Strategic Marriage with the Mad Villain - Chapter 17

As I was rolling my eyes around, unused to the affectionate response, Feria spoke.

“Ah, that’s right. Let me tell you in advance so you don’t worry about the broken engagement issue – you don’t need to be concerned about it anymore. From what I hear, it seems things were settled well with Viscount Ercian.”

It was fortunate that the engagement matter had been resolved well, but I couldn’t easily feel at ease. Feria’s personality was usually so capricious.

After continuing to gauge the situation, I finally gathered the courage to open my mouth.

“Um, Mother… Weren’t you surprised by the sudden news?”

I asked nervously, but Feria replied nonchalantly.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, the news that the Grand Duke and I are… getting married.”

“Oh, you mean the marriage proposal? I was surprised when the letter arrived from the Rocheter Grand Duchy, but what of it? It’s a proposal from none other than the Grand Duchy!”

‘What…? This reaction is so different from what I expected.’

I thought Feria would tell me to break up with Reus as soon as she saw me.

First, because I thought Father’s unilateral decision to accept the marriage was his alone, and second, because judging from Feria’s usual behavior, that was the only expected reaction.

After all, Feria had actively supported my engagement solely because Casien was a womanizer.

But…

“If you received a proposal from the Grand Duke, you should have told me. Then I would have broken off your engagement with Casien earlier. The Ercian Viscount family can’t be compared to the Rocheter Grand Duchy. Don’t you agree?”

Far from being displeased about the broken engagement and marriage announcement without any explanation to her, Feria seemed excited as if her real daughter had received a proposal.

“More than that, you have no idea how much of a fuss people are making after hearing about your marriage news. Would you believe it, even Lady Rorelia sent an invitation?”

“Lady Rorelia?”

“Yes. That fussy woman. I suppose she’s very curious about your marriage too? She tried so hard to match her daughter with the Grand Duke, so she must be quite upset that our family snatched him away, don’t you think?”

Feria couldn’t contain her joy, giggling.

‘Somehow… There’s no way she’d be this pleased without a reason.’

I thought her reaction was different from usual, and it seemed the reason lay in high society.

Ever since she was slandered in high society over an inheritance issue in the past, Feria had been obsessed with her reputation in social circles. So receiving positive attention due to the marriage with the empire’s only Grand Duke must be very welcome.

Moreover, how delighted she must be to put down Lady Rorelia, whom she disliked so much, without even lifting a finger.

‘To think I’d benefit from high society.’

It was a moment when days of agonizing worry vanished pointlessly.

* * *

As I arrived at the dining room, Father rose abruptly from his seat and approached me.

His leisurely gestures caused the luxurious items adorning his body to sway pleasantly. Because of this, as always, I felt distance rather than joy at meeting Father after a long time.

“My daughter. It’s been so long.”

“It’s been a while, Father. Have you been well?”

“Oh, I’m always doing well. So… did you have a good stay at the Grand Duke’s residence?”

“Yes. Thanks to everyone treating me so well.”

Father didn’t shower me with affection like he did with Deon, but he did show at least minimal interest.

However, seeing him greet me more warmly than usual today, it seemed Father was also very pleased with the news of my marriage to Reus.

“Well then, let’s start with the meal first and talk about the details later.”

“Yes, Father.”

The meal began in quite a convivial atmosphere.

Naturally, the main topic of conversation during the meal was my marriage.

“To think he’d act completely uninterested in women and then suddenly marry without even an engagement ceremony.”

“Indeed, dear. No one could have imagined the day would come when the Grand Duke would take a woman to heart.”

“In the end, he’s just another common man! No matter how exceptional he may be, he’s helpless before the woman he likes, isn’t that right? Roel, your beauty is far from ordinary, isn’t it? Any man who doesn’t react to your beauty would be the strange one! Hahaha!”

“Haha…”

That talk about looks again. Father never failed to mention my appearance whenever he saw me.

And it always became a seed of discord. Just like now.

“You take after your mother in looks, don’t you! This father thinks there’s no one in the empire who can match your beauty.”

“Ah, Father…”

I was startled by the sudden mention of my birth mother and glanced at Feria.

Regardless, Father continued to ramble on.

“As you grew, you came to resemble your mother more and more, and now you’ve grown up so well and caught a big fish! My, my… I should be grateful to Julia.”

In the end, my birth mother’s name was directly mentioned.

An icy silence descended upon the dining room.

Even Briella, who had been wearing a sullen expression since I entered, looked at her mother in bewilderment.

Clank-

Feria, who put down her spoon, called out to Father with a cold smile.

