The Villainess is Tired of Everything-Chapter 33

“…I don’t think that will be necessary.”

Knowing Darcy’s abilities didn’t change anything. He was still the same person to me as when we first met.

My feelings toward him, from the beginning until now, had always been sincere.

It would be a lie to say I wasn’t at all afraid, but I didn’t want his abilities to drive a wedge between us.

He shrugged at my response.

“That’s good for me.”

“Are there any limitations to using your power? It seems a bit overpowered.”

Having the talent to recreate magical tools as I described and now possessing a brainwashing ability seemed like too much.

If he could use brainwashing freely, he wouldn’t have lived hidden away for so long.

“…It’s nothing special. But aren’t you scared of me?”

“Stop changing the subject.”

“It really isn’t a big deal. But are you sure you’re not afraid? What if I had already brainwashed you without you realizing it?”

I knew he was trying to divert the conversation, but I decided not to press further.

If Darcy, who had been so open about everything else, was hesitant to share this, there had to be a reason.

He probably didn’t want to worry me. If that was the case, I would let him tell me in his own time.

We weren’t going to part ways after today.

…Even if I didn’t know when the day would come that he had to leave again.

Pushing those worries aside, I shook my head firmly.

“Not really. You haven’t used your power on me, have you?”

“How can you be so sure? Maybe our growing closeness is the result of my brainwashing…”

“That’s a ridiculous hypothesis.”

I cut off his playful theory with conviction. My feelings for Darcy had changed purely based on my own experiences with him. It couldn’t have been the result of brainwashing.

The moment I finished speaking, a faint smile appeared on Darcy’s face.

“I’m relieved you’re not afraid. You’re right, I haven’t used it.”

Seeing the relief in his eyes, I realized that this was what he had feared most when revealing his ability to me.

“It wasn’t hard to win your favor without it.”

The way he raised his chin and looked at me made me realize what he meant.

…Yes, you’re very handsome.

The narcissistic remark, clearly referring to his looks, suited him perfectly.

Not just me, but anyone would have to admit that Darcy was right.

He continued speaking.

“Brainwashing is a rare ability, given to only a select few. This cursed power…”

After referring to his power as a curse rather than a blessing, Darcy raised his index finger to point at his head.

“It was how my mother captivated the Emperor, and it’s also why his hatred for mages grew so intense.”

The lighthearted atmosphere darkened in an instant. This was the first time he had talked about himself like this.

He closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again, speaking with a hint of self-mockery.

“Actually, it wasn’t really brainwashing, more like begging.”

“….”

“She begged the Emperor to love her. She couldn’t escape the grip of her first love and ended up leaving this world without ever breaking free.”

The sadness in his voice revealed his longing for his mother.

…At least he grew up receiving her love, I thought.

“And that desperate love was the greatest curse that twisted my life.”

“…What?”

How could his mother’s tragic love story be the beginning of his curse?

“My mother truly wanted the Emperor’s love, so when the brainwashing didn’t work, she made a deal with him.”

Darcy’s mother loved Kyes. The more she loved him, the more she wanted his genuine affection, not something forced by brainwashing.

Seeing Kyes act kindly because of the brainwashing, she might have started to believe that he could come to love her genuinely.

If this deal with the Emperor was the root of her curse, it must have centered around him.

“Was the contract about you?”

“Yes. My mother didn’t have much time left.”

It was a cruel twist of fate. I paused for a moment, troubled by the thought that his mother didn’t have long to live.

“…What was in the contract?”

Was she really that ill, or was there another reason her health had declined? I pondered, trying to piece together the mystery.

“In exchange for the Emperor loving my mother, she made me his puppet. If I didn’t obey him until I came of age, I would die.”

“…What?”

“Just as I said.”

…Good heavens. I was at a loss for words.

I couldn’t openly curse in front of him, but I couldn’t help but feel resentment toward his mother for such a reckless decision.

If she had truly loved him as a son, she couldn’t have done this to him.

It had been a long time since I had a conversation this deep with someone, and I wasn’t sure how to respond.

Should I offer comfort? Or would silence be better?

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“Marceau.”

He called my name. I looked up to meet his gaze.

He gently pressed his finger to my forehead as if to stop me from overthinking.

“I’m not looking for sympathy. The reason I’m telling you about my past is that I’m alive because of you.”

“….”

“Weapons have always been prohibited in the palace.”

But the gun I mentioned was such a new concept that they didn’t recognize it as a weapon.

“What you did was enough. Thanks to you, I didn’t die.”

While I had always suspected that my actions had saved Darcy, hearing him confirm it filled me with emotion.

Since I entered Marceau’s body, I had made many choices to avoid being trapped by the original story. Finally, one of those choices had changed the story.

Only after I had thrown everything away.

I wondered if Darcy might misunderstand my silence. He looked into my eyes and murmured lightly.

“If it’s too much to handle, you don’t have to think about it. I would have left this place even if it weren’t for you.”

But I knew he wouldn’t have been able to. I knew that from the original story.

That’s why this moment, this conversation between us, felt even more precious.

Instead of leaving, he had chosen to stay for me.

Doubts crept in suddenly.

I cared about Darcy.

I wanted to spend more time with him.

This desire surfaced like a budding sprout.

Just as Darcy wished for my happiness, I wanted him to find happiness too.

I hoped that he could be part of my journey as I continued to change.

Seeing Darcy carefully watching my reaction, I smiled as brightly as I could.

“Thank you for telling me everything. Can I ask one last question?”

“Of course. What are you curious about?”

I sat up and faced Darcy.

“You said you wouldn’t leave until I’m happy.”

“I did.”

“Then are you happy now?”

Darcy blinked in surprise, as if caught off guard by my question, and then propped his chin on his hand.

“Happiness, huh. I’ve never really thought of it as something that belongs to me.”

“You say you want me to be happy, but you don’t care about your own happiness?”

“I don’t think I deserve it.”

“Darcy, you deserve to be as happy as I do.”

“No, when I think about all the people I’ve imprisoned, tortured, and killed, it’s impossible.”

Darcy shook his head, his expression hardening. The tone of his voice and the look in his eyes were completely different from usual.

I couldn’t fully understand the time he had endured.

“I don’t deserve happiness.”

“…But you were used.”

“That doesn’t change the fact that I did those things.”

His matter-of-fact tone was light, but then he smiled, and the familiar smile felt different.

I gazed at Darcy in silence.

How deep was the shadow hidden behind that smiling face? What kind of experiences had led him to make this decision?

In the end, instead of choosing a bloody revenge against Kyes, Darcy had chosen exile.

Rather than seeking vengeance against the Emperor, who had tainted his life with hatred, he wanted to leave it all behind.

Even if it wasn’t because he didn’t want revenge.

And in the final moment, instead of leaving, he came back for me.

‘He chose my happiness over a lifetime of vengeance.’

This was an opportunity. I realized.

My path was clear. I called out to him.

“Darcy.”

Just as he had extended his hand to me when I didn’t want to go outside.

“Darcy, if you want me to be happy, there’s something you need to do.”

I willingly extended my hand to him.

“You need to find happiness.”

I hoped that somehow I could develop the same ability he had.

“I can’t be happy until you are.”

Or maybe I was casting a spell, hoping for a miracle.