The Villainess' Ending Was Death

Fresa blinked very slowly. What she saw was an unfamiliar ceiling.

 

‘Ah, I moved.’

 

She couldn’t help but be different because this was Faro Village, not the Thorpe Mansion. But when she thought about it again, her new house did not have a ceiling like this. It was definitely an old-fashioned wine-colored pattern…

 

‘It’s plain white here.’

 

Fresa closed and opened her eyes several times to straighten out her dizzy vision. Then she heard a low, pleasant voice.

 

“Resa, are you awake?”

 

It was Lycaon. Fresa turned her head and looked to her side. Lycaon was sitting in the armchair, staring at her.

 

“You look embarrassed. You fell in front of the lighthouse.”

 

‘Ah.’

 

Only then did Fresa understand the situation. She was apparently looking at the green wheat fields and her lighthouse when she lost consciousness due to a side effect of the medication. Even so, she never thought she would bring Rika to her own home. Fresa sat up with her upper body up and began her speech.

 

“Thank you. But why…”

 

“I wonder if it’s your house? First, water.”

 

Lycaon stood up from her seat and held out a glass filled with water. Fresa was handed her glass without a thought. It was warm water, as if she had prepared it in advance. Only then did she feel thirsty and took a sip of water. The warm water drenched her scratchy tongue and disappeared down her throat.

 

“I went to your house and I couldn’t open the door. So I had no choice but to bring it to my house. Please forgive my rudeness.”

 

Lycaon apologized politely. Even though he was clearly just helping, he seemed wary, fearing that Fresa might sense her displeasure. She shook her head, remembering yesterday when she had mistaken him for her trafficker.

 

“It’s fine. In fact, I am thankful that I received help.”

 

Lycaon finally relaxed his tense expression and spoke.

 

“You don’t look well as expected, Resa.”

 

“Oh, it’s temporary.”

 

“Can you collapse like that because of temporary symptoms?”

 

A strange emotion passed through Lycaon’s eyes. Fresa did not feel the need to explain further. No, she would have a hard time explaining it. Because she couldn’t say she took heart-stopping drugs to fake death.

 

Fresa, who was rolling her head, returned the glass of water and smiled.

 

“It’s just a little bit of a side effect…”

 

“Side effect?”

 

“There is medicine to take.”

 

Well, it wasn’t a lie. Fresa had to take antidotes for a while. Lycaon didn’t know how he interpreted her answer, but his expression was quite serious.

 

“If one more side effect appears, people will be caught. Is this a good medicine?”

 

“Maybe?”

 

Since it was a drug created through Fresa’s own research, there should not be any major problems. However, she didn’t seem to believe that Lycaon was very good at it. Her purple eyes contained an unknown emotion.

 

‘It’s not like that, so it’s very messy.’

 

Before she knew it, the red sunset was setting. Fresa got up from her bed, straightening her disheveled hair. Lycaon tried to help her, but he waved her hand away and refused.

 

‘Who is the sick person worried about?’

 

She didn’t know how Lycaon got Fresa. She probably got help from Scala, right? Lycaon looked even worse than when she first met him. Fresa asked, clicking her tongue inside her.

 

“Has the guide returned?”

 

“Ah yes. They asked me to give you this.”

 

Lycaon handed over a note, folded several times. Fresa was scared of what Scala might have written. She wanted to refuse to receive it, but she was afraid that Lycaon would think she was strange, so she accepted. Fortunately for her, it wasn’t anything very important. She would see if she’s okay, she would see her next time, and she hoped she would recover. It was such a stereotypical greeting. A sales note was also written asking her to visit Skalamichi at any time even after her health recovered.

 

‘You don’t have to come again next time.’

 

Fresa folded the note and greeted Lycaon.

 

“Thank you. I owe you a lot today.”

 

“We have to help each other as neighbors.”

 

Lycaon smiled faintly with his handsome face. Perhaps because his glow was fading, he looked like he was going to collapse at any moment. Fresa corrected her first impression that she had when she first encountered him on the ship.

 

‘A sad man, a really sad man.’

 

Now that I see Lycaon, he was a pathetic, sickly handsome man. Besides, he had already received help, so it pricked his conscience to ignore it. She was a neighbor anyway, so if she stayed at a reasonable distance, she would definitely get help.

 

‘Having neighbors isn’t such a bad thing.’

 

She was sure that she was comfortable being alone before she left the count’s family, but now that feeling has softened a bit.

 

‘As expected, the trust that comes from good looks is enormous.’

 

Lycaon’s appearance was quite special, seeing as how it influenced Fresa, who lived a reasonably rational life.

 

‘I have to be careful not to get possessed.’

 

The moment Fresa thought that, Lycaon coughed. She was worried that he might vomit blood. Lycaon covered his mouth with his hand and hissed.

 

“Sorry. I don’t think I’ll be able to see you off.”

