The Villainess is Tired of Everything-Chapter 42

Darcy shook his head.

"If it’s not something you can say in front of Marceau, then don’t bother."

Roberta looked at both of us, considering her words for a moment.

"Very well, then."

She opened a drawer and took something out, placing it in Darcy's hand.

"Your Highness, burning too much incense can make the air stifling."

It was an incense burner, quite old in appearance.

"You told me to stop, and now you’re giving me an incense burner?"

"…It’s difficult to quit all at once, isn’t it?"

Roberta chuckled softly.

After a moment, she handed me a bag containing my shoes, and Darcy tucked the small incense burner into his bag.

"Seems like you liked it."

"I couldn’t just throw it away."

That’s a lie. I knew Darcy would’ve discarded it immediately if he didn’t like it.

Darcy helped me up. As we turned to leave the room, Roberta murmured,

"I’m glad to see you in good health."

Darcy paused and turned back. His eyes widened in surprise, a rare expression on his face. Roberta lowered her head apologetically.

"The longer you live in the palace, the more things you cannot speak of. I’ve always felt sorry."

There was someone who remembered the time when Darcy had to endure being dragged around by Kies.

Though Roberta hadn’t been able to stand up for him or offer him much care, she had still remembered him.

"This was the best I could do."

Darcy said nothing, but Roberta's voice trembled slightly.

His expression, a mix of emotions, soon returned to his usual composed demeanor.

Darcy let out a small laugh.

"I never expected anything."

He opened the door, and Roberta remained silent.

Once outside, Darcy looked at me with a shrug, a faint smirk on his lips.

"It’s funny that she remembers me."

"Did you ever show your face?"

"No, but I visited a few times."

Roberta must have been in the palace for a long time.

"Since my mother’s time, I think."

I was surprised by Darcy’s recollection. That would indeed make it a long time.

"She’s deeply trusted by Kies."

For a commoner to become the royal physician, she would have needed the emperor’s trust. That would be reason enough for her to have ignored Darcy.

"Do you resent her?"

It would be understandable if he did. Though Darcy claimed he hadn’t expected anything, bringing it up was contradictory in itself.

Roberta was a kind person, one of the few sane people in the palace. Perhaps Darcy had hoped for more from her.

"No. I never asked for her help in the first place."

"And yet she figured out your true identity."

Roberta was a physician. Whether Kies came in disguise or wearing a helmet, she would have known his build.

It would have been stranger if she hadn’t recognized the difference between Kies and Darcy.

"Finally, you’re out."

As we started to walk back, an unwelcome voice called out. It was Kaysen, who had been lingering nearby.

I frowned.

"Why didn’t you leave?"

"I needed to ask something of Lord Darcy."

Kaysen avoided looking at me. It was clear that my changed attitude had left him unsure of how to interact with me.

"Could you not use your magic to find her?"

Despite Kaysen’s earnest plea, Darcy’s answer was blunt.

"No."

"Please, Lord Darcy…."

Kaysen looked desperate. With his rival and unrequited love both suddenly gone, it was no wonder he was anxious.

He even looked to me for help, but unfortunately…

"No."

Naturally, I turned him down.

"…You know how much this means to me. I can’t even send anyone to search."

"Then you run around."

Darcy provided the perfect response, one fitting for Kaysen.

Ignoring Kaysen’s plea, we started walking slowly, neither of us in any hurry to return to the ballroom.

As we entered the small garden connected to Roberta’s residence, Darcy suddenly paused.

"…This annex is supposed to be empty right now."

"The footsteps sound urgent. And there’s more than one."

They exchanged cryptic remarks. What were they hearing?

"Maybe this is the answer you’re looking for."

"…Then hide with me."

"Why should I? What reason would a prince have to hide?"

"You can sense something is off too, Your Highness. Remember how I followed you during the operation."

Darcy’s refusal left Kaysen looking even more aged. I felt no pity for him.

Well done, Darcy. You’re showing Kaysen just how frustrating it is to deal with someone who refuses to cooperate.

Kaysen turned to me.

"…Aren’t you going to stop him?"

"Why would I? I’m quite enjoying watching you get a taste of what I’ve felt."

My response left him silent once more.

In the end, we hid behind the dense bushes and makeshift fence surrounding the annex.

Crouching there made me feel like a character in a spy movie.

When else would I get to experience something like this?

I closed my eyes and focused, trying to hear what they had mentioned.

Soon enough, I did hear footsteps. Opening my eyes slightly, I saw several attendants on a path opposite ours.

They stopped to catch their breath in front of the annex, making it clear this was their destination.

However, each of them was carrying a wooden box.

One of the attendants at the back stumbled, letting out a yelp as the box slipped from his grip.

The box rolled, its lid popping open, and the contents spilled out onto the grass.

We couldn’t believe our eyes when we realized what it was.

"…Magic stones?"

Ordinary attendants wouldn’t be carrying something like that. And they certainly wouldn’t be bringing it to an annex that was supposed to be empty.

Kaysen narrowed his eyes in thought and was the first to offer a theory.

"Could it be something they’re bringing to the accident site?"

"No, if they were transporting it from the warehouse to the main palace where the ball is being held, they wouldn’t need to go through the garden, and you know that."

Darcy dismissed the idea. Kaysen’s expression grew more serious.

"Is it some sort of illegal trade?"

"…Doesn’t seem like it."

Darcy gestured toward the door with his chin.

"Ah, you’ve finally arrived!"

The Marquis, who had just burst through the annex door, called out to the attendants. He looked just as pale as before.

"He seems to be in a hurry."

Ryan appeared, following closely behind the Marquis.

Despite being so close to Roberta’s quarters, they had come to the annex instead and hadn’t called for her.

There were only a minimal number of guards or attendants with them, indicating that their presence here was meant to be kept secret.

Everything about this was suspicious, so much so that even Kaysen, who loved Leshuan, hesitated to move.

But Darcy wasn’t one to hesitate.

"The person you’re looking for might be inside. Go check."

"…Yes, I’ll go in."

Kaysen stood up reluctantly.

But before he could enter, the door opened again.

And out stepped Leshuan, looking perfectly fine.

"Leshua!"

The ever-adoring Kaysen’s face lit up as he rushed to her side.

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"What caused you to collapse suddenly? I was worried."

"I suppose it’s just the stress… I’ve had a lot on my mind lately."

Leshauan seemed a bit startled by Kaysen’s sudden appearance, but she responded kindly.

"I heard that many people were concerned about me suddenly leaving. Shall we return to the ballroom together?"

"That’s a great idea."

Kaysen, who would do anything Leshuan suggested, eagerly escorted her.

The Marquis and Ryan emerged a moment later. The fact that they hadn’t come out immediately was suspicious.

Had they been discussing something?

‘What’s the connection between these magic stones and Leshuan’s health?’

Of course, the magic stones could be evidence of illegal trading, as Kaysen suggested. After all, magic stone mining was monopolized by two families and the royal family, and only a few magic stones were ever circulated.

The Marquis, owning just one mine, might have been greedy for more magic stones.

But the Marquis cherished Leshuan. He wouldn’t suddenly strike a deal right after she collapsed.

The Marquis’s face had been pale when he brought in those magic stones, just as pale as when Leshuan hadn’t yet recovered.

Only about ten minutes had passed before Leshuan reappeared.

What happened during that time?

Why hadn’t they called for the physician in the first place…?

And what was this pricking sensation?

I turned my head to find Darcy, resting his chin on his hand, staring at me. His eyes were half-closed in what seemed like boredom, but he didn’t rush me.

"Let’s go."

"Okay."

"There’s no need for you to worry about them."

"…True."

With that, we finally moved on. It was a frustrating end to the situation, but I couldn’t put my finger on exactly why.

"Are you going straight back?"

"I’m not particularly eager to return to the ballroom…."

Darcy stepped in front of me, his eyes gleaming with mischief.

"How about skipping it?"

"Where would we go?"

"There’s still some time before the ball ends… Let’s go there."

He whispered as he naturally fell into step beside me.

"To my room."