The Villainess' Joyful Married Life (59 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 14
“The Duchess seems quite sensitive today. This is merely a social gathering, after all.”
Marchal decided to paint Eshika as a woman incapable of reading the room.
But Eshika did not react as Marchal expected.
“Even if it’s just a social gathering, shouldn’t we still maintain basic courtesy toward one another?”
At those words, someone dropped a spoon.
A cold, heavy silence descended upon the tea party, which had been warm and cheerful just moments before.
Gritting her teeth, Marchal forced a smile.
“There’s a difference between rudeness and a mistake. Madam Palmania simply made an error out of misunderstanding—you’re making the atmosphere far too tense. It seems the Duchess… isn’t accustomed to such occasions, given her limited experience in high society.”
Her tone clearly implied Eshika’s inadequacy and sought to exclude her.
Marchal assumed that by now, Eshika would have backed down meekly.
In truth, the Eshika she knew shouldn’t have dared contradict Volan in the first place.
But events unfolded in a way she hadn’t anticipated.
“If I’ve spoiled the party’s atmosphere, I sincerely apologize.”
Her voice was clear, crisp, and devoid of any unnecessary flourish.
“According to the etiquette I learned from the two Countesses, when hosting a party, one should seat the wives of higher-ranking nobles in places of honor…”
Cold sweat beaded on Volan’s back.
“…Frankly, I’ve felt uneasy since being shown to my seat—wondering if the House of Duke Klaus was being deliberately overlooked—so my emotions got the better of me.”
Marchal’s hand trembled slightly.
Eshika’s words contained no inaccuracies.
Eshika was currently seated between the wives of a Baron and a Viscount—far from the honored seats. Had Leona attended, she would have taken Marchal’s current place.
Regardless of her youth, Eshika was still the Duchess of a ducal house.
By etiquette alone, Marchal had committed a grave discourtesy.
And it was entirely appropriate for the Duchess to point this out—after all, it amounted to a direct slight against the Klaus ducal family.
“I’m unsure whether I was taught nonsense by the two Countesses or whether one of them gravely breached proper decorum.”
Eshika offered a faint, icy smile.
Whichever interpretation Marchal chose to accept, she would end up shaming herself.
‘Damn it… that wretched woman… what on earth is she saying?’
Of course, even if someone like Eshika were made to sit on the floor, the House of Duke Klaus wouldn’t lodge a complaint.
Yet every word Eshika spoke was textbook-correct, leaving Marchal utterly unable to refute her.
“You said there’s a distinction between rudeness and a mistake—so which of the two describes your actions, Madam?”
Some ladies unfamiliar with the Klaus family’s circumstances began whispering among themselves.
Several young ladies present had learned etiquette directly from the two Countesses.
Among those present were even mothers whose daughters had studied under them.
Marchal couldn’t possibly explain to them that “that woman Eshika is nobody”—she could only seethe helplessly inside.
“I was shortsighted. I sincerely apologize for the discourtesy I’ve shown today, Duchess.”
In the end, Marchal had no choice but to bow her head to Eshika.
Eshika calmly sipped her tea, watching the top of the hostess’s head as she offered her apology.
The tea, infused with the scent of apricots, was rather fragrant.
**
Marchal and Volan excused themselves early from the party, citing headaches and dizziness.
They must have found their seats unbearably awkward.
“By any chance… is there a maidservant named Heremia working here?”
After the tea party ended, Eshika lingered longest, sipping her tea slowly, then asked a maid clearing the table.
The freckled maid flinched slightly before shaking her head.
“There’s no maid by that name, Madam.”
Meeting Heremia was Eshika’s primary reason for attending this tea party.
She would become a powerful asset Eshika could someday use.
In the original story, all tragedies began twenty years ago, during a nightmarish civil war.
Every member of the imperial family—except the Emperor and Resban—was captured and dragged to the guillotine.
Yet among the imperial princesses, one more survived.
Her name was Astia Lusaine—a mere infant, seven years younger than Resban—whose life was saved only because her nursemaid had cleverly smuggled her out.
Astia grew up unaware of her true identity, raised like a common farmhand in a rural village, until she discovered the truth around the age of fifteen.
Her new name became Heremia, and by her twenties, she worked as a maid in Count Volan’s household.
“…Hmm…”
Now was the time for action.
Eshika was thinking much further ahead, crafting a grander design.
Watching the maid clear the table diligently, Eshika’s lips twitched slightly.
“The eastern border is poorly guarded, and about three days beyond it lies the Maroun Plains.”
“…”
The maid paused, her hands stilling over the dishes.
“It’s an ideal place for newlyweds to settle. I recommend it because Bridget’s relatives run a livestock farm there. With my letter of recommendation, you could secure a decent home and employment.”
At Eshika’s words, the maid slowly turned to face her.
Then, in a trembling voice, she asked,
“Why… are you telling me this?”
Eshika remained silent.
She conveyed her message only through her eyes.
‘Because you are Princess Astia.’
In the original story, Astia was neither a major character nor involved in any grand episodes.
But Eshika surmised that life in the imperial palace could not have been entirely peaceful for her.
Her elder brother Resban was always away at war, and her half-brother Brayton was of poor character.
As for the Empress… that story could wait for another time.
“…”
The girl’s eyes, fixed on Eshika, wavered.
Eshika, having read the original story, knew that Astia had never wished to return to the palace.
Likely, it was because of the Alett ring on her fourth finger.
