Chapter 21
Two more days passed after that.
Evan, perhaps having let down his guard because I didn’t show much interest in him, didn’t say a word.
But while Evan was asleep, I began pretending to toss and turn, slowly starting to cling to him. Evan couldn’t even show that he disliked it—he only let out a quiet sigh before falling back asleep.
Then, while staying close against him, I would very carefully lift up his loungewear.
Beneath it, not only were there dark bruises, but countless small sword wounds scattered all over his body.
‘Only the parts hidden under clothing…’
It was too calculated.
This was clearly someone abusing him in an intelligent, secretive way.
‘They’re messing with him mentally too. He was never a bright kid to begin with, but lately he looks even darker and gloomier.’
At first, I suspected Duke Icard.
But over the past two days, even on days when the duke had been out all day, Evan came back covered in fresh injuries.
That meant it was someone else.
‘Then it has to be related to the knight training.’
I was technically the young duchess, but I didn’t have a single proper subordinate I could order around to investigate.
‘And… if I act too boldly, the duke might start suspecting me.’
Revealing my sharpness right now was not a good strategy.
‘The duke wants a daughter-in-law who lives quietly and dies quietly—not one who’s clever and perceptive.’
Evan mattered, but my own survival came first. I couldn’t just rush in recklessly.
Still, I didn’t intend to drag this out.
With each passing day, Evan’s wounds would only grow worse.
‘No matter how big he is for his age… he’s still just a child…’
And a child who had been hurt for a long time.
Then finally, the situation I had been waiting for arrived—one where it would seem natural for me to act.
Serena came to my room under the excuse of checking on me, chatting endlessly.
She said that when she told the duke exactly what I instructed, he hadn’t given any clear response.
‘I thought he’d say not to treat it at all.’
Maybe since he claimed it couldn’t be cured anyway, he didn’t bother.
As I tilted my head in confusion, Serena took my hand and said,
“Lady Laria, Sven told me to pass along his gratitude.”
“Gratitude? For what?”
I pretended not to know anything.
“Well… Sven’s mother was living in the building you mentioned.”
“Oh my, really?”
“But apparently, a crazy mage had moved into the floor below and was conducting illegal experiments.”
Serena sighed and continued.
“The whole building nearly got blown apart. Anyway, Sven says thanks to you, he was able to rescue his mother in advance. He’s extremely grateful.”
“That’s wonderful, truly.”
“And this is Sven’s gift of thanks. He insisted you accept it.”
Serena handed me a bracelet set with a thick diamond.
“Oh dear.”
I shook my head as I replied,
“He didn’t need to insist. I wasn’t going to refuse anyway. He wasted his energy.”
While I tried the bracelet on, Serena spoke in a serious tone.
“Lady Laria… but there’s someone copying your actions.”
“Hm?”
“A commoner named Seymour Ritsua… he’s someone who made money at Black Horse just like you did.”
“Mm…”
The one copying wasn’t Seymour—it was actually me.
“Can you believe it? With that money, he’s buying a baron title and purchasing the rest of the Hanyua territory. Isn’t that suspicious?”
Suspicious… so from the outside, it really did look questionable.
Serena continued gravely.
“His identity must be…”
I tensed, gripping the edge of my skirt.
“…Lady Laria’s highly capable stalker, perhaps?”
“Oh, no.”
I let out a breath of relief.
I only acted first because I knew the original story. If I’d moved even slightly later, I might have been treated as Seymour’s stalker instead.
A decent person would feel sorry toward Seymour.
‘Whew. Good thing I moved first. I need to stay one step ahead from now on.’
But I wasn’t a decent person.
If I’d possessed a wealthy villainess, I wouldn’t have had to bother anyone.
But I was a terminal side character.
I had no choice but to cling to the male lead’s plot armor.
‘Sorry… but let the transmigrator live… You’ll be fine anyway…’
Just then—
“Little Madam, it’s Lisa.”
“Yes, come in!”
Not only Lisa entered, but also the guards who had accompanied us into town.
Each of them carried a large box.
They were obviously gifts for me.
If they weren’t mine, I’d cry.
“This is… what you mentioned before?”
