The Villainess' Ending Was Death

The young male keeper guarding the entrance to the lighthouse opened the door as soon as he saw Lycaon.

 

“Have a fun and happy time!”

 

Fresa went inside with Lycaon. When the door closed, they were naturally cut off from the noisy scene. The two walked up the circular stairs. A soft lantern hanging on the wall illuminated the way. Lycaon walked ahead, and Fresa followed, holding on to his sleeve. Strangely enough, her heart was pounding.

 

‘It feels like we’re having a secret relationship.’

 

Outside, the sound of fireworks exploding one after another and people cheering could be heard. The interior of the lighthouse, with only the footsteps of two people echoing, seemed like a different world. After circling the stairs a few times, they finally reached the top of the lighthouse.

 

“We’re all here.”

 

Lycaon held Fresa’s hand tightly to help her climb up. Fresa stood holding on to the railing and stared at the sky where fireworks were exploding.

 

“Ah.”

 

A short exclamation escaped her lips. It was a beautiful sight. Dark skies, twinkling stars, and colorful magic fireworks that color the place. It was a valuable experience that she probably would never have been able to see if she had continued to belong to the Count Thorpe family. The misery and sadness of the past seemed to disappear a little.

 

“You are pretty.”

 

Lycaon grinned and muttered. Fresa suddenly mistakenly thought that those words were her expressions towards him. It must have been said while looking at the fireworks, but it was because his eyes were fixed on Fresa.

 

‘I almost made a mistake.’

 

Fresa looked at Lycaon for a moment and then looked up at the fireworks.

 

“Yes. The fireworks are really pretty.”

 

A cool wind blew. The two people’s hair swayed gently.

 

Pak, pang, shoouk.

 

The sound of firecrackers exploding continued non-stop.

 

“Not firecrackers… sugar…”

 

Lycaon said something, but Fresa couldn’t hear it properly. His voice broke out intermittently.

 

“What did you say?”

 

Fresa asked, raising her voice a little louder. Then Lycaon shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.

 

“It’s nothing.”

 

“I beg your pardon?”

 

“Nothing, no.”

 

When Fresa continued to not understand what she was saying, Lycaon crossed his arms and said no again. Fresa then realized that it was no big deal, and he fixed his gaze on the magic firework. People clapped as fireworks depicting a large tree bloomed and disappeared. Fresa muttered in a slightly regretful tone.

 

“I guess it’s over now.”

 

“It’s an instant. That’s why it’s special.”

 

Lycaon let out a soft sigh. It was an unusually serious statement. Fresa stared at him with surprising eyes. Then Lycaon grinned and held out his hand.

 

“It’s time to go down, Resa. I’ll take you home.”

 

Fresa looked at his strong hands for a moment and then held them together lightly. She felt lukewarm warmth. As she came down to the lighthouse, every moment felt like a distant dream. People were leaving the wheat field one by one. There were still quite a few open stores left in the market. People who couldn’t eat dinner because they were busy watching the fireworks stopped in front of the stall. Simple foods such as chicken skewers, steamed potatoes, and corn stimulated her sense of smell.

 

“Are not you hungry?”

 

Lycaon blurted out, as if he had somehow read Fresa’s mind. Fresa was trying to say that it was okay, as was her habit, but pointed to a whole potato cooked in butter.

 

“I have that one.”

 

“We connected. I like potatoes too.”

 

Lycaon smiled brightly and quickly bought whole potatoes. Fresa picked up the potatoes with a skewer and ate them. It was a familiar taste that everyone knew. So it would be more delicious.

 

‘It’s delicious.’

 

The combination of fluffy potatoes and butter was always right. Fresa forgot that she had to go home and stopped at a corner of the market to concentrate on eating potatoes. However, Lycaon, who said he liked potatoes, just watched Fresa eat them. It was only after Fresa had filled his stomach to a certain extent that he realized the truth.

 

“I heard Lycaon is hungry too. Why aren’t you eating it?”

 

“I feel full just looking at you eating. It’s good to eat. I thought someone was coming to steal my potatoes.”

 

Fresa was embarrassed by Lycaon’s playful response.

 

“…It wasn’t that bad.”