“Love, by nature, is ever-changing. No matter how sweetly a man whispers to you, he cannot resist the passage of time. If you forsake the palace’s splendor and warmth for him, you might well regret it until your dying day.”
Then she popped the last cherry from her plate into her mouth.
Astia asked Eshika,
“Is… that from your own experience?”
Instead of answering, Eshika gave a faint, knowing smile.
“I couldn’t say. I’m merely offering a warning. Whether that man is truly worth it—I can’t judge that for you.”
“He is worth it.”
Astia’s brown eyes shimmered.
They were the eyes of a woman deeply in love.
“He’s worth giving my life for…”
“Then I shall support your love, Miss Heremia.”
**
Eshika handed Heremia the prepared identification papers and two letters of recommendation, then slipped away from the party.
The kindness she’d shown today would surely return to her as gain someday.
As Eshika walked toward her carriage, someone called out her name from behind.
“Duchess!”
She paused briefly. The woman who’d run up to her panted heavily as she reached Eshika’s side.
It was Baroness Helenia Merhin.
Her expression was grim, and she looked deeply anxious.
“…I’m sorry… for earlier.”
Helenia spoke while looking slightly downward, unable to meet Eshika’s eyes.
She must have been referring to the moment when she’d spoken to Eshika but failed to continue their conversation, deterred by the other ladies’ watchful glances.
She seemed burdened by guilt over the blatant exclusion that had occurred at the gathering.
“And…”
After a brief hesitation, Helenia continued.
“I… accidentally overheard your conversation with the maid. Oh, not intentionally! I’d just returned briefly to retrieve something I’d forgotten…”
Helenia offered Eshika a pure, earnest smile as the latter stared at her coldly for eavesdropping on something she shouldn’t have.
“You wished her love well, didn’t you? I was truly… moved.”
She clasped her hands together, her eyes sparkling.
“In a world where love and romance have vanished, it’s rare to meet a woman who still believes in love. Truthfully, I count myself among that rare few as well.”
Eshika relaxed her guard.
In Helenia’s innocent eyes, Eshika must have appeared simply as someone warmly supporting a maid’s romance.
“Frankly, after seeing how you rendered those two Countesses utterly speechless, I thought you were terrifying—but now I realize it was my misunderstanding. You truly have a warm heart. How wonderful it would be… if I could become friends with someone like you.”
“…”
“If you’re free sometime, may I invite you to my home?”
Helenia asked with a yearning tone, her expression on the verge of tears if refused.
She seemed utterly charmed by Eshika.
In any case, Eshika was relieved Helenia lacked perceptiveness.
Had Helenia realized Heremia wasn’t an ordinary maid, Eshika might have had to make a far less pleasant choice—like silencing her.
Helenia likely couldn’t even imagine the ruthless thoughts that had just flashed through Eshika’s mind.
Eshika’s lips twitched.
“…Very well.”
She didn’t mind people like Helenia—sincere and naive.
Her tone was dry, but not cold.
“Until we meet again.”
Unlike with the two Countesses earlier, no oppressive aura emanated from her now.
Helenia’s eyes sparkled once more.
She looked like a child who’d just received the gift she’d longed for.
Eshika watched Helenia’s awed, uplifted gaze as the younger woman finally met her eyes—then turned away.
“…I’ll be sure to contact you!”
Eshika boarded her carriage without replying to Helenia’s parting words behind her.
Helenia stood watching the carriage depart, her expression dazed, before her lips moved faintly.
“She really is magnificent. This feels just like love and war!”
Meanwhile, as Eshika rode away from the Count’s estate in her carriage, she leaned back and closed her eyes.
She was exhausted—she hadn’t spoken this much in ages.
Though her original purpose had been Astia, she’d ended up engaging those reckless cats who’d pounced on her along the way, simply because she’d had no intention of letting them tear into her.
‘Speaking of which… someone was watching me earlier…’
She’d faintly sensed someone’s gaze all along.
But whenever she turned to look, it vanished without a trace.
‘…If it was Helenia, then it’s nothing to worry about.’
Eshika decided not to dwell on it further.
Male lead is a Love-Obsessed Merman
When he discovers she has gone, he risks everything to pursue her on land, enduring agonizing pain to transform his tail into human legs…
One-line summary: Male lead chases female lead. The male lead’s love is a bit sick, an invincible love brain.
Synopsis
During a voyage at sea, Jiang Yang accidentally captures a merman.
Servant: I heard that mermen are fierce and brutal.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman obediently rubbing her palm like a puppy: “You call this fierce and brutal?”
Servant: I heard that mermen have no human nature.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman with wet puppy eyes, obsessively calling her ‘A Yang’ like a childish infant: “You call this having no human nature?”
With great difficulty, she releases the merman back into the sea and returns to shore.
Who would have thought that in less than half a month, the merman, who should have been freely wandering in the South China Sea, would shed his scales, endure the pain of losing his tail, transform into human legs, and come ashore to find her?
He kneels at her feet, rubbing her palm, with merman tears rolling down: “A Yang, don’t abandon me.”
_____
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MANGA DISCUSSION
2 Comments
Chapter Comments (268)
Do you know your sister is alive prince? Does that mean you are intentionally ignoring her for her safety?
Can’t up leave the mansion and drive them to their ruin? Eshika ?
You and your mother were shameless enough to accept liberty while rejecting eshika.. so FU
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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VKotaku28
Don’t tell me, it’s the Prince! Stalking world be too much Prince
VKotaku28
Aww princess. You should still heed your paisen words