Isn’t Being A Wicked Woman Much Better? - Chapter 206

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Special Side Story 3
7. How to Live as the Duchess of Visconti
“There must not be a single flaw in serving our new mistress.”
“Yes, Head Butler.”
The servants of Visconti in the Southern Region bustled about the Castle, scrubbing and sweeping in preparation for the arrival of their new mistress to the Territory.
Their movements were sharp and energized. Their new Duchess was an extraordinary person, after all.
A saint who had vanquished a Great Demon herself, and the illustrious daughter of House Simour, the very embodiment of magic!
Beyond that, she bore the reputation of Troika—a name that shook High Society with her ever-brilliant and intense fashion sense.
The servants, who had never had the chance to visit the Capital and knew only rumors of the young lady, chattered whenever they had a moment, mingling worry with anticipation.
“Since she sets trends, her taste must be extraordinarily refined, wouldn’t you say?”
“The fact that she chose Duke Visconti itself proves her exquisite judgment.”
“But what of her temperament…?”
When the subject of her character arose, everyone fell into brief silence.
Deborah Simour—or rather, Deborah Visconti as she was now known—was a figure who had shattered the utterly conventional notion of a “gracious and merciful saint.”
Though it was said she had once played the villain to deceive the attention of wicked Dark Mages, that did not mean Deborah Simour possessed a naturally kind disposition.
After all, House Simour was renowned for its cold, serpentine nature.
“W-well, it’s better than appearing kind while harboring dark schemes, isn’t it? Like Miya Binoshu.”
Someone belatedly salvaged the atmosphere.
“That’s true enough.”
There were no shortage of noble ladies who, despite appearing generous on the surface, would even dip into the servants’ food allowance to build their own private coffers.
She was a saint who had battled demons, so even if she wasn’t merciful, she would at least maintain propriety. Besides, the very fact of serving such a remarkable person filled them with pride.
“In any case, let’s not ruin the Duchess’s first impression of Visconti through careless mistakes.”
Though the Visconti servants who had come to greet the ducal couple were mentally prepared, they were inwardly startled. The young lady of House Simour appeared far colder and more austere than the rumors had suggested.
Her towering height and imperious expression made them instinctively shrink back merely from looking at her.
It was then.
“Arrrrgh!”
Suddenly, an enormous beast with golden fur burst through the Garden and charged forward at tremendous speed.
“Could it be… the legendary divine beast…!?”
The Head Butler, who had heard rumors of a golden-furred spirit creature dwelling in the Visconti Forest, gasped in alarm.
“Good heavens… I thought it was merely idle gossip.”
“It looks dangerous, so we should… we should subdue it….”
“Your Grace, what shall we do?”
The servants’ eyes turned to Duke Visconti for permission. Within Visconti Territory, one could not simply hunt the golden-furred beast.
“It is the Golden of Visconti, after all.”
A peculiar rule that Isidore had established.
As everyone stood in confusion before the threatening beast blocking the ducal couple’s path, it suddenly flipped its body submissively before the Duchess—as if bowing to a stronger predator.
The Duchess, standing motionless and expressionless, extended her arm to stroke the creature’s white belly, then rummaged through her belongings and tossed something toward the Garden with a flick of her wrist.
“Go on.”
“Grrrrr….”
The divine beast, as if in response, rumbled its throat and obediently disappeared into the undergrowth.
‘Did she just suppress that beast with a single glance?’
‘She commanded that massive predator!’
‘Extraordinary. Truly befitting a saint!’
The servants stood speechless at the astonishing spectacle.
“Cookie got so excited about transforming that I forgot to stop her.”
Meanwhile, Isidore, his expression troubled, whispered to Deborah Simour.
Cookie occasionally underwent dramatic transformations and would prowl the Forest, displaying her strength while hunting birds—but the servants could never have guessed that Duke Visconti’s beloved little cat was the same ferocious beast from moments before.
“Could it be that golden spirit appeared to welcome the Duchess?”
“It must be an auspicious omen. Golden glory shall surely descend upon Visconti from this day forward!”
Someone began interpreting the situation favorably, and the servants quickly echoed the sentiment.
It was certainly impressive. The Duchess’s composure and audacity—standing before a savage predator without so much as a flinch—left a powerful impression on the household staff.
And indeed, first impressions are the most enduring. Through Cookie’s unexpected intervention, Deborah Simour had inadvertently become a commanding mistress of the household, one whose very presence could subdue beasts.
That evening.
“I can’t judge by a single day, but the Visconti servants seemed more courteous and respectful than those in Simour.”
