Please Leave The Sickly Villainess Alone

The diverging fates of Senia and Ria soon became clearly apparent.

First, thanks to absorbing the healing magic, Senia’s body improved day by day.

The doctors who had said she wouldn’t live past five all called it a miracle.

On the day she safely turned six, she awakened healing magic as the Duke had expected.

“Young miss, congratulations!”

“A healing mage, how amazing!”

“But it’s strange, in Kablos…”

Young Senia, who had been elated by the maids’ sweet words, froze her expression at the last maid’s words.

“What did you say?”

“Ah, nothing! I misspoke!”

Slap-!

A loud friction sound echoed.

Even though her small hand must have stung, Senia slapped the maid’s cheek once more.

Slap-!

“Do I seem strange to you? Am I funny?”

“That’s not what I meant…!”

“Dispose of her.”

“Y-Young miss!”

Though only six years old, she was truly arrogant befitting a Kablos child.

Senia stuck out her tongue at the maid being dragged away.

Finally, in the room where everyone had left, Senia looked down at the sun pattern of the great healing mage and smiled a sunny smile.

She doesn’t know why she, a Kablos child, came to have healing magic that only appears in the Rayes bloodline.

Someone said it must be because there was a marriage between the two families several generations ago.

“With this, Father will surely like me!”

Whatever the reason, it was a miraculous ability for Senia, who had always craved the affection of her indifferent father.

[I came looking for powerful magic, but it’s just such a little brat.]

At that moment, a black form appeared behind Senia.

It was a huge black snake.

The snake said to the startled Senia:

[Wait, you have too much greed. Yes, you crave your father’s affection?]

“Who, who are you!”

[Me? Let’s say I’m a familiar for now. Make a contract with me, human. I’ll grant what you desire.]

Normally, familiars couldn’t communicate with humans before making a contract, but the snake flicked its long tongue and whispered sweet words.

[True mages each have familiars like me.]

“Come… come to think of it!”

Senia remembered that the mages she had glimpsed always had such animals with them.

Surprise soon turned to excitement, and Senia made a contract, swayed by the snake’s honeyed words.

After that, Senia became able to smell different ‘scents’ depending on others’ emotions.

When Senia treated maids badly as usual, a terrible smell emanated from the maids to the point of making her head throb.

“Aaaah…!”

Senia suffered from the terrible scent that made her head feel like it was splitting.

[Fool. Even if your insides are pitch black, smile brightly on the outside. Then you won’t suffer anymore.]

The snake whispered in Senia’s ear.

And when she did as told, truly the terrible smell no longer emanated.

Rather, when she treated them well, a sweet candy-like scent arose.

As time gradually passed, Senia became accustomed to thoroughly wearing a mask and acting kind rather than revealing her true self.

And even Duke Kablos, who had always been indifferent to her, changed markedly after she changed her behavior.

“Ah, I’m sorry! Young miss!!”

The maid who had dirtied Senia’s clothes at the dining table prostrated herself, trembling.

Senia wanted to kick the maid away immediately, but forced herself to smile, raising the corners of her mouth to avoid the foul smell.

“It’s alright. Get up quickly.”

“But young miss!”

“I said it’s fine.”

Duke Kablos stared at Senia like that and muttered:

“To be so overly kind…”

It was the first time the Duke, who had never shown the slightest interest in his young daughter, reacted to her.

The surprised Senia opened her eyes wide, and soon felt a faint sweet scent on the tip of her nose.

Recalling what the snake had told her, Senia clearly realized the benefits of the mask, and thereafter thoroughly hid herself.

Sometimes she quietly disposed of a few maids who made mistakes in their excitement, but outwardly she became widely known as a kind and gentle young lady.

As time gradually passed, she even captured the Duke’s heart.

Just by hiding her true nature and treating people well because she disliked the foul smell, an enormous change occurred.

A sweet scent wafted wherever Senia’s feet touched.

There was no one who disliked her.

Outwardly, Senia gradually became an angel, but inwardly she became more and more of a selfish child who only cared about herself.

She could have everything she wanted and became a beloved existence in everyone’s attention.

But then…

“This is strange.”

