The Villainess' Ending Was Death

“Be careful.”

 

Lycaon’s voice contained a slight smile. Fresa held on tightly to his arm, supporting her body, then quickly stepped behind her. She didn’t mean to get this close.

 

Fresa opened her sentence as calmly as possible.

 

“Thank you.”

 

“It was nothing.”

 

Lycaon replied indifferently, and then he added.

 

“It’s hot, I mean your body temperature.”

 

Fresa smiled brightly at the remark that seemed to be a subtle joke.

 

“Ah, my body naturally has a lot of heat.”

 

“It was pretty hot.”

 

“Couldn’t you feel that way because Mr. Lycaon is too cold?”

 

“Maybe so.”

 

“Then shall we quickly go and see the lord?”

 

Fresa struck the wall thoroughly and looked away. Lycaon bit his lip as if to suppress his laughter, and then walked with her, matching her steps. In front of the lighthouse, it was crowded with people who were curious about Lord Barrett’s visit.

 

“Lord Barrett congratulates the festival and has something important to say.”

 

Fresa knew at once who the owner of the voice was. Albert Dunn. He was Lord Barrett’s secretary.

 

‘Is there anything you want to say?’

 

It meant that they didn’t just come to celebrate.

 

“Resa, this way.”

 

Lycaon cleared the way with his large body to make it easier for Fresa to move forward. Thanks to that, when she came to her senses, she was in the front seat where she could see the lord’s face up close. Lord Barrett was unexpectedly young. He was in his mid-30s at most, and looked exactly like that. He had brown hair pulled up, dark green eyes, and a rather cold appearance.

 

‘It looks a bit familiar.’

 

Fresa stared at Lord Barrett’s face for a long time. Then Lycaon poked his side with his hand and whispered.

 

“My lord’s face will be pierced, Resa.”

 

“…I did it because he looked like someone I know.”

 

“Is that so? You didn’t look at him because he was handsome?”

 

Fresa was dumbfounded and looked up at Lycaon. Lycaon finally grinned as if he was satisfied.

 

“Now you look at me.”

 

A tone, voice, and facial expression that were too friendly for someone you just met.

 

‘Why are there all these people?’

 

He was a refreshing yet difficult opponent for Fresa, who had always been an emotional trash can. Fresa was speechless for a moment and then shook her head.

 

“You really have a knack for leaving me speechless.”

 

“Thank you for the compliment.”

 

“It’s not a compliment.”

 

“I heard it’s a talent.”

 

“Ah yes. Think what’s comfortable for you.”

 

Fresa eventually raised both her hands in response to Lycaon’s shameless attitude. What was so good about Lycaon? She just laughed. Just then, the lord spoke to her.

 

“My daughter Daisy Barrett is missing.”

 

Wait a moment. Daisy Barrett? The image of a small girl flashed through Fresa’s mind. For some reason, the lord’s face seemed familiar, so she couldn’t believe he was Daisy’s father. It was only then that Fresa realized what was happening.

 

‘She was sneaking out. So she was hiding.’

 

She was the daughter of a lord who suffered from a skin disease. Even so, she was missing and she was worried that she might be involved in something for nothing. Her presa’s expression hardened strangely.

 

“Are you okay? You have a bad complexion.”

 

Lycaon quickly noticed her and asked. Fresa quickly adjusted her expression.

 

“It’s nothing.”

 

The lord continued to say a few more words. Daisy’s whereabouts, rewards for those who find it, etc. His tone was filled with anger rather than the desperation of a father looking for his child. Fresa was quite used to that kind of expression on her parents’ faces. Because it was something she had always experienced.

 

‘It seems as if the lord knows that there is a Daisy in this village.’

 

Daisy said she would definitely come back and then she disappeared. She couldn’t have gone that far, so she must have been somewhere in town.

 

“Mr. Lycaon, I have something to do, so I have to go back now. I had fun today.”

 

“You’re going back already?”

 

Lycaon looked embarrassed. It seemed absurd that they were suddenly returning when they hadn’t even fully enjoyed the festival yet.

 

“Sorry. I will definitely compensate you next time.”

 

Fresa quickly left her greetings to Lycaon and left the festival before he could catch her. She hurriedly returned home and, as she expected, she found Daisy pacing in front of the front door. She knew it would be like this. Since the lord was at the wheat field festival, this would have been the only place for Daisy to hide right now.

 

Fresa let out a faint sigh of her own.

 

“Daisy.”

 

“Ah, Resa!”

 

As soon as Daisy saw Fresa, she came running quickly and said with a flushed face:

 

“What on earth is that ointment? It feels so comfortable in my own skin. Look!”

 

Daisy took off her gloves and suddenly thrust her hand in front of Fresa’s eyes. The skin, which had been red and red with fever, had become quite clean.

 

‘I didn’t know the medicine would be this effective.’

 

Fresa was impressed by her skills, but then she got to the point.

 

“Did you run away from home?”

 

“Yes?”

 

Daisy’s complexion instantly turned pale. Fresa looked around her and spoke again in a cautious tone.

 

“The lord is looking for Daisy.”

