Please Leave The Sickly Villainess Alone

When I stopped speaking and blankly looked up at him, Luka, who had been staring at me for a moment, opened his mouth.

“Ria, how can you do that to me and then tell me not to come anymore?”

“…What did I do?”

I suddenly came to my senses and shook off the strange sensation as I spoke.

I didn’t want him to notice this heartbeat, but there was no way I could hide it from Luka with his keen senses.

If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be better to just throw myself into Luka’s arms, whose heart was probably beating as fast as mine, so that our heartbeats would mix and become indistinguishable?

I hugged Luka in front of me with all my might.

It felt like two hearts beating above a certain rate were intertwining.

“T-take me back to the room. Because of you, I came out barefoot without even wearing slippers.”

I urgently spoke again into the ear of Luka, who had suddenly been grabbed by me.

“Hurry!”

Luka, perhaps a bit surprised that I had suddenly thrown myself into his arms, stopped moving like a broken machine for a moment before nodding slightly.

As I watched Luka stand up abruptly, carrying me again, I gathered my raucous heartbeat.

‘…Come to think of it, this guy really has a servant-like quality.’

It was the same at the orphanage, and last time too. Carrying me around had become quite routine.

Thanks to that, it’s true that it’s convenient, but still.

I glanced sideways at the virtuous boy, like a filial son serving his mother in an old folktale, while cooling the heat in my face.

Even though my gaze must have felt hot, Luka pretended not to see it and carried me back to the room with stiff arms.

* * *

Luka visited the Ducal residence today as usual.

According to rumors, Ria was in critical condition after being attacked by dark magic.

But Luka knew that in reality, she was very much fine.

If people knew exactly what Ria meant to Luka, they would realize that all the current rumors were nonsense.

If Ria were truly in critical condition, Luka would have gone completely mad.

The fact that Luka was in such a normal state was proof that Ria was also safe.

However, Luka had been going to Ria every day without fail since the day of that incident.

For him, Ria wasn’t someone he needed a reason to visit.

Although he wasn’t in a particularly good mood after interrogating Creya, who had been imprisoned in the underground dungeon since morning and refused to open her mouth, a smile naturally formed when he stood in front of Ria’s familiar door.

As she had done yesterday, Ria didn’t want to leave the bed.

‘She shouldn’t stay in the room like that.’

Ria hadn’t even gone out for sword training anymore, literally lying on the bed as if she had become part of the room.

This time, her excuse was her toe.

Pointing to her snow-white foot without a single wound or bruise, she said she couldn’t go for a walk because she had stubbed it hard since morning.

Luka, who had been looking at her as if she were lovable, lifted Ria and said:

“Then I’ll carry Ria around.”

“Huh? That’s not… w-wait!”

Until then, it had felt like Ria was purely getting caught up with him, but…

What happened after sitting on a bench in the garden after carrying her light body out gave Luka a shock close to fear.

The girl, more fairy-like than a fairy, pressed her face close to Luka’s chest without any awareness of her own cuteness.

And then she said…

“Wait, Luka. Can you hear this? Your heart is beating too fast! I think you’re the one who needs to see a physician!”

Looking down at her serious expression, Luka felt like crying.

While not giving any opportunity to wedge into her heart, blocked by the iron wall of being an orphanage sibling, her actions were so defenseless.

Luka’s eyes reddened not only from sad things but also when faced with embarrassing or happy things, and he raised his hands to block her view, trying not to let Ria see his face flushed with heat.

Inwardly, Luka realized how powerless and weak he was in front of Ria, as that was all he could do.

Like an obedient puppy, when Ria said to go back, he carried her and retraced their steps without a word.

As he took each step, Luka recalled what Ria had said.

-I expected you’d leave someday, but it’s a bit early.

While her voice tinged with bitterness made him feel sorry, he was also happy to see signs that she was reluctant to part with him.

Although Luka going to the battlefield meant separation, on the other hand, it meant there would be no more partings after that.

After returning with the qualifications of a monarch and settling the turbulent political situation, there would truly be no more hesitation.

He would return to Ria, grown even more, and convey the words engraved in his heart with all his sincerity.

Because Luka’s life without Ria would probably be unimaginable forever.

