Villainous Lady, The Obsession Begins

【Chapter 36】

 

Even if it’s not necessarily the original, considering the things that have happened between Lafesch and me so far, it’s natural to think that she dislikes me. 

Since the cute attempt to connect with me with Theodore failed miserably, and we haven’t met separately outside, this kind of request was not something Lafesch would do.

“May the blessings of Flendena reach all of you. Wishing you a beautiful journey throughout your life.”

After sending Lafesch away, my mind was in disarray as I stared blankly ahead, and it seemed that the event had ended. 

It was only when I heard the clear voice of the Apostle that I could finally regain my senses, as if waking up from a dream.

‘I didn’t expect to spend my coming-of-age ceremony like this….’

I thought it would be joyful all day from the morning. 

I couldn’t have imagined feeling this heavy-hearted, and I never thought I would miss even the choir performance. 

It was when I took a deep breath, slowly rose, and began to walk among the now noticeably vacant seats.

‘Esadien…. and Lafesch?’

In the opposite direction of the exit, behind a pillar where people’s gazes didn’t quite reach, two individuals stood. 

No, it wasn’t just standing; they were engrossed in conversation with each other.

‘What…..’

Lafesch was standing in my direction, but it seemed like she didn’t notice me. She just bowed her head with a deeply troubled expression. 

I hesitated and started moving toward her, but they separated, disappearing through different exits much faster. 

I clenched my fists, feeling a burning sensation in my chest, as if something inside me was simmering, like a dog that had become a chicken chaser.

“Okay, I’ll go to see you, Lafesch.”

I came to a conclusion so quickly that it felt foolish to have worried about missing the coming-of-age ceremony.

“No matter what happens, I won’t avoid it.”

Whether Lafesch tells me to part ways, or if she tries to interfere, and I also wanted to ask Esadien about his honest feelings.

“Today is the day I put an end to it, myself.”

If I hear talk about an ex-fiancé or anything like that—I’ll yank out all of that shining hair. 

After making up my mind, time passed like an arrow. 

Changing into new clothes and styling my hair felt like it happened in the blink of an eye. Escaping with a hasty excuse, I reached Lafesch’s waiting room near the end of the corridor.

“I’m not usually someone who walks this fast….”

Trying to forget the tension, I murmured nonsense while clutching the hem of the blue dress, similar to Esadien’s evening attire, tightly. However…

“Ah.”

When I tried to knock, the door was open. Through it, a low voice faintly leaked out. 

Though the content wasn’t clear, with just that voice, even if they said ‘Ah,’ I could recognize the owner.

‘Esadien.’

The moment I realized the identity, all tension and hesitation vanished as if evaporated.

Stepping confidently inside, I eagerly removed the dressing screen. And what caught my eyes was…

“…..!”

It was the back view of Esadien, leaning close to someone, with his head tilted to the fullest.

The flowing red hair, not hidden even by his broad back, indicated that the person he was close to was Lafesch.

‘Haha… ha.’

It felt like my chest had been cleaved open and thrown onto the ground. 

Everything crumbled. 

Every moment I had locked eyes with Esadien, the fragile thread of hope and lingering attachment that had barely held on snapped, plunging into that dark abyss and disappearing.

“……”

Perhaps sensing something amiss, Lafesch, with her rigid and unyielding demeanor, met my eyes and forcefully pushed Esadien away, her face turning pale blue.

“Mi, Mi-Minuelle!”

Lafesch was even in nothing but a corset. 

To anyone who saw, it seemed like a situation where a lover, unable to wait for their partner to change into formal attire, barged in to share affection. 

Esadien, who never wanted to show a loosened button to me, how deeply had he fallen for Lafesch?

“Did you say Minuelle?”

Esadien’s movements seemed to be in slow motion, gradually turning to look at me. His expression shifted from surprise to confusion, and then he glanced at Lafesch. 

Seeing his face, I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“Haha.”

I slowly removed the gloves and threw them forcefully. 

The gloves, Esadien had given me, landed squarely on his cheek as if challenging to a duel, then dropped to the floor. 

Watching Esadien’s eyes widen in disbelief, I burst into a wider smile. If you thought I would cling to you even after seeing this spectacle, you’d be mistaken.

“Yeah, you’re out.”

Even to my own surprise, a chilling voice flowed out. After uttering the last words, I spun around and exited Lafesch’s waiting room.

“Minuelle!”

Though I heard Esadien calling from behind, I never turned to look.

‘Did you see it?’

This grotesquely contorted palm?

‘…He probably saw it.’

So, he probably won’t chase after me.

“It’s really over now.”

In the original, there were similarities between Minuelle and me. 

Both passionately fell for the one they first set their eyes on, only to be taken away by the heroine Lafesch. The aspect of suffering yet being obsessed with the other. 

It was a belated realization.

“Ha… That’s right. I was obsessed with Esadien.”

You don’t like me anymore?

“If you hated me so much, you shouldn’t have pretended to fall for me. You’re a bad boy….”

But of course, there were also differences from the original Minuelle. 

I don’t cling to relationships that have ended.

“It’s over now that it’s been burned.”

From the moment we met, I dedicated all my affection to Esadien. It was truly a complete combustion. That should be enough. 

But why…. does it feel like my heart is skipping a beat?

