A Runaway Villainess, Now Healing In An Enemy Country - Chapter 15

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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【Chapter 15】

It’s a frighteningly accurate figure.

The circuits surrounding my heart are spinning tightly to recover depleted mana, naturally causing my pulse to quicken slightly.

“If you stay still, it’ll return to normal.”

“Then it doesn’t hurt?”

“I’m just a little tired.”

The light nosebleed had stopped by now, so I stuffed the blood-stained handkerchief into the hem of my skirt.

“I used it well, Nishe. I’ll wash it and return it to you.”

In Nishe’s scarlet eyes that blazed as roughly as his temperament, there was an inexplicable dissatisfaction.

“You know what? You like meddling in other people’s business, so why do you treat your own body so carelessly?”

…What? These guys seem strangely interested in my physical condition. Am I imagining it?

Or is it a national trait? Are they worried I won’t be able to serve as a lucky charm for the sleeping Duke of Winter Castle if I get sick?

It’s really awkward at times like this.

“That’s not true. It’s true I’ve been pushing myself a bit lately, but I’m someone who values taking care of my body the most.”

I added like a sigh.

“It’s fine, this much. I’m an amazing mage, you know.”

“…”

“This used to be my daily routine. I’ve just relaxed since coming here, but I was originally quite busy with this and that.”

I’d pulled countless all-nighters for research. But given my position, I couldn’t just hide in a corner playing scholar.

Annual events like balls and hunting competitions, family affairs entangled with imperial engagements, even trivial tea parties and charity events – I handled them all.

I’d been so busy my whole life that even 48 hours a day wouldn’t have been enough, so it was hard to just laze around after suddenly becoming unemployed.

‘No sense of efficacy and I’m getting restless.’

“Why am I doing this? Well, I promised to use magic for Belmayer.”

Working for Belmayer is the same as working for myself.

All of this is for my comfortable and peaceful life, a process of removing inconveniences and dangerous elements that stand in the way.

To add to that, I’m just meddling because I don’t like how these people are living, and there’s no deeper meaning to these actions.

“Did you live like this in Hilbarsia too?”

Then Jepi suddenly changed the subject.

A hint of pure curiosity flickered in his green eyes.

“How did you live there?”

“What?”

“Did you really like the Crown Prince? Do you still like him now?”

“…You’re curious about that?”

“Yeah. I wasn’t curious before, but now I am.”

It was something I couldn’t help but be surprised to hear.

I thought Jepi’s fondness for me was simple affection about pretty soul colors or something.

But looking at it now, it seemed like it wasn’t just that.

‘He’s opened his heart to me too much…’

Ah, that’s not a very good sign.

Because I don’t want to open my heart that much.

I didn’t want to get deeply involved in their lives. I didn’t want to understand too much either.

So I only roughly grasped the surface.

It’s better not to know about their past, secrets, and stories. Even when I got a little curious sometimes, I didn’t ask.

That was the line I had drawn.

They also didn’t particularly pry into ‘Irene Baltres’s past life.’ At least not until just now.

“Irene?”

Jepi urged me for an answer.

Stale childhood memories, the ‘me’ from the original story, fragments left by past emotions that seemed controlled by the story yet also felt truly mine.

I tried to hide my agitation as I spoke.

“…I just lived.”

“What do you mean ‘just’?”

“I mean there was nothing special. The Crown Prince… I don’t like him anymore. Would I have tried to kill him if I did?”

Since I had felt such great betrayal because I liked him and went for a mutual destruction, it’s half right and half wrong.

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Having firmly affirmed it, I turned around pretending to be busy for no reason.

“Well then, I need to research magical tools.”

“Again? Can’t you do it later? I’m bored.”

“No. See you at dinner, Jepi.”

“Irene, then I’ll also come along,”

“No, I need to be alone to concentrate well.”

As I dissuaded Ally and slowly backed away, Nishe looked at me with eyes full of things to say.

“You…”

I hurriedly left the lobby before he could grab me. My pace quickened like someone being chased.

Did my panic show too much? That guy Nishe doesn’t look it, but he’s surprisingly perceptive.

‘…When did the line become so blurred?’

I must have forgotten the line I drew for myself without realizing it.

Coincidentally, I heard the phantom voice of someone I missed and resented.

[Don’t give your heart away so easily from now on.]

