The Villainess' Ending Was Death

Fresa narrowed her eyes and pondered the meaning of those words.

 

‘Special relationship.’

 

If you think about it, it wasn’t wrong. Because it was a unique start from our first meeting. As Fresa just made a shy expression without saying anything, Lycaon added.

 

“You saved my life, Resa. Therefore…”

 

But the words were not finished.

 

“Cough… Tsk…”

 

Lycaon began to cough and suffer. Fesa patted him on the back and took her handkerchief out of the shopping cart and held it out.

 

“Mr. Lycaon, are you okay?”

 

Lycaon took his handkerchief and nodded, covering his mouth. The handkerchief was stained slightly red, but it was difficult to tell whether it was tomato juice or blood. All that was visible was a smooth nose and sharp eyes.

 

‘They say dragon venom is scary, but it doesn’t heal like this. Maybe there is another reason?’

 

At that time, Fresa looked at Lycaon with concern.

 

“Fresa?”

 

A familiar but not at all pleasant voice suddenly intervened. Rowan Gillespie, Fresa’s former fiancé and the male protagonist of the original work. His wife, Alicia, was not by his side. Fresa reflexively turned her head to hide her face.

 

‘Of course I should have sprinkled more salt. I should have brought it out with me. No, I shouldn’t have come to the market.’

 

As Fresa swallowed her regrets, Lycaon casually wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her inside, asking,

 

“Is there a problem?”

 

Thanks to Lycaon’s large frame, Fresa was almost hidden, but Rowan did not respond. He spoke again without taking his eyes off Fresa.

 

“I said that because I think it’s someone I know.”

 

There was something strange about suspecting that a dead person was still alive. The Rowan Gillespie that Fresa knew was a man who was more rational and arrogant than anyone else and only knew himself.

 

“Excuse me, but let me check for a moment.”

 

Rowan held out his hand without courtesy. It seemed like he was trying to remove Fresa’s hood. Just as Fresa was about to hit him with a shopping cart containing two tomatoes, there was a thud.

 

“Please stop.”

 

Lycaon grabbed Rowan’s wrist and stopped him. His other hand was pressing the handkerchief over her mouth. Although Fresa was relieved, she was worried. Lycaon said he was getting better, but he was still a patient. If he got caught in a fight and got hurt, it would be a big problem.

 

Fresa tugged on Lycaon’s sleeve to indicate that he was just passing by. Before they knew it, even her glow had disappeared and darkness fell on the street. It was fortunate that it was difficult to clearly see her face from a distance.

 

“If you don’t want your wrists cut off, get rid of it.”

 

Rowan coldly warned Lycaon. It was so scary that Fresa immediately wanted to swing the shopping cart and knock him out.

 

“Well. Will my wrist fly off first or your neck first?”

 

It was Lycaon’s voice that she had never heard before. A low, heavy, cold voice as if it would blow Rowan’s head off at any moment. It seemed like there would really be bloodshed if things continued like this.

 

‘Maybe Lycaon will lose?’

 

Rowan was a man called the sword of the kingdom, so the sickly Lycaon would be a handful. After hesitating for a moment, Fresa held onto Lycaon’s sleeve tightly. And sshe let out a squeeze, trying to hide his original voice as much as possible.

 

“Get away from me, you pervert.”

 

Swish!

 

The shopping cart flew through the air and hit Rowan on the head.

 

“Ugh!”

 

Rowan groaned and the sound of two tomatoes breaking was heard. Ripe tomato juice flowed out like blood. Fresa ran towards the house as fast as she could, holding Lycaon’s sleeve. Lycaon lost the handkerchief in his hand, revealing his entire face. At first glance, Rowan’s face was distorted. Fresa wanted to spit at it, but he had to get Lycaon out safely, so running away was his priority.

 

‘My poor tomatoes.’

 

She was planning on eating it for breakfast tomorrow. The scent of crushed tomatoes wafted from the crumpled shopping cart. How long did it run?

 

“Resa, Resa. Please stop for a moment.”

 

Lycaon took a deep breath and called Fresa over. Only then did Fresa stop running and look back at him.

 

“Are you okay? Can’t you breathe? Or are you dizzy?”

 

Fresa casually put down the shopping cart and stretched out his hands. And she held Lycaon’s face as if covering it and looked around. Fortunately, it seems that the blood that came out when he coughed earlier was not blood. Light scarlet tomato juice was lightly smeared on his lips. Just as she was about to put down her hand in relief, Lycaon grabbed her hand with both of his hands, pressing down on her hand gently.

 

“Haha. That’s not how weak you are. Are you okay?”

 

“I was just hiding behind your back. Of course I’m fine.”

