The Villainess is Tired of Everything-Chapter 24

Even after becoming the villainess everyone despised, I still made an effort. I tried to approach him despite the pain, attempting to mend our relationship.

But things went wrong.

I was hurt by Ryan, by Kiesen, by Reshuan. And now, even Letty had betrayed me.

I’m done with all of it.

I stared at Ryan with empty eyes.

“Your Highness, stop spewing nonsense. You were the one who crossed the line first.”

Ryan flinched at my sharp tone, then irritably brushed his hair back.

“Ha, so you’re finally showing your true colors.”

“Your Highness, you’re the one blinded by love, committing crimes. You’re no better than a criminal.”

“If it’s to protect her.”

His sense of duty was laughable. The arrogance of thinking that saying it was for someone else could justify everything was astounding.

“If you truly love Reshuan.”

I muttered, glaring straight at him.

“Don’t abandon your morals as a human being.”

I had no desire to continue a lengthy conversation with Ryan. I didn’t want to waste any more effort trying to persuade him.

I looked at him with disgust, then stepped aside.

“Go.”

“…What?”

Ryan, who had seemed ready to continue arguing, muttered in a dazed voice.

I couldn’t hold him any longer. No matter how disappointed I was in Letty, she was still a patient. I couldn’t just stand by and watch someone bleed out.

It was simply the right thing to do as a human being.

“I’m letting you go now, just as I’m letting you leave.”

I reminded him of the truth I had repeated several times, looking him directly in the eyes.

“I’m not the Marceau who loved you, nor the one who tried to maintain a good relationship with you.”

“….”

“All of this is true. It won’t change in the future.”

My words made Ryan pause, as if he had realized something.

But that must have been my imagination. There was no reason for my words to suddenly have a different impact now.

Ryan’s eyes wavered as he stared at me.

“No, you have to remain wrong.”

It was as if he were trying to brainwash himself.

Gritting his teeth, Ryan supported Letty and passed by me.

As I watched Ryan’s retreating figure and sighed heavily, I heard my name being called again.

“Marceau.”

The clear voice fell like comfort on my ears.

“You’re not wrong. I like you just the way you are.”

Darcy approached me, saying the words I wanted to hear.

“Are you hurt?”

The same unique scent as before emanated from Darcy.

For some reason, his slightly worried tone made me smile. I shook my head.

“How could I not be?”

I was hurt because I cared about Letty. If I couldn’t trust her, who could I trust?

“But maybe this is what he wanted.”

I didn’t bother referring to Ryan as a prince in front of Darcy.

Yes, I didn’t want to lose to him.

“But it’s okay to be vulnerable in front of me.”

Darcy’s fingers gently brushed the corners of my eyes. Only then did I realize that my eyes had welled up with tears.

“You can trust me, right?”

I ended up laughing out loud at his words.

But I couldn’t easily answer that. The person closest to me had been Ryan’s spy.

And it was Letty who had brought Darcy to me when I needed a mage.

When I thought back to the first time I met Ryan, it was hard to completely dismiss my suspicions, even if Darcy hadn’t been sent by him.

What if Letty had been colluding with someone other than Ryan?

Having already experienced the worst-case scenario once, it was easy to imagine such things.

What if all of Darcy’s kind words were fabricated for my sake?

To win my trust and extract information, or perhaps to hurt me even more.

Before I inhabited Marceau’s body, she had made many enemies. It wouldn’t be surprising if one of them had planted someone close to me.

I needed to assume the worst.

That way, I wouldn’t be fooled again.

Judging by the way he always asked for magic stones, he seemed to have quite the spending habits.

I knew how cunning people in need of money could be. He could be just the same.

But I wanted to trust Darcy. I wanted to believe in the person I had come to know.

His warm voice, focused solely on me, was still vivid in my memory.

It felt natural to accept his comfort and open my heart to him.

I grasped the hand that had been brushing my eyes. Darcy hesitated but didn’t pull his hand away.

I quietly gazed at him.

I wanted to speak while looking into his eyes.

His silver hair, slightly ruffled by the wind, shimmered like freshly fallen snow.

His sharp nose stood out beneath the flowing strands of hair. His eyes, seen up close, were as clear as a stream.

