Strategic Marriage with the Mad Villain - Chapter 107

Even on the way to the restaurant and during the meal, Reus’s suspicion continued. But as I didn’t mention Belliata at all, he gradually lowered his guard and treated me as usual, as if nothing had happened.

Without knowing that I was making a new plan.

As soon as Dwin tactfully left the room and only the two of us remained in the office, I brought up the main point.

“Please let me work from now on.”

“…Pardon?”

It seemed to be a somewhat sudden development, as Reus responded slowly.

“I thought you weren’t planning to send me away?”

“…”

“Then I want to at least do work I enjoy while I’m staying here.”

Although I’m pretending, I plan to escape when I get the chance.

“The days are too long when I’m not doing anything, Reus.”

Until now, Reus had cut off any opportunities for me to go out, claiming it was for my consideration, and didn’t give me any proper work. It was welcome news for me, who didn’t have much attachment to the empire.

But thinking about it, the time when work and rest were properly balanced was when we had just gotten married.

It was when Reus and I were on the worst terms, but managing the Grand Duke’s household accounts was somewhat rewarding, and the days passed so quickly that sometimes I felt regret when they ended.

But Reus seemed to have never thought about it that way, as he looked a bit shocked.

Despite seeing me spend most of my daily life just eating, sleeping, and playing right beside him, he didn’t realize at all that I was feeling bored.

‘If the Grand Duchess’s main job was just reading books, that would be ridiculous…’

Anyway, if I could work, I’d be able to spend time alone except when I absolutely needed to communicate with Dwin.

‘When I’m left alone in the office, I can call Teron for a moment then!’

But Reus didn’t give an answer easily. His face became serious, then gloomy. His expression swung between extremes.

“Reus?”

“Working is fine, but after your body has fully recovered…”

“How long are you really going to keep this up?”

“What do you mean?”

“Your worry is too excessive.”

Reus’s face became that of someone who couldn’t understand right away, and he opened his mouth as if to refute immediately.

“But-”

“If you can’t allow this either, I’ll just run away.”

At the mention of running away, Reus’s body flinched for a moment. However, this time he didn’t immediately answer that he understood, as if he was thinking a bit more deeply.

‘It seems like he’s trying to persuade me somehow.’

I’m determined to meet Teron no matter what. If Reus doesn’t change his mind, I’ll even pretend to pack my bags and run away right now!

“I’m going to pack my bags again right now-”

“If you work.”

As I slightly moved my body as if to stand up, Reus quickly grabbed my hand.

“Will you not leave the Grand Duke’s castle?”

Anyway, even if I asked about the reason for holding me back, it was obvious he wouldn’t answer.

So I had to answer well. Like last time when I promised to help whenever he couldn’t sleep, to avoid ending up in the same situation as now.

“That… I’ll think about it as I stay here.”

I thought I had compromised a lot by giving this answer without knowing the reason, but Reus seemed quite unsatisfied with my response.

“If you don’t like it, right now-”

“I understand. But please promise me that you’ll only do it within reasonable limits, Roel.”

“Okay.”

A dramatic resolution… although it was the result of semi-threat and Reus’s avoidance, wasn’t it good enough if it turned out the way I wanted?

From the first day I started working, I barely resisted the urge to break the bracelet. After observing for a few days, I succeeded in figuring out exactly when my office would be completely empty.

It was for about one to two hours right after arriving at the office following lunch and a walk with Reus.

And when I thought the time had come, I broke the bracelet without hesitation today. At first, there seemed to be no change, but soon I heard the sound of someone tumbling down in the center of the office.

“Ah shit, what the hell.”

Of course, the person sprawled on the floor rubbing their back was Teron. Had he been taking a nap? Teron was in comfortable clothes and even wearing an eye mask.

He told me to call anytime it was dangerous, but appearing in this attire made me doubt the reliability of the protective bracelet a little.

But the only person who could help me now was that person sprawled over there. So I quickly erased my doubts and approached Teron.

“Teron, please help me.”

Teron, who glared at me for a moment as if I was the culprit, slowly got up and headed for the sofa. Then he plopped down comfortably as if it were his own room.

“I warned you not to get caught, didn’t I?”

“No…!”

How could I have anticipated this situation from just a casual remark he made in passing? If someone understood from that kind of statement, they would be the abnormal one!

“You said I could tell you anytime I wanted to leave…! That time is now. So please help me, Teron.”

Teron slightly lifted his eye mask and looked at me with somewhat sharp eyes.

“Are you confident you won’t get caught if you leave?”

“That…”

Probably not. I dejectedly crouched down in front of Teron.