 

Fresa blinked her eyes as she was suddenly held by Lycaon’s hand. Lycaon’s face turned red like a tomato.

 

‘Do you have a fever?’

 

As Fresa looked at her with concern in her eyes, Lycaon suddenly burst into laughter at her.

 

“I never imagined they would hit me with that.”

 

“…The only thing she had in her hand was a shopping cart.”

 

Fresa looked embarrassed and avoided eye contact. Lycaon stopped his laughter and smiled softly.

 

“Well done. I was very impressed by your bravery. By the way, Resa.”

 

“Yes?”

 

Lycaon suddenly pressed his face close to her. She was startled by the beauty of Lycaon, who looked somewhat haggard. Looking at it this way, the tomato juice flowing from the corner of her mouth looked like blood again.

 

‘It’s a surprise.’

 

Suddenly coming in was a foul in many senses.

 

“Don’t do that next time. Because I can solve it. It looks better if I, a slightly bigger person, gets hurt than you get hurt.”

 

Lycaon’s lips gently lifted as he spoke affectionately. His lips were usually dry and parched, but today, perhaps because of the moonlight, they looked unusually moist. Fresa swallowed without realizing it. Lycaon’s eyes were curved like a crescent moon.

 

“Then sleep well, Resa.”

 

Lycaon’s hand, which was holding Fresa’s hand, fell. Fresa was unable to greet him as calmly as usual. Lycaon was so neat under the bright moonlight. She was concerned about the dangerous atmosphere that seemed as if it would disappear somewhere.

 

“Mr. Lycaon, are you okay?”

 

Lycaon grinned and answered Fresa’s question.

 

“Sure.”

 

And the next day, Lycaon disappeared somewhere along with Zed. All that was left was a letter left for Fresa.

 

[I’ll be back soon.]

 

That short sentence lingered in Fresa’s mind for a long time.

 

* * *

 

“Your Highness, you must go now.”

 

Zed cautiously called Lycaon outside the bedroom. Lycaon quietly looked down at Fresa’s sleeping face for a long time. Fresa was in a deep sleep, not even knowing he had come. If he woke her up like this, he was sure she would look at him with a puzzled expression.

 

‘That would be quite exciting, but unfortunately not now.’

 

If it were Fresa, she might have hit him like he hit Rowan Gillespie. Did Presa see Rowan’s expression at that time? It would have been very fun to see it. Lycaon decided to leave this place sooner than expected for Fresa. To be precise, Rowan Gillespie was on the verge of noticing her presence, so it was an inevitable choice. After he returns to the Empire and informs the Emperor about Fresa Thorpe, he will have her treated as a benefactor who saved the Grand Duke’s life. Then she wouldn’t have to spend time in this small town in this kingdom watching people like Rowan Gillespie. And she might be able to cure the disease that is constantly robbingFresa of consciousness, the name of which has not even been revealed yet.

 

‘I actually wanted to stay a little longer.’

 

He would be lying if he said that every day he spent with Fresa wasn’t fun. Dandelion Spore, who always stayed by Fresa’s side, floated around her in the air, keeping a lookout for Lycaon. He thought it was just a visible, dirty germ, but when he looked closer, he felt a slight spirit energy.

 

‘I haven’t heard of Fresa Thorpe dealing with the spirits.’

 

Anyway, it didn’t mean any harm, so he decided to watch it for a while.

 

“Uhm…”

 

Fresa lightly turned her body over. Lycaon almost interrupted her. He placed a note containing a short greeting and a basket of tomatoes on the table. And he lightly waved his hand towards Dandelion Hall, whose identity he did not know.

 

‘Don’t do anything stupid.’

 

The once pure white seeds turned red. It looked like he was angry, but since he couldn’t communicate, his behavior was meaningless. Now, it was time to say goodbye. Lycaon pulled Fresa’s blanket up to her neck and covered her, then she left the bedroom. Zed, who was standing with a nervous look on his face, breathed a sigh of relief.

 

“Have you exchanged enough greetings?”

 

“How do you say hello to a sleeping person?”

 

Lycaon chuckled and turned his head. He hoped that Fresa beyond the closed door would have good dreams. May she only have happy and beautiful dreams, without even nightmares.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

Lycaon put his hand on Zed’s shoulder. And he tried his magic for the first time in a long time. The magical power that had always crawled frustratingly like a clogged waterway began to overflow for the first time in a long time. Blue light bloomed around the two people. Lycaon calmly remembered his destination. The imperial castle of the Kancher Empire, the palace where his older brother and emperor resides. The bright blue light wriggled loudly, and the two people disappeared in an instant. All that was left when they left was a note with a promise to return and a basket of fresh tomatoes.

 

—————————————————————

Translator Note: