Translator: Nox

The Villainess Enjoys Her Married Life

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Episode 18. It Is Only Natural to Hate One’s Wife

2023.12.18.

A turbulent storm surged within Kalian’s gaze.

Her words pierced straight into the deepest part of him, sending a dull ache throbbing through his chest.

Then, immediately, a tide of denial rushed in.

‘Me, interested in Eshika?’

Her maiden family, the Brigittes, was a mediocre baronial house—vulgar and obsessed with gold.

Just as his mother said, she was a woman from a family entirely lacking the “class” fit for the Duchy of Klaus.

“The Duke of Klaus was practically sold off for a fortune in the marriage market.”

“I suppose even the mighty Klaus name amounts to nothing now.”

After his marriage to Eshika, people whispered endlessly behind his back.

Yet whether she lacked tact or was simply empty-headed, she had always been cheerfully oblivious.

She whined about wanting to host parties, flaunting her wealth in extravagant dresses and jewels brought from her family.

Reports trickled in that she tormented the servants who had served the household for generations, and everyone reportedly clicked their tongues at her arrogance, as if she had bought the entire Klaus estate with her gold.

So it was only natural for his mother to despise her.

Her vulgar, shallow demeanor made him utterly sick of her very existence.

Even the sight of her constantly trailing after him and clinging to him disgusted him, driving Kalian to avoid her.

All the while wishing inwardly that she would catch some sickness and drop dead.

“Nonsense.”

Kalian’s dry lips parted slightly.

Inside his head, the question Eshika had just asked echoed on an endless loop.

“Don’t tell me… have you developed an interest in me?”

“…….”

The corners of Eshika’s lips curled upward.

At some point, Eshika had stopped smiling at him.

Yet upon hearing words implying he had “no interest,” she smiled as though thoroughly amused.

A thick, unidentifiable displeasure washed over his mind.

“Then please leave. There is no reason to……”

Bathed in the moonlight filtering through the window, Eshika’s blue eyes were cold.

“What good would come of wasting your time on a woman you have no interest in?”

“…….”

Kalian stood rooted to the spot, staring at Eshika.

Her appearance was no different from before.

Yet that callous, indifferent gaze, and that voice leaving not a shred of leeway……

They did not belong to her. She was not the woman he once knew.

‘That cannot be. This woman is Eshika.’

Kalian pressed a hand to his forehead, frowning, before turning away.

He could not tell whether the throbbing ache came from his head or his chest.

A profound chaos swirled within his violet eyes.

**

“Um… my Lady, I believe you need to move rooms.”

Sella spoke hesitantly to Eshika, who was having breakfast.

Color had returned to her freckled face, glowing with joy.

“An order was given to move back to the room you previously stayed in.”

Eating her salad, Eshika asked casually,

“What came over the Grand Duchess?”

“Not the Grand Duchess…… it is an order from His Grace the Duke.”

Eshika’s hand, which had been calmly maneuvering her fork, halted.

‘An order from Kalian?’

Kalian Klaus was an excruciatingly callous husband.

She had not realized it before regaining her memories as Yeongryeong, but he…… had been ashamed of Eshika.

Rumors circulated that he had been forced to take a bride for money, and Kalian had cared deeply about such talk.

Believing he had been coerced into marrying a woman beneath his station, there was no way he would ever respect Eshika.

He turned a blind eye to the Grand Duchess’s abuse of his wife.

Whenever conflict arose between Eshika and the servants, he sided with the servants—so of course every servant in the house looked down on her.

Thus, Eshika’s married life had been thoroughly miserable.

“…….”

Eshika resumed eating.

Perhaps this was a gesture of reconciliation for their recent quarrel.

And had she not regained the memories of Yeongryeong—if she were still the innocent, naive Eshika who knew nothing but love—she surely would have been deeply moved.

For Eshika had loved Kalian so much that she would have gladly eaten rotten bread if offered by his goodwill.

The emotions of that love remained distinct within Eshika’s memories.

However……

“My Lady…… the… the fork…….”

Looking down, she saw the fork was bent in half.

She had channeled inner energy into it without realizing.

Though Sella’s face was frozen in shock, Eshika calmly straightened the fork back out.

Then she resumed eating.

‘How amusing.’

The Eshika of now was not who she once was.

They had sinned against her, and they would receive their rightful punishment.

Having looked down arrogantly from above and trampled the weak, they too would be crushed underfoot.

One could not beat someone black and blue and expect forgiveness with a few sweets or candies.

‘You are still mistaken, Kalian.’

