Please Leave The Sickly Villainess Alone

“You must wake up now, Miss.”

Blearily opening my eyes, the first sight that greeted me was Garnett’s back.

Having tossed and turned through the night, my eyelids remained stubbornly heavy.

Would Luka’s feet be safe? Could I safeguard Rachel’s well-being…? The royal siblings had kept me awake with such worries.

‘Focus, focus. Even in the tiger’s den, as long as I keep my wits about me… My wits…’

“Ah, Miss! Don’t fall back asleep now!”

* * *

I realized nobles would go to such ridiculous lengths if they set their minds to it.

Emerging after barely completing my bathing ritual, drenched in exquisite fragrances, yet another ordeal awaited me.

Garnett, Sister Serine, and the solemn-faced maids meticulously ran their deft fingers through my pink-tinged silver tresses, straightening and curling each strand.

Their seasoned, delicate ministrations resulted in a truly breathtaking hairdo.

Whether due to the fragrances or not, my lustrous locks appeared far more vibrant and shimmering than usual, cascading in gentle waves down to my waist.

Tied in an elaborate half-updo and interwoven with small, unidentifiable floral accents, a faint floral scent seemed to waft over.

Finally, a pristine diamond-studded hairpin was fastened in place.

Next, I donned the piece de resistance handcrafted by a master artisan laboring night after sleepless night – the debutante ball dress.

The seamless fit made it feel as if the dress had been tailored exclusively for my form.

Completing the ensemble with the tiny crown gifted by Luka and the matching bejeweled shoes, I felt a profound sense of accomplishment, akin to emerging victorious from an arduous journey.

Though I had done nothing, it evoked the sensation of a magical girl having concluded her transformation sequence.

The maids’ whispered refrains of ‘A spring for Rayes as well’ while discreetly wiping away tears spoke volumes about how utterly adorable and flawless I must have appeared.

With satisfied smiles, Garnett and Serine ushered me before the mirror.

‘Woah…’

While a reflection I beheld daily, today’s visage was truly exceptional.

Despite my growing accustomed to this appearance, it seemed my innate narcissistic tendencies from my previous life lingered still.

I truly resembled the ethereal depictions of elven descendants found in literature.

Countless poetic phrases extolling elven beauty sprang readily to mind.

“Beautiful…”

The whispered word involuntarily escaped my lips as I scrutinized my own features, prompting Serine to smile and remark:

“Indeed. Our Miss Ria will undoubtedly be the prettiest lady in attendance at today’s debutante ball.”

“Well…”

Would that even be possible? I doubted it.

There was not only Rachel, the spitting image of the transcendent Empress hailed as a peerless beauty of her generation, but also the lovable Senia, destined to become the novel’s heroine.

And yet, my current appearance seemed ample enough to stake a claim.

‘But what meaning would that hold?’

In any case, I had long since abandoned such paltry aspirations as an insignificant extra in this story.

At the very least, I hoped to avoid any unsightly stumbles that might trample the Crown Prince’s feet in this form.

Knock-knock-

An unusually crisp knocking resounded, as if the visitor’s knuckles were rapping against finely aged timber.

At my nod of approval, Garnett opened the door to welcome the guest.

“We greet Your Highness the Crown Prince, the sun that illuminates the Empire’s skies.”

Led by Garnett, everyone present curtseyed deeply towards Luka.

His well-groomed black hair and slightly matured crimson eyes reaffirmed his status as the realm’s ultimate handsome man.

Garbed in formal attire matching my dress’s color scheme, standing before Luka made me wonder if I paled in comparison.

Should I have adorned myself even more elaborately? Such thoughts arose until Luka strode forward, sinking to one knee before me and gazing upwards, pressing a brief kiss upon my hand.

“You are the most beautiful in all the world.”

You… You sure know how to spout such embarrassing lines from the crack of dawn, don’t you?

Undoubtedly, he remained an utter blockhead – was this some kind of male lead buff?

Feeling my face flush hotly, I muttered:

“As are you.”

I could offer no higher praise.

If I began gushing effusive compliments about his beauty, it would surely become a lifetime of teasing material for the others present, Sister Serine included.

