The Villainess' Joyful Married Life (59 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 12
“They say she knelt before the Duchess and begged desperately. Heh.”
Cella covered her mouth, as if amused.
A faint smile also lingered on Eshika’s lips.
Yesterday, Yuri supposedly knelt at the Duchess’s feet, weeping and wailing, swearing eternal loyalty.
She claimed she wouldn’t marry at all and would serve the Duchess faithfully her entire life as head maid.
Because of that, the list of potential suitors was reportedly discarded.
The news that Leona had accepted Yuri’s oath of loyalty was hardly good for Eshika.
But how could she possibly fear two insignificant fools joining hands?
Above all, they couldn’t even trust each other.
Once suspicion toward Yuri had begun, it would keep tightening around her throat.
Yuri must have realized by now that Leona had not the slightest intention of even considering her as a match for Kalian.
Since it was like setting a dog and a monkey against each other, there was no need for worry.
“The Duchess will demand a price for that loyalty.”
“But the head maid… doesn’t have anything left to give.”
“That’s precisely why she’ll grow desperate.”
She could no longer steal Eshika’s jewels.
Desperation breeds impulsiveness, and impulsiveness leads to ruin.
For Eshika, who had eliminated countless enemies by exploiting exactly this psychology, the coming events were something to look forward to.
“I’m too ignorant to understand your plan, my lady…”
Cella’s eyes sparkled as she spoke to Eshika.
“But I do know you’re extraordinary. And I believe everything you do will succeed.”
At Cella’s words, Eshika gave a soft chuckle.
Then, after a brief pause, she spoke.
“I should have Hemos send Yuri a gift.”
“…A gift?”
“Well, perhaps ‘bait’ would be more accurate.”
Eshika wasn’t foolish enough to lend a hand to an enemy already stumbling backward toward a cliff.
Not when she could push them one step closer to ruin instead.
**
‘If I’m caught approaching His Grace too rashly, I won’t survive next time.’
Yuri followed Leona with a cold gaze.
As usual, Leona sat in the garden, listening to the musicians’ performance.
The melody was refined and artistic, but Yuri barely registered a sound.
Her mind was too troubled.
‘I barely managed to stay by the Duchess’s side… but at this rate, how can I ever get close to His Grace?’
Ever since that incident, the maids had begun reporting everything about Yuri to Leona.
They’d even given her disapproving looks whenever she so much as neared Kalian.
This unexpected betrayal had left her furious every single day.
If only Eshika hadn’t spread that damn rumor, everything would have gone smoothly.
“I’ll go fetch some refreshments from the kitchen.”
Yuri informed the Duchess and left for the kitchen.
Earlier, she’d received a note from Hemos.
He’d mentioned setting aside some fruit good for scars.
While waiting to receive the snack she’d ordered ahead of time, she heard voices from inside.
“Don’t take that green bottle. It’s chicken medicine the steward left here—terrible if a person drinks it by mistake.”
“Would it kill you?”
“No, but it causes terrible stomach upset. You’d suffer for a whole week.”
Yuri heard Hemos speaking with a maid.
Her eyes turned toward the shelf, where four or five small green bottles sat.
Could those be what Hemos had just mentioned?
“…”
In that moment, an idea struck Yuri.
If the Duchess was wary of her, she just needed to make sure the Duchess had no energy left for suspicion.
The Duchess often feigned illness to gain her son’s attention.
So even if she fell ill for a week, it probably wouldn’t raise any eyebrows.
With a greedy expression, Yuri reached for one of the bottles.
Quickly, she slipped it into her apron.
Moments later, Hemos emerged holding an ornate tray filled with treats.
He also handed her a small pouch.
“Here are your snacks. And this fruit—called ‘pagwa’—is a bit bitter, but excellent for scar healing.”
“Thank you, Hemos.”
As Yuri took the pouch, her eyes lingered on the tray.
The delicious-looking desserts made her mouth water instantly.
‘If I married a commoner, I’d never even dream of eating this.’
She continued her thoughts.
‘But once I become Duchess Klaus… I’ll enjoy luxuries like this every day. I’m no fool like Eshika, who can’t even take care of herself.’
Yuri accepted the items and gave Hemos a smile.
“I’ll be off now. Thank you for your hard work.”
Hemos watched Yuri’s retreating figure until she disappeared into the distance.
Then, catching sight of Cella peeking out from the kitchen doorway, he exchanged a knowing glance with her and smirked.
**
It didn’t take long for the signal from the Duchess to arrive.
Though Yuri had to support the Duchess—whose face had turned pale—on their way back, it wasn’t particularly taxing.
The medicine had worked better than expected.
Since it was said to cause illness for about a week, that time would belong entirely to Yuri.
“Duchess, I’ve sent for the physician. Please just hang on a little longer.”
Yuri wore an expression of deep concern, while the Duchess lay motionless on the bed, eyes closed as if dead.
She’d already emptied her stomach several times.
The maids had confronted Hemos, but he insisted he’d only served the cookies sent yesterday by the Empress.
Since they couldn’t very well accuse the Empress, the matter would soon be swept under the rug.
“Mother!”
Moments later, Kalian burst into the room.
