I Will No Longer Live As Your Villainess

Lorirolds stepped closer, narrowing the gap between them until their toes almost touched. Flustered, Lady Laurencia instinctively retreated a step, maintaining a safe distance.

The social dances she remembered didn’t involve such close proximity. They began with a polite bow, followed by fluid movements that barely brushed the surface of physical contact. What Lorirolds was suggesting—blatant hugging and invasive closeness—was far from acceptable.

“Lady Laurencia, social dances begin with the man and woman this close. You shouldn’t pull away,” Lorirolds said, his tone patronizing.

But every time he advanced, Lady Laurencia retreated. The repetitive push and pull visibly irritated him, and eventually, he snapped.

“Do you even want to learn how to dance?” he demanded.

“Doesn’t a social dance start with a proper greeting? And I’d appreciate it if you didn’t get so close,” Lady Laurencia replied, maintaining her composure.

“You just need to follow my lead. Why are you acting like the teacher here? I’m the one teaching, aren’t I?”

The true reason Lady Anne had assigned Lorirolds to her became painfully clear. His leering gaze roved over her underdeveloped body, making her skin crawl. Lady Laurencia clenched her lips in silent discomfort, her patience at its breaking point.

The lust in Loriroldss’ murky eyes filled her with revulsion. As she pondered ways to escape him, something strange began to happen.

It was as if Lorirolds froze in place. His image rippled like water, distorting and swirling into a vortex that seemed ready to swallow him whole. Lady Laurencia blinked in shock, but the bizarre scene subsided as quickly as it began. Lorirolds was gone, replaced by a new, haunting vision.

“No! Please let me go home!”

“Sophie, didn’t you say you belong to me?”

In the vision, a woman named Sophie was crying and pleading to be sent home. Lorirolds stood before her, downing an entire bottle of liquor before rolling the empty bottle toward the cornered woman. A twisted grin spread across his face.

“If you don’t obey me, I’ll kill your entire family, you filthy commoner.”

His face was twisted with unrestrained desire as he leered at Sophie.

Lady Laurencia instinctively reached out, desperate to protect the woman. She tried to run toward them, but the closer she got, the farther they seemed to drift away.

The scene rippled again, shifting to another moment.

“I’m tired of you, Sophie,” Lorirolds sneered, mocking the woman before him.

“Disappear, Sophie.”

Lady Laurencia clasped her hands over her mouth, tears streaming down her face. Sophie, already broken and devastated, sat there, her eyes vacant as tears silently fell.

“I starved you because I like skinny women, but you still gained weight!”

“I’m only carrying your child, Master Lorirolds,” Sophie said, her voice trembling.

The scene flickered and disappeared, like ripples fading from a disturbed pond.

“Lady Laurencia, what are you so lost in thought about?” Lorirolds’ voice snapped her back to reality.

She didn’t know why she had suddenly seen his past, but one thing was clear—what she had witnessed wasn’t just a memory. It was a glimpse of his crimes.

“You look beautiful even when you’re deep in thought,” Lorirolds said, his hand brazenly caressing her cheek. The touch sent chills down her spine.

“This isn’t right, Sir Lorirolds,” Lady Laurencia said, stepping back.

“What isn’t right?”

“I don’t want to learn social dancing if it requires this kind of physical contact with you.”

“Social dancing involves such contact. Don’t resist—just let yourself go,” he said, licking his lips suggestively.

Lady Anne’s words echoed in Lady Laurencia’s mind: this room was private, and no one would disturb them. It was a trap.

“Please leave,” Lady Laurencia demanded firmly.

“Did you know we might end up married? I heard you haven’t even started your cycles yet,” Lorirolds said with a sly grin.

“And you heard that from Lady Anne?”

“She’s worried about whom to marry you off to, so I offered to take you.”

Lorirolds grabbed her slender wrist with a force that made her wince.

“Let go of my wrist, Sir Lorirolds,” she said firmly.

As he smirked and reached for her hair, something extraordinary happened.

A nearby vase moved on its own.

Startled, Lorirolds released her wrist and stumbled back as the vase floated into the air before crashing to the ground with a deafening shatter.

“What… what is this?”

His face turned pale as he looked around, clearly terrified. The sight of the vase moving by itself had shaken him to his core.

“What’s wrong, Sir Lorirolds?” Lady Laurencia asked, her voice calm and composed.

She looked down at him with an unshaken demeanor, even as he sat trembling on the floor.

Lady Laurencia calmly walked past him, picked up the small bell on the table, and rang it. No one came. She rang it again, more forcefully this time, but the room remained eerily silent.

“Release my wrist, Sir Lorirolds.”

Lorirolds, who had been humming with a wicked grin, suddenly reached for Lady Laurencia’s hair.

At that moment, a vase nearby began to move on its own.

Startled, Lorirolds released Laurencia’s wrist, stumbling back in shock.

“What… what is this?!”

The vase floated into the air before crashing to the floor with a deafening shatter. Lorirolds backed away, his legs giving out as he fell to the floor, trembling.

His eyes were wide with a mixture of terror and disbelief as he stared at the shattered vase.

“Why are you so frightened, Sir Lorirolds?” Lady Laurencia asked calmly.

Lorirolds stared at her with fear in his eyes, unable to comprehend how she could remain so composed.

