IBYVS 32

Chapter 32

I Became the Wife of the Young Mastermind Villain

Cedric and Kalib were dumbfounded at Calvados’s words.

“Who… to whom…?”

“What did you say we bought?”

But Calvados only glared at the brothers, as if appalled by their shamelessly feigned ignorance.

“Where is Daphne?”

“Pardon?”

“I already know the whole story. Don’t think you can play dumb now.”

At those words, Cedric and Kalib looked at each other.

Their expressions said it all—utter disbelief.

Clearly, he had misunderstood something. Completely.

Meanwhile, Renald inwardly rejoiced.

‘So he thinks I acted under orders from the Indigentia family because I’m their vassal!’

He must have assumed that now that things had been exposed, they were trying to cut ties and pin it on him.

Well, it wasn’t unusual—many lords avoided dirtying their own hands by using vassals.

And hadn’t Cedric been cursed because of Daphne?

He had more than enough reason to bear a grudge.

‘But in truth, it’s the exact opposite.’

Renald swallowed a triumphant smile.

There was only one reason he had kidnapped Daphne.

‘To delay the marriage with Ellia as long as possible!’

In fact, his plan had been to hold Daphne a little longer, then release her.

‘But not before planting something of Ellia’s on her. That way, the Duke of Marinnest would be convinced Indigentia kidnapped her.’

Since Daphne was clever, it wouldn’t be strange if she somehow returned with something that could serve as evidence.

This way, Renald intended to shift his crimes onto Indigentia—more precisely, onto Ellia.

‘If such disgraceful trouble arises, the marriage will definitely be postponed.’

Even if Cedric tried to push ahead, the Duke of Marinnest would surely object strongly.

‘He might even petition the Emperor, demanding the harsh punishment of whoever dared kidnap his daughter.’

And since the Emperor had no choice but to listen to Daphne’s family, who knew the Mirror Shield magic, the Duke’s appeal would carry weight.

That was why Renald had kidnapped the Marinnest lady.

‘And now they’ve gone and misunderstood all on their own, even before I could frame Indigentia with evidence!’

Even while crushed under heavy restraint, Renald was so delighted that his shoulders nearly shook with laughter.

If only he could hammer in the final nail and settle the matter for good…

‘Shame that I can’t.’

But Calvados had already fallen into a grave misunderstanding.

Since Daphne had been kidnapped and was still shaken, she wouldn’t be able to testify right away.

Even without Renald’s interference, Ellia was doomed to defeat.

‘In the end, my victory. Yes, yes. No matter how sharp she is, that lowborn girl could never defeat me!’

Renald bowed his head, grinning slyly.

But just then—

“Father!”

“Ah! Lady Daphne!”

Daphne burst into the room.

Ellia, startled, followed right after her.

“Daphne!”

Calvados, wide-eyed, rushed to his daughter and quickly examined her.

Though her wrist was bruised, thankfully there seemed to be no serious injuries.

From the doorway, Ellia murmured,

“I didn’t want to bring her here, where the culprit is, but…”

But at her father’s voice, Daphne leapt forward and ran straight into his arms.

When Calvados saw the tear-streaked face of his daughter, his silver eyes burned crimson with fury.

And that furious gaze landed squarely on Ellia.

“You insolent…!”

With one arm he held Daphne, while with the other he drew his staff.

At its tip, droplets of clear blue light began to gather.

“No, Father!”

Daphne clutched the staff tightly.

“Daphne!”

Startled, Calvados quickly extinguished the spell, but Daphne seized the chance to snatch the staff away.

“Why… why were you about to attack Sister Ellia?”

“What?”

“Why are you interrogating Lord Cedric and the Young Master?”

“What are you talking about…?”

“They weren’t the ones who kidnapped me!”

“What?”

Calvados froze in shock.

Daphne, her eyes brimming with tears, looked down at Renald, who was still groveling on the ground.

Perhaps sensing her gaze, Renald’s shoulders flinched.

Quickly wiping her tears with the back of her hand, Daphne spoke firmly.

“The Indigentia family saved me.”

“They… saved you?”

“Yes. Sister Ellia untied the ropes binding me, and when my legs gave out so I couldn’t walk, she carried me on her back out of that horrible cellar.”

As if to confirm her words, Daphne glanced at Ellia.

Ellia, understanding, immediately nodded.

“Father. Yes, they are vassals, but the Indigentia family saved me. Don’t you see?”

