Dead-End Villainess Who Makes Medicine

 

A few days before the Antrow Mountains became noisy.

 

Ratman, the butler in charge of Liliana’s mansion in the western territory of Cassian, was busy again today.

 

His responsibilities included overseeing the overall affairs of the mansion.

 

Since Liliana wasn’t at the mansion, Ratman had to work even more diligently.

 

“Butler, the wages for the servants this month…”

 

“These are new servants, Butler.”

 

“There’s a delay in the delivery of dresses…”

 

While handling various tasks here and there, Ratman noticed a maid working in a corner of the garden.

 

“Cheniel, what are you doing?”

 

“Oh, Butler.”

 

It was Cheniel, who had been attending to Yeffa not long ago.

 

She bowed, startled by Ratman’s call.

 

“I was just enjoying the beautiful sky today. I apologize.”

 

The sky was indeed beautiful, with a purple sunset, but Cheniel was clearly looking at the trees.

 

“Why were you looking at the trees?”

 

“I like their fragrance. I thought it would be nice to gather leaves for the lady’s room.”

 

Ratman stared intently at Cheniel. She had been in Liliana’s service for a long time.

 

Despite her somewhat scatterbrained and short-sighted nature, she has tight lips. However, lately, she has been acting overly anxious.

 

Watching Cheniel swallow nervously with her gaze lowered, Ratman spoke.

 

“Pack your belongings.”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

“Pack your belongings so that you can leave tonight.”

 

“Am I, am I, am I being fired?”

 

Cheniel’s eyes widened in shock.

 

Sure, he’d been warned a few times before, but she’d been working here for years!

 

Whether Ratman knew Cheniel’s feelings or not, he responded with a dry tone.

 

“Nonsense. You’re going to Lady Liliana, so prepare for that.”

 

“Ah…! but why to Lady Liliana…?”

 

“Do I have to explain everything to a mere maid?”

 

Ratman shifted his gaze irritably. Cheniel shuddered and muttered an apology.

 

“I-I apologize. I’ll prepare right away.”

 

Ratman’s eyes followed Cheniel’s disappearing figure. Only when Cheniel had disappeared into the building did Ratman click his tongue slightly.

 

‘Preparations are complete, as ordered.’

 

The sky was now completely dark.

 

Ratman glanced around the mansion’s gardens for a moment, then turned on his heel.

 

He hopes that his master’s work goes well and according to plan.’ 

 

*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚ 

 

The sound of clashes echoed in the Antrow Mountains.

 

Although the sudden intruders were not numerous, they relentlessly shouted the same words, pressuring Roxis and Liliana.

 

“Secure Yeffa Cassian first!”

 

“Surrender all those who were helping the criminal escape!”

 

Their appearance clearly resembled that of beggars, yet everything else was entirely different.

 

firmly set, muscular body.

 

Eyes like a beast.

 

Thunderous, echoing voices.

 

And well-disciplined swordsmanship.

 

“Why are the Imperial Knights here…!”

 

Roxis recognized them at once. Their swordsmanship was familiar, and there were faces he knew.

 

Moreover, they were calling Yeffa a criminal, making the situation even more perplexing.

 

“You said the Imperial Knights went the other way.”

 

According to a recent report from the palace spy, the Imperial Knights went south to find Yeffa.

 

Roxis glanced over at the place where Yeffa had been. She was nowhere to be seen.

 

The same was true for Liliana.

 

‘These damn rats.’

 

Roxis drew the two swords hanging from his waist.

 

Although a bit burdensome, Roxis still had plenty of stamina, and he had brought several subordinates with him.

 

He could handle them roughly and subtly withdraw when necessary.

 

As Roxis was about to swing his sword toward the knight who had approached, the knight suddenly threw a small vial he had been holding directly at Roxis.

 

“What the……!”

 

Although Roxis swung his sword to deflect it, he couldn’t prevent the liquid from splashing onto his face and body.

 

Not knowing what it was, Roxis’s heart raced.

 

However, without time to assess his physical condition, the knight relentlessly swung his sword at him.

 

Blocking the attack urgently, Roxis shouted,

 

“An Imperial knight playing such tricks, aren’t you ashamed?”

 

“You talk too much for a criminal. Were you planning treason?”

 

“Nonsense. I was merely trying to find Yeffa Cassian and bring her back to the palace.”

 

“Then where is Yeffa Cassian now?”

 

“Liliana took her. That woman has been plotting against me from the beginning!”

 

“If that’s the case, go to the palace and testify to that fact. Surround them all!”

 

Unwilling to accept any excuses, the other knights threw the vials in their hands in unison.

 

Some dodged, but others couldn’t help but get a little bit of the substance on them.

 

“What is this?”

 

“……water?”

 

“What the hell is this……!”

 

Roxis’s subordinate cowered at first, wary, but when they realized it had no effect, they drew their swords with aggression.

 

Roxis, too, let out a bitter laugh when he felt no change in his body even after some time.

 

“Did Rohiriel tell you to throw this?”

 

It seemed to be some kind of tracking scent. However, openly splashing it like this seemed futile.

