Chapter 190: The Wife Has Changed

Chapter 190

The Wife Has Changed

“Nara, sob, sob, my daughter. My poor thing. Why? Why did the bad people target you? A mother’s heart is breaking, waah,” a voice cried from the drawing room. Ellie had just arrived and didn’t know what was being discussed inside, but she knew Nara had arrived a while before her. While Ellie had changed into simple villager clothes, Nara, despite still recovering, had come to greet the guests first.

Looking inside, Ellie felt pity for Nara deep down. She had been experimented on by the Setter family from head to toe, leaving no part of her unscathed. Thankfully, the high-quality potion had healed most of her deep wounds, leaving only minor traces still mending.

In fact, Nara didn’t even expose her chest to anyone. That area had undergone the most scrutiny. The demonic toxin was concentrated in her chest, while the Pink Poison flowed from her neck to her chest. When they met, a battle between the two poisons ensued, prompting the Setter family to implant a magical device there in order to receive commands from the Pink Poison at nearly the same time Nara received them.

Unbeknownst to Nara, the Setter family had used a special tracking method on her. She only knew she was a test subject to observe the effects of the Pink Poison. Nara felt it was unfair for the Setter family to take advantage of her, but she knew she could do nothing against them. So, she kept her resentment inside, waiting for the day she could unleash it on Ellie, who had known about this plan all along but still lured her to the Setter family.

That day when she was poisoned, Nara didn’t lose consciousness. She was aware of everything and knew that the true target of the perpetrators was Ellie, not her! Thus, Nara could only blame herself for trusting Ellie. Seeing Ellie pretend to willingly take her to the Setter family’s mansion made Nara believe that Ellie still had some goodwill towards her. But...it was all a trap!

Nara looked at her mother, who was crying as if her heart would break. She had almost died earlier, but because of the deep-seated resentment in her chest, Nara swore she wouldn’t die until she saw that damn Ellie in pain!

Her thoughts were extremely self-serving. She never realized how she had wronged others or planned to harm them. Even when attending the party, she hoped to see Ellie in a state of abandonment. If it weren’t for the fact that Eldest Young Lord Owen genuinely cared for Ellie, Nara might have approached him to make him take her as his wife while casting Ellie out of the family.

Nonetheless, if it weren’t for Nara’s evil schemes, would she have allowed Young Lord Aman to pursue her, knowing how cruel he was? It’s because she believed she could tempt him with greed, take control of the Setter family, and push Eldest Young Lord Owen and Ellie to their deaths.

It was no wonder Nara received such retribution. It was all because she harbored malicious thoughts towards others first, yet she remained oblivious to how selfish she was!

“Mother, I’m fine. Don’t worry.” Nara lowered her eyes and put on a sorrowful face as she hugged her mother tightly. Despite everything, the wounds on her body truly made her look pitiful.

"How can I not worry? Sob, I’m your mother. A mother!” Nara’s mother continued to cry loudly, looking at her once beautiful daughter now covered in scars. No matter what, this was a loss, wasn’t it?

"Who did this to my daughter? Those vile people, waah. I want to kill them! How can my daughter ever become someone’s wife after this? Just attending the Setter family’s party led to such danger. My poor child, you’re truly unfortunate."

Nara thought one thing, but her mother thought another. The butler, who had arrived early to welcome guests, raised his eyebrows slightly at the villager woman’s unpleasant words. Being of low status, they should be grateful for attending the Setter family’s party, even if it meant risking their lives, not to blame them like this. Besides...wasn’t it said that this girl had threatened Lady Ellie to come to the Setter family? How could she claim it was her misfortune today? Did anyone force her to come?

The increasingly sharp look in the butler’s eyes went unnoticed by the two women. However, Nara’s father, the village chief, who was used to dealing with powerful people, knew how to read expressions. No matter how upset his wife was about their daughter, they shouldn’t create problems with the Setter family, right?

“Our daughter did her duty as a good citizen of Set City. It’s an honor to sacrifice for the Setter family. Don’t speak nonsense,” the village chief sternly rebuked his wife. He used self-deprecating words to show respect to the Setter family. His harsh demeanor caused his wife to pause slightly.

Her eyes flashed with displeasure, but knowing her husband’s authority, she could only shed more tears and seek sympathy from others.

“Waah, waah. But our daughter...Who will marry her now? Will my Nara have to remain single forever? Look at her...What will we do?”

“Mother, please stop talking about this.” Though Nara had always obeyed her mother, sometimes her mother’s thoughts were so simple they seemed foolish. Talking about this to others was one thing, but thinking the Setter family would fear losing face or repaying kindness by giving their important son in marriage was absurd.

Nara was truly irritated by her mother’s country bumpkin mindset. She squeezed her mother’s arm tightly to signal her to be quiet. Seeing an unfamiliar look in her daughter’s eyes, her mother froze, almost forgetting to cry.

“Just as Father said, I’ve done my duty as a good citizen. This is something our family should be proud of,” Nara smiled. She wouldn’t let the Setter family slip from her grasp, but exploiting this situation too much wouldn’t be wise.

“Nara, what about our Ellie? I wonder how she’s doing,” Aunt Lana, who had been listening to the small family talk for a while, wanted to ask about Ellie’s well-being but had to wait for the right moment. After seeing Nara’s family come to terms with her condition, she brought up the kind-hearted girl.

Nara paused for a moment, clenching her fists. She wanted to tell the couple who had come all the way to find Ellie that the girl they were worried about was perfectly fine—eating well, sleeping soundly, and living like a princess in the mansion!

