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If My Husband Is a Narrow-Eyed Villain, I’m in Trouble — Chapter : 09
“Thank you for inviting me today, Sir Ian.”
When she called him by his name instead of “young lord,” Ian chuckled.
“So you finally call me that.”
“It’s a promise, after all.”
Perhaps he noticed her unusually calm tone. Ian stared at her intently.
“I’m the one who’s glad to have invited you, Miss Diana.”
It doesn’t look like you’re very glad.
“If you don’t mind, after tea I can show you around the ducal estate. I’m sure you’ll like it.”
If there was a competition for saying things without meaning them, Ian Crawford would win first place alone.
Soon, the butler Hermann brought in the tea.
After the butler left the study, Diana replied politely.
“Thank you for your consideration, but I’ll decline. I’m not very interested in touring the mansion.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. I think it would be better to talk about something more important.”
Ian Crawford, as always, looked outstanding.
His smooth smile shimmered like a gem polished over a long time.
It was a perfect smile worth full marks—but somehow, it felt unpleasant.
“I can’t even begin to guess what you plan to talk about, Miss Diana.”
“Ian, I’m not stupid. I didn’t come all the way here planning to pretend I heard nothing, so please don’t worry.”
His clean smile suggested he was very experienced at pretending ignorance.
At this point, Diana couldn’t even tell whether he was a person or a lying machine.
What kind of childhood makes someone like this?
“If you’re going to keep pretending not to know, then I’ll be clear. Is running a casino harder than expected?”
“…As always, you exceed expectations.”
Even though he sounded surprised, his face remained calm.
“You said earlier you heard nothing. Why did your attitude suddenly change? May I ask why?”
“I should be asking you that. You said it wasn’t the right time for marriage, but suddenly you started sending invitations and asking me to call you by your name.”
“I became interested in you, Miss Diana.”
“In a good way, or a bad way?”
“Surprisingly, I learned that both can exist at the same time.”
Ian’s gaze locked onto her.
“So, why did you change your mind?”
“You said you dislike anything fake, didn’t you?”
“Hahaha. Surely it can’t be that simple.”
Ian completely ignored her answer and spoke lightly.
“It seems the threat of your parents works quite well on you, Miss Diana.”
“……”
“Now then, how do you plan to pay for the price of overhearing a conversation you should not have heard?”
Even though his tone only slightly cooled, it sent chills down her spine.
“Your premise is wrong.”
But she couldn’t show weakness here.
This was a power struggle—show even a crack, and you’d be devoured.
“I didn’t eavesdrop. I was already in that lounge first.”
“Hm.”
“If anything, I’m the victim, and you are the one threatening me.”
“Even if that’s true, what changes?”
It was a shameless answer, but Ian didn’t even change expression.
“For me, I can’t think of a simpler solution than killing you to silence you. Do you agree?”
Are you insane? Of course not.
Diana glared at him.
“I don’t understand why you insist on such a disadvantageous option.”
She calmly placed a hand on her chest.
“Ian, I am a Wellington. In one more year, I will become the richest heiress in this kingdom.”
“And that matters how?”
“I am the only ‘new noble’ who has been systematically trained to manage and operate businesses inherited from my father.”
She no longer bothered to be indirect.
“Isn’t running a casino difficult?”
“……”
“Isn’t it more complicated than you expected?”
Just like clichés exist in stories, characters have clichés too.
The key cliché of the cold-eyed villain.
“Have you never been tired of incompetent subordinates who only bring you bad news?”
That was exactly it—useless subordinates who are worse than nothing.
Ian Crawford was a capable man in the original story, but he was still a villain.
And villains always get punished under the rule of justice.
And the ones who usually cause that downfall… are their own subordinates.
Those who fail to help and instead keep getting caught, dragging their master into danger.
“Compared to them, I would be a far more useful assistant.”
“Oh?”
“I will help you run the casino. Of course, there is a condition.”
“A condition, you say?”
“I can’t do things that only put me at a loss.”
Ian looked as if he had never heard anything so contradictory in his life.
‘Well, of course. I’m supposed to be trembling in fear, not offering help so casually.’
But this situation… seemed interesting to him.
He tilted his head slightly, signaling her to continue.
“I’ll help you run the casino. In return, please act as my fake lover.”
“…Fake lover?”
Diana clearly saw Ian almost drop his teacup before setting it down carefully.
“Because of you, there are more than a few ‘true nobles’ who see me as an eyesore.”
In the Emerald Kingdom, there were two types of nobles.
The “true nobles,” who ruled land and power through inheritance.
And the “new nobles,” who built their status through business and wealth.
True nobles considered money-based trade vulgar.
So they looked down on new nobles, and conflict between the two factions never stopped.
But not all true nobles were like that.
The world was changing.
Some accepted the change and entered business and investment themselves.
The Wellington family was one of them.
Diana’s father, originally a younger son with little inheritance, had built wealth through risky business ventures.
Three years ago, during land reforms, he was promoted from baron to count.
This caused great controversy among true nobles, as it symbolized the shift of long-standing noble hierarchy.
Even though the king approved it, among the old nobles, the Count of Wellington was treated as someone who had sold noble pride for money.
He was even openly insulted as a representative of new nobles.
‘Honestly, this kind of faction nonsense is childish…’
But things only worsened. The true nobles strengthened their exclusion of new nobles through intermarriage within their own circle.
And in such a situation, Diana had met Ian three times privately.
“At this rate, my reputation will be ruined in a year.”
“I didn’t think you cared about such things.”
“I have to care. A man might only be briefly gossiped about after meetings, but for a woman, dirty rumors stick easily—and for a long time.”
Ian knew very well what rumors were already spreading.
But even if he knew, he wouldn’t care.
“So please, act as a duke who is completely in love with me.”
“……”
“Act like you’re madly in love with me, chasing me, while I reluctantly accept you.”
Diana spoke shamelessly despite the sharp gaze on her.
“And in the end, I will dramatically reject you. Saying I dislike a man like you.”
“That sounds like a very personal feeling for protecting your reputation.”
“Maybe that’s just your imagination.”
“Hahaha.”
He sounds annoyed.
While Diana spoke clearly, Ian slowly relaxed his posture until he was resting his chin on his hand.
“Interesting idea. How about this instead? I spare your parents, and instead marry you, keep you as my wife, and use you until you die.”
“Isn’t that also a very personal opinion?”
“I’m sure that’s just your imagination.”
Diana glared at the shameless man with clear eyes.
There were many things she wanted to say, but there was something more important to confirm.
“Alright. Then let me ask you something.”
“What is it?”
“Ian… do you really want to be engaged to me?”
“……”
“Do you sincerely want me as your bride and want us to become family?”
At that moment, the fake smile on Ian Crawford’s face disappeared for the first time.
