The Villainess Wants to Make Her Husband Slim Down

CHAPTER 59

4 (1) – 8

It seemed that the issue of the Lörrich succession had only gotten more serious.

As they advanced deeper into the winter season, the air outside was so cold that it began to prick the skin. Whilst they walked through the courtyard that was covered in a thin veneer of snow, Camilla heard about it from Alois.

"Lord Alois, straighten out your back!"

Camilla slapped the small of Alois' back with her hand. That smacking sound echoed through the deserted garden beside them. Alois, as if startled by the sudden sound, quickly stretched out his back that was hunched over just a second ago.

"Y-Yes... So, as I was saying, I'm not quite sure what to do about Rudolph, it's causing me no end of grief."

"Raise your head! Eyed forward! Make sure to always look proud!"

"Yes! You know... I thought taking a stroll would be a little more relaxing than this."

Alois mumbled in confusion, though that was only natural.

Resolving to have him exercise in one way or another, Camilla invited Alois to start taking winter strolls with her a few days ago. Alois agreed, and the two of them had walked together instead of their usual afternoon tea ever since.

However, it seemed like the two of them had very different ideas of what a 'stroll' was. She watched every step Alois took like a hawk, admonishing him for stepping out of line even once. It was walking in name only, to Camilla this was actually in effect practice for his social debut.

– When he straightens out his back and tightens his hips, he doesn't leave too bad of an impression to any onlooker.

Camilla wasn't satisfied with simply slimming Alois down alone. Camilla herself may have some trouble seeing it as vividly as before, but her goal from the beginning had been to take him back to the capital with her and flaunt his newly acquired good looks.

There is no well-respected aristocrat in the world who walks around with a hunched back. He had to carry himself with pride, every step he took elegant and graceful.

"Lord Alois, your shoulders are sagging! Keep them up!"

"Yes... Like this, then?"

Although Camilla's instructing was strict, Alois didn't seem to mind that much. He honestly took Camilla's advice, doing his best to adjust himself straight away.

Perhaps that's as to be expected of a duke? He's very quick to learn. Or perhaps he had learned all this in the past, and his once good posture had been ruined by becoming overweight? Nobles were usually taught how to carry themselves from an early age, after all.

If she could get him to at least walk up-right, then that would be a great leap forward to shaping him up as a proper man. He wouldn't be an embarrassment to be seen alongside either...

As she imagined standing side by side with Alois in the royal palace, Camilla's eyes dipped to the floor. The thought of haughtily lauding it over the frustrated faces of Liselotte and Therese were suddenly pushed to the corners of her mind, replaced instead with an emotion that she had never felt until coming here.

It was like a dark fog, spreading from her chest all the way to her head. Whenever Alois made serious attempts to change, Camilla felt this unfamiliar sensation seeping through her. Just what was this awful feeling...?

"Camilla, are you alright?"

"Ah... I-It's nothing."

Alois looked to his side in worry, suddenly not feeling Camilla's hawk-like eyes on him anymore. As he gazed at her, Camilla raised her eyes and shook her head.