Chapter 21: The Self-Proclaimed Protagonist

Lady Estella Von Brink was many things—dramatic, self-absorbed, and completely detached from reality. But above all, she was persistent.

As the moon hung low over the villa, Estella stood outside a tall window, peeking in like a ghost with expensive taste. In her mind, this wasn't trespassing—it was destiny at work.

She watched as Theodore poured a glass of wine for Verbena, his expression softer than Estella had ever seen. He even tucked a strand of Verbena's hair behind her ear.

Estella gasped so loudly that she startled an owl.

"Impossible!" she hissed. "That villainous witch is using black magic to seduce my Theodore!"

In her head, this was a classic romance novel plotline—the cold and distant duke, trapped in a loveless political marriage, until his one true love (her, obviously) returned to reclaim his heart.

And she was here to save him.

Inside the villa, Verbena shivered.

"Why does it feel like someone's glaring daggers into my back?"

Theodore raised a brow. "Guilty conscience?"

"I have no guilt, only regret for marrying you, you handsome waste of oxygen."

"Your compliments are getting sweeter."

Before Verbena could throw a fork at him, a thud sounded from the window. They both turned to see—absolutely nothing.

"Did you hear that?" Verbena asked.

"Probably a raccoon."

"We don't have raccoons in this kingdom."

"Then it's your imagination."

Outside, Estella was dangling headfirst from a tree branch, her elaborate gown caught on a knot.

"This is fine," she whispered to herself. "Even if fate throws obstacles, the heroine always perseveres!"

Eventually, she managed to untangle herself and crawl under the dining room window.

Inside, Verbena and Theodore were still arguing—about who snored louder and who had worse table manners.

Estella's jaw dropped.

"They bicker like an old married couple… That's not how romance novels work!"

She slapped her cheeks.

"No, no, no! This is the part where the villainess gets humiliated and runs away, leaving the true lovers to reunite in passionate embrace!"

Her delusions were so strong they gave her the courage to climb into the shrubbery beneath the bedroom window.

Upstairs, Verbena kicked off her shoes and flopped onto the bed with zero grace.

"You sleep on the floor."

"That's my bed, wife." Theodore smirked. "But you can have half."

She threw a pillow at his face.

Estella watched from below, tearing up at the scene. "Look at him suffering in a loveless marriage! His smile doesn't even reach his eyes!"

(Theodore, at that exact moment, was grinning like a fool because Verbena missed his face and hit the chandelier instead.)

Estella scribbled furiously into her diary, labeling Verbena as "Demonic Seductress No. 1."

"Don't worry, my love," she whispered dramatically. "I will free you. Soon."

Suddenly, the window creaked open and a flowerpot came flying out—missing Estella by half an inch.

"What the hell?!" she shrieked, rolling out of the way.

Upstairs, Verbena sighed.

"Who puts flowerpots inside the bedroom window?"

Theodore shrugged. "Romantic husbands who want to decorate for their wives?"

"…That's not you."

"You're right."

Estella clenched her fists.

"She even insults his romantic gestures! This is emotional abuse!"

In her twisted mind, she was the savior, and Verbena was the evil stepmother in disguise.

"I have to act. Tomorrow, I'll expose her true face to society! Everyone will know who the real villainess is!"

As Estella plotted under the moonlight, Verbena yawned and crawled under the covers. Theodore followed (much to her annoyance), and they accidentally fell asleep holding hands.

Estella saw none of this—she was too busy monologuing to a squirrel.

"Don't worry, Theodore! Your real happy ending is coming soon!"

Meanwhile, inside, Verbena muttered in her sleep, "Why is your hand so warm… it's annoying."

And Theodore? He stayed awake, smiling like a man slowly losing a battle he never planned to fight—the battle of falling for his wife.

End of Chapter 21