The Villainess is Tired of Everything-Chapter 68

"I can't stop now. We're so close. This is all just a process to ensure you live a life without health concerns..."

"You're making me worry now."

"You don't need to worry."

"You promised to be a grandfather I could be proud of. Please listen to me."

Leshan pleaded, her voice trembling. The marquis, looking at her with deep concern, pulled her into a tight embrace. As Leshan sobbed in his arms, she whispered.

"Grandfather..."

"I can't."

But the marquis was resolute. Leshan pushed herself out of his embrace.

She didn’t want to live by destroying someone else, especially if that person was Marceau, who she had already hurt.

She felt a deep disappointment in her grandfather. He had always seemed like someone who would walk the righteous path, which made it even harder to see him stray. Because she loved him, she wanted him to stop.

"If you won’t stop, then I’ll tell Marceau everything I heard today."

"...No."

The marquis, filled with affection, looked at Leshan but did not nod in agreement.

"Grandfather... you're not the type of person to do something like this. Please tell me the reason you made this decision."

Leshan desperately tried to understand her grandfather, clinging to the hope that there was some reason she didn’t know. She was frantic.

The marquis closed his eyes tightly. It seemed like Leshan was expecting him to confess everything to her.

"For now, take some rest at the estate."

But all he said was this.

The next day, Leshan found herself locked in her room.

Darcy didn’t respond to my feelings immediately. I didn’t press him for an answer either.

"When you're ready, let me know."

This time, waiting felt different. I was confident that he felt the same way as I did.

Darcy just needed time to acknowledge his own feelings.

But even just confirming our mutual feelings made me feel more confident.

The day after the tea party, I received a letter from Lady Wernar.

The letter, addressed to me, detailed her career, her life up to this point, and all the advantages she could offer as a lady. It was less of a letter and more of a dissertation.

‘...At least I can reject her now.’

Recalling my conversation with Darcy, I felt a sense of relief.

It felt like I was dealing with a rival.

I quickly penned my response.

‘It’s better to discuss this in person.’

Since Lady Wernar had been direct about her feelings, this approach seemed more appropriate.

Not long after I sent my reply, I received her response, and we arranged to meet the next day.

"Oh, Lady Etwar."

She greeted me warmly. Despite the hints I had given in my letter, she remained as cheerful as ever.

I decided to reveal the truth before she could get her hopes up.

"I'm sorry, but Lady Wernar, your meeting with Prince Darcy will not happen. I’ve conveyed your message..."

"Ah, I see."

I was surprised by how quickly she gave up.

Hadn't she directly asked me if I was interested in Darcy?

It made me uneasy, as if she was hiding something.

Sensing my discomfort, Lady Wernar explained.

"It’s not that I wasn’t aware of how close you two seemed. I was just testing the waters."

That was very much in line with her character.

"I wish you both the best of luck."

There was something almost surreal about her wishing us well.

What kind of person was Lady Wernar? She was unlike anyone I had ever encountered.

But I had to admit, my impression of her improved significantly.

She was the first person to openly support my relationship with Darcy. A good person.

Feeling a bit shy, I scratched my head and muttered.

"...We're not official yet."

"But unofficially, you're quite entangled, aren’t you?"

"..."

"You’re not denying it. Anyway, thanks for telling me directly."

Lady Wernar stood up gracefully, clearly preparing to leave.

"Are you leaving already?"

I felt a sense of regret that I hadn’t felt when dealing with Ryan. I knew this might be the last time we would talk like this.

"Yes, our conversation is over. It’s a shame I missed out on that long-haired beauty."

"...Why do you like long hair so much?"

I asked, trying to keep the conversation going. I was genuinely curious too—long hair wasn’t particularly common, and it was rare to find someone so openly fond of it.

Lady Wernar, who had seemed ready to leave without a second thought, paused.

"That’s the first time anyone’s asked me that."

Lady Wernar lowered her gaze, lost in thought. In that moment, she looked like a scholar deep in study or a philosopher contemplating life’s meaning.

"My first love had long hair."

"..."

"My first love, whom I never saw again."

I widened my eyes in surprise at the unexpected answer.

"I’ve never told anyone that before. It feels a bit liberating to share it. Thanks for listening."

She smiled, but there was a bittersweet autumn scent in the air. It seemed things hadn’t gone well with her first love.

Seeing this more human side of her, I wanted to grow closer to her.

...Though she hadn’t been interested in me, she was the first person I could talk to about love.

"Lady Wernar."

"Yes?"

"Are you really not going to be active anymore?"

Lady Wernar smiled at me.

"Sometimes. Maybe we can have a meal together occasionally. I enjoyed our banter more than I expected."

"..."

"No one else really wants to spar with me."

It seemed I had made a friend, someone I could greet from time to time. She seemed to have enjoyed our conversation as much as I did.

I saw her off.

‘That’s enough entertaining guests for today.’

I should go finish packing.

After successfully hosting the tea party, interest in me had only grown.

Pithol’s play continued to be a hit, and it kept mentioning me, fueling the anticipation.

Of course, this was something I had asked Pithol to do.

In any case, the preparations for my departure were nearly complete. I would leave the estate within the next two days.

I had already told Marquis Etwar that I was going to rest at our territory.

As I was about to leave the parlor, I noticed a servant approaching quickly, which made me raise an eyebrow. Was there something else they needed to tell me?

"Lady Marceau, a guest has arrived."

"Who is it?"

Ever since my unplanned encounter with Ryan, I had made it a habit to confirm the names of my guests.

To avoid letting any suspicious people into the estate again.

"They asked to be called Leti."

"Leti?"

The Leti I knew? But why would she come all the way here to see me?

"...It’s the same Leti who used to work at our estate. She said she urgently needs to speak with you."

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Rumor had it that Leti had been dismissed because she didn’t meet my standards.

The servant seemed nervous, perhaps fearing my reaction, as they hesitated to relay the message.

‘People shouldn’t be used.’

If she came here in person, she must have a good reason. It could be a trap, considering her connection to Ryan...

‘Speculating alone is pointless.’

I wasn’t Leti, so I couldn’t know what she wanted to say.

Even if I decided to send her away, it was right to at least hear her out.

"Let her in."

However, I called her into a room that wasn’t at all prepared for guests. Despite letting her into the estate, the disheveled state of the parlor signaled that she hadn’t been formally invited.

"Have you been well, Lady Marceau?"

She stood before me.

Leticia, the leader of the underworld merchant guild, had shed the image I last saw of her and returned to being my maid, Leti.

‘...What is she up to?’

Her gentle demeanor made it seem like the person I last saw didn’t exist.

I couldn’t hide my bewilderment.

"The servant has left, so there’s no need to keep up appearances... What are you really here for?"

"I have something to tell you."

As soon as she realized that we were alone in the room, her gaze changed again. The way she switched her expression as easily as flipping a piece of paper made her a natural actress.

‘Shouldn’t she have joined a theater troupe?’

I admired her internally.

"Is this a message from Prince Ryan?"

"No. It’s something I want to convey to you myself."

"...You?"

What could she possibly want to tell me directly?

"In a month, rumors will spread throughout the capital."

"Rumors?"

"That the Etwar Marquisate has been hoarding magic stones, disregarding the royal family, and has discovered a new mine, which they’re using to fill their own coffers."

This was absurd.

If anyone examined the records of the magic stone mines, the amount of stones owned by the Etwar Marquisate, and the supplies provided to the royal family, it would immediately be clear that this was false. So why bother?

If we had discovered a new mine, all the nobles would be claiming magic stone mines for themselves, living lavishly.

There was a reason why only the royal family, the Etwar Marquisate, and the Ephekl Marquisate had monopolized the magic stones.

"Yes, normally, no one would believe it."