Dead-End Villainess Who Makes Medicine

 

 

Duke Cassian was like the moon. Partly due to his silver hair resembling moonlight, but more so because of his perpetually calm expression, reminiscent of the dawning moon.

 

With cold eyes, he looked at his eldest daughter, Liliana, standing before him. His silver eyes, similar to Roxis’ but duller, glowed mysteriously similar to the night sky.

 

“Liliana.” His voice, devoid of any emotion, lacked the nuances of human speech. Liliana, without realizing it, averted her gaze and looked at the Duke’s polished shoes.

 

“Yes, Father. Please speak.”

 

It was a gaze and voice she encountered at least once a month. Nevertheless, everything about her father remained unfamiliar and frightening. She masked her fear with a forced smile, lifting the corners of her mouth.

 

Observing her silently, Duke Cassian slowly uttered the next words.

 

“You’ve been working hard lately.” It was a compliment, but it didn’t sound like one.

 

Liliana swallowed hard. She knew what her response should be anyway, as she had been taught and indoctrinated for over 20 years.

 

“Thank you, Father. I only did what was necessary for the glory of Cassian.” As Liliana answered smoothly, she discreetly glanced up at Duke Cassian. His cold eyes were still fixed on her.

 

The moment she met his motionless eyes, Liliana realized that the duke was not interested in her.

 

‘Then why did he come here?’ A million thoughts flashed through Liliana’s mind.

 

Fighting with Roxis was a daily occurrence. Moreover, since the Duke of Cassian himself encouraged competition among his children, there was no reason to make a big deal out of small fights.

 

Then is it about the fire at the spring banquet?

 

‘No. I didn’t cause it; it was Roxis’ doing.’

 

Of course, she took advantage of the fire for her personal actions, meeting Hemion Martin and Rohiriel to confirm her intentions.

 

That’s as far as her thoughts went.

 

“Did you convey my message to that child?”

 

The Duke of Cassian’s question came out languidly, and Liliana realized the answer as if a light bulb lit up in her head.

 

“Yes, of course. I’m sure she understood it well.”

 

“Anything else to report?”

 

“I met Hemion Martin.”

 

The duke’s expression didn’t change, as if he already knew.

 

Liliana continued, “She had lost her memory. I tested her briefly, and it seems genuine.”

 

“The probability?”

 

“70%… I estimate.”

 

“That’s low.”

 

Unless the probability was over 90%, Duke Cassian rarely took action. Knowing this, Liliana bit her lip.

 

Duke Cassian asked again, “What’s the likelihood that Rohiriel is lying?”

 

“It’s not impossible, but she’s Cassian, too. Why would she need to tell such a lie?”

 

No matter how unusual Rohiriel was as a Cassian, she was still a Cassian. There was no need for her to go against their father’s wishes.

 

Of course, she has some suspicions. But if it was for capturing Roxis, she could accept it to some extent.

 

‘Anyway, Rohiriel has fallen far behind as a candidate for the next duke, so it’s in my favor if she takes care of Roxis.’

 

She was in a position where she just had to wait and reap the falling beans. Liliana lowered her gaze again, afraid that her inner thoughts might be revealed.

 

Her purple hair that had been pinned to her ears fluttered as the wind blew by. The Duke took heavy steps. The distinct sound of crushed leaves echoed sharply.

 

“That child resembles me a lot. Keep an eye on her until I give a separate order.”

 

“…Yes, Father.”

 

Liliana momentarily couldn’t comprehend what the Duke meant. Has the Duke of Cassian ever said that someone among his many children resembled him?

 

‘Rohiriel, that reserved child…?’

 

The girl who couldn’t say anything even when her biological mother died and even when her nanny was brutally murdered by Roxis, all she could do was shed tears.

 

Despite being pushed aside by her siblings and given the most desolate land, she never protested. She willingly sacrificed her own precious belongings for those who caused her pain.

 

But now, to be told, she resembled their father the most. If it was about the appearance, there was no way the Duke would mention it and give an order to keep an eye on her.

 

Lost in various thoughts, Liliana let out her suppressed emotions as she heard the Duke’s footsteps moving away.

 

“I’ll see you off, Father.”

