Even if the Villain's Daughter Regresses

 

Laila stumbled and pressed closer to Sion. He wrapped his arms around her waist.

Laila held her breath.

“…Laila.”

Her thoughts also stopped. Laila was just frozen.

Sion lowered his head and rested his forehead against Laila’s abdomen, speaking again.

“Don’t die.”

“…”

“You can’t die. If you die, I…”

“…”

“I am only here because of you…”

At that moment, Laila realized that Sion was not fully awake yet.

Suddenly, she remembered something the butler, Garick, had said to someone in the hallway without realizing Laila was there.

“Prepare the tea that helps with sleep.”

…was that tea meant for Sion?

Is Sion in a state of sleep deprivation?

The thought that Sion might have been suffering from insomnia made Laila’s heart race.

Had he only just fallen asleep today? Had I woken him up after such a long time?

Oh, I should have waited. Just a few hours more.

If she had known Sion’s condition, she wouldn’t have come here now…

Laila bit her lip. She realized she should leave the bedroom quickly. Maybe then Sion could get a bit more sleep.

Yes, she should leave.

…But there was a problem. Even after Laila decided to leave, Sion didn’t let go of her.

Instead, Sion’s strong arms tightened around Laila. Laila blinked rapidly.

…What should I do? How do I get out? Should I push him away with force? It seems impossible.

Laila tried to pull her body away from Sion. But, of course, her body didn’t budge.

Laila hesitated, then grabbed Sion’s arm and tried to pull it away from her waist.

But Sion’s arms remained unmoved.

Hmm…

Maybe try removing his fingers first?

…No, that won’t work.

Wait, what should I do?

As Laila made several attempts and remained stuck, Sion suddenly shifted slightly and lifted his head.

Their eyes met. Laila sensed it.

Sion had woken up.

With a face like he had been doused with cold water, Sion released his hold on Laila’s waist.

The pressure vanished in an instant. Laila found it odd that she felt a sense of emptiness.

Where had the person who had trembled with fear when Sion had only grabbed her ankle or wrist gone?

“Why…”

“…”

“Did I…”

Sion’s face clearly showed signs of confusion.

“…Is this my bedroom?”

Only then did Laila realize what kind of thoughts Sion might have been having. She spoke up.

“It’s your bedroom. You didn’t come to my bedroom; I came to yours.”

“…”

“Don’t worry. You don’t have sleepwalking issues or anything.”

Laila answered and then examined Sion’s face.

…A thought had been occupying her mind for a while. Laila reached out to Sion’s face.

Sion immediately grabbed her hand before it could touch his face. As soon as he did, Laila said:

“Let go of this.”

“…Why?”

“Quickly.”

“…What are you going to do?”

“I’m not going to hit you. So let go.”

“It’s not that I grabbed your hand to stop you from hitting me…”

Laila saw Sion’s confused expression and understood. She knew Sion wasn’t trying to stop her from attacking.

He probably just didn’t like having her hand on his face.

But she needed to touch Sion’s face, even if he didn’t like it.

“Let go.”

The request turned into a plea. Sion’s grip relaxed.

Taking advantage of the moment, Laila freed herself and placed her hand just below Sion’s eyes.

She felt his soft skin.

It was damp.

Laila sighed, unsure because of the dim light…

Her mouth moved involuntarily. The words that had been circling in her mind for so long suddenly came out.

“Why are you trying to save me?”

“…Because I promised to fulfill your wish.”

“My wish? To fulfill my sister’s last words?”

“Yes.”

“But I’ve already thought of what to say to my sister. I’m going to tell her I’m sorry for not fulfilling her last wish.”

“Laila.”

“So is that the only reason you’re trying to save me? Just to help fulfill my sister’s last wish? Is that all?”

Sion didn’t answer. Laila broke the silence.

“Why did you cry? Why did you hug me?”

“That is…”

“Do you feel sorry for me?”

“What?”

“Do you hate me because Hildegarde’s blood runs in me, but still feel pity for me?”

“What…”

Sion’s eyes wavered. It wasn’t because she hit the mark but seemed simply confused.

Laila clenched her teeth. Maybe it was just what she wanted to believe.

“No, Laila. I’ve never thought of you as pitiful.”

“Then what do you think of me?”

“What?”

“If I’m not a pitiful child of your enemy, then what am I to you?”

“……”

“I…”

She had no intention of saying it. She didn’t want to rely on Sion’s pity.

She didn’t want to see Sion feeling sorry for her, being forced to make some choice out of sympathy for her, given that she would die in a few months.

But now she doesn’t know.

The past thoughts and decisions turned to dust and scattered.

Why did Sion hug me when I entered the bedroom? Why did he cry while asking me not to die?

Why make me hope?

If I get disappointed, it’ll be that much more miserable…

“I… like you.”

Laila watched Sion’s eyes widen as she continued.

“I know I’m not qualified…”

“……”

“But I still like you.”

“No.”

At Sion’s hasty reply, Laila’s eyes widened in surprise.

“What?”

“No…?”

The words from Sion’s mouth were none of the answers Laila had expected.

It wasn’t a declaration of accepting her feelings, nor was it a clear rejection, so what was it…

Then Sion spoke again.

“Laila, you don’t like me.”

“What?”

“It’s a misunderstanding.”

“What…”

Laila was stunned, her mouth hanging open, before she shouted angrily.

“No!”

Now it was Laila shouting “No.” Sion immediately retorted.

“Yes.”

“Yes? What do you mean by that?”

“It’s a misunderstanding. You… mistook your desire to live as affection.”

“What are you talking about? What connection is there between the two?”

“I’ve always been the one who could save you…”

Laila’s mind snapped into focus. She barely understood what Sion was trying to say.

“So you’re saying… I’m just mistaking my will to survive for affection toward someone who holds my life?”

Looking down at Sion, who didn’t deny it, Laila grabbed the back of her neck.

As soon as she did, Sion hesitated. When Sion reached out as if to support Laila, she lowered the hand that was holding her neck and glared at him.

“Don’t make me laugh! Do you think I’m a fool?”

“……”

“Someone who can save me? By that logic, Kidon Reisic could have saved me too!”

At the mention of Kidon’s name, Sion’s eyes flickered with tension. Laila gritted her teeth and spoke.

“But I hate Kidon Reisic with passion! I like you!”

“……”

“Do you understand? I like you! Only you!”

“It’s impossible.”

“Impossible? You think it’s impossible for me to like you?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“……”

“Why do you think it’s impossible? There must be a reason or evidence that makes you so sure.”

“……”

“Tell me. What is it?”

Sion shook his head as if he couldn’t speak. Laila clenched her fists.

She had just said a moment ago that she wouldn’t hit Sion…

Correction: She wanted to hit him just once. No, twice. Or maybe three or four times!

“Anyway, believe me. Laila, you…”

“Yeah, I get it.”

Interrupting Sion, Laila answered with a forced smile.

Then, she blurted out the words that had just come to her mind.

“You’re right. I guess I’m caught up in an illusion.”

“……”

“But I’m going to stay in this illusion.”

“What?”

Laila grabbed Sion by the collar and lowered her head. To be clear, she wasn’t being immoral. Sion was at fault. If Sion hadn’t spoken such absurd nonsense as if it were the truth, she wouldn’t have acted like this.

With that thought in mind, Laila kissed Sion.