Yuri bowed her head sorrowfully and greeted him.
Kalian hurried past her without a glance and grasped Leona’s hand tightly.
“Oh no… have you collapsed again, Mother…?”
Normally, Leona would have played the loving, fragile mother with teary eyes, reassuring him she was fine—but today, she lacked even the strength for that and could only blink weakly.
Soon after, the physician arrived and diagnosed her with food poisoning.
“Kalian, today is really… ugh…”
Leona suddenly frowned.
Kalian looked at her with worry, but his gaze felt hollow to her.
She truly felt as if she might die from the pain, yet his reaction seemed utterly lacking in sincerity.
She’d pretended to be ill too often, and Kalian had built up a tolerance.
Of course, he was still a devoted son who dropped everything to rush to his mother—but even so.
Leona, irritated and unwilling to think, simply closed her eyes.
Nothing was going right these days.
Moments later, Yuri followed Kalian out of the room.
‘How broad and dependable his shoulders are…’
“Your Grace.”
At Yuri’s voice, Kalian paused and turned to look at her.
Today, she’d gone to extra lengths with her appearance.
Yuri deliberately revealed a hint of melancholy and stood before him with a worried expression.
Tears welled in her eyes.
“Please punish me.”
“…”
Kalian’s eyebrow twitched.
“It’s my fault the Duchess got these terrible stomach cramps… I brought her the cookies…”
It was the perfect look to stir a man’s protective instincts.
Kalian let out a small sigh.
“It’s not your fault.”
“But…”
Kalian reached out and gently wiped away the tear sliding down Yuri’s cheek.
A sudden pang of discomfort flickered in his chest as Eshika came to mind, but he still couldn’t bring himself to ignore Yuri’s distress.
**
The next day, Eshika’s carriage halted in front of a certain mansion.
She’d gone out unexpectedly due to a sudden change in schedule.
It was her first time leaving the Klaus estate in nearly two years.
The place where her carriage stopped was the residence of Count Alhemitz, a distant relative of the Klaus family.
‘Now that I’ve mapped the geography from the Duke’s estate to the city center…’
As the carriage moved, Eshika scanned the scenery outside.
Topography, layout, direction of the commercial district—
All useful knowledge for future outings.
‘So the first objective is accomplished.’
She’d also gathered information about a high-quality weapons shop, so she planned to go out again soon.
This wasn’t a martial world ruled by the law of the jungle, and she had no intention of defeating enemies or seeking revenge with a sword.
Yet she still needed a blade.
Even in her past life as Young Ryung, the sword had always remained by her side.
Whenever things grew difficult, she’d look to her sword to steady her heart and gain clarity through sword practice.
To her lonely self, the sword had been both a symbolic anchor and her one true friend.
Thus, she intended to commission a sword closely resembling the one she’d used all her life…
But if she recklessly used light-foot techniques and drew someone’s attention, it would cause trouble.
Hence, she’d chosen to travel by carriage today to quietly survey the area.
After all, one rehearsal is always necessary.
‘The second objective is…’
Today happened to be Lady Alhemitz’s tea party, held to celebrate the Count receiving a special imperial medal from the Emperor.
Originally, the Duchess was meant to attend, but she’d come down with severe stomach upset.
Thanks to Hemos doing his part perfectly.
The Duchess’s maids, wearing sour expressions, handed Eshika a dress.
It was old and shabby—unsuitable for an external tea party.
The Duchess also sent word through her maid:
Sit quietly until it’s time to go out.
“Her Grace, Duchess Eshika Klaus.”
In the Alhemitz greenhouse garden,
the maids announced Eshika’s arrival, and the ten or so noblewomen present turned to look at her.
Eshika halted before them, offering a slightly cool but courteous smile as she greeted them.
“It’s been a long time.”
‘The second objective… is to secure future allies.’
She had no interest whatsoever in someone like Kalian—whom Yuri so desperately coveted with fire in her eyes.
Male lead fell into her trap — and shattered when she walked away
This is also on my reread list!
This one is a slow burn, but when it burns, it burns hard.
Definitely worth a read, y’all!
The story follows a thousand-year-old seductive spirit who, on a bet, sets out to charm the male lead—a once-promising but unfortunate cultivator.
But just when she succeeds in making him fall for her, she heartlessly leaves, driving him to madness.
Determined to find her at all costs, he captures her, keeping her by his side no matter what, even if she hates him.
I love this kind of trope—I enjoy watching the male lead suffer in agony.
The ending drags a bit with unnecessary filler, but that’s fine.
As long as I enjoy the beginning, I’m good.
Intro
As an enchantress, Su Heng possesses captivating eyes and charming beauty, easily manipulating the joys and sorrows of living beings at her fingertips.
But to enchant a god, making him taste the bitterness of love’s separation, long-lasting resentment, unattainable desires, and inability to let go…
Do you dare?
Su Heng assists a divine lord in his cultivation, aiming to make him experience all the sufferings of love, so that he can attain the Great Dao.
Only after being chased down from the heavens by the divine lord, confined and completely possessed by him, does she realize how successful she has been.
The once gentle and polite youth has transformed into someone she no longer recognizes.