“But how did you know, Teron?”

“What?”

“That Reus would act like this.”

Teron, who had been staring at me for a moment, suddenly changed his gaze to one that seemed somewhat pathetic.

“Have you never thought that you might be the only one who didn’t know?”

“…I hadn’t thought about that?”

“Right. I’ve been watching since you started talking about your brother.”

Teron, who was looking directly into my eyes, clicked his tongue sharply and then lowered his eye mask, blocking his view.

“Anyway, what’s the reason Reus is acting like this? You know, don’t you, Teron?”

“I can’t answer no matter how much you ask, as it’s not my place to interfere in matters between you two.”

Is there really some great reason?

The reason I was able to deal with and act relatively calmly in the serious situation where all the ships to Belliata had disappeared was because I thought, even if it might not be a common reason, that it was behavior stemming from Reus’s concern.

But if it wasn’t because of that reason…

“I can tell you other things. This is directly related to your safety. Reus seems determined not to say anything, but I think you should know by now.”

By now…?

‘Ah, could there be some problem with the Count’s family?’

If not that, there was really nothing that could threaten my safety. But Teron opened his mouth with an expression that suggested it was obvious.

“That side seems to be in a hurry to patch up holes. Just look at how they haven’t even sent a courtesy letter despite you nearly dying.”

“Ah…”

If it’s not the Count’s family, what else could there be to worry about my safety?

Casien bothering me? That was an issue that ended long ago. If it was related to Casien, even Verodica, who used to harass people with burning eyes, was imprisoned, and their family was even ruined.

‘No matter how much I think about it, there’s nothing else that comes to mind…’

That’s when Teron said,

“Honestly, I’m still debating whether I should tell you or not.”

“What on earth is it…?”

Teron hesitated to speak, unlike his usual self, as if checking if there was any lie mixed in what he just said. His conflicted appearance, unable to speak readily, made me start to feel anxious as well.

Then, as if he had made up his mind, Teron opened his mouth again.

“You already knew there was a deep rift between Reus and the Emperor, right?”

“Yes…”

“And you now know that even pretending to get along inside the Grand Duke’s castle is for someone else to see.”

“Yes…”

The more Teron spoke, the more my anxiety grew.

Although I hadn’t heard the full story yet, I could somewhat guess what Teron was trying to tell me and why he had hesitated.

“The Emperor has started showing interest in you.”

“…”

“It seems he thinks you might be Reus’s weakness.”

Just as Reus keeps an eye on the imperial palace, the Emperor must have planted people in the Grand Duke’s castle to watch us. He must have received reports that we’ve become noticeably closer, and it seems he’s thinking of using that as leverage to somehow shake Reus.

In other words, the problem wasn’t running away from Reus now.

‘If I leave the Grand Duke’s castle, my life will be in even more danger…’

Now I could understand Reus’s reactions a little better.

His behavior of stubbornly keeping his mouth shut while disliking being uncomfortable with me. He probably didn’t want to give me this kind of anxiety.

At that moment, an indescribable emotion washed over me.

‘Is fate… something that can’t be changed no matter what?’

Until recently, I believed I could leave the empire and completely exit from the original story. But what is my situation now?

I couldn’t leave the empire and still remained by Reus’s side. Moreover, although the flow is a bit different, I’ve moved a step closer to the danger of death rather than moving away from it.

The thought that neither Reus nor I might be able to avoid the ending made my mood quickly turn gloomy.

Teron, who had been staring at me, clicked his tongue again.

“I knew this would happen.”

“…Thank you for telling me, Teron.”

“If you thank me with that dead expression, do you think I’d feel pleased?”

Teron grumbled needlessly. Knowing it wasn’t a sincere complaint, I just smiled.

“But, Teron. Why do you keep lying down like that?”

“I’m thinking about how to go back.”

When I looked at him quizzically, Teron pointed at himself.

“Can’t you see? I’m naked.”

“Naked…”

“Don’t take it literally. Unlike your husband, I’m not someone who can use magic, so I need various things, but you suddenly called out a sleeping person. What if you break the bracelet out of the blue when it’s not even a dangerous situation?”

“Ah.”

He had a talent for saying in a roundabout way that he had to walk.

“But Teron. I broke the bracelet secretly without Reus knowing, you know? So I don’t know when Reus will come-”

As I was saying that, a chilling sensation ran down my spine. Teron seemed to have felt a similar sensation, as his body stiffened for a moment.

We turned our heads towards the same place as if on cue.

There, leaning crookedly against the door which had been open since who knows when, was Reus, watching us.