Please Leave The Sickly Villainess Alone

The emotions visible in Drehan were betrayal, contempt, and something like murderous intent.

Most people cursed at the Emperor’s mistress, saying she didn’t know her place, while the men of the Rayes family, including Drehan, suddenly changed their mood and frowned with hostile expressions.

She was just the very image of a mistress. From her frivolous attire unseen anywhere else to her careless laughter, not grasping the true meaning of the gazes shot at her from everywhere.

However, strangely, very strangely, her face made one think she resembled someone.

“It must be the nanny’s daughter, right, brother?”

“Yes, her face is exactly the same, as if cast from the same mold.”

The moment I heard the words ‘nanny,’ only one person came to mind. The nanny who had been with the Duchess since before she married into the family, and the culprit who kidnapped the three-year-old Princess.

To think it was the daughter of that nanny whose whereabouts had become unknown along with the Princess.

The sense of deja vu I had felt was perhaps because I had unconsciously remembered that face I had seen somewhere before.

Only after the imperial family had taken their seats did I see the exotic woman plop down on a tiny wooden chair prepared next to them.

Although it wasn’t her but her mother who had actually kidnapped me, it seemed they had very similar appearances.

It was understandable that the people of the ducal family would react this way, facing someone who was no different from a mortal enemy.

‘I wonder if the nanny is dead?’

I thought I should ask about the remaining one of the two requests when Carl comes to find me.

* * *

The ‘Night of Victory,’ the highlight of the hunting festival co-hosted by the imperial family and the Claire Duchy, officially began with the sound of trumpets.

Duke Claire cut the long ribbon with the sword bestowed by the Emperor.

Then he picked up two brooches from atop the statue that stood tall beyond.

In the presence of all the members who make up the social circles of the capital, the Emperor called out this year’s hunting festival winners in a dignified voice.

“Arzenluka Blake de Greffin, Laveria Jenne Rayes. Draw your swords to receive the Crown of Glory.”

Ria and Luka knelt before the Emperor where red carpets were spread like waves and summoned their swords.

The moment Ria received the Crown of Glory personally bestowed by the Emperor, holding the Crimson Blade with both hands and bowing her head, a frivolous clapping sound was heard from somewhere.

The clap, clap sound came from Creya’s palms. It was against etiquette to applaud while Duke Claire’s brooch presentation was still to come, but she was congratulating them like an innocent child, clearly not knowing any better.

However, noticing that no one else was joining in, she retreated slightly with a flushed face.

“Even the Emperor’s gaze is not kind. I heard they were a couple madly in love.”

“Tsk, what could he have seen in such a frivolous woman to take her as a mistress?”

The nobles undoubtedly chose Creya as today’s topic of conversation.

The momentary ripple soon subsided.

Ria and Luka made the knight’s oath of loyalty to the Emperor, and then received the brooch presented by Duke Claire.

Only then did applause and cheers arise from among the people.

“An unprecedented event occurred in this hunting festival. Five second-grade demonic beasts, ‘Ratirun,’ appeared, and to make matters worse, a dangerous situation unfolded where the knights had left their posts to hunt. This could have resulted in numerous casualties, but thanks to Lady Rayes’s brilliant performance, everyone was safe.”

Essil Claire’s words about telling his father to prepare a separate award were not idle talk; indeed, a medal was in his hand.

As Ria looked up at him with a surprised expression, Duke Claire smiled kindly and expressed his gratitude to Ria.

“If it weren’t for you, young lady, we wouldn’t be here today.”

Saying this, he pinned the golden shining medal to Ria’s dress.

Luka was quietly smiling as he looked at Ria.

The sight of the two of them wearing crowns side by side on the platform looked almost like a young couple having an early marriage.

Ensia, looking up at Ria, felt the vivid sensation from yesterday being awakened. The sticky aura of the demonic beast felt at the back of her neck; by the time she instinctively realized it, Ria’s sword had already pierced the beast’s body.

Ensia, the young lady of the Dales Marquisate who had undisputedly established herself as the flower of high society under the Croia Marquisate, had made it her mission to spread unfavorable rumors about the Crown Prince, the Rayes ducal family, and especially the princess while attending parties everywhere, but…

Even beasts don’t forget kindness, let alone a sound human like herself; how could she continue to speak ill of her from now on?

The puppet of Marquis Croia decided not to attack Ria anymore, even if its strings were cut and it fell to the ground.

As Ria came down from the platform after completing the winner’s ceremony, Ensia tried to approach her, but Princess Rachel, who was a step faster, blocked her way.

“Ria, the crown suits you so well! You know you have to wear it all day today, right?”

Ensia, undeterred, approached beside Rachel and addressed Ria.

