Why Is My Husband the Villainous Schemer! - Chapter 82

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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 82
Linea didn’t stop talking about the invitation even after the meal ended.
“Lucian said he’s the Crown Prince, but will it really be okay for me to go?”
Looking at the child’s visibly worried face, I reassured her.
“Of course it’s fine. His Majesty said you’re welcome to spend time with the Crown Prince.”
“That’s a relief, but…….”
Linea hesitated.
It was only natural—she’d had no idea until now that Lucian was the Crown Prince.
Now, having received this invitation, she’d learned he was indeed the Crown Prince, one who’d kept his position rather quiet.
“Did Lucian suddenly feel strange to you?”
At that, Linea shook her head vigorously.
“Then what?”
“It’s just…… whether it’s really okay for me to meet with Lucian—I mean, Your Highness—like this. And going to the Crown Prince’s Palace makes it even more overwhelming.”
Lucian had said we’d watch fireworks together tomorrow evening at the Observation Platform in the Inner Palace.
I tucked Linea’s hair behind her ear and spoke.
“The fact that he’s the Crown Prince doesn’t change who Lucian is, does it? He’s still your friend.”
“Friends with the Crown Prince…….”
I could empathize with why Linea felt this way.
‘It’s probably like what I felt when Carcel turned out to be the Duke of House of Rakan, not just a marquis.’
At first it feels strange. There’s resentment for not being honest with you earlier.
But spending time together, I’ve come to realize…… Carcel was always the same.
“Of course, if you’re uncomfortable, you can tell me honestly. Your mother can find an appropriate way to decline.”
I waited for Linea’s answer, and soon the child replied.
“No! Because Lucian is still Lucian!”
“You’re sure you’re okay with it?”
“Yes!”
Linea had regained her spunk, and I couldn’t help but smile at how adorable she looked.
“Whose daughter is this brave, and cute, and lovely? Hmm?”
“Hehe. …… Asha of Rivandel’s daughter.”
The child accepted my touch with a face used to being cherished.
I held her soft, doughy cheeks in my hands and gently pinched them.
“You’re so, so cute! And on top of that, my baby is smart too.”
It’s only because I haven’t taught her much until now, but Linea has been studying diligently since I started instructing her.
‘Now she’s even moved beyond Arithmetic Operations to Problem Application.’
Recently, John threw out a question, and Jane wrote out all sorts of mathematical formulas to answer it—Linea’s been solving all those tricky problems that fool so many students.
I praised her once, and Linea grew so excited she shyly began bragging to me.
“I did a Dictation test with Grandmother today and got a perfect score. It was a difficult one, too.”
“Oh my, really? You must have worked so hard.”
Watching Linea fidget her fingers nervously, waiting to be adored, my heart swelled with affection.
I couldn’t resist her cuteness and began kissing her cheeks.
“Ah, you’re adorable.”
“Hehe.”
Linea threw her arms around me.
Holding the child, I checked the time and realized it was almost bedtime.
Carcel’s been busy lately, so we haven’t had a chance to try this.
I’d mentioned wanting to read Linea a bedtime Fairy Tale.
“Say, sweetie, shall we sleep with Dad tonight?”
“……mm.”
Linea’s face showed hesitation.
Ever since witnessing us kiss, she’d been openly wary of Carcel.
“What, you don’t want to?”
“It’s not that, but…… Father was trying to eat Mother right up.”
“Huh? What?”
“It scared me.”
At that, I bit my lip hard.
“It scared you, huh.”
“In the Fairy Tale Book, the wolf ate the girl, and it looked kind of like that…….”
“But what you saw wasn’t eating, exactly. Um.”
How on earth do I explain this?
My face grew troubled. Cold sweat trickled down my back.
I haven’t started sex education yet. I’ll do it someday, but the difficulty level was way too high for someone as inexperienced as me!
“So when your mother and father like each other very much, they want to kiss. That’s why that happened.”
“So you kissed?”
“What?! Where did you learn that word?”
“In the Fairy Tale Book, after the prince proposes, he always kisses.”
Looking into those innocent, clear eyes, I found myself without words.
“That’s, that’s right. That’s what people who like each other do!”
Upon hearing that, the child suddenly cried out to me.
