Why Is My Husband the Villainous Schemer! - Chapter 5

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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 5
Carcel nodded in agreement.
What Carcel didn’t know, however, was that Matt had never been in a relationship either.
But Matt certainly had a way with words.
“If you put pressure on them in the early stage when you’re getting to know each other, you’ve already lost. So you slip in naturally, you understand?”
Carcel began applying what he’d learned from Matt’s Attribute Tutoring.
“I’d be grateful if you didn’t worry. I’m confident I can hand over all thirty-two Bank Accounts containing my entire fortune to you, along with Property Deeds for roughly five estates. This is nothing in comparison.”
As he spoke, Carcel thought to himself.
‘A natural appeal to wealth—excellent.’
Asha, meanwhile, was shaking her head as she heard the scale of his assets.
The more he spoke, the more it sounded like a Con Artist’s repertoire, and the more suspicious she became.
He rattled off numbers about his wealth without being asked, offered inexplicable kindness—it was all perfectly executed.
While Asha grew certain he was indeed a Con Artist, Carcel remained entirely oblivious.
“…Don’t hand things like that over to a stranger.”
With that, Asha also refused the toys he’d intended to give.
“And one toy is more than enough for Rinea! You can’t even carry all this, and it’s excessive.”
“Ah, so you don’t have a warehouse at home for storing toys?”
“…Pardon?”
Carcel tilted his head in confusion, then quickly understood.
‘The Delmore Countess House’s finances must be in quite poor condition.’
At that thought, his gaze drifted to Asha’s dress.
The fabric was considerably worn for a noblewoman’s gown.
‘I should ask Matt how to naturally slip a dress into a woman’s hands next time.’
“This is enough. The truth is, I only came to buy this one thing anyway.”
Asha selected a single item from among the other toys: a doll.
The Dress-up Doll, currently fashionable among the nobility, came with its own wardrobe case containing not only various gowns but also tiny ornaments crafted from genuine gems.
“How much is it?”
Asha picked up the doll, apparently intending to pay for it herself, and headed toward the counter.
At the sight of this, Carcel followed her as if enchanted.
“I’ll settle the account.”
* * *
At his words, I tilted my head in bewilderment.
‘He said I shouldn’t owe a Con Artist anything. And even if that weren’t the case, I can’t accept an expensive gift from someone I’ve just met!’
I refused.
“There’s no need. I have money too.”
“It’s not about the money. It’s not that kind of issue…”
Before I could finish, an unfamiliar cologne scent approached from behind so close that I opened my eyes wide.
Our bodies didn’t touch at all, yet the fragrance seemed to enfold me from behind.
A firm arm reached around from behind me and took hold of the doll.
I had no choice but to turn toward Carcel with what felt like perfect naturalness.
“As I mentioned earlier…I am sincere with you. I wish to truly come to know you.”
At those words, I lost my voice for a moment, startled.
He whispered languidly in that low, resonant tone.
“So would you not permit me this one debt, so that I might promise our next meeting?”
“I…”
“If you would accept me, who knows no way to arrange a future meeting with a lady except like this…”
As he spoke, lowering his long lashes, Carcel’s eyes were kind—endlessly kind.
My mind went completely white.
‘It’s because he’s a Con Artist that he’s so skilled at seduction. Making people fall for him with that face is his profession.’
Throughout my life, the only luck I’d ever had was cracking an egg and finding a double yolk, or luckily getting a seat on the commute home.
So a handsome, wealthy man suddenly buying me an expensive gift out of pure affection made absolutely no sense.
“…Bill it to the Libaendel Marquis House.”
“Understood.”
In the moment I stammered and couldn’t continue, Carcel skillfully pulled the receipt toward himself.
“Ah…thank you.”
Finding myself in this situation, I felt too awkward to ask for the receipt back, so I simply turned to him and bowed in gratitude.
Then Carcel’s eyes curved upward as he smiled.
“It’s nothing. If I’ve been of any help to you…”
With that low, murmured voice, his gaze traced downward from my eyes to my cheeks and then to my lips.
Then, quite suddenly, he laughed.
“That alone would justify my existence.”
“No, that’s…a strange thing to say.”
“I’m sincere.”
At that, my eyes grew slightly flushed.
His tender words, spoken as though he’d do anything, shook my heart a little, but a sliver of self-preservation held firm.
‘How much money does it take to make someone act this prettily?’
I couldn’t deny that he was beautiful enough to inspire awe, intimidating though his features were.
For some reason, my heart was racing. I clutched at it and bit my lip firmly.
At this, Carcel leaned toward me with a puzzled expression and asked.
“Are you uncomfortable somewhere?”
“Not at all.”
“Are you hungry?”
“…Suddenly?”
He’d been discussing something entirely different just moments ago, and now the subject had changed. I couldn’t collect myself.
On top of never having been in a relationship, I was weak against a handsome man’s face!
I was even more defenseless against such direct, forthright attention.
I turned my head to the side to avoid his gaze, and embarrassed by the attention that followed, I spoke hurriedly.
“I, I should be heading back. Before it gets any later.”
“I’ll see you home.”
I readily accepted Carcel’s offer without protest.
The journey back to the countess’s residence from here was considerable, and hiring a carriage would exceed my budget.
I took the Marquis’s hand once more and climbed into the carriage.
* * *
Moments later, I emerged from the carriage with a pallid, drained expression.
To have been alone with a Con Artist in a carriage…!
‘Why on earth would the Libaendel Marquis buy all this?’
Even suggesting he wrap up every single piece of premium toy—like some madman.
‘Original Con Artists always spend money on women first before winning their hearts.’
To be honest…I was a little thrilled.
No, really—if someone with that face smiles wistfully and says he’ll buy a doll as a way to secure a next meeting, anyone can see that’s seduction.
‘If I’d been just a little more naive, I might have believed him and opened my heart, at least slightly.’
But thinking rationally, the Libaendel Marquis is such a handsome man that women would flock to his side without him having to do all this.
Though admittedly, his features were somewhat frightening.
And whenever our eyes met, he’d smile with a hint of blood in it, which made my knees buckle.
Because of that smile, separate from his handsomeness, I didn’t feel inclined to get closer to him.
‘But for some reason, he seemed quite interested in me.’
Unable to decide how to think about this mysterious man called the Libaendel Marquis, I let out a small sigh.
At least he’d only bought the one doll and some snacks after I’d objected.
Even so, the price was beyond imagination.
‘And the doll’s wardrobe has more pieces than the dresses I own.’
It was definitely a doll Rinea would adore.
In the original work, there was a passage where Rinea envied seeing other girls her age with this doll.
I remembered this in such detail because my memory was better than I’d expected when it came to the novel.
Thanks to that, I knew exactly what would delight Rinea.
The problem was that I absolutely had to repay this debt later.
‘I can’t possibly just accept this for free.’
Unexplained kindness made me deeply uncomfortable.
I entered the house clutching the gift for Rinea tightly to my chest.
I’d tried to walk in as quietly as possible, wanting to avoid a certain person.
“…Every single day, and here’s the daughter-in-law with nothing to do but go gallivanting.”
I squeezed my eyes shut.
Of all places, the reception room had to be right next to the front entrance.
And my Mother-in-law, who had apparently been waiting and steeling herself for this, emerged from the reception room.
I quickly put on a smile.
“Were you worried about me and waiting, Mother?”
When I asked brightly, feigning obliviousness, she let out a derisive laugh.
“How much did you spend out there? You’ve really outdone yourself.”
“Oh, Mother. I don’t recall ever receiving a single penny from this household. I spend what I earn myself, after all.”

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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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