Why Is My Husband the Villainous Schemer! - Chapter 25

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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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Chapter 25
Linea still hasn’t fully opened her heart to me.
‘Is he crying?!’
I’ve never seen him cry before, but one of Carcel’s death smiles would be more than enough to make it possible!
Flustered, I rushed toward him and stretched up on my toes to quickly cover his face with my hand.
“Linea, you can get down now.”
Then I smiled at Linea in his stead, making sure the child wouldn’t catch sight of Carcel’s expression and grow frightened.
Fortunately, Linea, who hadn’t yet glimpsed Carcel’s smile, took the stranger’s hand and descended from the carriage.
‘Phew.’
I let out a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding.
I’d never properly explained Linea to Carcel.
I’d only said I wanted to bring out an abused stepdaughter, so he didn’t know that Linea was a delicate, sensitive child.
“……Asha.”
His low voice rumbled beneath my palm, and only then did I snap back to attention.
“I’m—I’m sorry!”
I was still pressing my hand flat against his face, shielding it from Linea’s view!
I hastily pulled my hand away.
“I didn’t hurt you, did I? ……I apologize for saying so, but Carcel’s face might be a bit frightening for children to look at.”
“There’s no need to worry about offending me. More than a few people have been frightened by the sight of my face.”
“I’m sorry.”
The fact that he accepted it so matter-of-factly only made my guilt deepen.
“That said, Asha.”
“Yes?”
Carcel’s Adam’s apple moved slowly up and down.
“……Could you step back just a little?”
In my attempt to hide such a tall man’s face, I’d not only risen onto my tiptoes but still had my hand resting on his shoulder.
I could feel every movement of the firm muscle beneath my palm.
In that moment, I jerked my body away.
“I’m sorry. Linea is still wary of strangers. I was just being careful so Carcel wouldn’t make a bad first impression.”
My thoughts scattered like tangled wire, and words kept tumbling out of my mouth.
What was I doing in front of Linea, for heaven’s sake!
Watching me ramble, Carcel let out a low, rumbling laugh.
“There’s no need for concern. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to leave a good impression on your daughter.”
“Well then! Let me introduce you to Linea.”
Earlier, I’d told Linea that Carcel was a man I might remarry.
It seemed Linea was watching him intently, her eyes mixed with wariness.
Feeling oddly self-conscious about conversing with Carcel in front of the child, I quickly extended my hand to Linea and introduced him.
“This is the Marquis of Rivandel.”
“How do you do. I’m Linea Delmore, the eldest daughter of House of Delmore.”
The well-mannered child gave a slight bow and offered her greeting.
I was small compared to Carcel, but next to him, Linea was practically hamster-sized.
“Ack.”
Having to look up at Carcel’s face for such a long time, Linea made a small sound.
Carcel turned toward Linea and curved his lips into a leisurely smile.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. Feel free to look around and make yourself comfortable.”
“Eep.”
Carcel’s face was still too much for Linea.
“Here, Carcel. Could you turn your head, please?”
I had to squeeze Linea’s hand tightly as I made the request.
While I felt guilty toward Carcel, it was clear that if this continued, Linea and he wouldn’t become comfortable with each other today.
Linea seemed to have her tail tucked between her legs.
For a moment, I fell under the impression that her hair had fluffed up more than before—as if she were baring her downy fur and threatening him, though I knew better.
“Well, ahem. Anyway.”
I awkwardly cleared my throat and issued an order to Carcel.
“Didn’t—didn’t you say you’d show us the Garden?”
“Then let’s tour the garden first, and afterward we can have a meal.”
“You’ve prepared a meal as well?”
“The head chef who made the Sandwich and Soup you enjoyed last time has prepared the finest dishes for today.”
He’d complimented the head chef’s cooking last time too.
“Please follow carefully.”
Carcel turned his head away to keep his face as hidden as possible from Linea.
Then he stepped ahead into the garden.
I held Linea’s hand and checked on the child’s condition.
Fortunately, it seemed to be just momentary alarm, as Linea’s expression quickly softened.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes, it’s just… a little.”
