Even if the Villain's Daughter Regresses

 

“Mona” was a maid working in the mansion of a self-made couple. Mona, or rather, Esther, who had become Mona, quit her job.

Then she struggled to find out what had happened to her.

Ten years later.

Esther finally learned everything.

 

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

 

When Laila had almost heard the entire story from Esther, she happened to feel intense dizziness and fainted.

Afterward, Laila suffered from a high fever for four days.

When her fever finally subsided and Laila opened her eyes,

She found Sion in her bedroom.

“Are you okay?”

“…Sion?”

“The fever has been down since early morning. How do you feel?”

“Uh, I think I can manage…”

When Laila tried to sit up, Sion quickly helped her.

Laila sat up in bed with Sion’s support and drank the water Sion offered.

As soon as Laila set the empty cup down, Sion spoke.

“I met your family.”

“…Really?”

“And I heard the whole story.”

“What story? Could it be…”

Laila looked at Sion with anxious eyes. Sion opened her mouth.

“Use my life.”

Laila had a heated argument with Sion.

To be precise, Laila was unilaterally angry at Sion.

“I refuse! I won’t accept it!”

“Laila.”

“Who wants to live by using your life?”

“I told you. I have two lives now. I’m different from an ordinary person.”

“There’s a reason why you have two lives!”

Laila shouted angrily, and Sion remained silent.

“What if a time comes when you need to use your life again? Will you just die aimlessly then?”

“…I will.”

“What?”

“After all, I’m alive now to protect you.”

“What do you mean by that…?”

“I was planning to die once my duties were done.”

Sion confessed calmly. Laila stood frozen, listening to his words.

“The evil god is sealed, and Hildegarde… is no longer in this world.”

“….”

“If you hadn’t been here, I wouldn’t be alive now.”

“That’s a lie.”

“It’s the truth.”

Laila suddenly recalled a term.

Complicated Grief.

She had thought it was a curable illness and that he would eventually recover…

“…Because your family died? Is that why you don’t want to live?”

“……”

“Vilhel said that your symptoms are similar to those of a complicated grief. But that can be treated if you receive treatment…”

“Laila.”

“……”

“If you want me to live, please stay alive too.”

“……Why?”

Laila blinked. It felt like something fell from her eyes.

It wasn’t just an illusion. After seeing Sion’s expression stiffen, Laila realized that something had indeed fallen from her eyes—her tears.

Laila did not wipe away her tears. Sion reached out toward Laila’s face but hesitated and then withdrew his hand.

Laila stared blankly at Sion’s movement and then spoke.

“You know, Sion… listening to you.”

“……”

“It feels like protecting me is just another ‘duty’ for you.”

Sealing the evil god.

Avenging your family.

It seems like protecting her is just another task in the same line of duties.

“Is what I’m feeling correct?”

“……Almost.”

“Why?”

“……”

“Why does protecting me have such a meaning to you?”

You’re still not trying to touch me.

And yet, you say you’re alive to protect me.

Sion.

What on earth are you thinking?

“Tell me the reason. If you speak honestly…”

“……”

“I’ll accept it. Your life.”

Sion’s eyes wavered. Laila watched the flicker in Sion’s eyes.

Soon, the waves subsided. Sion spoke.

“…because.”

“What?”

“Because I killed you.”

Laila’s eyes widened. Her breath stopped.

“No matter what I do for you, don’t think you owe me anything.”

“……”

“I’m the one who owes you.”

Sion looked at Laila’s face for a moment, then stood up from the chair.

“Rest until tomorrow, and we’ll leave the day after.”

Until Sion left the bedroom, Laila remained sitting on the bed, unmoving.

 

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

 

Laila reflected on the moments that had passed.

Every moment now made sense.

‘So that’s why…’

Laila stayed alone in the bedroom until dawn, intentionally keeping everyone out.

She stared out the window endlessly, blinking her eyes.

She let the tears flow down her face.

Sion remembered everything.

She wasn’t the only one with memories from before time turned back.

Tears flowed steadily.

The window became so foggy that the rising sun outside was barely visible. No, it wasn’t the window that was foggy; it was her eyes.

Laila lowered her head.

Tears, like droplets, fell onto her hand.

It must have hurt.

It must have been painful every time he faced death.

Unlike me, Sion hadn’t swallowed the regression stone. He was just born differently, able to perceive time moving.

“Ugh…”

Laila bit her lip, a mix of groans and sobs escaping through her teeth.

How much suffering must he have endured?

How empty must it have felt each time life repeated?

He couldn’t even imagine the sense of loss Sion must have felt when, after finally achieving revenge, he woke up back at square one.

No, actually, she could imagine it. She experienced something similar herself.

The sensation of her heart being crushed each time she woke up from death, believing she had survived.

Sion must have felt that same way. How many times?

All because of me.

Laila gasped for breath as she cried.

She believed she hadn’t done anything to Sion.

How wrong she felt seeing Sion hate her.

The villains were the ones who were wrong. She was just born as the child of a villain.

Why does he hate me? Why does he reject my kindness?

I should be the one to hate and loathe you. Why do you express such feelings toward me?

I thought that way, but…

Only now did she understand everything.

She understands Sion, but at the same time she doesn’t understand him.

How could he say he owed her when he had suffered so much because of her?

How could he say he was living to protect her?

How could he feel that way about her…

“Madam.”

Laila missed the knock, but not the voice.

“Are you awake? It’s Marie. Can I come in now?”

Laila hesitated and tried to respond, “Come in.”

But her throat was hoarse, and she couldn’t speak clearly.

Eventually, Laila approached the door from the window.

When Laila opened the bedroom door, Marie stood outside with wide eyes, staring at Laila.

“Madam… Oh, dear.”

“……”

“Madam. You’ll be alright. You really will be alright…”

Marie embraced Laila and kept speaking. Laila silently listened to Marie’s words.

“You will get better. You will, for sure…”

Laila wasn’t crying because she wanted to get better…

She remained silent, simply lifting her arms to hug Marie and pat her back.

Soon, Marie began to cry loudly. The situation became unclear as to who was comforting whom.

 

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

 

Laila spent the morning comforting Marie, who was wailing, then had breakfast, and went for a walk.

After suffering for three days, Laila felt surprisingly light. At least, walking and moving around was not difficult at all.

She wore the bracelet given by Hollei. With this bracelet on, even if she stumbled and fell suddenly while walking, it should prevent any serious injuries like broken bones or a bleeding head.

Laila wandered around the garden and the annex for about an hour before returning indoors.

“…Madam.”

As she was heading to the kitchen for a cup of tea, she encountered someone familiar coming from the opposite direction.

“Sir Taylor.”

Taylor called out to Laila first but struggled to speak.

Laila noticed the dark shadows under Taylor’s eyes and clicked her tongue.