This Villain Is Mine Now

Chapter 17

Back in her room, Elaina collapsed onto her bed.

“Sigh.”

To anyone else, it might have seemed like she was stubbornly insisting on marrying against her parents’ wishes, but Elaina was incredibly tense. Now that she was alone, the tension drained from her body, leaving her exhausted.

She had convinced Lyle and then her parents. The deed was done, but it still didn’t feel quite real.

“I’m really marrying that man,” she murmured.

There were no regrets. As Sarah had said, the simplest and most effective way to prevent Diane’s marriage was to take her place.

“Just one year. Give me just one year. If you still don’t approve of him after that, I’ll agree to a divorce. As Father said, even if you dress it up as a jewel, a stone is just a stone.”

She had boldly declared in front of her parents that she needed a year. If, after that, they still didn’t like Lyle, she would agree to a divorce. The Duchess had screamed about mentioning divorce before the marriage even happened, but Elaina had received their implicit consent.

“The real issue is whether I can actually do it.”

I have a plan.

Knowing the contents of “Moonshadow,” Elaina had a strategy to untangle the complicated relationships between Diane, Lyle, and the other characters.

But “Moonshadow” was just a book. Much of the story had already changed because of her actions. For example, the unnamed Duke’s daughter who appeared only once at the debutante ball in the book had become Diane Redwood’s friend in reality.

This meant that while the overall framework of the future might remain, many details could change. The most important part—Diane’s marriage to Lyle—had changed, so there was no guarantee that other things wouldn’t be affected.

Clenching her fists, Elaina muttered to herself, “But I can do it. No, I must do it.”

She had confidently promised Lyle that she had a plan to turn the Grant Archduchy into a prestigious house within a year. 

Rising from her bed, she sat at her desk and began writing a letter. It felt strange, to write a letter to Lyle Grant.

The contents were simple: she had convinced her parents, so he should come to the Duke’s residence tomorrow to propose. She melted pink, pearlescent sealing wax, stamped it with the Winchester family crest, and instructed Sarah to send the letter.

“Tomorrow. It’s tomorrow.”

Proposal. Marriage. These words, which had once seemed distant, had suddenly come rushing toward her. She didn’t regret it, but her heart felt strangely unsettled. Taking a deep breath, Elaina tried to calm herself. Thump, thump. Her heart was beating slightly faster than usual.

***

When Lyle visited the Winchester estate, none of the staff questioned him. They didn’t ask whom he was there to see or what his business was. Only the butler greeted him and offered to escort him to the Duke’s study.

Lyle followed the butler through the grand mansion. The Winchester mansion was in stark contrast to the Archduchy. The light blue roof and white walls were spotless, and the large, clean windows let in streams of sunlight. The beauty of the place was maintained by the many servants who cleaned it daily. Not a speck of dust was to be found on the seemingly endless corridor window frames.

As they walked, Lyle spoke to the butler. “It seems everyone knows why I’m here.”

“Yes, sir. The young lady must have given them quite a shock yesterday. Even seeing your face now, they seem too stunned to be surprised any further,” the butler replied, sneaking glances at Lyle.

When people are too shocked, they tend to become calm. That was the current state of the Winchester household. The butler was well aware of the current Archduke’s infamous nicknames: the Butcher, the Demon of War, and the most extreme, the Plague God.

These names came about because it was said that death followed him wherever he went. For a fifteen-year-old boy to survive ten long years on the battlefield, mere ruthless determination wouldn’t have sufficed.

Regardless of the truth, infamy grows with each telling. Before meeting Lyle, the butler had imagined him as a monster with three eyes and four arms. But seeing him in person, the butler was almost disappointed at how normal Lyle appeared.

Moreover, as the young lady had described, he’s tall, handsome, and…

‘A man the young lady would fancy,’ the butler thought.

Despite his modest attire, which hinted at the impoverished state of his family, his eyes were alive with an unbroken spirit. There was a sense of unwavering conviction in him. This was the renowned Winchester estate. Even as an Archduke, few young men would walk so confidently to meet the estate’s master, a powerful figure in the Council of Nobles.

While the butler didn’t know the full extent of Lyle’s character, he could tell that Lyle and the young lady shared a similarity: both were relentless once they set their minds on something. The butler recognized this trait instantly.

‘If not for that incident, he would undoubtedly be considered one of the most eligible bachelors in the country,’ the butler mused.

The rebellion involving the former Archduke was peculiar. Events had unfolded rapidly, and punishments were meted out before the truth could be fully uncovered. The butler remembered the fifteen-year-old heir to the Archduchy, never imagining he would meet him again like this.

Sarah might have tirelessly tried to persuade the young lady, but the butler knew better. Once the young lady had made up her mind, the outcome of this marriage was all but decided. How could a mere maid achieve what even the Duke and Duchess could not?

Surprisingly, the butler gave Lyle his approval. There was a certain bias, of course, because Lyle was chosen by the young lady he had cared for since birth.

“We’ve arrived,” the butler announced, stopping in front of a large door.

After what seemed like an endless walk, they finally reached the study. The butler knocked and stepped aside to open the door.

“Thank you,” Lyle said, stepping forward.

After a moment’s hesitation, the butler spoke. “I wish you luck, Your Grace.”

As the butler closed the door, he hoped that the man who walked with such confidence and had won the young lady’s heart would also find favor with the Duke and Duchess.

***

Entering the study, Lyle found the Duke and Duchess of Winchester waiting for him. The Duchess’s face showed clear tension, while the Duke wore a faint smile. Unlike the Duchess, whose emotions were evident, the Duke’s true feelings were hard to discern.

“Welcome, Your Grace,” the Duke greeted.

Lyle paused for a moment. He hadn’t expected the Duke, who was old enough to be his father, to address him with such formality. Concealing his surprise, he nodded.

“Good day, Duke Winchester. Duchess,” he responded.

“You must have had a long journey. Please, take a seat,” the Duke offered, gesturing to a chair.

However, the pleasantries ended there. As soon as Lyle sat down, the Duke got straight to the point.

“So, you’ve come to propose to my daughter today.”

The straightforward manner reminded Lyle of someone. Thinking of Elaina’s bold entrance at his mansion, he nodded again.

“Before I send Your Grace to my daughter’s room, I need to clarify a few things.”

“Of course.”

“If I may, I understand that you were previously discussing marriage with Lady Redwood. Is that correct?”

“I won’t deny it.”

“Knowing that, we did not give much thought to the fact that you danced with my daughter several times. But this sudden proposal is quite unexpected for us. May I ask why the intended bride has changed to my daughter?” the Duke inquired.

The Duke then shared how Elaina had professed her deep admiration and love for Lyle, bursting into a hearty laugh. However, his eyes remained cold and serious. Lyle realized immediately that any careless lie would only make matters worse for him.