A World Where You All Are The Villains - Chapter 73

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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73.

“…!”
The Butler’s words jolted me awake from my reverie.
Now that I thought about it, he was absolutely right.
After going through all that trouble to explain myself and give him a gift, if I simply left without wearing it, who knew what nonsense he’d spread.
‘He might not stop at curse letters—he could very well demand I return it…!’
Watching my expression darken with each passing thought, the Butler added with a sinister smile.
“In that case, wouldn’t it be better to simply wear it once and then put it away, Miss?”
“…That’s quite clever, Butler.”
I looked him up and down with surprise, and he wore a smug expression.
“Ahem! I’ve been eating humble pie in the Duke’s Mansion for over thirty years to reach this position.”
“Then why did you say it looked harmonious earlier? Hmm?!”
“I-I’m wronged, Miss! I said it looked harmonious because it appeared harmonious, but when you ask why it appears harmonious…!”

***

Finally, after putting on the accessory Serge had given me, the long and tedious preparations came to an end.
Standing before the mirror for a final inspection, I could see myself looking far more vibrant and radiant than usual.
“You look absolutely beautiful today, Miss.”
“Truly! You look like a goddess who just emerged from the waves!”
The Servants each offered their own compliments.
It wasn’t unpleasant to hear.
‘This face certainly has appeal when properly adorned.’
The Butler’s words were no exaggeration—the dark crimson jewels complemented the blue gown perfectly without excess.
My hair swept up elegantly, my eyes lifted with an aloof tilt, I embodied the image of a refined yet cold and merciless villainess.
Satisfied with my inspection, I made a casual gesture to the Servants standing behind me.
“It’ll do. Thank you all for your efforts.”
“Then we shall come to escort you at the appointed departure time.”
The Butler and the others filed out, and Nancy approached me.
“Miss. Aren’t you hungry?”
“If I eat now, the Butler will have a fit and come running.”
“That’s true, but….”
To cheer up her dejected expression, I changed the subject.
“Did you pack everything?”
“Yes. Following your instructions, I packed the rest with comfortable clothing in mind.”
“Good work.”
“Eston is already loading the luggage onto the carriage.”
I nodded and settled onto the sofa.
The Equinox Commemoration Festival would span three nights and four days, so Nancy and several other Maids would accompany us.
Moreover, because of my collapse a few days prior, the Duke had insisted I bring a Healer along.
I accepted without protest.
‘Better to be safe than sorry….’
While I wouldn’t need to use my ability because of the male leads, Equinox Island lay dangerously close to the Gate Wave, and there was no telling what unforeseen circumstances might arise.
That’s why Eston was less a Healer and more an accomplice—someone to help cover my tracks should I need to perform a purification without being discovered.
‘Please, just this once, let nothing happen like in the novel….’
As I made that silent prayer, I drifted off to sleep without realizing it.
I’d woken far too early.
I was dozing fitfully in an uncomfortable position to avoid mussing my hair when Nancy gently roused me.
“Miss, it’s time to depart.”
“…Already?”
Unlike the Imperial Palace banquet, this journey required traveling a considerable distance.
It wasn’t even noon yet, and we were already setting out.
To reach Equinox Island, we had to travel to Teberon, a port city roughly three hours from the Capital.
Fortunately, from there we wouldn’t need to board a ship; the Imperial Palace’s Space Ability Users would teleport us—carriage and all—directly to the island.
It was certainly a privilege of the high nobility.
I forced my drowsy eyes open and dragged myself to my feet.
Shortly after.
As Nancy and I descended to the First Floor, I spotted Ethan busily directing the Servants who were moving our luggage.

71%

Fortunately, his head looked no different from last time.
“Good afternoon, brother.”
As I approached him, I suddenly felt a strange emptiness and glanced around before asking.
“Where is Father?”
Ethan, who had been turning his head toward me without much thought, abruptly widened his eyes.
“…You.”
His lake-blue eyes, fixed upon my face, rippled harshly for a fleeting moment.
I simply regarded him with confusion.
“Why? Is there something on my face?”
“…No.”
He answered after a brief pause.
For some reason, his voice trembled slightly.
Realizing it himself, he cleared his throat before quickly returning to his usual expressionless face.
“What did you just say?”
“I asked where Father is.”
“Father likely won’t be able to attend.”
It was unexpected news.
The Duke had been eagerly anticipating this day, saying he would finally get some rest.
“Why, why is that?”
“His Majesty the Emperor fell into a critical condition early yesterday morning.”
“Ah….”
At those words, the forgotten plot details of the novel flooded back to me.