I...

“What are you staring at?”

He spoke, his eyes flicking down before softening as he looked at me.

I blinked, gazing at his face through his lowered lashes. It was only a fleeting moment, but to me, it felt like an eternity.

The storm in my heart settled into calm.

Yes, I had decided to trust him.

“You’re beautiful.”

I smiled as I answered. It seemed like Darcy’s ears turned red, startled by my words.

“So, why did you come back? Did something go wrong with your plan? I’ll help if I can.”

Having regained my composure, I asked the question that still needed answering.

“Oh, that.”

Darcy looked around and whispered.

“How about we talk in your theater instead of here?”

“That’s a good idea.”

I had already been thinking about retreating to the theater. Talking here in the palace wouldn’t be ideal, so this seemed like the better option.

While my meal with Ryan had been ruined halfway through, the meal was over now, and it seemed that Darcy and Ryan’s conversation had also concluded.

I glanced at Darcy, but he didn’t appear to be injured.

“Then I’ll lead the way.”

When I nodded in agreement, Darcy guided me out of the palace.

I thought we were heading to the carriage, but that wasn’t the case. Darcy navigated the maze-like palace with ease. I had been here a few times, but the space still felt unfamiliar, while he moved through it as if it were his own home.

Eventually, we reached a palace that looked like a ruin, where he stopped in the withered front yard.

There was a certain longing in his gaze as he looked at the palace.

...Could this be the place where he had lived? I wanted to ask but held back, sensing it might be a sensitive topic.

“Give me your hand.”

Darcy extended his hand to me. What, am I a puppy being trained or something...?

When I frowned slightly, Darcy spoke with a touch of indignation.

“No, it’s just that we need to be in contact to use magic. We’ve known each other for how long now, and you’re giving me that look?”

“Oh, I see.”

Feeling slightly embarrassed, I extended my hand. Our fingers intertwined.

“Our destination is the same drawing room where we always meet. And.”

Darcy paused and blinked. Suddenly, my vision shifted, and I felt a headache coming on. As I shook my head, Darcy chuckled and added.

“You were right. That place earlier was where I lived.”

“You could really make a career as a fortune teller...”

I wondered how he kept reading my thoughts.

The fact that he could move so easily between the palace and the mansion was baffling. Knowing how many layers of magic protected the palace, I couldn’t understand it.

...Is Darcy that much of a genius?

I paused as I was about to leave the drawing room. I remembered that Darcy had been reluctant to meet people before.

“I’m okay with it now.”

He responded before I could even ask.

His attitude was noticeably different from before. Could it be related to his decision to leave and then return?

Planning to discuss everything and also to calm my mind, I opened the door.

The servants, who had seen me return from the palace so quickly with a man in tow, were visibly shocked, but I didn’t mind.

People might gossip about Darcy and me, but it didn’t matter.

Darcy and I headed to the theater.

As the familiar wallpaper and sofa came into view, my mind settled into a peaceful calm. I rubbed my hands together in satisfaction, then made a solemn suggestion.

“Alright, how about we have our conversation while lying in bed?”

“Sure.”

Darcy’s casual response prompted me to lie down on the bed immediately. I hadn’t even changed my clothes, but I didn’t care. Some days are just like that.

I heard the sound of Darcy’s footsteps, followed by the sound of him moving something around.

Soon, a familiar melody reached my ears.

“Isn’t this one of your favorite pieces?”

Despite claiming to know nothing about the piano, Darcy had found and played the piece we listened to on our last day together.

I had avoided this piece for a while after Darcy left. I was afraid it would remind me of the moment he departed.

Now, whenever I hear this piece, I’ll think of the kindness he showed me today. And then, I’ll think of him.

“Yes, thank you.”

“It’s nothing.”

Darcy’s words, spoken offhandedly, were followed by the sound of him moving again. It seemed he was lying down now.

I stared blankly at the ceiling, giving him time to settle.

A moment later, I heard the sound of someone plopping down beside me. Startled, I turned to my side.

Darcy was already lying beside me, propped up on his elbow, gazing at me.

With a playful smile, he said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world:

“You said we should have our conversation while lying in bed.”