I'm a Villainess, Can I Die?-Chapter 81

The moment I arrived at the mansion, Jane came running barefoot to greet me.

According to her, most of the people had only suffered minor injuries, so she and Ian were able to enjoy the festival soon after... But who could tell if that was the truth or not?

Still, since she said so, I decided to just believe it and let it go. Questioning whether it was a lie wouldn’t change the past anyway.

Sometimes, the best thing to do is simply play along with what the other person wants.

I took the fountain Aiden had carried in and placed it on the floor before asking,

"And the family?"

"They haven’t returned yet."

It seemed they still weren’t back.

I swept my gaze over the empty house. The silence, bordering on eerie, made me check the time.

It was night.

They hadn’t returned even though it was already so late. They must have stayed out even longer than they had yesterday.

"They must be exhausted. Go get some rest."

"Yes, my lady. Ah, I also prepared a bath for you."

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"Mm. Thank you, Jane."

I was already tired. Outings were inherently exhausting, after all.

Soaking in hot water should help ease the fatigue a little.

As I picked up the fountain again, Aiden reached out to help, but I shook my head and stepped back.

It wasn’t as heavy as I expected—I could carry it on my own.

I wasn’t some child who needed to be coddled. Selina wasn’t a twelve-year-old girl. She was nineteen.

"I can carry it myself. Goodnight, Aiden.

Goodnight, Jane."

I bid them both goodnight and climbed the stairs alone, carrying the fountain I had bought and the glass jar Aiden had given me.

The overwhelming stillness of the house made me stop in my tracks several times.

Each time, I paused, checked my surroundings, and tried to determine whether the silence I was feeling was real or just my imagination—before moving forward again.

This house was the same as always, yet tonight, it felt strangely empty.

I placed both gifts side by side on the tea table and ran my hand over them once.

I could already picture their delighted faces. The idea that they wouldn’t like them didn’t even cross my mind. These were the same people who had fought over that grotesque doll, unable to decide who should have it.

Even after bathing with the water Jane had prepared and drying myself completely, my family still hadn’t returned.

I changed into my nightwear, stared blankly out the window for a while, then pulled a chair over and sat down.

"When will they be back?"

And so, the waiting began.

I interlaced my fingers and fidgeted with them while continuing ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) to stare at the courtyard.

No matter how many times I glanced over, there was no sign of movement.

How long had I been watching?

Just when I started to wonder if my eyes would fall out from staring too long—

The sound of wheels rolling reached my ears, and soon, the very same carriage I had ridden in yesterday appeared at the entrance.

They’re here.

I stood up to greet them.

Fortunately, I reached the front door before the carriage had even come to a full stop.

As I caught my breath, slightly impressed by how fast I had run, the grand doors swung open, revealing the people I had been waiting for.

"Oh my, Selina. You’re still awake?"

Mother was the first to step forward, speaking as she approached me.

I nodded and stood there a little awkwardly.

My brother, looking slightly dazed, hesitated before speaking in a cautious voice.

"Don’t tell me... You were waiting for us?"

At his words, all eyes turned toward me.

Well, to be fair, they had already been looking at me—but now their eyes had grown round in surprise, making the atmosphere feel different.

For some reason, I felt a little embarrassed.

I rolled my eyes, fidgeted with my fingers, then nodded again.

"Yes."

The moment my answer fell, their dumbfounded expressions softened into warm, gentle smiles.

"I’m so happy, my daughter."

Mother stepped forward and pulled me into her arms.

I stood stiffly, unable to shake the lingering awkwardness.

Over her shoulder, I met the gazes of my family.

Warm eyes. Joyful eyes.

The same gazes I had seen before—the ones I saw every day.

Looking at those familiar expressions, I thought, What does it matter?

There was no harm in going along with it.

With clumsy hands, I placed my arms around Mother’s back.

Her small yet firm frame pressed against my palm.

Feeling her warmth seeping into my skin, I hesitantly rested my head against her shoulder.

"Welcome home, Mother."

As I murmured the small greeting, I felt as if I could hear the faint clinking of glass marbles in the distance.

I exchanged similar greetings with the rest of my family.

Hugging, awkwardly patting each other’s backs, and chatting briefly about how we had spent our day.

Throughout it all, their smiles remained.

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I watched their expressions for a long time before subtly raising my hand and brushing my fingers against the corner of my lips.

My stiff muscles...

Even though it was late into the night, my family continued chatting away happily, their laughter filling the air.

But one by one, they started yawning.

