The Crazy Villainess in This Area Is Me - Chapter 10

In the nightmare, the voices of the three, Kriella, Magorit, and Endimion, were mixed in my head. I shouted as I looked at the smiling Merilly among them.

Merilly! But no matter how much I screamed, my voice couldn’t reach my child. It was as if an invisible wall was blocking me.

My devastated gaze turned to the family that seemed to be perfect. A picture-like figure shimmered, and their laughter resonated in my ears. It gave me goosebumps as if hundreds of bugs were crawling at my body. After killing me like that, they pushed me into the cold river.

I can’t forgive them. Never…

When they took away my baby who was crying for her mother, they shouted like they didn’t know anything. I glared resentfully at them, who made me into such a villainess, with my bloody eyes.

No matter what happens,

“Gasp…!”

I will tear them to death.

Finally, my eyes, which were suffering from the nightmare, opened.

“Haa, haa…”

As I gasped for breath, someone pushed a glass of water to my side.

“Drink some water.”

My face soaked in a cold sweat slowly lifted.

“It’s just cool water.”

Duke Gracie shook the glass slightly as if embarrassed. I caught my breath slowly and took the glass.

“…Thank you.”

My suspicious eyes turned to the water. As long as I had holy power, poison won’t work on me.

I took away my doubts and drank the water first. As the cool water ran down my neck, my senses came back to me a little. Drinking the whole glass, I roughly wiped the cold sweat off my face.

“You’ve been unconscious for three days.”

“…Three days?”

A surprise spread over my face. I knew it would be difficult, but it was because I didn’t expect healing serious illness would make me unconscious for three days.”

“Bella nursed you for three days.”

“The Princess… to me?”

“You’re her benefactor, so it’s only natural.”

“A noble lady is taking care of me, a commoner.”

The nobles I saw were all those from the Hamilton family. I smiled grimly as I remembered them.

Duke Gracie slowly opened his mouth, staring at me. “You’re no longer a commoner.”

“What?”

“Didn’t you ask me to adopt you?”

What was Duke Gracie thinking about my request? There was no strength in my body, but I straightened myself up and sat up.

He asked in a low voice. “May I ask… what’s going on?”

“…I can’t tell you all about my circumstances, but…” I continued slowly. “I need noble status.”

“Hmm.” Duke Gracie swept off his beard without asking further.

Of course considering that favor was understandable. It wasn’t easy for a noble to adopt a commoner. Not only did it take a long time, but it could also lead them to strange rumors. However, it didn’t take long for an answer to come from him.

“Okay.”

“…What?” I asked back in disbelief.

“I said okay. I accept your request.”

“Are you saying you’re really adopting me?”

“Yes.”

He didn’t ask anymore. But how could he accept that request at once? Unknowingly, doubts were mixed into my emerald eyes.

“…How could you accept my request at once? How can you trust me?”

“You saved my granddaughter, and you’re the descendant of a priest who can use holy power.” Duke Gracie continued with a grin. “I think that alone is enough reason for me to adopt you.”

It was a great advantage to be able to use holy power. It was such a great ability that even any noble couldn’t turn a blind eye to it. However, that ability could be fully utilized without going through the process of ‘adoption’. For nobles who valued their family, whether they were treated as godchild or exploited, ‘adoption’ was a completely different matter.

I asked again in a voice full of disbelief. “Are you saying that because I have that ability, you accept to adopt me without thinking about anything else?”

It was rather unsettling for me as things went my way so quickly. My shaking emerald eyes reached him.

Duke Gracie replied slowly, still smiling. “That’s too. And I have good eyes for people.”

Good eyes for people. There was a time when I too stupidly believed it and didn’t doubt my love for Endimion. I pressed my mouth hard because I felt like laughter was going to pop out.

“What’s wrong with your expression?”

“…There was a time when I believed that I had that too.”

“So now, are you saying you don’t believe it now?”

“…Yes.”

“I’m even more curious about your situation.” He rose from his seat with a bitter smile. “But I won’t ask anymore. I don’t want to trouble my benefactor.”

