Chapter 1

“I can’t deal with you any longer.”

Those very cold words were the first words I’ve heard from my husband in a month. Even after witnessing the pale complexion of his wife, his cold demeanor continued and my weak body began to tremble from the sight of him.

“Madam, are you okay?”

The first to worry about the anxious Anthea wasn’t her husband, but the woman in his embrace.

“I-I…”

Even as she held on to her own trembling arms, her husband did not display a hint of worry. Her overly cold husband’s reaction made Anthea’s evil eyes glister as tears welled. But Anthea’s husband’s gaze was not on her, but rather the woman in his arms. Her husband’s usually expressionless face was nowhere to be seen and a look of worry was cast on his face.

“Bianca, are you still not taking better care of yourself while in such a situation.”

All the anticipation she had for her husband diminished when she heard him speak another woman’s name.

“Ah, yes. I’m fine.”

The injury on Bianca’s arm caused by the items thrown at her by Anthea was now very visible. Blood dripped from her wound onto the floor.

Under Bianca’s feet laid a broken music box embedded with luxurious jewels. The music box was one of the few precious items her husband gave to her, however, in her momentary anger that she could no longer contain, Anthea threw it.

Anthea stared at the broken music box with regret. Just then her husband sighed and began to reprimand her.

“Are you not even going to apologize? How impudent.”

“No. Madam is unwell so I should have been more attentive.”

Bianca starts to defend Anthea as if she was seeking out blame. But her goodwill did not help Anthea.

Bianca remained close to Anthea’s husband which started to angerAnthea. She wanted to scream at Biana, telling her to get away from her husband, but she bit her lips and refrained.

Richard sighed as he saw their two drastically different responses.

“Bianca, you are too kind. But I saw everything so you don’t have to defend her.”

Richard always met Anthea with a cold gaze while his face was filled with nothing but kindness for Bianca. Anthea was engulfed with hatred and wanted to question Bianca as to why she was in her husband’s embrace but she was unable to utter a single time under Richard’s cold gaze.

She just stared at the white rugs filling up with drops of Bianca’s blood. Richard momentarily looked at Anthea then carefully held Bianca’s arm.

“Let’s get you treated first.”

“I’m alright, Sir Richard. Madam…”

Instead of Bianca’s kind words filled with worry for Anthea, Anthea only noticed Bianca’s use of her husband’s name. It was then when Anthea’s patience shattered.

“How dare you!”

“Ma-madam?”

Bianca, who had been shyly smiling at Richard, was surprised by Anthea’s infuriated scream and her entire body flinched in response. Her green eyes brimming with kindness were only an annoyance to Anthea. Though they both shared similar green eyes, Bianca’s seemed brighter while Anthea’s eyes were dark and full of jealousy. This matter bothered Anthea greatly…

“You, I don’t know where you’re from, but how dare a mere commoner like you speak the duke’s name?”

She dared to say her husband’s name like it was a simple matter while Anthea herself couldn’t call her husband by his name. Anthea could no longer contain her jealousy so she mentioned Bianca’s origins, a matter she had not cared about before this.

Following those words, Richard’s patience wore out.

“Ha… You don’t have any right to speak of someone’s origins.”

Richard had usually addressed Anthea as his wife, but when Richard coldly called her ‘you’, Anthea forced her mouth shut once again.

“Isn’t your true nature also a commoner?”

The difference between the ‘you’ he would call Bianca and Anthea was like heaven and earth.

“I am the previous count Leslie’s…”

“You’re his adopted daughter. But before you were adopted, you belonged to the Lenpis Viscounty. Didn’t your family buy the viscount title?”

It’s impossible that he wouldn’t have previously investigated someone that was entering his family. But he never mentioned Anthea’s bloodline, so she had thought he didn’t know.

“Since you had a weak heart, I thought you’d adjust the longer you stayed here, but I didn’t know you were hiding such corrupt intentions.”

Richard’s cold gaze was full of contempt. Slowly, Anthea’s symptoms crept up on her. She started to tremble from the loneliness and fear and fell on her knees.

“Madam!”

“The bleeding isn’t stopping so we should go see a doctor. Let’s go.”

Bianca and Richard turned away from Anthea who crumbled down on the soft rug.

Please don’t go.

Don’t leave me alone.

She swallowed all the words she wanted to say.

No matter how much Anthea reached out her trembling hands towards Richard’s back, he kept on moving further and further away from her. Only Bianca turned around to look at her.

In the end, Anthea started to cry as her husband and Bianca walked further away.

She had married into a ducal household with nobody by her side, where even her husband, her sole chance at salvation, had turned his back on her.

