The Time-Limited Villain Supports My Breakup

Chapter 53

｡･:*:･ﾟ★ Translated by Divine ｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

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Time passed, and the day to leave for the Regarta estate arrived.

Since I was going to meet the Duke of Peregrine, I had prepared thoroughly. There was a chance the furious duke might chase me away.

However…

“Oh, be careful with that! It’ll break if you drop it!”

“Give it to me. Hey, handle it with care. That’s something the Lady cherishes.”

Moving all my belongings seemed a bit excessive, right…?

I watched the busy servants loading the carriage with a weary gaze.

‘It’s not like I’m moving out, so this seems a bit over the top…’

But my uncle, Lyas, who had organized this packing, still looked worried.

After giving instructions to the busy servants, he suddenly sighed.

“This won’t do. It’s not good enough.”

“I think so too, brother.”

“Me too.”

Cyan and Livnell, who were watching the packing, also agreed.

“It’s not insufficient at all.”

All three flinched when I interjected.

I put my hands on my hips and sighed.

“Moving the entire ducal estate might be better.”

“If you wish, I can arrange for that…”

Lyas’ eyes lit up as if he had been waiting for this suggestion.

A smile also appeared on Cyan and Livnell.

Of course, as soon as I narrowed my eyes, they all lowered their tails quietly.

I sighed again.

‘To think that the tycoon who closed all the bakeries a few days ago was my uncle.’

I was shocked when I saw the trembling patissiers that were being held like captives.

“Uncle, what in the world is going on?”

“You like desserts…”

“But why did you bring all the patissiers!”

I looked to the other family members for help.

But they were no different.

“But sister…”

“We thought you’d like it…”

“Daphne…”

“Daphne…”

Hoo. I finally sighed and spoke in a calm voice.

“Alright. I won’t have any desserts from now on…”

“Everyone, disperse!”

“Go! Quickly!”

“Daphne, we’re sorry!”

“Daphne, forgive us…!”

I can’t express how hard it was to console the crying patissiers, thanking me.

So, I couldn’t let my guard down. Who knew when the carriages might increase by another one.

Lyas reluctantly nodded when I didn’t back down.

“Alright. We’ll leave it at this. But we can’t do anything about the servants.”

“Huh? The servants?”

“Yes. They’re all insistent on following you.”

Following me?

‘The people who once thought accompanying Daphne was a nightmare?’

I looked around in surprise.

Several of the busy servants met my gaze.

Then, they all gave me a thumbs-up as if to reassure me.

I saw the passion to accompany me in their bright, eager eyes. And with breadcrumbs still on the corners of their mouths.

“……”

It seemed that giving out desserts and not overworking them had won over the hearts of the servants.

‘A boss who lets them slack off a bit.’

When I stayed silent, Livnell laughed and said, “You can’t really stop people who want to do something.”

“…That’s true, but…”

I couldn’t find the words to speak and just let out a groan.

Then Lyas spoke in a reassuring tone, “It’s a good thing to be liked, even if there’s an ulterior motive. Don’t think badly of it, Daphne.”

“I don’t think it’s bad.”

“Good, that’s a relief.” 

Cyan added with a slight smile.

“Do you agree with… brother?”

Cyan paused mid-sentence as he looked at Lyas.

Lyas’ face showed faint concern.

As the three of us blinked in silence, Lyas slowly opened his mouth. 

“…I’m hesitant about letting you go.”

“If it’s about causing trouble, you don’t have to worry…”

“No, that’s not it.”

Lyas shook his head firmly.

“What makes me hesitate… is that Regarta is not a very pleasant place.”

Cyan and Livnell fell silent at those words. I quickly understood the reason.

Regarta was where Daphne’s mother, Lyas’ youngest sister, had passed away.

It was also the place where the sadness of the Peregrine family was buried.

As expected, the same green eyes as mine showed a flicker of regret.

Lyas and Daphne had never talked about this.

Daphne had been ashamed of her mother, who had no magic.

And it had been a deep wound for Lyas as well, which was why they had turned away from each other.

“What I mean is, I…”

Even saying this must have been painful for him.

“Uncle.”

I called him softly. Lyas paused and looked at me. I gave him a gentle smile.

“I plan to leave flowers on Mother’s grave, on behalf of you and the rest of the family.”

“…!”

“Is that alright?”

Lyas’ eyes shook.

According to her last wish, Amilla was laid to rest in Regarta, and Lyas had never visited her grave. Neither had Daphne.

This was a careful ritual for the family’s shared sorrow.

“Daphne….”

Cyan began to tear up again, and Livnell looked at me with a face full of emotion.

Lyas also stared at me, overwhelmed.

His throat bobbed. Out of the many words that lingered in his mouth, what he said was:

“…There’s no way it wouldn’t be okay.”

