The Villainess' Ending Was Death

How did this happen? Fresa was walking down a narrow path with Scala and Lycaon on either side. This was all because of Lycaon, that man. She missed her chance to refuse because he suddenly interrupted her. Skala was on the verge of crying, and Lycaon didn’t seem to have any intention of just disappearing. In the end, Fresa went on a tour of Paro village, half-asleep.

 

‘I have to contact the guild master as soon as I get back.’

 

They told her not to worry because there was definitely no one moving in nearby right now. Fresa glanced sideways at Lycaon, who had a relaxed expression.

 

“It’s the biggest market in this town. Acorn…”

 

Skala was explaining in a lively voice as if she had never been in tears. The moment she was about to mention her client’s name, as was her custom, Fresa stopped dead in her tracks.

 

“Please!”

 

Skala blinked her large eyes and looked at Fresa. She looked surprised by her sudden cry. Lycaon also leisurely looked around and kept an eye on Presa. Fresa smiled gently and spoke calmly.

 

“Please call me Resa, Mitch.”

 

“Ah, I understand! Then I’ll call you Resa.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

“I am more grateful!”

 

Skala answered cheerfully, her eyes sparkling. She looked very happy to have completed her mission safely. On the other hand, Fresa was so tired that she was on the verge of collapsing. It seemed like the medicine was still in her body. Fresa glanced at Lycaon as he walked down the market street in the summer sunlight.

 

“But how long are you going to follow me?”

 

Even if we assume that there is nothing we can do since it is Scala’s job, why did this man follow her here? She didn’t understand at all. Lycaon looked down at Fresa instead of leisurely looking around her. Although he was handsome, his face gave off a strange feeling.

 

“Well. I thought it would be fun?”

 

Lycaon answered in her calm tone, her eyes widening deeply and smiling.

 

‘That suspicious smile again.’

 

Contrary to her intentions, Fresa smiled at her as if nothing had happened and then turned her head. From meeting him on a runaway ship to coming to the same village, he was someone she had no choice but to be wary of. It would be troublesome if anyone in her family found out that Fresa was alive.

 

‘No, now that I think about it, that’s not necessarily true.’

 

Now that Fresa, who was a Thorpe in her eyes, is gone, she feels as if she has lost a tooth. Shame on the family. Even users described Fresa that way. To be ignored just because she was a little lacking or had no special talent. When Fresa was young, she was just a small and delicate child.

 

The blowing wind was lukewarm. Fresa shook her head again, without ruminating on her past memories, as was her habit. Even though she knew that this was a novel, she was Fresa Thorpe. She lived her life thinking it was just a bit of a long play, but she was not numb to the hurt.

 

“Did you see the white lighthouse over there? There is a large, green wheat field nearby!”

 

Skala’s fingertip pointed far away on the market street. Fresa stopped her thoughts and stared at her lighthouse. Green wheat fields, white lighthouse, and shining sunlight. Just imagining it made her feel good. Now that she had come out like this, she hoped there would be something she liked.

 

“Can we go to the lighthouse?”

 

“Sure. I’ll guide you right away!”

 

Skala’s eyes lit up when Fresa finally showed her interest. And she naturally asked Lycaon.

 

“Would you like to accompany Lycaon too?”

 

She wished she had said she wouldn’t go. Fresa muttered to herself and smiled. She didn’t know how he received that smile, but Lycaon answered shamelessly.

 

“Sure.”

 

“Then let’s go to the lighthouse!”

 

Skala raised her right fist and shouted vigorously. People passing by glanced at the three strangers. The shame was Fresa’s fault. Luckily, Fresa had hundreds of layers of skin on her face, so she was able to pretend like nothing was wrong. It was thanks to her having lived her life playing a fake villainess until now.

 

‘It’s about this much.’

 

The three arrived at the lighthouse shortly afterwards. As Skala said, the wheat fields were lush and green near the lighthouse. The beautiful white lighthouse stood tall and looked like a scene from a painting. Fresa’s lilac-like hair fluttered here and there in the wind. Before she knew it, Scala was next to the lighthouse and she was explaining how old the lighthouse was.

 

“Are you here for treatment too?”

 

Fresa, who was staring blankly at the wheat field, turned his head to a sudden question. Lycaon was standing right next to her. Fresa pretended not to see and stared straight ahead again.

 

“Seeing as you’re asking that, are you here to recuperate?”

 

“Oh, is that what happens? That… It’s true. Don’t I just look like a sick person?”

 

Lycaon replied calmly. His voice was calm, as if she was talking about someone else’s business. She certainly thought his complexion was very bad from the beginning. She was still like that now. Even though she had only walked a short distance, Lycaon was completely pale. Occasionally, he even let out a small cough. Seeing that, Fresa felt a little sympathy.

 

“How much does it hurt?”

 

“Let’s just say it’s a chronic illness. We are looking for a cure. I don’t have very high expectations.”