At that moment, she realized she could no longer live here anymore as Anthea Gwyntead.

***

“And that’s how the villainess, who was shunned by her husband, exited the stage.”

“My lady, are you calling yourself a villainess again?”

“Kyaa! M-Mary?”

Anthea, who had been rolling around on her comfy bed, was so surprised that she crumpled the papers she was holding. The maid, Mary, was more worried about the creased dress than the crumpled papers in Anthea’s hands.

“How could our angelic, lovely, and beautiful lady be a foolish villainess?”

“I’m just talking to myself. Anyways, what about my brother?”

“I came here to tell you if we leave right now, so you’ll be able to see him.”

“Already?”

Before Mary could finish her sentence, Anthea ran out. Though, if she attempted to actually run with her weak body, she would’ve collapsed so her running was more like speed walking.

“My lady, please don’t rush so much. It would be a disaster if you fell.”

“I want to see my brother as soon as possible.”

“Oh my, you saw him this morning but you want to see him again?”

“Yeah, I miss him so much.”

Anthea is a distinguished beauty that everybody can’t help but stare at hence whenever Anthea brightly smiled, all the servants would immediately stop what they were doing no matter how busy they were.

“Our lady is pretty today as well.”

“When will she get married to the young master?”

“Their children will definitely be lovely.”

The moment Anthea heard the unchanged affection the servants held for her and realized how they treated their future madam, Anthea smiled even more brightly.

Yes, misunderstand more. So when I am married off to a foreign country, the servants will pity me and spread rumors for my benefit.

Anthea Lenpis.

The count’s servants all expected her to be the future countess but she would instead become a duchess.

In the novel, “The Duke’s First Love”, the duke’s wife was a lame villainess that wasn’t even the duke’s first love and was destined to leave the stage.

I initially thought I could change the future.

Five years ago, when Sia Kim woke up in Anthea’s body, she was aware that she was inside a novel.

It was really surprising at first, but when she realized she was fated to be a villainess, she recalled all the key events that would occur and began to prepare in advance. She prepared over and over again. But she would often collapse which caused her weak body to be utter rubbish.

And so, every time Sia Kim saw Anthea’s face in the mirror, she pledged to herself.

I’ll properly use this pretty face of mine.

I won’t make you into a lame villainess.

She often reassured herself by saying that they wouldn’t kick her out penniless.

“So I must always smile.”

The first thing I need to do is to be the complete opposite of the novel Anthea who falls into depression after losing her biological parents. I will start with a smile that’s engulfed in sadness. But as time passes, my smiles will gradually become brighter like my heart that is slowly opening up. This will relieve the count couple.

Anthea’s bright, flower-like smile had also changed the future of the count’s sole successor, Nadan Leslie.

In the novel, Nadan was supposed to have died last year. He was supposed to be swept away by Anthea’s ongoing depression and also vanish in vain. (1)

“Brother~!”

“Anthea.”

The servants, who had greeted Nadan as he got out of the carriage, smiled happily at the sight of Anthea running. When Anthea saw Nadan she started to run even faster.

“Brother Nadan~!”

Anthea ran across the garden, her clear voice causing the gardener to stop snipping and the servants to stop moving the luggage.

Holding her dress as she ran is not something a soon-to-be adult lady is supposed to do. However, Anthea’s free-spirited personality wasn’t noble-like at all. And yet, her actions were so lovely that nobody thought to stop her.

“Anthea, walk slowly. You’ll trip.”

Anthea, who ran with her soft shawl that flowed with the wind, went towards Nadan wanting a hug and Nadan gladly opened his arms.

“Brother, I missed you.”

Once a day, when Anthea would come running to greet the soon-to-be head, Nadan, the figure of the young eager noble lady looked lovelier than a painting.

“I missed you too.”

Nadan was required to wear a uniform worthy of being granted access to the imperial palace, but then a thin shawl was placed over him. Everyone watching unknowingly held their breaths and couldn’t tear away from the sight of the two of them hugging one another with intimacy and affection.

Since Anthea ran here in a rush, her golden hair that appeared to absorb the sunlight, was a mess. Nadan caressed her head as if it was a natural occurrence, and his gaze never leaving Anthea.

“I told you to only come out if it’s warm outside.”

“Greeting brother is more important than the cold weather.”

“An, how could I ever win against you.” (2)

Nadan’s gaze was filled with affection like something dipped in sweet honey.

They had yet to have an engagement ceremony, but no one in the estate doubted their eventual marriage.

This misunderstanding was greatly needed for Anthea’s future.

TRANSLATOR NOTES:

1. A vague sentence but he probably also got depressed and something happened(?)

2. Anthea’s nickname is An