I Was Tricked Into A Fraudulent Marriage By The Obsessive Villain - Chapter 4.5 - Grand Duke Thanatos

Could such a system and rules be established overnight?

It felt as if…

‘It feels like they just changed the name of a family that was already in motion.’

The strange thing was not just how well-structured the system was.

‘Have I been here before?’

As Iona walked through the mansion with Mayer, a sense of unease gripped her throat.

The Grand Duke’s mansion had a structure quite different from typical noble estates, yet it felt strangely familiar to Iona like she had seen it somewhere before.

Somewhere distinctly…

Perhaps from the noble houses she used to visit for commissions?

No, even further back.

Certainly, from her younger years…

“Your Highness, may I show you the garden now?”

“Oh, yes, please do.”

Lost in a peculiar sensation, Iona nodded slightly in response to Mayer’s words, shaking off her reverie.

“I will guide you through the garden. It’s almost embarrassing to describe it myself, but the gardens of the Thanatos mansion are exceptionally beautiful.”

With a faint smile, Mayer led Iona.

“Wow…”

As the thick doors swung open, revealing the scenery beyond, Iona couldn’t help but gasp in awe.

The garden was adorned with shades of blue, with white and blue roses blooming abundantly.

Various plants carefully tended by the gardener came together to create a beautiful landscape.

The sight of the petals fluttering in the breeze was like a painting.

Moreover, there was a white gazebo in the center of the garden.

Iona walked towards the gazebo.

Meyer stayed at a distance, not wanting to disturb her as she admired the garden.

A gust of wind tousled her shining blonde hair.

Iona brushed her hair behind her ears and looked around.

With Mayer standing away, she was alone in the gazebo.

The realization that she was alone made her sigh deeply, and her heart sank.

“Hoo…”

It seemed like she had been unconsciously tense. Her stiffened fingertips gradually relaxed.

Sitting on the chair inside the gazebo, Iona took a moment to compose herself.

“…….”

Silently, she watched the petals fluttering before her eyes.

She realized that she was already trapped, with no means of escape. In this situation, her best option was to strategize on how to survive to the best of her ability.

Bending like the tongue in the mouth of a villain, catering to his whims without offending him, seemed like the best course of action for now.

Since he wasn’t immediately trying to kill her…

Given the task of managing the household, she had to fulfill it well for the time being. There were no other alternatives available to her in this situation.

Both the guild and her family were held hostage, leaving her with no other choice.

 “If I tell you that I will never harm my wife, will you believe me?”

 I won’t even touch a single hair on house Hardin, whom my wife cherishes so much, or any member of the guild she holds dear.

“…….”

Her eyes narrowed as she considered the deal.

“All right. You promised…”

For now, she had no choice but to believe him.

Given that she remembered nothing about the original story, there was no way for her to use it like other novel transmigrators.

“…I have to believe.”

Even though she didn’t trust him at all.

Iona tried to calm her heart.

Then, out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Carvain.

He was conversing with his attendants near the window.

Iona quietly observed his demeanor.

“…….”

She stared at him without saying a word for a moment. Carvainturned his head towards the garden.

When he saw Iona sitting in the gazebo, his eyes softened.

Even though he was smiling, there was a look in his eyes that somehow instilled fear.

“I…… survive this, won’t I……?”

Iona whispered softly, feeling a deep sigh welling up within her.

Unbeknownst to her, someone was watching her from a distance, observing her closely.

A group of maidservants began whispering amongst themselves.

“It’s tonight.”

***

The sun was setting, and darkness descended. The Thanatos mansion was deep in slumber.

In a secluded area of the mansion, a group of people were conversing.

They were all dressed in black.

If they had not momentarily taken off their masks to converse, it would have been difficult to recognize them in the darkness.

“We have to handle this cleanly without any mistakes. This is our only chance.”

Inyoung, who was standing at the center of the group, spoke up.

The group checked their route while looking at the map of the mansion.

The newly crowned Grand Duke’s residence was a solid fortress.

Although they had managed to infiltrate heavily guarded palaces, such as the imperial palace or the mansions of other nobles, they had never encountered such a high level of security.

The success of their infiltration was due to the chaotic period immediately after the Grand Duke’s ennoblement.

Looking at the map, they all shared the same thought—breaking into such a secure place again seemed nearly impossible.

This opportunity to assassinate the Grand Duchess was their last.

“She instructed us to handle this cleanly, not messily. Seems like she was thinking of negotiating with Duke Hardin.”

The group, after a brief conversation, swiftly disposed of the map and began to move.

Dispersing into the darkness, they stealthily made their way to their respective positions.

Confirming that all their subordinates had moved, the figure in the center, Inyoung, silently started to tread carefully.

Ascending the stairs and traversing the long corridor, Inyoung eventually reached the Grand Duchess’s bedroom.

Quietly extinguishing any noise, Inyoung slipped into the room.

With graceful movements, she infiltrated the bedroom and approached the sleeping Grand Duchess.

“…….”

The vast room was filled only with the Grand Duchess’s soft breathing.

Step by step, she cautiously approached the bed, her movements silent and deliberate.

Drawing out the shimmering blade tucked at her waist, she raised it high as she neared the bed. The Grand Duchess’s delicate neck would be severed with a single strike.

She clenched her hands together and brought the blade down.

“……Gah!”

A sudden impact struck her abdomen forcefully.

Gasping in pain as if her insides were about to burst, Inyoung was flung across the room and struck against the opposite wall.

“Ugh…….”

Clutching her abdomen, which felt like it had been broken, she raised her head.

“What the hell.”

The Grand Duchess, who she thought was asleep, was staring down at her.

 Iona stared at Inyoung on the floor.

What’s wrong with her?

After sending the assassin flying with a single kick like a K-Martial Arts master, Iona reflected on the situation earlier.

The sun had already risen.

But she was still struggling to keep her eyes open for the man who could come at any moment.

“Where? By my wife’s side. “

“By my side? More like a thorn in my side.”

To anyone else, they might have been sweet whispers of love.

But to Iona, they were more terrifying than a murder warning.

Fear had been bubbling up inside her ever since she’d realized the man was the villain.