Strategic Marriage with the Mad Villain (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 9
“You, really….”
Cassien let out a clear laugh after checking my expression and leaned his forehead against my shoulder.
While I was genuinely furious, Cassien was mocking me as if nothing I did could possibly affect him—and it annoyed me to no end.
So, I blurted out a lie I hadn’t even planned.
“…I have a man now.”
I hadn’t the slightest intention of telling such a lie. But seeing him completely unfazed even amid this chaos made me absolutely unwilling to just let him go.
I absolutely had to see that arrogant face of his twist in distress, just once.
I fabricated the lie with convincing ease.
“I’ve truly fallen in love with him, so I don’t think I’ll ever come back to you.”
“…….”
“Sorry, Cassien… what should I do?”
Worried he’d just smile it off again like nothing happened, I was surprised when Cassien suddenly scrunched up his face. At the same time, I felt the arm around my waist loosen slightly. Seizing the chance, I quickly pulled away from his embrace.
“If you understood what I said, then please leave now.”
Without hesitation, I turned and strode firmly toward the door.
Just as I reached for the doorknob, Cassien grabbed my hand from behind, stopping me—causing the knob to rattle uselessly before clicking back into place.
I struggled hard to pull free from his grip, but it didn’t budge an inch.
“Are you going to let go or not? Move your hand, Cassien.”
I put all my strength into yanking my hand away, but Cassien ignored me and continued speaking his mind.
“Alright, I get it—you’re angry. I’m sorry, Roel. I understand exactly how furious you are… so it’s fine if you’re mad…… but please… don’t tell lies like you’ve found another man.”
Did the thought that I, who once played so freely in the palm of his hand, would cheat on him sting his pride this much? His voice trembled faintly at times.
It felt oddly satisfying to see this man—who never so much as blinked an eye when I cried, begged, or threw tantrums—lose his composure over such a simple lie.
“Why would I lie for no reason? Right, Cassien? You know how terrified I am of Mother.”
At my barbed words, Cassien—who usually wore a mildly amused expression—clenched his teeth and barely held back his anger.
“So, Cassien, please just leave now. No matter what you say, I’ll never get engaged to you, let alone marry you.”
Instead of an answer, I saw his facial muscles twitch. Ignoring it, I reached for the doorknob again.
But soon a strong grip clamped down on my hand, and the doorknob snapped back into place once more.
“Cassien, seriously, just stop already…!”
“Who is he?”
“…….”
“Who is that man?”
“It’s just—”
It was only a momentary hesitation. I opened my mouth to answer right away, but Cassien’s laughter from above me came faster.
“So it’s a lie.”
“…No, it’s not.”
“Really? Then tell me who he is, Roel.”
“You wouldn’t know him anyway….”
“Ah—Roel.”
Cassien let out a soft, pained sigh as he called my name, then suddenly pulled me tightly into his arms from behind. Leaning his forehead onto my shoulder as if collapsing, he couldn’t stop laughing.
“Of course. There’s no way you could ever leave me.”
“No, I—!”
Knock knock knock!
The urgent knocking shattered the tension so abruptly it felt almost absurd.
Cassien, who had closed his eyes, frowned sharply. I quickly slipped out of his arms during that brief opening.
Soon after, the door cracked open slightly.
“Roel…! Ah, there you are.”
I’d assumed it was a servant, but it was Mother—Peria—standing at the door.
She never usually bothered checking in, even when Cassien visited the mansion—so what could this be about…?
“Cassien, I need to speak with Roel about something important. May I borrow my daughter for just a moment?”
“Of course.”
Cassien replied with a bright smile, and Peria quickly pulled me out with an anxious hand.
Peria led me quite a distance from the infirmary before finally rounding a corner and letting go of my hand.
“Mother, what’s this about…?”
“Roel, Grand Duke Rocheter has come to see you.”
“What…?”
Grand Duke Rocheter?
In this empire, there’s only one person who holds that title…?
As I repeated to myself that it couldn’t be possible, Peria suddenly grabbed my arm tightly and pressed me with a fierce tone.
“You…! Did you make some mistake in front of His Grace?”
“W-What? No! Of course not….”
“Then why else would he come all the way to the count’s estate just to see you! Think carefully—could it be something you did and forgot about?”
Peria scolded me irritably, but all I could do was shake my head.
