Please Leave The Sickly Villainess Alone

I couldn’t believe my eyes.

What is this suddenly?

No, maybe it’s not so sudden.

Because I had been focusing solely on sword training like a hermit, turning my back on the world, I was too ignorant of outside news.

I immediately ordered Diana to bring all the daily newspapers I hadn’t read.

“Here they are, my lady. But why the sudden interest in newspapers…?”

Diana was puzzled by my urgent order to gather newspapers, as I had shown no interest in outside news, like someone cut off from the secular world.

“Ah… I thought I should know how the world is turning. Haha, good work.”

“Yes, my lady.”

I’m not sure what excuse I made up.

However, Diana, like a skilled maid, withdrew without pressing the unresolved question.

With the click of the door closing, I quickly began reading the dozen or so newspapers.

The first newspaper I opened stated that Luka had won against the Selon allied forces and returned to the Empire, having qualified as Emperor.

‘This is what I already knew.’

I checked the next daily newspaper.

[Greffin Emperor Expresses Intent to Succeed to Throne.]

[Princess Rayes’s Whereabouts Unknown, Where Has She Gone?]

[Crown Prince Arzenluka Only Inquiring About Princess Rayes’s Whereabouts Before Throne Succession.]

[Crown Prince Succeeds to Throne Earlier Than Expected. Now Emperor Arzenluka.]

[Rayes Family Offers Astronomical Reward for Finding Missing Duke’s Daughter.]

Just reading the headlines written in large letters at the top was enough to understand how the situation was unfolding.

Moreover, this was a newspaper from the Carven Kingdom, not the Greffin Empire.

It seemed the Empire had been turned upside down to the extent that even the kingdom’s news took a back seat.

“Crazy…”

These two words perfectly expressed my state of mind.

“I’m sure I sent a letter!”

I had sent letters informing of my whereabouts not only to Luka but also to the Duchy.

Where on earth did that letter go, which even specified the exact date I would return, writing tomorrow’s date?

The important fact now is that for some reason, Luka and the Rayes family didn’t receive the letter I sent.

So…

[The Emperor’s lover has run away? Emperor Arzenluka obsessed with finding the missing Princess Rayes…]

Literally, it had become a situation where I seemed to have run away!

Luka, who had safely succeeded to the throne and become the Emperor of the great Empire, first began searching for me on a large scale.

I read the article below the headline.

[Greffin Emperor Shows Signs of Starting War. Related to Missing Duke’s Daughter?]

“What should I do about this?”

I muttered, holding my head in my hands.

I had clearly left with a promise to wait, but when he returned after ending the war, I had vanished without a trace.

If I know Luka, surely…

“The reason he rushed the throne succession was to find me.”

I felt cold sweat running down my back.

However, there was nothing I could do about it now.

Due to my unstable magic, I couldn’t use Sister Serine’s teleport magic.

Even if I sent another letter, it would take time.

I organized the newspapers to one side and flopped down on the bed.

“For now, the competition is tomorrow, so let’s do well and return home immediately.”

Something seems to be going wrong, but once I win tomorrow and completely resolve my incurable disease, everything will be fine.

The night passed quietly, like the calm before a storm.

* * *

Finally, on the day of the swordsmanship competition, I looked down at the fencing outfit Sister Serine was helping me put on.

‘It’s incredibly fancy. It feels more like going to a social gathering than a swordsmanship competition.’

Because the swordsmanship competition is largely for show, participants also wear elaborate fencing outfits.

Sister used magic to dye my silver hair red and said:

“Hehe, relax your expression. You look so tense.”

Everything from the fencing outfit to my hair and the sword I was holding was red.

Only my emerald eyes remained unchanged.

My reflection in the mirror stood stiffly with a tense face.

“Now, take a deep breath. One, two, three, four.”

Sister Serine held my hands and calmed me down while giving me one last magic stabilization.

It wasn’t very effective, but it was better than nothing.

‘That’s right, I just need to endure today.’

“Well, shall we go now?”

I nodded solemnly.

The Colosseum-style arena was bustling with countless people.

It wasn’t a regular swordsmanship competition, and people had something to watch during the difficult economic times.

I received an entry form with Sister Serine.

The servant handling the competition entries asked me again if I was really participating after seeing my appearance.

“Yes, that’s right. There weren’t any specific participation conditions, is there a problem?”

“No, not at all. I was just worried because a delicate young lady is participating…”

The servant took the entry fee I paid and handed me a badge.

“Miss Jen, your participant number is 27. May fortune be with you.”

“Thank you.”

I took the badge and headed towards the arena.

Countless gazes poured onto me with my long hair tied up high and the badge pinned to my uniform.

There weren’t no women at all among the participants.

However, perhaps because I was smaller in build than most, I heard comments like these:

“I’d like to face that woman. I’ll be able to advance to the next round right away.”

“Will she be able to last even one bout?”

“No way, absolutely not. Hahaha.”

Though they spoke in low voices, I heard everything clearly.

When I looked at them with a cold gaze, they flinched and avoided my eyes.

“Don’t mind them, Ria. They’re not even worth being your opponents.”

I knew that too.

It wouldn’t be me losing in one bout, but them.

The opponents I needed to pay attention to were…

‘Over there?’

I noticed a few people among the participants and the servants maintaining their weapons.

Especially a quiet man among the noisy participants, whose face I couldn’t see because he was wearing a cloak, concerned me the most.

“Wow, it’s an honor to see you, Your Highness.”

“Haha, why so formal? We’re all just participants now.”

And soon, the man with auburn hair who entered was the prince of the Carven Kingdom.

‘The prince is participating in the competition?’

“My skills are still lacking, so I’ve come to learn too. Don’t think too much of it, and please show your skills to the fullest without holding back.”

‘I wonder if he’s sincere about that.’

The rules of the competition were simple.

Victory goes to the one who first points their sword at the opponent’s abdomen or neck.

Carven was a failing country, and consequently, public sentiment towards the royal family wasn’t good, but it was difficult to point a sword at a prince of a country.

Of course, the rules stated that all participants would be treated equally regardless of status.

It was also specified that no one could use their power for retaliation after the competition.

Most of the people here were nobles, but despite the rules, there was a high possibility that they would intentionally lose to the prince for future benefits.

‘It’s none of my business.’

Even if I meet the prince in the finals later, I’ll fight with all my heart.

“Waaaaaah!”

At that moment, cheers erupted, loud enough to shake the ground.

Fireworks exploded here and there, signaling the official start of the competition.

The King of Carven appeared in the arena filled with spectators.

He finished a long speech and had a servant bring something wrapped in green cloth.

“Recently, a guardian sword was discovered in the kingdom’s ancient ruins. It’s the sword of Claire, a legendary knight of the past. I will bestow this upon today’s winner.”

‘Claire’s sword?’

The king removed the cloth and drew out a sword with an intricately crafted green gem embedded in it.

It oddly looked like a pair with the red sword I was holding.

“No way…”

Could this be the twin swords of Claire that Enoch had mentioned to me before?

The red sword in my hand started to hum.

It was clear that this was the identity of the green sword, the lost twin of the red sword.

“Participant numbers 1 and 27, please come out and prepare.”

Just then, I was called according to the bracket completed by earlier drawing lots.

The one called with me was the burly knight who had looked down on me earlier.

He was already grinning from ear to ear as if anticipating his victory.

His friend also patted the knight’s shoulder as if envious.

‘Huh, they’re completely excited.’

It was deflating to be treated like this after practicing with blood and sweat.

I smiled brightly and responded to them.