The Crazy Villainess in This Area Is Me

He first delivered the letter Magorit asked for to Chelsea, then paced in front of Lobelia’s room. He had to start by knocking, but his hands didn’t move very well, unlike his energetic steps. He was even worried about what if he was making the wrong decision by getting caught in the fight between the two women. Jack thought it would be better to just go back. It was enough if he said he couldn’t find the poison. With his fists clenched, he turned around. It was then. “Oh my, Jack?” “…L-Little Madam.” Lobelia was standing behind him, smiling brightly. “What’s going on? You look like someone who has something to say.” “T-that’s…” “Come in. Let’s sit down and talk.” She opened the door and gestured toward him. Eventually, Jack, who was standing in a huddle, entered the room under the influence of Lobelia. “What kind of tea do you like?” “Yes…?” “Hmm, I think this would be good too.” She took out a bottle containing dried rose petals from the cupboard. Then she placed two cups of tea she had brewed on the table. “What are you doing? Take a seat.” “…But.” “It’s alright. I too, come from a commoner background. There’s no need to be too polite.” “Yes… Thank you.” He walked slowly and sat down in front of Lobelia. “There are cookies too.” “I’m okay…” “Try the tea. My brewing skill is not so bad.” She smiled comfortably and handed the tea over. Jack smiled awkwardly as he picked up a small teacup with his hands. The cute teacup, elegantly emblazoned with flower patterns, did not match his rough hands full of calluses. However, even a commoner could distinguish between good and bad. The tea brewed with dried rose petals that were not too strong was very fragrant. It felt like his heart was getting warm, so he slowly tilted his teacup. It was an unfamiliar taste, but it was perfect for light enjoyment. “So, what did you come looking for me for?” His movements while drinking tea became as cold as ice. Jack put the teacup down on the table with an embarrassed look on his face. “Jack? Your complexion doesn’t look good.” “…That’s…” His heart, which had been relaxed after drinking good tea, started pounding again. Cold sweat flowed down his face. He clenched his lips and rolled his eyes. Looking at such anxious Jack, Lobelia opened her mouth first. “You don’t have to tell me if it’s hard.” She continued leisurely, tilting her teacup gracefully. “I know. How hard your life is.” Then, with a soft smile on her mouth, she turned to him. “There’s something you want to tell me, but you can’t tell me, right?” The two eyes met in the air. Jack solidified his determination at the expression of her understanding and knowing everything. He must convey what he knows. “…Little Madam.” “Yes?” “Um, the madam in the annex…” Finally, his mouth, which had made a complete decision, uttered the words that had only been circulating inside. “She asked me to get her poison.” At his words, Lobelia’s expression hardened in an instant. “What did she ask for?” “…Poison.” “Ha…” A sneer slipped out from between her lips without her knowledge. It was she who ordered Chelsea to order Jack to send Bella’s letter to Magorit. She was afraid that if she isolated Magorit too completely, Magorit would end up hiding. Lobelia already expected such a move to be used, but how ridiculous is it to give such an order to someone who might betray you? It seemed like Magorit was no longer able to make completely rational decisions. “In the end, it looks like she’s trying to kill me again.” “That…” He added carefully, recalling the words Magorit had muttered. “That bitch’s only weakness is that child…” “…She also said that.” “…That child?” Lobelia’s mouth opened in shock. That piece of trash…! Curses rose to the top of her throat, but she managed to keep her mouth shut. Poison wasn’t something that would work on her anyway. Neutralizing it with her holy power was enough; the same was true for Merilly. The protective shield containing her mana and holy power always surrounded that child, and she had installed magic so that if something happened to her child, she would be the first to feel it. However, at the same time, she couldn’t understand it. How can she think of touching her child again? Isn’t she also someone who was born from someone’s womb? When on earth is she going to come to her senses? It seemed like she still hadn’t realized that Lobelia and her child weren’t at fault and that her anger should be directed at Endimion. Lobelia pressed her temple. Looking at her like that, Jack lowered both of his eyebrows and asked. “…A-are you okay…?” “…Yes. How can she even think of touching a child…” Lobelia deliberately blurted out her words. “…I know, right… I think the same…” “Is there anything else?” “Ah, I reported to her that you went to the Gracie Duchy… That, I saw a maid calling Little Madam as ‘Princess’…” “Ah, I see. It’s okay.” “…I apologize.” “It’s okay. Because I’m really a princess.” “…Yes?” His head lifted up as if he had heard it wrong. She said it again casually. “I’m the lost granddaughter of that family.” “Yes, yes? L-Little Madam…?” “Yes. I don’t mind if you go and report it. “I won’t report it…! I-I have children too… Anyone who harms a child…” Jack mumbled quietly, even though he was surprised by Lobelia’s bombshell. Lobelia could tell just by talking. Although he might have been shaken because of his children, he was a very kind and simple person. She got up from her seat and opened the drawer. “I heard from the other servants that you have children.” “Ah, yes…” “How old is the youngest?” “Seven, Madam…” “I heard that your child is sick.” “Ah… yes…” His complexion went dark in an instant. “Is it a serious illness?” She asked vaguely, thinking that if it was an illness that couldn’t be cured with money, she would personally go and cure that child. Jack smiled faintly and shook his head. “…No. It’s an ordinary illness that can be cured if you take good medicine… I’m such a bad father…” He emptied a cup of tea because his throat was sore. Lobelia looked at Jack with pity. That child was about the same age as Merilly. It was so pitiful that the young child couldn’t receive treatment because he had no money. That’s the fate of the child of someone who lived so hard. She immediately took some gold coins out of her clutch. “Is this much okay?” “Yes?” Then she held it out to Jack as it was. “Not being able to receive treatment because of lack of money is too harsh for a child.” “Gasp, n-no. I didn’t say this in the hope of receiving something. It’s just… Because I don’t want to hurt anyone…” However, it was too much to just receive it. He waved his hands in surprise. “I can’t take it… I was shaken for a moment… O-of course I didn’t really intend to bring the poison. I even hesitated whether I should tell you or not…” Besides, he had already been shaken once. Jack was not good enough to accept the gold coin by just saying thank you. He became even more ashamed of himself in front of the brilliantly shining gold coins. He bowed his head. Lobelia spoke to Jack in a low voice. “Everyone lives while being shaken.” His head slowly lifted in a soft tone as if she were coaxing a child. “You’re a human being, not an animal. Everyone lives with some worries.” Lobelia slowly headed to the window. “But at that crossroads, Jack, do you choose the right path or…” Then she lifted the curtain and looked toward the annex. “Do you choose the evil path like the madam in the annex…?” She could tolerate people messing with her, but she couldn’t stand people messing with Merilly. Although her holy power could heal the wounds of the body, it couldn’t heal the wounds of the mind. The image of her child watching Magorit in the dining room came to her mind, and her heart broke. But what would happen to Merilly’s heart if she found out that the woman she knew as her biological mother was trying to feed her poison? She was a child who hadn’t yet completely healed the wounds in her heart left by Magorit. Lobelia felt terrible just thinking about it. “There must be a standard that separates people from animals.” She pursed her lips as she drove the final wedge. Lobelia’s eyes shine bright blue as she stares at where Magorit is. It was full of evil intent, making it impossible to tell who is evil and who is good.