When I asked excitedly, Lisa beamed.
“Yes! The tailoring is all finished, so we brought everything.”
The guards groaned as they opened the boxes.
Inside were clothes, accessories, jewelry—everything I’d touched and examined before.
“But… there’s even more than that?”
“You told us to buy a few similar items as well.”
I sighed internally again.
I should’ve gone to a more expensive, luxurious shop.
While I pretended to look touched, secretly searching for the most expensive piece, Lisa greeted Serena first.
“So you’re the new physician. Nice to meet you. I’m Lisa Alonya, Lady Laria’s maid.”
“Yes, I’m Serena Moristoy.”
Serena smiled politely, then tilted her head at the hairpin I picked up.
“Lady Laria… that hairpin makes you look a bit older. How about something like this instead?”
I smiled awkwardly.
That was the one Lisa had said was pretty.
“Older? You mean it looks mature. It suits Lady Laria perfectly.”
Lisa bristled and held the pin against my hair.
“No, this one is better.”
Serena picked up another pin and placed it on the other side.
“Lady Serena? I’ve been with Lady Laria all this time. Wouldn’t my taste be more accurate?”
“Oh? What does time spent together have to do with aesthetics? Lady Laria is cute—this style suits her.”
Even though Lisa was always gentle, her eyes sharpened aggressively.
“Whose eye is better? A physician’s, or a maid who’s dressed her mistress countless times?”
Serena remained completely unfazed.
“I’m someone who only looks at Lady Laria. Better than a maid who serves this person and that person.”
“What is this? A physician trying to push out a maid who was already here?”
“Bonds aren’t proportional to time. Ours is a one-on-one relationship!”
While they waged this strange battle of pride, I scanned the box carefully.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t much that could easily be sold for cash.
I should’ve gone straight to the jeweler instead of fiddling with girlish trinkets…
I’d have to use these just for daily mood-lifting.
And now—
This was the moment I’d been waiting for.
Without me seeking them out, the escort knights had come for an official reason.
And today, Duke Icard was also in the mansion.
Good. No one would suspect anything. Everything was natural.
“Oh, by the way…”
Of course, my acting was flawless.
I looked at the knights as if something had just occurred to me.
“My body is really weak… Do you think taking sword lessons would make me stronger?”
“Pardon?”
One knight stared blankly.
“Sword lessons…? Little Madam?”
It must’ve sounded ridiculous.
My stamina was as limp as the dress I was holding.
“Yeah. I thought maybe it’s because I never exercise.”
Even mentioning swordsmanship with this body was absurd.
But instead of saying, Can you even run properly?, the knight answered gently.
“Well… perhaps you should consult your physician first.”
“Why? It sounds fun.”
I blinked innocently.
Serena, who had been arguing with Lisa, blinked too.
“You need my opinion? Moderate exercise is good. Consultation over. Now, shall we look at dresses?”
And she went right back to debating with Lisa.
The knights looked even more troubled, so I pressed again.
“If a beginner like me learns swordsmanship… do you get hit a lot? Get hurt and injured? Is that why you’re stopping me?”
“Hurt…?”
“Bruised all over, covered in cuts…”
“That would be a problem. I have to wear dresses.”
“Ah… no, it wouldn’t be like that.”
The knight scratched the back of his head.
“It’s not battle, just training. Your muscles may ache, but you won’t end up covered in wounds.”
As expected.
Evan had lied when he said sword training always ended up like that.
The knights exchanged nervous glances, afraid I might actually insist.
“Still, in your case, Little Madam, your muscles would hurt quite badly…”
“You don’t look like you could even lift a sword…”
Of course, I had no intention of learning swordsmanship.
‘I hate hard work.’
With this body, I couldn’t conquer the world.
I probably couldn’t even beat Serena.
“Mm. I’ll think about it. I was just saying.”
Then I smiled softly.
“Evan goes to the knight order these days too. I thought maybe we could learn together.”
“Ah…”
The knight smiled back.
“That would likely be difficult. The difference in level is great, and the young master is receiving private instruction… from the knight commander himself.”
“The knight commander?”
I bit my lower lip slightly.
So my young husband was being beaten by none other than the knight commander…