Laurencia walked past him and picked up the small bell on the table. She rang it, but no one came. She rang it again, more forcefully, but the room remained eerily silent.

It became clear that Lady Anne had likely instructed the servants not to respond, no matter what they heard from this room. Anger surged within Laurencia as she dropped the bell to the floor.

She walked straight to the door, and as she did, the decorations and clocks hanging on the walls began to fall and shatter one by one. The sound of breaking objects paralyzed Lorirolds with fear.

Standing at the door, Laurencia turned the handle, but it wouldn’t budge. She tried again, putting all her strength into it, but the door was firmly locked from the outside.

She had anticipated this. While she had mentally prepared for it, experiencing the situation firsthand was far more revolting.

Realizing the door wouldn’t open, Laurencia turned back and walked toward Lorirolds. Her gaze was cold as she looked down at him.

Lady Anne had surely told Lorirolds that the locked door meant he could do whatever he pleased inside the room. Whatever “accident” occurred here would be blamed on Laurencia for “enticing” him. The thought made Laurencia scoff.

If Lady Anne wanted an incident to occur, so be it. But the aftermath of that incident would be far beyond what she could handle.

Laurencia smirked faintly before her expression turned serious.

“Sir Loryrols.”

“Huh?”

“Rather than marrying immediately, would you like to start by dating me?”

Lorirolds stared at her, unnerved by her sudden proposal. No matter how much she might fit his taste, her bizarre demeanor made him want nothing to do with her.

“Lady Laurencia, I think it would be best if you chose another gentleman to escort you at your debutante ball,” Lorirolds replied nervously.

“Step back.”

At Laurencia’s command, a loud bang resounded as a picture frame behind him fell and shattered.

“Do you think the objects breaking in this room are merely coincidences?” Laurencia asked, her voice eerily calm.

Lorirolds hiccuped, unable to close his gaping mouth as he stared at her in terror.

“You’ll date me, won’t you, Sir Lorirolds?”

Laurencia’s violet eyes gazed at him without emotion, as if she were looking at a pebble on the ground. For a fleeting moment, she imagined using that pebble to crush her enemy’s head, and the thought amused her.

“Sir Lorirolds. I’m waiting for your answer.”

Lorirolds bit the inside of his cheek and his tongue, trying to suppress his trembling fear. Unable to resist the overwhelming terror, he nodded quickly, afraid he might end up like the shattered frame if he didn’t comply.

He couldn’t comprehend what was happening to him—only that he had fallen into the clutches of a monster.

She’s a monster. I’ve been caught by a monster.

Lady Anne laughed loudly.

“Madam, you seem to be in a good mood.”

“Of course. Just imagining that monster facing humiliation makes me happy.”

After all, even if something disgraceful happened to Laurencia, Prince Luance wouldn’t abandon her. If anything, he would comfort her with utmost care.

But what delighted Anne more was the thought of leaving Laurencia with an unforgettable scar, one that would remain like a tattoo. The weight on her chest felt lifted.

“It should be time to unlock the door. Go see what state they’re in.”

To Anne’s surprise, Laurencia emerged unscathed, looking perfectly composed. However, the atmosphere between Laurencia and Lorirolds was unusual.

“Sir Lorirolds, then I’ll see you tomorrow at 10.”

“Understood. Beautiful Lauren… No, Roa.”

“Yes, Sir Lorirolds.”

When Laurencia extended her hand, Lorirolds hesitated before dropping to one knee. He kissed the back of her hand with a soft smooch, a gesture reserved for lovers.

“Thank you for introducing me to such a wonderful gentleman, Lady Anne.”

Laurencia’s cheerful gratitude left Anne baffled.

“Sir Lorirolds and I have officially become a couple.”

“Hahaha, I’m flattered, Roa,” Lorirolds said with an awkward laugh.

To Laurencia, his demeanor was nothing but a charade. But to Anne, he seemed like a shy man truly enamored with Laurencia.

“Lady Roa, I look forward to our date tomorrow.”

“Yes.”

“Wait, what is the meaning of this—”

“Sir Lorirolds, please pick me up promptly tomorrow.”

“Of course, my fiancée.”

“Goodbye then.”

“I’ll be there early, Lady Roa. Haha. Farewell.”

As Lorirolds hurriedly left, Laurencia’s violet eyes followed his retreating back, devoid of emotion.

“Laurencia! What nonsense is this about being his lover?!”

“You heard correctly. Sir Lorirolds confessed to me, and I found myself drawn to him. Despite my monstrous nature, he called me beautiful and said he liked me. I spoke with him briefly and found him pleasant. I even enjoyed his gentle touch.”

Laurencia blushed, feigning embarrassment.

“Do you even realize what you’re saying?”

“Yes, I’m informing you that I now have a lover. I’m looking forward to having him escort me and share the first dance at my debutante ball.”

“But what about Prince Luance?”

“Do you truly believe a bastard like me could ever be with the prince? If he liked me, he would’ve taken me as his mistress by now. I’m well aware of my place, Lady Anne.”

Anne stared at Laurencia with unblinking eyes, her long lashes shadowing her cold gaze.

“Hurt her… but only destroy her heart completely, Lady Anne.”

What they wanted was to leave Laurencia so broken that she had no one to rely on but Prince Luance. Yet now, instead of being hurt, she had found someone to lean on—a lover.

If Luance and the others found out, it would put Anne in a difficult position.