Even if the Villain's Daughter Regresses

“Where do you think you’re going?”

 

There was an attempt to stop her, but it seemed to be thwarted by Sion, so Laila was unhindered until the door opened.

After escaping from the perfume shop, Laila wandered into the middle of the street. She needed someone to help her. Someone to help Sion.

Taylor.

Laila thought of one person, then immediately shook her head.

It wouldn’t be wise to go all the way to the estate to ask for help.

It was too far away from everything else. Laila remembered Sion’s erratic breathing.

They didn’t have much time. She could sense it intuitively.

 

‘If that’s the case…’

 

Anyone who could help “fight” alongside Sion would be on the estate. But there wasn’t enough time to go there.

So, what I can do is…

Without further delay, Laila started running again.

 

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

 

Laila ran back to the perfume shop, leading as many people as she could.

 

“They say there’s a witch in here!”

“A witch?”

“It must be that woman!”

 

Several strong men joined forces, easily prying open the shop door.

The shop’s interior was a mess.

Everything was smashed, broken,

 

“Sion!”

 

However, the real mess was Sion himself.

He was even more bloody than the last time Laila had seen him.

To the naked eye, there was hardly a square inch of him left intact.

Of course, the opponent who had brought Sion to such a state was not unscathed either.

But compared to Sion, she seemed to be in better condition.

She had been relentlessly attacking Sion until Laila arrived with the crowd, at which point they hesitated.

Soon, the woman’s expression crumpled into a grimace.

 

“You little wench…”

 

Laila inwardly felt relieved at the witch’s indifferent demeanor towards the crowd.

 

‘Good thing I went to the square and dragged them all out.’

 

A hundred? Two hundred? She hadn’t counted exactly.

In any case, after revealing her identity, she had gathered everyone she could see.

Laila raised her chin nonchalantly, feigning composure as much as possible.

 

“What will you do? Keep fighting Sion, kill me too, and slaughter everyone here.”

“…….”

“But while you do that, more and more people will gather. Are you sure you’re okay with letting things get that big? Won’t your tribe find out much sooner?”

“Damn you!”

 

The woman cursed but didn’t argue with Laila’s words.

Laila took a step forward. Sion immediately narrowed his gaze and looked directly at her.

Was he telling her not to stay away? Could it be that, amidst this chaos, he was worried about her?

…What’s with that look?

For a moment, something hot surged within her. Suppressing the urge to cry, Laila turned away from Sion and spoke.

 

“If you’re going to run, do it now.”

“…….”

“Or you could wait. If you wait, knights will come from the mansion. Wouldn’t it be much more fun than controlling Vilhel and the butler? After fighting with the knights, it’ll turn into a total mess, and then you can play hide-and-seek with your clan.”

“I’ll make sure you regret it.”

 

Laila almost heaved a sigh of relief.

The words she just heard could be interpreted as follows:

I’m cornered right now, so I’ll leave a plausible warning and then escape.

Laila relaxed her tension. But Sion seemed determined not to let the opponent escape easily.

Sion’s sword was aimed at the opponent in an instant. The woman deflected the sharp blade aimed at her with the edge of her hand, then picked up something from the ground and threw it at Laila.

It flew too quickly for Laila to see what it was. No, she didn’t even realize something was flying towards her until Sion reached out to block it.

 

“I’m going to make you both regret being alive!”

 

With her final statement, the woman broke through the crowd and swiftly disappeared from her spot.

 

“Agh!”

“Ow!”

 

A few of the men, who had reflexively and fumblingly tried to stop her, rolled to the ground, clutching their injured legs or insteps.

Ignoring them, Laila stared at Sion. Just as Sion’s knee seemed to buckle.

 

“Sion! Are you okay?”

 

Startled, Laila rushed to Sion and knelt beside him. Sion laid his back on the ground, breathing shallowly. His eyes were closed.

Laila examined Sion’s pale face, which looked frighteningly devoid of color, and then suddenly she noticed something in Sion’s right palm.

Embedded in his palm were the shards of a broken perfume bottle.

With a determined expression, Laila carefully removed the fragments. Despite not being an expert, she managed not to worsen the wound. Sion didn’t even flinch.

As Laila held the glass shard she had removed and stared at Sion in silence, his lips moved unexpectedly.

 

“Throw it away, that thing. You’ll hurt your hand.”

 

She was stunned. How could he have known she was still holding onto the glass shard?

Even with his eyes closed, could he still see? No, that’s not what matters right now.

 

“Is that really the problem right now?”

“…….”

“…why did you save me?”

 

Laila asked the question without even realizing it. Truly, it was instinctive.

Laila’s gaze, looking down at Sion’s pale face, wavered.

She’s certain. He won’t kill her in the future.

There were times when she thought that maybe when she was in danger, he might protect her.

But she never imagined a situation like this.

For him to save her, and for him to become such a mess like this…

Laila stared at Sion’s lips.

Ironically, even in this situation, she was curious about how Sion would answer her question.

Would he deny it, like before?

That he didn’t save her?

Would he simply say he had no intention of saving her and that he only fought against the enemy attacking him?

The wait for an answer was short. Sion’s lips moved again soon after.

 

“Because I’m crazy.”

 

That was the answer.

Laila’s eyes widened at the unexpected answer, then narrowed.

Sion, with his eyes closed, didn’t move. It felt different from just a moment ago.

Laila called Sion’s name. She called again and again. She continued until her voice no longer came out easily, and her throat dried.

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

After receiving emergency treatment at the perfume shop from a doctor who arrived late, Sion was transferred to Hildegarde Manor.

He didn’t open his eyes for the next three days.

 

“Miss Laila, thank you so much. I, Vilhel, pledge my name and wealth; I shall never forget this favor for the rest of my life.”

“…I am indebted to you, Miss. I acknowledge it.”

 

Within those three days, another rumor about the ‘beautiful widow’ spread throughout Hildegarde Estate.

Naturally, the rumor reached the manor.

Upon learning the truth, Vilhel and the butler rushed to Laila in a fluster.

More accurately, it was Vilhel who dragged the butler along.

Nevertheless, both of them were visibly shocked to learn that they had almost lost their lives due to their involvement with a witch.

 

“I had only heard about witches in stories, but they truly are terrifying. I can hardly remember the witch’s face now. Can you?”

“…Well, a bit.”

“Phew. If it weren’t for you, Miss Laila, both of us might not have…”

 

What would have happened? Laila could have vividly and meticulously explained to Vilhel and the butler what could have happened to them.

But she didn’t. Instead, Laila briefly said,

 

“Be grateful to Sion.”

“What?”

“If it weren’t for Sion, I might have just been another victim of the witch.”

“…….”

“When Sion awakens, thank him directly.”

“Yes? But the slave’s merit is also the master’s merit……”

 

Vilhel, who wasn’t one to lack awareness, promptly punched the butler in the side. The butler winced and doubled over.

Awkwardly, Vilhel smiled at Laila and spoke up.

 

“Understood, miss. We will do as you say.”.

“…….”

“We shall take our leave. Rest well.”