Sure, I’d bumped into Reus at the imperial palace before—but would someone like him really come in person over something so trivial?
‘Absolutely not.’
Though Reus disliked me, he’d never openly show it or humiliate me in front of others. So it couldn’t possibly be about that little incident leading him here.
Unless it was about what happened a week ago in the Forest of Silence…?
At least, judging by Peria’s reaction, I must not have said anything reckless—that was a relief—but it didn’t ease my alarm.
Still flustered and unsettled, I had no choice but to start walking when Peria pushed me gently from behind.
[This is the timeline separator]It’s been a while since I arrived in front of the reception room, but I’ve been hesitating to go in ever since.
And for good reason—Reus… yes, Reus himself came all the way to the count’s estate!
No matter how I thought about it, unless it was about the Forest of Silence, he had no reason to visit.
‘How could he possibly know?’
Even if Reus had monstrous vitality, was it really possible for him to recognize me right away?
I’d completely lost consciousness in the forest—I don’t even remember how I ended up in Anas at all.
If I’d regained any memory at all, it would’ve been only that brief moment of awareness in Anas… and even then, my vision was so blurry I could barely manage a single blink.
Anxious, I even started chewing on my fingernails—something I never did—and time kept slipping away.
After pacing back and forth in front of the door for a long while, I finally made up my mind.
‘If I delay any longer, it’ll only raise more suspicion. Just… go in.’
Stay calm, Roel.
Even if he brings up that incident, I’ll just play dumb. There’s no proof, and denying it won’t get me killed instantly, right?
And if I deny it, he’ll quickly lose interest.
‘After all, he’s the type who reacts indifferently to everything and drops it soon after.’
I took a deep breath—”huh”—and carefully opened the door to step inside.
The reception room was so quiet it felt almost desolate.
The sound of the door clicking shut broke the silence, and Reus turned his fixed gaze toward me.
But to my surprise, Reus was exactly the same as always.
‘What’s going on…?’
If he’d come because of that day, then—even if he disliked me—shouldn’t he at least show a hint of gratitude… or at the very least, pretend to be pleased?
Yet there wasn’t the slightest change in him.
That distinct arrogance only someone who’d never known defeat could possess. His expression remained cold and unreadable—everything exactly as it always was.
Especially his indifferent gaze, which felt almost tiresome by now.
So naturally, I couldn’t help but wonder:
‘Did he really not come because of that day?’
Though full of doubts, I offered my greeting first.
“I offer my respects to Your Grace.”
Reus gave a slight nod as if to say greetings were unnecessary and I should sit down quickly. I took a seat across from him, still tense.
I wondered if he’d speak first, but as expected, not a word came.
Thus, as always, it fell to me to start the conversation.
“Have you been well lately, Your Grace…?”
Instead of an answer, I met his inscrutable gaze. Reus, who had been tapping his finger lightly on the table, finally spoke.
“I suppose I have… or maybe I haven’t.”
“Pardon…?”
“It means I’ve been getting by.”
Normally, I’d be lucky to get even a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ from him, yet somehow the conversation continued.
His unexpectedly cooperative attitude made it even harder to tell—was this just a whim, or was he about to mention what happened a week ago?
Unaware that my brow was furrowing deeper, I ran through possible scenarios.
Could I have made a mistake and forgotten it, as Peria suggested? Had I unknowingly done something to anger him? Or perhaps…?
‘Could it really be about that collision…?’
Just then, Reus’s tapping finger sharply struck the table—*tap*.
When our eyes met, he tilted his head slightly.
“By the way, Lady Yveler.”
“…Yes, Your Grace.”
“You’re not asking why I suddenly paid a visit.”
“…….”
“Did you already have an idea what this is about?”
His tone was ambiguous—was it a mutter, a question, or even a reproach?
For a moment, I was terribly flustered, but I tried hard not to show it.
“No… not at all.”
“I thought you knew.”
“I… I don’t understand what you mean… I was simply waiting for Your Grace to explain….”
Reus raised one eyebrow slightly, then slowly nodded. For some reason, it gave me an eerie chill—as if he’d expected exactly this.
At this rate, it might’ve been better if he’d just come right out and mentioned that day.
‘Then I could’ve flatly denied it and sent him away!’
But Reus, of course, never did what I wanted.
Without another word, he reached into his coat and placed something carelessly onto the table.
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
_____
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