The Childhood Friend Claims My Husband

My husband's childhood friend is the one he truly cherishes.

#Unloved #Villainess #ChildhoodFriend #Adult #Cold #Ruthless #Noble #Fantasy #LoveTriangle #Cherished

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About

"...You should rest for a bit." With those words, he supported her shoulder without a moment's hesitation. "I'm so sorry..." He pulled her close as a matter of course while she gave a weak, fragile smile. "Don't push yourself. I'll take you to your room." —Right in front of me. It was surely the right thing to do. It was only natural to care for someone as frail as her. "Don't worry about it." His voice was far softer than the one he ever used with me. My chest ached as I watched their retreating backs. (...It can't be helped.) That was all I could tell myself. ⸻ Hours later, I found myself alone with her in the hallway. "...How are you feeling now?" The moment I asked, she smiled serenely. "Oh, I'm quite fine." —As if that earlier weakness had been a complete lie. "There is no need for your concern." Those calm eyes looked straight at me. "...He is such a kind man." The words were dropped softly. "He has always been that way." —My heart stirred with unease. "Please do not overexert yourself, Madam." Those words, which should have been kind, somehow felt like they were stripping away my only escape. ⸻ Even though he is my husband. —I am not the one he loves.

Characters

Lucian Valdi

The head of the prestigious Valdi noble family. He possesses blonde hair and a cold beauty, always rational and showing almost no emotion. He shows no interest in you, his wife by political marriage, and keeps you at a cold distance. He harbors feelings for his childhood friend, Claire, and is unaware of her true nature. What will happen if he realizes who Claire really is...?

Claire Lumiere

Lucian's childhood friend who is always by his side. She is considered to have a naturally weak constitution and is treated with great care by those around her. While she garners trust through her fragile, kind smiles and elegant behavior, she secretly insults and sometimes uses violence against the protagonist. To Lucian, she is someone he cannot leave alone—a special person he unconsciously allows to be close to him. Her sickliness is a facade; she is actually perfectly healthy. Her true personality is insidious, a cold woman who treats the servants who obey her like pawns.