Chapter 1
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: First Welcome (1)
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"Your Excellency, are you truly alright with this?"
Butler Bill examined my complexion. His gaze lingered for a long time on the arm I'd scratched earlier.
"I told you I'm fine."
"But Your Excellency, you nearly fell from your horse. There are plenty of knights who've been crippled from such falls."
"No need to worry."
I waved my arm demonstratively, and only then did Bill step back.
"If you say so... Please let me know immediately if there's any pain."
"I will. What I asked for earlier?"
"Right here."
I could sense his anxiety as he handed over the documents.
"It's the report on Lady Rose Vicander."
"Hm."
For an investigation into one person's life, there was quite a stack of papers.
Flip, flip.
As I silently turned the pages, I swallowed a curse.
'Damn it, it's real.'
The information I knew—or rather, the truth I'd realized in that near-fall earlier.
In other words, this world being inside a novel—
That fact became even clearer upon seeing these documents.
Rose Vicander.
The eldest daughter of the Vicander Family and a leave-of-absence student from the Academy's Magic Studies Department. She was now on her way to the castle as my eighth wife.
'A regressor... that's what she is.'
[The Regressed Villainess No Longer Desires Love]
The story was about the protagonist, Rose Vicander, who regressed after an unjust death and lived a different life from before.
Instead of begging her husband for love, she boldly displayed her talents, and in the end, he was the one begging her for it—a classic regret romance.
'Yeah, I definitely read this novel.'
At the same time, I realized something else.
That I was Rose's husband in the story, the villain they called the "shitty character."
Dane Schmichael. The sole surviving direct descendant and heir of the Schmichael Ducal Family.
The owner of the vast Schmichael territory and the Calmar Mine, which produced the highest-grade mana stones. I was a character from the novel.
Overlaid on twenty-two years of my own experiences were memories described from others' perspectives.
It was an utterly unfamiliar sensation. But instinctively, I knew this wasn't a dream—it was reality.
And even more importantly,
'I'm the one who dies?'
That was the novel's ending.
I never made it to my twenty-second birthday before dying.
The cause of death: poisoning.
It wasn't anything new. I'd always thought I might end up dying like that someday.
The collateral kin's obsession with seizing this family went beyond imagination.
Not just poisoning the food—assassinations and ambushes were so frequent I couldn't count them on my fingers anymore.
'I just didn't know it would be this year.'
The moment my twenty-second birthday passed, I would become the undisputed master of the Schmichael Ducal Family under kingdom law.
The relatives who'd been denying me by citing my age would finally have to shut their mouths. And before that happened, they'd want to finish me off.
So, there was only one way for me to survive: ally with the novel's protagonist and regressor, Rose Vicander.
The brilliant magic studies scholar had, in her regression, prevented my death by poisoning. And that very Rose Vicander was coming to the castle to become my eighth wife.
However...
In her previous life, Rose had been framed as my poisoner and executed. To her, Dane Schmichael was no different from the man who'd ruined her life.
So, the moment she realized she'd regressed, Rose resolved herself like this:
'I'll never love him. Never.'
Melting that resolve of hers would require quite a bit of effort.
As the first step, I'd decided to personally go welcome her.
"Then I suppose it's time to head out."
"Your Excellency, the documents I just handed you..."
"I've seen them."
It was all information I already knew anyway. I'd only skimmed them for Bill's sake.
Thud.
I set the papers down and rose from my seat. Bill couldn't hide his anxiety.
"Are you alright?"
"Why wouldn't I be? Lead the way."
"As expected of Your Excellency—you're so bold."
I walked the corridor with Bill, who was spouting nonsense I couldn't make sense of.
The hallway was unusually quiet compared to normal. There weren't any servants going about their cleaning duties.
"Looks like everyone's gone out to welcome the wife."
"Yes, Your Excellency."
Bill swallowed dryly and finally bowed his head.
"I'm sorry. The underlings spoke carelessly and disturbed your ears."
"What are you talking about all of a sudden?"
"You've heard the rumors about Madam, haven't you? That's why you ordered a separate report."
Not really. I'd just wanted to confirm if this world was truly the novel's.
"They were all just worried about you, so please don't take it too badly."
"Worried?"
"Rest assured. We've prepared thoroughly to ensure nothing unfortunate happens today."
"?"
Something felt off in my conversation with Bill. We were talking about the same thing, but our words weren't aligning.
"The preparations for welcoming the wife—are they definitely complete?"
"Of course, Your Excellency. As you commanded, we've prepared a welcome ceremony befitting the Schmichael Ducal Family."
