I Will No Longer Live As Your Villainess

“This is porridge for the cat, right? I used to eat this often…”

Laurencia licked her lips as she asked Julie the question.

Bonito porridge was made by finely grinding fish meat and bones, then simmering it with milk until thick. It was one of the leftover meals the maids occasionally brought her when she was confined to her room.

For Laurencia, bonito porridge had been a delicacy.

Starving for days on end was a regular occurrence during her confinement. Whenever she received bonito porridge, she would set aside small portions in an empty bowl she had hidden. When it rained, she would open the window, let rainwater fill the bowl, and stretch the meal.

Though the taste became bland, it was enough to stave off her hunger.

In the summer, the porridge would spoil quickly. Whether the pain came from eating spoiled food or from hunger made little difference to Laurencia. Hunger was always worse, so she chose to eat whatever was available, no matter how rotten.

For that reason, bonito porridge held a strange significance for her.

“Yes, it’s bonito porridge, Miss Laurencia,” Julie replied.

“It’s delicious, isn’t it?”

Julie felt a lump in her throat as she watched Laurencia’s sharp smile. The once timid Laurencia—like a frog trembling before a snake—had transformed into the predator, her gaze piercing like a hawk’s.

For some reason, Julie felt herself shrinking under Laurencia’s presence.

Having to call an illegitimate child “Miss” was humiliating enough, but feeling intimidated was unbearable. Part of her wanted to drag Laurencia out into the corridor by her hair, hurl insults at her in front of everyone, and beat her until she knew her place as a bastard.

But every time Julie met Laurencia’s violet eyes, it was Julie who turned into the trembling frog.

“Miss Laurencia, we’ll take our leave now,” Julie said with a forced smile.

A maid behind her stepped forward to pick up the bowl of porridge at Julie’s subtle gesture.

“Leave the bowl,” Laurencia ordered.

“Pardon?”

The maid froze, glancing nervously between Julie and Laurencia. Unsure what to do, she stood rooted to the spot, her face a mask of panic.

“Why are you hesitating? I said to leave the bowl,” Laurencia said, her voice sharp.

The maid’s face turned pale. Unable to touch the bowl, she backed away, trembling.

“Julie, it seems the maids need better training,” Laurencia remarked coldly.

“Training is something the mistress assigns to me, Miss Laurencia. It’s not for you to dictate,” Julie replied, refusing to back down. Her pride wouldn’t allow her to be humiliated in front of the maids.

“But if you insist, I’ll conduct the training here and now,” she added.

Julie roughly grabbed the maid’s wrist and dragged her forward. The maid flinched, her body trembling.

“Even if she’s a bastard, Miss Laurencia is officially a daughter of the Pol Heredian family. You should obey her without hesitation. Comparing her words to mine? That’s insolence.”

Slap!

The maid’s head snapped to the side, her jaw and lips quivering from the force of the blow. Julie raised her hand again, and the maid sucked in a pained breath.

“I—I’m sorry!”

Slap!

This time, the maid collapsed onto the floor, curling into herself defensively. It was clear she was no stranger to such treatment.

“Don’t apologize to me. Apologize to Miss Laurencia, an official daughter of the Pol Heredian family,” Julie sneered.

“Y-Yes, I understand,” the maid stammered. Holding her swollen cheek, she crawled on all fours toward Laurencia like a beaten dog. She clung to Laurencia’s legs, pleading.

Hissss!

Leo, nestled in Laurencia’s arms, hissed fiercely at the maid clinging to Laurencia.

“Calm down, Leo. It’s fine,” Laurencia cooed.

Hisssss!

“Miss Laurencia, I’m so sorry. Please forgive me just this once,” the maid begged, her voice trembling with fear.

Laurencia felt a pang of sorrow at the maid’s forced apology, born of Julie’s violence.

“I’ll forgive you. Now, get up,” Laurencia said gently.

“Thank you, Miss Laurencia,” the maid said, glancing nervously at Julie for approval. Julie, satisfied, motioned for the maid to stand.

Laurencia watched the maid’s frightened demeanor and shook her head in dismay.

“Julie,” Laurencia called.

“Yes? What is it, Miss Laurencia?”

Julie smirked confidently, as if expecting praise.

Laurencia pointed at the bowl of porridge.

“This porridge… isn’t it a bit much for little Leo?”

“Kittens eat a lot, Miss Laurencia,” Julie replied.

“Still, something about this bothers me.”

“What do you mean? What’s so strange about it?” Julie asked, her voice laced with impatience.

“It’s odd, don’t you think? Illina asking to have Leo’s meals prepared? Doesn’t that strike you as unusual?”

Laurencia’s lips curled into a faint smirk as she kissed Leo’s head and gently stroked him.

Meow.

“I don’t see anything strange about it,” Julie replied tersely.

“Our kind Lady Illina only wanted to ensure the kitten was well-fed,” Julie insisted.

“That’s why we brought this porridge, made with only the best bonito and premium oils.”

“So, Illina specifically told you to do this? Are you sure?”

Laurencia’s innocent smile didn’t fool Julie. She knew Laurencia wasn’t buying her story. Julie also knew exactly why Leo was in Laurencia’s room—and what Illina’s true intentions were.

“It’s hard to believe, you know,” Laurencia added.

After all, it was Julie who had taken Leo to Illina. From Leo’s perspective, Julie was the one who had separated him from his mother. Even as a kitten, Leo recognized Julie as an enemy. He would never eat porridge prepared by someone he instinctively distrusted.

Leo wasn’t just any kitten—he was remarkably clever.

“What exactly did Illina say about Leo?” Laurencia pressed.

“To… to kill—” Julie began, her frustration getting the better of her. She caught herself mid-sentence and froze, horrified by her slip.

“Kill? What were you about to say next?” Laurencia’s tone was calm, but her gaze was piercing.

Julie wanted to sew her lips shut, cursing her impulsive mouth.

Leo, nestled in Laurencia’s arms, hissed fiercely as the maid clung to Laurencia’s leg, her expression twisted in fear.

“Calm down, Leo. It’s fine,” Laurencia murmured soothingly.

Hiss!

“Miss Laurencia, I’m so sorry. Please forgive me just this once,” the maid pleaded, her voice trembling with fear, her words forced by Julie’s violence.

Laurencia’s chest ached at the sight of the maid’s tearful, terrified face, mismatched with her insincere apology.

“I’ll forgive you. Get up now,” Laurencia said gently.

“Thank you, Miss Laurencia,” the maid said, glancing nervously at Julie. Julie, seemingly satisfied, gestured with her chin for the maid to stand. Only then did the maid rise shakily, still visibly frightened.

Laurencia shook her head at the sight of the trembling maid.

“Julie, Head Maid,” she called.

“Yes, Miss Laurencia? What is it?” Julie responded, her smirk betraying her confidence.

Laurencia pointed at the bowl of porridge on the floor.

“This porridge… don’t you think it’s too much for little Leo to eat?”

“Kittens eat a lot, Miss Laurencia,” Julie replied curtly.

“But the more I think about it, the stranger this seems,” Laurencia said, her voice tinged with suspicion.

“What do you mean? What’s so strange about it, Miss Laurencia?” Julie asked, her annoyance barely masked.

Laurencia’s lips curved into a faint, mocking smile. She leaned down, kissed Leo’s head gently, and stroked his fur.

Meow.

“Don’t you find it odd that Illina asked you to prepare food for Leo? Doesn’t that strike you as strange, Julie?”

“I don’t see anything odd about it,” Julie replied with forced calm.

“Our kind Lady Illina specifically instructed us to take good care of the kitten,” Julie said, repeating the facade.

“That’s why we prepared this porridge with the finest bonito and premium oils,” Julie added hastily.

“Are you sure Illina told you to do that, Julie?” Laurencia asked, her tone suddenly light and sweet, her smile feigning innocence.

Julie couldn’t possibly deny knowing Illina’s true nature or her peculiar “hobbies.” And she certainly couldn’t pretend ignorance of why Leo was in Laurencia’s room.

“It’s hard to believe, you know.”

Leo, who had been separated from his mother by Julie, recognized her scent. Even as a kitten, he instinctively distrusted her. It was no wonder he refused to eat the porridge prepared by his “enemy.”

Leo was no ordinary kitten. He was remarkably clever.

“What exactly did Illina say about Leo when she told you to take care of him?” Laurencia pressed.

“She said to… to make sure the kitten was well-fed—” Julie began but faltered, her frustration boiling over. In her irritation, she nearly let the truth slip.

“Make sure it’s well-fed until it… dies, perhaps?” Laurencia interjected smoothly, her voice like a blade.

Julie froze, realizing her error. She felt the urge to sew her lips shut for betraying her thoughts.

“Do you mean to say it’s so delicious the kitten would die for it? Or do you mean the kitten would eat it and die?” Laurencia asked with mock curiosity.

“Of course, I meant it’s so delicious it could die for it,” Julie replied quickly.

Laurencia chuckled softly.

“Strange. Why won’t Leo eat this porridge, then?”

Julie forced a strained smile but offered no answer.

Meow!

“Leo only eats porridge from me, doesn’t he?” Laurencia said, tilting her head as her smile turned sharper.

“He wouldn’t eat anything prepared by someone who entered my room without my permission, would he? Isn’t that right, Leo?”

Meow!

Leo’s tail swished as if in agreement, and Laurencia’s expression softened for a brief moment.

“I’ll say this one more time: leave the porridge and get out,” Laurencia said, her voice steady.

“Pardon?”

Laurencia smiled brightly, glancing at the bowl of porridge. She licked her lips deliberately, as if savoring the thought of eating it herself.

“I won’t say it twice.”

“Then, Miss Laurencia, I’ll fetch a fresh bowl of porridge on a trolley,” Julie stammered, reaching for the bowl.

“Julie, Head Maid,” Laurencia said, stepping in front of her, blocking her path. Her violet eyes gleamed with a chilling light, and though her tone was kind, her expression was devoid of warmth.

Julie felt an oppressive weight settle over her, suffocating and inescapable. It was as though the air had turned heavy. She wanted to fling open the terrace doors and breathe.

“I said I don’t repeat myself,” Laurencia said softly.

Julie stiffened, her frustration bubbling beneath the surface, threatening to spill over. Where were the maids who had been watching Laurencia bathe? Why weren’t they here to intervene?

“I only meant to replace the porridge because it’s cold,” Julie said, trying to keep her composure.

“Julie, may I ask you something?” Laurencia said suddenly.

“Yes?”

“Do you know why horse racing is so entertaining?”

Julie blinked, caught off guard by the abrupt shift.

“Because it’s a gambling sport? The thrill of money changing hands?”

“No,” Laurencia replied, stepping closer. She lightly placed her hand on Julie’s trembling one. “It’s entertaining because it’s a race to see which horse finishes first.”

Julie shivered at the cold touch and the subtle menace in Laurencia’s smile.

“So, let me ask: which would be faster? Me teaching you, or replacing the Head Maid entirely?”

Laurencia tilted her head, her gaze gleaming with an unsettling mix of delight and madness. Julie felt as though she were teetering on the edge of a cliff.

“I think it’d be quicker to replace the Head Maid,” Laurencia said calmly. “What do you think?”

Julie felt a chill creep down her spine. For the first time, she realized Laurencia wasn’t bluffing.

Laurencia’s transformation was undeniable. She was no longer the timid girl Julie had once known. The person before her felt more like a monster, or perhaps even a demon, wearing Laurencia’s face.

“What’s your wager, Julie?” Laurencia asked, pressing her palm lightly against Julie’s chest, her smile unwavering.

Julie’s throat tightened as if an invisible hand were choking her. She gasped for air, clutching her neck, her face twisting in panic.

“Please… spare… me,” Julie managed to croak, collapsing to her knees.

Laurencia crouched, brushing a stray strand of hair from Julie’s tear-streaked face. She caressed Julie’s cheek gently and whispered, “I’ll let you live… for now.”

Suddenly, Julie’s airways opened, and she gasped loudly, her chest heaving as she gulped down breaths.

“Julie,” Laurencia said softly, her violet eyes locking onto Julie’s.

Julie trembled as a chilling fear consumed her. Laurencia’s gaze wasn’t human—it belonged to a predator, a creature beyond comprehension.

“I think replacing the Head Maid will be quicker, don’t you agree?”

Julie had only one thought as she staggered to her feet: “I have to get away from her.”