Even if the Villain's Daughter Regresses

 

Goodness. Now, if they said Taylor was his brother, people would believe it…

As Laila thought this while looking at Mason, Marie’s younger brother, Marie spoke up.

“I’d like to continue working as your personal maid here… is that alright?”

“Of course. Welcome, Marie.”

“Oh, but…”

Marie, still holding Laila’s hand, slightly twisted her body.

“You’re not a Miss anymore.”

“Huh?”

“You’re a madam now. Future madam.”

Laila’s eyes widened. Marie smiled broadly.

“I heard the news on the way here. Congratulations.”

“…Thank you.”

“But, about Duke Axid… I heard he has blonde hair and black eyes. Could it be…”

“Sion?”

Laila completed Marie’s question and added her answer.

“Yes.”

“Goodness!”

“See, Marie? I was right, wasn’t I?”

“But Sion is…”

“His body disappeared, remember? Someone must have secretly taken Sion away while he was still alive.”

Vilhel, who had been listening, suddenly stood up, placed a hand on his chest, and looked at Laila before speaking again.

“Miss, please don’t worry or misunderstand. The past is not important. I am sincerely prepared to serve the Duke of Axid.”

“It must be true. Throughout the carriage ride, they kept praising the Duke… saying that thanks to him, we’re alive now…”

“That’s right. If the evil god had destroyed the world, we’d be dead too.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

Laila listened intently to the conversation between Vilhel and Marie. The fact that Sion had become a hero suddenly sank in for her.

“…Marie, Vilhel, and Mason.”

Laila suddenly spoke up, and all three of them turned their attention to her.

“Welcome. I look forward to working with you.”

“Miss, or rather, future madam…”

“I also look forward to working with you. I, the administrative genius Vilhel, will work towards the revival of the Duke’s household.”

“I’ll work hard too! I’ll be the future madam’s hands and feet!”

“And I’ll be the left hand for now…” Marie added, glancing at Laila’s left wrist. Laila couldn’t help but laugh.

 

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

 

The night before the wedding, the day Laila took off the bandage on her left wrist.

Laila had gone to bed early but couldn’t fall asleep and tossed and turned for a long time.

As she lay awake through the night, Laila reflected on the past.

Sion… had killed me three times.

And he saved my life three times.

Once at the lake.

Once at the perfume shop.

And again… by sealing the evil god and saving the world.

So, if…

If Sion saved my life just one more time…

“…saved me, then what?”

Laila murmured without realizing it. She then pulled the blanket up over her head, wrapping it tightly.

‘No matter what I think, Sion…’

Under the blanket, Laila recalled Sion’s actions. Sion cared about her, but he never tried to touch her.

He made efforts to protect her but seemed to avoid touching her as much as possible.

‘Whose child is that!’

The voice of Cecile came to mind. Cecile no longer hated Laila. Instead, she liked her quite a lot, seeing her as a sister or friend. Laila was well aware of this fact.

But even if Cecile’s feelings had changed, it didn’t change her own birth.

Laila curled up to the side, biting her lip. She felt like crying, so she took slow, deep breaths and closed her eyes, forcing herself to sleep.

The wedding held at the Duke’s residence had a vast number of nobles in attendance.

The ceremony was held outdoors. The seats prepared for the guests were all filled, and those who couldn’t sit stood and watched as the ceremony began.

The bride and groom appeared and walked slowly down the aisle, prepared for them. Murmurs of awe rose from various parts of the audience.

Soon, the bride and groom stood side by side in front of the officiant. The officiant began to recite the vows loudly and clearly.

“It seems the officiant is extremely nervous.”

“His voice is too loud. The end is cracking.”

“Well, anyone in that position would be like the officiant. Especially for the wedding of Duke Axid…”

“Everyone, be quiet. Just because you didn’t get a seat doesn’t mean you have the right to make noise. Does aching legs make your mouth itchy?”

“Ahem.”

“Hmm.”

The officiant finished the ceremony. The bride and groom faced each other.

The groom then placed the ring on the bride’s finger.

The bride’s gaze briefly rested on the groom’s face before falling to her own hands. Her lowered eyelashes fluttered.

Moments later, applause filled the wide space.

 

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

 

After the ceremony, at the reception, Laila reunited with the former Countess Donovan, whom she hadn’t seen for a long time.

Just like before her marriage, she had become Elise, daughter of Viscount Liam, she was addressed simply as Lady Elise.

“Lady Elise!”

“Congratulations on your marriage, Duchess.”

“…Thank you.”

Laila took Lady Elise’s hand. Unexpectedly, Elise’s hand was not as smooth as that of other noble ladies.

Surprised by the calluses she felt on Elise’s fingers, Laila’s eyes widened. Elise smiled slightly and explained.

“I’ve been learning sculpture.”

“Sculpture?”

“Yes. I started right after my divorce…”

Elise whispered.

“Last year, I even sculpted myself.”

“…That’s impressive.”

“It’s all thanks to you, Duchess.”

“What did I do…”

“My ex-husband—well, I don’t even want to call him that—was against me learning sculpture. He didn’t like that my hands were becoming like this.”

“…”

“When I see him again, I plan to slap him with this hand.”

It would hurt, right? Elise said with a playful tone. Laila answered seriously. Yes.

“Shall we hit him together? I was handling garden shears until recently… My grip is probably stronger now.”

“Oh, should we?”

While the two women were having a cozy conversation, a commotion erupted at another spot.

Laila turned her head toward the noise.

“TAYLORRRRR!”

“Stop right there!”

Taylor was being chased by two tall men. He was running between tables, trying to escape. The two men were relentlessly pursuing him.

Elise blinked in surprise and spoke.

“Shouldn’t we intervene?”

At that moment, Taylor was finally caught by the two men. The three men fell to the floor, entangled.

“Oh my…”

“It’s alright. They’re friends.”

“Really? Not enemies?”

“Yes, probably…”

The three men rolled around on the floor, fighting. Laila watched them roll to the other side of the reception hall before looking away.

“They’re friends who became close through fighting.”

Probably.

“Ah ha.”

“Laila! Oh, this is…”

“Hello, Countess Kaiter. I’m Elise Liam. Please feel free to call me by my name.”

“Indeed, Lady Elise. Nice to meet you. I’m Cecile Kaiter. But were you originally close with the Duchess of Axid?”

“Well, actually, a long time ago…”

An old story unfolded at the gathering. Cecile listened with great interest to the tale Elise was recounting.

Just as the story was concluding, Sion, who had been away, approached Laila.

“Laila.”

“Oh my! Your Grace, the Duke!”

Sion, suddenly receiving a disapproving look from Cecile, hesitated.

“…What?”

“On a day like today, Laila? Laila?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You should be addressing her as ‘Wife’.”

Sion stiffened, and Laila did too.

“Try to repeat after me. ‘Wife’.”

“…Cecile, thank you for coming today.”

“Don’t change the subject, Your Grace. Don’t you want to be a newlywed who is loved?”

“Laila, are you free for a moment? There’s someone who wants to greet you.”

“Yes, it’s fine.”

Sion then took Laila away from the group. Cecile clicked her tongue as she watched the pair move away.

“They still have a long way to go.”

“Are you particularly close with the Duke of Axid?”

Elise asked cautiously. Cecile turned to Elise and smiled.

“We’re family.”