Why Is My Husband the Villainous Schemer! - Chapter 27

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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 27
Carcel seemed perfectly at ease with this sort of situation.
Linea sat beside me eating from a children’s menu set prepared especially for her.
Meatballs made from finely chopped vegetables topped with cream sauce, with carrot slices shaped like rabbit ears nestled in them. And alongside them, a chicken dish arranged in a shallow bowl like a carrot patch, each piece designed to be plucked and eaten one by one.
“The chef has truly elevated cooking to an art form, hasn’t he?”
“Since I’m the only one eating in this dining room every day, he mentioned growing tired of preparing only steamed vegetables and simple meat dishes.”
“Ah, so normally you don’t eat quite so lavishly?”
Just the dishes piled before me numbered over a dozen, each one fit to be a main course.
I felt awkward and made conversation without thinking.
“I’m sorry—I worry we’ve put you to unnecessary trouble. This must cost quite a bit.”
At my apology, his eyes shifted suddenly.
“Asha, even if I ate like this at every meal, my wealth would grow far faster than I could spend it.”
“…That’s rather tasteless of you to say.”
Though thinking of the sum sitting in his bank account, the cost of a meal would hardly be worth a laugh.
“I apologize. I’m a man who has nothing but money.”
He threw out the comment with a self-deprecating smile.
I shook my head in exasperation.
“But the Marquis Estate runs charitable businesses through which considerable sums return to society, so there’s no need to feel any pangs of conscience. Spend freely if you wish.”
Carcel continued, assuring me again not to worry.
“Society does tend to require considerable expenditure to function properly.”
“Then may I drain all thirty-two of your bank accounts?”
At my impish remark, Carcel’s eyes crinkled and a low chuckle escaped him.
“Well, if you wish it? Though I trust you’d take responsibility if I became a beggar. After all, we’ll still need funds to raise your daughter, won’t we?”
Having spoken, Carcel smiled again toward Linea.
It was in that moment, when his Death Smile met her eyes properly for the first time, that Linea’s fork clattered to the floor.
“I-I’m sorry!”
Perhaps it was those predatory, almond-shaped pupils, or that cool smile stretched thin across his lips—
Linea leaped up in terror, then bent to retrieve the fork, only to drive her forehead straight into her plate.
Crack!
“Linea!”
I jolted to my feet in alarm.
She was normally so subdued she rarely made mistakes, but the Death Smile’s power was extraordinary.
The plate, nearly emptied and thus light, happened to sit just slightly forward of the table edge.
When Linea struck her head against the table and tried to rise, she tumbled backward instead.
Crash!
Simultaneously, the plate tipped to the floor with its remaining food, shattering into two clean pieces.
……
……
It happened so quickly that even Carcel couldn’t vault the table to catch her in time.
“…Are you all right?”
I knelt beside Linea and helped her up.
Checking her over carefully, I found no visible injuries, fortunately.
The only problem was food smeared across her forehead and hair where it had struck the plate, and her face flushed crimson.
Linea herself seemed bewildered by the accident she’d caused.
Such a small thing, yet visibly panicked—her cheeks burned red as ripe strawberries.
Moreover, she trembled all over, terrified of punishment.
“I’m s-so sorry. I wasn’t trying to—I’m really so sorry.”
Linea apologized through tears, glancing between Carcel and me.
She looked ready to drop to her knees and beg forgiveness.
Meanwhile, the servants said nothing, simply appearing to sweep up the broken plate with practiced efficiency, then wiping the floor clean in moments.
This time, I decided it couldn’t go unaddressed. I spoke firmly to Linea.
“Linea, from now on you must be more careful. If you get hurt, that would be terrible. Understand?”
“I’m so sorry. I really am.”
I straightened slightly and turned toward Carcel.
But his seat was empty.
“Hm?”
I looked about in confusion when suddenly a shadow fell across us.
I turned back toward Carcel and opened my mouth.
“I’m sorry. Linea was so excited she made mistakes we don’t see at home. I’ll pay for the plate.”
As I spoke, Carcel didn’t answer—instead lowering his face.
Then he slowly dropped to one knee.
“What—what are you doing?”
I asked in startled confusion, and he extended a napkin toward Linea.
“The plate and such are no concern whatsoever—I’m simply grateful your daughter is unharmed. Please, clean her face first.”
“I won’t make mistakes like that again. I’m sorry.”
“Children make mistakes. This level of error hardly warrants three separate apologies from me.”
He made his point without lifting his head.
“We have plates aplenty at the Marquis Estate—if your daughter wishes, she’s welcome to break every last one in the storage room.”
His kindness moved me, yet his constant excess left me exasperated.
“No, absolutely not! Linea isn’t a circus monkey!”
I addressed Carcel directly.
“Either way, Linea was in the wrong today, so she’ll be more careful going forward.”
“Of course. And please—you may make mistakes as freely as you wish. At least within the Marquis Estate.”
Perhaps because his face remained hidden,
his voice and the words within it felt unusually tender.
Soon Linea reached out toward Carcel first.
I thought she meant to take the napkin from him.
Instead, her small hand reached toward his cheek.
“Hm?”
Before I could react, Linea gently cupped his cheek with both hands.
Trembling slightly, she opened her mouth to speak.
“You don’t have to bow. I’m not scared anymore.”
Her hands were impossibly small against his face.
Yet at their touch alone, he seemed to thaw like ice melting in spring, slowly raising his head.
His sharp features emerged.
But Linea didn’t pull away.
Instead, she smiled at him.
“Thank you!”
“…There’s nothing to thank me for.”
I stood speechless, startled by Linea’s sudden boldness, unable to form words.
Meanwhile, Linea and Carcel shared a warm rapport.
“Please, continue your meal.”
Carcel said this while gently wiping Linea’s forehead with the utmost care.
Though his tone was clipped, the consideration he showed toward her made her accept it gracefully.
“If you’d like to wash up afterward, I can arrange the bathroom for you following the meal.”
“No, we should finish eating and go!”
We couldn’t stay longer—my mother-in-law would be home soon, and I needed to leave before she arrived.
Lately, whenever we crossed paths at home, her gaze had grown increasingly sharp and suspicious.
‘She’ll suspect something now that Linea suddenly dresses more elaborately and goes out, and we seem close.’
There’s no way she hadn’t learned of everything happening in the house.
‘If I hadn’t set up an anonymous safe deposit box at the bank for my money and documents long ago, she would have stripped me bare.’
I knew she searched our room periodically.
I arranged things according to my own system, and when I returned, something was always clumsily disturbed.
As for Linea’s clothes, she likely left them alone for the sake of family reputation—she needed a granddaughter’s wardrobe to appear respectable.
Had I bought several fine garments for myself, they would already be torn to shreds by now.
Still, I needed to gather more abuse evidence, so I had to remain careful for now.
“Is that so?”
Carcel rose, handing the used napkin to a servant.
“A shame.”
“We can arrange another visit next time.”
He nodded.
After Carcel returned to his seat, the meal resumed.
* * *
“Please, take care on your way out.”
Carcel bid us farewell, watching me with obvious reluctance.
“Thank you so much for today, Carcel. And…thank you for being so gracious about Linea’s mistake.”
“Not at all. I was glad to see the manor feel alive again after so long.”
I looked down at Linea, who clung to my leg with her face peeking out.
“Linea, you should say goodbye now.”
Linea stepped out from behind me and gave a proper bow to Carcel.
“The meal was really delicious. And…”
After working her pale pink lips for a moment as if gathering courage, Linea lifted her head and looked up at Carcel with determination.
“I hope to see you again next time!”

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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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