The Villain Who Will Kill Me Is Too Handsome, It's Troublesome - Chapter 5

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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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Episode 5.
Artiella looked at the lady with confusion.
But the lady simply shrugged as if to say there was nothing amiss, smiling broadly—still wearing that joyful expression.
“A proposal?”
“Yes, he’s drafting a proposal letter to send to your household.”
“And he knows who I am?”
“Not yet, actually—he doesn’t know your name or family, so he hasn’t finished it. It seemed he meant to complete it the moment he woke up. He’s been waiting for you to wake for quite some time.”
“Really? With me?”
Artiella pointed at her own face with her finger.
“Yes, it’s true. Hard to believe, isn’t it?”
Artiella nodded quietly, and the lady clasped both her hands, gazing heavenward with an expression of deep emotion.
“I can hardly believe it myself. Our Duke taking a woman as his bride—it’s extraordinary.”
But he hadn’t brought her here; Artiella had come of her own accord. She hadn’t come to confess anything either.
“I thought he’d live alone forever, you see.”
The lady’s delighted smile showed no sign of fading. There was no hint of anything else. This was absolute approval.
‘Does she not know I threatened the Duke with a sword?’
Right—Vardo!
Out of habit, Artiella’s hand went to her waist as her gaze dropped. The clothes she’d worn yesterday were nowhere to be found; instead she wore simple nightclothes.
“The dress you arrived in was caught on the broken balcony railing and torn to shreds, I’m afraid. But at least you weren’t injured—thank the heavens for that.”
The lady’s face showed both distress and apology. After all, she was the one who’d destroyed someone else’s railing and owed compensation.
“The Duke handled everything very well, and I’m built sturdy enough that these things hardly matter. But what about my other belongings?”
“The Duke saw to your clothes and personal items himself.”
Artiella’s eyebrows lifted slightly.
By now the Duke had certainly figured out who she was. How bewildered must he have been to feed such confused nonsense to his servants?
His soul was never one harboring malice to hurt someone—she was certain of that. The one Yusiel saw must have been someone else entirely.
‘I need to apologize to the Duke right away.’
Suspecting him without cause, threatening him with a blade, trespassing, property damage—
A Holy Sword had every right to be angry.
Artiella looked at the lady with genuine contrition.
“Where is the Duke now?”
“He’s in his Study, attending to business.”
“I’d like to see him at once.”
At Artiella’s request, the lady immediately pulled the bell cord.
Two maids entered promptly. Following the lady’s instructions, they moved with practiced efficiency—washing her face, arranging her hair prettily, finding a Dress similar to the one she’d worn and dressing her in it.
The maids were attentive even as they exchanged knowing glances, treating her as though she were truly the Duke’s fiancée.
The more they fawned over her, the more Artiella’s chest ached with guilt.
‘Heavens above, when I return I shall undertake penance.’
As the maids straightened her skirts, Artiella traced a holy symbol and whispered a brief prayer.
“We’re done, miss.”
“Thank you.”
“Please, speak freely with us—you’ll be the mistress of this house soon.”
Artiella laughed awkwardly instead of answering. For the Duke’s sake, she couldn’t explain the truth to these people now.
When I get back, I’ll spend the whole night in prayer too.
“Shall we go see the Duke now?”
Bailey, who’d introduced herself as the head maid of the household, led the way personally.
As they walked, Artiella took in her surroundings. The manor was nothing like the noble houses she remembered from childhood—most estates were cluttered with furniture and decorations lining the halls to display wealth, but this one felt sparse and bare.
Above all, it was eerily quiet.
“The mansion is so still.”
It had been the same yesterday and was the same today.
“Well, since only the Duke requires attendance, the rest of the staff are in his Fiefdom. When the Duchess arrives eventually, they’ll all return.”
“It seems the Duke shares my taste for efficient staffing.”
But there was something else that troubled her.
The building showed signs of decay throughout. Holes in walls were covered with cloth, railings wobbled precariously, and even the display cabinets tilted slightly.
‘Shoddy construction?’
The Balcony yesterday had certainly been in poor condition too.
The Duke’s House owned a famous granary region as its Fiefdom, with its considerable harbor trade, a mine rich in gold and iron—or so she’d heard. How could the master of such a wealthy family live in this dilapidated house?
“Besides, he’s quite austere, isn’t he? Then again, that’s probably why he stays so pure and refined. I should take his example to heart.”
A life worthy of a clergyman.
