The Villainess is Tired of Everything-Chapter 54

"Let's just go."

But his steps had long since halted. Despite his words, he didn’t move.

It was as if the guilt he had managed to escape from momentarily had come crashing back, pulling him out of the dreamlike state he had been in.

Darcy, who usually had nothing to fear, now seemed small and vulnerable before these people—people whose very presence reminded him of his guilt, even in a place far from the Empire.

I felt a surge of raw emotion.

The fear in his eyes was deeper than I had imagined, like staring into an endless abyss.

I wondered if this was a chance for me to take the lead.

'Maybe this is an opportunity.'

I squeezed his hand tightly.

"Darcy."

"Yes?"

"Let’s save him and bring him back to the refuge."

"...What?"

"It's a chance to earn their trust."

"But why..."

"Because I don’t want to miss this chance."

I spoke up on behalf of Darcy, who couldn’t bring himself to say he wanted to help.

I held his hand firmly, meeting his gaze.

"You need to do this."

Darcy looked at me with wide eyes, clearly taken aback, but I just smiled softly.

"This is part of the process for me to be happy."

I didn’t bother to explain further—that if we could build trust with the magicians and see them happy, I too would find happiness.

But he understood my meaning.

And at that moment, I realized something important.

For me to be happy, you first need to find happiness.

"Alright."

When he nodded in reluctant agreement, his face softened, and my heart raced once more.

Because in that moment, I felt truly alive.

Darcy paused, gazing at me intently. His stare always made my heart flutter, but it also made me nervous.

As I stood there, tense, Darcy gently tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear and whispered,

"First, let’s find out why they were captured."

The island we had arrived on was far from our Empire.

The island, which had minimal contact with the Empire, was very closed off and didn’t easily welcome outsiders.

But its beautiful year-round weather and fertile land made it hard to resist.

‘The Empire had coveted this place for a long time.’

However, the Empire had never managed to conquer it.

The treacherous waters, much like the Bermuda Triangle, often swallowed ships, and the island was too far from the Empire to be easily managed as a colony.

In the end, the Empire had abandoned its attempts to claim the island.

Those who found life difficult in the Empire often sought refuge on the island.

The islanders took great pride in their home and were very protective of it, harshly punishing any unauthorized intruders.

Anyone who entered or left the island without following its laws and procedures was captured and turned into a slave.

Magic was rare on the island. Instead, they used branding on the flesh.

Of course, these dangers didn’t concern Darcy.

It was one of the reasons he had considered making this place his home.

Thanks to Darcy’s teleportation, we had arrived with the forged documents and identification he had prepared, making us legally—well, technically illegally—registered travelers.

The boy who had been shaking the bars of the prison cart stared at me. He seemed to recognize me, his fierce struggle to break free suddenly halted.

"He’s acting like he knows who you are?"

We had changed our hair and eye colors before leaving the beach.

"If it's that boy, it’s possible."

Darcy muttered. The boy had immediately recognized both Darcy and me despite our altered appearances.

The boy knew Darcy’s true identity.

"His specialized ability is 'clairvoyance.'"

Hearing Darcy's explanation, I understood. Clairvoyance allowed him to see through a person’s true nature.

Even if someone used magic to disguise themselves, he could still recognize who they were.

"That makes sense."

If the boy’s ability was clairvoyance and he knew that Darcy had captured magicians in the past, it’s understandable that he wouldn’t like him.

That’s why talking to him was necessary. It was a chance to clear up any misunderstandings.

'Though talking doesn’t always resolve misunderstandings.'

For those deeply entrenched in their preconceptions, even that can be seen as a hostile act.

I quietly observed the people who had passed by us.

Six men were surrounding the prison cart, with two more on horseback leading the way. A total of eight men.

"Shouldn’t we figure out where they’re taking him?"

"I know. They’ll probably lock him up in the prison near the sea for the night."

"Really?"

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"And tomorrow, there will be a trial. If they can’t prove their innocence, they’ll be branded as slaves immediately."

Darcy knew the island’s workings inside and out, just as one would expect from someone who had considered living here.

If he had come here, he probably would have blended in naturally, like someone born on the island.

Darcy watched the boy, who was still pointing and shouting at him.

"Is that just how kids are at that age?"

"...Yes."

I didn’t mention how the boy’s defiant demeanor reminded me of how Darcy was when I first met him.

Even the silver hair and blue eyes bore a resemblance.

"When do you plan to go?"

Darcy glanced at the sun in the sky and replied.

"By evening, the guards will be more relaxed, so let’s enjoy our vacation until then."

Given Darcy’s abilities, his current relaxed demeanor wasn’t surprising. He had confidence that he could handle things later.

"Alright, let’s eat."

Nothing goes well on an empty stomach. Besides, we could plan while we ate.

Despite Darcy’s abilities, I didn’t want to rely on him too much. Depending solely on his power would be no different from how Emperor Kies treated him.

As the soldiers moved away, people quickly resumed their business.

"Okay, let’s eat and prepare."

We entered a restaurant. The view, with the ocean right outside, was stunning.

The seafood was rich in flavor and freshness, just as you’d expect from a seaside location.

I took pictures while eating, hoping to bring others here in the future.

It was thrilling to think that my experience could become someone else’s knowledge.

After finishing our meal, I packed a lobster sandwich to go. I thought it might be nice to give it to the boy later.

He looked like he hadn’t eaten in a while, and there’s nothing more important than providing food to someone hungry. Food is essential.

As the sun began to set, we sat in our seats, watching the ocean connected to the restaurant.

"You see that lighthouse?"

Darcy pointed at the lighthouse while pretending to admire the view.

"There’s a subterranean prison beneath that lighthouse. That’s where they’ll be."

Not everyone brought to this island was killed right away.

"When we get there, we can see the records detailing why each person was captured."

"...Could others have been wrongfully imprisoned too?"

"It doesn’t seem likely. Some of them had branding marks... and the rest looked quite rough."

I had felt uneasy about rescuing just the boy, but that guilt quickly faded.

But Darcy could be wrong too.

"Still, let’s check."

"We will. But..."

After a brief pause, Darcy pushed the dessert that had just arrived toward me and spoke cautiously.

"Why don’t you wait here?"

"Would I be a burden?"

"No, you wouldn’t be a burden. But it could be dangerous."

He was only suggesting this because he cared about me. But after considering it carefully, I shook my head.

I couldn’t let him face that boy alone.

Even if it was only for a moment, I needed to be there if I was needed.

I knew Darcy could handle the situation without me. He was stronger and more capable than I was.

But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t get hurt.

And in the long run, this would be good for me too. After all, I was going to meet the magicians.

"Then I’ll go with you."

"Alright, but..."

Under the table, Darcy handed me something. I discreetly grabbed it, only to gasp when I realized what it was.

"A gun."

"Use it if necessary. I’ve already loaded it with magic stones."

...I’ve never fired a gun in my life.

But Darcy’s face was more serious than I had expected. And the truth was, the situation could indeed become dangerous.

It’s not a real gun. Remembering the games from the world before I became Marceau, I took a deep breath.

I couldn’t let Darcy bear all the danger alone.

If he was willing to take risks, I needed to be able to help him too. Not just with my wealth and power.

This might be the time to reveal some hidden talents.

And this gun was made based on knowledge I had shared.

'It’s not for killing people, but for subduing them.'

Reviving my sense of morality as a modern person, I carefully hid the gun in my bag.

Evening was approaching.