But Nara didn’t say that. Admitting that the Setter family valued Ellie more than her, who lay injured, would be too humiliating.

“Ellie is fine. She’s safe from the attack.” Because that wretch used me as a shield! Of course, she didn’t say this last part. She replied to Lana and Jay-ar with a weary expression.

“R-Really? She’s safe? That’s such a relief.” Lana placed a hand on her chest. A small drop of tears appeared at the corner of her eye, which she quickly wiped away to avoid being impolite, showing how much she cared about Ellie.

The butler, familiar with many people, could tell who was sincere and who was acting. Seeing that Lady Ellie had someone genuinely concerned for her in this small village, he felt a slight sense of relief.

“Aunt Lana, Uncle Jay-ar, Village Chief, you’re all here.” Ellie pretended she had just arrived to meet everyone. The petite girl quickened her pace, running towards them. Her luxurious outfit had been changed to a simple brown dress like the villagers wore. Seeing Ellie healthy and even more beautiful, Lana burst into tears almost immediately.

"Ellie dear, I’m so glad you’re safe. I was very worried.”

“Yes, I know. And Aunt Lana, Uncle Jay-ar, where are the children?”

“We left them at my mother’s house. Lately, Uncle Jay-ar’s natal home has come causing trouble too frequently, so we’ve been taking the children to my mother’s house more often. Don’t worry, once we see that you’re safe, we’ll head back,” Lana told Ellie. They spoke naturally about their well-being, while Nara, watching, clenched her fists tightly. If she had enough power right now, she would have killed Ellie the moment she saw her!

“Lana, are you heading back to the village today? If so, let everyone know that we, husband and wife, will be staying in the city for a while. Our daughter is injured, and we need to stay until she recovers,” Nara’s mother quickly interjected. Whoever wanted to return to the village could go back, but she didn’t want to leave just yet!

Having the chance to enter the Setter family’s mansion, even if it meant staying as a servant, was worth it. She wanted to walk around the luxurious mansion at least once in her life.

“How can we do that? I’m the village chief, and you’re the chief’s wife. If we leave the village and something happens, who will handle it?” The village chief objected. When they said they were coming to find their daughter, there was no mention of staying overnight. How could she make such sudden decisions on her own now?

The village chief felt that his wife had changed slightly. She never used to be so stubborn, but lately, her behavior had become quite unsettling. Even their usually well-behaved daughter seemed to have a rebellious streak ever since she awakened her magic powers.

“Let the villagers manage on their own for a bit. It’s not like they’ll start killing each other without the village chief for one day. There are plenty of people; they can sort things out themselves. But our daughter only has us. Are you going to choose the villagers over your own child?”

“How can you say that? I’m the village chief. I have a responsibility and duty to the villagers.” The middle-aged man felt the urge to hit his wife. How could she suddenly speak so irresponsibly in the governor’s mansion? She could get him kicked out of his position as village chief, a role he had worked hard for! Seeing his wife’s behavior today, he now realized just how foolish she was!

Nara agreed with her father. She furrowed her brows, not understanding what her mother hoped to achieve by causing a scene. The more she behaved this way, the more she looked like a country bumpkin.

“Mother, please go back to the village. As Father said, our family has responsibilities,” Nara tried to persuade her mother. But would she agree?

“Then let Nara’s father go back alone. I’ll stay here to take care of our daughter.”

“Mother!” Nara was at her wit’s end, wanting to shout and ask what exactly her mother wanted. Why caused such a fuss? She had been here long enough to be able to stand on her own. What was there to worry about?

However... the butler, who had been listening all along, suddenly interjected.

“The health of your important daughter has improved, so you can take her back to the village for care. Moreover...if taking care of the villagers is too difficult for you, I’ll inform the overseer to replace the village chief. Consider it an apology for your daughter’s situation.”

Hearing the butler say this, the middle-aged man’s face turned pale, and Nara’s mother was left speechless in shock. Nara was filled with anger and frustration—not just at the Setter family or Ellie, but also at her own annoying family!

“Y-You, you misunderstand. I don’t find it tiring to take care of the villagers. They are people I’ve loved and cared for over many decades. They’re like family to me. Why wouldn’t I want to continue my duties until the end of my life?”

“You don’t have to be modest. Mother...oh, no! Your wife has already spoken. I understand. You are indeed responsible, but I don’t want your family to bear more burden. Just take good care of your daughter. Don’t let her put herself in danger again.”

The butler waved his hand, dismissing any further excuses. He ordered the soldiers to escort the guests out. Ellie also insisted on returning to the village with Aunt Lana and Uncle Jay-ar. The butler wanted to keep her there a bit longer, but in the end, he couldn’t. He had to let Ellie go, knowing she would soon be heading to the institute. She probably wanted to look after her home before staying at the institute for another 1 year.

“S-sweetheart, I mean...” The village chief, now stripped of his title and became just the former village chief, remained silent as they left the Setter family. He had received money from the Setter family every year as the village chief and owned more farmland than others without having to buy it. Today, his wife had caused all that money and property to slip through his fingers. He had once been proud of his good wife and lovely daughter, but now he felt he had been completely wrong.

“You all go back to the village first.”

“S-sweetheart...”

“I said go back first!! Didn’t you hear?!!” The middle-aged man shouted loudly. His wife and even Nara were shocked by his fierce demeanor, something they had never seen before.

Ellie watched as the small family of 3 faced their own internal conflict. She hadn’t expected the problems lurking like dust under the rug to be revealed now. But then again...when it rains, it pours. It wasn’t surprising that Nara was suddenly besieged by problems. Even the greedy habits of her family members were slowly emerging, undermining them from within...