Please Leave The Sickly Villainess Alone

The curtains were drawn back with a swish.

As the bright sunlight shone on my eyes, I rolled over, having slept sweetly thanks to the magical heater despite the noticeably colder weather.

“Mmm…”

“Miss, it’s time to wake up.”

I woke up to Garnett’s gentle touch and started another day no different from usual.

After gulping down the sweet-tasting potion in one go, I left the room in light attire and headed to the dining room where my family was gathered.

Since I came to the Duke’s mansion, everyone gathering together for meals like this had become a natural thing.

They were undoubtedly all busy people, yet they consistently came to the dining table.

Chef Shrimp had shed tears saying the three men, who frequently skipped meals, started living like proper humans after meeting me.

He seemed to be an emotional person, crying every time I said something was delicious, so Ben had to comfort him each time.

It got to the point where Ben asked me to say ‘delicious’ only once a day in front of the chef.

“Good morning, young lady!”

“Hello, miss!”

“You look beautiful today too!”

Every servant I met on the way greeted me brightly.

That was one of the things that had changed since I first came to the mansion.

Because there had been endless problems related to fake princesses in the Duke’s family, they must have had suspicions that I would be no different.

But now that I had fully established myself as a beloved member of the Duke’s family, they treated me with bright expressions wherever I went.

Among them were some who had fought bloody battles somewhere with maids from other houses who spoke ill of me.

They were that blindly loyal to Rayes.

This was what Laveria in the original story should have rightfully enjoyed.

There were many things that happened until the twisted fate found its rightful place again, but I was finally able to regain my precious family and lost name.

I want to be together like this forever, but…

‘That would be difficult.’

A bitter smile hung on my lips.

If I go to another country and miraculously solve the life-consuming disease, could I happily be together with everyone again?

The treasure from another country that briefly appeared in the original story was my only hope.

All I knew about it was that it would appear in the world three years later.

The Carven  Kingdom is a place with particularly many ancient ruins, so three or four treasures are discovered every year.

Due to poor national conditions, discovered treasures are often put up for auction, but enormous funds are needed to buy a treasure.

Currently, I’ve saved about half the funds through the magical tool business, and if the business expands more, I’ll be able to buy it without difficulty when the treasure comes up for auction.

‘Since it was discovered when Senia was eighteen, I’ll have to leave for the kingdom in three years.’

However, I couldn’t have great confidence in something about which so little was known.

Even if I end up dying according to the original story’s fate, it would be better to remain as a runaway thoughtless daughter so as not to hurt those left behind.

If I send pre-written letters at regular intervals even after my death, I won’t be dead to them.

I let out a weak laugh.

When the servant opened the dining room door, Dad, Drehan, and Miller were waiting for me there.

“Good morning, everyone.”

Hiding my dark thoughts, I smiled brightly.

I chatted with my family as usual at the dining table.

The hot topic these days was the Rayes-made magical tools born from my hands.

“Damon has sold out all the stock again. It seems the popularity in the west shows no signs of cooling down.”

“I’m using the magical heater you gave me well too! How did you plan such an ingenious thing?”

“I didn’t do anything. It’s the president’s invention that he researched and developed. The distribution is all handled by Dad and Sarah.”

“It wouldn’t have happened without you. From bringing a mage into the family, to developing magical tools for commoners, it was all your suggestion.”

Dad stroked my head with his large hand.

Drehan said, looking at me grinning broadly:

“It might be good to open a bank account in Ria’s name while we’re at it. Judging by the current trend, it seems good to set one up in advance for the long term too.”

“Th-That’s okay!”

I said, startled.

There must be no chance of the bank account being traced later, even by a small chance.

Therefore, I couldn’t make an account with the Rayes surname openly written on it.

I waved my hands and said:

“I’m not even an adult yet. I want to make one after I turn eighteen.”

I spoke like a child, as if complex things were still disliked.

Certainly, putting such large sums in the bank and earning interest would be beneficial in the long run, but what could I do?

If I deposit it, it would be troublesome to withdraw later too.

Currently, I was receiving my share in the largest denomination checks.

