Please Leave The Sickly Villainess Alone

Not engaging in external activities was better than I thought.

The fact that a young lady who had just debuted in society could comfortably stick to her room like this was all because I had a legitimate reason that I needed to rest.

Dad made an eye-opening suggestion to me.

“How about going to the Marquis Einhasil’s estate for recuperation?”

Damon, who had visited the Ducal residence last time regarding the succession issue, had finally inherited the title of Marquis without incident, and upon hearing the news that I was unwell, he sent a letter to the mansion.

-If you don’t mind, come visit the Einhasil Marquisate next time. You’re undoubtedly our family’s benefactor, no matter how you look at it.

I recalled what he had said to me before leaving his territory.

The western region where the Marquisate was located was adjacent to the sea, making it appropriate for a recuperation trip.

“Yes, I’d like that. I’ve always wanted to go to the west. I’m looking forward to it.”

Not being able to go on a backpacking trip, not being able to embark on a journey of growth to organize my thoughts.

That was one of the regrets from my previous life.

I imagined having time alone for contemplation until the once blue sky turned into a burning red sunset while feeling the cool sea breeze of the west.

However, it didn’t take long to realize that this was only possible in imagination.

“I’m going too.”

“I can’t not go when our Ria is going!”

Starting with Drehan and Miller tagging along.

[You’re going to the west for recuperation? I’ll go with you.]

Even Luka, who said he would come along without even pretending to check his schedule as soon as he heard about the recuperation trip through the communication device.

“Of course, I’m going too. I’m in a position where I need to visit formally to check if the Marquis’s succession went well.”

Dad, who had initially brought up the idea of recuperation, had planned to go together from the start.

‘So much for a solitary journey. I can go on such trips as much as I want in a few years…’

Consoling myself like that, I swallowed my tears.

On my way back to my room after hearing that we would leave next week, I suddenly turned my steps to check something I had remembered.

‘It’s been almost a month now, I wonder if the analysis results are out…’

Walking along a corridor I didn’t often visit, a pungent smell of herbs wafted to my nose.

I had kept a few of the pills before disposing of the Empress’s medicine last time to analyze their components accurately.

I had taken them to our family physician for analysis that day, and he had said it could take at least a month.

-Does it take that long?

-While the original components of the medicine can be identified quickly, finding hidden components requires going through various tests.

The old family physician rarely left his laboratory, so I couldn’t accidentally run into him in the corridors normally.

When I opened the door to the laboratory I was visiting again for the first time in nearly a month, I saw a doctor with bushy white hair.

“Oh my. Young miss, you’ve come.”

He approached me, adjusting his glasses.

“Have you been well? I came to inquire about the progress of what I asked you.”

“Yes, I was just thinking of coming to find you, miss.”

“Me? Have you successfully detected the components?”

At my expectant voice, he smiled awkwardly.

“Let’s go inside first. I’ll prepare a seat.”

I stepped into the laboratory as he said.

The desk was piled with research books that looked like they might spill over, and the floor was covered with scattered papers, leaving no room to step.

Grandpa Stein, a physician, pushed these aside here and there and finally invited me to sit in a chair.

“When I analyzed the components of the medicine you gave me, I first confirmed that it was an antipsychotic drug that alleviates anxiety symptoms, as you said.”

He held up a half-broken pill beside him and continued speaking.

“And there’s clearly another component included, but… whether magic was used in the manufacturing process, when I try to detect it, that component instantly dissolves.”

I had somewhat expected that it wouldn’t be manufactured to be easily detected, given that it was made to poison a country’s Empress.

“Is there no other way? If magic was used, maybe we should request a mage.”

“About that… ordinary mages can’t undo this ban. As far as I know, there’s someone who might be able to, but he’s currently away from the Empire.”

“I see…”

As I spoke with a dejected expression, Stein quickly added:

“That friend will return to the country sometime next year, so don’t be too disheartened, miss. When he returns, we’ll be able to uncover the hidden components right away.”

Since all of the Empress’s diet and supplements are now meticulously managed, we don’t need to worry about Jeria’s reach.

It will take some time to unravel Jeria’s schemes, but at least it’s not completely impossible…

“Alright. Please let me know as soon as he returns to the country.”

“Of course. I’ll also try various methods to detect the components without just waiting for him.”

“Thank you. I’ll leave it to you then.”

