Our Villainess Has Changed

Chapter 33

Lucas frowned and asked.

Anette, who had been trying to be polite, was taken aback by his aggressive tone and shot back.

“What the heck? How rude. First Bernd, now him. 

Why does everyone lack manners?”

She felt unfairly treated. Even with crazy Charles, she had never outright asked if he was insane.

Anette scowled in irritation and glared at Lucas.

“No matter how warm the weather is, how long did you wash in cold water? Your lips are turning blue…”

Lucas trailed off, biting his lip.

“My lips?”

Anette touched her lips with her cold fingers. Lucas’s gaze followed her movements intently.

“Why would you wash in cold water when there’s warm water available? Are you training or something?”

“Seriously…”

She was speechless.

Training? That’s easy for someone living in comfort to say.

“The servants’ bathrooms only have cold water at night. I don’t like washing with others, so I bathe alone at night. Wait, why am I even explaining this?”

“Cold water only?”

“Yes.”

“And you still use it? You could wash when warm water is available, or just ask me—”

“Can I leave now?”

She was exhausted.

Anette shot him a glare and tried to walk past him. But Lucas gently grabbed her arm.

“Come warm up in my room.”

“No, thanks.”

“Just do it. You’ll catch a cold if you sleep like this.”

Anette hesitated.

A cold? That was serious. If she got sick, she wouldn’t be able to work. And right now, with no money, she couldn’t afford to be sick.

She thought about Lucas’s warm fireplace and the hot water in his bathroom.

Seeing her hesitation, Lucas mumbled nervously.

“Please.”

“Huh?”

“You promised to do me a favor before. Let’s call it even with this.”

Anette narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

“What’s your angle?”

She couldn’t figure out why this usually rude man was being so nice.

“Damn it, just warm yourself up for a bit.”

“Well… you’re right.”

He wasn’t going to warm her up himself, so why was he so insistent?

But it wasn’t a bad offer. She had been in his room before, and if she could repay that old favor this way, it was a good deal.

“Fine.”

Anette never accepted a deal where she lost out.

As soon as she agreed, Lucas motioned for her to follow. Anette pulled her blanket tightly around herself and walked after him.

His room was as warm as ever, with papers scattered all over his desk.

She sat down by the fireplace, where she had sat before. Lucas added more firewood, and soon the flames flared up. Anette warmed her cold hands near the fire.

“I’m going to wash up. Stay and warm up.”

“…Okay.”

Lucas disappeared into the bathroom.

Anette had secretly hoped he’d take his shirt off before going in, but he didn’t. She sighed in disappointment and focused on the fire.

Starting tomorrow, she had to return to the duke’s estate. Even though jewels were waiting for her, it still felt like walking into a lion’s den.

She couldn’t afford to get sick.

And that sleeping medicine the doctor gave her was suspicious too.

Given her past actions, it wouldn’t be surprising if someone was after her life.

“Maybe I should hire a bodyguard…”

While she was lost in thought, Lucas came back, freshly washed and dressed in clean clothes.

She glanced at him.

The white tunic made him look softer than usual. Men always looked good in white shirts.

“I didn’t know the servants’ bathrooms only had cold water at night.”

“No one bathes at night anyway. Knights like you might wash late after training, but that’s different.”

“I see.”

Now that she was warm, she started feeling sleepy.

Today felt incredibly long.

“I feel better now. I’ll get going.”

She stood up quickly.

Lucas, staring at the floor, suddenly frowned and grabbed her wrist.

“Wait.”

“What?”

“What’s that wound on your ankle?”

“Wound?”

Anette looked down at her foot.

It was a small scratch she had noticed yesterday.

The doctor had put some ointment on it, but it hadn’t fully healed yet.

“It’s nothing.”

“Why are you always covered in injuries?”

“It happens when you work.”

Lucas looked at her strangely.

Anette was nothing like the rumors said.

People claimed she still acted like royalty and ordered others around, but the real Anette was completely different.

She scrubbed floors, took cold baths without complaining, and ignored small wounds.

Lucas found those little wounds oddly irritating.

“You’re not going to see a healing priest for this either?”

“Of course not. No one would—”

“Then sit down. I’ll put medicine on it.”

“Huh? I’m fine—”

Ignoring her, Lucas gently pushed her back into the chair and went to his desk.

Anette watched him, confused.

Why was he suddenly being so nice?

Was he dying or something?

She held back her questions and waited.

Lucas returned with ointment and sat on the floor in front of her.

Then, without hesitation, he reached for her ankle.

“It’s fine.”

Lucas looked up at her.

Anette felt oddly embarrassed about offering her ankle to him.

“Consider this another favor.”

“…What?”

“If you need a favor in the future, I’ll grant one more.”

That wasn’t necessary.

But since she had something in mind to ask him anyway, she didn’t refuse.

She needed help dealing with Asil.

Charles alone wasn’t reliable—he might blurt out “Master” at any moment.

If she brought along the leader of the temple’s first knight order, things would go much more smoothly.

“Fine.”

She smiled.

Lucas probably thought she’d ask for another small favor like before.

But Anette planned to make the most of this opportunity.

Unaware of her scheming, Lucas gently pulled her ankle closer.

He examined the small cut with a frown.

Then, with careful fingers, he applied the ointment.

His touch was as gentle as if he were treating a child.

“Did it hurt?”

“Not really. You get injured all the time too.”

“I’m a knight.”

“…”

What? So only knights are allowed to get hurt?

Anette gave him a disapproving look and wiggled her foot.

Lucas chuckled at her playful reaction.

Then, he applied the rest of the ointment.

His fingers felt strangely warm against her skin.

“At least it won’t leave a scar.”

“…”

Anette swallowed nervously.

She was annoyed at herself for misinterpreting everything as romantic.

She had already mentally married Enoch, yet here she was, ready to fall for Lucas at the slightest hint.

“What am I thinking? No, Enoch! I swear, my heart still belongs to you!”

She looked toward the main building as if calling out to him in her mind.

But Lucas’s broad shoulders kept catching her eye.

As she sat in the chair, looking down at him on the floor, his shoulders seemed even broader.

Then Lucas leaned in and blew softly on her ankle.

Startled, Anette flinched back.

“You scared me!”

“All done.”

Lucas stood up casually and sat beside her again.

The warmth of his breath lingered on her skin.

Even her ears felt hot.

“Thanks.”

Before Lucas could say anything else, Anette quickly thanked him and rushed out of his room.

Back in her room, she collapsed onto her bed, staring at the ceiling.

Lucas’s heated gaze replayed in her mind.

Her ankle, which had been fine moments ago, now felt like it was burning.

But exhaustion took over, and soon, she fell asleep.