I Will No Longer Live As Your Villainess

Laurencia entered the drawing room, opened the door, and smiled brightly at Lorirolds.

“Miss Roa.”

“Lorirolds Young Master, am I late?”

“Yes. It’s alright.”

Before entering the drawing room, Lorirolds had been summoned by Lady Anne.

“I never told you to date her, Lorirolds Young Master.”

“Lady Anne, at first, I intended to approach her aggressively. But seeing her dodge like a rabbit, throwing things around the room to escape, I found her quite adorable. Haha.”

“Break up with Laurencia.”

“I’m sorry, but I’ve truly fallen for her, Lady Anne.”

“What did you just say?”

“That slender figure is exactly my dream type. The moment I saw Lady Laurencia, I fell for her. I sincerely want to date her and marry her.”

Lorirolds recalled Laurencia’s warning as he spoke with Lady Anne.

She had promised not to kill him as long as he pretended to be in a pure relationship with her, expressed genuine intentions of marriage, and promised to break up at an appropriate time.

Thus, he had no choice but to obey the monster’s demands.

Lorirolds didn’t know what secret lay within the Paul Haredian family, but all he wanted was to be used by the monster and discarded as quickly as possible. The power he saw yesterday wasn’t that of a wizard or a spirit user. She could manipulate objects freely. Most chilling of all, she knew about “Sophie.” It made his whole body break out in goosebumps.

“Lady Anne told me to break up with Lady Laurencia.”

“And what did you say?”

“I told her Laurencia was my ideal type at first sight and that I wanted to date her and marry her.”

“You did well.”

At that moment, the door to the drawing room burst open with a loud bang, and Luance entered.

“Well, who do we have here? So Laurencia’s dance instructor turns out to be Lorirolds Young Master.”

“Prince Luance.”

As soon as Luance saw Lorirolds, he glanced at Laurencia and immediately understood who the man was that had fallen for her at first sight. Wasn’t it the perverted Lorirolds, who liked anyone wearing a skirt?

“Daring to seduce the prince’s lover?”

“Why would I be Prince Luance’s lover? Lorirolds Young Master, don’t misunderstand. I like Lorirolds Young Master!”

“Laurencia, stay quiet! Unless you want to drive me even crazier!”

Luance removed the white glove from his right hand and walked directly toward Lorirolds. He threw the glove at Lorirolds’ face—a declaration of a duel.

“Prince Luance, I didn’t know you were in a relationship with Lady Laurencia.”

Lorirolds couldn’t hide his shock, which was plainly written on his face. A nobleman challenged to a duel by royalty should consider it an honor and accept. But Lorirolds felt differently. He had not held a sword in ten years. Moreover, he had no desire to risk his life fighting for someone as monstrous as Laurencia.

“Lady Anne explicitly said she wanted me to marry Lady Laurencia. I confessed to her, and she accepted. As of yesterday, we became a couple. If I had known she was in a relationship with Prince Luance, I wouldn’t have even approached the Paul Haredian estate.”

Lorirolds defended himself, arguing that all the blame lay with Lady Anne and that he had done nothing wrong.

“I would appreciate it if you canceled the duel. If I had known, I wouldn’t have pursued Laurencia as a romantic partner. I’ll retract yesterday’s confession and marriage proposal.”

Lorirolds bowed respectfully to Luance. He feared Laurencia’s monstrous power, but fighting royalty in a duel terrified him even more. Worse, the duel would take place in front of numerous nobles. It had been over a decade since he last held a sword. He didn’t even remember how to grip one. How could he possibly defeat Luance? Humiliation and death seemed inevitable.

“Please, spare me, Prince Luance.”

“Lorirolds Young Master, I am not, and never will be, Prince Luance’s lover. Don’t misunderstand.”

“Lady Laurencia, I’m deeply sorry.”

“How dare you seduce the prince’s lover?”

“Why would I be Prince Luance’s lover? Lorirolds Young Master, don’t misunderstand. I like Lorirolds Young Master!”

“Laurencia, keep quiet! Unless you want to see me lose my mind!”

Luance removed the white glove from his right hand and strode toward Lorirolds. He threw the glove directly at Lorirolds’ face—a formal challenge to a duel.

“Prince Luance, I didn’t know you were in a relationship with Lady Laurencia.”

Lorirolds couldn’t hide his shock—it was evident on his face. A nobleman challenged to a duel by royalty would usually consider it an honor and accept. But Lorirolds was different. It had been ten years since he last held a sword, and above all, he had no desire to risk his life fighting for someone as monstrous as Laurencia.

“Lady Anne explicitly expressed her wish for me to marry Lady Laurencia. I confessed my feelings to her, and she accepted. As of yesterday, we became a couple. If I had known she was in a relationship with Prince Luance, I wouldn’t have even approached the Paul Haredian estate.”

Lorirolds argued that Lady Anne was to blame for all the confusion and defended his innocence.

“I humbly ask that you cancel the duel. Had I known, I wouldn’t have pursued Lady Laurencia. I will retract yesterday’s confession and marriage talk.”

Lorirolds bowed deeply to Luance. He feared Laurencia’s monstrous strength but feared dueling royalty even more. Worse, the duel would be fought in front of numerous nobles. He had forgotten how to hold a sword, let alone use one. How could he possibly defeat Luance? Humiliation and death were certain.

“Please, spare me, Prince Luance.”

“Lorirolds Young Master, I am not, and never will be, Prince Luance’s lover. Don’t misunderstand.”

“Lady Laurencia, I’m truly sorry.”

“Then… were the words and actions you directed toward me yesterday all lies?”