‘This time I really won’t give it, Emma.’

Really.

* * *

A desolate landscape for what was supposed to be a garden.

Bare, withered trees lined both sides, and instead of flower beds, tombstones stood in neat rows.

I seemed to have walked frantically until I reached such a remote place.

‘This is my first time seeing this place… Are they tombstones?’

The white snow covering the tombstones looked exactly like burial shrouds.

A bleak wind tousled my hair. The bone-chillingly cold air swept across my skin eerily.

“Ugh.”

Only then did I realize that for the first time since coming to this place, I wasn’t wearing warming magic on my body.

‘I disabled it earlier when installing the magical tools.’

The main castle area was in full spring weather now, but this place seemed too remote for the magical tools’ influence to reach.

I reflexively started magical calculations but stopped. I could just go inside.

It was at that very moment that I discovered a person existing like a landscape painting among those pure white graves.

“Your Grace…?”

This isn’t a spot-the-difference game, honestly.

The man who was white from head to toe in his clothing stood blankly in front of a tombstone with his back to me.

He slowly turned to look at me.

And without being called, he spoke.

“You haven’t listened to my advice at all.”

“…I know my own body best.”

It’s not that I completely forgot his diagnosis and warning about mana depletion syndrome. However, my mana circuits are still usable, and creating magical tools wasn’t too much of a strain.

I did it because I could. That’s all.

“Don’t you want to use the magic you want when you want it.”

“That’s why I just did it.”

“Making the castle warm?”

“Yes, that.”

I was reflected in the Duke’s indifferent and cold eyes.

He spoke quietly only after the wind had blown strongly twice and sleet began to fall slowly.

“You need to take care of yourself more than this castle.”

Just moments ago, it didn’t suit as advice for me who had chosen to endure the cold to save magical power. I’m taking plenty care of myself already.

But I didn’t want to argue, so I just kept my mouth shut. The Duke gave his advice like an order.

“So fix that habit of yours.”

This was the second time I’d heard those words.

My heart felt itchy as if dust had settled in it, and my stomach felt heavy like indigestion. That’s why. That’s why.

I asked a question I wouldn’t have asked before.

“Why do you keep… caring about me? Are you afraid you’ll fall asleep again if I die?”

“…No. But let’s just say it’s something like that.”

An ambiguous answer that was neither affirmation nor denial. I felt uncomfortable for asking unnecessarily.

My tongue moved on its own.

“Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.”

“…”

As if slightly shocked by my impudent words, the Duke’s gaze wavered slightly.

I tried to take back some of my words.

“I’ll stay healthy and fulfill my role as a totem well so you won’t lose to the Magi. Your well-being is my concern now too.”

‘If something happens to this man, it’ll be straight to destruction. Of course it matters.’

I want to live. And if possible, live well.

Whoooosh—

The sleet was getting heavier.

Without magic, it was definitely too cold to stay outside in this weather any longer. I hugged my arms and said.

“You know, can I make just one request before I go?”

As if telling me to babble on, he just nodded silently.

“Please be suspicious and wary of me. Don’t open your heart easily just because my soul color is pretty. Please keep drawing lines.”

“…Irene Baltres.”

“So please don’t let me get too comfortable.”

I must have been a little excited during this time.

By the unfamiliar kindness Winter Castle showed me, by the sense of security from deviating from the future the original story had set, without realizing it.

‘I need to get my head straight.’

An exile from the Empire needed by Belmayer.

That level was just right for my position here. I wouldn’t expect anything beyond being ‘needed.’

Because expectations always lead to disappointment.

“It’s not that difficult, right? After all, you’re not looking at me, but at someone else through me.”

By this point, it was impossible not to notice.

His gaze that looked at me as if trying to see through me was exactly like those eyes that endlessly gazed at the snow-capped mountains from the castle wall.

Eyes that seemed to be searching through memories.

He was projecting someone from his past onto me.

It wasn’t a particularly pleasant feeling, but it didn’t matter. As long as I didn’t give him my heart, there was nothing to be hurt about.

The Duke, frozen like a painting, pronounced slowly as if savoring the words.

“…That’s because you.”

“No, I’m not curious. Don’t tell me.”

I hastily cut off his words and quickened my pace. The cold wind made my skin sting.

“Well then, I’ll go inside. You have to grant my request!”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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