「While Ruellin stays at the Imperial Palace, she frequently visits the Emperor, who suffers from a chronic illness, to keep him company.
At first, the Emperor, who had looked down upon her for her commoner origins, gradually opens his heart to her unwavering presence.

One day, Ruellin witnesses the Emperor coughing up blood after drinking herbal medicine and falling into a critical state.
While searching day and night for the cause, she finally discovers that the herbal ingredients were mixed incorrectly.
Thanks to this discovery, the Emperor recovers his health and adopts her as his daughter…」

It was a rather heartwarming episode—the female lead, who had no family, gaining a new one.
‘Is this the right time?’
Now that I thought about it, after the Equinox ceremony ended, the female lead seemed to have risen in status to become an Imperial Princess…
‘Without the female lead to save him, the Emperor will simply die as things stand.’
Unfortunately, I couldn’t remember what those medicinal herbs were—the ones with the incorrect mixture.
Of course, even if I had remembered, I wouldn’t have interfered.
‘The female lead barely built up trust over several months… If a woman notorious as a villainess suddenly asked to change the medicinal broth, would anyone believe her?’
As long as I wasn’t branded a traitor plotting against the Emperor, that was enough.
“To prepare for any contingency, several high-ranking nobles including the ministers and my father will guard the Imperial Palace. Since it’s still classified, the ceremony will proceed as planned.”
“….”
“So you should be careful with your words too.”
Lost in thought, Ethan added an explanation.
“…Yes.”
I nodded.
Honestly, my heart felt heavy, and his words barely registered.
It wasn’t because of the news that the Emperor had fallen into critical condition, but rather the burden of having to spend three hours alone with Ethan without the Duke present.
“Then let’s depart….”
“That’s an accessory I haven’t seen before.”
That was when our words overlapped at the same moment.
Unlike me, who flinched, he stared intently at the area around my neck.
“Ah… this?”
“Yes. Quite,”
“….”
“suits you well.”
Ethan murmured as if sighing.
‘What’s gotten into him to offer praise?’
Feeling awkward, I fiddled with the necklace when he spoke again.
“Did you buy it recently?”
“Um….”
For a moment, I wasn’t sure how to answer.
To tell him straightforwardly would be difficult, since he hadn’t spoken favorably of Serge at the previous meal.
‘Should I just brush it off vaguely?’
I was only going to wear it for today anyway.
I decided it was better to evade the question than to invite unnecessary nagging.
“It’s the heart of an Earth Dragon, Young Master!”
An answer came from an unexpected source.
That damned Butler!
Ethan looked at the Butler approaching from the East Wing corridor and asked back.
“…The heart of an Earth Dragon? You mean a magical beast?”
“Yes! Grand Duke Belnac sent it as a token of gratitude for the assistance the young lady provided this time.”
Please, just shut up…!
Before I could desperately shake my head, the Butler rattled on with a satisfied expression.
Ethan, who had been watching him, suddenly muttered with an eerie expression.
“Grand Duke Belnac…?”
His blue eyes, slowly turning back toward me, had grown cold and rigid.
I hadn’t done anything wrong, yet I couldn’t understand why my chest ached so painfully.
He asked in a subdued voice.
“…You’re telling me that simply because he helped you find the culprit, he gave you something like that?”
“Yes, well… he gave it to me.”
“And you eagerly accepted it and wore it today?”
I hadn’t eagerly accepted it.
I shot a sharp glare at the Butler standing beside Ethan with an aggrieved expression.
The Butler, flinching at my gaze, hastily made excuses on my behalf.
“That… Young Master. That accessory was something I recommended to the young lady. It’s simply perfect for wearing on Equinox Island….”
“Silence, Butler.”
But Ethan’s sharp rebuke left the Butler without even a chance to recover.
He then pressed me further.
“Did you already forget what Father said? He clearly told you not to associate closely with that man.”
“…I haven’t been associating closely with him.”
“Then you should have refused.”
I was taken aback by his firm attitude.
‘Refuse?’
I didn’t even understand why I should refuse, and rejecting a gift someone had given me was no different from disrespecting their sincerity.
There were people for whom it was acceptable, and people for whom it would cause serious trouble—and the male lead was obviously the latter.
I looked at him with an expression of incomprehension.
“…How could I refuse a gift given as thanks by Grand Duke Belnac?”
“Then at least don’t wear it on days when you’re going to see him.”
Before his words had even finished, Ethan answered eagerly.
“What do you think a man would assume seeing a woman wearing an accessory I gave her? Can’t you even make that judgment?”
“What would he assume?”
I asked genuinely not knowing, and he suddenly flared up.
“Obviously that you…!”

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