At Deborah Simour’s brief assessment, Isidore shrugged.
“They were certainly more spirited than usual.”
“Well, it is our first day….”
“But what was that white pouch you threw earlier?”
Because Cookie had fiercely guarded the pouch Deborah Simour had tossed, Isidore’s hands bore scratches in various places. He never did manage to see what was inside.
“If you want to know, that’ll be 99 gold.”
She playfully extended her palm, and Isidore slowly interlaced his fingers.
“Trying to get it for free, are you? Is that all it takes when you have pretty hands?”
“Haggling over the price would be no different than taking money from my right pocket and putting it back in my left. Husband and wife are one body—what’s mine is yours, remember?”
Isidore continued with a gentle smile.
“We are one now, so everything I possess from this moment forward belongs to you as well.”
….
“Look it over, and if anything is lacking, tell me. I’ll earn more.”
His eyes held the gaze of a devoted companion—a steady, trustworthy light that stirred something deep within her chest.
‘Somehow he seems even more dependable since we married.’
To hide the ticklish feeling, Deborah Simour pretended to swat his hand, then gently tended to the scratches marring his skin.
“Fine, I concede. It was catnip.”
“Catnip?”
“What I threw in the pouch for Cookie. Felines can’t resist the herb—it’s irresistible to them. Nothing special, really.”
“For something so simple, I certainly took the bait.”
“Ha.”
“I can never resist my curiosity, so… is that why I can never resist your face?”
“Wait… why does the atmosphere suddenly feel like it’s shifting in a strange direction?”
With his fingers still interlaced, Isidore slowly pushed her backward on the sofa until she toppled.
“It’s hardly ‘sudden.’ I’m always watching for an opportunity to steer things that way, so you can’t let your guard down.”
Isidore smiled with an almost brazen expression—yet it was a smile that ensnared her gaze like a trap.
Deborah reached out and gently stroked his sharp jawline, and he narrowed his eyes pleasantly at her soft touch.
* * *
‘Hmm. Wherever I go, people seem wary of me.’
I scratched my chin awkwardly.
It was certainly better than appearing easy and approachable, but these accountants—middle-aged men who stiffened rigidly in my presence—made my ingrained Confucian sensibilities uncomfortable for no good reason.
“I’ve prepared tea. Everyone, please sit.”
At my words, they startled like rabbits.
“Yes!”
“We are deeply moved that you would prepare such fine tea for us.”
“It has an excellent flavor.”
Well, isn’t this the bare minimum?
Even adhering to basics, the villainess class still seemed to exceed expectations at every turn.
Though they had taken their seats, they still held their spines rigidly upright as if being punished, watching me with anxious eyes as I examined the thick ledger.
For reference, the ledger I was currently reviewing contained the annual budget and expenditures for Visconti Castle.
Having taken the Visconti name, I naturally came to receive the family’s financial situation as a member of the household.
Managing the castle and mansion with the family’s allocated budget, expanding influence through external activities, and overseeing the servants were all duties of a noblewoman. And needless to say, budget disputes were also the greatest source of marital conflict.
Some nobles allocated meager budgets out of distrust for their wives, while there were indeed instances of wives being deceived by swindlers and ruining the family fortune.
‘But is this right?’
Faced with an absurdly large budget, I couldn’t help but grow serious.
‘Surely I’m not expected to spend all this money in a single year…?’
At this point, earning money wasn’t the job—spending it was. With my commoner’s mindset that wouldn’t change even if I died and came back to life, I doubted I could spend even half of it no matter how hard I tried.
“But you see….”
As I scanned the ledger with a stern expression and suddenly opened my mouth, the accountants’ pupils trembled with anxiety.
“Yes!”
“Why was such a large budget allocated here?”
I pointed to the ledger and asked.
“Ah, that matter… those funds were used for the construction of the Villa.”
‘A villa built of pure gold? Why is it so expensive?’
Curiosity piqued, I examined the expenditure details and project overview more carefully.
“…!”
And as I scanned the development map attached below, I felt a peculiar sensation. I had discovered a familiar name on the map.
“This region… isn’t this the Volcanic Region?”
“Yes, it is! A large sulfur hot spring was discovered in the vicinity. Development is nearly complete as well.”
The accountant spoke with surprised eyes.
‘Indeed, the terrain does seem suitable for hot springs.
And hot springs were the most preferred vacation destination among the nobility.
Building a villa in a place with beautiful mountains and pristine waters, then spending leisurely holidays within it was one of the luxuries nobles enjoyed as much as jewelry shopping.
‘But… Isidore seems to have other ulterior motives.’

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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