I asked him once again and left the laboratory, heading to my room.

When Luka returns from the war, the obstacle of Jeria and the noble faction, who have steadily increased their power, will be waiting.

If I secure enough evidence that can be revealed then, it will surely help Luka.

Of course, since just detecting poison in the medicine wouldn’t be sufficient proof, we also needed to find the fled physician.

Currently, public opinion was leaning favorably towards the noble faction, and that would continue until Luka leaves for the battlefield.

I thought my heart might feel a little less heavy if I could give him a few bullets to prepare for a counterattack before leaving the Empire.

* * *

Before I knew it, the day to depart for the west had arrived.

Even though we were only staying for about a week, the carriages loaded with luggage formed a procession.

[Master, what’s with that unbelievable outfit? It’s strange.]

At Tharo’s words, I looked myself up and down.

“What’s the problem? I just dressed appropriately for travel, that’s all.”

I examined my reflection in the mirror closely.

Referencing the protagonist of ‘The Lady of the West,’ a romance novel I enjoyed reading in this world, I wore a wide-brimmed hat and braided my hair on both sides.

And I ended up wearing a voluminous pink dress, which was Garnett’s recommendation.

-Of course you should wear a pink dress when going to the west, miss.

She too was an avid reader of ‘The Lady of the West.’

As if the author had some grudge against pink clothes, every dress that appeared was pink.

Despite dressing perfectly in western fashion like that, Tharo was being dramatic.

Soon, at the sound of knocking on the door, I opened it.

“Ria, good morning. But that outfit…”

“Luka, are you going to say it’s unbelievable or strange too?”

“It’s too cute. Ah, to think that this sight will be captured in other guys’ eyes. I want to sweep them all away…”

Luka muttered words barely audible while covering his mouth.

“Uh, well… It’s certainly a hundred, no, a thousand times better than saying it’s strange.”

Luka’s words made me think about changing clothes, but as time was up, I ended up leaving the room in that state.

Everyone heading to the west was gathered in front of the door.

The head butler was busily having luggage loaded onto the carriages, and Garnett was handing over my luggage to a servant.

“Sister, have a good trip.”

Terry, hugging Tharo tightly, waved her hand at me.

Ben gave me small cookies to eat as snacks on the way.

“I’ll be back. Be good and listen to Sister Serine.”

Leaving behind the two children nodding as if it was obvious, I headed towards the parked carriage.

Garnett boarded a different carriage, and I had to choose between two carriages.

Since all five of us couldn’t ride in one carriage, I had to choose between the carriage with Dad and my brothers, and the one Luka would be riding in.

I didn’t mind either way, but… thinking the relatively less crowded carriage with Luka would be better, I lightly boarded it.

“Ria!”

I heard Miller’s plaintive voice, but the door had already closed, and I sat down in front of Luka, who was wearing a winner’s smile.

“I knew you would choose me.”

To Luka, who was rejoicing as if he had been selected, smiling brightly, I shrugged my shoulders.

“By the way, what about your work? How can you be away for a week?”

I suspected that he might have abandoned all his studies and work.

Even Dad, who’s a Duke, can’t escape from his desk where paperwork magically piles up, but Luka came to see me every day, so such suspicion was very reasonable.

“Ah, I’ve already finished studying imperial studies. My workload has been greatly reduced since the ‘Monarch of the Battlefield’ trial was confirmed. They told me to focus on swordsmanship from now on.”

“Y-you finished studying imperial studies?”

It didn’t make sense that he had finished in less than a year what historically took Crown Princes at least 5 years to learn, but I belatedly realized that the boy in front of me was originally beyond common sense.

As for swordsmanship, he had already reached a transcendent level, and I had no right to ask how he was doing to someone who would soon reach the level of Sword Master.

I just learned that Luka, like me, had received a long vacation.

“More importantly, I heard the festivals in the west are incredible, I’m looking forward to it.”

If you had to pick the best scene from ‘The Lady of the West,’ it would be the two protagonists sharing a passionate kiss at the lavish festival held at night.

I wondered if there really would be a clock tower where the lady and the baron confirmed their feelings for each other, and if there would be spectacular fireworks timed to the bell’s chimes.

As a reader, I had many curiosities.

The carriage heading west sped along, cutting through the cool breeze.

Looking up at the bright sky, I thought it would be the most perfect trip ever.