Dead-End Villainess Who Makes Medicine

 

Sneaking out of the basement with a sick nanny was quite a challenge.

 

‘If only Zenid was here…’

 

It had been a month or so since Zenid had rushed off to the Wien estate due to family matters.

 

Despite saying she would return quickly, there has been no news of her so far.

 

She would probably be quite surprised to find the nanny missing upon her return.

 

[Nanny, watch out for the rocks in front of you.]

 

Fortunately, thanks to the treatment she’s been receiving, the nanny could somewhat move her body.

 

Though she still had periodic fevers, with proper treatment outside the duchy, a full recovery seemed possible.

 

I took the nanny to the location where the wagon was prepared in advance.

 

I spread a sleep-inducing scent, and the servants guarding fell into a deep slumber.

 

Every morning, the workers would take the wagon out, so I created it to make them sleep for a few hours.

 

Now, I just needed to hide the nanny inside the wagon and take her outside the castle.

 

“Miss…”

 

The nanny called out to me with her heavily cracked voice. In her amber-colored eyes that met mine, there was nothing but concern for me.

 

[Get in, Nanny].

 

[I’m sure the young master won’t be happy with this.]

 

[I’ll be fine. Just focus on yourself, nanny.]

 

[But…….]

 

[When you get far away from the castle, be sure to see a doctor, okay?]

 

I pushed the unwilling nanny into the wagon. In my heart, I wished I could go with her to take care of her.

 

However, if I disappeared, the duke’s people would unleash a search to find me, and I’d be discovered within an hour.

 

‘That would give them a legitimate reason to punish the nanny.’

 

She would be executed for supposedly abducting me last night. So it was better for her to be alone, even though I am a little worried.

 

[Thank you for all you’ve done for me. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be who I am now.]

 

[No, Miss. You were the vitality of my life.]

 

The nanny smiled weakly. But her eyes were definitely shining.

 

Fair skin, delicate facial features, brown hair, and lighter brown eyes. Etching the nanny’s final face in my memory, I closed the wagon door.

 

As I walked back into the garden with unwavering steps, a voice called out.

 

[Rottie.]

 

Under the moonlight, hazel eyes stared at me intently.

 

Yeffa held a teddy bear with one ear torn, joyfully smiling as if she knew something.

 

[Are you playing hide-and-seek?]

 

At that moment, I realized that Yeffa had seen everything.

 

Knowing that I wasn’t just playing hide-and-seek, she asked with a big smile on her face.

 

The answer I needed to give was already determined.

 

[Yeffa, can I ask you a favor? Keep it a secret, please.]

 

It didn’t matter why she was here late at night. I pleaded earnestly.

 

Even though Yeffa disliked me and tried to do something bad to me, I hoped she would just let it slide this time. Show some compassion.

 

[If I keep it a secret, what will you do for me, sis?]

 

[……anything. I’ll listen to everything. So, please let the nanny leave safely.]

 

Yeffa’s smile deepened. Soon, a list of demands flowed from her open mouth.

 

[Then give me the necklace you’re wearing, sis.]

 

It was the aquamarine necklace Zenid had given me as a gift.

 

She had longed for it, and now she was taking it from me. Without hesitation, I unclasped the necklace and handed it to Yeffa.

 

But that wasn’t the end.

 

[And the hairpin too.]

 

[Sis, your hair has always fascinated me. Can I cut a bit of it?]

 

[And the dress my father bought you—don’t you think it looks better on me?]

 

[Come to think of it. I’ve always been curious about the taste of dirt. Can Sis try it and let me know?]

 

[They say watching babies crawl is so cute, right? I’ve never seen one. Can Sis show me?]

 

[Ahaha! It’s like a bug. Or is it a horse? Can I ride on top of you for a bit?]

 

Yeffa’s demands seemed never-ending.

 

Despite the occasional shocking request, driven by the determination to save the nanny, I fulfilled everything Yeffa wanted.

 

[Aww, that’s boring; stop now.]

 

Yeffa, who had been playing with me like a toy, suddenly spoke calmly as her interest waned.

 

Though my body felt tired, I was still relieved.

 

It seemed like everything was going to be okay.

 

[Thank you, Yeffa. Thank you so much.]

 

[Huh? For what?]

 

[For letting the nanny… get away for keeping it a secret…]

 

For a moment, Yeffa’s eyes twinkled.

 

Intuitively, I sensed that something was amiss in her lively hazel eyes.

 

[I never said I would do that. What am I going to do about this?]

 

Yeffa’s voice sounded like she was about to tell me something really bad. But her expression was filled with a smile, as if she were delighted.

 

[My servant has already gone to inform Roxis.]

 

Yeffa’s gaze shifted behind me. Faint footsteps were heard—not just one but several.

 

I clenched my fist and gritted my teeth as I spoke.

 

[You played with me, Yeffa.]