Contrary to his fierce impression like a tiger, Duke Gracie was more thoughtful than I thought.

I uttered my thanks, trying not to soften my heart until the end. “…Thank you.”

“The adoption process is more complicated than I thought and takes a long time, so it will take three months at least. Please write down your age and personal information here. You can do that much, right?” He held out a piece of paper required for the adoption process and spoke softly.

“Yes, of course.”

I nodded, taking the papers quickly. Then I parted my lips again as I had remembered something. “…Then, by any chance, could I get some noble education in the meantime?” I asked carefully, wriggling my finger.

Lobelia just looked like Bella, so Duke Gracie smiled and nodded. “If “When you officially become my granddaughter, you will have to enter the society as well, so of course.”

“…Yes, thank you.”

“If you need anything, call Sera.”

“…Yes.”

I finally took a step forward. I finally smiled heartily, feeling that I had finished the first step. Still, I can’t let it soften. The moment I softened my heart… I didn’t know if I would be betrayed again or not. I didn’t want to get hurt anymore.

Erasing the smile on my face, I got up completely from the bed. My while body was sweaty and I felt uncomfortable. I thought it would be better to take a bath first. I opened the door slightly. As Duke Gracie said, Sera was waiting at the door.

“Excuse me, Sera.”

“Ah, yes, Lady!”

“I want to take a bath.”

“Ah, yes. I will prepare the bath water for you. Please wait a minute!” She still responded cheerfully and went straight away to prepare some hot water.

I sat absentmindedly on the bed, waiting for Sera to return. It was when a little time had passed.

“Lady Lobelia!”

A familiar voice called me with a knock.

“Ah, Princess.”

I got up and opened the door. As expected, it was Bella who knocked on my door.

As expected, it was Bella who knocked on my door.

“What do you mean princess? Please feel free to speak. I don’t want to be treated with respect by the person who saved my life.”

“… I can’t do that.”

“Now we’re going to be sisters!”

Her red eyes twinkled like rubies.

“…You don’t hate it?”

If the kindness shown to me was only based on sympathy or compassion for commoners, I could have thought that she was arrogant, no matter how benevolent she was. But Bella’s face showed no displeasure at all. Rather, it seemed like I could see tail shaking excitedly behind her back.

“Why would I hate it? You’re the one who saved my life. A person with such wonderful abilities will become my sister! You will be listed on the family register!”

“…I see. Thank you for thinking so.”

At first glance, her sparkling appearance toward me looked so cute, so I deliberately raised my tone more curtly. “By the way, why are you here…?”

“Ah, I heard you were going to take a bath. I was wondering if I could join you…”

“…Pardon?”

Confused, I quickly blinked my eyes. Taking a bath together? Isn’t that something you only do with your friends?

“Ah… My mother died when I was born, and my father passed away around the same time… I don’t have any siblings, and I don’t have any friends because of my illness… I was always envious of taking a bath together.”

When Robelia’s reaction wasn’t satisfactory, Bella lowered her shoulders like a pitiful puppy.

“It was just like that! If you don’t like it, I will go! Please don’t concern yourself about it!” At the same time, she smiled sadly and waved her hand forward.

…How could I not be concerned about it when you’re telling me something like that? I grinned as I held back the sight that was almost coming out.

“No, let’s do it together.”

“Re-really?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. I will bring the best scented oil from the Duchy! Please wait a little!”

Bella ran out of the room excitedly. I slowly hardened my mouth, looking at her back. Yes, there was nothing wrong with being close to the princess. During the three months of the adoption process, I had to become a person worthy of this status so that I could bring Merilly back.

…There’s nothing good about looking hateful. I wasn’t in a position to cover up this and that. I couldn’t live as good and innocent as before anymore. I needed to become a villainess. A crazy villainess who would trample on others for something I wanted. I can’t go back to the old days anyway.

I waved gladly at Bella, who was soon returning with the scented oil. My painfully distorted face was gently covered with a mask engraved with a smile. Just like that, I smiled.