 

Roxis had a substance to eliminate tracking scents as well.

 

“Surrender peacefully and cooperate in securing Yeffa Cassian. Then, I might show some leniency….”

 

The knight facing Roxis didn’t even finish his sentence before hastily raising his sword.

 

Clang! The sound echoed as Roxis’s sword blocked the attack, but the knight had to step back a few paces.

 

“Go spew your nonsense at home.”

 

Roxis, who smiled wickedly, tried to leap forward again.

 

‘…What’s this?’

 

A strange pain was felt throughout his body.

 

Starting from the area where the substance had touched, his skin began to sting, and soon, his whole body erupted as if engulfed in flames.

 

No, it felt like burning.

 

There seemed to be no issue visually, but the sensation was like being in the midst of blazing embers.

 

Throbbing.

 

Pounding.

 

Roxis’s heartbeat started to accelerate with an ominous feeling.

 

“…Ugh.”

 

Roxis groaned through clenched teeth as his body staggered. To support himself, he thrust his sword into the dirt.

 

Once the pain began, it became unstoppable, gradually clouding his mind.

 

Raising his eyes to look at his subordinates, they, too, seemed to sense something awry as their faces were filled with confusion.

 

“This… you cowardly creatures!”

 

Roxis, gritting his teeth, regained his focus, drawing the sword again.

 

“Well, well, well, you seem to be in pretty bad shape, huh?”

 

At that moment, Perom, who had been entrusted with the heavy secret mission since the first escape of Yeffa, now stepped forward to block Roxis.

 

Now, it was Perom’s turn to carry out the second secret mission.

 

*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚ 

 

Julion had been feeling uneasy for the past few days. Exactly since the moment Duke Cassian invaded my bedroom.

 

At that time, sensing something amiss, Julion entrusted the Emperor’s protection to his shadows and hurried to my side.

 

However, the Duke had already left, and I was in the midst of waking up the palace residents, including Zenid.

 

I remember how stern Julion’s expression was at that moment.

 

Since then, I have heard that the palace guards have been significantly reorganized to strengthen security.

 

Thanks to that, knights, including guards, became conspicuous everywhere I went.

 

Of course, Julion also started spending more time by my side.

 

Like now.

 

“Julion.”

 

“…Please speak.”

 

We were all focusing on our work in the office when we took a tea break.

 

However, as I felt like he kept staring into thin air, I put down my teacup and asked,

 

“What are you thinking about?”

 

“My body…….”

 

Julion’s vacant gaze refocused and smoothly shifted toward me.

 

Meeting my eyes directly, Julion spoke slowly.

 

“I wish there were two…”

 

Hmm, he seems quite busy.

 

A smirk escaped my lips, as I often thought the same thing.

 

“Two would be great; I’d love to have a dozen.”

 

I played along, but Julion, with a vacant expression, once again stared into space and then lowered his head deeply.

 

“I don’t know. …… that would be too much to handle.”

 

“Huh? What are you trying to handle?”

 

Julion’s ears turned red as he kept his head lowered.

 

I had no idea what was going on and was blinking in confusion when Zenid’s voice came from outside.

 

“Your Highness, there’s an urgent report.”

 

“Your Highness, urgent report!”

 

Almost simultaneously, Freck’s voice echoed, and Julion, after clearing his throat, looked up and gestured for them to enter.

 

Zenid and Freck, entering the office side by side, hesitated to speak first until Freck finally broke the silence.

 

“We found Yeffa Cassian, and it’s reported that Roxis Cassian and Liliana Cassian were with her!”

 

“…I have the same report, Your Highness. Additionally, Roxis and Liliana seem to have escaped.”

 

Finally, the story I’d been waiting for.

 

I grinned, unable to hide the corner of my mouth that kept rising.

 

“Now, let’s move on to the next step.”

 

Upon hearing my words, Julion nodded and immediately picked up a pen. Expressionless, he swirled the pen on the paper and informed Freck,

 

“We’ll demand Duke Zikriesen Cassian’s attendance at the palace.”

 

Freck’s eyes widened in surprise.

 

Reflexively, he glanced at the paper in his hand.

 

<Connection between the underworld and the Duke of Cassian>

 

Starting with that, the paper was filled with the activities Duke Cassian had undertaken with the underworld.

 

Seeing Freck’s surprise, Julion added one more sentence.

 

“Additionally, issue a wanted order for Roxis Cassian as the mastermind behind the Viscount of Martin assassination and the Inner Palace fire incidents.”

 

“Yes, what?”

 

“Oh, there’s more. He’s also wanted for hiding Yeffa Cassian and aiding in her escape. Liliana Cassian is also wanted for the same crime.”

 

Freck’s mouth hung agape in response to the sudden storm of revelations.

 

It was understandable; most people were unaware that Roxis was the culprit behind all those incidents.

 

Besides, being the thorough Cassian that he is, he would have destroyed the evidence long ago.

 

‘But now, evidence doesn’t matter.’

 

After all, Roxis would soon confess to everything with his own words.

 

And so the second phase of ‘Toppling the Cassians’ began. 

 

 

 

𝑺𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝑲𝒐-𝒇𝒊