This is because checks are the payment method most noble children use when going to dress shops or buying jewelry.

“Right, there’s no need to complicate things yet. You can just do as you like.”

“Then tell me later. I’ll introduce you to a good accountant.”

“Thank you. Dad, brothers-“

“By the way, Ria, I heard a new recruit in the knight order saw you in town recently? What happened that made that guy say he’d make you his role model with a dazed face?”

At Miller’s words, I put down my fork with a start.

I had already expected that many rumors would spread since a large crowd had gathered at the time.

But I didn’t expect it to reach Dad and my brothers’ ears so quickly.

“Well, I ran into the factory owner who had enslaved Sister Serine. He was about to hit her recklessly, so I taught him a lesson… and I also met Duke Kablos.”

“Duke Kablos?”

I said in a small voice:

“They were together. After knowing that, I should have stopped, but I was so angry I couldn’t restrain myself. I’m sorry for causing a commotion…”

I offered a small apology for treating Duke Kablos with a not-so-pleasant attitude.

The relationship between families can be determined by the attitude of their members.

In that sense, I knew that opposing Duke Kablos, though I was still young, was not good behavior.

Moreover, being from the same Ducal family and having a relationship of not invading each other’s territories, I should have been especially careful…

As I bowed my head deeply, I heard a small laugh in my ear.

It was a laugh like a beast purring contentedly.

“As expected of my daughter. You did very well.”

“…”

“Why are you bowing your head for this? The ones who should be groveling are those Kablos bastards who dared to touch my daughter.”

“They didn’t threaten you or anything, did they? If they did, I’ll sweep away those cockroaches.”

“I’m curious why those bugs living like dead mice in the outskirts came to the center of the capital.”

I slowly raised my head.

Why are these people so calm and confident?

I soon smiled.

Because I could easily find the answer.

“I’ll try to be more like a Rayes.”

My worry about possibly being scolded seemed ridiculous.

“Do you remember what I said when you first came?”

Miller said, touching my soft cheek.

Dad and Drehan’s gazes also fixed on my cheek, stretched out like mochi, as if fascinated.

“You caw do whathefer you wawt…”

Though my pronunciation was off due to my stretched cheek, I remembered those words exactly.

It was the words that first made me open my heart to them.

“Yes, that’s right. Your will is our will. There’s no need to hesitate.”

With those words, Miller hugged me tightly.

It really is a warm embrace.

And warm words.

I was loved by them to the extent that I could proudly tell my parents from my previous life that I was living well.

“Thank you, everyone. I really love you.”

Thank you so much for appearing to me, for becoming my family.

I smiled brightly.

The eyes of the butler and servants watching us from the doorway became moist.

Those who had long been loyal to Rayes Duchy seemed to recall the bleak past days, and were deeply moved by this moment.

The kidnapped Duke’s daughter was truly like the last piece of the puzzle.

She completed Rayes upon her return.

* * *

After breakfast, I went to meet the president.

He was a thorough night owl, waking up later and sleeping later than others.

He must have researched until late last night too.

Sometimes when the president came out of the laboratory with messy blonde hair and without his glasses, I could easily find where he was because a group of maids would follow him.

“He’s not visible now, so he must still be asleep.”

The first thing the president broke after coming here was his thick glasses that made his eyes look like beans.

Since glasses were precious in this era, he had cried out in despair looking down at the broken lenses.

When he raised his face that had been crying pitifully…

‘Honestly, it was a face that made me want to make him cry more.’

Who knew such an incredible face was hidden under those glasses.

“Should I ask him to cry once more for me when I see him later…”

Saying such nonsense, I moved my steps towards the annex where the president’s laboratory was located.

He had earnestly asked the servants not to come looking for him until he came out, for the sake of concentration.

Therefore, I would be the first to open his laboratory door today.

Creeak-

“President, I’m here!”

The laboratory was quiet despite my words.

Usually, he would have come running out making a commotion like a dog waiting only for its owner…

‘He’s not sleeping on the floor again, is he?’

I looked around the laboratory searching for the president.

However, his golden hair was nowhere to be seen.

“President…?”