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MANGA DISCUSSION
11 Comments
Chapter Comments (272)
You haven’t seen anything yet, foolish extra. There is much to he seen
So many folks out of here without the circus. You go girl!
Don’t tell me, it’s the Prince! Stalking world be too much Prince
Inline Comments (39)
“You betrayed your friend, stole her jewels, and now you fawn over the Grand Lad
Why did they become friends to begin with? It’s not like yuri knew eshika would marry him
Cella spat out bloody saliva and glared at Yuri.
Does cella know martial arts at this point or no? I remember she asked
“This mother… can’t bear living under such injustice… uuhuhu….”
This guy is hopefully just gonna be an endgame final boss or something
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Onigirimamireads
(NOW WE GET THE TEA PARTY)
This is the part I’m most excited about since Eshika’s objective isn’t “I’m going to embarrass everyone”
It’s “I’m going to secure future allies”
THAT is the difference between petty revenge and actual political strategy.
She understands that staying isolated inside Klaus territory was part of what allowed Leona to control her.
So she’s correcting the structural problem.
Isolation to vulnerability.
Therefore connections → protection adds influence and information.
She isn’t even doing it dramatically.
She’s simply showing up. She’s observing.
She’s learning who these women are.
She’s figuring out the social landscape.
Meanwhile everyone probably expects the pathetic, isolated Duchess who barely leaves her estate to appear.
Instead, they’re going to encounter a woman who has completely changed.
I also LOVE that the dress is deliberately shabby since it gives her an unexpected advantage.
Everyone is going to see:
“Oh, that’s the neglected Duchess.”
Meanwhile Eshika is looking at them thinking:
“Which of you is useful?”
She doesn’t need to arrive dripping in jewels to establish power anymore.
Her information is the currency now.
Onigirimamireads
(Leona accidentally created this opportunity)
This entire sequence started because Leona wanted Eshika isolated.
By restricting her movements for two years, Leona inadvertently created someone who understands exactly how valuable freedom of movement and outside connections are.
Now the second Eshika gets a legitimate excuse to leave?
She’s mapping roads.
She’s studying the city.
She’s finding weapons shops.
She’s attending social events.
She’s identifying potential allies.
Her: Thank you for imprisoning me for two years. It taught me exactly what I need to dismantle your little kingdom.”
😭😭😭
The most delicious part is that nobody in the Klaus household seems to realize what they’re dealing with yet.
Kalian thinks she’s trying to get his attention.
Yuri thinks she’s a foolish obstacle.
Leona thinks she’s a useless daughter in law who needs to be controlled.
Hemos is just trying not to lose his hands.
Cella is probably the only person beginning to understand:
“Oh… my lady is terrifying.”
Eshika? She’s already three moves ahead.
Onigirimamireads
(The Yuri/Kalian scene is actually hilarious from Eshika’s perspective 😭)
Yuri is standing there like “please punish me 🥺 I feel so guilty” and Kalian is wiping away her tear.
Meanwhile Eshika is probably somewhere mentally filing that entire interaction under “irrelevant”
That’s the beautiful part. The old Eshika would’ve been devastated seeing another woman receive that kind of tenderness from her husband. This Eshika? She literally does not care.
She’s already thinking about weapons, geography, political relationships, allies, and rebuilding herself. Kalian is still operating under the assumption that everything Eshika does somehow revolves around him.
Chapter 11 made that painfully obvious.
“You really didn’t come here to see me?”
SIR LOL. She was looking at swords.
You are not the center of this woman’s universe anymore. I love that his first instinct is basically “Surely this must somehow be about me.”Nope.
She walked right past him 😂
Onigirimamireads
(The sword scene tells us SO much about Eshika’s recovery)
I really like that she’s not suddenly written as
“I have all my old powers back and can defeat everyone.”
Instead, she’s deliberately rebuilding.
She knows her current body is weaker, she can’t casually expose her martial abilities, people would notice if she demonstrated techniques that don’t belong to an ordinary noblewoman, she needs information before making moves and she needs to understand this world’s political and geographical structure. That’s smart.
She’s essentially reconstructing her old self piece by piece. And the fact that the sword is described as her anchor and friend makes the weapon much more meaningful than simply being a tool for revenge.
It represents Young Ryung coming back. Even in a second reincarnated, different life.
Onigirimamireads
(Eshika’s biggest weapon isn’t revenge, it’s psychology)
The way she handles Yuri is SO deliberate.
She doesn’t simply punish Yuri. She creates circumstances where Yuri punishes herself.
First:
1. Yuri loses Leona’s trust.
2. Yuri loses access to Eshika’s jewels.
3. Yuri becomes desperate.
4. Desperation makes Yuri reckless.
5. Eshika gives her exactly the opportunity she needs to make a reckless move.
6. Yuri steals the bottle.
7. Yuri poisons Leona.
8. Yuri accidentally creates the perfect situation for herself to look like the concerned, devoted servant.
That last part is particularly interesting because Eshika isn’t just thinking: “How do I hurt Yuri?”
She’s thinking: “How do I make Yuri reveal exactly who she is?”
That’s much more dangerous & Eshika knows it.