At the same time, he couldn’t even imagine Ria’s inner thoughts, considering a long separation from him.

Amid these different dreams, a cool breeze blew, and a sparkling firefly passed between them.

As they walked along the corridor where the refreshing wind was coming in, Luka thought he wished this moment could last forever.

Just a moment ago, he had given great meaning to their impending separation as a means to plan for the future, but now the thought of losing this daily life with Ria, as natural as breathing, twisted his insides.

Ria’s silver tresses fluttered in front of Luka’s eyes, catching the light in the incoming wind.

Whenever their eyes met briefly, with her summer-like emerald irises, he felt like his breath stopped without realizing it.

Just her existence caused wide ripples in Luka’s emotions, which had been like a calm lake, as if a pebble had been dropped in.

This small girl was so precious that Luka couldn’t take his eyes off her even for a moment.

* * *

The rampant rumors about me had finally subsided, and it was when I had stepped away from the infinite attention of people.

I was known to have barely overcome the precarious situation and was gradually recovering my body through rest.

Looking at Jen, who now habitually brought the amplification artifact, I repeatedly praised his skill at swiping things without a sound or trace.

“Jen, you really could make a mark in the phantom thief world.”

However, Jen gave me an unexpected answer.

“I didn’t steal it this time. I’ve already been caught by the old geezer, so I can’t steal anymore.”

“Then how did you bring this?”

“When I explained the situation, for some reason, he said he would officially lend this artifact to you.”

As I looked up at him with a slightly surprised expression, Jen added:

“Of course, I kept quiet about your physical condition, so don’t worry.”

Although Jen had vowed last time that he wouldn’t lend it anymore, he handed it to me without a word, perhaps knowing that my magic power still remained considerably in the artifact.

“He said to use it and come to return it to the Magic Tower, the old geezer did.”

I put the round artifact I had received bewilderedly into my pocket and said:

“Please tell him I’m really grateful. But why…?”

“The Magic Tower Master knows well that you won’t misuse it for bad things. And…”

Jen narrowed his eyes and said with a gaze as if seeing through me:

“Those who need to know already know. Her Majesty the Empress overcoming her illness and becoming healthy again, it’s your power, isn’t it?”

I almost dropped the book I was holding at that moment.

Then, clearing my throat, I looked at Jen as if asking how he knew.

“Her Majesty the Empress, who seemed like she might breathe her last at any moment, recovering from her illness so quickly, one can’t help but suspect the power of healing. Since Lady Kablos failed before, the only person left is you, right?”

I had no choice but to agree with everything he said.

“Anyway, for these reasons, it’s fortunate that you’ve now earned the right to use the artifact legitimately.”

“…Yes, really.”

Since a frail body like the Empress’s couldn’t accept vast healing magic at once, it had to be healed in several sessions.

In that sense, being able to borrow the artifact for a long period was a great gain.

* * *

For a while after that, it was a repetition of sneaking in and out of the imperial palace without anyone knowing, chatting with the Empress, healing her, and strolling together in her private garden.

She seemed to know that her repayment to me was becoming completely healthy herself.

As she didn’t skip meals and moved her body regularly, she could feel her body gradually recovering.

And when the final treatment was over, I could no longer feel the thorny vines that had been constricting the Empress’s heart.

Seeing her bright smile with clear complexion, who had been waiting for death as if it were natural, following the course of the original work while harboring what was called an incurable disease, I felt a heavy burden wash away from my heart.

My hemoptysis worsens at night, so it became my daily routine to gulp down a potion as soon as I woke up in the morning.

Although I tried to comfort myself that it would be okay, I often had trouble sleeping due to anxiety that crept up, but today, when the Empress had completely recovered, my heart felt light enough that I thought I could sleep without any worries.

Just as I was thinking that, the Empress grabbed my hand and said:

“I want to thank you over and over again. You’ve helped me feel such a strong attachment to life…”

The Empress said to me with a solemn face:

“I really want to be together always and repay this kindness. How about, would you consider getting engaged to our Luka?”

At those words, I ended up spilling the tea I was drinking back into the cup.

Calmly wiping my mouth where the black tea had trickled down with a napkin, I said:

“Haha, me and Luka getting engaged? It’s something I never thought of… Even if we don’t become family, I’ll continue to visit you in the future, Your Majesty.”

