Why Is My Husband the Villainous Schemer! - Chapter 8

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 8
First, proving that Linea was being abused and neglected.
Second, having sufficient wealth and status to take responsibility for the child.
This Imperial Law was actually rare in precedent.
But there was one such case, and it had succeeded.
That case was similar to mine.
The wife had divorced and wanted to take her abused ward with her.
‘The reason that lady succeeded was one thing: the man she was remarrying held the rank of Marquis.’
In short, I needed backing.
House Delmore was declining, but it was still a Count’s house, at least in name.
‘So I have to marry a man with at least a Marquis’s rank or higher.’
Another Count’s house wouldn’t bother helping me out.
As it happened, Marquis Ribandhel possessed exactly the conditions I needed. It couldn’t have been better.
After finishing my meal, I glanced up at him, and our eyes met.
The moment our gazes locked, he curved his eyes into a smile.
In a low voice that seemed to draw the words out, he asked me.
“Is there something you need?”
How did he know?
I was startled inwardly but shook my head.
‘Not yet. Not until I get information on Marquis Ribandhel from the Information Guild!’
Then I’d propose a contract marriage to him.
Since there’s no information on Marquis Ribandhel yet, I don’t know what I can offer in exchange for the marriage.
‘I’ll figure out a way one step at a time.’
Right now, my only focus is increasing my wealth.
“We’ve arrived.”
“Thank you so much for the ride.”
“If you’d like, I could pick you up again once your business is finished.”
At that, I hurriedly shook my head.
“Oh, no—I couldn’t possibly. I do have some conscience, after all.”
“You can reach me anytime using the business card I gave you then.”
“Thank you.”
Marquis Ribandhel was showing me a tenderness that I couldn’t quite fathom.
But once today’s transaction was done, I would become a debtor to him.
‘When that time comes, I’ll be able to move about more easily.’
With that thought, I stepped down from the carriage.
However, the real estate transaction that I’d been confident would proceed smoothly unfolded quite differently than expected.
* * *
“So you’re saying you saw the land was being put up for sale and came to buy it?”
“Yes, I need the land.”
“Why?”
At that question, I blinked.
I’d understood that House Enishah’s lady was in urgent need of funds due to the massive gambling debts accumulated in House Enishah’s name.
So I’d thought she’d be delighted if I offered this amount.
I hadn’t expected her to be so fastidious as to ask the reason.
In the original work, ten years prior, House Enishah’s lady had supposedly liquidated this land to Jenith’s parents.
She’d sold that vast tract for a mere nine hundred Gold.
Of course, nine hundred Gold was an amount that would require a commoner to stake their entire fortune, but for land of that size, it was a giveaway price.
I waved my hands frantically and scrambled for an excuse.
“My lifelong dream has been to build a beautiful home in picturesque countryside and run a ranch there, growing old in peace.”
“Where is your husband?”
“I’m sorry?”
House Enishah’s lady let out a small sigh and continued.
“It’s just… for someone so young to come purchase land alone. It naturally raises doubts for me.”
As she spoke, House Enishah’s lady shook her head.
“And a thousand Gold isn’t a small sum. It’s strange that you’d hand it over in full cash like this.”
“I withdrew it from a bank—”
“Did you receive your husband’s permission?”
In the original work, women had limited economic power, and an adult woman could only open a bank account after marriage.
So it made sense she wouldn’t trust a young person like me walking up with such a large sum to buy land.
“Then what would I need to do for you to sell me this land? To be honest, I passed by and fell in love with it at first sight. I really do want to buy it.”
I clasped my hands together and pleaded with her, eyes sparkling.
Seeing this, House Enishah’s lady lowered her guard slightly and spoke.
“Well, I do have another buyer whose identity is verified—they’ve offered me nine hundred Gold.”
That would be Jenith’s parents.
She continued on to me carefully.
“If you’re willing to pay a higher price, I certainly benefit… but I’d appreciate it if you came with your husband to sign the contract.”
“My… my husband?”
I don’t have a husband.
I tilted my head in difficulty. House Enishah’s lady then spoke firmly.
“For me, trust is the most important thing in a transaction. I don’t want to receive a large sum that might cause complications later.”
“So if I come with my husband and we proceed with the contract, you’ll sell me this land?”