“Ugh…”

Unlike usual, every time my heart skips a beat, a surge of heat rushes, and a faint smell of blood flits through my nostrils. 

Just like the time when I argued with Esadien in front of the Imperial Palace.

“Ugh!”

I quickly covered my mouth at the sudden surge of nausea.

“No, sto…p!”

I was wrong. It was much worse than last time.

It was much more severe than the last time. With each step I took, the world swayed as if I were drunk.

– Shall I break it?

It felt like someone was whispering in my ear. 

I wanted to nod willingly. 

What does it matter if it’s a banquet or whatever else in this yard? 

But the rationality that had been pushed into a corner didn’t yield.

‘If I destroy everything just because of disappointment, there won’t be anything left in the world.’

It was the right thing to say.

“Even if breaking things is, ugh… off-limits, even if I break things…”

Wouldn’t it be better to just go home instead of vomiting at the banquet hall? With a head still spinning as if suffering from seasickness for the past three days, I thought so. 

As soon as I grabbed the doorknob of my waiting room, the strength in my legs gave way, and clearly, the floor beneath me tilted and spilled toward me.

‘No, it’s not. I’m the one who collapsed.’

I laughed maniacally, spewing blood. Amidst the complete chaos, I could feel warm liquid flowing from my nose to my lips.

“What’s going on… No, Lady Minuelle!”

“Minuelle?!”

I heard the voices of my friends.

“Minuelle!!”

Even Sister Elga’s shout.

I laughed again because it was the first time I heard my composed sister shout like that.

‘I’m relieved.’

With Ramande’s divine power, I should be able to regain consciousness quickly.

So, I decided to pass out with peace of mind. The sensation of heat that seemed to scorch my body amid the blurred consciousness was dissipating, and it felt serene.

I closed my eyes as it was.

💧

When I opened my eyes again, energy overflowed from head to toe, as expected.

‘I feel like I could run for five hours straight.’

How much divine power did I pour out, after all? Sister Elga, Ramande, and Theodore were all gathered around me.

Everyone had a seriously grave expression, but the first thought that came to my mind was how cute they looked.

However, the first words I uttered weren’t about that. It was a phrase I had rehearsed multiple times before collapsing. 

The words I remembered when throwing the gloves at Esadien.

“Sister, I want to break my engagement.”

From behind, both Ramande and Theodore audibly inhaled in surprise. Even though the sound must have reached, Sister Elga calmly responded as she helped me sit up.

“I see.”

There was no trace of hesitation. On the contrary, it was me who felt bewildered.

“Not going to stop me?”

“If that’s your decision. Even Juella would say the same, but you’re someone who doesn’t need to hesitate in your actions.”

Yeah, that’s right. Since I’m spoiled by the Karinen family, I decided to play along even more freely. 

“I want to enter the banquet with my sister.”

“Let’s do that.”

It’s surprisingly reassuring that my sister insists on wearing a uniform today instead of a dress.

“Thank you. As expected, my sister is the best.”

After giving a bright smile to my sister, I turned my gaze toward the back. 

Theodore, who attended as his cousin’s partner, still looked shocked and seemed at a loss for words.

Even if he witnessed the chaos between Esadien and me last time, declaring a breakup is quite a big deal, so he probably didn’t expect me to announce it like this. 

And Ramande…

“Ramande?”

He was making an expression that I had never seen before, even though we had spent half a lifetime together. It was a look that, if you were to mix joy, concern, and anger and serve it up, it would probably look exactly like that.

“Minuelle, aren’t you feeling dizzy?”

Even though the voice asking about my condition was the same as usual, I felt awkward, and it took me a few seconds to respond.

“Um, yeah. Thanks… I felt relieved because you were there.” 

“So, are you saying you wouldn’t have collapsed if I wasn’t there?” 

“No, not really?”

As I jumped in surprise, Ramande finally laughed. It was the familiar mischievous face that I knew so well.

“Tregosnan also worked hard to bring the priests in, Minuelle. Suddenly there was a fire….”

“Wha, what? Fire?”

I hate fire the most, especially these days! I sniffed the air, but there wasn’t any acrid smell.

‘Did someone knock over a candlestick or something?’

But why did you call the priests?

Theodore cautiously asked me as I tilted my head, feeling both relieved and puzzled.

“To me, it seemed like fire was spreading from Lady Minuelle…”

“Sir Tregosnan.”

Sister Elga quickly interrupted, though.

“Don’t bring up topics that aren’t certain.”

Under Elga’s gaze, which felt like it could pierce through, I couldn’t help but feel a bit intimidated.

However, Theodore was not someone who said empty words, even if he enjoyed joking.

I wanted to ask him again about the meaning of his words, but Sister Elga quickly lifted the hem of my dress.

“Minuelle, are you going to attend the banquet in that dress?”

“Ah…”

I quietly grasped the hem of the dress. The sky-blue dress I had carefully chosen was already crumpled and stained with fatigue, just like the mess that had become of me and Esadien’s relationship.

“No, of course not.”

Cheers to Sister Juella, who advised me to bring a spare dress to the banquet just in case. I smiled brightly.

“Just throw this away.”

With that one word, the bloodstained dress disappeared before my eyes as if it had never existed, and the swift transformation into a new outfit was complete.

💧

Thank you for reading!