Why Is My Husband the Villainous Schemer! - Chapter 39

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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 39
“I’m sorry.”
At that, Carcel gazed at me intently.
When I apologized, instead of answering, Carcel moved his feet and…….
trapped my feet between his own.
I was startled for a moment, but catching sight of the mischievous curve of his lips, I realized it was a jest.
“Carcel……!”
I lowered my voice in a pointed warning, and Carcel let out a soft laugh.
I finally raised my hand and swatted his knee sharply.
“Stop. What if Linea wakes up?”
Seemingly pleased at being hit, Carcel couldn’t suppress his laughter.
He laughed quietly and covered his mouth with his hand.
His thumb, which had been resting against my cheek, brushed past his own lips as he pulled his hand away.
With that, his laughter faded, and Carcel released my feet.
The Flower Crown still resting on my head looked strange, yet suited me rather well.
He adjusted the crown that was sliding down and made a suggestion.
“Sleep a little on the way back. I won’t bother you again.”
I shot him a glare for good measure, then, following Carcel’s advice, rested my head gently against the carriage wall.
There were still several hours left before we reached home anyway.
Ignoring the sound of my heart racing like a hummingbird’s, I squeezed my eyes shut.
* * *
After calling a hired carriage from Carcel’s House, I set off again toward the Earl’s Residence.
‘Carcel wanted to take me, but the timing is right for that incident to happen soon.’
Better to be cautious.
The incident that was supposed to happen around this point involved Mery.
Asha Delmore had never settled quietly in this house from the beginning.
Unable to bear the hardships of marriage, she had considered several ways to escape this place on her own, and one of them was——.
‘Remarriage.’
Unlike my method, she had no money, so instead she attempted to sell her Status Difference.
She had begun meeting a commoner man who had achieved great success in business with the intention of marriage.
‘A marriage that crosses Status Difference is implicitly taboo in noble society.’
But Asha paid no mind to the gap.
However, as her relationship with the man deepened, when Mery saw Asha wearing the expensive Jeweled Accessory he had given as a token of their engagement…….
‘She followed her, and before Asha could even marry, she exposed the affair.’
The mother-in-law, unwilling to let her free labor escape on its own terms, spread malicious rumors.
Because of this, Asha was cast out by her family, and even broke off her engagement with the man.
‘Becoming isolated and friendless that way, she took to tormenting the innocent Linea instead, and died cursing her, saying Linea alone prevented her from leaving this wretched place.’
That was how the story went.
‘Mery’s bound to follow my trail soon, and I’ve made preparations, but……surely not today?’
I hoped not.
My boots and skirt were caked with dirt and trampled grass, and I wanted nothing more than to wash immediately.
“Linea, time to wake up.”
“Mmmph…….”
Upon arriving at the Earl’s Residence, I woke the drowsy Linea and stepped down from the carriage.
It was then, as I entered the foyer while finding it odd that Linea had grown even sleepier of late.
The mother-in-law stood squarely inside, waiting for us.
Already exhausted, I managed a polite smile toward her, which bore the expression of having caught me red-handed.
“Mother, why did you come out? Were you waiting for me?”
I asked with an air of sweetness, and the mother-in-law replied in a cold tone.
“Where have you been? Your skirt is filthy with dirt—did you go on some sort of picnic?”
“Oh, the weather was so lovely I took Linea out for a while.”
As if to dismiss her concern, I clapped my hands together lightly.
“Were you perhaps upset that I didn’t invite you along?”
“Enough. So it doesn’t matter to you that expensive clothes get ruined like this? Does money just rain down from the sky for you?”
At her accusatory tone, I nodded enthusiastically. Then, with an air of naive simplicity, I broke into a bright smile.
“Actually, money did rain down from the sky for me, Mother.”
“Yes. So the source of your money is the heavens, is it?”
With that, the mother-in-law called out toward the reception room.
“Mery! Bring him.”
Mery soon emerged from the reception room, leading a man with her.
Positioning him to face me, Mery smiled, meeting my eyes.
‘So that’s the look of “let’s see what you do now,” is it?’
The mother-in-law questioned Mery.
“So what is the relationship between this man and my daughter-in-law?”
“Contrary to what I’ve told you, the Countess claims they have no relationship at all, isn’t that right, madam?”
“Of course, there’s no way they have absolutely no relationship, is there?”
Watching them volley words back and forth, I folded my arms.
“Well, what do you think my relationship is with that man, Mother?”
“Then you tell me yourself.”
The mother-in-law opened the Notebook she was holding and tossed it at my feet.
It fell to the ground, its contents fully exposed.
The mother-in-law asked me triumphantly.
“If everything written here is true, then you’ve been in that sort of improper relationship with a commoner and taking money from him, haven’t you?”
I bit my lip and met the man’s gaze as well.
“It’s only been a few months since your husband died, and yet you engage in such sordid relations with a commoner?”
“If the lady’s behavior is unseemly, you wouldn’t hesitate to throw her out of this house.”
My silence made Linea, who had been quietly watching the situation unfold, clutch my dress hem tightly.
Before I could stop her, she cried out.
“No, no! Mother isn’t that kind of person! And even if she were, don’t throw her out! Don’t touch Mother!”
“Linea, just a moment!”
Frightened the backlash might fall on the child, I hurried to silence her.
But it was inevitable that the mother-in-law’s eyes grew even colder.
“See? You’ve contaminated Linea with your filth, and look what’s become of her!”
“How could the young lady speak to the lady in such a manner! In my year here, I’ve never seen such a thing.”
“And why is that child calling you mother, Linea?”
The mother-in-law extended her hand toward Linea.
“Come here. The more you act like this, the harder it will be for you to marry into a good family.”
“No!”
Linea, who had never once defied her grandmother before, shook her head desperately as she answered.
I, too, pushed the child’s small body behind me, away from the mother-in-law’s sight.
“Mother, what if that man and I aren’t lovers at all? I suspect Mery has been lying to you.”
“Lying? Look at what’s written in this notebook! The dates and times match perfectly with when you were throwing money around—it’s all here, down to the exact amounts he gave you!”
“What if the reason for our meetings wasn’t a secret affair?”
I smiled sweetly.
“Once you learn the truth, you’ll want to throw out Mery, not me.”
At that, Mery burst out loudly.
“Madam, look at her—even now she speaks like this!”
“Then ask that man yourself. Is he my lover or not—let him say it clearly.”
“That is…….”
Mery grew hesitant, watching for an opening.
Then the mother-in-law pressed further.
“Didn’t you tell me that this commoner man and Asha Delmore were lovers, and that you even gave her expensive gifts and allowances?”
“……Yes, that’s true.”
I made a proposal to the mother-in-law, seeing Mery’s momentum deflate.
“If Mery fabricated lies to expel me like this, Mother, will you throw her out of this house instead?”
“Why me! Look at her! Exactly as I said!”
“I’ve always thought only of the Delmore Earldom, but I never expected Mery would ruin this surprise.”
I spoke with feigned sadness, meeting the mother-in-law’s eyes.
“So she deserves punishment, doesn’t she?”
The mother-in-law considered for a moment, then finally gave me a skeptical nod.
“Then tell me. What exactly is this man, and what do those dates and amounts in the notebook mean?”
“Mother, did you know that the Ketlak Family exists very far back in the roots of my birth family, the Terisa Family?”
At this sudden remark, the mother-in-law’s brow furrowed.
I smiled and spoke.
“Well, the sole heir of that Ketlak Family passed away a few months ago, and it seems he left me a portion of his Inheritance.”

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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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