I Caught the Villain’s Attention - Chapter 119



Only Krnovel

I Got the Villain’s Attention Episode 119 – #119.
Since Alex and I decided to get married, days have been hectic.

Thankfully, Count Maynard and his wife offered to buy me a townhouse, so I decided to stay at the Berzel dukedom for a while. However, the townhouse deal came together faster than I expected, so I was able to move in right away.

Alex suggested that they stay at the Berzel dukedom a little longer, but the count and his wife seemed to think that there was no reason to leave the count’s townhouse and be indebted to Alex.

After returning to the new mansion, I was so busy preparing for the wedding that I didn’t even have time to adjust.

In particular, matching wedding dresses and accessories took more time than expected.

It’s already been a week just by dates.

During that week, I spent the whole day with Madame and Miss Veronica, meeting with costume designers and jewelers, and selecting clothes.

I had previously had dresses and accessories made to order at the Duke of Berzel. But I had never spent this much time choosing a design. Everything was different back then.

If I were on my own, I wouldn’t have had to be so careful, but Madame and Miss Veronica worked harder than I did to choose the design, so I couldn’t just choose carelessly.

On the third day, I asked Lady Veronica if it was really necessary to go to such lengths. Lady Veronica replied that it was necessary to choose carefully, for the sake of the prestige of Count Maynard and the Duke of Berzel.

Only then did I understand.

This was because this marriage was not simply a marriage between the Duke of Berzel and the Lady of Countess Maynard.

I didn’t want Count Maynard and Alex to get criticized because of me, so I was very careful when choosing the design.

It didn’t end there. After the morning schedule was over, we had time to learn noble etiquette from lunch until bedtime.

It was more intense than what I had learned while preparing for the ball the other day.

If at that time it was about preparing for a ball, now it was mainly about everyday aristocratic etiquette.

After the etiquette class was over, I was so exhausted that I was busy washing up and going to sleep.

I wanted to learn all the etiquette and become free as soon as possible, but I was more clumsy than I thought, so just following the teachings of the madam and the young lady was burdensome.

However, my lady encouraged me, saying that it wasn’t easy for me, who had been a maid for over 20 years, to master noble etiquette all at once, so I shouldn’t be too discouraged.

“Ah… … . I’m so tired.”

I lay in bed, exhausted, muttering softly.

I never knew marrying Alex would be this difficult.

‘No. You shouldn’t think like that.’

There must be a mountain of hurdles to overcome in the future, so I couldn’t show myself tired already.

‘Because this is my choice right now.’

Even so, there were times when I would suddenly feel emotional. It’s the same now.

Perhaps because he was busy preparing for the wedding, Alex rarely visited the Maynards’ townhouse.

Even though you have a lot of work to do, why can’t you come visit us once since we’re all in the same capital?

The regret came rushing in like water.

Maybe I can come and visit you sometime… … .

I was dying to go there myself, but I knew that Madame and Miss Veronica were working so hard for me, so I couldn’t take the time out.

There wasn’t much time left until the set wedding date.

If things go on like this, I’ll end up getting married without seeing Alex for almost a month.

I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Then I slowly sat up.

In the room where darkness had fallen, only moonlight was streaming in. I moved my creaking body and walked to the window.

I wonder if Alex is in the Duke of Berzel’s mansion over there.

Then suddenly I discovered a person beyond the townhouse gate.

“… …Alex?”

Surprisingly, the person was Alex.

Am I seeing things because I want to see more?

I closed my eyes in confusion and opened them again. But Alex had not disappeared and was still there.

Alex also noticed me and looked at me. Then he raised his hand and waved.

As expected, it wasn’t in vain.

“Alex!”

Just in case, I leaned halfway through the door and called out to Alex.

Alex seemed momentarily taken aback, as if he hadn’t expected this behavior from me. Judging by the way his horse took a step or two back, it seemed that it wasn’t just my guess.

“Wait a minute there!”

After finishing speaking, I left the room immediately. I ran in a hurry, but tried to maintain my dignity as much as possible, just as Madame and Miss Veronica had said.