Lorirolds was flustered by Laurencia’s question. Her words were bound to be misunderstood, even by a third party.

“You told me you fell for me at first sight… and your actions matched your words.”

“What actions are you talking about?”

“Yesterday was my first time.”

“Laurencia, please stop speaking. Prince Luance might misunderstand.”

“Since yesterday, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about Lorirolds Young Master. My heart keeps racing, and I’ve been eagerly anticipating today. You have no idea how much.”

At Laurencia’s confession, Luance gritted his teeth. The precious monster he had carefully nurtured was slipping through his fingers. He felt like he was going mad.

That monster must only look at him. Love him unconditionally. Be willing to give her life for him. Think of nothing else but him, every moment of every day.

That monster existed for him alone. She could never be taken by another. She was his monster—his and no one else’s.

“Laurencia, what are you saying in front of me? Haven’t I expressed my feelings enough? Was I lacking?”

“Prince Luance, I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

“What am I to you, Laurencia?”

“You’re a dear and irreplaceable friend, Prince Luance.”

Laurencia smiled sincerely.

“Don’t you love me, Laurencia?”

“I can’t love you, Prince Luance.”

“Why not?”

“Because you’re an illegitimate child. You can’t make me a princess.”

“That’s not true. I’ll make you my princess.”

Luance immediately regretted his words. He had spoken impulsively, trying to keep Laurencia from slipping away. But what if she took his words seriously?

“I know my place, Prince Luance. That’s why Lorirolds Young Master is the perfect match for me.”

Lightning seemed to strike Luance’s mind. Was it because his pride had been so severely wounded? Or because his will was utterly crushed?

“Laurencia, I love you.”

“You love me?”

“Laurencia, love and delusion are two sides of the same coin. Don’t mistake my love for something else.”

The words he had spoken before killing her echoed in her mind.

“I love you, Laurencia. I’m serious.”

“Did you truly believe it? That I loved you? How delusional.”

Love could never be a justification for death. To claim one could do anything for love was self-deception.

“I cannot accept your feelings, Prince Luance. Please don’t call me your lover, even as a lie.”

“Fine. I’m sorry for hastily calling you my lover. But my feelings are real.”

“I’m currently Lorirolds Young Master’s lover. And I beg you, please withdraw the white glove you threw at him and cancel the duel.”

Luance clenched his teeth. Laurencia bowing her head and making a request for someone else was a sight he couldn’t comprehend. It was unthinkable, something that should never have happened.

“Lady Laurencia, please keep quiet!”

Lorirolds’ face turned deathly pale as he began pleading with her. All he wanted was to turn back time and reject the proposal from the Paul Haredian family.

“Please! Be quiet, Lady Laurencia! I’m begging you!”

Lorirolds’ pleas turned into desperate cries. But Laurencia smiled brightly.

Luance grew increasingly uneasy. Laurencia’s gaze toward Lorirolds was unusual. Her violet eyes, brimming with love, were unbearable to witness. He felt a wave of unfamiliar, nauseating emotions rising within him—rage, jealousy, perhaps even murderous intent. He had to fight the urge to kill both Lorirolds and Laurencia right there.

“Laurencia, is that the kind of man you want to be with? Are you serious?”

“Yes. I’m already deeply connected to him.”

“That’s not true! Prince Luance, nothing happened between Lady Laurencia and me! Please don’t misunderstand!”

Lorirolds dropped to his knees. He felt like he was losing his mind, fearing he might die.

Luance also felt like he was losing his mind. He had to say something he didn’t mean to Laurencia.

He had invested so much time and effort into making Laurencia dependent on him. And now, the result was her claiming she was “deeply connected” to someone else—a perverted bastard like Lorirolds. The despair was crushing.

“No matter what anyone says, you belong to me, Laurencia.”

“Prince Luance, the one I like is Lorirolds Young Master.”

“Please, stop talking, Lady Laurencia! Prince Luance, I’ll break up with her. Please cancel the duel. I don’t love her.”

“Lorirolds Young Master! What do you mean by breaking up? Were your words yesterday all lies?”

“I can’t fight royalty, Lady Laurencia. Please, let’s end this. I’ll keep quiet about everything that happened yesterday.”

“End everything that happened yesterday? You said you’d marry me.”

Laurencia’s voice trembled as tears welled up.

“Lady Anne said that since Lady Laurencia hadn’t even started menstruating at 19, no one would marry her. I jokingly said I’d take her.”

“If it was a joke, why did you confess to me? Why did you hold and caress me in that room?”

“Th-that’s…”

The more Laurencia spoke, the paler Lorirolds became. Luance clenched his jaw. He finally understood what Lady Anne had intended by bringing Lorirolds here.

There was no doubt Lady Anne had caused this situation. Frustration boiled over to the point of giving him a headache. Laurencia, covering her face with her hands, began to sob. A heavy sigh escaped him.

“Laurencia, don’t cry.”

Luance approached Laurencia and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

“What did that man do to you yesterday?”

“I can’t say.”

“I won’t ask what happened. But I’ll eliminate the person who caused it. Will that be enough?”

“What?”

“No matter what happened, I’ll protect your honor.”

“Would an illegitimate prince care about honor?”

Luance let out a long sigh.

“My dearest Laurencia, as your friend, let me protect your honor.”

Laurencia nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks. Luance cast a cold glare at Lorirolds, who was kneeling and begging.

“Luance von Ishtaire formally challenges Lorirolds of the Stophu family to a duel to protect the honor of Laurencia of the Paul Haredian family.”

“No! I won’t accept the duel! Lady Laurencia!”