 

“Ah…”

 

Daisy’s big eyes filled with tears. Fresa took out her handkerchief and held it out. Daisy wiped her eyes with his handkerchief and sniffled.

 

“So, the lord… That’s my father. Because of a skin disease, I was not allowed to attend the festival. So secretly…”

 

Daisy finally burst into tears. Fresa finally understood the whole situation. Daisy was a child who just wanted to see the wheat field festival that only happens once a year, and the lord was a father who was worried about his daughter and declared a ban on going out. Her heart, which had been swollen with suspicion of his abuse, immediately subsided. However, it was too dangerous to let a child wander around alone. Just because it was a small town didn’t necessarily mean it was safe. In fact, if someone went missing in a place like this, it was often difficult to find them.

 

Fresa waited until Daisy stopped crying. Daisy sniffled and cried, then looked at Fresa.

 

“The lord is very worried now, so let’s go back. And if you can’t attend the festival because of a skin disease, I have an ointment for you.”

 

Fresa wanted to appease Daisy so that she could meet the lord. Because she was still at an age where she needed parental protection. Moreover, Daisy also seemed to want to go home. Daisy’s green eyes shook violently. She was probably worried because he had to avoid the lord and his knights all day. Daisy cast her gaze downward as if she was thinking for a while. Fresa, being the patient person she was, waited quietly.

 

Finally, Daisy looked at Fresa with a confident look on her face.

 

“Will Resa come with me? Then I will go back.”

 

* * *

 

Fresa, unable to ignore Daisy’s request, had to return to the festival site. Fortunately, the lord was still waiting for her daughter in front of the lighthouse in the wheat field. Daisy was hiding behind Fresa’s back, a short distance away from the lord.

 

“My father must be very angry. What if I am banned from going out again?”

 

“It’ll be okay. The lord… I think he also realized something from this incident.”

 

Fresa calmly persuaded Daisy.

 

Daisy covered her face with her bonnet, so the others didn’t seem to even suspect anything. However, several of the lord’s knights were wandering through the wheat fields, looking for Daisy. It was only a matter of time before she was caught. The lord stood like a scarecrow under the scorching sun and glared in all directions. The gaze was so harsh that Daisy was scared.

 

“Come on, Daisy. Let’s go quickly.”

 

“What do I say to them?”

 

Daisy asked, holding on to Fresa’s sleeve. Fresa thought for a moment and then answered calmly.

 

“Tell them you want to see the festival together. And that you will never do something like this again. In return, ask them to promise that they will respect Daisy’s opinion.”

 

Daisy still had a worried look on her face, but she nodded her head vigorously, perhaps emboldened by Fresa’s support. Fresa smiled softly at her. Daisy hugged Fresa tightly and walked towards the lighthouse. Fresa stared at her determined back.

 

Soon, a knight recognized Daisy and guided her to the lord. The lord looked down at his daughter in silence and lowered himself to his knees. And just like that, he hugged Daisy tightly.

 

Daisy burst into tears again and hugged her father.

 

‘What a nice looking family.’

 

Fresa wasn’t sure what was discussed between the two, but she hoped it would all work out for the better. A warm wind blew and shook Fresa’s straw hat. Should she go back now?

 

As soon as Fresa turned her back, she ran straight into someone familiar.

 

“Resa.”

 

“Ah, Mr. Lycaon.”

 

Lycaon had not yet returned and stayed in the wheat field. Fresa looked up at him with a slightly embarrassed expression.

 

“I guess the job went well.”

 

Lycaon glanced at the back of Presa and began speaking. It was as if he had already realized that Fresa had taken Daisy to the lord. Fresa only nodded her head briefly. It was a somewhat ambiguous story to explain.

 

“Then, would you like to watch the festival together?”

 

Fortunately, Lycaon did not inquire about what happened. He just stared at Fresa with strange eyes. The moment when Fresa nodded her head and was about to say yes.

 

“Hello, Resa.”

 

Albert soon approached and called out Fresa with an expressionless face. Fresa slowly turned her back. Albert was accompanied by two of the lord’s knights. Just looking at it, it was an unusual atmosphere.

 

‘I think I’m going to get into some trouble.’

 

Fresa did not answer immediately and waited quietly for Albert to continue speaking. Albert said, staring at Fresa with tired eyes.

 

“The lord wishes to meet with you.”

 

“With me? Why?”

 

“He says he has something special to say.”

 

She was sure it wouldn’t be a crazy development where people would misunderstand that Daisy has been kidnapped. She didn’t expect that naive Daisy would just mention Fresa. When Fresa failed to respond willingly, Lycaon stretched out her strong arm and blocked her path.

 

“If you don’t want to go, you don’t have to go.”

 

It may have been his intention to save Fresa, but Fresa was worried about what kind of guts he had in doing this. It was scary. How many people could say that they would not go when the lord called them? Fresa tapped Lycaon’s arm to indicate that it was okay.

 

“It won’t be a big deal. I’ll be back.”

 

“Resa.”

 

Lycaon’s eyebrows narrowed slightly, but Fresa pretended not to see and followed Albert.

 

‘He would like to thank me for finding his daughter and gave me some reward.’

 

While she has positive and constructive thoughts in her own way.

 

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Translator Note: