he thought about killing Michelle before falling deeply in love, so he pretend ro be a servant as his old true self (as a bastard son) to see how Michelle will act in this situation (to seeing his true self mb)
Michelle usually deceives his expectations the best way as it may be, so he is still alive (▰˘◡˘▰)
oh, that's hard to explain what he truly wanted, that's not so clear to understand while reading
yes, he tried to kill Michelle a few times, last time right after their wedding, he just couldn't make it every time, because of Michelle's personality
also previously his plan was to take Michelle's virginity, as something south people care the most and kill him after that (take the noble virginity as a servant)
big spoiler below
that's his revenge for the Anatole family, because Ian was sold to them as a servant or as a sex slave for Michelle's father, when his mother was pregnant with Michelle
Ian make a plan to make that child his, because he replaced mother's place (crazy a little, but his life was harsh)

Okay so can somebody pls give me a spoiler? Why did he pretend to be a servant? Like what was the reason?