 

Liliana hurriedly followed the Duke, but there was no further conversation. The Duke climbed into the carriage without another word.

 

“Take care. May there be glory for Cassian.”

 

With a formal farewell to the owner of Cassian, the Duke closed the carriage door.

 

Watching the carriage move away, Liliana was puzzled. 

 

“That direction…”

 

The carriage leaving the mansion was heading towards the Antrow Mountains.

 

Not the road that led to his main residence, but to where Roxis’ territory is located.

 

‘Is he planning to make a comprehensive tour at this time?’

 

He’s not acting like their father. It was strange, considering he was not known for paying attention to his children.

 

Liliana’s doubts didn’t last long. A few days later,

 

Reports came in that the Duke’s carriage had barely passed the boundaries of Roxis’s territory and headed towards his mansion.

 

Following that, there were stories that Roxis, thinking the Duke would visit him, went to meet him at the entrance of the Antrow Mountains but was met with disappointment.

 

It didn’t take Liliana long to realize the real reason for the Duke’s visit.

 

“Ha……!”

 

He wasn’t really planning to visit Roxis, and on top of that, he rejected Roxis when he came to see him. And this happened right after he visited her territory. It seemed like a completely staged scenario.

 

Roxis, who was considered a strong candidate for the next Duke until recently, and Liliana, who was competing with him. Although Roxis’s status had dropped due to recent events, he still had a certain influence. His recent actions in the palace were in line with this.

 

If it were her, she would never have done something so foolish. She had planned to simply wait for Roxis to self-destruct. But their father, the Duke of Cassian, wouldn’t allow the succession battle to end so easily.

 

“Father used me.”

 

He came to Liliana as if he wanted to say something privately to her. In truth, he didn’t say anything special. It was something he could have said during their regular meal, or he could have had it delivered in a letter.

 

He doesn’t have to come out of his way and say a few simple words, but he did so so he could provoke Roxis.

 

Roxis would become more cautious now. One more mistake, and he’ll be completely pushed out of the succession.

 

‘And he’ll sharpen his teeth against me.’

 

Yet she did not receive anything from her father.

 

―Crash!

 

Liliana threw the tea cup she was holding against the wall. The red liquid flowed down the wall, staining the carpet. The sharp shards of the shattered cup seemed to pierce the carpet as if killing it.

 

Feeling suffocated, she opened the window wide. For a moment, she envied the breeze, which was simply flowing away. Liliana was surprised by her own thoughts.

 

‘You’re crazy, Liliana.’

 

This wasn’t the time for her heart to weaken. She had already come this far. She must reach the pinnacle and look down on everything beneath her.

 

Definitely.

 

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━

 

“Your Highness, where should I put this?”

 

“We need more fertilizer, Your Highness.”

 

“Head maid, how is this…….”

 

“Miss, could you please come over here?”

 

“Your Highness, what about this…….”

 

On the first day of the restoration of the golden garden Hemion, Zenid, and I had to spend more time than expected. We ate a quick lunch in the garden and worked until the sun began to set.

 

“It’s, it’s too exhausting…!” Hemion exclaimed, her shoulders slumping in pain. I wanted to sympathize with her, but there was no time for that.

 

“Let’s hurry. Her Majesty the Empress will be waiting.”

 

As we were leaving the golden garden, a messenger informed us that the Empress was looking for me. So, without a break, we headed straight to Tishrit Palace.

 

Hemion grumbled discontentedly but picked up her pace nonetheless. Upon reaching Tishrit Palace, the Empress warmly welcomed us.

 

“I’ve been waiting. Is the restoration of the Golden Garden progressing well?”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty. Thanks for your care.”

 

“I’ve been quietly staying in the palace; I don’t know what care I did give. I wanted to go and see for myself, but I’ve been busy with other matters.”

 

“It’s okay. Is there anything uncomfortable or inconvenient for you?”

 

“Hmm?”

 

At my question, the Empress raised an eyebrow and tilted her head. After a moment, she seemed to understand and smiled gently.

 

“No, that’s not it. The reason I called you is…”

 

The Empress paused and then reached for a paper from the pile of documents on the table.

 

“Take a look at this. What do you think?”

 

The paper I received listed the names of several nobles.

 

 

𝑺𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝑲𝒐-𝒇𝒊