn’t ready to witness someone die.

‘At least, with my own eyes.’

Of course, I didn’t care how he died behind the scenes.

“Just a moment, Duke.”

Without realizing it, I moved to shield myself with a pillow I was about to throw aside, then pressed close to John’s side. I grabbed John’s hand with both my hands and pulled him.

“You shouldn’t kill him right away.”

“Leave him alone?”

John’s crimson eyes were tinged with an inexplicable light.

‘I didn’t want to be in more danger.’

He griped my hand tightly and suddenly asked a strange question.

“Have you developed sympathy for that scum?”

Huh?

“Or, are you finally afraid of me?”

~·~·*· . ·*· . ·*· . ·*·~·~

The plan was disrupted.

“So, that guy suddenly disappeared now?”

“I’m sorry.”

“It looks like I’ve been lax in managing the house for a while.”

The servant who hurriedly reported sensed John’s anger and bowed his head.

“After letting this happen, you still think of showing your face normally?”

The plan I had ordered to cancel had been put into action.

‘Patricia, you bastard.’

John slightly frowned. When you have subordinates, such things happen quite often. So, he was used to it. He had to be.

‘Estelle is in danger.’

That obvious premise brought a completely different, miserable feeling than usual.

‘If only she were inside the duke’s mansion…’

He could have gone straight to save Estelle. But at the moment, he had sent Erich on a mission and arrived at the palace late at night.

‘Using black magic in the palace causes side effects.’

Black magic always comes with costs and backlash. Especially if performed without preparation, it could spiral out of control. John’s mind was calculating carefully how severe the side effects and the chaos from black magic could be. But his body had already arrived at the mansion through magic. Estelle. Such an elusive woman. I had once thought she was simple and easy to understand. Innocent and fun to tease. But that was just a fleeting illusion.

‘She subtly avoids my touch.’

Once, she said she liked it, then at times she dodged when it mattered. Of course, her wide eyes and the way she looked at him like a prey made her cute. But she was still an inscrutable wife. Suspicious, and when her eyes were drawn away, she was irresistibly adorable.

‘Why am I like this?’

There was definitely a premonition for this situation. I was somewhat aware. But I never thought it would go this far.

‘Wasn’t everything just for revenge?’

That’s why I decided to completely ruin that woman.

‘Fake Lily Project.’

I had chosen Anton before Estelle came to this mansion. When a person faces a serious threat, they tend to rely on someone nearby. Conversely, even if they try to escape as planned, they end up caught. They won’t think of escaping anymore.

“I’m looking for Anton for now, but if necessary, I’ll go to the Lady’s quarters…”

The moment I heard that Estelle’s plan had become dangerous, John grew very anxious. The root of this feeling didn’t seem to be revenge. I didn’t want to see Anton targeting or hurting Estelle. I even tried to persuade her to escape.

‘I’m fine.’

Seeing her face smiling brightly, I didn’t want her to fall into despair. When she arrived at the mansion, she called the servants.

“Where is that bastard?”

The servants bowed deeply.

“I’m sorry, Sir.”

“I’ve been searching diligently, but I couldn’t find her elsewhere, so I’ve sent someone to the Lady’s quarters.”

John’s face stiffened.

‘So, this mansion isn’t where I’ve been working all along for nothing.’

Even though the entire mansion was under search, she hadn’t been found, so she was still hiding and escaping. But there was still no signal.

‘At least, not yet.’

This mansion left no corner unchecked for John. Wherever she was, he could find her immediately. So, this incident would probably become nothing. Then, suddenly, [Intruder.]—a magical barrier near Estelle’s room was detected. Without rational thought, John moved immediately toward that place, realizing Anton had intruded.

‘Estelle shouldn’t find out the truth yet.’

That would be problematic.

‘Why? You always wanted that woman to fall.’

But inwardly, I kept wishing Estelle wouldn’t find out the truth.

‘Duke.’

I hoped the gentle whispering voice would continue. And right across the door, I heard Estelle defending herself. Truly, her voice was right.

“But I won’t follow you. I will meet my husband, the Duke, and confirm whether that’s true.”

Foolish words.

“Even if it looks foolish, even if he’s a wicked man, I want to believe once more in the image of the Duke I saw.”

It was an absurd statement, unaware of her own situation.

“Of course, the Duke isn’t necessarily a good person. But the Duke I know isn’t like that. There must be a reason.”

Estelle had no reason to defend John. The only reason was that John was her formal husband. A foolish woman. Even in a situation where a sword was pressed against her throat, she was still spouting such ignorant words.

“I will hear directly from my husband about what happened. I have no intention of listening to anyone who belittles my husband.”

John immediately entered the room. The moment I saw Anton pointing a dagger at Estelle in that room.

‘That bastard.’

Whatever I felt, I was filled with rage inside. I didn’t know why. I didn’t want this scene. I didn’t want to see that dirty hand reaching for Estelle. At that moment, I truly thought that Estelle was his fake wife, and that thought vanished instantly. I couldn’t even imagine that Estelle might be trembling in fear at John’s cruelty. I was late in worrying about her. But Estelle’s reaction was completely different from what I expected.

~·~·*· . ·**##^^##**· . ·*·~·~

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.

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

~~~Next Chapter~~~

Next chapter will be released Tomorrow.

See you then!!