It was the day Senia first went to the imperial palace with Duke Kablos.

Twelve-year-old Senia, who had become separated from the Duke after being distracted, wandered through the maze-like garden many times.

“Where is this now? Anyway, it’s incomparably prettier than the Duke’s mansion… I want it.”

Senia suddenly thought she wanted this imperial palace too someday.

[You can have it if you become Empress.]

The snake’s voice was heard.

“That’s right, if I become Empress…”

Rustle-

At that moment, a boy appeared from among the bushes.

Black hair and crimson eyes, an unrealistic beauty not of this world.

He was a boy who aroused the utmost desire for possession in Senia, who liked shiny things.

[It’s the Crown Prince. This is perfect. You know what you’re good at, right? Smiling softly like a fox and capturing human hearts.]

‘The Crown Prince…?!’

It was the first time Senia’s heart had beaten so fiercely.

Arzenluka’s existence was strongly imprinted on young Senia’s heart.

Senia grabbed Luka, who was turning around without even glancing at her.

“Y-Your Highness! I am Senia Fren Kablos. I came with my father and got… got lost.”

Senia looked up at Luka, lowering the corners of her eyes pitifully and wearing the mask that had made everyone, even the icy Duke Kablos, fall for her.

‘Huh…?’

However, no scent brushed Senia’s nose.

Neither a foul smell nor a good scent. She couldn’t feel anything.

The Crown Prince seemed like a person devoid of emotions.

“Follow me.”

Luka took Senia to the main palace where Duke Kablos was, with an expressionless face.

“Where have you been! I was worried.”

“Hehe, I’m sorry, Father.”

Senia showed an extremely cute smile to the Duke calling her and hugged him.

And soon she ran hurriedly to Luka, who was turning to leave.

“Your Highness, thank you! Next time we meet, I’ll repay…”

“It’s fine.”

The boy left without emitting any scent still.

[Little one, why is your heart beating so fast? Don’t tell me you’ve fallen in love?]

Even at the snake’s giggling voice, Senia blankly followed the retreating figure of the Crown Prince.

Without realizing it, she vowed to someday make that boy full of fragrance.

It was her first love.

* * *

“I… I was first! I liked His Highness first…!”

Senia collapsed in front of the pillar.

Could it be that the sweet scent filling the banquet hall was truly coming from the Crown Prince she had known?

From that expressionless boy!

Senia, who had never failed to get anything she wanted until now, couldn’t accept this fact.

The angelic face that always smiled was now wretchedly distorted.

Senia recalled Ria smiling happily.

“How dare a lowly fake!”

To think a commoner became a healing mage. It must be a deception.

What kind of sorcery did she use to steal what was hers?

[Little one, get a grip.]

At that moment, the snake whispered in Senia’s ear.

“Would you get a grip if you were me?! Do you know how much I’ve longed for His Highness!”

It was as good as over now.

A sweet voice was heard in Senia’s ear, who had mistaken strong possessiveness for love.

[It’s not over yet, fool.]

“What do you mean…”

[You’ll soon be selected as the imperial palace healing mage and follow the Crown Prince to the battlefield. You still have a chance.]

“But he’s already proposed so publicly like that.”

[Don’t worry about the fake. I’ll take care of her while you’re on the battlefield.]

“Really?”

[Yes. You know I’m different from those stupid believers, right?]

Senia came to her senses at the snake’s sweet talk.

[Hurry back to the banquet hall. They’ll select the imperial palace healing mage soon. You want to see that fake being treated miserably, don’t you?]

“…Yes, I want to see that.”

Senia spread her distorted face wide and put on her usual gentle mask again.

She would soon be selected as the noblest imperial palace healing mage, and the fake would become everyone’s laughingstock.

It was the most anticipated event of the day, so she couldn’t miss it.

Senia mechanically tidied her disheveled appearance and moved her steps steadily.

‘I can still turn His Highness’s heart.’

Just that fact made a satisfied smile naturally settle on Senia’s lips.

The snake had never disappointed her, so it would surely take care of the fake well while she was on the battlefield.

The misplaced fate could be set right again!

Senia’s steps soon became even cheerful.