Why Is My Husband the Villainous Schemer! - Chapter 61

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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 61
I touched the pale cheek pressed against Carcel’s chest, tracing it with my fingertips, and asked.
Linea opened her mouth and answered.
“My wish came true today, and I’m so happy.”
“You made a wish like that today?”
“I wished to become a family with Mother and the Duke.”
Her first birthday party celebrated by people who truly cared.
Before the fireworks that announced the beginning of a new life, as if she were being born anew, the child had wished for one thing: family.
Linea smiled brightly and said.
“They say wishes made on your birthday always come true—and it really does seem to be true!”
Her eyes glistened with tears, but there was no longer any sadness in them.
Only pure happiness shone through, and it made me feel happy too.
I held Linea close once more.
This small, precious child still had so much growing to do—and I was seized by the resolve to make her happy, staking everything I had on it.
Until the day my life ends.
* * *
“……A great fire bird spoke. ‘I will never forget the warmth you showed me.'”
I read the Fairy Tale Book to Linea, even changing my voice like a master storyteller.
“And so Lea…….”
Suddenly, a soft, rhythmic breathing reached my ears, and I glanced at Linea.
‘She’s asleep!’
After playing all day and even crying, there was no way she wouldn’t be exhausted.
Just moments before, she had been listening intently to the Fairy Tale Book she’d received as a gift, her eyes alight with wonder—and now she lay curled up like a wind-up doll whose spring had unwound.
Charmed by how adorable she looked, I smiled softly and held my breath as I eased myself off the bed.
I pulled the blanket up to her neck and patted her gently, then leaned down to kiss her forehead—and she stirred slightly.
‘She’ll wake up.’
In a panic, I backed away and quietly opened the door to leave.
“Eek—”
A gasp almost escaped me, but I swallowed it down with my hand—because Carcel was standing right in front of me.
He smiled silently, his eyes crinkling with amusement.
And he offered me his hand.
I gave a small laugh through my nose and took his hand.
It didn’t take long to reach the Bedroom. Only after I closed the door behind us could I speak.
“Carcel! Why were you waiting there today? I nearly jumped out of my skin!”
“Just… I missed you?”
Carcel offered me his usual gentle smile.
Seeing that expression, I made a suggestion.
“Next time, why don’t you come in with me and help put Linea to bed?”
“May I do that?”
“You’re legally her father now—is there any reason you couldn’t?”
Carcel had been keeping his distance, perhaps worried that Linea might fear him.
“Then starting tomorrow, I would like to ask your daughter’s permission and help put her to bed.”
“But…”
When I looked up at Carcel, I saw tension flicker across his face.
I narrowed my eyes and asked.
“How long are you going to keep calling her ‘your daughter’?”
“I’m not quite used to it yet, and I was worried she might feel strange if I used her name.”
“Linea has a considerate nature, so if you keep that distance, she won’t warm up to you quickly. We’ve built some trust now—call her Linea.”
In the original story too, Linea was the type to prioritize others’ feelings, so it had taken time for her to become comfortable.
Now that trust had been established, it would be better for Carcel to close the distance himself.
“I’m still not accustomed to it.”
“Beginnings are always hard, but once you start, things move faster than you’d think.”
I added with a mischievous tone.
“Do you remember when you and I started calling each other by name?”
“The day we first ate together in the Dining Hall, wasn’t it?”
“Honestly, I thought you were trying too hard back then, but didn’t things move really quickly between us after that?”
At my question, Carcel gently ran his thumb across the back of my hand he was holding.
“Yes.”
His lowered voice carried a sticky, drawn-out quality.
Looking down at me, his eyes seemed almost to savor me.
“Car… cel?”
“Ah, Asha. Now that I think of it, there’s something I prepared for Linea tomorrow.”
Noticing my gaze, he changed the subject.
Only then did I relax slightly and nod.
“What is it?”
“She doesn’t have a bank account, does she? I’ve prepared an Allowance Record Book and a Bank Passbook.”
“Were you serious about giving her an allowance? I could do that myself.”
“Didn’t you say so yourself? That I’m Linea’s father.”
He took my hand and led me to the table.
“This is her allowance for this week. I asked around and was told this amount is the standard rate these days.”
I picked up the Bank Passbook and looked at him suspiciously.
“Car, Carcel! What is this?”
“Her allowance.”
“The completely absurd amount I’m seeing here—what exactly is that supposed to be?”
“I was told this is the average.”
Carcel said it without a trace of embarrassment.
“Have you heard of the ‘average trap’? How much wealth do the people around you have?”
“Surely a hundred Gold per week is reasonable, isn’t it?”
A hundred Gold was roughly equivalent to ten million won—and he was planning to give that to a child every week?
I shook my head emphatically.
“That’s far too much! I feel sorry about it, and besides, Linea needs to learn proper financial sense.”
“I’m her father giving her an allowance—what is there for you to feel sorry about?”
Carcel turned my own words back on me.
His eyes softened with amusement.
“Didn’t you say it yourself? That we’re family now. And spouses form an Economic Partnership.”
“That’s… true, but you said it was a Contract Marriage, didn’t you? I was worried you were overextending yourself.”
“I’m hurt.”
Hurt?
Those weren’t words Carcel would normally voice, and I opened my eyes wide in surprise.
Yet the hurt was genuinely reflected in his gaze as he stood before the table.
With that subtly resentful look, I opened and closed my lips several times without speaking.
“No, wait. How could I… hurt you? You’re the one who said this was a Contract Marriage in the first place.”
“One moment you tell me we’re family and stir my hopes, the next you hide behind the word ‘contract’ and draw a line between us.”
“No, that’s not it at all!”
Carcel looked at me as I practically shouted in denial.
“Is it only my body and heart you mean to take, then?”
“What?!”
This man!
Carcel released my hand and turned his head to the side with a delicate, sorrowful expression.
I shook my head and protested earnestly.
“No—and besides, when have I ever taken your body?”
“If you wish to do so now, you have my permission.”
He spoke as though offering himself up like a flower to be plucked.
“…Carcel. You’re far too large to be taken.”
“If you’re thinking of consuming me and discarding me, I would feel very hurt indeed.”
“How did this conversation even start? The allowance?”
“Yes. I said that if you won’t let me, your father, give his daughter this much allowance, then I should be allowed to take your body.”
I clutched my temples and answered.
“Fine. I don’t think talking you out of it will work anyway.”
It was burdensome, truth be told, but I had no real counterargument for him.
I’d called Linea family in front of her, yet here I was, in private, uncomfortable with Carcel giving her a large sum—it made no sense.
‘Besides, I don’t think I’ll be divorcing Carcel anyway.’
Now that the major troubles had been resolved, my feelings toward Carcel were rising to the surface.
“Asha, and there’s one more thing I wanted to show you.”
“Don’t tell me it’s another…”
At my suspicious look, he shook his head.
“No, it’s a list of mining companies. I’d like to handle everything with my own funds, but I know you dislike that.”
“I’m relieved.”
“Whichever you choose from these will be handled well.”
Since Carcel had never been wrong before, I nodded.
“I’ll decide tomorrow. I’ve been running the event all day and I’m exhausted.”
“The role of Mistress of the House isn’t easy, I realize. Being a mother isn’t either. And on top of everything, you have your own work.”
Carcel spoke to me.
“I truly think you’re remarkable for managing all these roles at once.”
“I’m not that remarkable, really.”
“You are. You’re not only handling your own work but caring for others as well.”
At those words, I felt a flush of embarrassment.
“Th, thank you.”
“But Asha.”
Carcel gazed at me and opened his mouth.
“Please don’t try so hard. You’re already doing more than perfectly as it is.”
“Please. I only struggled today.”
“You don’t need to host social gatherings unless they’re related to Linea. I was never one for such things anyway.”
Carcel continued calmly.
“You can do whatever you wish. Everything you don’t want to do, give to me.”
“Is there anyone in the world who can live like that?”
He chuckled as though he found that amusing.
“By my side, Asha, you may do anything at all.”
Somehow he seemed to emphasize the words ‘by my side’ in particular.
At last, he whispered something more to me.
“So… Asha. Never think of leaving my side.”

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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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