The Genius “Incompetent” Woman Wants to be a Villain ~a Lady who Married in the place of her Stepsister is Unaware of the Doting Duke’s Love Translation

34. Corinna’s Scheme

“I’m so full…”

After seeing off the carriage carrying Alexandra and Lawrence, Avril rubbed her stomach. She and Dylan were passing through the gate and returning to the main residence.

…Grace had set out so many sweets.

“…That Grace, I’ll have to teach her the amount of food that is normally served. Still, if I was the one serving back then, it probably wouldn’t have occurred to me to use pastries as a way to encourage conversation. As I thought, the servants of the Duke of Lancester are truly superb.”

“…If you were the one serving back then?”

“No, it’s nothing…”

She had a slip-up and almost revealed that she was once a servant.

Seeing Dylan next to her with a warm smile, Avril cleared her throat.

“Thank you very much for your time today. Being granted the opportunity to converse with His Highness Lawrence was refreshing.”

“Did you enjoy playing chest with Lawrence?”

“Yes, of course.”

While answering that, the wax seal she had stored in the drawer of her room came to mind. She planned to give it to Dylan as soon as Lawrence left. However, at the same time she was also reluctant to do so.

If Lord Dylan finds out that I have the seal, he might force me to explain myself.

That’s not good.

I’ll keep it safe until the time comes…

Just as Avril had made her mind about the seal, Dylan asked as if recalling something.

“Come to think of it, Avril’s maid—Carol, what is she up to right now? In times like this, she’s supposed to be in charge.”

“Well, I’m sure that after being tormented by a villainess like me, she’s writing a bunch of letters.”

“To whom?”

“I wonder.”

Avril smiled softly to deceive him.

As a matter of course, the recipient of Carol’s letters would be her true mistress—Corinna.

***

…A little later.

In the salon of Count Allingham, Corinna was laughing like mad.

“Hey, Mother, look at what we have here! It seems that Avril is being completely ignored by the beautiful duke!”

“Why, if it isn’t a letter from Carol who went to accompany Avril. Won’t you read it for me?”

In the background, antique dealers were carrying out paintings and pots. That represented the current state of Count Allingham’s house, which was under fire. Nevertheless, Corinna and her mother remained nonchalant.

The disappearance of the luxurious furnishings, handed down from generation to generation, wouldn’t hurt or faze them.

After all, they fully believed that “once” the financial situation returned to normal, they could just buy them again.

“According to Carol, Avril has never met the duke. Not only is she locked away, she’s also ignored by the servants. I kind of pity her right now…”

“Me, too. At the same time, I can’t help but laugh. Perhaps, that’s why the preparation money hasn’t been send yet. If I knew this was going to happen, I should’ve sent Corinna instead. However, when I heard those disparaging rumors about the duke, there was just no way I’d marry off my precious daughter to him.”

Corinna gently leaned against her mother’s shoulder, while her mother brought her head closer to her.

“It’s okay, Mother. We can still make it in time.”

“There’s still time… Avril’s already been married off as a villainess, while you’ll soon be serving an influential lady named Alexandra in the Lindbergh household.”

In a few more weeks, Corinna was supposed to leave for the Lindbergh family in the royal capital. Of course, it was so that she could become Alexandra’s handmaiden to offset the debt.

Needless to say, Corinna was extremely reluctant.

At first, she planned to win the crown prince, Lawrence, and become the queen.

Unfortunately, according to her research, Lawrence was madly in love with Alexandra. She didn’t stand a chance.

“Hey, Mother. This letter says that His Excellency the Duke of Lancester has never met Avril. Carol won’t lie to me, so this has to be true.”

“Which means…?”

“Mother, you may have forgotten, but when I was a child, Avril and I switched places at the salon concert. We look exactly alike. Do you know what I’m getting at? I’m sure that this time, too, I’ll be able to deceive everyone. Then, she’ll have no one left.”

“Then, Corinna…!”

Towards her beaming mother, Corinna smiled coldly like a true villainess.

“Yes, the moment I arrive at the royal capital, I’ll pay them a visit. Then, I’ll have her switch places with me. Afterwards, I’ll become the duchess, and this house will be restored to its former glory.”


***T/N: Take note, Avril, this is the real villainess.

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