“Yes. A thousand Gold is better than nine hundred, and you’re also offering five percent of the net profit from the land over the next ten years. There’s nothing bad about it.”
That was right. Even knowing the full value of this land, I’d felt bad about completely taking advantage of House Enishah’s lady, so I’d offered that condition.
Once the mine is developed, five percent of the net profit will far exceed nine hundred Gold.
A substantial sum would likely enter her accounts every month, enough to pay off House Enishah’s gambling debts and more.
But where was I supposed to find a fake husband?
A light bulb flickered on in my rapidly spinning mind.
“Please wait just a moment. I’ll be back with a contract today, so please don’t sell to the other party!”
“Don’t worry. I value integrity above all.”
She seemed to mean it.
In the end, I hurried out of the Baron’s Estate and looked around frantically.
‘He must already be long gone.’
I knew that, but if worst came to worst, I could at least try contacting him.
If he’d just stand in as a husband substitute once, I’d have to treat him to a lavish meal sometime.
I’d thought it would definitely be impossible, but—
“What?”
A familiar black carriage was standing nearby, startlingly close.
And as if the carriage had spotted me, it began moving toward me!
As soon as the coachman descended and opened the carriage door, the Marquis who’d been inside set down the documents he was reading and acknowledged me.
“Finished already?”
“No, that’s not it.”
“Once you’re done, let me know. I’ll take you home again.”
He continued to show me that incomprehensible kindness, his lips curling into a gentle smile.
I wondered if I was too materialistic for that smile no longer seeming as menacing as before.
Watching his expression carefully, I approached.
“Well, actually…”
“Yes?”
“…I know this makes me sound insane, but would you mind pretending to be my husband for a bit?”
At those words, his body stiffened.
Then the documents in the Marquis’s hand scattered down onto his lap with a soft rustle.
I quickly shook my head and clarified for him.
“No, wait—I don’t have any ulterior motive. I just need to do something, and they’re insisting I must have a husband. But my previous husband is already deceased…”
I was aware that I was rambling.
But the Marquis soon collected himself, and without a word, he stood and stepped down from the carriage.
“What?”
“Let’s go.”
“You’re really going to do it? I’ll definitely take you out for a nice meal as thanks!”
“Please, don’t mention it.”
Having said that, the Marquis let out a low laugh.
“I’m simply attending to my wife. Still, I won’t turn down the meal.”
“No, I’m not actually your wife or—”
As I said this, he approached me carefully and asked.
“May I place my hand on your shoulder for a moment?”
“Yes.”
It would be natural for a husband to touch his wife’s shoulder once, anyway.
I nodded.
Then, with a gaze of inexplicable obsession that I’d never seen before, his smile deepened.
“Then let’s go, my wife.”
“What?”
“If we’re to pretend I’m your husband, shouldn’t we practice properly from now on?”
Something felt off, but since I was the one receiving help and his logic wasn’t wrong, I didn’t refuse for now.
In the end, I entered with the Marquis and proceeded with the contract!
And he was far more eloquent than I was.
At first, House Enishah’s lady had regarded us with a suspicious eye, but soon she was even offering compliments.
“Your daughter must be beautiful.”
“She takes after her mother, the most beautiful woman in the world, so she’s quite lovely indeed.”
“My goodness.”
Those honeyed words whose true intent I couldn’t discern.
I was flustered and glanced at him sideways, my mouth slightly open.
“Should I sign here?”
“Both the husband and wife need to sign. Just to be safe.”
The problem was that we weren’t really a married couple.
As I hesitated, unsure what to do, he tilted his head and whispered to me.
“I’ll erase my name from the contract later, so let’s write the House Delmore name for now.”
“Understood.”
He signed first on the contract.
And I widened my eyes in shock at the name written on the contract.
‘Carcel?’
I was certain I’d seen the name Carcel somewhere before.
It felt like it had been in this original work.
As I signed the contract pushed toward me, I frantically racked my brain.
I had a terrible foreboding that I had to figure out where I’d seen the name Carcel.
‘Carcel… Lakan?!’
It came back to me.
Who the name Carcel belonged to.
It was Lakan, the Duke—Linea’s secondary love interest and the obsessive, scheming mastermind who would orchestrate my death!
His name was written above mine on the contract.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————