 

“Oh, it’s okay. Take care of yourself.”

 

Fresa held out his hand and hurried out of Lycaon’s house.

 

‘What kind of disease is it? If it’s an incurable disease, it might be difficult.’

 

When Fresa arrived home, she took out the key he had hidden in his flower pot, opened the door, and then looked back. Lycaon was visible through the open window. He was frowning and covering his mouth with his handkerchief.

 

‘I received help, so I want to help too…’

 

If Lycaon told her what the disease was, he might be able to grow some herbs that might help. But he didn’t seem to have any intention of telling her. He simply said that it was an incurable disease.

 

‘I don’t know. First, take care of my future.’

 

Fresa shook her head and entered the house. The jewelry she brought with her was scheduled to be disposed of after some time. It was dangerous to immediately sell the jewels Fresa had after she became dead. So it was time for her to begin the task she had been preparing so hard for several years.

 

‘You have to make money, money.’

 

Fresa clenched her fists and stopped as she was about to go down to his basement. When she thought about it, her stomach was empty. She had to eat something first. Fresa loosened her clenched fists and walked towards the kitchen.

 

* * *

 

Paro Village was sunny and peaceful the next day. Fresa, wearing his apron, has been busy since early morning. She packed a flower pot, a watering can, and a bunch of seeds and herbs to plant and headed to the garden. Of course, this was all something that could be solved at home. Even though she made a mistake in the home preparation guild, it was thanks to it that he prepared everything she asked for.

 

‘First of all, the soil is clean and moist. ‘I can just plant it like this.’

 

Fresa squatted in front of the garden and checked the soil condition. It was good soil that seemed to grow well no matter what plant you planted.

 

‘Good. Shall we get started now?’

 

Fresa rolled up her sleeves and began planting seeds in earnest. After mixing the soil with a hoe, she sprinkled the seeds and covered them. And instead of giving the water right away, she pressed her finger on it.

 

‘Grow up well.’

 

The moment she hoped so, the seed she had just planted sprouted, and before she knew it, it had grown to the size of a sprout. It was an ability that Fresa had. The power that made plants grow. She had no idea that Fresa in the original had this ability. Because Fresa was a noblewoman, she never had to touch the soil and seeds herself. She probably never even had a chance to notice her abilities. But now, Fresa was different. She was a student majoring in botany in her previous life. In fact, she loved plants so much that she had a house full of all kinds of plants. Even after her reincarnation, she studied whenever she could so as not to forget that knowledge. Thanks to this, she learned that there were many plants in this world that were the same as those in her previous life, only with different names. That meant there were plenty of plants she could use. 

 

Paro Village was an ordinary countryside, not bad for a moderate life. But she had no doctor or pharmacist, so she had to go to the big city when she got sick. That’s exactly what Fresa liked.

 

‘Because I can grow herbs here, process them, and sell them.’

 

She needed to find a place to deliver the medicine she made, but once she grew several kinds of herbs, it was enough to solve the problem. If this continues, the herbs would grow enough to be used within a few days.

 

“First of all, we need someone who can clearly show the effect.”

 

If possible, she hoped he was quite famous in the village. The faster that happens, the faster the rumor would spread. Fresa straightened her bent back and pounded with her fists.

 

“Let’s put your name first.”

 

The buds of the newly grown herbs shook as if in response. She smiled proudly and stroked her bud.

 

“The garden is cute.”

 

Fresa looked behind her at the sudden sound of her voice. Lycaon was standing with her arms crossed over the wooden fence. Where had she been coughing like that yesterday, and she was wearing her signature sly expression. She was startled and stood slightly covering the buds. Surely he’s never seen her use her powers? She hadn’t told anyone yet, but she couldn’t have been caught by the man next door. Since it was a small town, rumors would spread quickly, so she had to be as careful as possible until she made a lot of money. Once she has achieved some level of success, it is not too late to boast about her abilities. At least until there was enough capital to protect Fresa.

 

‘I’m slowly starting to see the shortcomings of this house. The fence is too low.’

 

Fresa smiled calmly and said hello.

 

“Good morning, Mr. Lycaon.”

 

“Good morning. What are you planting? Carrot? They even gave me a name, saying it’s the first child.”

 

Lycaon’s gaze turned to the garden. Lycaon was a person with very good hearing. He even heard them give him a name. Fresa answered as he gently lifted the hoe dripping with dirt.

 

“I just planted various things.”

 

“If it grows well, sell some to me. Because vegetables are good for your health.”

 

Lycaon took a step back. It seemed that Presa was afraid that he would hit his forehead with a hoe. In fact, Fresa was ready to shoot him whenever he talked nonsense.

 

‘You’re quick to notice.’

 

Presa stared at Lycaon without erasing her smile. Then Lycaon scratched his cheek and opened his lips.

 

“Resa, would you like to have breakfast together?”

 

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Translator Note: