The Villainess is Tired of Everything-Chapter 36

I believed that if I wanted to change the reputation of Marceau Etvar, I needed to build relationships based on true feelings.

So, the fact that I was giving magic stones as a gift had two significant meanings.

First, it would show how much I cherished Darcy. People who supported him as the newly emerged prince would naturally see me as being on his side.

Although we weren’t romantically involved, I had no intention of opposing him. Especially when the person on the other side was Ryan.

I still wasn’t entirely sure whether Darcy aimed for the throne or sought revenge, but whatever his goal, I intended to support him.

That’s why it was important to make it clear that I was on his side. I couldn’t afford to have the marquess waver at a critical moment.

Second, this might lead others to hope that one day they, too, might receive a gift of magic stones from me.

Seeing me take an action I hadn’t before might make them think it was worth getting closer to me.

Even if our relationships remained superficial, it didn’t matter as long as people treated me with respect.

“Are you ready?”

The Marquess of Etvar appeared after I had instructed a maid to load the gift box onto the carriage. Dressed up for the occasion, he was as taciturn as ever. However, there was something different in the way he looked at me today.

The last time we had faced each other like this was… Ah, yes, when he had insisted I dine with Ryan.

Maybe he felt guilty for forcing me into something I didn’t want to do. No, that couldn’t be it.

Before he could speak, I took the initiative.

“Yes, shall we go?”

There was nothing to lean on or expect from each other.

The marquess opened his mouth to speak but then closed it again before nodding.

In silence, we headed toward the carriage. As I followed him, I wondered what might have been different if the marquess had cared for Marceau a bit more.

It was a pointless question, but I allowed myself to think it anyway as I climbed into the carriage.

Such thoughts were futile. Our relationship hadn’t changed, and it wasn’t going to suddenly improve.

But I couldn’t help but think that this man would go through life never truly knowing how much his daughter had changed.

Perhaps that was the burden he would have to carry for being emotionally distant from her.

As we neared the palace, the number of carriages on the road increased. It was like a highway during a traffic jam.

“…The palace is really something, huh?”

To think that all these people were here to see Darcy.

Of course, I knew that their intentions weren’t entirely good.

In fact, many were likely here to mock him. The short notice and hastily arranged event were already signs of that.

Not to mention, he was a prince who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Even a fool could tell that he wasn’t legitimate.

They would gossip about his origins behind his back.

But that would only be possible behind closed doors.

I knew better than anyone how captivating Darcy could be when he was confident.

He would surely win over even those who were initially hostile.

‘I’m looking forward to seeing him.’

I wondered if he had thought about what I had said. Or if he still needed more time.

As I pondered, we finally arrived, and I stepped out of the carriage. I could feel the eyes of the nobles on me as I did.

They looked surprised. It had been a while since I had appeared at an event like this.

I thought of Darcy’s face. What would he do in this situation? The answer came to me quickly, and my actions followed naturally, like water flowing.

I smiled.

“It’s been a while.”

I was pleased with how steady my voice was. I responded to the greetings of the nobles one by one as I made my way inside.

As I was passing through the corridor, I glanced back and saw Leshuan stepping out of her carriage.

She was still as beautiful as ever, with a radiant smile on her face.

But…

‘She looks thinner than before.’

She was smiling, but there was a hint of sorrow about her that hadn’t been there before.

No, that’s just my selfish wishful thinking, hoping she wasn’t doing well after our argument.

I tried to put Leshuan out of my mind as I headed toward the ballroom, but then a shadow fell over me.

…Could it be Darcy coming to greet me? Excited, I looked up, only to freeze.

“It’s been a while.”

Ryan was standing there.

He was dressed up like a prince, as befitting the occasion, but compared to Darcy, he was just… adequate.

Not that I could see him as attractive when my opinion of him was so low. Even his voice grated on me. I wanted to wash my ears out.

“It has, Your Highness. I believe Lady Leshuan has just arrived.”

The quickest way to get rid of him was to direct him to Leshuan.

I made my move first, but Ryan only gave me a strange look.

The lack of his usual hateful glare sent chills down my spine.

…What’s going on? This feels off.

“I have something to discuss with you.”

“Then please make it quick. There are a lot of eyes on us, and…”

“This could take a while. Let’s step into a room.”

Seriously? I wanted to refuse outright, but Ryan seemed determined to talk.

“Could we perhaps discuss this another time…”

“Would you rather I speak here?”

What if someone sees us? And with Leshuan arriving just behind me?

I was tired of being criticized for supposedly getting between Leshuan and Ryan.

“Very well, would this room suffice?”

“I’ve already prepared one.”

Ryan led me to a room off the corridor as if he had been waiting for this. I followed him inside.

Once the door was closed, I didn’t even bother to sit before speaking.

“Your Highness, are you dying?”

“…What?”

Everything about this is suspicious. They say a person changes before they die, and right now, Ryan is the perfect example.

It was the only plausible explanation I could come up with. I thought maybe he was regretting all the wrongs he had done as he approached the end, but that didn’t seem to be the case.

My attempt to cut the conversation short had failed. A little disappointing.

I spoke in a resigned tone.

“Never mind then. What is it that you wanted to discuss?”

Honestly, I was more curious about why he had suddenly become so agreeable with me… but I didn’t want to extend the conversation any more than necessary.

“I’ve decided to believe that you’ve changed.”

…Now?

“I’ve been thinking that perhaps I was too harsh on you. Especially during our last meeting, I owe you an apology for my behavior.”

An apology for what happened last time? The fact that he’s only saying this now, instead of the next day, speaks volumes.

Ryan must have thought I was an easy target.

The fact that he was giving me such an unconvincing explanation indicated that he thought I would simply accept it without question. That whatever he said would suffice.

Considering that I had spent the past year quietly enduring his abuses, it wasn’t unreasonable for him to think that. I had always tried to show him that I had changed through my actions, regardless of what he did.

To Ryan, I was still the same “Marceau who loved Ryan.”

‘But why is he so eager to acknowledge this now?’

Even if I asked, Ryan wouldn’t tell me the truth. The reason was something I would have to uncover on my own.

Ryan likely expected me to be happy that he was finally “believing” in me.

Did he want me to continue liking him? Why?

What could he gain from my continued affection? What benefit had recently arisen from it?

At the same time, Darcy’s face flashed through my mind.

Ah, it’s because of Darcy.

So far, I was the only person known to be close to Darcy.

Even before the rumors spread, Ryan was aware of the connection between Darcy and me.

And he had decided to use it to his advantage.