Reincarnate as the Villainess's Husband - Chapter 80

Chapter 80: New and only master
“Neonidas, you misunderstand. Everything is under my control. My father’s plans shouldn’t concern you. I’m trying to protect you.” Cassandra’s voice was calm and sweet.

“Cassandra, you just tried to poison and use me. Instead of finding out why I haven’t harmed you yet, are you still going to keep lying to me?”

Cassandra looked into the eyes of the man holding her tightly. In those blue orbs, so much like her own, she saw a deep understanding. She once again saw the cold yet gentle gaze she had noticed ever since he had come to this duchy. Even though she had just poisoned him with hundreds of snakes, there was no anger or resentment in his gaze—only understanding and a hint of disappointment.

“I… I’m sorry… I had no choice.” Cassandra’s eyes began to fill with tears. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that she had cried more tonight than she had in her entire life.

“Your sister… That pink-haired girl. Is she in danger?”

Neonidas’ sudden question startled Cassandra, but nodded silently. The pink-haired girl, who was actually Duke Maximilian’s illegitimate child, was, of course, unloved by her stepmother. Her siblings also disliked her, bullied, and ostracized.

The original novel didn’t explain how the pink-haired girl had survived, but it did mention that her biological mother had died. However, Neonidas had figured out why this pink-haired girl was alive, both in the original story and in this world. The sole reason was Cassandra.

According to the original novel, Cassandra had made a secret deal with her father and agreed to do whatever he asked. Most likely, she had fulfilled all of his demands. The same thing had happened in this world, but this time, she didn’t have to pretend to hate her sister to protect her.

“What did your father ask of you?” Neonidas asked, though he already had a good idea.

“All possible suspicious information about you: the mana stone mine, the magic center, your relationship with Allea, the identities of those two white-haired women always by your side, the strength of your army, what you aim to achieve with the Hindonpon Kingdom, and more. In short, any significant details I could gather,” Cassandra replied.

“Have you sent him any information yet?”

Cassandra bit her lip at the question and nodded lightly. “I discovered that some of your subordinates are quite strong.”

Neonidas felt some relief knowing she hadn’t shared any critical information. “Where is the girl you’re trying to protect now?”

Cassandra lowered her head and spoke quietly. “She’s currently hidden in an old mansion in the northern part of the Duchy. After I left, I made sure she was taken there to keep her safe from my mother.”

“I see. I’m going to let you go now, but don’t even think about running, understood?”

Cassandra nodded timidly at Neonidas’ words. Instead of feeling relieved about being released, his cold and determined tone seemed to weigh heavier on her shoulders. Neonidas slowly released her hands and took a few steps back.

“I won’t run,” Cassandra whispered without lifting her gaze from the floor.

Neonidas sat on the edge of the bed and let out a deep, troubled sigh before asking another question. “Is there anything else I need to know? Like your father’s allies?”

Cassandra hesitated at the question, perhaps feeling less afraid now that Neonidas’ grip was gone. Realizing this, Neonidas stood up again and approached her. Cassandra’s body tensed once more.

“I want to help you, Cassandra, but you need to give me a reason to do so. A reason to trust you. Surely, I don’t need to explain why I don’t trust you, do I?”

Cassandra swallowed and avoided his gaze. She knew how difficult it would be to gain Neonidas’ trust, but she had no other choice. Slowly, with a trembling voice, she began to speak.

“As far as I know, there’s an unofficial alliance group called the Alliance of the Seven Families. This alliance doesn’t want Princess Allea to ascend to the throne. They also want lands from your Duchy.”

Neonidas narrowed his eyes and listened to Cassandra intently. This new information made the situation even more complex. Cassandra then explained what she knew about a few of the duchies involved in the alliance. According to her, the Alliance of the Seven Families was a secret coalition formed by seven duchies, with dozens of influential figures as members. Their goal was to protect and expand the interests of member families and support each other during wars.

