I’m Leaving the Villainess Station

Chapter 24

“…What?”

A dumbfounded word slipped out of Lyman’s mouth.

Seeing that, I calmly spoke the words I had prepared. Without rushing, I spoke in a soft and persuasive tone.

“When I was slapped at first, I was shocked and angry. But when I thought about it at home, I felt sorry for Bern. A love that cannot come true because of social status… It was heartbreaking. So, out of the affection I once had for Bern, I wanted to help him achieve his love. I thought about what I could do, and it seemed realistic for me to become Raina’s sponsor.”

I smiled brightly as if offering something generous.

“Of course, I have already discussed this with my parents. They agreed that if this marriage happens, they will let go of the unfortunate past with Sir Bern.”

Lyman, who had been making noises of disbelief, changed his expression at my last words.

His face showed conflict—utter disbelief, yet some interest. But he couldn’t accept it so easily.

For the first time since entering the room, he turned his gaze to Raina.

His eyes were cold, like looking at an object. Then, as if he wanted to say something, he hesitated and muttered.

No… But… Because of this? Why?

Short, confused words spilled from his mouth. But he didn’t completely dismiss my proposal. Instead, he lowered his head in deep thought.

After a long sigh, he finally spoke.

“I can’t give you an answer right away. Go back and wait. I will send you a message soon.”

After careful consideration, Marquis Lyman sent me a letter of approval. However, there were a few conditions attached.

I read them aloud slowly.

“It’s just a possibility, but even if Bern does not become the next head of the family, Armen should still accept him. Also, even if Bern becomes the head, the child he has with Raina cannot inherit the title, and Armen must not object to this…”

There were other terms, but these were the biggest ones.

“The head of the Demeter family is prepared to abandon his son if necessary.”

There were many members in the Demeter family’s branch families. But still, how could they be better than his child?

“If he went so far as to include such strict conditions, he must have made up his mind.”

I could easily picture the ruthless head of the Demeter family. He was not someone to be taken lightly.

“He’s clearly stating that if things go wrong, he will choose the family over his son.”

But that wasn’t something I needed to worry about.

I had no control over Raina to interfere in the Demeter family’s affairs.

And that wasn’t my true goal, so these conditions didn’t bother me.

Instead, two seemingly minor conditions caught my attention.

The wedding must be held quietly with only close family attending.

And—

“Even if Raina takes Armen’s family name before marriage, once she enters the Demeter family, she will be considered one of them. Armen should not interfere with her education or status.”

A smile played on my lips.

These two conditions revealed the Demeter head’s intentions perfectly.

He wanted to take in this troublesome problem, lock it inside the family, and suffocate it under tradition and rules—until it was as if she never existed.

A common and effective solution.

I ran my fingers over the words, slowly absorbing their meaning, and laughed inwardly.

“Trapped inside the house, unable to escape. Regretting her choices as she withers away.”

Her future was too clear. I chuckled.

How perfect.

She would suffer exactly as I had. The thought of repaying her in the same way filled me with satisfaction.

Whoever said revenge was empty? This was sweet. So smooth, like honey being poured into my chest.

A real, undeniable joy.

At last, our positions were reversed.

I would escape that house, and she would be trapped inside it.

I would be in the position to sympathize with Bern as he watched his beloved suffer.

And if Bern ever blamed Raina, regretting his foolishness—

I could say, But she’s your wife. You should cherish and love her. Didn’t you love her so much?

Like that time. When he slapped me so hard that I tumbled down the stairs. And beside him—

That self-righteous woman, looking down at me like an angel, said,

“Bern! How could you do that?! How could you hit your wife so hard that she fell down the stairs?!”

Why…

Why did I hate that line more than the slap itself?

“That wasn’t my intention. I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I’m so sorry.”

As the memory resurfaced, my hands trembled. I covered my eyes with my palm.

“How dare you. How dare you. How dare you.”

Shoving me into hell, yet never expecting to be hated. Not even feeling guilty.

“How perfect your life must have been. To never feel even a shred of guilt when thinking of me.”

Remembering the past made my heart turn cold as ice.

“I can’t forgive them. No, I can’t even tolerate it. The thought of them being happy somewhere in the world is unacceptable.”

I got up for a moment, informed my parents, then returned.

With a smile on my lips, I wrote my reply.

The sound of my pen scratching across the parchment was pleasant to hear.

— Armen accepts all conditions and will provide support only until the wedding.

Of course, Bern might make Raina happy.

He might fight against his family and create a better future.

But I knew better.

Such battles leave scars.

And I knew—on my body, in my mind—how those scars never truly fade.

That was enough for me.

Just making them face their rightful battles was enough satisfaction.

And then, finally, I would be free from Bern’s cursed household.

“At last. No matter what anyone says, once this is done, I will never be dragged back into the past.”

I repeated those words in my mind.

Their meaning was so gentle, so comforting.

I felt like I had already been saved.

Feeling energized, I got to work.

“I always follow through with what I start.”

Whatever my true motives were, I had promised to be Raina’s sponsor until the wedding.

Now that I was in a generous and content mood, I checked all the arrangements carefully.

When I went to pick up Raina for her dress fitting, she was sitting alone in a dark room, the curtains shut, with no lights on.

“You’re here, miss. She’s inside… Then, I’ll leave you two alone.”

The maid who opened the door glanced around awkwardly before slipping away.

Even she seemed embarrassed.

I, however, was just annoyed.

“Seriously? Over this? She’s acting this weak already?”

I looked around the room. It was obvious she had done nothing for days.

Closed curtains. A messy interior. The heavy, suffocating air.

Seeing it all made me feel irritated.

“When I was on the other side of this seesaw, I never broke down like this. I never gave up on maintaining that house. I never crumbled like this, spineless and weak.”

She didn’t even have the will to fight.

And yet, she had taken what was mine and pushed me into misery.

Cold contempt rose from my gut.

Crying over something so minor?

I was more disgusted than satisfied.

“How naive was she about life?”

That this woman, and her pathetic lover, were the ones who had made me suffer—

It was unbelievable.

I sat down on the sofa and stared at her.

Even as I entered, she didn’t greet me. She just sat there, crying.

I wanted to grab her arm and shake her.

But I held back. Instead, I walked to the window, lit a candle, and pulled open the curtains.

“This is how you welcome a guest? Sitting in the dark without even a greeting?”

Sunlight flooded the room.

Raina’s tear-streaked face was now fully visible.

A weak, fragile expression.

She didn’t even dare to fight for what she wanted.

When I sat down across from her, she finally lifted her head, revealing wet golden eyes.

“…I don’t think I can do this.”

I clenched my teeth. Not out of sympathy—out of anger.

“I don’t have the confidence. Just seeing that house makes my heart freeze… How am I supposed to live there alone when Bern is always at the palace?”

I let out a short sigh.

“Is this all the courage you have? Didn’t you say you loved Bern? That you’d do anything?”