 

“Is it incurable?”

 

“Maybe?”

 

Fresa looked at Lycaon again. He was still smiling. It’s an incurable disease.

 

‘That’s a bit unfortunate.’

 

Fresa was choosing words of comfort, but Lycaon was the first to open his mouth.

 

“Did the motion sickness medication work? It’s a fairly expensive drug.”

 

‘Oh.’

 

Fresa recalled the medicine bottle sinking to the bottom of the sea. She could not say that she threw it to the person who had shown her favor out of suspicion. Lycaon quietly waited for an answer. Fresa felt like her conscience was being pricked for the first time in a long time. She avoided eye contact, running her hands through her tangled hair.

 

“Yeah, whatever. It worked really well, didn’t it?”

 

“Is it so?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Thank goodness.”

 

At that moment when Lycaon smiled brightly, Fresa’s vision became dizzy. It was at times like this that the side effects appeared. Fresa squeezed her eyes shut in disgust.

 

“Resa?”

 

Lycaon’s voice sounded heavy, as if she had fallen into the water. Fresa could not even resist and fell down helplessly towards the wheat field.

 

“Resa, are you okay?”

 

Lycaon’s hand seemed to be pulling her body, and her consciousness completely collapsed.

 

‘His hands are cold.’

 

Fresa was the last thought that passed through her mind.

 

* * *

 

Lycaon looked down at Fresa who was sleeping in her bed. To be precise, he picked her up after she had already fallen and laid her down. He originally didn’t intend to do this. He was about to carry Presa back to her house when she suddenly lost consciousness. But he couldn’t find the key and had trouble breaking down the door. She eventually had no choice but to choose Lycaon’s house, which was right across from hers.

 

‘Is it really a disease?’

 

Otherwise, how could she have fallen so helplessly? It was strange from the first time they met. From the countess from the Kingdom of Piltz boarding a ship alone to setting up a residence in this remote village.

 

“Here is the medicine, Your Highness.”

 

Zed looked like he didn’t understand why Lycaon would let a stranger into the house. Still, he was a knight who did his job well.

 

“I told you several times that you need to take care of it on time.”

 

“I told you not to call me that.”

 

“No one will listen anyway.”

 

Lycaon clicked his tongue and drank the medicine Zed gave him. It was a taste he was not used to no matter when he ate it. It didn’t seem to have much effect. He needed something a little more effective. A special medicine that will detoxify and purify the poison of old monsters. However, even though all the top talents were called in to make the medicine, it was of little use. To make matters worse, in the Kancher Empire, nobles began to move to bring down the Grand Duke by citing his incurable illness.

 

‘They are such an obvious tribe.’

 

Lycaon laughed and shook his head. But it was true that his physical condition had worsened. There was an order from the Emperor to stay away from the capital for a while until a medicine was developed. It was an effort to keep Lycaon out of the sight of the nobles who were watching him. It was also the Emperor’s desire to protect his only brother.

 

“Is this woman really a noble from the Kingdom of Piltz?”

 

Zed asked vaguely as he returned the vial. Lycaon cleared his thoughts and nodded his head.

 

“Yes. She was the third child of the Thorpe family.”

 

He had only seen Fresa once a long time ago. It was at the founding banquet of the Piltz Kingdom. It was a day when, as a representative of the Kancher Empire, he had no choice but to attend a banquet that he did not enjoy. As expected, all the scenes were boring, except for one person: Fresa Thorpe. She grabbed a young man named Count Gillespie and asked him to dance several times. Even though she had been rejected five times, as far as Lycaon could remember.

 

‘A noble lady who only clings to things like love.’

 

It was sad, pitiful, and ridiculous. Still, he couldn’t help but keep looking. A disheveled dress, lilac-colored hair fluttering here and there. Meanwhile, the coldly rational blue eyes stood out. At the moment when Lycaon was met with those meaningless gazes, Lycaon felt a strange feeling. She was clearly a woman who was crazy in love, but her eyes were calm, as if she knew everything. That strange sense of estrangement captivated Lycaon. It was the first time he felt such a strange feeling.

 

‘Was it acting?’

 

The others didn’t seem to notice at all, but Lycaon realized that Fresa Thorpe was in the middle of a play. That day, Fresa left quite a strong impression on him. Even if he forgot everything else, her clear eyes remained in his mind for a long time. Thanks to this, he knew right away that the woman she happened to meet on her ship was Presa Thorpe. Although Presa didn’t seem to even remember him.

 

‘What kind of illness do you have?’

 

So she also ran away here? Lycaon stared at Fresa, who only let out a light breath, and then suddenly blurted out.

 

“Zed, find out about Presa Thorpe.”

 

He needed to find out why she came here alone. It was simple curiosity. And even a bit of a strange sense of kinship with her.

 

—————————————————————

Translator Note: