The Villainess is Tired of Everything-Chapter 46

Fortunately, the worst didn’t happen. After additional magic stone use, Leshuan woke up with her usual bright smile.

However, Marquis Efeckle’s hands were still trembling.

‘What happened, Grandfather?’

Leshauan smiled, not noticing anything unusual.

When Leshuan understood the situation, her first concern was the potential rumors that might arise because of her, all for the sake of her grandfather’s reputation.

“I’ll go back and reassure everyone, apologize for causing any worry.”

She was so busy worrying about her grandfather, even though she didn’t fully understand why she had collapsed, that he found his granddaughter utterly endearing.

Leshauan held his hand tightly, and Marquis Efeckle embraced her. The warmth in his arms was precious.

“I must have been too tired lately.”

Leshauan’s voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

“Perhaps so.”

Although he agreed with Leshuan’s assessment, the Marquis still hadn’t found a clear reason for her collapse.

What could have caused the crisis Leshuan faced today?

There was only one possible reason he could think of.

‘That must be it.’

Marquis Efeckle recalled the mountain of magic stones he had stockpiled to repair the broken door.

Magic stones react to other magic stones. When new veins are found in a mine or when residual stones are located, they often use similar stones.

“It’s unfortunate that I caused trouble for Lady Etwar by collapsing.”

“It’s alright. I’ll personally thank her later.”

Marceau Etwar had returned to the ballroom only towards the end of the ball after leaving with the newly introduced prince, Darcy. There hadn’t been time to speak with her after she boarded her carriage.

The Marquis had also planned to speak with Marceau during the ball, but this was thwarted by the unexpected demand for more magic stones to repair the royal property.

He couldn’t help but feel a bit envious of the fact that the Etwar family had enough surplus magic stones to handle such emergencies.

Seeing how Marceau Etwar could use magic stones so freely made him feel bitter.

‘It seems they haven’t run out of magic stones yet.’

Unlike his own mines.

If a god existed, this wasn’t right.

‘Shouldn’t it go to those who need it most?’

Moreover, the Marquis of Etwar was indifferent to his own bloodline.

Even though they attended the event together, he didn’t even know where his daughter was.

But he was different.

With his magic stone mines suddenly drying up, all deliveries had ceased, and he had been gathering every last stone he could find for Leshuan’s sake.

For her life.

‘This is my karma….’

He shouldn’t have driven his daughter away like that. She had never been extraordinarily healthy, but her decline was rapid. He had expected her to come back, but she stayed by her lover’s side until the end. Leshuan was the precious child she bore at the cost of her life.

‘I was so shocked the first time I met her.’

Leshauan’s bright smile, which so closely resembled her mother’s, was enough to bring back memories for the Marquis.

But Leshuan was very sick. Extremely so.

This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.

Everyone said she wouldn’t live past fifteen.

But the Marquis couldn’t bear to lose the only bloodline he had left.

So he searched everywhere…

And eventually, he saved Leshuan.

But the method wasn’t perfect. Reviving a nearly dead body wasn’t an easy task.

Leshauan needed more and more magic stones every day.

Marquis Efeckle sighed deeply.

Whenever he thought about Leshuan’s future, he was always filled with anxiety. He should have been stockpiling magic stones, but now the opposite was true.

“Grandfather, what are you thinking about so deeply?”

Marquis Efeckle smiled warmly at Leshuan’s voice.

“Nothing. You’re just so beautiful.”

“…Don’t be silly. I’m sorry I made you worry today.”

“You’ve already apologized, haven’t you? It’s not your fault.”

His granddaughter was as lovely as ever.

Marquis Efeckle held her delicate hand tightly, smiling kindly.

“How was the ball today? Did you enjoy it?”

“I did. Time with you is always enjoyable, Grandfather.”

Leshauan smiled, warming the Marquis’ heart.

After his daughter had left him, he thought he would never feel happiness again…

‘Leshauan, you’re my miracle.’

