I Will No Longer Live As Your Villainess

“Hoho, of course. Since the young lady has finished her meal… Marquis Spencer, please step out of the room for a while.”

Susanna requested that Taishar leave the room so she could wash Laurencia.

“Do I really have to leave? This is my room,” Taishar objected.

“Yes, please. While you’re at it, you might as well visit His Highness Adrian’s office.”

Taishar pouted at the suggestion. The mere thought of being apart from the young tree made his chest ache.

“Do I really have to go, Susanna?”

He didn’t want to be separated.

“Yes,” Susanna replied with a small sigh, stepping closer to him to whisper in a low voice.

“The young lady’s hair is caked with blood. I need to clean her.”

“Then when should I come back?” Taishar asked.

“Come back in about two hours.”

“That’s too long. I’ll give you thirty minutes.”

“Marquis Spencer, thirty minutes is not enough.”

“Then an hour.”

“An hour is still too short.”

“It can’t be helped, then. I’ll leave it to you, Susanna.”

Reluctantly, Taishar approached Laurencia.

“Lady Laurencia, I’ll return in a little while.”

“Yes, Marquis Spencer.”

Once Taishar was successfully ushered out, Susanna led Laurencia to the bathroom.

“My lady, I’ll help you wash.”

“Me? Oh, it’s fine. I can bathe myself,” Laurencia protested.

Seeing Laurencia bow her head repeatedly in discomfort, Susanna felt a pang of sympathy. The girl clutched the front of her robe tightly, fidgeting nervously. Susanna chalked it up to the natural shyness of a young girl and gently coaxed the robe off her with playful remarks.

As the robe fell away, Laurencia dropped to her knees. Her frail arms tried to cover her body, but it was impossible to hide her emaciated frame.

Though she had heard rumors, the reality was far worse. Laurencia’s condition was severe—her body was so thin it seemed like it might break at any moment.

Anger boiled within Susanna as she thought of the Count of Paul Heredian’s household, who must have starved and abused her to this extent. Carefully examining Laurencia’s body, Susanna tenderly lowered her into the tub.

“Is the water temperature alright?” she asked.

“Yes…”

“But why don’t you take off the amethyst necklace around your neck?”

“I don’t want to take it off.”

“Understood.”

Susanna began to wash Laurencia, her hands gentle as she massaged the girl’s delicate frame.

“Does this hurt?” she asked.

“No,” Laurencia replied.

Once the bath was over, Susanna carefully dried Laurencia. The girl, unused to such care, felt awkward and embarrassed.

“You’ll need to get used to being treated like this from now on,” Susanna said as she began drying and combing Laurencia’s striking red hair. The vibrant color stood out, though the hair was severely damaged, much to Susanna’s dismay.

“Wait here for a moment. I’ll fetch a dress for you to wear.”

Seeing how small Laurencia was, Susanna had to retrieve an even smaller dress than she had originally brought. She returned with a light pink gown that made Laurencia blink in surprise.

Susanna helped Laurencia into the dress, skillfully adjusting it to fit her thin frame.

“Take a look in the mirror. What do you think? You look absolutely adorable.”

Laurencia’s cheeks turned red as she glanced at the unfamiliar reflection in the mirror. “Thank you for the compliment,” she murmured.

“It’s good to thank your subordinates, but don’t overdo it, my lady,” Susanna advised.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t say you’re sorry, my lady.”

“But… I’m just an illegitimate child, no better than a dog or a pig.”

Hearing Laurencia refer to herself so casually as an illegitimate child, Susanna could only imagine the kind of treatment she had endured at the hands of the maids in the Count of Paul Heredian’s household.

“No, my lady. You are a young noblewoman of a distinguished family.”

“But…”

“From now on, instead of saying ‘sorry’ or ‘thank you,’ try saying ‘well done.’ That’s the most meaningful praise for a subordinate.”

“I’ll try,” Laurencia replied, her face reddening as she nodded.

“Let me trim your hair a little.”

“Alright.”

“You’re so adorable, Lady Laurencia.”

After finishing her grooming, Laurencia stared at her reflection in the mirror. It felt so unfamiliar that she lowered her gaze.

Susanna’s continuous praise barely registered in her ears. Laurencia gripped her amethyst necklace, her heart heavy with unease.

She felt suffocated, knowing she was altering the future.

For the man she loved, she had trampled countless lives. Now, she could save those lives instead. Even if the amethyst necklace no longer showed her visions of the future, she had to steel herself.

She had made her decision.

“But… I’m nothing more than an illegitimate child, no better than a dog or a pig.”

Susanna could vividly imagine what kind of treatment Laurencia must have endured at the Count of Paul Heredian’s household, even from the maids, as she casually called herself an illegitimate child.

“No, Lady Laurencia. You are a noblewoman of a distinguished family.”

“But…”

“From now on, instead of saying ‘sorry’ or ‘thank you,’ try saying ‘well done.’ That is the best kind of compliment for subordinates.”

“I’ll try,” Laurencia said, nodding, her cheeks reddening.

“I’ll trim your hair a little.”

“Okay.”

“You’re truly adorable, Lady Laurencia.”

After the grooming, Laurencia looked at herself in the mirror. The reflection was so unfamiliar that she lowered her gaze.

Susanna’s constant praise barely registered in Laurencia’s ears. She gripped the amethyst necklace tightly, feeling uneasy and suffocated by the knowledge that she was changing the future.

For the man she loved, she had trampled countless lives. Now, she had the chance to save those lives instead. Even if the amethyst necklace no longer revealed the future, she had to remain resolute. She had made her decision.

She had vowed to become a monster for those who mocked and scorned her, calling her a beast.

Laurencia moistened her dry lips and looked at her reflection in the mirror. This was only the beginning. Just as she had twisted her own future, she would twist yours, Luance.

‘I will twist it beyond recognition.’

No longer would she live being pointed at as a villainess.

“Are you alright, Lady Laurencia?”

“Yes. It’s just that this is my first time being escorted.”

Having never experienced a proper escort, Laurencia felt shy and slightly hunched her shoulders, but Taishar offered his hand with a gentle smile.

When Laurencia hesitated before cautiously placing her hand on his, Taishar smiled brightly.

“Well done, Lady Laurencia.”

“What did I do well?” she asked.

“You placed your hand gracefully on mine.”

Although it seemed like a trivial matter, Taishar’s effusive praise embarrassed Laurencia. Her face grew warm, and she felt as though her ears and neck were flushed red. She realized for the first time how humbling it was to be praised for something so minor.

“Lady Laurencia, your face is quite red. If you’re overexerting yourself, please let me know.”

“No, I’m fine.”

“There’s no need to strain yourself to meet Princess Charlotte. You can see her later.”

Suddenly, Taishar crouched to her eye level, leaning in to examine her face. Laurencia, her face burning red, shook her head vigorously.

“I’m fine.”

“You seem to have a fever. If you feel even the slightest discomfort, you must let me know.”

Laurencia looked up at Taishar’s impossibly handsome face.

“I’ll match my pace to yours,” he said softly.

“Thank you, Marquis Spencer.”

“And…”

Taishar’s voice was low and kind, easing Laurencia’s tension slightly as she listened to his words.

“Thank you for your attentiveness, Marquis Spencer.”

“I’ll continue to take care of you, Lady Laurencia.”

From the moment he recognized her as a child of the goddess Ella, Taishar had approached her. She wondered if that was still the reason for his kindness. Perhaps he knew about her power and was being kind because of it. But as he gazed warmly at her, she felt inexplicably comforted, almost as if she were being protected.

“There’s no need to be nervous. I’ll remain by your side,” he assured her.

“Thank you.”

Taishar smiled serenely and looked beyond Laurencia at the trees. He couldn’t help but smile at the sight of broken branches sprouting new growth and buds. If he could keep this sapling safe by his side, it might one day bloom beautifully and bear abundant fruit.

Just imagining it gave him a sense of fulfillment that made his heart race. The more he thought about it, the more he realized protecting this sapling wasn’t a duty—it was instinct.

“But Marquis Spencer, is it really alright for me not to return to the Count’s estate?”

“As I mentioned earlier, I have no intention of sending you back, Lady Laurencia.”

Laurencia tilted her head in confusion, her expression curious, but Taishar only continued to smile. His thoughts were filled with the hope of taking her to the Poloid Empire.

The two continued their conversation as they walked down the long corridor. Before long, they reached Adrian’s private office and reception room.

“Greetings. I am Laurencia of the Count of Paul Heredian. I offer my regards to His Highness the Crown Prince and Her Highness the Princess of Poloid.”

Following Susanna’s instructions, Laurencia greeted them, unsure if she had done it properly. Judging by the expressions around her, she hadn’t made any mistakes, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

“Welcome, Lady Laurencia,” Charlotte said warmly, approaching her with surprising familiarity.

Laurencia flinched. In a future vision, Charlotte had been one of the people she and Adrian had killed. At the time, Charlotte had stood in Luance’s way. Seeing a future where she could naturally eliminate Charlotte, Laurencia had done so.

Not just Charlotte—Adrian and Ranslon had also been killed by her hands.

Luance had been pleased, and Laurencia had found happiness in fulfilling the wishes of the man she loved.

“Lady Laurencia, you don’t look well,” Charlotte remarked.

At her words, Taishar immediately moved closer to Laurencia, placing both hands on her cheeks and tilting her face to examine it.

“This won’t do. Your Highness, I’ll escort Lady Laurencia back to her room.”

“I’m fine, Marquis Spencer. Could you please remove your hands from my face?”

“I’ll let go after I check your complexion a little more.”

“Is my complexion that bad?”

“It’s not good. You need to eat more and get more rest. Are you cold? If you are, I’ll give you my cloak.”

Charlotte was surprised by the sheer volume of Taishar’s words. Adrian, too, was taken aback. It was the first time they’d heard him speak so much, as he was someone who neither talked nor listened much.

Yet now, there was no mistaking his tenderness toward Laurencia.