The sniggering Terry and Ben peeking furtively from beyond the doorway made it clear Luka was already the target for teasing.

“Shall we depart, Ria?”

Accepting Luka’s escort, I descended the stairs.

Though there was no risk of them fluttering away, he grasped my hand with such tender care. A playful impulse struck, and I feigned a momentary loss of balance.

While my center of gravity remained perfectly steady, rendering the display rather clumsy, the exaggerated yelp proved quite convincing.

“Ah, ah…!”

“Ria!”

Contrary to my assumption of his dense obliviousness, Luka fell for the amateur act hook, line, and sinker, swiftly catching my waist.

The recoil did genuinely throw off my balance momentarily, but the firm embrace supporting me felt as unshakable as a bedrock, reassuring me.

“Just a joke… Sorry.”

Luka’s severe look, as if about to lecture me on a hundred reasons why such dangerous pranks were unacceptable, prompted me to hurriedly disentangle myself from his arms and continue down the stairs.

The rather voluminous dress’s hem kept catching underfoot, hindering my steps, until Luka smoothly gathered the fabric, enabling me to descend with far greater ease.

Awaiting us below were the estate’s three lords, all presenting their most dashing selves.

Their signature silver hair symbolizing the Rayes clearly set me apart, as if I were an impurity amidst their presence.

And yet, their warmly appraising gazes made me resolve to disregard any such notions henceforth.

“You’ve arrived first, I see.”

“Ria! You look like an angel, my dear sister!”

Miller rushed over, subtly shoving Luka aside to envelop me in a hug.

Dad and Drehan followed, each offering their own remarks.

“Befitting a daughter of our lineage.”

“Worthy of being called my sister.”

Their awkward phrasing, as if preemptively countering any doubts about my legitimacy, was an unmistakable family resemblance.

In contrast, Miller bordered on an aberration…

“Ah, it seems my daughter’s radiance blinded me to properly greeting Your Highness.”

Dad let out a stilted chuckle before greeting the Luka whose hand remained entwined with mine, undeterred by Miller’s antics.

“May the Goddess’ blessing be with you. I greet you, Your Imperial Highness the Crown Prince.”

“I understand all too well. Ria is truly breathtaking today…”

I promptly covered Luka’s mouth to silence him.

There would be no public shaming even before entering the tiger’s den, so to speak.

Honestly, bragging about his cat like some doting pet owner.

Though his words were cut off, the other three seemed to grasp the gist, their composure slipping slightly.

Leaving them behind, I took Luka’s hand and led him out the open door.

“We’ll see you all at the ballroom later, Dad, Brothers!”

Having barely boarded the imperial carriage, I gripped Luka’s arm and spoke sternly:

“What’s gotten into you this morning, did you eat something disagreeable?”

“I would prefer to believe that. Otherwise, the Ria before my eyes is…”

“No.”

I ended up muffling his mouth once more, leaning back against the carriage seat.

* * *

In contrast to my previous visits, the imperial castle was adorned far more lavishly this time.

As the ceremonial debut of the prospective socialite elite, the appropriate preparations had been made.

Rows of carriages lined the streets in a procession.

Each bore the distinct emblems of their respective noble houses, but for me, it was the first time witnessing such a grand gathering.

The surreal scene made my heart race, a stark reminder of reality resurfacing.

The imperial guards, recognizing the imperial family’s carriage, allowed us to bypass the queue and proceed directly into the palace grounds.

Through the windows, I glimpsed young ladies around my age craning their necks to peer into our carriage.

The renowned Crown Prince himself, already out and about from the early morning of the debutante ball – an unprecedented occurrence.

He was undoubtedly escorting his partner, contrary to everyone’s expectations of him accompanying his own sister.

Furthermore, upon catching sight of me, their expressions morphed into shock bordering on dismay.

Leaving the rising murmurs behind, our carriage crossed through the palace gates.

Luka explained that as the first in line for the imperial succession, our entrance would be the final one.

“Such contradictions.”

“Indeed. We should have entered early to scout the menu first.”

“Ria remains ever consistent.”

Is it a compliment…?

Hence, despite arriving punctually, we headed to the Crown Prince’s palace gardens as it was still too early for the designated entrance time.

