She's a Villainess but her Husband is Handsome (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 12
Lorraine, hearing that the masters of the house were returning, sat briefly at the table, savoring a moment of leisure.
Only after completely emptying the milky tea from her teacup did she finally rise from her seat.
“I’ll take a short walk and then return to my room. Jane, you rest. I’ll go alone.”
Jane, who had been about to follow Lorraine, stopped in her tracks.
Holding open her parasol, she began strolling down the wide garden path at a relaxed pace.
‘If Duke Roger is watching us, I should appear as amicable as possible in front of him, just as Cedric wishes, shouldn’t I?’
Though her movements were leisurely, her mind was racing frantically.
‘Killian and Elina seem more problematic, though.’
In the original story, aside from Lorraine, those three got along extremely well.
They often gathered to enjoy tea and frequently attended social events together.
Judging by how often they saw each other, she needed to pay more attention to Killian and Elina than to the Duke and Duchess.
‘But wouldn’t it seem odd if I suddenly acted overly affectionate?’
She recalled her husband’s words about showing her great interest.
‘How will Cedric behave in front of those two?’
She thought back to Killian and Elina in the original story.
In the original, Killian disapproved of Lorraine, who carried scandalous rumors, while Elina, possessing an angelic disposition, often tried to protect Lorraine from Killian’s disapproval.
‘No—Killian aside, with Elina’s original personality, she might actually be delighted if the two of us got along well, as if it were her own joy. And if Elina’s happy, Killian will follow suit.’
Lorraine gently narrowed her straight-set eyes.
‘Elina? Elina, you say….’
-“Cedric, wouldn’t it be nice to treat Lorraine a bit more kindly?”
These were the words Elina often said to Cedric with earnest eyes whenever she stood before him.
-“Of course, it’s true Lorraine has a bad reputation and enjoys the company of men. But if you genuinely try to treat her kindly, she might change.”
Yet she always added another remark right after.
‘…Is it just me, or does that sound subtly insulting?’
‘Isn’t this basically backhanded?’
‘Is she really that kind?’
While readers already infatuated with Elina would call her “too kind” and sigh with pity,
‘What exactly is her true nature? Is she kind or not?’
She had never fully empathized with the readers’ reactions.
‘I’ll find out soon enough when I meet her.’
Would countless readers be right, or would her own intuition prove correct?
She decided to confirm Elina’s true character by meeting her in person.
At that moment, sunlight piercing through drifting clouds slipped through the gaps in her parasol and sharply stabbed her eyes.
She, who had been walking with a serious expression, gently narrowed her eyes and came to a halt.
“My lady. Good day to you.”
Turning her head toward the voice from beside her, she saw Kinder, the gardener who had been pruning trees, climb down from his ladder and bow deeply.
Kinder was the oldest servant in the manor.
Deep wrinkles around his eyes and his graying hair spoke of the years he’d lived.
A faint smile spread across Lorraine’s lips as she gazed steadily at him.
‘I suddenly miss Grandfather.’
The one who raised her after even her parents had abandoned her.
Grandfather, who used to happily feed her spoonfuls of food with his large hands, also had wrinkles around his eyes just like Kinder’s.
Recalling the face of her beloved from memory, she gave a light nod in response to his greeting.
As she quietly watched Kinder climb back up the ladder to resume pruning, Lorraine’s eyes widened slightly.
‘…Blisters?’
The backs of Kinder’s hands, gripping the garden shears, were mottled red.
Her gaze lifted from his sun-exposed hands.
His neck and forearms, revealed by his rolled-up shirt sleeves, also bore a reddish hue.
Here and there, patches of peeling skin showed hardened oozing sores.
‘Eczema? Sun allergy? At this level, it must be quite itchy or stinging.’
Raising her eyes, she winced as intense sunlight pierced her vision.
Summer in this world was less humid than her former home, yet significantly hotter.
Walking under a parasol or along shaded paths felt refreshing, but without such protection, one’s skin felt as though it might melt.
Lowering her gaze from the sky, she walked toward Kinder.
“Kinder.”
“Yes, my lady. Is there something you need?”
Kinder quickly descended the ladder.
Meeting his eyes briefly, she slowly lowered her gaze.
“May I take a closer look at your hand for a moment?”
“…My hand?”
Surprised by the unexpected request, Kinder hesitated briefly before extending his stiffened palm.
“No, not your palm—turn it over. Show me the back of your hand.”
“Yes.”
The moment Kinder revealed his hand, Lorraine’s eyes narrowed sharply.
Up close, his skin condition looked severe.
“Does it hurt?”
“…Yes?”
“I asked if your hand hurts. Your arms, too.”
Her gaze moved from his hand to his sun-exposed wrist.
Seeing his mistress wearing a pained expression, Kinder looked slightly flustered.
“I’ve grown used to it, so it’s fine.”
Beneath the swollen blisters, his skin appeared darkened.
It wasn’t that he’d grown used to it—it had become chronic.
“This isn’t something you should just ‘get used to.’ Do you have medicine? Any ointment or pills?”
“No… Medicine is far too expensive for someone like me to afford….”
Trailing off awkwardly, Kinder quickly added,
“It’s not just me—this often happens to gardeners. Please don’t worry about it.”
At his words, Lorraine’s expression grew even grimmer.
It seemed this wasn’t an isolated case.
“The other gardeners suffer like this too?”
“Yes. We’re exposed to so much sunlight—it’s unavoidable.”
“Couldn’t you wear long sleeves or gloves?”
“Then we’d sweat too much, making work uncomfortable and slowing us down.”
The vast estate contained numerous gardens.
“For over thirty years, I’ve never once neglected the garden’s upkeep.”
Kinder’s proud voice carried a face full of dignity.
“I wish to welcome the Duke and Duchess back with a beautifully tended garden.”
For a fleeting moment, she admired the elderly servant’s loyalty.
‘But what good is such loyalty if they let your body deteriorate like this?’
They must have been too preoccupied with their own appearances to notice those laboring for them.
‘Why do these people remain so devoted anyway?’
Were they simply accepting their fate without question?
‘How privileged of me to complain.’
She now felt ashamed of herself for earlier grumbling about boredom with her idle noble life.
Forcing down her bitterness, she gently smiled.
“The Duke and Duchess will surely be delighted when they return. As always, I’ve never seen such a well-maintained garden anywhere else.”
Since she couldn’t directly treat his wounds, she at least wished to bring him happiness in spirit.
“My lady… Thank you.”
Kinder’s humble reply carried a look of quiet satisfaction.
As Lorraine offered him a slightly warmer smile,
“My lady! Perhaps it’s time to return to your room?”
Jane approached.
“Yes, let’s go. Kinder, good work.”
“Yes, my lady.”
After watching Kinder climb back up the ladder to resume his work, she turned and walked away.
.
.
.
“Jane, go rest.”
“Yes, my lady. Please call me if you need anything.”
After Jane left the room,
“Ugh, it’s hot.”
Lorraine collapsed onto the bed, her body sticky with sweat.
Wearing an unfamiliar dress and moving about was suffocating enough to kill her.
“If I feel like this, how must those working outside feel?”
Remembering Kinder’s condition, she turned her gaze toward the window.
After silently watching the blazing sun move toward the sky’s center, she stood up.
She approached the window and carefully observed the garden.
Kinder and the other gardeners were still hard at work.
“How can they possibly work in this heat wearing those clothes?”
White shirts paired with dark brown suspenders—likely the gardeners’ standard uniform.
She understood, of course.
Though the Duke and Duchess had been away and bridge construction had kept visitors away recently, normally many nobles would visit.
Just as the garden was neatly trimmed, everything visible had to appear immaculate to uphold the Duke’s dignity.
“At their age, working like that—they might collapse! At least wear a hat or something….”
Frowning with concern, Lorraine murmured before her eyes slowly shifted.
She glanced at the parasol she’d left on the table moments earlier.
Staring intently at it as if ready to set it ablaze, Lorraine suddenly lifted her eyelids sharply.
“But people matter more. Shall I give it a try?”
Her round eyes sparkled as if swallowing all the light in the world.
.
.
.
“The Duke and Duchess are expected to arrive shortly.”
At Roberto’s words, Cedric, seated at his desk before the study, slowly rose to his feet.
“Where is Lorraine now?”
Lowering his gaze slightly, Cedric asked his steward.
Roberto slowly opened his mouth, meeting his master’s eyes.
“She returned to her room after her morning walk and has remained there since.”
“I see. Please accompany Lorraine downstairs with me.”
“…Yes?”
“Convey that message.”
Though slightly startled by the words of a man who’d never once cared for his wife,
“Yes, I understand.”
Roberto quickly replied and left the room.
Moments later, Cedric stepped out.
As Lorraine’s door came into view, the heavy rhythm of his footsteps along the corridor gradually slowed.
This would be the first proper meeting with her since he’d begun knight training.
According to Sylvia, Lorraine’s daily routine had been monotonous—reading books or taking walks in the garden.
He’d also received the rather unnecessary report that she still often dozed off while reading.
She had always greatly enjoyed going out.
‘Well, with the bridge under construction, she had no choice but to stay quietly indoors.’
He assumed the construction had kept her confined to the manor.
His slow steps came to a perfect halt before Lorraine’s door.
‘She should be prepared by now.’
After all, he’d sent word ahead of his arrival.
Knock knock.
After knocking, he slowly pushed the door open.
As the gap widened, Cedric’s eyes, fixed intently through the opening, instantly narrowed in shock.
“What on earth….”
Bewilderment seeped into his blue eyes as they frantically darted around Lorraine’s room.
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.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
MANGA DISCUSSION
2 Comments
Chapter Comments (84)
Oh, how disgusting! What is this? She’s obviously pretending to be worried. So disgusting, so filthy.
Is it true that she’s a rude friend, or does she intend to oppress and hurt her?
What is this? Why is she being so mean and rude to our Lauren?
Inline Comments (36)
I was just admiring how handsome you are—but you had to go and look so scary.
A hadsome face is a hadsome face, it should be admired, doesn’t matter who it belongs to!!!
"And if you're going to say things like that, you'd better first understand who
Clap, clap! Bravo! Well done, Lauren! Teach her a good lesson! How rude!
“In her panic, Lucia burst into tears, ran off the stage, and tumbled down the s
It made me very sad. Fear of speaking in front of people, and also tumbled down the stairs. People must have laughed at her instead of helping her. Oh Dear.
YOUR COMMENT
2. Inline comments are now available. Tap the end of any line in a chapter to share your thoughts instantly.
Log in to comment.
Miioo
Oh, what did he see? Hahaha, our dear Lauren is absolutely wonderful.
debban23
i think lorraine is making a parasol or head protection