Please Leave The Sickly Villainess Alone

The Founding Day was a festival to commemorate the day when the ancient Greluphien Kingdom destroyed the Magic Kingdom and the current Greffin Empire was established.

It wasn’t just a festival for nobles, but the entire Empire was holding grand celebrations to commemorate this day, so it was as bright as day even at night.

Even the Magic Tower was closed, making it the largest festival of the year.

‘My colleagues on the 79th floor… They must be enjoying a wonderful vacation right now.’

They had all been looking forward to this day.

I looked down at the voluminous dress Garnett was helping me put on.

Overall, it was an elegant dress that looked as if it had been gently soaked in starlight.

The jewels meticulously crafted by artisans sparkled in various colors, and my silver tresses was neatly half-pulled up with silver pins shaped like tree branches.

When I looked in the mirror after finishing the preparations, I couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

“Wow…”

“How is it that your beauty shines more with each passing day? I can hardly believe it.”

Garnett held her cheeks in awe, unable to take her eyes off me.

At a glance, a silver-haired beauty with a cold aura stood in front of the mirror with flushed cheeks.

“Thank you, it’s all thanks to Garnett for making me look so pretty.”

I smiled and spoke as if embarrassed on the outside, but inwardly I was cursing and praising my crazy appearance.

‘Is this even a human face? Are you insane?’

It was self-praise since it was my own face.

After only seeing my disheveled appearance in the research lab, I couldn’t adapt to my own image when properly dressed up.

‘Arzenluka… such a beautiful lover is waiting for you, and you don’t even reply.’

The young Luka from my memories came to mind.

I pouted and muttered.

“No matter how I look at it, I’m too good for him.”

It was a bold statement I could make because I hadn’t seen the grown-up Luka yet.

“Pardon? Miss, what did you just say…”

“Hmm, it’s nothing. Everyone must be waiting, let’s go quickly.”

I left the room with Garnett and went down the stairs.

In front of the carriage parked in front of the mansion, three people who seemed to be glowing on their own were standing with unbelievable appearances.

Why unbelievable, you ask…

“D-Did you all coordinate your dress code with me?”

Dad, Drehan, and Miller were all wearing silver suits.

Although the designs and accent colors were all different, overall we looked like we had deliberately matched our outfits.

And of course, as a family known for their silver hair, the silver suits suited them dazzlingly well.

Miller grinned and said:

“We have to make a statement today.”

Even without saying to whom, I could understand.

It would be those who were the source of unfounded rumors about my origins and status.

“I feel reassured. To have such wonderful people as my partners.”

I smiled, lifting the corners of my mouth, and for the first time in a while, I stood on tiptoe to pat Miller’s fluffy hair.

Over the past two years, I had become more comfortable interacting with my brothers, so such actions came naturally at times.

At first, both Miller and I were taken aback by this unconscious behavior, but afterwards, he actually sought opportunities to be praised so I would pat his head.

‘Look at him smiling because he likes it, how cute.’

He was smiling like a large dog as if to say ‘Did I do well?’, which was really adorable.

In terms of actual age, I was older than Miller, so this reaction was natural.

“Ahem, ahem.”

Just then, I heard Drehan clearing his throat beside me.

‘Our Drehan wants praise too.’

It was still a mystery how someone so clumsy at expressing himself had shed tears at the temple.

I laughed out loud and hugged Drehan, saying:

“Thank you too, Brother Drehan. How did the three of you think to match your clothes with mine?”

“We only knew that you were preparing a dress of this color. I thought I was the only one who matched…”

So they all had the same idea.

I laughed, imagining how bewildered they must have looked when they ran into each other.

Lastly, I gave the ‘Dad, I love you’ that would be disappointing if left unsaid.

‘Dad must be so happy to have such an affectionate daughter.’

Satisfied with my generous display of affection for the day, I took Dad’s outstretched hand and climbed into the carriage.

In just a few more days, I would be leaving the ducal family for a while.

I had made a list of things to do before then.

The first item on that list was to express my feelings as much as possible until I left.

It was my own way of preparing for a long farewell.

* * *

“The Rayes family is entering!”