His granddaughter had awakened feelings in him that he thought had died.

He wanted to protect this girl no matter what.

So that Leshuan could live a life without worries.

So that she wouldn’t follow in her mother’s tragic footsteps.

“Did you have fun, Grandfather? Or were you too startled because of me…”

“No, it’s alright.”

“I must have also troubled Prince Ryan. I’ll have to send him something as thanks.”

At the mention of Ryan’s name, Marquis Efeckle flinched. Leshuan noticed this and tilted her head.

The Marquis quickly changed the subject.

“He’ll be happy with anything from you. Come to think of it, I haven’t seen him at the mansion lately.”

Now that he mentioned it, it was true. Ryan, who used to frequently visit the Efeckle household, hadn’t been around.

Leshauan blinked and then spoke clearly.

“…Yes, I haven’t invited him.”

“Why not?”

“…I think I need some time to reflect on myself.”

Marquis Efeckle’s eyes widened at Leshuan’s words.

“What do you have to reflect on?”

Leshauan stared at the Marquis, who had always been on her side, before explaining.

“There were things I avoided as long as they didn’t directly harm me.”

“…Leshauan.”

“If someone is good to me, I just wanted to believe it was fine.”

“That’s perfectly normal.”

“But when it goes too far, I need to know how to act accordingly. Not just stand by and watch.”

Leshauan slowly shook her head.

“It feels like I’m realizing this too late.”

The Marquis realized that Leshuan was going through a significant turning point in her life. She was maturing yet again.

There was only one thing he could say at a time like this.

“Grandfather will always support you.”

“Thank you. But what were you and the prince discussing earlier?”

“…Nothing much. We just talked about you.”

Marquis Efeckle avoided giving a straight answer. He hadn’t expected Leshuan to notice them heading to the drawing room.

Leshauan felt uneasy as the Marquis, who usually answered her questions honestly, dodged this one.

There was nothing strange about his behavior, but it felt suspicious.

It seemed like there was more to it, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.

“If you say so, Grandfather.”

But pressing further would only make things awkward for him, so she didn’t ask any more questions.

Still, her doubts lingered.

Marquis Efeckle recalled the conversation he had with Ryan.

“Marquis Efeckle, you must be aware that the number of magic stones is gradually decreasing.”

They had started talking after closing the door to the drawing room during the ball.

“For Leshuan’s sake, the supply of magic stones must be maintained.”

“…Indeed.”

Ryan had become aware of Leshuan’s condition. The Marquis could now expect his cooperation.

“If that’s the case, there’s something I must ask you.”

More than just cooperation? This could also accelerate a marriage proposal.

“It will benefit both Leshuan and you.”

“What is it?”

Marquis Efeckle’s eyes lit up. Marriage, perhaps? The royal family controlled two magic stone mines. Their veins would be the last to dry up, which would ensure Leshuan’s safety.

But Ryan’s next words were unexpected.

“Join me in bringing down the House of Etwar.”

“…Excuse me?”

“If you do, I’ll give you one of their magic stone mines. Your mine has dried up, hasn’t it?”

Given that they couldn’t supply the royal family with magic stones anymore, it wasn’t surprising that the prince knew the state of his mines.

Unfortunately, his mine was one of the first to dry up.

“You need a mine, don’t you?”

Marquis Efeckle hadn’t had much magic stone to begin with.

The Efeckle family’s wealth had been built on the distribution of magic stones. They had been complacent, assuming the supply would never run out.

By the time they realized, it was too late to recover the stones.

As people became aware of the dwindling supply, they began to hoard magic stones.

The royal family had also been reducing the distribution of magic stones, and the Etwar family had started limiting transactions from their mines.

Even the amount of magic stones gathered from the back alleys wasn’t much.

Ryan’s proposal was undoubtedly a sweet temptation.

But at that moment, Marquis Efeckle’s opinion of Ryan completely changed.

Now, he saw Ryan as nothing more than a despicable bastard.