Why Is My Husband the Villainous Schemer! - Chapter 35

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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 35
“My hand?!”
Of course, I’d held his hand every time we got in and out of the carriage together.
But since the purpose wasn’t to hold hands for their own sake, I’d never thought much of it…….
Yet now, asked to hold hands as if on a proper date, I felt a little embarrassed.
‘But maybe holding hands would be nice!’
In the end, I shyly nodded and extended my hand to Carsel.
With one hand holding my parasol and bag, Carsel carefully wrapped my hand with his free one.
“It’s so small.”
“Well, Carsel is just much larger than most people.”
I didn’t know his exact height, but judging by eye, he seemed close to a hundred and ninety centimeters.
Carsel’s palm was rough—calloused, with a firm, solid texture.
His long fingers, knuckled and prominent, were nonetheless elegant even now. Those beautiful fingers swallowed my hand whole.
Rather than holding it, my hand simply disappeared into his without form.
He held my hand lightly as he asked.
“Where shall we go? Do you have a tea house in mind?”
“I promised to get Linea a snack too. I saw it mentioned in the newspaper—if we go down that alley, there’s a fancy tea house called Lubelang.”
“Is there?”
He agreed with a hint of amusement in his voice.
I still had much to learn about what Carsel liked.
But from what I’d seen before, he didn’t seem to be picky about food at all. Though he didn’t seem to particularly prefer sweets.
So I’d found a tea house that sold less sweet snacks!
Both a financier that Linea would love and a scone that Carsel could actually enjoy!
Pleased with myself for finding a shop that would satisfy them both, I led him forward with confidence.
Completely unaware that Carsel’s piercing gaze was fixed on someone in particular.
* * *
“How is it? Does it taste good?”
I’d ordered a cheese scone—their most popular—and a plain scone.
With clotted cream and strawberry jam to go with them, plus a bracing black tea, the combination was perfect!
Carsel too wore a satisfied expression as he ate his plain scone without any topping.
“It seems Asha knew what flavor I would like.”
“Actually, watching you eat last time, I noticed you don’t particularly care for sweets. You wouldn’t even touch desserts at all?”
“I’ll start eating them now.”
Carsel said this with absolute resolve.
I hastily stopped him, lest he shove desserts into his mouth immediately.
“No, no! I didn’t mean you should eat them! I just meant it doesn’t seem to be your preference. Don’t force yourself!”
“It’s not that it’s not my preference—really, since childhood, about all I’ve eaten as snacks is licorice jelly.”
“Licorice? Really?”
Isn’t that supposed to taste like herbal medicine?
So Carsel had said he liked receiving snacks, but what he meant by ‘snacks’ was apparently quite different from what I’d imagined.
“You like licorice flavor?”
“It’s merely tolerable. I don’t have any particular preference for it.”
I’d tried licorice once and couldn’t eat it again.
Carsel continued.
“The truth is my palate isn’t very refined, so I eat just about anything. I’m not picky about food at all.”
“I see.”
“But I do have a specialty.”
He said this earnestly.
“With just bone, jerky, and dried vegetables, I can make a decent stew anywhere.”
“You cook?”
“Reasonably well. When I was young, I had to cook regularly from time to time.”
Does the Boarding School make the children take turns cooking?
It must have been a harsh place.
I nodded.
“That must have been difficult. Having to cook so much as a child.”
“Well, they were all boys, so as long as nothing made them vomit, they ate happily. Besides, I honestly didn’t care whether the food suited their tastes.”
My suspicion was hardening into certainty.
‘So the Boarding School not only served jerky and oatmeal porridge, but made Carsel—a viscount’s son—cook as well.’
To assign cooking duties even looking at that face. That Boarding School headmaster must be quite the character himself.
As we talked on about one thing and another, evening had come.
“I should be going now. I need to receive a book delivery, and I have to feed Linea dinner.”
“I too have some business to attend to, so I should be heading out as well.”
And so, having finished our tea, Carsel and I left the shop.
This time, I paid the bill!
“Asha, take care on your way home.”
He said this as I climbed into the hired carriage he’d arranged for me.
