This Villain Is Mine Now

Chapter 99

Diane felt the blood drain from her fingertips. She bowed her head deeply, not wanting Nathan to see the shame on her face.

She was utterly humiliated—so much so that she wanted to run out of this house immediately.

‘Yes. This is who they’ve always been.’

From the moment they suddenly treated her well, she should have known they wanted something. And yet, when her father—who hadn’t reached out even once since her marriage—unexpectedly sent an invitation to Hessen, the first emotion she had felt was an inescapable longing for her family.

Diane clenched the hem of her dress. She had spent her entire life obeying her father’s wishes without defiance, and now, her body trembled instinctively.

Nathan was gentle by nature, but he was no fool. He, too, must have realized why the Redwood family, which had ignored them until now, was suddenly showering them with such warmth.

Diane lifted her head and looked at Marquis Redwood. Their eyes met, and the Marquis responded with a kindly smile.

“Father, that…”

That was impossible. Diane gathered her courage and was about to speak when—

“I’m sorry, Father, but that will be difficult.”

Nathan spoke first. Diane turned to him in shock.

Nathan placed his hand over hers, which had been clenched so tightly that her knuckles protruded. His warmth seeped into her cold fingers.

“Difficult? Did you just say that to me?”

The Marquis’s once gentle voice cracked slightly. Though he still smiled, his gaze toward Nathan had lost all trace of amusement.

“Yes.”

Nathan nodded. His expression remained calm, unwavering as he met the Marquis’s piercing stare. Diane, startled by her husband’s unshaken composure, parted her lips in surprise.

The Marquis, too, was caught off guard. He had assumed Nathan, much like Diane, was weak-willed and would never refuse his request.

“I would rather we not be so cruel between family. Have you forgotten who made it possible for you to marry Diane?”

One of Diane’s half-brothers smirked at Nathan.

“A man without even a proper title—this is how he repays us for giving him our only sister? If you had any decency, you wouldn’t dare speak to Father that way.”

“I have always been grateful for that.”

Nathan answered with a lighthearted voice, utterly unfazed by their mockery.

Even he found it surprising that their words did not intimidate him in the slightest. Perhaps it was because he had already faced something far more fearsome in Mabel—the sheer presence of Kyst while working on the herbal sachets had forged his resilience in unexpected ways.

And, to be honest, Nathan was a little angry.

At first, even he had been excited by the Marquis’s sudden hospitality. Diane had never once expressed a desire to visit her family since their marriage. Even when she came to the capital, she spent time with Elaina rather than going to the Marquis’s residence.

Whenever Nathan gently suggested she visit her family, Diane had responded with a faint, unreadable smile.

Back then, he had thought she was doing it for him—that she was worried about how her family would look down on him, an unsuitable match in their eyes, and so she avoided them to spare him from their disdain.

But now, he understood.

He understood what her so-called family truly thought of her and how they had always treated her.

With a steady voice, Nathan continued, “As I mentioned earlier, while I did complete the development of the drug, I was not the only one involved. There was someone who provided invaluable help. I hold the patent, but the rights to its usage belong to them. No matter how close we may be as family, I cannot make false promises.”

The Redwoods dismissed Nathan’s words as an excuse. The Marchioness’s expression hardened, and she did not bother to conceal her displeasure as she rebuked him.

“If you’re going to lie, at least put some effort into it!”

“I’m afraid I am not lying. There was someone who helped bring this drug to completion. In exchange for their support, I granted them the rights to its usage. That is their rightful claim.”

“Then tell me who this benefactor is! I’ll meet them myself and negotiate.”

The Marquis struck the dining table forcefully as he spoke. He desperately needed the drug Nathan had developed. Just as rumors had claimed, capable retainers were gathering around Lyle Grant. The way they had ensnared the Marquis’s financial resources was relentless.

If the patron was a central noble, they would surrender the usage rights out of fear of the Marquis’s status. If not, he planned to use his connection to Nathan as his son-in-law to apply pressure.

No matter how much someone had supported Nathan, it would seem more appropriate for a family member to hold the rights to its use. If he simply promised a reasonable price, nine out of ten would give in.

Despite the Marquis’s piercing gaze, Nathan showed no sign of fear. He merely smiled gently and nodded.

“Then speak with them directly. My patron is none other than Her Grace, the Archduchess of Grant.”

The moment Nathan’s words reached him, the Marquis’s face twisted in fury.

The Archduchess of Grant.

Elaina Winchester.

That girl again.

Nathan and Diane were forced to leave the Redwood mansion without even finishing their meal.

The Marquis, enraged, stormed out of the dining hall, followed by the Marchioness and Diane’s half-brothers, leaving the couple no choice but to depart as well.

Nathan took Diane’s hand, which was lowered as if she had committed a crime.

“The food at the Redwood mansion doesn’t suit a country bumpkin like me. There’s a restaurant I used to frequent back when I was at the academy. I suddenly feel like going there. Shall we have dinner there instead, Diane?”

Though they had arrived in a lavish carriage sent by the Marquis, they could no longer expect such treatment on their return trip.

Their luggage, which had been moved to a guest room upstairs, was now left abandoned on the dirt floor. Diane squeezed her eyes shut. The sight perfectly reflected her standing in this family.

“I suppose requesting a carriage would be too much.”

Nathan brushed off the dust on their luggage and led Diane away from the Redwood mansion. They would walk to the main road and find a carriage there.

Not a single servant came to see them off. The maids who had mocked Diane moments before flinched when their eyes met Nathan’s and scurried away. That was their final send-off from the Redwood mansion.

Even so, Nathan did not question Diane about any of it. She was grateful for his quiet understanding. Holding back her tears, Diane slowly followed after him.

Even as they rode in the carriage after dinner, Diane’s anxiety did not subside.

The Marquis of Redwood. If anyone in the world knew his two-faced nature best, it was Diane.

He would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. There was no telling what he might do to Elaina in order to obtain the rights to Nathan’s drug.

“Nathan. I can’t just leave this alone. We need to tell Elaina about my father right now.”

Seeing Diane’s distress, Nathan immediately relayed the change of plans to the driver.

“Driver, take us to the Grant mansion instead of the city. Make haste.”

“Understood, sir!”

Even as they neared their destination, Diane’s nerves remained on edge. Her hands trembled visibly.

“Diane, try to calm down.”

“It’s just… Am I overthinking this? Both of them are strong. No matter what my father does, His Grace will protect Elaina.”

Unable to suppress her anxiety, Diane began biting her nails. Nathan gently stopped her, soothingly rubbing her back.

“You’re right. I promise you, nothing will happen to them. So take a deep breath, in and out.”

Normally, his gentle voice would have calmed her immediately, but not this time. She nodded reluctantly and forced a smile, but inside, her mind was still a storm of worry.

***

The gatekeeper hurried to inform the butler of Diane and Nathan’s unexpected visit. Though caught off guard, the butler quickly made preparations to welcome them.

“Welcome. How was your journey?”

The butler greeted them politely. However, Diane, who had been tense the entire ride, had no patience for pleasantries.

Her eyes darted around anxiously. If word of her arrival had reached Elaina, she would surely have come running by now. But no matter how long she waited, she heard no familiar footsteps approaching.

Diane’s heart began to pound with unease.