Yeongryeong was the type to savor the process of vengeance far more than its conclusion.

And this pathetic scrap of goodwill, tossed like food to a dog, only invigorated her resolve further.

“I have somewhere to visit for a moment, so see to moving my belongings.”

Having finished her meal, Eshika spoke to Sella.

Watching Eshika immediately change into a maid’s uniform, Sella answered promptly,

“Understood, my Lady.”

**

“Wh-What kind of absurd nonsense is that?!”

Yuri pressed the maid, her face pale.

The young maid continued with a frightened expression,

“His Grace the Duke ordered her to move back to the room she originally used…… saying that a room unfitting her status could tarnish the dignity of the ducal house…….”

The largest bedroom in Klaus belonged to Kalian, and the next largest and best situated was the Grand Duchess’s bedchamber.

And the third largest bedroom…… had originally been used by Eshika.

Yuri recalled when she had first arrived at the Duchy of Klaus upon Eshika’s summons.

Entering spellbound while taking in the beautiful scenery of the historic estate, she had seen the vast, luxurious room Eshika occupied.

Seeing Eshika smile in a lavish gown within that magnificent room of the splendid mansion, Yuri had resolved:

She would strip everything away from that girl.

When Eshika incurred the Grand Duchess’s displeasure and was banished to a tiny storeroom, Yuri had laughed inwardly.

Though attending to her became just as inconvenient, the fact that the Duchess’s chamber was empty allowed Yuri to dream of a future where she would step into it herself.

“That’s impossible! Why would His Grace—!”

Yuri glared with wide eyes, gripping and shaking the young maid’s shoulders.

“Head Maid…… you’re scaring me. I already told you everything.”

“There must be another reason. His Grace is not someone who would ever care about Eshika! You know how much he despises her!”

“Ah.”

Only then did the young maid speak as if remembering something.

“Come to think of it, he visited my Lady’s bedchamber last night.”

“To that closet of a room?”

Yuri’s brow furrowed tightly.

Neither before Eshika was moved to that cubbyhole nor after had Kalian ever set foot in her room.

For Kalian had always been utterly indifferent to Eshika.

He had loathed even the thought of her hand brushing against him.

“That’s…… impossible…….”

And yet Kalian had gone to Eshika’s room of his own accord?

With a bloodless face, Yuri bit her nails anxiously.

The maid, wary of her mood, bowed her head and turned away.

“Eshika, just what on earth are you doing?”

Yuri’s eyes flashed with jealousy and rage.

If the relationship between the two were to improve, the future she envisioned would dissolve like foam.

After all she had done to drag Eshika’s reputation down to the gutter and climb to the position of Head Maid.

“…….”

Yuri clenched her fists tightly and rose to her feet.

The wound from hitting her head still burned.

She could not simply sit still like this.

**

“This length, and make the blade a bit more blunt.”

“You’re quite particular, young miss. Well, a clear order is always best.”

Today, Eshika had stopped by a weapon shop dressed in a maid’s attire.

It was to purchase a blade for her own use.

Having memorized the route on her way to Marshall’s tea party before, she had found it right away.

‘The same size and shape as the Heukbi I used when I was Cheon Yeong-ryeong…… I look forward to it.’

Of course, the weapon shop owner would never imagine that the delicate-looking maid before him intended to wield the dagger herself.

When Eshika gave a silent nod, the shopkeeper finished jotting down his notes and spoke:

“Come pick it up in three days.”

She paid the crafting cost with the money from selling the pearls.

Recalling the sensation of holding a blade in her hand after so long, a faint smile formed on Eshika’s lips without her realizing.

As she stepped out of the shop with that smile, an unexpected voice called out from ahead.

“……A weapon shop, is it?”

“……!”

“I would think Klaus employs several blacksmiths of its own. How intriguing.”

Eshika’s blue eyes wavered.

The man standing before her was none other than the Crown Prince, Lesvan.

He was dressed not in his usual black formal uniform, but in the attire worn by other knights—seemingly out on some business while concealing his identity.

Even the knights who should have escorted the Crown Prince whenever he went outside were nowhere to be seen.

And running into him at this exact moment was nothing short of cursed coincidence.

“……You are the knight I met last time. Greetings, Sir.”

Concealing her fluster, Eshika bowed her head in greeting, pretending to be a mere maid.

Slowly lifting her gaze, her eyes met Lesvan’s as he stared down at her.

“I stopped by the market street for a moment to choose a dagger for my lover.”

And with that, she lied without missing a beat.

Lesvan’s brow twitched.