Strategic Marriage with the Mad Villain (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 13
Reus not only personally escorted me himself but even led me all the way to my seat in the banquet hall.
Judging by the servants’ lingering stares, I wasn’t the only one who found this behavior uncharacteristic of him. Truly, the atmosphere couldn’t have been more uncomfortable.
‘Will I even be able to eat under these conditions…?’
Yet despite my inner grumbling, my thoughts changed instantly as high-quality dishes began appearing on the table.
Plump, glistening cuts of meat, vibrant green vegetables, and even a soup at just the right temperature continued stoking my hunger.
‘That looks delicious….’
Given that I’d normally be barred from entering the dining hall without Father present, it was perfectly natural for my hunger to resurface, even amidst this tension.
Just as my appetite stirred, I locked eyes with Reus seated across from me—and experienced the bizarre phenomenon of my hunger vanishing instantly.
‘That sly fox. What on earth is he scheming?’
His intentions were utterly inscrutable.
‘Could it be that he thinks I saw something I shouldn’t have?’
That would fit. Bringing me to the ducal manor with an outrageous lie, without even a word of thanks or mention of compensation—it must be an attempt to coax me.
‘What could possibly be in the Grove of Silence?’
It was land no one would sell, not even for piles of gold. Come to think of it, even being there in the first place had been suspicious.
While I kept glancing at Reus as inconspicuously as possible, Shanet entered the banquet hall.
“I’m sorry, Lady Yveler. I got held up talking to the steward and arrived late.”
“Not at all, madam. I only just got here myself.”
Shanet sat down and, just like earlier, stared at me with that satisfied look in her eyes.
“Being called ‘madam’ feels unusually stiff today. I’d prefer if you called me more casually. I’ll address you by name as well. Is that alright, Roel?”
“…Yes, of course, Shanet.”
Because of that, the awkwardness I’d felt upon entering the banquet hall resurfaced in my mind.
But as always, I concealed my emotions more skillfully than anyone else and naturally painted on a smile.
[This is the timeline separator]I ended up with indigestion—all thanks to that madman Reus insisting on staying through dessert!
“Why on earth are you treating me like this…?”
Reus’s perpetually sour expression flashed in my mind, and the day’s events automatically replayed in my head.
Shanet’s lukewarm reaction, the servants’ curious whispers, that insane Reus, or perhaps that utterly deranged Reus…
Just picturing Reus’s face again made my indigestion feel even worse.
‘I feel sick….’
Certain I couldn’t possibly sleep like this, I grabbed a lamp and stepped into the corridor. Not even an ant was in sight in the incredibly spacious hallway.
The eerie silence of the corridor, oddly enough, put my mind at ease.
‘At least I won’t run into him here—that’s something to be thankful for.’
Somehow, I’d ended up staying temporarily in the ducal manor. The room I occupied wasn’t in the main building. According to Shanet, this structure existed solely for guests.
Still, I couldn’t relax completely. Just like Count Yveler’s manor, where the main and annex buildings were connected, here too a skybridge led to the main residence—meaning I might accidentally encounter Reus.
But as long as I stayed careful, I surely wouldn’t run into him, right?
‘Even that mad Reus wouldn’t bother me this late into the evening,’ I thought, turning around at the end of the corridor.
And that’s when it happened.
“Ah—!”
The moment I turned, I bumped straight into someone coming down the stairs, startling me so badly that I dropped my lamp.
The lamp hit the floor with a sharp crash, glass shards scattering everywhere.
I thought I felt a shard graze my ankle, but I had no time to check—my attention was fixed entirely on the person before me.
None other than the very man I’d just assumed would absolutely never appear here.
Reus Rocheter.
“Your Grace…? What brings you here…?”
Reus, who had been staring blankly at the floor, quickly lifted his head and gazed out the window. There, directly opposite, was the upper floor of the main building.
“I was bothered by a ghostly light flickering on and off.”
Apparently, the place Reus pointed to was his own room in the main residence. From that spot, this place would be clearly visible—no need to ask further.
If only I’d known, I’d have asked a servant to take me somewhere quiet for a short stroll instead!
“I just wanted to walk a bit… I apologize if I disturbed you.”
I gave a light bow. But Reus remained silent, staring at the floor again. Following his gaze, I saw the mess of broken glass.
“Oh… I’m sorry—I’ll clean this up myself….”
Flustered, I scrambled to act, but Reus suddenly stepped down the stairs, making me jump back a step. At that close distance, I reflexively shut my eyes—and then my body floated upward.
Yes. Reus had picked me up. I stiffened completely, only my eyes blinking.
‘Why is this man doing this again?’
After a moment, Reus carried me straight into my room.
“Nobles throw a fit over even the tiniest scratch on their bodies.”
“……”
“But I never see such behavior from Lady Yveler.”
I was speechless.
It didn’t sound like a simple remark wondering why I didn’t act spoiled like others.
It felt like a deeper criticism—almost as if he knew I’d merely mimicked what I’d observed from Peria and Briella.
[This is the timeline separator]We reached my room in no time.
Reus set me down on the sofa and briefly left the room. When he returned, he held a first-aid kit.
