The Male Lead Has Gone Mad Over the Troublesome Villainess - Chapter 17

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

The Male Lead Has Gone Crazy Over a Villainess Who Causes Trouble — Episode 017
“You may not know this, but Lillia possesses a special ability. The problem is that she’s still so young — every time she uses that power, she suffers severe aftereffects. On days when she draws upon it, she can’t sleep, can barely keep food down. Or so I’m told.”
It was exactly as the original novel had described.
I knew that Lillia’s special ability had become a burden. The child struggled under the weight of her own power — and all the responsibility that came with it.
“Whether it’s become a habit at this point, or simply because the journey wears on her, I don’t know. But for the first time, she’s shown genuine attachment to you. Perhaps if you were near her, she might actually sleep, might manage to eat something. Could you do that much?”
He was asking me like this? With genuine humanity in his voice?
Had he demanded it, I would have refused. But Cael was asking me sincerely now, appealing to something deeper. How could I say no to that?
Besides, the warmth of that small child clinging to my legs had been far too vivid to forget. In the end, despite my misgivings, I found myself agreeing.
“I’ll do my best.”
When I read the novel before, I’d ranked Lillia as my favorite character. Fans like me had earned the nickname “Lillia’s mom.”
An honorary Lillia’s mom couldn’t possibly turn away from her. That warm little body pressed against me — I would never forget it. The child had clung to me as though I were her entire world.
“To truly protect Lillia, you’ll need to learn Swordsmanship properly. What you’re learning now won’t be enough.”
At those words, my eyes snapped wide open. In truth, I’d been thinking lately that I needed real training.
Of course, Seraphine and the other knights were conducting Swordsmanship lessons for non-combat staff. But since they were teaching so many at once, it was impossible to expect detailed, personalized instruction.
I had experience working as combat personnel in my past life, so I picked things up faster than most. I was building a solid foundation step by step. But I couldn’t very well ask to be taught separately.
And now Cael had offered exactly that. For me, it was too tempting an opportunity to refuse.
I swallowed hard.
This was a chance to improve my odds of survival.
“Will you be giving me private lessons?”
“If you’re willing. Though I should warn you — the training won’t be easy. A female instructor would be best suited for you, I think. Seraphine is close to you in build…….”
“That would be wonderful! Please, let me do this!”
It was true that a woman understood a woman’s body better. Seraphine was absolutely the right choice for a training instructor.
I knew from the original story that Seraphine could be ruthless when it came to training, but what did that matter?
Besides, Seraphine was the female lead. Building rapport with her was very much something I wanted.
I smiled and bowed my head.
“Thank you, Your Highness!”
With this, I’d moved one step closer to my short-term goal: survive and return home.
First I had to stay alive — then I could spend money, fall in love, get married. Learning Swordsmanship meant I could finally wield that Longsword I’d been coveting, and I could dispatch Magical Beasts far more easily.
This was an opportunity I absolutely could not let slip away.
* * *
By evening, I was finally able to visit Lillia. She apparently seemed too anxious to go anywhere alone, so two clerics accompanied her.
“Lillia?”
The girl who’d been curled up on the small bed lifted her head. The puffiness around her eyes had subsided considerably, but her complexion remained pallid. The tray of food in front of her lay untouched.
“……Sister?”
“You haven’t eaten?”
Lillia shook her head listlessly.
“It tastes bad. I don’t want to eat. My stomach hurts.”
I glanced at the tray — just hard bread and thin gruel, the same dreary fare we all received. No wonder the child wouldn’t touch it. How could anyone expect a little one to eat such things?
“Wait just a moment.”
I rummaged through my emergency rations pouch and pulled out a few pieces of dried fruit and a Nut Cluster — a sweet, honey-bound treat I’d bought at the market for when my energy flagged. Vanessa quieted right down whenever I gave her one of these. I’d need to stock up the next time we reached a market.
“Would you like to try some of this?”
Lillia hesitated before carefully reaching out and taking it. She bit down, and her eyes went wide.
“……It’s delicious!”
Watching her chew contentedly with that tiny mouth, I felt something in my chest ease.
“If you eat your stew, I’ll give you more of this. What do you say?”
Lillia blinked, bit into the Nut Cluster again, and nodded. Then she carefully began spooning up the stew.
I could see her squinting as she swallowed — it really was awful. Perhaps the camp’s meals needed some attention. Not that that was easy to arrange.
“I finished it all!”
Lillia held up her empty bowl toward me.
“I want more, more please!”
The child’s eyes drifted to my pouch. I popped a piece of dried fruit into her mouth, and she broke into a radiant smile.
“Sister, you’re the best! When I grow up, will I be able to buy delicious things like this too?”
Those innocent, shining eyes made me feel oddly embarrassed. What was I, being praised for something like this?
Lillia lived in circumstances where she couldn’t even enjoy such simple things. And looking at her, I saw my own past self reflected there. The world held far too many unfair burdens for children.
“Shall we go down to the water and wash up, brush our teeth?”
Lillia glanced nervously at those around us and whispered.
“Those bad men won’t come anymore? I can go out?”
My heart dropped at those words. Those monsters deserved to have their skulls crushed — and I deeply regretted limiting myself to breaking just what hung below. I clenched my teeth and spoke.
“They’ll never come again. And if anyone ever tries anything like that, I’ll protect you.”
Only then did Lillia carefully slide down from the bed. Those feet were so small, so terribly small, that my heart nearly broke. These were the same monsters who’d touched this child.
It seems the children will need to learn how to protect themselves. This world is far too dangerous.
* * *
In truth, Cael had suggested the training partly expecting Rosana might give up. Seraphine’s regimen was notorious for its harshness. She pushed herself through high-intensity work to transcend her physical limits, and even male knights would fall away within days.
So he’d thought Rosana might do the same.
But.
“You’re aware that Lady Rosana is training at the same intensity as Seraphine right now, aren’t you?”
Millers muttered dazedly. Cael nodded. How could he not? He was watching it with his own eyes. He’d known from the start that the Ardena Ducal House came from a warrior lineage with naturally good skeletal structure.
She’d maintained a skeletal frame through extreme dieting, but Rosana’s body now showed real muscle development—a transformation that required not only tremendous effort but also the right natural gifts.
Still, he hadn’t expected she could manage this.
Waking at four in the morning to endure two solid hours of high-intensity training.
“Lady Rosana, can you continue? Next we’ll move to push-ups.”
“Yes, I can do it!”
Brilliant sweat beads shattered across her bright smile. That passion, gleaming luminously in the sunlight, was almost painfully beautiful.
Cael’s gaze lingered on Rosana. Was this really her? Was this truly Rosana?

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