“Then let’s kiss every day!”
“Huh?”
“Grandmother said that if you do it often, little brothers and sisters are born!”
I barely managed to pull my lips into a smile.
‘Just how much has Mother been telling her.’
The embarrassment was all mine.
“Um, well. We don’t have plans for children right now, but…….”
“I’d like to have a little brother or sister!”
Linea remained cheerful and innocent.
I gently asked the unknowing child.
“Does Linea want a sibling?”
“Yes!”
I turned away, flustered, and struggled to answer.
“Well…… I’ll try my best.”
What exactly was my relationship with Carcel right now?
Legally, we were a married couple, but…… the word “married couple” itself still felt somewhat heavy to me.
Not that I disliked Carcel—far from it.
‘But at this point, saying I like him or asking to date feels silly somehow.’
Having skipped so many steps already and knowing that Carcel’s feelings were directed toward me, I hadn’t even thought to define our relationship.
“Should Mother and Father read tonight’s bedtime story together?”
“Yes!”
Linea’s wariness of Carcel seemed to have eased again.
Still, the fact that this tiny child had been thinking of defending me was so touching that I couldn’t help but chuckle.
* * *
“Ah, the day’s almost over.”
After putting Linea down to sleep, Carcel and I spent a moment in the Family Room.
Thinking of how Carcel had looked while tucking Linea in, I still couldn’t stop smiling.
‘He seemed so awkward at first, but once he got the hang of it, he was actually quite good at it.’
Carcel and I took turns performing like a storyteller, and Linea absolutely loved it.
With childcare and work done, sleep time was approaching soon, but…….
That’s when a knock sounded.
“Come in.”
At Carcel’s word, the door opened—but to my surprise, it was Matt who entered.
“Why didn’t you go home?”
Carcel seemed puzzled to see Matt, who was supposed to have no overtime.
Matt politely greeted me first, then approached Carcel.
“The reason I’ve come is…….”
Then he whispered something in Carcel’s ear.
It was obviously work-related, so I just waited patiently.
Soon Carcel nodded to Matt.
“Do it that way.”
“Ah, and Isaar sent a Scent Sachet, saying it’s effective for curing Insomnia. What should we do with it?”
“Just put it somewhere.”
“Doesn’t Your Grace typically suffer from Insomnia? Wouldn’t it be good for you to use it now?”
At that, Carcel laughed quietly.
“Why would I trust something that guy gave me.”
“But the Magic Tower’s Master guaranteed its efficacy…….”
Listening to their conversation, I slipped in a word.
“Carcel, do you still have Insomnia? You haven’t been sleeping properly lately, have you?”
“No, ma’am.”
Carcel shook his head at me.
“I sleep soundly whenever I’m by your side.”
Matt tilted his head.
“Pardon? Didn’t you say you’ve been sleeping less than three hours a day for over a week……, uh.”
Carcel clamped Matt’s mouth shut mid-sentence.
And then, with a composed smile directed at me, Carcel offered his explanation.
“Except when work is busy, I have no Insomnia whatsoever. I don’t need much sleep anyway.”
“Less than three hours counts as not needing much?”
“It’s nothing serious.”
If I remembered correctly, Carcel was always there when I fell asleep and always by my side when I woke.
Except for the last three days.
“Hmm…….”
When I looked suspicious, Carcel released Matt’s mouth and gave him a dismissal.
“Go on home. You need rest.”
“Since when have you cared about my rest……that well. You do, don’t you.”
Matt immediately changed his wording at Carcel’s stern gaze, bowed to me, and left.
Of course, I wasn’t about to let Carcel off the hook.
“Wait, so you’ve been lying here beside me this whole time without sleeping properly?”
“……I, I slept fine.”
“Should I ask Isaar for another Scent Sachet if this is how it’s going to be?”
“No. I can’t put something whose side effects aren’t confirmed yet near you.”
Carcel shook his head.
In the end, I dragged him toward the Bedroom.
“Just come with me. I know exactly the right way to help you sleep.”
Obediently following me to the Bedroom, I lay down on the bed with Carcel.
When I’d turned off all the lights and everything had gone completely dark, I opened my arms to Carcel.
“Come here, snuggle up to me!”

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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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