 

“I hope you ate well. Actually, I don’t have much appetite. Take what’s left.”

 

Lycaon wrapped the potato in paper well and held it out to Fresa.

 

Fresa quickly accepted it. Looking at it now, Lycaon’s complexion didn’t look good at all. She was also worried that he might suddenly collapse like last time.

 

“Mr. Lycaon, are you okay?”

 

“I feel a little tired.”

 

Cold sweat was forming on Lycaon’s forehead.

 

‘As expected, I’m pushing myself too hard today.’

 

Why was Lycaon so indifferent to his own condition? Fresa was about to vent her rant but stopped. She didn’t want to pour out her emotions on a sick person. Instead, it would have been better for him to quickly go home and rest.

 

“Go quickly and rest. It’s okay if you don’t go to work tomorrow. Just having Mr. Zed is enough.”

 

Zed’s attitude changed after seeing Fresa’s abilities. He was so friendly to Fresa that Lycaon found it strange. It looks like he’s still keeping it a secret, but she hoped he would be as careful as possible. Anyway, sending Lycaon back was the priority now. She hoped he could rest well tomorrow, but not Lycaon.

 

“Not to that extent. You’ll be fine after a good night’s sleep.”

 

“But you promised not to overdo it.”

 

“Resa.”

 

Lycaon called her name affectionately. Fresa felt strange every time he did this. He seemed like a different person from usual. Lycaon looked straight into Fresa’s eyes and spoke kindly.

 

“I don’t want to leave you and Zed alone.”

 

“Mr. Lycaon, still…”

 

Just when Fresa was once again trying to emphasize the importance of health, she heard the voices of people she thought she would never hear again.

 

“The fireworks were so romantic, Rowan!”

 

“I know. I like it when I see you like it, Lisha.”

 

She felt like her heart was dropping. Rowan Gillespie and Alicia, now Countess Gillespie.

 

‘Why are those humans here?’

 

The place where the voices of the uninvited guests came from was right behind her. If she stood like this, she would encounter them.

 

‘If I get caught, I’ll be in trouble.’

 

She didn’t want anyone to know that she was alive, but especially those two people. Fresa quickly rolled her head and Lycaon tugged on her arm. The potato she was holding in her hand fell to the floor. Fresa suddenly hid with Lycaon in the narrow alley next door. When she came to her senses, she was already in Lycaon’s arms.

 

Thump, thump.

 

The sound of Lycaon’s heart penetrated Fresa’s ears.

 

“Mr. Lycaon?”

 

“Shh.”

 

Lycaon rolled his eyes, smiled, and pressed his index finger to her lips. The footsteps of Count Gillespie and his wife got closer. At the same time, Fresa’s heart was beating rapidly.

 

“It’s a shame that we arrived on the day the festival ended!”

 

“You can enjoy things other than the festival, Lisha.”

 

“Still… Oh, should we go somewhere else?”

 

“Let’s go back to the dorm and think about it. Today is too late.”

 

Rowan and Alicia walked away, having a friendly conversation. Fortunately, it seemed like she didn’t find Fresa hiding in her alley. Only after the two people’s footsteps had completely disappeared did Lycaon let go of Fresa.

 

“Resa, are you okay?”

 

“Ah, thank you.”

 

Fresa focused her gaze on him. Lycaon wouldn’t have helped her if he knew what she was doing. Then why…

 

“You look troubled.”

 

As if Fresa had read her confused mind, Lycaon spoke calmly. She noticed in that brief moment that Fresa was embarrassed. As expected, Lycaon was a perceptive person.

 

‘But why did Rowan and Alicia come here?’

 

It didn’t seem like it was specifically work-related. Considering the timing, was this a honeymoon? Why choose Paro Village as a travel destination? Her head was already pounding. If it’s a honeymoon, they would be staying for quite a long time, but would she be able to safely avoid their gaze in this small town?

 

“Then let’s go home now. It’s quite late.”

 

Lycaon said, pulling Fresa out of the alley. Fresa stopped her pondering and nodded her head. Was it an illusion that Lycaon’s expression looks so cold and unfamiliar?

 

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Translator Note: