The Dark Lord Obsesses Over His Fake Wife (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 11
“Someone else’s scent?”
For a moment, I doubted my own ears.
‘Why does his voice sound so hostile?’
And it seemed the hostility wasn’t directed at me. For some reason, my wrist—still marked red—burned, and I quickly pulled it back, asking awkwardly,
“Do I really smell that strange?”
“I’m just naturally sensitive to body odors.”
Johan, who had briefly glanced at my wrist, met my eyes.
“So, who was it?”
There was no reason not to answer, yet the oddly oppressive atmosphere made the words stick in my throat. Johan then spoke again, his voice now devoid of any trace of amusement.
“Who.”
“…I did just come from meeting Baron Blonieu in the study. Are you referring to him?”
Johan’s gaze grew slightly darker. Tilting his head a little more, he asked,
“What did you think of meeting Erich?”
I’d expected this question.
‘In the original story, Estelle tattles on Johan’s subordinates to him.’
Apparently, the original Estelle must have held expectations of her husband, who had treated her kindly since their wedding day.
But of course, I wouldn’t fall into that trap.
‘It’s reassuring to hear something I already know.’
“Baron Blonieu was very kind. At first, he seemed surprised that I’d come to the study, but later we even grew friendly enough to discuss books together.”
One of Johan’s eyebrows lifted slightly, as if displeased.
“What kind of books did you talk about?”
“Just general book talk? I don’t think we discussed anything significant.”
“Well, you seemed quite entertained, at least.”
Johan smiled elegantly at the corner of his lips. Yet somehow, unlike usual, the very edge of his mouth seemed twisted upward slightly.
‘Ah! He’s unhappy that I’m getting close to his subordinate.’
It would indeed be problematic if the target of his revenge grew too close to his own men—they might start doing something reckless. Fortunately, this was something I often heard back in Libertan, so it was easy to figure out.
I waved both hands and gave a clear, bright smile.
“After that, nothing much happened. He recommended a book and left right away, as if he had something urgent to attend to.”
“Liar.”
Johan’s large hand gracefully approached my eye. His thumb leisurely brushed along my tear-streaked skin.
“What are these tear marks?”
“Oh, this?”
Perhaps due to our recent contact, I’d grown hypersensitive—even the slightest movement made me react. Without thinking, I covered my flushed cheeks and quickly cleared up the misunderstanding.
“It’s just dust that got in my eye, so I teared up.”
It was true I’d argued with Erich, but the reason I cried was the dust. So my words weren’t a lie.
“I’ve always been prone to tears—even over trivial things.”
When I reached up to touch my eye, he covered my hand with his own and interlaced our fingers. I could feel the firmness of his masculine knuckles.
After a brief silence, Johan spoke—words completely unlike what I’d anticipated.
“Aren’t you upset that people hate you?”
My eyes widened involuntarily. But it wasn’t a difficult question.
“Who hates me that much?”
“You understand my question perfectly well.”
“Hmm… but honestly, I really don’t know.”
I shrugged, meeting Johan’s crimson eyes.
“No one here has hated me that intensely. And even if they did, I wouldn’t feel wronged.”
“Why?”
“Well… it’s only natural for them to hate me, isn’t it?”
Johan tightened his grip on our interlaced fingers.
‘Is this too unlike a proper daughter of the Libertan family?’
But truthfully, since coming to the Blanchet ducal household, I hadn’t suffered anything truly unjust or difficult—so I couldn’t possibly fabricate such feelings.
“I’m not even the Libertan family’s trueborn daughter, and I brought no dowry. The Libertan ducal house isn’t even a helpful ally to the Blanchets…”
Saying it aloud like this made my situation feel startlingly real.
‘I really am useless.’
If not for being his target of revenge, I probably wouldn’t have dared marry Johan at all.
“And I don’t have any personal connections or special talents that would benefit high society, either.”
Going into further detail would be utterly humiliating.
‘Not many people get broken off with twice.’
Right after my adoption, I was rejected by Yestella’s fiancé, and then my promising engagement to the Crown Prince also fell through.
‘Even if it wasn’t my fault.’
It was inevitable that I’d appear especially despicable amidst all that.
“So how could anyone possibly see me in a good light? Even I wouldn’t be pleased if someone like me became duchess.”
A summer breeze swept between us. Johan held my hand tightly and stared at me intently.
“Don’t you think you were worth bringing here, even at such a loss?”
“Me? Worth that much?”
“Yes.”
Johan gave an arrogant smile and gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear, the wind tousling it between us.
“Do I seem foolish to you, my lady?”
“Ah… no?”
“I never make losing deals. And I chose you as my wife.”
The man beneath the sunlight radiated absolute self-assurance. For a moment, his appearance was so striking I nearly lost myself in it.
“What if I turn out to be the first failure you’ve ever had, Your Grace?”
You’ve already failed.
Because I’m not worth your revenge.
Even if you killed someone like me in the most agonizing way possible, the Libertan ducal house wouldn’t suffer at all. They’d probably even consider it fortunate I wasn’t their real daughter.
‘But I can’t say that.’
Strangely, my voice grew damp.
“Honestly, even a duke can’t succeed all the time, right?”
“That’s impossible.”
Johan used his free hand to lift my chin, forcing me to meet his eyes.
“I don’t do things like fail.”
“…”
“If you can’t trust yourself, then trust me.”
My heartbeat pounded so loudly near my ears it nearly drowned out everything else. His gaze was arrogant, yet gentle—and comforting.
‘Now I understand why the original Estelle fell for him.’
The warm sunlight, the gentle warmth enveloping my skin, the look in his eyes that made me feel special just by being seen.
All of it was a perfectly crafted lie.
Even knowing it was fake, I almost wanted to believe it anyway.
“I’ll go inside now.”
I stood up before things could get any more serious.
“Whenever you’re struggling, my lady, tell me anything.”
“Anything at all?”
“Yes. Anything. Just as it comes to mind.”
Johan spoke in a subtly coaxing tone.
“For example, you could go visit your parents.”
“Already?”
Most noblewomen didn’t return to their birth families for some time after marriage. He gave a light shrug.
“If my lady wishes to go, what does it matter?”
But right now, the Duke and Duchess of Libertan were surely in prison.
‘Still, as a ducal family, they probably haven’t been executed yet.’
At the very least, I certainly wasn’t in a position where I could visit them as their daughter. More importantly, Johan wouldn’t want me going—it would only increase the chance I’d learn the truth.
‘And yet he suggested it.’
A chill ran down my spine. Masterminds never act without purpose. I had a strange feeling that something unknown had already happened while I wasn’t paying attention.
‘Right now, I need to appear as harmless as possible.’
I shook my head firmly.
“I’m fine. Besides, I haven’t even adjusted properly to the Blanchet ducal household yet.”
“But you must miss them terribly, no?”
His crimson eyes gleamed sharply, as if piercing straight through me.
“Eh, that’s nothing to worry about.”
“Really?”
Johan took my hand as I stood. I stared at him blankly.
“But don’t get too used to holding everything in.”
What he placed in my hand was a bag of cookies. The moment our eyes met after I checked the bag, Johan’s lips quirked upward.
“This is repayment for back then.”
Apparently, the cookies I’d given him before had left quite an impression.
“You really don’t need to go out of your way like this…”
“I’m giving it because I want to.”
Johan covered my fingers holding the cookie bag and squeezed them firmly.
“And this—you must eat it all by yourself.”
“I don’t usually share food with others anyway.”
“Even so, this is for you alone. It’s yours.”
Johan’s sharp eyes crinkled softly into a lovely smile. My heart fluttered wildly again.
“Can’t I give some to you, Your Grace?”
He nodded.
“Yes. To me too.”
A strange feeling welled up from my toes. I gripped the cookie bag with both hands.
“Th-then I’ll enjoy it. Thank you.”
With that, I stepped away from the garden tree. I walked slowly so it wouldn’t seem like I was running away—but it still felt as if I were fleeing.
Yet Johan’s smiling face wouldn’t leave my mind.
‘Why am I like this?’
After all, it was just sweet talk and a single bag of cookies.
Johan’s words probably weren’t sincere anyway. His plan for revenge against me was surely still in place.
‘My cookies. Mine.’
I clutched the bag so tightly it felt like it might crumble.
Oddly enough, it felt like the first time I’d ever truly owned something. It was so strange—I just needed to be alone.
Rosaria, Duchess of Libertan, gripped the iron bars tightly. For a duchess who’d never known hardship, prison life was utterly dreadful.
‘How long must I stay in this place?’
The sudden downfall of House Libertan.
No matter how wicked they were, they were still a ducal family. Even if branded with the grave charge of treason, even if their house held no wealth, they should have at least been granted a chance to defend themselves.
“No one has applied to visit the Duke and Duchess of Libertan.”
While their house accumulated enormous debts, the allied families they’d trusted had long since turned their backs. Even the Emperor—their last hope—had abandoned them.
“His Imperial Majesty has refused to meet with the criminals.”
Until the trial just before their execution, the Duke and Duchess of Libertan remained imprisoned, unable to do anything.
Everything had happened far too quickly.
‘Yes. It’s just like…’
It resembled the downfall of the Blanchet ducal house—the very family they’d despised so deeply. As if someone had prepared their ruin in advance.
Rosaria bit her lip hard and turned to the Duke of Libertan.
“Darling, haven’t we heard from our spy in the Blanchet household yet? Didn’t they say they’d get that girl out?”
All the spies sent to the Blanchet household had vanished—except for one.
By sheer luck, one remained.
“Be patient. Matters won’t resolve that quickly.”
“How much longer must we stay here? At this rate, we might be executed!”
Rosaria pressed her husband anxiously with fearful eyes. She’d even offered to confess to all crimes if only they could meet Estelle—but the Duke of Blanchet gave no reply, as if mocking them.
“Don’t you know that girl? The moment she hears our news, she’ll come running.”
“That’s true. Yes, she wouldn’t stay still.”
The image of foolish Estelle flashed through Rosaria’s mind—the adopted daughter who, no matter how much she was loved or tormented, always watched her every move.
‘But why do I feel so uneasy?’
Lately, memories Rosaria hadn’t even realized she’d forgotten kept surfacing, making her feel even more suffocated and afraid. But she quickly shook her head.
‘It’s just the prison making me think strangely.’
Estelle—just seeing that girl would somehow bring a way to resolve the situation.
Erich arrived at the study.
Johan sat working, dressed as impeccably as ever. Without looking up from his documents, Johan asked Erich,
“Did you meet my wife?”
“Yes. We crossed paths in the study.”
“What did you think of her?”
“As expected. It’s clear how spoiled and naive she was, growing up so cherished in Libertan.”
Unbidden, Erich recalled the moment he’d met Estelle. When he saw that innocent, guileless smile on the woman he’d believed he could hate without guilt, he could hardly bear his own presence in that moment.
‘It was just a momentary lapse.’
So Erich spoke more sharply, denying the unease stirring within him—because there was no way he could possibly feel sympathy for Estelle.
“She was unpleasant just by existing. Dealing with her was so aggravating I could barely stand it. Fortunately, she seems suitable for our plan, just as you anticipated, my lord.”
Johan placed his hands on the desk and interlaced his fingers. It was a small gesture, yet each subtle movement carried a strange rhythm that made onlookers tense.
“So that’s why you said it?”
“Pardon?”
“You called her an unworthy wife.”
Johan’s crimson eyes darkened further.
“What made you blurt out such careless words?”
“That… I apologize. It was my fault for failing to control my emotions.”
Erich assumed Johan’s reprimand stemmed from nearly jeopardizing their plan—if Estelle accidentally realized the Libertan Duke’s downfall, it would be disastrous.
“I’ll be more careful next time.”
“No. There’s no need.”
Johan spoke slowly but firmly.
“I have a new task for you. You’ll be away from the Blanchet ducal household for a while, so there’s no need to hold back.”
“What task is it?”
“Investigate the orphanage connected to Lexius Polman and Viscount Gaspeer.”
Erich’s eyes widened at the somewhat abrupt assignment.
‘If it’s just a simple investigation, I shouldn’t need to go myself.’
He usually handled important matters personally, but this didn’t seem urgent enough to require his direct involvement. It even felt rather hastily arranged.
But Johan always had his reasons.
‘There must be a purpose behind this assignment as well…’
Just then, Erich noticed something out of place in Johan’s study.
A bear-shaped cookie.
Male lead first thought she played hard to get, only to realize she
really disliked him
Short intro:
What she can’t stand the most is the streets full of effeminate men, especially that so-called top beauty whom she avoids at all costs.
Shen Yaoxing looks at Jiang Mingyue, who keeps approaching her with coy shyness.
Shen Yaoxing: Bro, don’t be like this, I’m really about to throw up!
She fears nothing in heaven or earth, except for him getting close to her.
*
At first he thought she was just using the trick of feigning indifference to attract his attention. Later, he learned that she truly despised him.
This dealt a heavy blow to Jiang Mingyue, and he vowed to make her, like everyone else, fall at his feet in worship!
***
Synopsis:
Before transmigrating, Shen Yaoxing only wanted to find a reliable man to spend her life with. Who knew that after transmigrating, she would become a reliable woman herself…
A forced misandrist, highly skilled, and reliable female lead
vs.
An initially aloof and arrogant, later morbid, obsessed male lead
_____
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MANGA DISCUSSION
5 Comments
Chapter Comments (24)
Let’s go to Estelle.
Mr. Johan, Estelle is smart.
Mr. Johan, you’re not the only smart one.He fell in love with Estelle.
What did I say?
Johan, take control of yourself and your emotions.Estelle, I didn’t expect you to hit him.
You did well.
Hit him without hurting yourself.
Inline Comments (21)
Estelle was a greater villainess than even the Libertan ducal couple. Leandro al
Leandro sees himself as a chivalrous knight who will save even the wicked and bring them back to their senses. Arrogant.
‘She doesn’t understand what’s truly precious.’
What is valuable? An arrogant fiancé abandoned her.
All the composure he’d so skillfully maintained was utterly useless before such
Love works wonders. Johan is still unaware of his true feelings.
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agustus_orchid
Good job, Johan.
Return the cookies you bought from Estelle.
Estelle couldn’t eat her cookies because of you.
agustus_orchid
Johan, you have already failed.
You have failed since Johan decided to take revenge on Estelle.
agustus_orchid
Johan, why did you put cookies in your office?
Because they remind you of Estelle?
agustus_orchid
Estelle is not a fragile baby.
She cannot be harmed by the slightest thing.
agustus_orchid
Are you testing Joan Estelle?
What do you expect from Estelle?