Bill answered with resolute determination.
"You said to prepare thoroughly so she clearly understands what family she's entering."
That excessive resolve of his was another source of the unease.
Was there really any need to prepare a wife's welcome this solemnly? Something was wrong here.
But I couldn't suspect Bill.
He was a loyal butler who'd served the Schmichael Ducal Family since my father's time. He could read my intentions from a glance.
"...Let's go, then."
I'd figure it out when I saw it.
With that thought, I reached the castle gate and...
"..."
was left speechless.
Clang!
Guards lined up in front of the gate in perfect formation. Not a single one out of place—it was flawless alignment.
Their armor gleamed so brightly it was almost blinding. They'd clearly put their all into polishing it.
'Did they have oil to spare?'
And next to them was even more ridiculous.
Neigh!
Hot steam billowed from the horses' nostrils. The chill winter air couldn't suppress the vibrant energy pulsing from the steeds.
"Whoa, whoa."
"Easy now."
The riders atop them—knights who defended the Calmar Mountains from monsters—shone radiantly.
The swords meticulously maintained by their squires, and the clinking of their armor, added to the vivid scene.
At their forefront stood Knight Captain Mathias, standing tall and proud. Spotting me, he gave a light nod.
'Leave it to me, brother.'
His resolute face seemed to say. But I couldn't interpret that expression.
What was with that face? Even on our first monster subjugation together, he hadn't looked that fierce.
What on earth had Bill told him? And how were they already here when the distance took at least an hour?
It was astonishing.
Ahem.
Whew.
The servants stood facing each other along both sides of the main road in front of the inner castle. Judging by the numbers, the entire castle staff was out.
"Straighten your posture."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Willie, your feathers."
"Yes."
Head Maid Selma slowly walked among them, pointing out flaws. The servants desperately tried to avoid even the slightest criticism.
'What's with this atmosphere?'
A stern mood that tolerated no noise or mistakes. No guest could fail to be overwhelmed by it.
Yeah, exactly.
'Why overwhelm the person?'
That was my question.
Top-tier forces in the kingdom, rigidly disciplined servants. Armor and warhorses boasting the family's wealth.
This wasn't a welcome—it was defensive formation against an enemy.
"All set."
Bill, who'd escorted me here, bowed his head.
'Should I smack him?'
A burning urge I'd never felt toward the butler before welled up.
Is this it? This is really how you prepared?
A torrent of harsh words swirled in my mind, but
"Is that everything?"
what came out was calm. I was beyond angry—too absurd for words.
"Yes, Your Excellency."
A faint satisfaction glowed on Bill's face, as if he'd perfectly completed his master's orders.
"We've made every preparation to display the Schmichael Ducal Family's prestige."
"..."
"What do you think? Even a dragon would think twice with this."
"...No, not quite."
It wasn't dragon-level, but it was impressive enough to make even a king marvel.
No, that wasn't the point right now.
Was the purpose of this welcome to intimidate the guest? She might flee in terror, and we'd be lucky if she didn't.
How had he interpreted "a welcome befitting the Schmichael Ducal Family"? Had it been so long since the last one that he'd gone astray?
I had too much to say, so nothing came out.
"..."
As I just worked my lips silently,
"I'm sorry, Your Excellency."
Bill bowed deeply to me.
"...?"
A bad premonition flashed through me.
Something had gone terribly wrong. My loyal butler had misunderstood—thoroughly.
"I sincerely apologize for failing to grasp your intent and starting preparations so late."
"..."
"To think they'd dare send such a bride to the Schmichael Ducal Family. It's utterly deplorable."
Bill's voice lowered, as if suppressing his anger.
"We've let previous brides be because of your mercy, Your Excellency. But their insolence has pierced the heavens, so you can no longer sit idly by."
"..."
"As an example, today's bride will personally feel the wrath of the Schmichael Ducal Family. Seeing the crowd filling the grounds, she'll know her place."
The surroundings had fallen silent before I knew it.
Everyone within earshot of Bill was listening intently.
The guards, servants, knights—all silent. But their resolute eyes vowed silently.
'Leave it to us, Your Excellency.'
'We must show her what the Schmichael Ducal Family truly is.'
'We'll make sure that woman can't even squeak.'
At this moment, they were united as one. A fervor I'd never felt even during my first subjugation.
"..."
These guys?
I was flabbergasted beyond belief.
Now I understood why this welcome had been prepared. They all thought I'd set this up to pressure my new wife.
'It's because of those rumors.'
I recalled Bill fidgeting as he handed me the report earlier.