As we entered the main palace where the Founding Day banquet was being held, the servant who had benefited greatly from the shrimp wine announced our entrance in a loud voice.

The paternity test at the temple had already spread far and wide, enough to be featured in the newspapers.

In addition, rumors that Rayes had filed large-scale lawsuits against those who had disparaged me would have spread faster than a thousand-mile horse.

This meant that no one would speak of my unclear origins anymore.

Gazes filled with various emotions were directed at us, but they were closer to curiosity and surprise rather than hostility.

“When they gather like that, anyone can see they’re one family.”

“Their outstanding beauty hasn’t gone anywhere.”

“I’ve felt this before, but they really seem to get along well.”

“More importantly… who exactly kidnapped the Duke’s daughter?”

Who kidnapped Princess Rayes?

This would be the next question on people’s minds.

Even the Rayes ducal family had been investigating what happened that day for over 10 years, but Kablos’s perfect crime had hardly been revealed.

‘If I return safely from the kingdom, that’s where I’ll have to start.’

As I was lost in thought, the noisy surroundings quieted down as the imperial family entered.

The Emperor, who walked majestically to sit on the throne, soon began his opening speech.

“Today is the day when the ancient Greluphien Kingdom overthrew the Magic Kingdom that had plunged the world into chaos with evil black magic. The royal family, aided by the Rayes, Claire, and Kablos ducal families, joined forces to kill and seal Belkin, the worst black magician. Let us not forget the many sacrifices in the deep history of our Greffin Empire. To the Greffin Empire!”

“To the Greffin Empire!!”

Following the Emperor who raised his glass high, people also raised their glasses and shouted.

The music that followed contained beautiful melodies as always, but the content was different from usual.

‘This is…’

It was music praying for victory in the war.

‘Is this the Emperor’s instruction?’

It had been two years since Luka left.

During that time, some had been trying all sorts of tricks to take his place.

‘For example, the 2nd Prince.’

In this situation, it was tantamount to the Emperor publicly declaring his support for the Crown Prince who had gone to war.

I turned my gaze to look at the 2nd Prince sitting in the royal family’s seats.

Unlike the 1st Prince who was giggling mindlessly with friends he often met at gambling dens, the 2nd Prince was clenching his fists with a resentful expression.

The nobles who had come to greet him also looked around nervously at the resounding melody and avoided his seat.

It was when I was glaring at the 2nd Prince who looked somewhat dangerous.

“Ria, won’t you dance with me?”

A delicate hand was extended in front of me.

“Sion.”

His curly blue hair still reminded me of the sea.

Since we had gotten lost together in the west, I hadn’t had many chances to run into Sion.

I wasn’t in the habit of attending these events often, using health and the Magic Tower as convenient excuses.

Nevertheless, on the rare occasions when we did meet, Sion would greet me warmly like this first.

With a friendly smile, as if we weren’t awkward even though we hadn’t seen each other for a long time.

‘It would be rude to refuse again this time.’

I took Sion’s hand and stood up.

“Do you remember dancing with me last time? I’m not good at it, really bad.”

“Of course I remember. How could I forget…”

Sion seemed to have become very brave now, though he used to be a coward when he was young.

I started dancing with him.

As I had thought when he was in the west, Sion had become a prodigy who even graduated early from the academy.

He had chosen to follow his own path rather than the family tradition of Claire, known as the sword of the Empire.

“Oops, sorry!”

While dancing lost in thought for a moment, I stepped hard on Sion’s foot.

“It’s okay.”

“Really? That’s a relief… But your instep is really hard.”

“I’m wearing reinforced shoes.”

Sion smiled shyly as he spoke.

How admirably prepared he was.

Perhaps the trauma from last time had made Sion this way.

Thanks to that, I was able to step on Sion’s feet several more times without worry.

“Sorry, I stepped on you again. By the way, is Lord Essil Claire doing well?”

When I asked about his brother who had gone to the battlefield with Luka, Sion said:

“I got a letter from him recently, and it seemed like nothing was wrong.”

It seemed the brotherly affection was still strong as they exchanged letters.

“But…”

Sion paused for a moment before speaking.

“There was something a bit strange. Along with the letter, he sent a red gem fragment and asked me to check if it was cursed.”