The Villainess’ Beloved Plan: The Struggles to Avoid a Doomed End

　Viscount D’Silva was captured for the crime of raiding Merchant ships in Saladora and robbing them of their cargo.

Perhaps because the storm had wrecked some of the ships, and the gold coins and jewelry from them had flown out and could no longer be excused, Viscount D’Silva, who had initially shown resistance, finally gave up and was led away by the soldiers.

In addition to the items seized from the ships, a number of plundered items stolen from Saladora’s Merchant vessels were also found in his house. Amazingly, he had apparently hidden the stolen items in the picture frames of the countless paintings on the walls of his house.

　D’Artagno was issued a clear and official righteous Pirate legal permit, and he went out to the sea with his companions, looking satisfied. They were going back to work on recovering the rest of the selkie tears.

Sophia was…

“Damn that little bitch! Was she not the one who promised to make the antidote?! Where is Cyril and the others? She was so insistent and wouldn’t make the antidote. I’m so angry!”

Orion had gone to Philia, daughter of the witch Marble, with Selkie’s tears.

Sophia, who had taken the antidote Orion had given her ahead of the others, felt as if her face was on fire as she reflected on everything she had done up until now.

Orion had gone to a great deal of trouble to get Philia to make the antidote, and she blamed Sophia for all of it.

Umm… I’m sorry for everything.”

Sophia never thought that Carnelia would give her the love potion, but it was Sophia’s fault forletting her gaurd down.　It caused Orion, Johannes, and Randall a great deal of trouble. And, of course, to Isolte, whom she had left behind at Verhund’s castle.

Sophia swore to herself that she would be the first to apologize to Isolte when she returned to Verhund’s castle.

After Orion’s taunting, Sophia went to the beach at Randall’s invitation.

　Although she had come to Verhund with the intention of having a honeymoon, she ended up not being able to do anything that resembled a honeymoon.

With Randall’s hand in hers, Sophia walked slowly along the beach.

After taking the antidote to the love potion, the first thing she thought was that Randall would be angry with her as usual. She was afraid of his habit of saying, “Don’t disgrace the Dukes of Voltio!” 

She stared at his profile as he walked half a step ahead of her, briskly stepping on the beach, and she couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

‘No way, maybe this time he ran out of love and wants a divorce?’

Since he didn’t say much of anything, Sophia’s thoughts started to lean towards the negative side.

He didn’t want to marry Sophia in the first place, so it was not surprising that he would call for divorce at any moment. He had wanted to somehow capture Randall before that time, but indeed, this time the commotion was too big.

She had played the role of Cyril’s fake lover, and had been drugged with a love potion. She can’t refute if people say that a woman like her is unfit to be the wife of the head of the Venerable Duke of Voltio.

Sophia turned pale and stopped, and Randall looked back at her suspiciously.

“Sophia?”

“I’m sorry!”

The strategy here was to take the initiative and apologize to him. Or rather, it was the only choice Sophia had left.

She didn’t want to be abandoned by Randall and sent back to the castle. The doomed end as a villainess was horrible, but above all, she didn’t want to go back to that castle anymore.

She had to apologize and cling to him to avoid a divorce.

“I’ve put Randall through so much trouble I’m sorry!”

‘So don’t give up on me!’ 

When she raised her lowered face, she saw Randall’s surprised face, which surprised Sophia more. She was surprised to see a surprised look on Randall’s face.

Randall was silent for a moment and then gently touched Sophia’s hair. To be more precise, he touched Sophia’s coral hair ornament.

“Red looks good on you.”

“…What?”

“The red dress you wore on the ship looked good on you, too.”

Sophia couldn’t believe her ears. What did Randall just say? Red looks good on her? Did the dress look good on her? Did Randall just compliment her? What kind of a wind blowing… no, what the hell was he talking about in the first place?

“This time, I will give you a red flower.”

“What?”

Sophia twisted her head in confusion.

‘What now? What does that mean…’ 

 “No divorce?”

She accidentally said out her thoughts. Randall looked surprised, then suddenly became grumpy. The familiar grim look on Randall’s face made her shrug her head, and his grip on her clasped hands tightened.

“Do you want a divorce?”

It was as if he was saying he wouldn’t let go. It didn’t hurt, but she couldn’t shake it off.

Sophia shook her head, somewhat scared.

Randall’s expression softened, relieved, and then he said, “From now on, we will be a proper couple.”

‘Proper husband and wife? What is that?’

Sophia and Randall were married in the cathedral and signed the marriage certificate. They were properly married according to the laws of Grastona. What else is a “Proper couple?”

“Sophia.”

“Yes!”

Randall’s serious face made Sophia tense up and straighten her back.

Her hand was strangely hot.

Randall took a deep breath and said in a hushed voice, “I’m so sorry for everything I’ve done”.

“What…?”

“I said I was sorry for being hard on you.”

“Oh, um, ……, um, yes.”

Nodding her head, Sophia’s mind was full of “?” 

Was Randall in front of her  the “right” Randall? Or was he drugged like Sophia was?

‘Randall apologized..’

Randall, who had been avoiding Sophia so much, calling her “fake” looked her in the eye and apologized!

Looking at Sophia, who was stunned beyond amazement, Randall continued.

“When you were dropped from the Queen Amiliana… when I thought I might never see you again, I felt like my heart froze.

“Uh…”

“When I found you in Verhund’s castle, pretending to be Prince Cyril’s lover, it was both frustrating and heartbreaking.”

“Uh-uh…”

“When you were drugged with the love potion and D’Artagno stole your heart, I felt helplessly nervous even though you were mine.”

“Okay…”

“I mean, I think that’s what it comes down to.”

What does that mean? Sophia wanted to ask, but she was in no mood to ask the question.

Sophia’s mind was still full of questions. Randall seemed to think that Sophia understood and started walking again with a thin smile on his face.

   With Randall’s hand in hers, Sophia thought quietly.

It was still a mystery what the “Proper couple” meant, but if they got along well, the result will be all right.

Sophia was relieved that the divorce had been avoided, and while walking with Randall, she suddenly turned her gaze to the sea.

She thought she saw a black shadow moving in the calm emerald green sea.

“Could it be Karana or Marana?”

Sophia smiled and gave a small wave towards the sea.