There, an unexpected figure awaited us.

While we had agreed to meet again, I hadn’t anticipated crossing paths so promptly.

“I greet you, Your Imperial Majesty the Empress.”

Seated at a shaded table, sipping tea, was the Empress herself.

Despite the mild weather, her shoulders remained heavily draped in a shawl, yet her expression bore a serene smile, a marked contrast from our previous encounter.

“We meet again, Laveria.”

“Mother, you’ve come as well.”

Luka offered a casual greeting, prompting the Empress to nod awkwardly with a faint smile.

“I couldn’t simply remain idle upon learning of Laveria’s impending arrival…”

Observing their interaction, it was evident that while the rift between them had begun healing, a lingering awkwardness persisted.

“You are welcome at the Crown Prince’s palace at any time, Mother.”

Luka seemed to reconsider adding further words before trailing off.

Perhaps he had wished to say not just the Crown Prince’s palace, but anywhere within the imperial grounds, befitting her status as Empress.

After all, the Greffin Imperial Castle boasted exquisite gardens acclaimed worldwide, serene greenhouses, and magnificent ancient palaces. It would have been ideal for her to create cherished memories in such splendid settings during her remaining time.

‘More importantly, how can I dissipate this uncomfortable air…?!’

I led Luka over, taking a seat alongside the Empress.

Assuming the role of mediator, I felt a responsibility to facilitate a more amiable atmosphere between them and spoke with a solemn tone:

“Shall I recount Luka’s tales from his time at the orphanage?”

I let out an amused chuckle, setting the mood.

* * *

While I felt apologetic towards Luka, this had swiftly devolved into a conversational arena solely between the Empress and myself.

Her persona from her when she was a Baron’s daughter remained intact – affable and candid in her speech.

“Haha, so you’re saying this child truly couldn’t fall asleep without holding your hand?”

“After coming to the palace, he could no longer sleep beside me, so I gifted him a teddy bear as a substitute.”

“Ah, the tears…”

The Empress dabbed at the tears that had inevitably spilled forth amidst her laughter.

Wedged between us, Luka murmured under his breath:

“That teddy bear only made me miss Ria even more, making it harder to sleep…”

Thwack-

Too late. What was the point of muffling him after the words had already escaped?

Covering her mouth with her hand, the Empress regarded us with a bemused look.

“Oh my…”

She then smiled knowingly, nodding her head in apparent understanding.

About what?!

I hurriedly changed the subject.

“By the way, will you not be attending the ball, Your Majesty?”

“I have been unwell, so Jeria handles most of my external duties these days.”

No matter her ailing condition, the Empress seemed perfectly lucid as she continued her vigil here.

The Croia Marquisate from which Jeria’s family hailed still refused to acknowledge the Empress’s status as a mere Baron’s daughter.

Hence, from their perspective, Jeria was tantamount to the Empress herself.

For a Consort to even preside over the debutante ball was unprecedented.

Seeming to sense my thoughts, the Empress smiled wryly and remarked:

“I prefer it this way. Unable to flee from such burdensome affairs, I chose to be forgotten instead.”

The fact that oblivion had been one of her only two choices felt lamentable.

“If that forgotten emptiness arises, we shall fill that void for you.”

In my previous life, after sustaining my injury, I had wished to be swiftly forgotten whenever news of me surfaced.

Yet to truly be erased so thoroughly, as if I had never existed – the resulting hollow emptiness proved unfathomable. That memory enabled me to empathize with the Empress’s plight.

The ones who had filled that void for me were my family.

The Empress too had such a family.

At my words, she initially feigned surprise before breaking into a warm smile, nodding in affirmation.

“Mother, I believe it’s time for us to take our leave.”

“Yes. Today has truly been delightful. Ria, I look forward to hearing more orphanage tales next time?”

“Certainly!”

As I turned to depart for the carriage, a gentle yet warm hand stalled my steps.

Luka had already gone ahead, so he wouldn’t have heard it.

“Thank you for becoming a friend to Luka and Rachel. Please, take good care of my children…”

Those clear golden eyes spoke as if already aware of her impending fate, uttering those parting words.

Instead of a reply, I clasped the Empress’s trembling hands in mine.