The Stand-In Villainess's Contract Marriage: I Was Divorced After a Year, But For Some Reason, My Ex-Husband Seems to Be Looking for Me - Chapter 21

“If I wear this and put on slightly more extravagant makeup than usual, I will surely become the perfect villainess.”

She felt hesitant, but convinced herself that this was just like wearing a stage costume.

Liana would only be playing the role of the ‘villainess’ at the party.

The day had been busy from the early morning. For today, the maids had come in early to help Liana prepare for the event.

Her silver hair was beautifully polished, shining brilliantly.

Felice did a final check, and for the first time since her marriage, Liana left the mansion.

The large carriage bore the crest of the Kirina Duke’s family, and all the passing carriages yielded to it. In the past, she had always had to wait for other carriages to pass, so even something like that surprised her.

Eventually, the carriage arrived at the Cleero Marquis’ estate, the venue for tonight’s event.

Since she had no escort, the coachman helped her down from the carriage.

(“So this is the party venue… Everyone looks so elegant and beautiful.”)

The nobles were dressed in refined and sophisticated attire, showcasing their high status.

Among them, Liana, in her bright red dress, stood out in particular.

Everyone looked at her with open disgust, whispering spiteful comments.

Although they spoke in low voices, it was clear they intended for her to hear, as their words reached her clearly.

“To think the Duchess of Kirina would be such a woman, even if she does owe him a debt…”

“That dress is so vulgar. It’s unpleasant to even look at.”

Older women said such things, frowning.

“Poor Lord Kararize, being stuck with a woman like her.”

“He even had a fiancée… How unfortunate.”

The young noble ladies also cast hateful glares and cruel words.

However, what shocked Liana was hearing that Kararize had once had a fiancée.

(Did Duke Kirina have a fiancée? Then why did he enter into this contractual marriage?)

If he needed to get married, he could have just married his fiancée.

Why did he go out of his way to spend a fortune to marry a notorious villainess, especially when they were set to divorce in a year?

“But his fiancée…”

“Yes, that’s right. Perhaps he became so desperate that he didn’t care who he married…”

Liana’s questions were answered as she listened to the gossip circulating throughout the venue.

Apparently, Kararize truly had a fiancée.

She was Valentina, the daughter of the Madariaga Marquis, a relative on Kararize ‘s father’s side, and they had been engaged for a long time.

But that engagement had been annulled by Kararize’s father.

The previous Duke of Kirina, Kararize’s father, had been on very bad terms with Kararize’s mother, and after Kararize was born, both parents left the mansion to live with their respective lovers.

This meant young Kararize was left alone in that vast mansion.

Both parents even had children with their lovers, and Kararize’s father intended for his illegitimate son, Braulio, to inherit the Kirina dukedom instead of Kararize.

However, Kararize’s father had also promised the Madariaga Marquis that his daughter would marry the heir to the Kirina dukedom.

So, without consulting Kararize, the father annulled Kararize’s engagement and betrothed Valentina to his illegitimate son, Braulio.

Because the two fathers were on good terms, Valentina and Braulio already knew each other, and Valentina quickly switched to Braulio when told that he would become the heir.

However, before the inheritance could be officially transferred, Kararize’s father suddenly passed away.

The doctor diagnosed it as heart disease, but Braulio was not satisfied and accused Kararize of killing their father.

The dispute lasted a long time, and at one point, the Earl of Tweed supported Kararize.

It seemed that the debt Kararize mentioned was related to that incident.

In the end, Kararize’s innocence was proven, and he inherited the Kirina dukedom.

He did not forgive his half-brother, who had tried to frame him as their father’s murderer, and sued him for defamation, leading to Braulio’s exile.

(But only the half-brother was exiled. The former fiancée kept trying to reestablish their engagement, repeatedly approaching Duke Kirina…)

Since she was a relative on his father’s side, Valentina’s family, the Madariaga Marquis, still had significant influence over the Kirina family.

If things continued as they were, there was a possibility that Kararize would be forced to remarry Valentina.

However, Kararize didn’t trust either Valentina or her father.

He believed that they were still in contact with his half-brother behind the scenes and planned to eventually take over the Kirina family.

Kararize’s friends sympathetically spoke about his state of mind.

Having never received parental love, with both parents living with their lovers…

Moreover, his father tried to give his fiancée and position to his illegitimate son.

His mother had quickly abandoned him and ran off with her lover.

It was clear why Kararize had such dark, brooding eyes.

Kararize trusted no one.

However, as the head of the Kirina family, he couldn’t avoid marriage.

As a young duke who had just inherited his title, it would be difficult to resist the pressure from his relatives.

If things continued as they were, he would likely be forced to reengage with his former fiancée.

Perhaps that was why Kararize decided to enter into a fake marriage like this.

Liana didn’t know what Kararize planned to do after their divorce in a year, but perhaps once he was married, he could cut ties with his former fiancée completely.

(So, that’s what happened…)

Liana was speechless at the tragic story.

She could only hope that her contract marriage with Kararize would help him in some way.

Liana, who had attended this party full of Kirina family relatives alone, was the center of everyone’s attention.