I reached out both hands to take it.
“Thank you….”
But the kit never reached my hands. Reus had suddenly settled beside me.
“As I said earlier, I’ve never heard of a noble lady treating her own wounds.”
“…But I can hardly ask Your Grace to do it for me.”
Only then did Reus look up at me.
“If you’d like, I can call someone else.”
“Yes, that might be better….”
“As long as you don’t mind showing your other injuries to strangers.”
At the mention of “other injuries,” my hand instinctively jerked back.
During the day, I’d worn a long dress covering my ankles, fully hiding the wounds I’d gotten in the forest.
I’d stubbornly insisted on changing clothes myself—specifically to avoid the count’s servants noticing.
But now, without reason to hide anything, I’d changed into a light nightgown ending just below my knees…
And beneath that gown, my legs were clearly not those of an ordinary noble lady.
Which meant I couldn’t possibly ask Reus to call a maidservant.
And because of that cursed nobility nonsense, I couldn’t even insist on doing it myself.
‘I just want to do it alone….’
Under his obvious stare, I sent back a look asking why he was gawking like that instead of replying.
“I suppose I’ll need your permission before I can help treat them.”
Anything I said felt like it would sound awkward, so I simply extended my foot slightly. Reus casually took my ankle in a gentle grip and began treating the wound.
For a brief moment, his unexpectedly careful touch tickled, but as the damp cotton touched my skin, the sharp sting made me grimace involuntarily.
I hadn’t noticed earlier in my daze, but the injury was apparently quite severe.
After dabbing a few more times, Reus wrapped a bandage around my ankle and finally released my leg. I quickly pulled it back under the sofa.
“By the way, Lady Yveler.”
“Yes, Your Grace?”
“It seems it’s about time to stop pretending you don’t know.”
“……”
I’d lost count of how many times today I’d been left speechless. It wasn’t as if I wanted to keep acting this way…
‘What’s his real motive for this? What should I do…!’
I’d come to the ducal manor to escape the issue with Cassien and the broken engagement, but my escape plan remained unchanged.
I still didn’t understand why Reus wanted to keep me here—but staying was ultimately just a means to that escape.
Right. I mustn’t get entangled.
I needed to endure here as long as possible, celebrate my birthday in Yveler, gather funds, and then flee.
‘Get a grip—focus!’
First things first… I had to get this madman out of my room.
If I kept being uncooperative, Reus would have no choice but to leave.
“Um… Your Grace. It’s, um… really late already.”
Reus glanced at his pocket watch and then said,
“Yes, it seems the hour has grown quite late.”
‘Seriously, is this man really…!’
Even if phrased indirectly, it was clearly a request for him to leave—anyone would understand that…!
Frustrated, I stomped my foot without even realizing it.
But Reus ignored my obvious intent and kept pressing about that day’s events.
“Why won’t you just tell me? If you have a reasonable explanation, I’m willing to let it go—so at least give me that.”
“……”
Why did he expect an answer when he kept asking impossible questions? Reus waited patiently for a long while, but I deliberately avoided his gaze.
Silence stretched between us.
‘Please leave… hurry….’
Had my silent plea reached the heavens? Soon, I heard Reus rise from his seat.
‘He’s leaving, right?’
I glanced up cautiously—but contrary to my hopes, Reus didn’t head for the door. Instead, he suddenly approached me, knelt on one knee, and brought his eyes level with mine.
Male lead is a clingy little husband
One-line summary: The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
Introduction:
One day, Lu Yuner’s soul transmigrates into a female-dominant world. She enters the Imperial Academy and takes up the position of a doctoral instructor, teaching classes and grading schoolwork.
One day, she encounters the young prince Su Qingwan secretly skipping class from the male academy.
As a result, Su Qingwan is punished.
From then on, Su Qingwan sees Lu Yuner as a “thorn in his side”.
But before long, this “thorn” becomes the person he cherishes most, and he goes to great lengths to win Lu Yuner’s affection.
Mini scene 1:
One day, the sun is high in the sky but Su Qingwan still hasn’t gotten up for class.
Servant Xiaoyuan: “Young prince, it’s time for class. You’ll be late otherwise.”
Su Qingwan says arrogantly: “I’m not going. I am the esteemed prince, my status is so noble, why should I suffer this hardship? Besides, isn’t learning all this just to please women? Hmph, they’re not worthy!”
Mini scene 2:
After Su Qingwan falls for someone, he completely changes. He no longer skips class and diligently learns how to be a good husband and father. But he discovers that Sister Yuner is always surrounded by admirers.
Drunk and overcome with jealousy one day, he clings to Lu Yuner, crying beautifully like a pear blossom in the rain.
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan likes Sister Yuner.”
Lu Yuner: “Young prince, you’re drunk.”
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan isn’t drunk. Qingwan likes Sister Yuner, likes you so much, likes you to bits…” Before he can finish, Lu Yuner’s eyes flash with emotion and she leans in closer.
[Reading Guide]
1. The female lead is gentle, gracious, humble and polite but not weak. The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
2. 1v1, a bit torturous in the beginning but definitely sweet later on.
_____
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