I waved my hand at Carsel.
“I’ll be in touch soon. Don’t send anything to the viscountess—I’m worried she might cause trouble.”
My mother-in-law seemed like she’d be stirring up mischief soon enough.
Carsel opened his mouth to speak to me.
“Of course. And, Asha.”
“Yes?”
“If you need to develop or do anything with that land, contact me first. I have many relevant connections—I can introduce you to a trustworthy contractor.”
“Ah.”
Carsel was not, after all, an easy mark.
I nodded.
“Then if I contact you again, would you like to come see it with me?”
“……Does that count as our final date?”
If we met once more, it would be the third time.
I shook my head, fully aware of what he meant.
“No, that’s business.”
“In that case, contact me whenever. I’ll make time for it as a top priority.”
He drew my hand—which he’d been holding—gently toward himself.
Then he placed a formal kiss on the back of my hand.
It was a customary gesture between a gentleman and a lady, nothing strange about it.
‘Why……is that so sexy?’
Even as Carsel withdrew his lips and our eyes met for just a moment, I felt time stop, as though enchanted by him.
Simultaneously, Carsel’s lips curved languidly upward in a sensual smile.
“Then I shall be waiting for your call.”
With those words, Carsel stepped back and the door closed.
I could only blink blankly, still dazed.
Then the tension that had stiffened my body drained away, and I collapsed back against the carriage seat.
‘Really……my heart is pounding.’
Whenever my friends talked about romance, they all said their hearts felt like they might burst.
Honestly, I’d never understood it.
But today I learned.
When you’re in the throes of attraction, your heart really does race as if it might burst!
Somewhere in that spring, I was slowly falling for Carsel.
* * *
Two hours later, Carsel had a man’s throat pinned under his foot—just enough to cut off his breath.
“Why were you following Asha?”
At the cruel smirk that Carsel never showed in Asha’s presence, the man beneath his heel squirmed.
“……Are you ready to talk now?”
He’d spotted this rat of a man from the start.
From the moment he’d met Asha, Carsel had already memorized the face and build of every person in the plaza.
It was mere occupational habit, but at some point he’d become certain that someone was following them.
He’d always lived with his animal instincts drawn to their breaking point.
Even with his attention dulled somewhat in Asha’s presence, this man’s tail was laughably incompetent.
Even if the man had been professional, he’d never have escaped Carsel’s notice.
But judging from what he saw, the man was an amateur.
With even the slightest threat, he’d spill everything about his backers in a heartbeat.
‘Whether he was attached by Asha’s side or mine.’
Carsel’s crimson eyes deepened, darkening like blood.
If this came from an enemy targeting him, he’d have to bring Asha to his manor immediately to protect her.
‘But there’s no way he attached such an incompetent fool.’
Carsel increased the pressure of his heel.
It was time to begin the real interrogation.
Knock, knock.
At that moment, someone knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
Matt entered the room.
“Your Grace, the Viscountess Delmore is calling.”
“……Asha?”
Carsel took the communication device Matt was holding out from his office, lifting the receiver.
[Carsel, are you there for a moment?]
Even as Carsel felt the rat beneath his heel squirming frantically, he answered impassively.
“Of course. Whenever Asha wishes to contact me, at any time.”
He murmured with the most tender affection.
Looking down at the rat, Carsel’s eyes gleamed like those of a predator in the darkness.
[I stepped out to eat with Linea and wanted to use the communication device. Carsel, would you like to go see that land I bought with Linea on a day you’re free?]
“Anytime. How about tomorrow at ten in the morning?”
Matt grimaced at that.
His boss was working through the night all week lately because of dating, and Matt was dying right along with him.
[Sounds good! Where shall we meet?]
“How about you come to my house and we depart from there together?”
[Alright. Then……I’ll see you tomorrow.]
Hearing Asha’s shy voice, Carsel’s eyes closed slowly, then opened again.
“Yes, Asha. I’m looking forward to seeing you.”
Soon the transmission ended.
Then Carsel gestured to Matt to leave.
Now it was time to deal with the rat.

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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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