“Dear.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“If you don’t intend to ruin this joyous occasion, why don’t you stop talking about that lowly woman?”

“Haha, what’s the matter? We’re the only ones here to hear it!”

“…”

Feria stared at Father for a moment with a disgusted expression. Only then did Father clear his throat and pretend to be cautious.

“…Anyway, Roel. How did you come to meet the Grand Duke?”

“Ah, that… We often ran into each other at balls.”

It was obvious that I would receive countless such questions in the future, so Reus and I had already agreed on our story. From our first meeting to the proposal, it was all due to Reus’s great efforts.

‘Fortunately. I just need to say that Reus did everything.’

“At the ball, Reus… Ah, no…”

Having been calling him Reus so naturally at the Grand Duke’s residence, I accidentally used his name. I was flustered, but Feria only widened her eyes slightly without showing any negative reaction.

“My, my? You’re already calling each other by name?”

“Ah, yes… Reus said it would be more comfortable this way…”

“How long have you been seeing each other, hmm?”

“Um… For… a while…”

Since we hadn’t specifically decided on that, I awkwardly smiled and evaded the question.

But Feria, seemingly tireless, continued to probe persistently about Reus and me.

It was so bad that even Briella, sitting next to her, glared at her mother with spiteful eyes.

“Oh, by the way, I heard that Viscountess Ravian also stayed at the Grand Duke’s residence. Is the Viscountess doing well?”

“Yes, of course. The Viscountess is helping with my wedding preparations. So I think she’ll stay at the Grand Duke’s residence until the wedding.”

“Oh my, the Viscountess herself?”

“The lady is… very fond of Reus, you see.”

As the conversation turned to Shanette, Feria’s face brightened even more. Father was the same.

Feria seemed satisfied with the thought of gossiping not only about Reus and me in high society but also about Shanette, while Father looked as if he was imagining what benefits he could draw from Reus, who was smitten with me.

Meanwhile, Briella, unable to openly show her displeasure, kept stabbing at her food with her fork.

It was truly a mess of a meal time, both on the surface and underneath.

* * *

After the meal, I headed to Father’s study.

“You called for me, Father?”

“Yes. Sit there, Roel.”

As soon as I sat down, Father spoke.

“I hear the Grand Duke wishes to hold the wedding soon?”

“Ah, yes. It seems he’s… anxious because of Casien. Reus thinks I still haven’t forgotten Casien.”

“Haha! The Grand Duke is even jealous? Well, I suppose he wouldn’t have stolen someone else’s fiancée otherwise!”

Father kept laughing heartily, finding something greatly amusing.

“The Grand Duke says he wants nothing from our family. He’s only interested in marrying you.”

“Yes. He told me the same thing. But thinking about the future, I don’t think it would be good to go empty-handed…”

Though I didn’t say it outright, my words implied that going empty-handed would be tantamount to losing the power to make rightful demands later.

Father immediately understood my meaning and let out another hearty laugh.

“That’s right, haha! With the vast wealth of the Rocheter Grand Duchy! If we worry about immediate losses, we might lose everything!”

“So I was thinking maybe we should try to match them as much as possible…?”

“Yes… Given all the attention, it would be better to be more mindful. Even though it’s sudden, I’ll try to match them as best I can.”

‘Of course, all of that will become my property in the end.’

I clenched my fist invisibly.

But then, Father seemed about to conclude the conversation, shifting his body once.

‘No…! I haven’t talked about the most important thing yet!’

Watching for the right timing, I quickly called out to Father.

“But Father…!”

“Hmm. Yes, Roel.”

“Um, the Grand Duke isn’t interested in the dowry, right?”

“Of course he wouldn’t be. What could catch the eye of a man who has everything? Ah, except for you, of course, Roel.”

“…”

I hesitated momentarily at his words that seemed to treat me like an object, but I continued.

“I was thinking it might not be bad to pass on some troublesome things… I mean, since Reus has so much wealth… and so many people working for him, I don’t think it would be a problem to pass on a few things… What do you think, Father?”

“Hmm?”

“Like unsold land… or paintings…”

Father, who had been listening, suddenly furrowed his brow and stared at me intently.

Why She Is Still Unmoved (Female-dominant)

One-line summary: He uses various methods to seek her affection, but she remains unmoved.

Synopsis:

Si Qingyu is a doctor who has saved countless lives and enjoys tranquility.

Luo Shaoxuan is ruthless, deeply scheming, and the top young master in the capital. He admires Si Qingyu.

Luo Shaoxuan: I want to be the only one in your eyes and heart.

Features a cold and calm female lead vs A noble and scheming male lead.

There will be both sweetness and torture towards the male after their marriage.