The Tragedy of The Villainess

****

"……."

Seria went to the temple on purpose. She was going to borrow the Stern insignia. That was the only way she could torture Mies. The more she came to the temple and prayed, the more the priests were pleased and puzzled.

Of course, she had other intentions for her visit to the temple.

She continued to reflect on the complex questions that had been hanging over her head all along.

She couldn't understand why Duke Dietrich sold the castle in the port city that was as good a connection as any to Lina. Did he really do that because he was upset with God? It would take an unidentified darkness flowing from Mies' body to make her believe it was a coincidence.

She held up her circlet to the Stern insignia. Just then, of all times, Abigail suddenly walked in.

The even bigger problem was that Abigail was completely fine. Of course she thought Abigail would faint like Duke Dietrich.

In the original story, Bibi was already a dead assistant, and she was only in the episode for a few lines and that was wrong.

That was why she had no connection to Lina.

What if?

Would only the characters who were positively related to Lina faint?

She limited it to positive because Seria herself didn't faint when she was hit by this divine power.

Seria was a real villain. She was a villain who was at odds with the heroine.

She quickly chose supporting characters who had a deep connection to Lina. One of them was Baron Ison, who was easy to find because he was right in the capital and would be praying in the temple for 100 days.

He had great respect for Stern at the temple, and it was easy to find out the time of his visit.

The result was Baron Ison's fainting.

Seria couldn't understand it. What on earth could this circlet and Lina have to do with each other that would lead to such a result?

It wasn't immediately clear to her, but Seria knew she had to get Lesche out of Mies's torture chamber, because he was the male protagonist.

If the supporting characters who were close to Lina fainted one after another, Lesche, the male protagonist, would naturally get a bigger shock. Seria definitely did not want Lesche to faint.

"…You…"

Seria continued slowly.

"Because you might be affected by the sacred power of the circlet. I was worried."

"You were worried that I might be affected?" (Lesche)

Lesche was still looking straight at her. Once again, she understood why Lesche always looked at her so carefully, as if he was observing her whenever they talked. He could see through her lies, and at the same time, he could find out the truth that she was not supposed to tell him.

"Then why did Abigail's Orrien stay down there?" (Lesche)

"'Because Bibi has nothing to do with the Prophecy." (Seria)

"Do I have a connection?" (Lesche)

"Yes. The most." (Seria)

Lesche's expression suddenly changed at that answer. It was only a moment, but it was as if he was falling apart… Why did he look like that?

Lesche looked at Seria and asked in a somber tone.

"Because I was the Saintess's husband in that bloody prophecy?" (Lesche)

It was not a long word. A look of deep hurt in his eyes at the same time. Hurt…. Wound…. As soon as Seria realized it, her heart sank. Lesche squeezed her hand and slowly put it down.

"…Take a rest, Seria."

Lesche got up from the bed. Seria was stunned as she watched him walk away, but she regained consciousness a beat later and hurriedly got up.

"Lesche!"

She ran unsteadily and grabbed Lesche's arm. Perhaps because she fainted for a few days, her legs completely lost their strength.

Lesche instantly caught her as she fell with a panicked look on his face, and they both fell straight to the floor. In the midst of all this, it was Lesche's body that finally touched the floor, as he showed a ridiculous amount of instantaneous agility.

Seria was lying on Lesche's chest. Lesche's face in front of her.

"……."

She couldn't quite remember what she was supposed to say when she tried to stop him. It was just that his face, which had always been so cold, and the shadow that wavered deeply in his pitiless eyes, left a pain deep in her heart. Who doesn't know how strong and how often a shock must be applied to scratch a hard rock?

"Lesche."

Seria's other hand that was gripping Lesche's shoulder trembled. The fever had not yet completely subsided.

"I'm too afraid of dying…"

"……."

"…so I can't forget what I read at that time. Because if I forget, I will die."

'Because I am destined to die. Because that's what Seria Stern is here to do, breathing like this. It would have been better if this was the beginning of the story. How much easier it would have been if I had kept you in my heart when I wasn't betrayed by Kalis, when I was sure I could be free in this original story.'

'But that is thoroughly my own personal problem. I'm cold hearted, but that was the truth. Does it make sense to hurt this person just because I got hurt?'

'No.'

"I didn't want to hurt you. I was just trying to find a way to live. I didn't mean to hurt you, I really didn't…." (Seria)

Seria couldn't continue to finish her words. An overflow of tears trickled down her cheeks.

"I'm sorry for making you feel nervous…." (Seria)

"……."

A silence fell. There were no more words that came to her mind. She let out all the words she had been keeping inside her heart. Even then, tears flowed out and fell onto Lesche's chest without rest. While she was rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand, her wrist went down in a tight grip.

Lesche was just looking at Seria with a face as twisted as hers.

"…… You are a wonder, Seria."

His fingers brushed her cheek slowly.

"'I thought you were sorry for worrying me." (Lesche)

"……."

"Can you see how I feel?" (Lesche)

"……."

"…Seria, stop crying." (Lesche)

Seria couldn't stop her tears and Lesche panicked. He took out a handkerchief from his pocket. The soft surface with body heat clinging to it reached her skin. She couldn't understand why her body was so warm when it should have been her face that was hot because of the fever.