“Princess, the medal on your chest looks splendid. If you don’t mind, shall we have some refreshments over there? I hear they’ve prepared things you might like.”

In fact, Ensia had already finished her exploration of Ria. Aside from gratitude, she had completely fallen for the girl who had wielded a sword more skillfully than any knight, her silver tresses fluttering, yesterday.

“Sounds good, the madeleines look really delicious.”

And Ria, having accepted Ensia’s sincere apology, decided not to be hostile to her anymore.

She was a person better to have as an ally than an enemy.

Rachel, who quickly caught up with the two as they moved, reclaimed her place beside Ria and twisted the corners of her mouth upwards.

“I quite like madeleines too. Let’s go together.”

Ria smiled as she properly readjusted her crown amidst Rachel and Ensia’s bickering.

And it was just for a moment that Ria’s eyes caught sight of the red hair she had been looking for.

‘Carl just now…’

Ria left a message to Rachel and Ensia, who were quarreling on both sides, that she would be away for a moment, and headed in the direction where Carl had disappeared.

“…Huh?”

“…Pardon?”

In the place where Ria had quickly disappeared, only Rachel and Ensia remained, their eyes wide open.

* * *

The place where I followed Carl’s traces was an outdoor area lined with enormous pillars.

As I was checking between the pillars to see if he was there, finally, a red-haired boy appeared before me, spinning his body from behind one of the pillars.

“Carl! You were here!”

“You recognized me even though I was in this form?”

Carl looked very different from usual. His red hair was the same, but the tanned skin I had seen before was now as fair as people from the West, and he looked closer to a boy in age.

“I had roughly expected that you wouldn’t appear in your original form. Come to think of it, even the form you showed me before might not have been your real appearance.”

“Hahaha. Let’s leave the truth buried. It seems you have the qualities of an information guild agent, Miss. Although the talent before my eyes is tempting…”

Carl’s gaze moved up to look at the crown placed on my head as he spoke.

“I might be severely punished if I were to steal away someone destined to grow into the Empire’s sword.”

I laughed at his playful words.

“Carl, thank you for finding out the information about Bruelle last time. Thanks to that, things were resolved well, so I’ll give you the promised reward.”

I handed him the ring emitting a faint purple light that had been on my finger.

When Carl brought the ring to his finger, it automatically expanded to fit his finger perfectly.

“It’s nothing.”

“Was this ring originally something you coveted?”

He was the real owner of the ring that Count Rivihit had possessed until he went berserk.

“Yes, very much so. It’s a keepsake of someone precious to me.”

A keepsake…? If it’s a keepsake, was the precious person Count Rivihit?

The question that momentarily arose in my mind was immediately determined to be incorrect. Count Rivihit was nothing more than a thief who stole his ring, nothing more, nothing less.

I couldn’t know whose it had been, but seeing how preciously he regarded it, it must have belonged to someone truly important to Carl.

“Carl, how is the rest of the request going? I have something I wanted to ask, as it happens.”

“Please go ahead. The request is still ongoing, and I’ll answer what I can.”

“The woman who came as the Emperor’s mistress today, I think she’s definitely the daughter of the nanny who kidnapped little Princess Rayes. It’s suspicious that while the mother who worked in a noble house disappeared due to an unsavory incident, the daughter is comfortably occupying the seat next to the Emperor.”

“Hmm, indeed. Seeing that she’s undergone an identity transformation in a situation where she should have been expelled from this world, there must be someone’s assistance, and that helper could certainly be the person who instigated the kidnapping.”

I nodded.

“We’re still in the process of searching for the nanny’s whereabouts, so it’s difficult to give an answer fitting your question, but while examining her life history, I discovered circumstances where she received great favor.”

“If it’s a favor, from the Duchess’s family…”

“Before being taken in by the Duchess’s family, the Cheros Marquisate, it was Duke Kablos who extended a hand to the nanny who was starving to the point of death during a time when discrimination against foreigners was rampant.”

“Are you saying she might have acted under the Duke’s instigation?”

That was very close to the answer I had been expecting.

“I can’t be certain, but looking at the nanny’s life, there was no other figure who held enough value to betray the favor received from the Cheros Marquisate. I’ll contact you via communication device when I obtain an answer after investigating more thoroughly.”

“Hmm, thank you.”

Carl approached me and said:

“You, Miss, need to be wary of Kablos and the mistress first. Because you’re the real Princess Rayes. You already know this yourself, right?”

My eyes widened for a moment. Carl also knew that I was the legitimate daughter.

“There might be others who have noticed your identity like me, so it would be good to be careful.”

Carl smiled and removed a strand of hair stuck to my cheek.

At that moment, someone’s voice was heard, appearing without a sound.

“Sister, so this is where you were.”