“Scared?”
Carcel’s frightening appearance wasn’t the sort that comes from a cruel expression.
It was closer to the kind of face that instinctively awakened in prey animals the primal terror they feel before a predator.
‘Perhaps it’s also because of his uniquely measured presence?’
Though his face wasn’t even rough to look at, others found it threatening.
Linea nodded toward me.
“But he’s not a frightening person—he’s actually quite kind and considerate, so you don’t need to be afraid.”
“Okay.”
“Then shall we take a stroll through the garden?”
As I brightened my voice and followed behind Carcel, Linea, too, became more animated.
Since Linea hadn’t yet developed sufficient social skills, she absorbed much of the atmosphere from her guardian—me, the one she relied on.
When I was at ease, she seemed to observe my face and behavior, finding her own sense of security in that.
Fortunately, once we entered the garden, I didn’t need to do anything more.
The interior of the garden was far more beautiful than expected—beautiful enough that even Linea let out a gasp of admiration.
It was truly a space tended with the gardener’s heart and soul.
“I can only call it a work of art.”
As I continued to marvel, Carcel answered with a slight smile.
“It’s the pride of Rivandel. In fact, before you came, Asha, I was even considering expanding it further.”
“You were thinking of making it even bigger? It’s already so large that if you lose your way once, you’ll need three days and four nights to find your way out.”
I turned toward Linea with a question.
“Don’t you think this is a perfect garden for running around?”
“It’s a truly wonderful garden.”
Linea nodded with more enthusiasm than usual, delighted.
I was relieved she liked it.
So I’d been thinking of inviting Linea’s friends here to play in the future, but…….
‘All I can imagine now is the opening of a horror film where children vanish one by one in the garden.’
As Linea’s reaction improved, Carcel’s expression, too, became more at ease.
He spoke to Linea.
“I’m glad. Whenever you would like to visit, Miss Delmore, you’re welcome to come anytime.”
“Thank you…….”
Linea still harbored more distrust than confidence in Carcel and flinched whenever she met his gaze.
To ease the awkward atmosphere, I stepped in.
“It really is a spectacular sight, just as Linea said. If it were opened to the public, it would become a tourist attraction.”
“Then, rather than others—would Asha like to live here?”
Ah, so Carcel’s focus was on that after all.
I’d sensed it from the way he seemed to make such effort to show me the garden.
It was as though he were desperately trying to tell me how good a place this would be to live.
I nodded.
“It’s beautiful. Honestly, there’s no one who wouldn’t want to live in a place like this.”
“……I’m relieved.”
I distinctly saw the corners of Carcel’s mouth lift.
It was a smile mixed with satisfaction and relief.
After touring the garden for some time, Carcel led us back to the Mansion.
“And you said that’s not even half the garden?”
“If you were to tour the entire garden, it would likely take half a day.”
“At Carcel’s pace, anyway, right?”
Carcel nodded.
“My mother once said she was going for a stroll and didn’t return for two days.”
“……Two days?”
“It wasn’t that she got lost in the garden—she simply has somewhat eccentric tendencies.”
“That sounds less like a stroll and more like an overnight trip.”
Since it’s on the same grounds, it wouldn’t technically count as an overnight away, but it gave me a fresh appreciation for how vast the garden truly was.
Now that I thought about it, if I were to enter into a Contract Marriage with Carcel, I’d gain another mother-in-law.
I probed him gently.
“But would your mother be alright with a woman who already has a child?”
“It’s not a problem.”
He answered without hesitation, so quick I lifted my brow skeptically.
“You are consulting with her first before saying this, correct?”
Of course, since Carcel is the Head of Household, he could force a marriage through if he wished, but I’d already experienced one difficult mother-in-law once.
With no information about Carcel’s mother, I worried that if she showed hostility toward Linea, it would be troublesome.
In a Remarriage where a child is involved, the child’s wellbeing is always the most sensitive point.
Carcel spoke to me without concern.
“My mother said that even if I married a female orc, it would be fine—she doubts such a thing exists among humans.”
“Pardon?!”

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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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