Finally, I forcibly sent them all off to their rooms, despite their reluctance to part.

And then, I walked alone through the mansion’s corridors.

Unlike earlier, the hallways no longer felt empty.

It was strange.

The space was the same. The house looked exactly the same.

Yet just knowing that my family was inside made it feel so different.

I replayed their faces in my mind.

Smiling—yet pale and exhausted.

...Pale and exhausted.

Truthfully, the dark circles under their eyes weren’t new.

They looked especially tired today, but their complexions had been growing worse for some time now.

Even though they always smiled in front of me, their exhaustion was something they couldn’t hide.

I hadn’t asked about it, knowing they wouldn’t answer.

But that didn’t mean I wasn’t concerned.

...They were my family, after all.

I needed someone who could give me an honest, straightforward answer.

Someone cold and rational.

Someone like Lukas.

I stood still in front of Lukas’s door, crossing the empty corridor.

It was late. Would it be rude to knock right now?

Somehow, I doubted that he was asleep. Still, there was a thing called common courtesy.

I hesitated, staring at the moonlight streaming in, then turned around.

No matter how I thought about it, knocking on someone’s door in the middle of the night seemed inappropriate.

It was ridiculous to only consider that after coming all the way here, but I decided to chalk it up as a late-night stroll.

However, just as I turned to leave, I heard the quiet click of a doorknob turning behind me.

"Why are you leaving, Selina?"

I sat on the sofa inside Lukas’s room, glancing around.

Now that I thought about it, this was my first time inside his room.

Of course, this wasn’t his real room—this was the mansion in the capital, not the duchy’s estate—but even back home, I had never set foot in his quarters.

Lukas seemed to have just finished bathing. Water dripped from his hair, the droplets soaking into his shoulders.

Dark gray stains bloomed across his white dress shirt where the water touched.

"Did I come too late?"

At my question, Lukas, who had been leaning against the side table pouring tea, turned to glance at me.

Through his half-lidded gaze, I caught a glimpse of the playful glint in his eyes.

"The moon is bright. Doesn’t that make it fine?"

...What does that have to do with anything?

Well, whatever.

Since he said it was fine, that was all that mattered.

I nodded and accepted the teacup he handed me.

Inside, the lukewarm rose tea shimmered in soft pink hues.

The faint scent that brushed my fingertips—was it the tea, or the lingering trace of Lukas’s soap?

"Did you drink?"

"A little."

"Good, that’s a relief."

He looked loose, like he had unwound a bit. It was clear he had drunk some alcohol.

Not that it was surprising.

Dealing with those aristocrats he loathed at the party must have been exhausting. A drink was probably necessary.

I sipped my tea, absentmindedly considering his reasons—until, out of nowhere, a quiet chuckle escaped him.

"Haha, this is nice."

He didn’t seem drunk. Just... in an unusually good mood?

Lukas, cheerful?

This was the same man who had made a sour face just yesterday, mumbling about how everything was strange.

I stared at his relaxed expression before leaning back against the sofa.

"What’s nice?"

"You caring about me."

Was he talking about me asking if he had been drinking?

Well, unfortunately for him, it wasn’t out of concern.

I had only asked because if he were drunk, dealing with him would have been a hassle.

But, if he wanted to be happy about it, who was I to stop him?

There was such a thing as a harmless lie, after all.

So instead of responding, I just took another sip of tea.

"So, what brings you here, Selina?"

As I lowered my teacup, Lukas, mirroring my movement, slowly set his own cup down before speaking.

"I have a question. It’s about my family, but they won’t give me a straight answer."

"The reason they look exhausted?"

A chill ran down my spine.

How far did the protagonist’s buff extend?

Could he hear my thoughts?

If you can hear me, raise your right hand.

Lukas remained still, watching me.

...Good. It seemed he couldn’t read my mind.

I scrutinized his gaze suspiciously, then shook off my doubts and nodded.

"Yes. That reason."

Lukas seemed to contemplate something, his gaze drifting toward the window.

One, two, three.

He tapped his fingers three times before tilting his head, cracking his neck with a sharp pop.

How did he always end up so tense?

After rolling his shoulders lazily, he straightened his posture and finally spoke.

"Monsters."

His whisper cut through the air like a blade.

His violet eyes gleamed as he uttered the word, as if he were the hidden villain of this world.

If I hadn’t known that Lukas was the main character, I might have suspected him for a moment...

But that wasn’t the issue right now.

What mattered was the subject of his words.

"...Monsters?"