Daphne’s bright silver eyes fixed on Calvados.

“Everything is the exact opposite of what you think. The one who kidnapped me was Marquis Babylon. That man tried to betray the ducal house and frame them with his crime!”

Her clear, resolute voice made Calvados’s stunned eyes flicker with realization.

“Is that true?”

“Yes. Sister Ellia told me—the main mana supply line was under construction, so mana stones were exposed. And Marquis Babylon’s mana was found there.”

“Gasp.”

Renald’s sharp intake of breath could be heard.

“Isn’t that why you came here as well, Father?”

“Yes, but… the Babylon family’s hereditary magic is ‘mana transfer.’ If someone else used the Marquis’s mana…”

“No, that’s impossible.”

It was Cedric, who had been silent until now, who spoke with a scowl.

“I know the flaw of that magic. It leaves traces. And I also know how to compensate for it—you have to inject mana twice.”

“Double injection…?”

“Yes. That’s an intermediate weather spell. Do you think I wouldn’t know how to compensate for it and leave traces behind? And I am not so weak that I’d need to borrow the Marquis’s mana.”

Cedric was the one who had even broken the Emperor’s staff.

Why on earth would he need to rely on Renald’s mana?

“If I intended to frame someone, I’d at least be smarter about it—not kidnapping someone where traces could be so easily found.”

Without mercy, Cedric cut down every one of Calvados’s suspicions.

To be fair, Calvados’s suspicion wasn’t completely unreasonable.

Many lords used vassal families to do their dirty work, but the reverse was almost unheard of.

Because betrayal of one’s liege was a crime punished with death.

Calvados steadied his breath, trying to organize his swirling thoughts, before speaking again.

“So, you are saying the Babylon family betrayed the ducal house?”

His tone suggested he found it hard to believe.

Kalib, irritated, stepped forward.

Already upset that Ellia had been so quick to rush to Daphne’s side, comfort her, and even carry her, Kalib was further angered by Daphne calling her “Sister Ellia” so familiarly.

He disliked even hearing Ellia’s name come from Daphne’s lips.

With heavy steps, he faced Calvados directly.

“It seems the Duke of Marinnest is poorly informed.”

At the low, chilling voice, Ellia was startled.

‘Kalib… sounds like that?’

It was hard to reconcile this cold, composed figure with the boy who had once smiled innocently when handed lemon honey candy.

Now, he looked every bit the future mastermind villain.

Ignoring Calvados’s stiffened pride, Kalib spoke icily.

“You must not have heard that Lady Jeril Babylon abused me, and crippled the foot of my brother Cedric’s fiancée, Ellia.”

“…!”

Slowly, Calvados turned his head to stare at the back of Renald’s bowed head.

“Do you truly believe this man has the loyalty to take full responsibility for his master’s crimes?”

If you have any sense at all, you know he wouldn’t.

At the biting words, Calvados furrowed his brows.

But Kalib was right on every point.

Blinded by the shock of his daughter’s kidnapping, he had forgotten the Babylon family’s past treachery.

Looking once more at the Marquis’s household, frozen and powerless, Calvados set Daphne gently down.

Kalib, eyes sharp on Renald still pinned to the floor, said coldly:

“I understand Lady Marinnest’s abduction was dire. But I also heard that, for the sake of the family’s honor, Marinnest reported it as a disappearance, not a kidnapping.”

It was a rebuke—who had prioritized the family’s reputation over the lady’s safety first?

And now, that same person dared to accuse others.

“To accuse the Indigentia ducal house without investigating the truth—this is not something I can overlook lightly.”

Calvados clenched his teeth.

Kalib clearly wouldn’t let this insult pass.

He continued,

“This matter will be formally protested.”

His red eyes were calm and chilling.

Though much smaller, he looked up at Calvados without the slightest fear.

No—if anything, he stood tall, as if he were the one ruling over this space.

A formal protest meant the incident would not be kept secret, but made public.

Unconsciously, Calvados swallowed hard.

‘After all, Daphne deflected the prince’s curse onto herself and saved his life.’

Since she had saved none other than the prince, no one had dared to hold her accountable.

Thus, only Daphne had been praised, while Cedric’s misfortune of bearing the curse had been erased from memory.

‘I thought for sure that resentment still lingered.’

That was why he had believed so firmly that Cedric had kidnapped Daphne.

‘But to think they’d go so far as to declare they’d make it public…’

Calvados let out a sigh in his heart.