Please Leave The Sickly Villainess Alone

Luka, who had dismounted from his horse, approached me.

“Sister Ria, I…”

As Luka trailed off, persistently watching my two brothers walking away, I quickly took out another handkerchief and gave it to him.

“Luka, I embroidered this handkerchief to mean ‘don’t get hurt and be sure to win.'”

As he accepted the soft handkerchief I placed in his hand, his cheeks flushed as if he was trying hard to maintain his composure.

He looked as cute as a child who had received a desired gift.

Black hair and red eyes were symbols of the noble imperial family. Although among the Emperor’s children, only Luka had fully inherited the red eyes.

But once, at the orphanage, Luka had said that the two black lions, symbols of Greffin, were ominous.

More precisely, he meant the red eyes.

So what I had engraved was not the Greffin emblem.

It was a sunflower.

Luka’s eyes widened slightly as he looked at the handkerchief modestly embroidered with yellow sunflowers, which I had seen in the Crown Prince’s palace garden he had taken me to last time.

“Back then, you told me you liked sunflowers.”

-Did you like sunflowers so much that you planted so many in the garden?

-Yes, it’s my favorite flower.

Recalling Luka smiling brightly as he said that, I had embroidered sunflowers.

It absolutely wasn’t because the imperial emblem was difficult…

Luka carefully tucked away the handkerchief, approached me, and kissed my hand.

“I’ll be going now. I’ll do my best to bring back the crown for Ria.”

“Haha… Don’t forget that taking care of yourself comes first, and have a safe trip.”

With Luka being the last, all those participating in the hunt left their seats.

The campsite soon transformed into an exchange venue, decorated with trays of refreshments and rare, beautiful flowers.

Since opportunities to interact with dignitaries from other countries were not common, and it could be a chance to open new trade routes, there were some who deliberately chose not to participate in the hunt.

They left to discuss detailed business plans with representatives from various countries.

Young ladies of similar age sat at tables quickly set up by servants, gathered in small groups to chat.

Rachel and I also took our seats at one table.

As Rachel was the highest-ranking person at this table, the young ladies seated with us took turns introducing themselves to her one by one.

“I am Ensia of the Dales Marquisate, Your Highness.”

The young lady who introduced herself last was the one who had been leading several groups since earlier.

Her distinctly aristocratic accent and dignified manners served as a model for the other young ladies.

‘Come to think of it, Marquis Dales…’

They were a prominent branch family of the Croia Marquisate.

‘Not to mention overflowing with money. Perfect.’

Among the young ladies seated here, she looked the most experienced, being the oldest.

In other words, Rachel and I appeared to be mere children before her.

However, Rachel nodded with an indifferent expression, showing no signs of being intimidated.

Rachel’s attitude when dealing with others was completely different from when she talked with me, and she didn’t speak much.

When the young ladies were chattering like skylarks, she had a face that seemed to wonder when this boring time would end.

The huge number floating in the air suddenly decreased from 100 to two digits.

[97-Arzenluka Blake De Greffin (30)]

“My goodness, His Highness the Crown Prince seems to have hunted three beasts in an instant.”

“And with each score being 10 points, he might have encountered Black Wolves, beasts that move in groups of three.”

Exclamations burst forth from among the young ladies.

Soon the number flickered again, and this time 4 had decreased.

Below Luka’s name, Miller and Drehan’s names appeared.

Miller’s score was 20, Drehan’s was 10.

Although Drehan wasn’t interested in swordsmanship, it was said that he had achieved good results in past hunting competitions with his unique strategies.

Miller, last year’s winner, was indeed closely following Luka.

‘Looks like they’re doing well.’

Luka was undoubtedly in the lead.

Soon Essil Claire’s name appeared, tying with him, but Luka quickly accumulated new points to widen the gap.

I looked around again.

Senia was smiling and chatting with young ladies who looked just as gentle as her at another table.

That face that smiled so brightly was truly cute enough to tame even that damned Duke Kablos.

‘Did Enoch Kablos not come this time either?’

He should have graduated from the academy in early spring along with Drehan, but he had never shown his face at official events until now.

At that moment, one young lady addressed Rachel with a concerned tone.

“Your Highness, have you been well since the debutante ball?”

To the girl who spoke with her hands clasped together, Rachel replied:

“As you can see, I’m perfectly fine. It’s all thanks to Ria here.”

At that, the gazes of those seated at the table shifted to me beside her.

It was when I awkwardly raised the corners of my mouth at that burdensome attention.

“Young Lady. I was there too, and it was like witnessing a miracle! Actually, I’ve been looking forward to meeting you like this.”

Huh?

To the words of the girl speaking so excitedly, another added:

“That’s right. It was the first time I saw a mage awakening, and it was truly impressive, Lady Rayes.”

As other young ladies nodded and voiced their agreement, Rachel smiled with satisfaction.

‘Surprisingly… they’re not so hostile towards me.’

There were certainly differences from the original work.

From my awakening as a healing mage to my friendships with Her Majesty the Empress, Luka, and Rachel.