 

[You’re the one who assumed, Sis. When did I ever say I was going to keep the maids quiet?]

 

[You aided in killing the nanny. A person will die because of you!]

 

As I cried out in frustration, Yeffa blinked with a nonchalant expression.

 

[Rottie, you’re the bad one. Why did you defy our brother?]

 

[You really…!]

 

I bit my tongue, stopping myself from shouting.

 

Suddenly, a presence was felt right behind me. Turning reflexively, I saw Roxis with a sly smile.

 

And behind him… the nanny being brought in by the hands of a servant.

 

[Rohiriel, you’re causing trouble again.]

 

Despite speaking with a hint of annoyance, Roxis’s face was full of amusement and excitement.

 

As I looked at his joyful and excited expression, everything before my eyes went dark. My mind was blank, with no thoughts surfacing as if erased.

 

‘There’s no solution.’

 

I shivered, my hands trembling as coldness rushed in. The ingrained fear hindered my ability to think clearly.

 

[Miss, I’m fine.]

 

The nanny smiled softly, as if resigned to everything. But I didn’t want to experience the pain of losing another family.

 

[No, please. If you take the nanny, then kill me, Roxis!]

 

He was no longer my older brother at this point.

 

I rushed to embrace the nanny, glaring at Roxis.

 

[Pull her away.]

 

However, Roxis’s words were more powerful than my desperation.

 

The servants unceremoniously separated me from my nanny and threw her to the floor, still weak from her injuries.

 

[She must be punished for her wrongdoings.]

 

That’s how the one-sided punishment began.

 

The bandages I had wrapped her in were torn, the wounds that were healing burst open again, and blood flowed…….

 

[ah…… ah…… please, stop, stop, please stop……!]

 

No proper sentences came out of my mouth. I wanted to run to my nanny and take the blows for her.

 

But the merciless hands of the servants squeezed me, not letting go.

 

I don’t know how much time has passed.

 

The nanny, without the strength to even groan, slumped like a deflated balloon.

 

Only then did the servants release their grip on me.

 

[Nanny. Nanny, Nannyyyyy…]

 

I stumbled toward the nanny, nearly collapsing.

 

Her skin, barely touching mine, was as cold as ice. With a startled gasp, I faced the disfigured face of the nanny.

 

The once lovely features were now covered in blood. The amber eyes that always showed various emotions while looking at me no longer shone.

 

[…Ah… Nanny.]

 

The memory was still vivid.

 

The face of Yeffa that I saw through my tear-blurred eyes. Her mouth curled up in what seemed like sheer delight.

 

In response to my glaring gaze, Yeffa opened her mouth and whispered.

 

[Sister, people like us need to listen well if we want to stay in our grandmother’s favor. This is advice for your own good.]

 

I didn’t have the energy to argue with her.

 

After that, I just waited in silence.

 

For the day when I could repay her.

 

And today, that opportunity has arrived.

 

“Your Highness, there’s a puddle. Be careful.”

 

Zenid’s words snapped me out of my reverie.

 

Before I knew it, we had descended to the deepest part of the underground prison.

 

It was the place where Yeffa’s solitary cell was located. A place where not a single ray of sunlight entered.

 

In this dimly lit space, with only a small torch on the wall, I wondered what Yeffa could be thinking.

 

“Yeffa Cassian.”

 

Yeffa, who had been crouched behind the bars as if lifeless, perked up when she heard my voice.

 

Her hazel eyes met mine through the bars, and she approached, grabbing onto the bars as if making a statement.

 

“Rottie!!”

 

Her hands were covered in wounds, as if she had suffered greatly.

 

There was no shine left in Yeffa’s once-golden hair.

 

As I silently looked down at Yeffa, her eyes, meeting mine, shook with uncertainty.

 

“What should I do now? The current situation is exactly as Sis predicted, right?”

 

With a plea filled with earnestness, Yeffa resembled the ‘me’ from that day.

 

When I begged her to keep it a secret, Yeffa had behaved as if she would kindly oblige.

 

I smiled reassuringly at the anxious Yeffa and responded,

 

“Of course, Yeffa. I told you. You’ll come back to me before going to Father.”

 

“Then let me out already! It’s so dirty and filthy in here, and the food is terrible!”

 

It had been less than half a day since Yeffa was imprisoned here again. Yet she was already complaining so much.

 

The nanny had been in the cold underground prison for over a week before she finally escaped.

 

Seeing Yeffa, the one who trampled on her escape, unable to tolerate even the slightest discomfort, makes me feel a mixture of emotions.

 

I wiped away any trace of a smile from my face.

 

“Yeffa, when did I ever say I was going to get you out of here?”

 

Perhaps noticing the change in my tone and demeanor, Yeffa anxiously chewed on her lips and looked up at me.

 

 

 

 

𝑺𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝑲𝒐-𝒇𝒊