Among the members of this alliance was Duke Draevos’ Duchy, located south of Neonidas’ lands and a natural enemy of the Oreoned Duchy.

Since this details wasn’t mentioned in the original novel, Neonidas was learning about the alliance for the first time. Now, he better understood how powerful women like Empress Velriona, Duchess Lyranna, and, most importantly, Allea had been defeated.

Currently, out of the 12 duchies in the empire, only five were not part of the Alliance of the Seven Families. Normally, such a revelation would terrify almost anyone in Neonidas’ position, but his cunning smirk made it clear that he wasn’t afraid of the situation. Even a fool could see that.

“I’ll help you, Cassandra. I’ll save your sister. But from now on, I want a vow of absolute loyalty from you. To continue being my concubine.”

Cassandra was stunned by Neonidas’ words. His serious gaze made it clear that he wasn’t joking. After betraying him, being forgiven was one thing, but now he was asking for her vow of loyalty. This was both an opportunity and a heavier burden for Cassandra.

“Are you forgiving me? Truly?” Cassandra asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes searched his for any trace of deceit in the gaze he directed at her.

“Yes, Cassandra. But on one condition. You will prove your loyalty to me. I need to know that you will never betray me again. Once you’ve paid that price, we can leave the past behind,” Neonidas said, his tone as resolute as ever.

Tears welled up in Cassandra’s eyes. For the first time in her life, someone was offering her forgiveness, despite the complexity of her actions. Yet, the sternness in his voice made it clear—this was no unconditional pardon.

“I will swear my loyalty to you,” Cassandra replied, her voice steadying with resolve. “But I still don’t understand why you’re forgiving me after what I’ve done.”

Neonidas leaned in, locking his gaze onto hers. His hand gently caressed her cheek, trailing down to her flushed nose, reddened from crying, and finally resting on her bewildered eyes. “Leave it to me to decide who deserves forgiveness,” he said with calm authority.

Cassandra lowered her head at his words, overwhelmed by the surge of emotions within her. This man, cold yet composed, was extending her a second chance—a beacon of light in her otherwise hopeless world. But his unyielding stare reminded her that this chance was not to be taken lightly.

“Thank you,” she whispered. “I swear I will never betray you again. I promise.” Her eyes met Neonidas’s once more, this time full of sincerity, as if pleading with him to believe her.

When Neonidas pulled her close and wrapped his arms tightly around her, another wave of shock struck Cassandra. Slowly regaining her composure, her arms instinctively encircled his shoulders. Tears filled her eyes again, but this time, for the first time in her life, she wept aloud.

The noblewoman who had always prided herself on her perfection and never allowed anyone to see her vulnerable side was now embracing her father’s enemy, sobbing like a helpless child—like a fragile little girl.

—

Just days later, Duke Maximilian Valen’s illegitimate daughter was found dead at the mansion where she had been hiding. Furious and enraged, Duke Maximilian confronted his wife, the suspected culprit, behind the girl’s death. However, his fury only deepened when he received another letter.

The letter, written by his daughter and former spy Cassandra, was filled with venomous words of hatred for the duke. At the end of the letter, Cassandra expressed her desire to claim her younger sister’s body.

Duke Maximilian, though furious, immediately ordered his daughter’s request to be fulfilled. After all, Cassandra knew too much, and if she lost control and revealed everything to her new master, it would jeopardize all of his plans.

He returned to his wife and screamed at her in a rage for murdering the illegitimate girl out of jealousy. But what the duke of the north did not realize was that all of this was part of Neonidas’s plan. Had Duke Maximilian been more patient, he would have witnessed the “corpse” of his illegitimate daughter transforming into the body of a lamb within a day.

Neonidas had taught Cassandra how to create a shapeshifting toxin. Using this knowledge, Cassandra had her snakes kill a lamb, then transformed its body to resemble her sister’s. With the help of her new and only master, she had successfully smuggled her real sister to safety, leaving the lamb’s disguised corpse behind.