At my words, the Empress hid her regretful expression and said:

“If you can’t find a suitable partner when you grow up, please consider Luka again. Until then, I’ll make sure no one approaches him.”

Looking at the world-class beauty who added meaningful words with a sunny smile, I nodded awkwardly.

Noble children usually look for engagement partners around this age.

Even if it doesn’t lead to an actual engagement, it’s like marking in advance, which is why quite a lot of letters had come to Rayes as well.

‘A more suitable partner than Luka… It would probably be difficult to find.’

One bad thing about hanging around him is that it raises one’s standards infinitely.

I recalled the unrealistic boy who was at the pinnacle in four aspects: looks, personality, manners, and ability.

I knew early on that there was no one who could surpass him.

Instead, I set the goal of finding someone who could at least follow in his footsteps. Even that would be quite a good match.

I thought that if I cured my illness and safely became an adult, I would fully unfold the love of the century that I couldn’t achieve in my past life.

Maybe I would elope with him, avoiding Dad and my brothers who were burning all the engagement letters coming to me.

As my imagination stretched that far, the corners of my mouth lifted slightly.

As I was grinning like that, a low voice reached my ear.

“What are you thinking about to smile so happily?”

A good voice despite having gone through puberty. It was Luka.

I turned my head, startled by his sudden appearance, and met vivid crimson eyes at a distance close enough for our noses to touch.

Under his gaze that seemed to see through all my inner thoughts, I froze like prey in front of a predator.

Normally, I would casually say whatever was on my mind, but now some instinctive sense was desperately ordering me to hide it.

I just smiled naturally as if I had never imagined eloping with a future lover against the sunset, and asked if he had come.

Looking at me suspiciously, Luka soon sat down in the chair beside me.

He too knew that the Empress had fully recovered as of today.

Luka, who had looked relieved seeing her much healthier appearance, soon picked up the teacup placed in front of him and basked in the lazy afternoon sun with us.

If one were to look from afar at the round table where Rachel, who came a little while later, had joined, it would look peaceful like a painting.

The time with these people, which had now become routine, felt precious to me.

* * *

At the same time, in pitch-black darkness without a single point of light, a body was crawling on the floor, writhing.

The cold of the floor was like midwinter, but the body that had cut off its own nerves couldn’t even feel that.

Therefore, Creya was sprawled on the floor, unaware that her body temperature was dropping dangerously.

Of course, since she was in a state of keeping important facts to herself, it would be troublesome if she just died like that.

When her condition became precarious, the jailer would come and pour hot water on her.

Creya, who had fainted momentarily from the water shock and then opened her eyes wide, self-deprecated her still unchanged situation.

The past year of living luxuriously as the Emperor’s mistress now seemed like a mere dream.

The one who had taken in Creya, the daughter abandoned by her mother who had fled after kidnapping the princess, the one pointed at by everyone, and awakened the dark magic she harbored, was none other than Duke Kablos.

Thanks to that, Creya, who had started a new life, had lived her entire life as Kablos’s subordinate and seduced the Emperor on his orders.

Using dark magic, she could easily plant false love emotions in his heart.

Of course, seeing his heart moving back to the Empress recently, it seems that effect has worn off.

Originally, her assigned task was to poison the Emperor when the Crown Prince went to the battlefield and became Kablos’s puppet.

When the leader guiding the Empire completely disappeared and a lull arrived, the forces of the magic country would finally raise their heads.

Immersed in the sweet expectation of reclaiming her and Kablos’s homeland for a moment, Creya now cursed at the cold reality.

The Kablos Duchy has lost one loyal dog, but they won’t abandon their grand plan.

Reminding herself of this fact, Creya was determined to endure as much as possible.

Despite persistent questioning, she couldn’t feel any pain, so her mouth didn’t open easily.

Her only weakness was probably her mother who had fled far away.

She had searched for a lifetime but couldn’t even see a single strand of her hair. Unless they brought her mother in front of her, Creya would always endure the harsh interrogation with a relaxed expression.

A chilling laugh echoed from deep underground.

“If the era of the Magic Kingdom comes again, I’ll kill all the humans who made me like this in the most painful way possible…”