That’s why I couldn’t increase my speed, but I asked him to wait anyway, so I’m sure Alex would wait for me.

I finally left the mansion and ran down the hall.

Only after I was out of breath could I reach the front gate of the mansion.

“Claire!”

Alex got off his horse and ran towards me. He bent down and patted my back as I was catching my breath.

“Are you okay?”

“… Okay, it’s okay, it’s okay.”

After catching my breath with difficulty, I raised my bent body and faced Alex.

“It’s really Alex.”

When I said this with emotion, Alex burst into laughter.

“Then, maybe it’s fake?”

“Yes. Actually, when I first saw it, I thought it was a hallucination.”

“what?”

He smiled at Alex, who immediately asked back as if he was dumbfounded, and continued his explanation.

“I thought it was an illusion created because I missed Alex so much.”

Alex looked down at me for a moment at my honest words. Then, as if he couldn’t stop me, he smiled and lifted his hand to gently stroke my cheek.

“Did you miss me a lot?”

“Of course. Alex didn’t want to see me?”

“I missed you. So much.”

I saw Alex admit it obediently, but I narrowed my eyes in irritation at those words.

“Then why didn’t you come to me? You could have come to me once. The wedding is just around the corner, and I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to see you until then.”

Alex stroked my cheek with his thumb as I spoke, seemingly complaining.

“I came.”

“You came? When?”

I thought Alex had never come to visit me before, but it seems that wasn’t the case.

But there was no way the Maynards would have hidden Alex’s arrival from me.

So how did this happen?

Alex, who was looking at me with puzzlement, added.

“But I thought it might be a nuisance, so I watched from a distance before leaving.”

“He just left?”

Alex nodded in response.

Then he looked down at me with an apologetic expression.

“If I had known you wanted to see me like this, I would have shown my face.”

“Of course I should have. Why would I just go and look at Alex?”

I pursed my lips, unable to express my disappointment.

“Sorry.”

The sight of Alex apologizing so meekly made my pent-up emotions melt away.

“No. Alex did that out of consideration for me. It’s okay.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

“Not at all. But next time something like this happens, I hope you see my face.”

“Next time you will be at our mansion, so of course you will.”

My heart fluttered when I heard that affectionate voice.

I rolled my eyes, barely holding back a laugh.

“But you were on your way back after finishing your work at this time?”

“Yeah. There was Kruger’s trial.”

“ah.”

The trial of Lord Kruger followed the punishment of the mastermind, Duke Franz.

I was so out of it that I completely forgot about it.

“What was the result?”

“Three years of hard labor and loss of the earldom.”

“Then what happens?”

“Kruger… … No. After three years of service, you will return to the status of Jade Robelin, but you will not be able to inherit the title of Countess Robelin. As expected, Christine Robelin will be the first in line to become Countess Robelin.”

The result was as expected.

Perhaps Sir Kruger and Alex had guessed that this would be the outcome. Or perhaps the verdict was already half decided due to the confession.

“How are you, Christine?”

“Yes. For now, I’m receiving simple training. There are still many things I lack, but I’m learning quickly.”

“That’s fortunate.”

I was worried because the last time I saw Christine, she looked unusually gloomy, but she seemed to be doing well.

“By the way, you’ve become more beautiful since I last saw you.”

Alex whispered to me in a sarcastic tone.

“I was pretty to begin with.”

When I answered Alex in a deliberately shameless manner, Alex burst out laughing.

And before anyone could say anything, they both burst into laughter.

“I’m sorry, but I guess I’ll have to go in now. It’s still cold.”

“Okay, I get it. But it feels good to see your face.”

“Me too.”

Alex took a step away from me, looking regretful.

“Go after seeing what happens.”

“Wouldn’t it be better for Alex to go first?”

“No, Claire, you go in first.”

I took a step back, nodding to Alex’s stubborn attitude.

“Then see you at the wedding.”

“Okay.”

Even after entering the main gate, I still had regrets and looked back several times.

Every time, Alex stood in the same spot where we met and watched me.