The Wicked Wife's Dark History Keeps Coming Back To Haunt Her - Chapter 141

Flinch.

The faces of the ladies, who had no idea the subject of their conversation was inside the cloakroom, turned deathly pale.

“D-Duchess…”

Nina’s calm, cool gaze landed on Rebecca’s face.

Seeing her twist her lips into a smirk without the slightest sign of being shaken, even after Nina had emerged…

‘So she knew I was here.’

She knew, and she brought these people here so that I would hear them.

As if to show her exactly how she appeared in the eyes of others.

Since everything she’d done wasn’t a lie, it was only right to accept the criticism that came with it.

That’s true, but Rebecca, you’re the last person who should act like this.

You’re just as bad a person as I was in my previous life.

“Duchess Nord, if we’re talking about desperation, you’re not exactly any better off, are you?”

At Nina’s composed question, Rebecca’s eyebrows twitched.

“I’m even more desperate, you say? What do you mean by that?”

“Even though I kindly dropped a hint at the palace…”

Did she still not realize, even after Nina so kindly told her to keep an eye on her husband?

They say that while there are people who have never cheated, there’s no one who’s cheated just once.

Cheating is a habit, an addiction.

So even now, Duke Nord must be off somewhere with a courtesan or enjoying a secret affair.

Since her marriage was destined to become hell anyway, Nina wondered if she really needed to be the one to pull the bowstring…

But there was the grudge she’d nursed for two years, as Rebecca chewed on, tore at, and mocked Nina’s miserable marriage at every opportunity.

…And perhaps there was also the suspicion that House Nord played a part in the downfall of her own family.

She couldn’t just let this slide with her eyes closed.

There’s a clear difference between the one who strikes first and the one who strikes back.

If you did it, why shouldn’t I?

Feigning surprise, Nina widened her eyes and spoke.

“…Could it be that you really don’t know?”

“What?”

“If you really don’t, then never mind. It’s not something you’d be happier knowing, and it’s not a story to be told where there are ears to hear.”

Nina let out an awkward laugh, trailing off, and Laura and the other ladies exchanged glances.

Duchess Nord’s marriage.

Everyone knew it was a marriage of convenience, no different from others.

Duke Nord’s philandering was well known, but Rebecca was the granddaughter of the Minister of Finance and the daughter of the Duke of Wessler, after all.

Duke Nord wouldn’t dare treat her carelessly.

But with just one meaningful remark from Nina, Rebecca’s carefully maintained public image was completely shaken.

“…Duchess Bayern, I’d watch what you say if I were you.”

Rebecca spoke as if chewing her words.

The gazes fixed on them.

Even if it was just Laura and three other women, Rebecca knew better than anyone how lightly people’s tongues wagged.

She herself had used those very gazes and tongues as tools to tarnish Nina’s honor, so how could she not know?

But now, that very tool was fixed on Rebecca.

“…Well, to be honest, if I were to speak plainly, I’d be worried about your reputation. Everywhere you go, the walls have ears. As I’ve experienced, it’s not a pleasant feeling at all.”

After all the pain she’d suffered from being unable to win her husband’s heart, she’d still been at the forefront of mocking Duchess Bayern.

Honestly, wasn’t it laughable to act like that when she should’ve felt a sense of kinship instead?

Nina looked at Rebecca, who was glaring at her with bloodshot eyes as if she’d tear her apart, and spoke with a voice full of sympathy.

“If you ever need advice, please don’t hesitate to ask. Tricks for winning a man’s heart, hmm. I wouldn’t mind sharing them with the one person who truly understood my desperation.”

“And yet all you did was shamelessly strip and throw yourself at him. Don’t act like it’s anything grand. I doubt your parents raised you for that. Aren’t you ashamed as a woman—!”

At that moment, the cloakroom door suddenly swung open.

The cloakroom was a space strictly separated by gender.

Yet a large figure strode in without hesitation and pulled Nina into a tight embrace from behind.

A hand wrapped around her shoulders, another gently pressing against her stomach.

The heat enveloping her entire body gradually soothed her nerves, which had been on edge like needles.

“Honey…?”

Nina overlapped her hand with Ash’s on her stomach and looked up.

He bent his back slightly and whispered softly in her ear.

“I told you, if you ever have to listen to such nonsense, you might as well just hit them instead.”

His low, clear voice echoed through the cloakroom.

Because everyone was stunned into silence by his sudden entrance, his words rang out loud and clear for all to hear.

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