“…”

“If anything, I’m grateful.”

Lyas spoke those words with a sad, yet slightly happy smile.

Cyan and Livnell also looked at us emotionally.

In their eyes, there was a tenderness I hadn’t noticed before.

As I smiled along with them, I couldn’t help but think.

They were such good people, and the walls between us could have been broken down with just a little more conversation.

If someone had just been a bit more courageous, maybe things could have turned out better…

‘…What am I thinking?’

I realized that my thoughts were straying because I was envious of the affection I hadn’t experienced for myself.

I quickly shook off those thoughts.

‘I only need the Peregrine name. As for family affection… I shouldn’t be greedy.’

As I was trying to calm my mind, I heard a shout.

“Sisterrr!”

“Sister!”

The twins appeared with a clattering sound.

I had sternly told them to focus on their studies, but it seemed they had finished extra quickly and come out.

The twins clung to both my legs.

“Everything’s ready. Why aren’t you leaving yet?”

“Is the schedule delayed?”

As they pretended to guess my plans and sneak in their wishes, the twins noticed Cyan sniffling and laughed mischievously.

“Uncle is crying again?”

“I-I’m just….”

As Cyan sniffled, Livnell wiped his eyes and comforted him.

The twins, giggling about their uncle being a crybaby, suddenly spotted their father and gasped.

“Father…?”

“Y-You… c-cried?”

Lyas quickly turned away and wiped his eyes.

“…I just yawned for a moment.”

When he turned back, the tears were gone, but his reddened eyes couldn’t be hidden.

‘He’s so stubborn, really.’

At this time, a servant approached us.

“We’re ready to leave.”

“Hmm, I have to go now.”

“Ahhh….”

“Sisterrrr….”

As soon as the servant finished speaking, the twins clung even tighter. I gently pried them off and was about to climb into the carriage when I heard Livnell call me cautiously.

“Daphne.”

“If it’s fine with you… can you bless the baby before you go?”

In a place that celebrated a founding myth of goddesses and heroes, people would always seek blessings from the temple before undertaking any task, big or small.

The blessings of the Pope and the Saintess were considered the most powerful, and therefore, the most precious.

They were admired by everyone.

Which was why Daphne had desperately wanted the position of Saintess.

‘But I don’t have divine power…’

As I hesitated, Livnell stroked her belly and said.

“Daphne, you saved my baby, didn’t you? To me… you’re like a Saintess.”

Livnell said this with a gentle smile.

Although her morning sickness had gotten worse again, preventing her from eating properly, the pallid smile she used to have was no longer there.

I nodded and carefully placed my hand on Livnell’s belly.

“Baby, don’t make your mom suffer and grow up healthy.”

After all, health is the most important thing, right?

And then.

“I hope wealth and luck follows you wherever you go.”

Livnell burst into laughter at my capitalistic blessing, and so did the rest of the family.

“Alright, then I’ll be back.”

[Footnote: It’s saying goodbye but has the connotation of returning someday.]

“If anything happens, you must contact us.”

I smiled brightly and nodded at the five worried faces.

“Don’t worry.”

I may look like this, but I was quite confident in my survival skills.

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

The long procession of carriages left the duke’s residence, and the once noisy surroundings quickly fell silent.

The twins’ eyes were brimming with tears, but they were determined not to cry.

“Come here.”

Lyas clumsily patted the children’s heads. However, his own eyes also carried a hint of sadness.

“She’s not going far, so don’t be too sad.”

“Yes…”

The twins nodded.

The five returned to the mansion. As they were about to go their separate ways to do their own things, they smelled food coming from nearby.

The servants seemed to be in the middle of preparing dinner.

‘The mistress has been nauseous just from the smell of food lately…!’

Cyan looked at Livnell with a worried expression.

“Honey, are you alright?”

“What do you mean?”

“Doesn’t the smell of food bother you? We should go upstairs quickly…”

Livnell blinked.

“Oh… It does smell, doesn’t it?”

But rather than feeling nauseous, her stomach felt more comfortable than ever.

No, to be exact, it wasn’t just comfortable. It was…

“I’m hungry…”

Everyone’s eyes widened at her mutter.

“You… you’re hungry?”

Cyan was the most surprised of all.

“I’ll tell them to bring out all kinds of food immediately!”

He ran towards the dining hall.

Lyas told him not to run, but he was also a bit surprised.

“The baby must have understood what sister said.”

“Hmph. I thought you were always bothering Auntie. You’re a better kid than I thought.”

Ermano and Julios said with bright eyes.

“Yes, the baby must have really understood what Daphne said.”

Livnell smiled, stroking her stomach.

Was it just her imagination? After receiving Daphne’s blessing, she felt a warm sensation in her chest.

‘I’m so glad I asked Daphne for a blessing.’

Livnell’s face flushed with happiness.