Letitia Barrow: Side View

—Since my childhood—since the age of five—my future husband was already decided.

His name was Duke Mauro Bertoli. As a child, I used to be excited about my future husband, wondering, “What kind of person is he? Will he be wonderful?” Marriage was once a word full of hope for me.

But… reality was cruel.

Duke Mauro was an utterly foolish man. He neglected his governance despite being entrusted with the territory, spending his days carousing with women in town. He saw me only as a tool to connect with the Barrow family and never saw me as a woman.

But still, he was my important fiancé. The man I had been taught since childhood to dedicate myself to. I continued to play the role of the woman who walked three steps behind him.

However… seeing the countless citizens suffer from his failures, and his utter lack of remorse, my thinking began to change. I couldn’t let this continue.

I used my own money to protect the children who were abandoned, supporting them as much as possible. But the money ran out quickly, and when I consulted Mauro, he wouldn’t listen.

…So, knowing the risk, I resorted to an evil act. I secretly embezzled the territory’s taxes and used the Bertoli family’s assets. All for the sake of the children, the people, and even Mauro.

Also, maybe a part of me was hoping. That if I went this far, perhaps Mauro would finally understand? …A faint hope like that.

But—

‘—Letitia Barrow! I hereby dissolve our engagement!’

On that night of the ball… everything was destroyed. My dreams, my hopes, the children’s future. All my efforts were for nothing. The future I had dreamed of as a child was utterly trampled.

It was so frustrating—so incredibly frustrating—

But I couldn’t complain. Because I had willingly committed an evil act, despite knowing the risks.

I knew Mauro distorted my actions and used them as an excuse for the broken engagement. Honestly, I wanted to fight back. But anything I said would only sound like an excuse.

I had no choice but to leave the Bertoli family and allow myself to be swept away as a stain on the Barrow family’s reputation.

And then—when I heard I was to marry Baron Alban Odrant, I actually thought, “Ah, this is my punishment.” The arrogant, insolent, lazy, absolute worst Baron that every noble had heard rumors about. To be made his wife. I accepted it, believing it was God’s punishment for my wicked deeds: ‘Go and serve a man like Mauro again.’

But,

‘I just think you’re, well, beautiful.’

Alban was a completely different man from the one I had imagined.

‘Let’s go on a date.’

‘I wanted to show you this. Because this is the land you and I will protect together.’

‘Hey, Letitia, how about we introduce ourselves properly while we have the chance?’

Alban was—kind, proactive, and he actually saw me as a woman. He saw me as a person.

‘I know now that you’re absolutely not a wicked woman.’

…Honestly, how incredibly happy that made me.

He was trying to understand me. He was actually looking at me. He was trying to believe in me. I was happy. Very, very happy. Enough to bring me to tears.

But—no, that’s exactly why I can’t. I don’t want to drag him into my ruined life. Alban is kind. If he ever figured out the truth of my misdeeds, what kind of pain would he feel? I don’t want to put Alban in danger.

I just… I’m sick of it. I’m sick of hoping and then being trampled. I’m sick of things breaking, or being broken by others.

I’m sick of everything.

What… what am I supposed to do?

▲ ▲ ▲

—The morning of the fifteenth day since I had married into the Odrant family.

“…Huh?”

I froze, stopping my hand as I was buttering a slice of bread. Across the table, Alban was sitting, sipping coffee with an utterly placid expression. Sebas stood behind him.

“What… what did you just say?”

“I said I spread a rumor,” he repeated.

He placed his coffee cup onto the white saucer with a soft clink.

“The rumor is that ‘Alban Odrant is plotting revenge on Duke Mauro to avenge Young Lady Letitia’s suffering.’“

▲ ▲ ▲

“A-Are you out of your mind!?” Letitia slammed the table with a CLANG! and shot up from her chair.

Jeez, that’s bad manners, you know.

“What in the world were you thinking!? If you do that, Duke Mauro will set his sights on—!”

“Calm down, Letitia.” I calmly scooped up a spoonful of pumpkin soup from my plate and took a sip. Mmm, delicious. Our cook really is good.

“Actually, I also spread another rumor at the same time.”

“Another rumor…?”

“Will you listen without getting mad?” I asked.

“I won’t get mad! Just hurry up and tell me!”

“The rumor is: ‘Alban Odrant and Young Lady Letitia are on terrible terms. Alban is offering a large sum of money to Mauro to secretly dispose of Letitia.’“

“………??? What is that? That completely contradicts the first rumor!”

“Exactly. Now, a question.” I slowly stirred the pumpkin soup. Why is it so subtly satisfying to mix the cream into the soup?

“If Letitia were in Mauro’s shoes, which rumor would you believe?”

“…The latter, I suppose.”

“Why?”

“I can’t imagine the infamous Alban Odrant being compatible with Letitia Barrow.”

“Right?”

To the public, I was known as the Baron with the worst personality. It was safe to assume Duke Mauro shared that view. In contrast, Letitia’s personality was utterly serious and proper—even if she was currently being called a villainess. Duke Mauro, knowing her true nature, would never imagine that we got along.

“He’ll have some suspicion, but Duke Mauro will conclude that I’m trying to secretly eliminate you.”

Following my words, Sebas stepped forward. “Our investigation shows Duke Mauro still resents Young Lady Letitia-sama. He must fear retribution.”

“If a man like that hears the rumor, nine times out of ten, he’ll contact us. That’s the goal.”

Honestly, the second rumor alone would be enough to lure Duke Mauro out. But then I’d risk making an enemy of the Barrow family. Luckily, I had a diverse set of rumors and a bad reputation to work with. If unrelated people heard completely contradictory rumors simultaneously, they would just assume, “Someone must have spread random gossip again.” That’s all rumors amount to. Rumors are only effective at manipulating the psyche when targeted at a few people who know the inside story.

However, I needed one more step… a decisive move.

“Letitia… I’ve heard the whole truth about your misdeeds.”

“……!”

“It was all to help Mauro and the people of his territory.”

“…But it’s still true that I committed the misdeeds,” she said after a brief silence.

“So? Now that you know the truth of the matter, do you regret it?” she asked.

“No, not at all.” I placed my spoon down.

“If anything, it’s the opposite. I’m sincerely glad I got to know the real you.”

“Alban…”

“You are exactly the wife I deserve. I’ll never let you go. Persecuting you is something I wouldn’t do even if the heavens fell.”

I stared into Letitia’s eyes. I had made up my mind. I was going to cherish her for the rest of my life. Because there was no other wonderful woman like Letitia Barrow.

“…You’re saying something that’s awfully unlike a great villain.”

“Don’t you know? A Great Villain is the one who cherishes his family.”

I think Sebas snickered behind me, but I’ll ignore it. I’ll complain to him later.

“That’s why I won’t forgive Mauro. I’ll make sure that trash who made you unhappy pays the price.”

“It’s impossible. The Odrant family will only be destroyed instead.”

“It’s not impossible with your help.”

“My… help?”

“Yes—with that single move, Mauro himself will definitely make his move.”