"…I'm always anxious." (Seria)

Lesche's hand, which was wiping Seria's cheek, came to a halt.

"So… If I were in your shoes, I would have been nervous too." (Seria)

"……."

There was no reply from Lesche. The slow pace with which he wiped her cheek didn't last long. Lesche dropped the handkerchief on the floor. Then he hugged Seria tightly. He hugged her tightly, as if it didn't matter at all that his clothes got wet.

"There is an end to the prophecy, isn't there, Seria?" (Lesche)

"…There is." (Seria)

The ending was Lina and Lesche's wedding.

"It's a relief if there is an end."(Lesche)

Lesche sighed lowly.

"When it passes, you won't be so anxious." (Lesche)

When Seria couldn't answer, Lesche frowned and added.

"Let's correct it, Seria. It's no use being anxious. Because I have no intention of breaking my marriage pledge."

"……."

Of course, Seria knew well that Lesche was very conservative in marriage pledges. She knew it well….

After saying it in a tone that even sounded coercive, the hand that stroked down her back was cautious. A soothing touch. Seria felt strange. She wanted to ask something. After getting out of Lesche's arms, Seria looked at him and asked.

"Lesche."

"Yes?"

"Why are you so nice to me?"

"……?"

Lesche looked at Seria with a wonder in his eyes.

"Because I like you." (Lesche)

Seria's heart skipped a beat at that moment. Her chest was throbbing fast. She looked up at Lesche in a daze, then lowered her gaze.

'When I hold my emotions in check, they bloom on the other side, and when I hurriedly push that side, they teasingly bloom again on all sides. ….'

'The reason my cheeks are hot is probably because I'm still flushed with fever.'

"I like you too." (Seria)

Lesche blinked slowly. Seria didn't have time to figure out what expression he had on his face, because he suddenly covered Seria's eyes. Seria rushed to grab Lesche's hand and tried to pull it down. But he didn't move a muscle, as if he had steel on his hands.

"Lesche? What's wrong? What is it?"

"…Let's just stay like this for a while."

"What?"

Eventually Seria sat still, dumbfounded. She could hear Lesche mumbling to himself, but she really didn't know why. What was the reason for the sudden blindfold? Was there a dead body here?

But this was a bedroom, and behind was a wall, so there couldn't be a dead body in the bed…. 'What is it?'

Just in case, Seria slightly moved her knee to Lesche's solid thigh. Right away, Lesche asked in a surprise voice.

"What are you doing?"

"Just…."

Seria cleared her throat and said.

"I thought you were…"

Lesche, who was staring at Seria dumbfoundedly, chuckled.

"Then why are you covering my eyes?" (Seria)

"…Just." (Lesche)

As Seria talked, she started to feel embarrassed. She was disgusted with herself for suddenly checking Lesche's manhood with tears streaming down her face. It was a perfect example of what happens when you get carried away by the heat. 'Has my brain been immersed in divine power? How could I act without thinking?'

"Even if I am hurt because of the divine power. I still have a fever. A person does things in vain…."

"Seria."

"…… yes?"

'This is the man who notices me like a ghost when I'm shy or embarrassed.'

"Seria, I have no intention of covering your eyes. It's because your eyes were on the bed."

"Ah!"

Seria screamed out and covered her mouth. 'How in the world can a man named Grand Duke Berg speak ill of me whenever he has time? Do you think I'm staying still because I'm bad at it?'

Then she suddenly noticed that Lesche's cheeks were warmer than usual. That was strange. Her hands were probably hot from the fever right now… but if she felt the warmth from him, it meant Lesche was in a desired state.

"…Lesche, are you…? (Seria)

"It's your fever." (Lesche)

"Your face is warm." (Seria)

Lesche chuckled and finally dropped the hand that was covering Seria's eyes. Finally finding the light, Seria looked at Lesche's face and tilted her chin slightly.

"Your face seems to be red." (Seria)

"It's hot in the bedroom. You must be in pain." (Lesche)

Lesche answered simply and stood up with Seria in his arms. It was amazing. Seria wondered how tightly knit his muscles were, how he could get up so lightly, holding her in such a position.

"You must sleep, Seria."

"You should sleep with me."

"Shall we?"

Lesche gently set Seria down on the bed and then stepped over to change. The gown was always new and up on the table near the bed every day, so Lesche changed it right then and there, without leaving the room. His shirt fell to the ground. His muscular back moved as he put on his gown.

"I've been waiting for a few days, so I'll have to put up with it for another day." (Lesche)

"'…It's not that long." (Seria)

"No?" (Lesche)

"No." (Seria)

Lesche turned to Seria and smiled softly.

"I hope you get a good night's sleep today." (Lesche)

'Does that mean he won't let me sleep tomorrow?'

Seria asked because she was curious while trying to cover herself with the blanket.

"How long have you been awake?" (Seria)

"The whole time you were unconscious." (Lesche)

"…How long have I been unconscious?" (Seria)

Lesche didn't answer the question. Whether he knew she was her curious mind or not, he changed completely into his gown and lay down beside her. Lesche hugged Seria and whispered,

"Ask your knight tomorrow. Now, go to sleep."