The Crazy Villainess in This Area Is Me

“

…” The child’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. Merilly pressed her temple and shook her head.

“What’s wrong, Merilly?”

“I-it’s nothing. I had a headache for a moment…”

“You shouldn’t have a headache.” I quickly approached the child and gently smoothed Merilly’s hair. My golden holy power flowed weakly from the warm touch.

“

” The child’s eyes glinted clear at the beautiful color.

Merilly’s expression was so cute that I spoke with a smile. “It’s a secret between us, understand?”

“Yes. I won’t tell anyone! Even to Roseni too…”

“Thank you for keeping my secret. It’s a secret that shouldn’t be known yet.”

“You treated me, so of course I have to keep it…!”

Merilly clenched her fists with a firm expression typical of a child. I had only just removed Magorit from the annex, but Merilly’s expression was much more relaxed than before.

I resisted the urge to hug my child and turned my head with a smile. As I looked at the clock, it was almost time for lunch.

“By the way, Merilly.”

“Yes?”

“Would you like to cook with me?”

“Cook?”

“Yes. The food for us to eat. I thought it would be a good idea if we could make it together.”

Still, she was raised as a noble, so I could have been rejected. I looked at Merilly with a slightly nervous expression.

“I like it!”

But despite my worries, my child’s expression was very bright.

“I didn’t expect you to like it so much.”

“Then can we make the corn porridge you made last time together?”

A slightly excited voice turned towards me. I tilted my head in wonder but smiled softly. “Was it that delicious?”

“…Yes. Strangely enough…”

Merilly trailed off slightly but then concluded her words as if she had made up her mind.

“The word ‘Mom’ came to my mind.”

“Mom…?”

“Yes.

” The child laughed awkwardly.

My eyes wavered fragilely. During my five-year absence, I couldn’t protect Merilly. Even though I was such a bad mother, my child still had my traces.

“I see. Thank you for liking my cooking.” I gulped down my dry saliva as I felt like I was about to cry. “Shall we go then? It’s not difficult.”

“Yes!”

With an overstated reply, we affectionately headed to the kitchen.

“Oh my, Lady.”

When Merilly and I entered the kitchen, the servants looked at us with surprised expressions. However, as soon as I explained the whole story and gave each of them a silver coin, they immediately disappeared with a touched look on their faces.

“Now, roll your arms first.”

I rolled Merilly’s wrist. Then I looked around and looked for corn. There was a mountain of corn in the basket.

“As expected, because this is Hamilton March, there’s a lot of good corn.”

“Is that so?”

“Then would you like to try to make cornbread?”

“Cornbread?”

“It’s bread made with corn flour and steamed rather than baked. I also learned it from my mother.”

I immediately took out the corn. Indeed, making bread rather than porridge would be more fun for the child.

“First, you have to soak the corn to make porridge…”

Finding a large bowl, I handed some corn to Merilly. “While I look for the flour, can Merilly separate the corn kernels?”

“Yes! I think it’s going to be a lot of fun!”

The child’s eyes sparkled as she tried something for the first time. Merilly painstakingly separated the corn kernels using her little hands. Although it was awkward for her, she found it increasingly fun as she did it. Meanwhile, I found corn flour and prepared the ingredients so that my child could play with it.

“Wow, you’re good, Merilly.”

“It’s more fun than I thought…!”

“Then, try kneading this too. Soft ones will be fun.”

Originally, it was kneaded with water, but I added butter, milk, eggs, and a little sweet syrup to give it a little more flavor.

Merilly stared at a bowl containing various ingredients. Then she slowly opened her mouth. “That, Lobelia.”

“Yes?”

“Can I make more of what we’re making now?”

“

? Why?”

“I also want to give it to the people who worked in the kitchen earlier. The food I made.” The child smiled brightly. “They always work for me.”

At those words, I felt suffocated.

I understand that the situation was inevitable, but in any case, they were the ones who stood by and turned a blind eye to the small child being abused.

