The Villainess' Ending Was Death

“What happened that made you so nervous?”

Lycaon looked at Fresa with eyes filled with puzzlement. Only after Fresa swallowed her saliva did he slowly touch his lips.

“You probably already know my name is Fresa. Since Jerome visited.”

Only then did Lycaon erase his smile and reveal his serious emotions. It seemed like Fresa realized that he wasn’t trying to tell a light story.

“I am… I was Fresa of the Thorpe family. Until I faked my death and ran away. That’s why Jerome was surprised to see me. He found out that his troublesome sister, whom he thought was dead, was alive.”

The room was quiet. Fresa fiddled with his nervous hands, watching Lycaon’s reaction. Surprisingly, Lycaon did not look very surprised. He just waited quietly until Fresa finished speaking.

“I’ll tell you the truth. I want revenge. To those so-called family members who abused me and treated me like trash.”

She had already decided to do this before she even set foot on the kingdom’s soil. It wasn’t something that crossed her mind until she simply pretended to be dead and left. However, she has already unexpectedly met Rowan and even encountered Jerome, so a simple silence would not be able to hide the fact that Fresa was alive. Didn’t Rowan even leave with his intention to return?

Rowan Gillespie was a person several times more difficult to deal with than Jerome due to his natural wealth and intelligence. Then the only way left was to let them know that Fresa was not the idiot who was prone to being bullied like before. As if it were a reward for successfully completing the original work, the Thorpe family was rapidly falling and Fresa decided to seize this opportunity. She couldn’t solve anything just by running away.

Of course, since she met a person named Lycaon Grenadine, it wasn’t like she didn’t have any income.

“I won’t hide anymore. So, can you help me?”

Fresa offered to shake hands and looked up at Lycaon with unwavering eyes. Lycaon, who was facing her without an expression, soon grinned.

“You are my lifesaver. Can I tell you that I am ready to follow any path you wish to walk?”

Lycaon held Fresa’s hand without hesitation and continued speaking.

“Fresa, I will make your revenge perfect.”

No matter what method she used. Lycaon added in a relaxed tone.

Fresa wanted to grab that handsome, perfect face and rub it against her, but she barely held back. Instead, she said what she was going to ask Lycaon:

“Then please come with me to Count Glespie’s banquet, Lycaon. There is someone I must meet.”

“Are you asking me out on a date?”

“I guess so.”

Despite Fresa’s half-hearted response, Lycaon seemed to be in a good mood. He seemed not at all curious about who Fresa was supposed to meet or why. At times like this, it was hard to tell whether Lykaon was feeling good or if he was deliberately pretending not to know.

Fresa slightly narrowed her eyes and looked at Lycaon’s expression, and Lycaon asked the question again.

“Resa, when is the banquet?”

Fresa recalled a newspaper article she had seen in the guild parlor. It seemed to have been pushed to the side, buried in the article about the Count Thorpe family, but the article about the banquet of Count Gillespie, a popular figure in the kingdom, was also written in quite large letters. It was an article filled with expectations that it would be a luxurious and beautiful party as always.

Regardless, Fresa wasn’t particularly impressed.

“Tomorrow.”

Lycaon looked puzzled for a moment at Fresa’s words.

“What?”

“Tomorrow.”

Fresa grinned.

‘Yes, tomorrow.’

Tomorrow, Fresa would re-enter the Gillespie household, which she had been frequenting so many times until a few months ago.

“That requires some preparation.”

At Fresa’s words, Lycaon returned to his original face.

“First of all, it’s late, so let’s talk in detail over dinner first.”

Lycaon exhaled in a relaxed tone and gently held out his arm.

Fresa laughed softly at her natural behavior of escorting, and then she lightly placed her hand on him.

“As much as you want, His Highness the Grand Duke of the Granadines.”

* * *

The Count of Thorpe’s family was shaken up by Rowan Gillespie’s unexpected decision. Even Elias, who had managed to keep his cool when the mansion was on the verge of being auctioned off, turned pale.

One morning, his father was in prison and his mother was in a hospital bed, and there was no one who could remain calm. They could not even imagine such a reality because they grew up surrounded by only love and love from their parents.

“Big Brother! What should I do now?”

“Brother, I’m scared… Hmm, huh… Are we really going to sit out on the street? Has our great-aunt not contacted you? What about our uncle? Other relatives…”

Next to Elias were Jerome and Amy, who were no help and kept whining.

