I Was Reincarnated as a Mob Noble, and I Swear I'll Protect the Villainess Who Got Married Off to Me No Matter What ~To Dodge Our Total Downfall, I Went All Out Training My Trash Skill [Super Recovery] Through Crazy Hard Work, and Before I Knew It, I Could Totally Wreck the Game Protagonist Who Condemned My Wife Easily - Chapter 6

Chapter 6: The Villainess Lady Valeria Gets Her Engagement Broken and Comes to Marry Me

“…So when’s Valeria actually getting here?”

“Well, she left the capital seven days ago, so if things go quick, the carriage might roll in any minute now.”

“Dude, that’s way too sudden!?”

“No, I mean if it’s fast. She’s still a duke’s daughter—even as a criminal—so she might take her time, sightseeing or whatever, and show up way later.”

Right then, someone started pounding on the room door like crazy. A super panicked maid’s voice cut through.

“Excuse me! A fast horse just brought word—Lady Valeria Asphodel’s carriage is arriving any second now!”

“Oh crap!? Felix, hurry!”

“Ha!”

Felix helped me throw on my formal clothes in a total rush.

Gotta make a good first impression if I’m pulling her over to my side.

Me and Felix plus the servants still at the castle lined up out front by the gate.

We barely got the welcome ready in time.

Just as I let out a relieved breath, this beat-up wreck of a carriage came rolling up.

“Uh… that’s not it, right…?”

I stared in disbelief and asked Felix.

“No—that black rose crest is definitely the Asphodel ducal house’s.”

“Huh…?”

Weird as hell—the carriage windows were smashed, the whole thing caked in mud and bent out of shape.

And the biggest red flag? Not a single escort knight in sight.

“Where the heck are those eighty elite knights…?”

“Don’t ask me.”

“Could she have rushed ahead and the guards are coming later or something?”

“No way a knight assigned to protect their lady would leave her side. What on earth happened…?”

While Felix and I stood there totally confused, the carriage pulled up right in front of us and stopped.

I snapped to attention and fixed my posture as the driver opened the door.

The girl who stepped out was this breathtakingly beautiful fifteen-year-old.

Long silver hair like moonlight spun into threads, slender graceful arms and legs. Her amethyst eyes, full of strong will, sized me up like she was judging every inch.

“…Hmph. So you’re my fiancé, Zenon Greivan?”

Valeria gave this haughty little snort through her nose.

But her gorgeous face was deathly pale—like sickly white—and she clearly wasn’t feeling good at all.

…Is this girl okay?

Even though my head was spinning, I bowed to show respect.

“Yes. Welcome after such a long journey, Lady Valeria Asphodel. I’m Zenon, eldest son of Greivan border count Baldo. Everyone here welcomes you from the bottom of our hearts.”

When I looked up, Valeria had just missed her step on the carriage stairs and was about to tumble.

I freaked out and caught her quick.

“…Wait, are you sick or something!?”

Her body felt shockingly thin and frail—like she hadn’t eaten properly in forever.

Even crazier, there wasn’t a single maid or attendant inside the carriage. Not even one. The driver guy just stood there silent. No way she got any real care on the road.

Even if she’s exiled as a criminal, isn’t this treatment kinda over the top?

“…Let go of me, you insolent fool!”

Her angry eyes stabbed right through me.

“Ah, s-sorry about that!”

Fiancé or not, suddenly grabbing and holding her like that was rude as hell.

Plus, that flower-like sweet scent of hers had me all flustered.

Whoa, no—nope. Focus. Right now I’m way more worried about her condition.

My MP’s bone-dry anyway, so I can’t even use Heal to fix up her 【Life Force】HP…

It’s bugging me, but I’ll ask about what happened to the Schwarz Ritter escorts tomorrow. I was gonna throw a welcome party, but screw that—first she needs rest.

I gently let go of her and bowed my head again.

“You look really worn out, so let’s get you to a room where you can relax right away. Then some easy-to-digest food, and Felix—call the doctor too!”

“Ha!”

Felix and the others behind me scattered like they’d been shot out of a cannon.

“…Don’t bother. This is the price for my skill [Necromancer]. My own 【Life Force】HP gets eaten up so the undead can show their power.”

“Huh?”

For a second I had no clue what she was talking about.

So… she spammed [Necromancer] skill magic the whole way here? Why push herself that hard…?

With the carriage looking trashed like that… did someone attack them?

“More importantly—the Balzark Empire army is coming, right? Take me to the front lines immediately. I’ll save this place myself…!”

Valeria looked up at me with this determined stare.

I was seriously floored.

“What are you even saying with your body like that!? Rest first, please!”

“…I’ve always been frail. If we wait around for my health to bounce back, it’ll be too late to fix anything.”

Her amethyst eyes pierced straight through me, then past me to the whole land behind.

“If we don’t strengthen our defenses right now, this territory—no, the entire kingdom—will get trampled by the empire! You’re the border count’s son—you get how terrifying those golem legions are, don’t you!?”

Wh-What the hell? This is the once-in-a-generation evil woman?

She’s saying she wants to save this place without even thinking about herself…?

“Cough, cough…!”

Valeria gave a small cough. After catching her breath, she spoke again.

“Th-The king refused to boost the military. My lack of power—I’ll make up for it with my own hands!”

Right then, the hidden truth behind the game scenario hit me like a truck.

Wait… so shutting down the orphanage support and forcing that huge military budget increase… was all to protect us—this kingdom!?