It was perhaps natural that the treatment towards me would change based on these altered facts.

I gave them a relieved smile.

‘Maybe it was good that I came. I might have worried too much, when I could use this as an opportunity to expand my influence.’

At that moment, Ensia smiled and said to Rachel:

“Your Highness, the crossbow you brought today is so beautiful. It looks like something a goddess from mythology would use. Did you perhaps purchase it from the ‘Flame Forge’?”

As she said this, her group chimed in one by one.

“I bought this dagger from there too! As expected of the Empire’s top weapon shop, it seems worth the price.”

“I also got this bow…”

‘It must be a famous place. Well, that’s why they were keeping the Crimson Blade too.’

The young ladies each pulled out weapons that were as ornate as accessories.

Although they weren’t actually going hunting, they had brought them in accordance with the ritual.

The hunting festival, passed down from ancient times, required everyone to carry weapons even if they weren’t participating in the hunt.

It was an old custom, but there was a reason for it.

When the custom began, it was during the Warring States period when wars broke out about once a week, so everyone from women to children carried weapons, and bringing weapons to the hunting festival became a custom to remember that fierce past.

Though it looked like it would be difficult just to lift weapons with those delicate arms.

As everyone was examining each other’s weapons, a monotonous voice was heard.

“Come to think of it, didn’t Lady Rayes bring anything?”

It was Ensia. As she seemed to be asking out of genuine curiosity, I smiled awkwardly and said:

“No, I did bring something… but it’s difficult to take out right now.”

Surely if I summoned the Crimson Blade, it would vibrate as if telling me to take it and run into the forest to participate in the hunt, making a racket in my ears.

It might even become hot like a fireball after making sure I couldn’t let go of the handle, torturing me.

That’s why I had made that excuse.

“Pfft-“

A very faint, almost inaudible snicker reached my ears.

It was from the young lady sitting next to Ensia. She didn’t even bother to hide it, not covering her mouth with her hand.

Come to think of it, Ensia’s group had been conversing only among themselves while glancing at us, despite sitting at the same table.

When I looked at her, that young lady smiled gently and said:

“Ah, that can happen. Sometimes I too mistakenly bring an out-of-fashion fan to a party and feel embarrassed to take it out.”

As she spoke in a roundabout way that made it difficult to grasp her intention, the young ladies who had been friendly to me reacted as she wanted, thinking it was just a joke.

“Haha, has that really happened to you?”

“You make such witty jokes.”

“But it’s still part of the ritual. I’m worried you might be criticized for not bringing something. Of course, I understand since Lady Rayes is still adapting to noble society.”

However, Ensia’s subsequent words changed the atmosphere quite differently.

Although it contained subtly irritating content, her gentle and beautiful smile made it seem like there was no malice at all.

“Wait, did those words pass through your mind before being spoken? Do you realize how rude that statement was?”

At that moment, Rachel, who had been quiet until now, opened her mouth with an icy voice.

Rachel, looking at her with cold eyes, was terribly beautiful, but on the other hand, she was as sharp as a thorn.

At Rachel’s unfiltered words, Ensia spoke with a seemingly flustered tone:

“How could that be…! There was absolutely no ill intent. I was just impressed by how you’re just starting to adapt…”

The young ladies around us made uncomfortable faces at Ensia’s words, which looked at us as if we were mere children.

“Are you saying that because I didn’t show my weapon?”

At my words, Ensia stroked her sleek dagger and said:

“I only meant that it’s natural to be unfamiliar with weapons, as they are the private property of nobles.”

Continuing her peculiar way of speaking that grated on nerves, she was clearly the most experienced among the young ladies seated here.

Mercenaries also had weapons, but they were on a different level from the noble weapons that used high-quality items as naturally as breathing.

If a sword with noble enhancement magic clashed with a mercenary’s cheap sword, the mercenary’s rusty sword would definitely break in one exchange.

In Layola’s case, it seemed the Kablos Duchy had provided support for external defense.

Absolute force that commoners dared not covet, that was the private property of nobles.

The dagger in Ensia’s hand also looked splendid enough to be priceless.

Ensia was from a branch family of Croia, with no particular reason to impress Rachel.

No, perhaps like Jeria towards the Empress, she might believe herself superior to Princess Rachel.

She didn’t seem to know how her aunt, Lady Jeria, had left the campsite earlier.

From the conversation earlier, that group had arrived late to the hunting festival due to a wheel coming off their carriage.

Moreover, they were a family that owed nothing to Rayes, who had completely entered the Crown Prince’s faction.

Rather, my awakening as a healing mage and supporting Luka might have been viewed negatively.

Rachel’s voice rose sharply.

“Impressive? How dare you look down on Princess Rayes?!”

At that angry voice, young ladies sitting at other tables turned their gazes towards us, startled.

As if having achieved the desired reaction, Ensia, who had briefly worn a satisfied expression, reddened her eyes and said:

“Could I have made a mistake? If so, I will bow my head and apologize.”