But Merilly didn’t resent them. She didn’t hate anyone. She was just grateful for even the smallest thing.

I was very proud of my daughter, who grew up properly even in this environment.

I nodded my head. “That’s a good idea.”

There are many kinds of punishments. It could take away something you care about or cause pain to your body. But this would be a different kind of punishment for the servants. Maximizing guilt by stimulating their conscience… A punishment that will make them blame themselves for having to neglect such a good child and suffer from regret.

“Then can I try kneading with my hands?”

“Of course. If you mix it well, you will get a plump dough.”

With a strange look on her face, Merilly put a small hand on her cheek. A mixture of strange textures, including the stickiness of eggs, corn flour, melted butter, and syrup, surrounded her small hands.

“

”

“You won’t get used to it at first. Mix it well, Merilly.”

I smiled as I chopped onions and carrots for the porridge. The child moved her hand eagerly. Soon, the ingredients started to stick together and slowly form dough.

“It’s turning into dough!”

“You need strength. Knead it harder.”

“Yes!”

Merilly excitedly kneaded the dough. She had lacked strength since she was still a child, but the bread dough took shape thanks to her hand work.

“Now, let me help you.”

I finished the dough that was almost already done. Our collaboration was already giving off a fragrant scent.

“Now, take it off little by little and shape it into a pretty shape.”

“It sounds fun.”

Merilly worked hard on the dough and made it into a distorted heart shape.

“Is it a heart?”

“Yes, I’m going to make it with my heart.”

“

I think everyone will like it. They receive a pretty heart from Merilly.”

“I hope so.” The child smiled shyly.

Looking at Merilly’s lovely figure, I also smiled brightly. After working harder, the porridge came to a boil, and the bread was put on the steamer, giving off a delicious smell.

“

, it smells delicious. It’s my first dish!”

“It will be really delicious. I’m looking forward to it too. Shall we invite Roseni and eat together?”

Looking at the time, it has already been two hours. Since Roseni wasn’t in good condition, bringing that child over to cheer her up would have been good.

“Yes. I hope Roseni likes my bread!”

“I’m sure she will like it.”

Although it was a small piece of bread, I gently raised my mouth, hoping that the child’s wounds would heal at least a little. Soon, white smoke began to burst out of the steamer.

“I guess it’s almost done.”

I put on the kitchen gloves and opened the steamer. When I poked one of the bread with a fork, I found that it was well cooked.

Looking at Merilly full of anticipation, I was about to take out the cooked bread. That was when I saw Jack passing by outside the window.

“

?”

As if Magorit had called him, he was heading towards the annex with a troubled look on his face.

 A slight sigh escaped from my lips.

“Why?”

“Ah, Merilly. Something urgent came up, so I think I’ll have to go for a while.”

I opened the kitchen door slightly. Chelsea was pacing around in the hallway like a knight guarding the kitchen.

“Chelsea.”

“Ah, yes, yes.”

“Would you mind helping Merilly finish some work? I’ll be back soon.”

“Yes, of course!” She answered bravely, filled with guilt and regret for having ignored Merilly all this time.

“Okay then, Merilly. I’ll be back for a while.”

“Thank you.”

I lightly kissed the child’s cheek.

“

”

Merilly’s cheeks immediately became as bright as a peach.

I smiled once more and quickly took my steps.

It didn’t look like Jack had already entered the annex. So I hurried my steps, embracing my anxious heart.

My trembling eyes immediately turned to the annex in the distance. Strangely enough, the air was very cold.

Jack’s bitter expression came to mind, and my heart beat rapidly. I grabbed the hem of my dress and started running. It was faster than using teleportation, as I was almost there. Finally, my steps crossed the entrance to the annex.

“…

!”

Someone’s groan passed my ears. I let out a harsh breath and flung open Magorit’s door. In front of me,

“Jack…!”

There stood Jack, bleeding, and Magorit holding a golden candlestick.