I’m Leaving the Villainess Station

Chapter 23

Lyman stood up as if he had been waiting.

“Has Bern and Miss Carmilla arrived?”

Charlotte also looked at the butler with anticipation.

However, the butler’s face looked troubled.

“Yes, they have arrived, but… Sir Bern…”

But before the butler could finish his sentence, Lyman hurriedly left the room.

“Then we must gather everyone to welcome them! Why are you hesitating? “

Lyman strode quickly downstairs. His footsteps were unusually hurried for the head of a noble family, but he had a reason.

Recently, Lyman had been so stressed that he was losing hair.

A perfect young lady had been chosen as his daughter-in-law, but if that engagement were to fall apart, it would be nothing short of a nightmare.

“Even a clumsy bear can have its moments. I don’t know how that fool Bern managed to fix the mess he made, but I must say I’m impressed.”

He had no expectations, yet his unreliable son had miraculously resolved the issue. It was a pleasant surprise.

With joy in his heart, Lyman reached the entrance hall and smiled widely upon seeing the visitors.

Spreading his arms to welcome them, he suddenly noticed something strange.

“Huh?”

Something seemed off. Thinking it might be a mistake, he slowed his steps and craned his neck to look at the arriving guests.

But when he finally got a clear view, his face froze like ice.

Behind Bern, slightly hiding and lowering her head anxiously, was a woman he was certain he had killed with his own hands.

The cause of all this trouble—

The nanny’s daughter.

“Raina…?”

She should be dead.

And beside her stood Carmilla of House Armen.

It was an extremely odd combination.

Lyman wasn’t the only one who froze in shock.

“…You…!”

A cold, trembling voice came from behind.

It was Charlotte, the lady of House Demeter. Her eyes darted back and forth between Raina and Bern.

Then, when she saw Carmilla, she quickly shut her mouth, but her pupils trembled violently.

Her face turned pale in an instant, and she pressed her lips together tightly.

She looked as if she had seen a ghost.

The gathered household members, who had lined up to welcome Carmilla, were equally stunned.

They did not understand what was happening, and soon, whispers filled the hall.

“Raina? Is that her? What’s going on?”

“Why is she with Lady Carmilla…? How could she dare show her face here…?”

At that moment, Bern stepped forward.

“Let’s go inside, Father.”

As if waking from a dream, Lyman’s expression sharpened.

His teeth clenched audibly.

Grind.

The sound of grinding teeth, like bones scraping together, made the air in the room grow cold.

Lyman glared at Raina with murderous intent and turned his head away from Bern as if he couldn’t stand the sight of him.

But then, as he faced Carmilla, he forced himself to smile.

“Everyone, be quiet! A distinguished guest has arrived—show some respect!”

His scolding was meaningless since the room was already silent.

With a stiff, forced smile, he greeted Carmilla.

“Carmilla, welcome. Despite everything that happened, I appreciate you coming. Come in. I’ve prepared some fine tea for you.”

He completely ignored Bern and Raina as he turned around.

His neck, visible from behind, was flushed red with anger.

Raina’s face had turned pale. Her body instinctively stepped back, hiding further behind Bern.

The three guests entered the house.

As they passed, the whispering of the maids reached Raina’s ears.

“How shameless. How dare she come here?”

“She’s always been thick-skinned.”

Raina turned around abruptly.

The maids, who had been whispering with disdain, averted their eyes when they met hers.

But the contempt on their faces did not disappear.

It was a look that said she was beneath their notice.

A shiver ran down her spine, and she quickly turned back to follow Bern.

Her steps faltered slightly. Her head was spinning.

Inside, Raina sat at the table with Bern and Carmilla.

However, in front of Raina, there was no teacup.

It wasn’t that her tea was delayed—it simply wasn’t served to her at all.

Bern’s expression hardened as he realized this.

His lips tightened as he turned to the butler.

“Why isn’t Raina’s tea served?”

The butler hesitated for a moment, glancing at Lyman.

At the mention of Raina, Lyman’s lips curled into a sneer.

With an impassive expression, the butler responded dryly,

“The tea we prepared is quite rare and was measured precisely. We didn’t expect an additional guest. My apologies, young master.”

Raina’s eyes widened. She quickly shook her head.

“Oh, no! It’s fine! I’m not thirsty.”

The butler turned to Bern again.

“Shall I prepare a different tea instead?”

Raina hurriedly waved her hands.

“No, really, I don’t need anything—”

But the butler didn’t even glance at her.

Still looking only at Bern, he repeated,

“If it’s the usual tea, I can serve it right away.”

It was as if he had selective hearing, only ignoring Raina.

And that was when she realized—

‘He isn’t asking because he’s waiting for Bern’s decision.’

The butler was treating her as if she didn’t exist.

His actions silently conveyed a message:

You don’t belong here. You are neither a guest nor anything else.

The only reason he acknowledged her presence at all was because Bern had brought her.

Realizing this, Raina’s face turned even paler.

Eventually, tea was placed in front of her.

But she had no desire to drink it.

After being humiliated so openly, all she could feel was the overwhelming hostility of everyone in the room.

She bit her lip, holding back tears.

Reality had come crashing back.

The illusion of being treated as a noble guest had vanished.

Carmilla’s presence had been like a temporary spell—one that had now been broken.

And now, Raina felt like an outsider who didn’t belong.

Like a stain on a pristine white cloth.

I just want to disappear.

For a brief moment, she even resented Bern.

Why did he have to ask about the tea? Why make a fuss? I didn’t need it.

But she quickly corrected herself.

She had known this would happen.

Hadn’t she promised herself she would endure anything to stay by Bern’s side?

She forced herself to remain composed, suppressing the bitterness in her heart.

All she could do was endure and smile.

If she couldn’t even do that, she would truly be nothing.

So she took a deep breath, looked up, and put on a brave face.

At least Bern was by her side.

No matter what happened, he would be on her side.

The tense atmosphere in the room remained unchanged as I calmly lifted my cup.

“The aroma is lovely. Thank you for serving such fine tea.”

Among everyone at the table—Bern, Raina, Lyman, and myself—I was the only one who took a sip.

Placing my cup down, I glanced at Lyman.

After a long silence, he finally cleared his throat.

“Ahem. I’m glad you like it, but… what exactly is the purpose of your visit?”

A deep sigh escaped him. He already knew it wouldn’t be good news.

His wife, Charlotte, had excused herself earlier, saying she was feeling unwell.

Everyone knew why.

I glanced at Raina.

She still looked tense but had lifted her head in determination.

One hand tightly clutched Bern’s sleeve.

I smirked slightly and covered my mouth with my teacup.

Good. You should’ve done this from the beginning—either retreat completely or face it head-on.

Looking at Lyman, I spoke.

“I came to inform you that I will be Raina’s guardian, Marquis Demeter.”