Why Is My Husband the Villainous Schemer! - Chapter 31

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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 31
“He proposed to you?”
“Li, Li, Linea!”
Wait—does a ten-year-old even understand what the word “proposal” means?
Of course, by Korean age a ten-year-old is in elementary school, so she’d know most things, but…
I’ve never raised a child before. And Linea’s small frame makes her look even younger than her years, so I’m always startled when she uses difficult words.
While I struggled for words, unsure how to respond, Linea delivered the final blow.
“I wish Mother would marry him!”
“You… do?”
Just thinking the word “marriage” sent heat rushing to my cheeks.
It still felt embarrassing, distant—something far away.
Linea clenched her tiny fist and cried out at me.
“Mother deserves to be happy too!”
“Well, I suppose…”
I looked down at the child and marveled.
‘Where on earth did you learn vocabulary like this?’
Before I came, Linea had no tutor—the environment wasn’t conducive to serious learning.
She really is a sharp child.
‘I should buy her some age-appropriate books and start giving her proper lessons.’
As I thought this, Linea continued.
“In the book I read, the prince proposed to the heroine! And it said they lived happily together for a long time after they married.”
I felt oddly reassured.
Linea was still a child, after all.
It would be sad if she already understood the harsh realities of the world and lived like a worn-out adult.
I released her cheek from my hand and tapped the tip of her nose gently, smiling.
“That’s right. If you meet a good person and marry them, you’ll definitely be happy.”
“That’s why I want Mother to get married too.”
Linea’s eyes sparkled with light.
Wishing earnestly for my happiness.
I lowered my gaze and smiled a little bitterly.
‘I don’t know about that. Starting with my parents, I haven’t seen anyone around me become truly happy through marriage.’
My parents always said, “We could have divorced if you hadn’t existed.”
“Let me think it over carefully before I decide.”
I extended my hand toward Linea.
“Now, shall we go buy dessert for Lucian and some Beads for your friends?”
“Yes!”
Linea answered brightly and grasped my hand with her soft, doughy fingers.
‘She’s gained a little weight.’
The child’s positive changes seemed to heal my heart as well.
“Let’s go!”
With that thought, I left the stall ready to spend money in earnest.
* * *
An hour later, I stood before the door of the Town House.
Since Lucian was a Crown Prince hiding his identity, it seemed he’d rented the Town House and invited Linea there.
I grasped the door knocker and rapped it.
The door opened at once, as though someone had been waiting.
Beyond the threshold stood a man of enormous stature, looking down at us.
Faced with that overwhelming presence, Linea and I pressed close to each other.
‘It’s that Knight I saw before.’
He wasn’t frightening, but confronting him in person made him seem even larger, and tension coiled through me.
“Hello, we’ve come to meet Lucian. We have an Invitation as well.”
I spoke first, glancing down at Linea.
Linea swallowed hard, then trembled as she held out the Invitation to the Knight.
“Here’s… the Invitation.”
The Knight seemed flustered by the child’s fearfulness.
He appeared so nervous about taking Linea’s tiny hand that he grasped the Invitation with only his fingertips, accepting it with obvious caution.
As though even a touch would flatten her like a hamster, his massive hand trembled with tension.
After examining the Invitation, he asked.
“Yes, I have confirmed it. Might I briefly see inside the basket you’re carrying?”
“It’s dessert we brought to share, and Beads for making jewelry.”
I opened the basket readily for him to see.
I’d anticipated this already.
Inside were Churros and Chocolate Syrup—delicacies bought for the Crown Prince, who was raised on carefully balanced Imperial Court meals and the finest ingredients.
Worldly indulgences, sweet ones.
I did feel a twinge of conscience, but surely one small indulgence was harmless!
“Oh, and I also brought Pound Cake separately as gifts for Lucian’s family and servants.”
I handed him two gift boxes retrieved from the basket in his large hands.
He accepted them uncertainly, looking at a loss.
“Please come inside. Lucian is within.”
“Thank you.”
Following the Knight, a garden with pale green grass freshly trimmed came into view.
Though the Town House was modest, the garden small, the lunch table set up was anything but.
‘Do the nobility of this country not understand moderation?’
The garden was outfitted with white canopies, and beneath them sat tables draped in silk tablecloths with delicate gold embroidery.
Exotic flowers that surely came from the Imperial greenhouse, alongside the finest tableware.
It was dazzlingly luxurious and ornate.
While Linea and I both fell momentarily speechless at this spectacular sight—a now-familiar wonder—Lucian greeted us cheerfully.
“You’ve arrived!”
“Yes, Lucian. I’m sorry you went to all this trouble.”
At my words, Lucian’s face showed he didn’t understand.
“Not at all. I should have prepared more. I’m sorry for the hasty, imperfect arrangement.”
“This isn’t a state banquet. You didn’t need to do all this. Look, Linea and I brought some simple refreshments.”
I signaled naturally to Linea with my eyes.
Linea, seeming shy now that she’d seen Lucian again, hesitantly held out a Letter to him.
“I wrote you a Letter to thank you for the Invitation.”
“A Letter?”
Lucian accepted the Letter from Linea with obvious care, looking surprised.
Seeing the childish stationery decorated with cute animals, Lucian’s face showed genuine emotion.
“Thank you, Lady Linea. This seems like it will be the most precious gift in my life.”
“Oh, no! It’s just a simple Letter, really!”
“It’s the first Letter from a friend I’ve ever received. I’ll treasure it.”
I felt my eyes warm as I watched Lucian clutch the Letter to his chest, moved to tears.
‘How many Letters does he think he’s going to receive in his lifetime? How adorable.’
The children’s innocent exchange made me want to smile.
“Please sit! Are you not hungry?”
“We’re fine.”
I shook my head and seated Linea beside Lucian.
‘They seem inseparable, so I should help them grow closer.’
Anyway, there seemed little I could do to change whatever fate awaited them.
So instead, I chose to watch the children’s quiet affection unfold.
Linea seemed a little shy sitting beside Lucian at first, but soon the two began a gentle conversation.
Fortunately, Lucian was outgoing with good social skills, so Linea didn’t feel too awkward.
“I tried making a Bracelet with Beads, but I kept failing. The one you’re wearing is truly beautiful.”
“Would you like me to teach you how later?”
At Linea’s suggestion, Lucian’s eyes flushed pink with delight.
“I would be so grateful. The color combinations I chose weren’t nearly as lovely as yours.”
It seemed he’d tried to make one on his own without anyone’s help.
Lucian looked wistfully at Linea’s Bracelet.
Then Linea encouraged him.
“I bought more Beads today anyway, so let’s make one together again!”
“You’re truly thoughtful, Lady Linea.”
Just listening with my eyes closed, I couldn’t tell if they were adults or children.
Thinking it was time for them to drop the formality and play like proper ten-year-olds, I gently interjected from across the table.
“When are you two going to drop the formal speech? Aren’t you friends?”
At that, Lucian flinched first.
“Fr… friends…”
By the way, Lucian had Court Companions assigned to him.
The Imperial Court had carefully selected the most elite children his age to serve as his friends.
Of course, Lucian found the very constraints of the Imperial Court suffocating and didn’t truly regard them as friends.
So in truth, Linea—whose identity he didn’t know—was his first real friend.
Lucian opened his mouth first, looking toward Linea.

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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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