Artiella spoke with genuine admiration.
Yet for some reason, Bailey’s eyes grew moist with emotion, as if she carried some untold burden.
“Why aren’t you angry with me?”
“You nearly died falling from the railing. Honestly, I expected you to lodge a complaint about our poor building maintenance.”
“What? The Duke warned me, and it was entirely my fault.”
After all, I was trespassing.
“You nearly suffered serious injury. Aren’t you frightened?”
“Oh, no, I’m not that fragile.”
“The Duke saw right through you. They say you’re the bravest lady on the continent.”
Bailey’s gaze lingered on Artiella with renewed intensity.
Fortunately, the two soon arrived at the Duke’s Study.
“My lord, I’ve brought the young lady.”
“Come in.”
The moment the Duke’s permission was given, Bailey grasped Artiella’s hand firmly between both of hers.
“No matter what you hear, no matter what happens, if your heart begins to waver, just look at the Duke’s face. You must never abandon our lord.”
All of a sudden?
“I’ve genuinely taken a liking to you.”
While Artiella tilted her head in confusion, the head maid opened the Study door and gave her a gentle push from behind, beaming widely.
“I entrust the Duke to your care.”
What was that? This feeling of being shoved?
“Wait, just a moment—!”
Before she could finish her protest, the door had already closed. Artiella stared blankly at the shut door, then sighed and turned around.
“You’ve come, young lady—or rather, my lady?”
So he’d seen through my disguise after all.
Artiella immediately bowed deeply.
“I behaved rudely yesterday. I take full responsibility for the damage I caused, and I’m prepared to compensate—”
But suddenly she glimpsed legs moving swiftly toward her and gasped, lifting her head in surprise.
Gleaming. A face radiant with pristine Aura hovered mere inches from her own.
Was he attacking her face?
“My lord?”
“You truly mean to take responsibility?”
The Duke smiled as beautifully as his own soul.
“Yes, of course—”
“Don’t you dare take it back.”
Was something strange flowing through the Duke’s House? Why did everyone speak nonsense the moment they looked at her?
But he possessed such a noble soul; surely he meant no ill intent.
‘His soul really was beautiful. And… I want to see it again… Am I losing my mind?’
Artiella turned her gaze away to clear her wayward thoughts.
The Study was sparsely decorated, like the rest of the mansion. Only a desk and a low bookshelf furnished the space. The high arched ceiling bore the family crest carved into its surface, which was striking enough, but—
Crack! Dust fell from the sculptured emblem again.
“Careful!”
Artiella wrapped her body in Aura, threw herself forward to shield the Duke, and tumbled with him toward the corner of the Study.
Boom!
A slab of marble struck the spot where they had been standing, sending dust billowing into the air.
“What on earth is wrong with this building?”
Artiella brushed the dust from her clothes and got to her feet.
But the Duke remained lying on the floor, apparently shocked, his eyes reflecting something akin to despair.
“Are you hurt? Is anything injured?”
Rufell’s eyes glistened slightly.
“Please…”
“What’s wrong, my lord?”
Then, tears rolled down the Duke’s cheek like pearls.
“Please don’t abandon me.”
His clear eyes held such desperate longing.
For reasons she couldn’t explain, guilt seized her and her lips moved of their own accord.
“Yes, I understand.”
* * *
Kieren Rufell had always carried Misfortune with him.
His mother had misunderstood his father and fled while pregnant with him. Weakened by the journey, she gave birth to him, named him, and soon after passed away.
Life in the Orphanage had been nightmarish.
“We never agreed to take in a cursed brat!”
Staircases collapsed, roof beams fell, fires started for no apparent reason. And Rufell was always at the scene of every accident.
Kirien—the one who brings death and misfortune.
It was no different after entering the Duke’s House. The father who welcomed this stranger’s sudden arrival, the kind half-siblings—all of them suffered accidents or fell to plague while in his presence, and died.
The pattern never broke. Whether at a banquet or attending a noble council at the Imperial Palace, calamity followed like a shadow.
No one could bring themselves to blame him for simply existing.
He alone bore the weight, cast as the villain, drowning in guilt.
So he chose isolation. Accidents didn’t happen when he was alone—or at least, they happened less. Naturally, he never dared to do anything wrong. He had to live righteously, so that God might look upon him with mercy.
It worked. After reducing contact with others, the major incidents dwindled alongside it. The few precious people remaining seemed to survive.
The problem was his face—far too beautiful.

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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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