A World Where You All Are The Villains [Novel] Chapter 73

"…!"

The butler's words snapped me out of my thoughts.

Thinking about it, he was absolutely right.

He had given me a gift while taking the time to cover for me, so if I showed up without wearing it, there was no telling what nonsense he would spout.

Seeing the color drain from my face, the butler added with a sly, knowing smile.

"Rather than risk that, wouldn't it be better to just wear it once and be done with it, My Lady?"

"…You're pretty good, Butler."

When I looked him up and down with unexpected admiration, he wore a triumphant expression.

"Ahem! I may not look it, but I am a man who has survived in the Ducal estate for over 30 years, reading the room to climb to this position."

"Then why did you say things looked amicable back then? Huh?!"

"I-It's unfair, My Lady! I s-said it looked amicable because it looked amicable, but if you ask me why it looked amicable…!"

Ultimately, after putting on the accessories Serge gave me, the endless preparation finally came to a close.

As I stood in front of the mirror for a final check, I undeniably looked far more vibrant and glamorous than usual.

"You look absolutely beautiful today, My Lady."

"Truly! You look like a goddess who just stepped out of the ocean waves!"

The servants chimed in, offering their praises one by one. It wasn't unpleasant to hear.

Perhaps the butler's words weren't just empty flattery; the dark red jewels didn't look overwhelming but actually paired quite beautifully with the blue dress.

With my hair swept up high and the haughty tilt of my eyes, I looked every bit the elegant and sophisticated, yet cold and aloof villainess.

Satisfied with the final check, I casually waved off the servants standing behind me.

"It looks fine. Good work, everyone."

"Then we shall return to escort you when it's time to depart."

The servants, including the butler, filed out of the room, and Nancy approached me.

"My Lady. Are you not hungry?"

"If I eat right now, the butler will come sprinting back with his eyes rolling to the back of his head."

"That's true, but…"

Seeing her look crestfallen, I changed the subject.

"Have you packed all the luggage?"

"Yes. As you instructed, My Lady, I packed mostly comfortable clothes for the rest of the trip."

"Good job."

"Aston said she will go ahead and load the luggage onto the carriage first."

I nodded and sat down on the sofa.

Since the Equinis Ceremony spanned a total of three nights and four days, several maids, including Nancy, were accompanying me.

Additionally, perhaps because of my collapsing incident a few days prior, the Duke strictly ordered me to bring a healer along.

I agreed without putting up a fight.

It was highly unlikely I'd need to use my ability because of the male leads, but Equinis Island was close to the Gate Wave, so there was no telling what unexpected situations might arise.

Therefore, Aston was once again coming along less as a healer and more as an accomplice to help clean up the mess and prevent me from getting caught in the event I had to perform a purification.

While praying for that, I unknowingly drifted off to sleep.

Waking up so early had taken its toll.

As I dozed off, leaning uncomfortably to avoid ruining my hair, Nancy gently woke me up.

"My Lady, it is time to leave now."

"…Already?"

Unlike the Imperial Palace banquet, maybe it was because we had a long journey ahead.

It was barely noon, but it was already time to depart.

To get to Equinis Island, we had to travel to the port city of Theberon, which was about three hours away from the capital.

Fortunately, we didn't have to take a boat from there, because spatial ability Awakeners affiliated with the Imperial Palace would teleport the carriages directly to the island.

It was definitely a perk of being high-ranking nobility.

I forced my sleepy eyes open and sluggishly got up.

A short while later.

Upon descending to the first floor with Nancy, I saw Ethan busily barking orders at the servants loading the luggage.

71%

Thankfully, the number floating above his head was no different from last time.

"Good afternoon, Brother."

As I approached him, I suddenly felt an absence, looked around, and asked.

"Where is Father?"

Ethan, who had absentmindedly turned his head toward me, suddenly widened his eyes.

"…You."

For a fleeting second, his lake-blue eyes, fixed on my face, wavered wildly.

I simply stared at him in confusion.

"What is it? Is there something on my face?"

"…No."

He replied after a slight pause.

For some reason, his voice trembled just a bit.

Perhaps noticing it himself, he cleared his throat and quickly returned to his usual expressionless face.

"What did you just say?"

"I asked where Father was."

"Father likely won't be able to attend."

It was entirely unexpected news.

The Duke had been eagerly anticipating this day, viewing it as a rare opportunity to rest.

"Wh-Why not?"

"I heard His Majesty the Emperor fell into a critical condition early yesterday morning."

"Ah…"

At those words, the forgotten plotline of the novel flashed through my mind.

It was quite a heartwarming episode where the female lead, who had no family, gained a new one.

Come to think of it, I believe the female lead's status was elevated to an Imperial Princess shortly after the Equinis Ceremony ended…

Unfortunately, I couldn't remember what those incorrectly mixed herbs were.

Of course, even if I did remember, I wouldn't have gotten involved.

I would be lucky not to be framed as a traitor attempting to assassinate the Emperor.

"In case of an emergency, the ministers and a few high-ranking nobles, including Father, are scheduled to remain and guard the Imperial Palace. It's still classified information, so the ceremony will proceed as planned."

"…"

"So watch your mouth as well."

While I was lost in thought, Ethan added his explanation.

"…Yes."

I nodded.

Honestly, my mind was troubled, so his words didn't really register.

It wasn't because of the news of the Emperor's critical condition, but the overwhelming burden of having to spend three whole hours alone with Ethan without the Duke present.

"Let us depart then…"

"I haven't seen that accessory before."

At that moment, our voices unfortunately overlapped.

Unlike me, who flinched, he stared intently near my neck.

"Ah… this?"

"Yes. It's quite,"

"…"

"It suits you well."

Ethan muttered, almost like a sigh.

Feeling awkward, I fiddled with the necklace, but he spoke up again.

"Did you buy a new one?"

"Uh…"

For a moment, I deliberated on how to answer.

Telling him the truth outright felt risky, considering he hadn't spoken highly of Serge during our previous dinner together.

I was only going to wear it for today anyway.

I decided it was better to give a vague answer than to invite unnecessary nagging.

"It is the Heart of the Earth Dragon, Young Master!"

An answer came from a completely unexpected place.

It was that damn butler!

Ethan looked at the butler, who was walking down the hallway of the East Wing, and asked back.

"…The Heart of the Earth Dragon? You mean the demonic beast?"

"Yes! His Highness Grand Duke Belnac sent it as a token of gratitude for the help the Young Lady provided this time."

Please, shut up…!

Before I could desperately shake my head, the butler rattled on smoothly with a proud expression.

Looking in his direction, Ethan suddenly muttered with a chilling expression.

"Grand Duke… Belnac?"

The blue eyes that slowly turned back to me had already hardened into ice.

I hadn't done anything wrong, yet I couldn't understand why my heart was pounding so hard.

He asked in a low, heavy voice.

"…Are you telling me he gave you something like that simply because you helped him find a criminal?"

"Yes, well… he gave it to me."

"And you happily accepted it and wore it today?"

I didn't happily accept it.

With an unjustly wronged expression, I shot a fierce glare at the butler standing next to Ethan.

The butler, flinching, hurriedly made excuses on my behalf.

"Excuse me… Young Master. I was the one who recommended that accessory to the Young Lady. I thought it would be the perfect piece to wear at Equinis Island…"

"Shut your mouth, Butler."

However, Ethan's sharp rebuke cut him down immediately, leaving him worse off than if he'd said nothing.

Ethan then continued pressing me.

"Have you already forgotten what Father said? I am certain he told you not to get close to that man."

"…I didn't get that close to him."

"Then you should have refused."

His resolute attitude left me dumbfounded.

Not only did I not understand why I should refuse, but rejecting a gift I had already received was tantamount to disregarding his sincerity.

There are people you can do that to, and then there are people who will make your life a living hell if you do, and Male Lead No. 4 was obviously the latter.

I looked at him with an expression of total incomprehension.

"…How am I supposed to refuse a gift given as a token of gratitude by His Highness the Grand Duke?"

"Then, at the very least, you shouldn't wear it on a day when you might run into him."

No sooner had I finished speaking than Ethan immediately fired back.

"What do you think a man will think when he sees a woman show up wearing the accessory he gave her? Are you incapable of making even that basic judgment?"

"What will he think?"

I was asking because I genuinely didn't know, but he suddenly flew into a rage.

"Obviously, he'll think you…!"