The Art of Reforming Villainous Men - Chapter 25
Chapter 25
Translator: Yonnee
—
The young Adeline had been even closer to Carlisle than her father, who was often away from home.
At least, until just before her twelfth birthday, when she began living in the academy dormitories.
While attending the academy, Adeline naturally grew distant from Carlisle, but the memory of that time remained unchanged.
Adeline had always deeply trusted and relied on Carlisle.
Thanks to that, one could even say they shared a somewhat familiar relationship.
In fact, there were quite a few times during her marriage with Julian when Carlisle attended to her.
‘It wasn’t… a situation I could possibly show anyone other than Carlisle.’
Sleeping with Julian always left marks on Adeline’s body.
To put it plainly, the light traces Jack left were laughable in comparison.
‘Julian would hit me whenever we did it.’
The act was always rough and violent.
Finger marks from Julian remained on her wrists and legs, and aside from her limbs, there were few unscathed areas.
These became deep trauma for Adeline, causing her body to stiffen even more whenever she shared a bed with Julian.
‘Which only made Julian act more violently.’
Because of that, Adeline was always bedridden the day after being with Julian.
But she couldn’t let other servants see her in that state, so in the end, the only person she could ask for help was Carlisle.
—I’m sorry, Carlisle. I didn’t want to show you myself like this…
—It’s fine. Please don’t worry about me.
Overwhelmed by guilt and embarrassment, Adeline couldn’t bring herself to lift her head, but Carlisle’s demeanor remained unchanged.
The same as it had been in childhood, when she’d whispered to him that she liked him best.
That was the Carlisle Adeline knew best.
Even until the very moment she left to divorce Julian, Carlisle had always treated Adeline the same way.
‘…He really did.’
Even though he eventually betrayed me.
Of course, logically, she understood.
From an objective standpoint, House Zeller was a sinking ship.
Carlisle, being someone who knew the inner workings of House Zeller better than anyone, must have wanted to avoid going down with it.
Who would willingly walk the path of ruin out of loyalty alone, knowing exactly how it would end?
‘Yes, that’s who Carlisle is.’
A person without ambition or greed, who acts solely according to his own beliefs.
So even his betrayal must have come from a belief and reason he deemed justified.
It was simply that this time, it wasn’t for Adeline.
‘That’s why it’s so troublesome.’
Among the three men who brought down House Zeller, Carlisle was the only one from within.
The closest person to House Zeller, who had known its inner workings intimately since the time of Adeline’s father, Diego.
That’s why expelling Carlisle was impossible.
Driving away someone who knew as much about House Zeller as Diego did—no one could predict what might happen if she did that carelessly.
In the end, there was only one answer.
‘I have to make Carlisle, certainly and without a doubt, mine.’
In truth, she was at a point where she needed someone to act on her behalf.
Rather than working around Carlisle to find such people, it would be better to use Carlisle himself.
The problem came after that.
‘How exactly do I win Carlisle over?’
Adeline’s gaze followed the man in the mirror.
Carlisle moved only his hands busily, his expression as still as ever.
His long flaxen hair slightly fell over his face, casting shadows.
A shadow carved along the sharp line of his nose spread across his cheek.
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