Elias said nervously as he roughly pulled his arm away from Amy’sher grasp.

“Both of you, stop talking because my head hurts.”

“But brother…”

Amy’s eyes widened in surprise and she pursed her lips, but she bit back at Elias’ cold gaze. Jerome followed Amy’s example and tried to speak, but she quietly shut her mouth. When the servants learned that the family was on the verge of collapse, they fled one by one, leaving the mansion deserted. Even Jerome and Amy, who had been talking non-stop, fell silent, and the spacious mansion suddenly became quiet.

In the first place, loyalty could not be expected from the employees. They had only been adequately employed according to the contract, but now they ran away because they feared they might not receive their weekly wages. Still, Elias gritted his teeth as he remembered that the money he had paid to feed, clothe, and sleep them had come out of his own pocket.

‘Ungrateful things.’

It was said that servants of a certain family were as loyal as knights, and were willing to risk their lives in place of their employers.

‘Come to think of it, we had a maid whom Fresa loved.’

Was her name Lauren? She was a woman of ordinary appearance who rarely caught the eye. She was also the one who discovered the last of Fresa.

So, Fresa’s death… Although her death was sudden, it was not surprising. There was no way that the weak and stupid Fresa could last long in this family.

But how much did Lauren mourn the death of Fresa? He didn’t pay attention to the reactions of the employees from the beginning, so he didn’t remember her in detail.

‘Why are you thinking these useless thoughts now?’

Just as Elias was frowning, the butler knocked on her office door.

“Young master. Countess Gillespie has come to visit.”

Alicia? Elias’ expression changed strangely.

Rowan Gillespie’s only weakness came to light on its own, and as expected, God did not abandon the Thorpe family. Jerome and Amy also exchanged glances and shared similar thoughts as Elias.

‘I thought you felt the same way as Rowan Gillespie, but it seems like you didn’t when she came to visit.’

Elias, laughing at Rowan for not being able to control one of his wives, told her butler to lead Alicia to the parlor. Then she separated the helpless Jerome and Amy, and went to see Alicia alone.

“It’s been a while.”

“Ah, Elias.”

Alicia, who was sitting on the sofa in her living room and looking out her window, slowly turned to Elias.

“I’m sorry for coming to you so suddenly.”

“It’s okay. The situation is a little bad, so I have to respond poorly, so I feel even more ashamed.”

Elias, who sat across from her, said with a faint smile. Of course, he only wanted to use Alicia to change Rowan Gillespie’s mind.

‘The only thing left now is this woman. I have to be careful.’

Elias clenched and unclenched his fist, which he had hidden under the table, several times, perhaps because he was nervous for the first time in a long time. At that time, Alicia raised her teacup with a face that was hard to read what she was thinking.

And only after taking a very slow sip of tea did she begin to speak.

“Rowan, Count Gillespie… I heard that the Thorpe family’s request was rejected.”

“Ah. I’m sorry, but that’s the case.”

The conversation was easy because Alicia brought up the business first. Elias stared at Alicia with a rather troubled expression. His stomach tightened, but he didn’t bother urging her and waited for Alicia to speak.

Alicia pursed her lips for a moment, her thin eyelashes hanging down.

‘Something must have happened.’

Elias thought that there must be a reason why Alicia, who was always talkative, was so silent. Alicia’s bright and beautiful eyes soon returned to Elias.

She was still smiling, but she spoke with a somewhat uneasy look.

“Elias, listen to me carefully. Ever since we returned from our honeymoon, Rowan… He has changed. I think something happened in that village.”

“What happened…”

“He went to a certain place alone, even lying to me.”

On their honeymoon, Rowan said he met the lord of Paro Village, but the record left on the tracking device was the pharmacy he stopped by to buy ointment.

Alicia smiled and took another sip of her tea.

“I guess that’s why he decided not to help the Thorpe family. It’s not easy for me to act on my own, so I came to ask for your help.”

“What help do you mean?”

Elias had a hard time understanding what Alicia was saying, but once he did, he couldn’t miss this opportunity, so he hinted.

“Send someone to Paro Village. And I think we should check out the only apothecary there.”

Alicia briefly stated her business and then put down her teacup.

The sound of tea cups clinking rang out in the quiet living room.

 

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Translator Note:
Fron now on this story will be released twice a week. I hope you like it!