I Will No Longer Live As Your Villainess

After Adrian left, Charlotte remained in the parlor, her eyes sparkling as she watched Laurencia.

“Lady Laurencia, if you need anything, just let me know. I’ll provide whatever support you require,” Charlotte said warmly.

Charlotte liked Laurencia and didn’t hide it. Unlike Taishar, who tried to mask his feelings, Charlotte’s fondness was openly displayed.

“In that case, while I’m staying at the palace, I’d like to properly learn how to read and write,” Laurencia replied, her voice tinged with hesitation.

Laurencia had learned basic letters and numbers from her mother as a child, but after her mother passed away, she hadn’t had the opportunity to continue her education. While she could communicate with others without issue, there were still many words she didn’t know. Embarrassed but determined, she set her pride aside and spoke honestly, eager to seize the chance to learn.

“I did learn the basics from my mother, but after she passed, I wasn’t able to study further,” Laurencia explained.

“I’ll teach you, Lady Laurencia,” Teyshar said, stepping in.

Laurencia turned toward him, her curiosity evident.

“You, Marchioness Spencer? You’ll teach me?”

“Yes.”

“But aren’t you busy?”

Laurencia tilted her head slightly, puzzled. From the beginning, she had sensed that Teyshar was like an overzealous dog, eager to stay by her side no matter what.

“Lady Laurencia!” Charlotte called out abruptly.

“Yes, Princess Charlotte?”

“I’ll teach you how to read and write!”

“But, Princess Charlotte, aren’t you busy with your Crown Princess lessons? I wouldn’t want to take time away from your duties,” Laurencia replied.

“I insist on teaching Lady Laurencia myself,” Charlotte declared firmly.

“No, I will teach her,” Teyshar interjected.

Watching the two of them bicker over her brought an unfamiliar feeling to Laurencia’s chest. It was a new and foreign emotion, one she hadn’t experienced before. Unlike the embarrassment she’d felt when admitting her lack of knowledge, this feeling was different—warm and pleasant, almost like a gentle tickle.

“Princess Charlotte, you’re already busy with your Crown Princess lessons. I’ll handle this,” Teyshar said decisively, his stern tone directed at Charlotte.

But Charlotte was undeterred. “Then let Laurencia choose who she wants as her teacher.”

Both of them turned their expectant gazes to Laurencia, who looked visibly flustered.

Just then, a knock came at the door, followed by a servant’s voice.

“What is it?” Charlotte asked.

“Your Highness, Lady Illina of the Heredian family has arrived,” the servant announced.

Charlotte gave permission for the door to be opened, and Illina entered gracefully.

Illina had hurried back to the Heredian estate after the Empress’s tea party, only to discover that Teyshar had already taken Laurencia with him. Furious, Luance had reprimanded her.

“It’s unacceptable that she wasn’t brought back to the estate,” he had said angrily.

Not wanting to incur more of Luance’s wrath, Illina had made her way to the palace. Proper etiquette dictated sending a letter to arrange a meeting, but her concern for Laurencia drove her to act impulsively. Explaining her situation to the palace staff, she was directed to Charlotte’s private parlor, where Laurencia and Teyshar were.

“Good day, Princess Charlotte. I am Illina of the Heredian family,” Illina said, curtsying with perfect form.

Her eyes immediately sought Laurencia. Seated comfortably on the sofa, Laurencia wore a lovely lavender gown and smiled as she enjoyed a selection of snacks. Seeing this, irritation bubbled up inside Illina.

What made it worse was Teyshar’s doting behavior—leaning close to Laurencia, wiping her mouth with a handkerchief, cutting her cake, and neatly placing it on her plate.

“Ah, Lady Illina, the devoted younger sister. I thought you might come, worried about your poor sister,” Charlotte said with a knowing smile.

“Yes, I came to discuss something important with my sister in private,” Illina replied smoothly.

“Something important, you say…”

Charlotte recalled Laurencia’s earlier request. Laurencia had predicted that Illina would visit her and had asked to be left alone with her when it happened. To prepare, Charlotte had instructed the palace staff to bring Illina to her parlor upon arrival. Though she hadn’t fully believed Illina would come, it seemed Laurencia’s intuition was right.

“Yes, it’s a matter concerning our family,” Illina added.

Charlotte glanced at Laurencia before nodding. She rang a bell, summoning a maid from outside.

“Take them to a parlor where they can speak privately,” she instructed.

The maid led Illina and Laurencia to another parlor. As they reached the door, the maid opened it, allowing Laurencia to step inside first.

The room was tastefully decorated with cream-colored wallpaper and elegant yet understated furniture. A dark brown table, adorned with intricate carvings, stood at the center. The large windows were draped with burgundy blackout curtains that complemented the interior’s refined ambiance.

Laurencia looked around leisurely, taking in the surroundings as Illina followed close behind.

“Lady Illina, the compassionate younger sister who looks after her poor sister. I thought you’d come out of concern for your sister.”

“Yes, I came because I have something urgent to discuss with her.”

“Something urgent to discuss…”

Charlotte recalled what Laurencia had said earlier. Laurencia had predicted that Illina would come to visit her. So, she had asked to be left alone with her at that time. Charlotte had instructed the palace staff to guide Illina to her private parlor as soon as she arrived, though she hadn’t expected her to come. Teyshar, too, hadn’t anticipated it.

Charlotte became even more curious about Laurencia.

“Yes, it’s a family matter…”

Illina had to somehow persuade Laurencia to return to the estate. After hearing this, Charlotte looked at Laurencia and nodded. She then rang the bell to call a maid standing outside.

“Take them to a parlor where they can speak privately.”

Illina and Laurencia stood in front of the parlor as the maid opened the door. Laurencia entered first, taking her time to look around the room.

The room was decorated with cream-colored wallpaper and had minimalist furniture, including a dark brown table with intricate decorations. The large windows were covered by deep burgundy curtains, which matched the room’s interior perfectly.

Once Illina entered and the maid closed the door behind her, Illina sighed deeply as she finally had Laurencia all to herself.

“Laurencia, are you out of your mind?”

“Illina, your tone worries me as your older sister.”

“What did you say?”

“I’m just saying that as a refined noblewoman, you should mind your manners.”

Laurencia glanced at her reflection in the mirror and continued speaking.

“Tell Princess Charlotte that I’m not going back to the estate.”

“Did you just say you don’t want to go back? What are you talking about?”

“Princess Charlotte and the Empress told me to stay at the palace for a while. I must follow their orders.”

“Insist on going back to the estate right now!” Illina snapped.

“No,” Laurencia replied calmly.

“If you don’t go back now, you won’t get away with it. But if you go back later, you’ll get punished even worse than last time. Do you want that?”

“I’m no longer afraid of your threats, Illina.”

“Are you trying to die?” Illina hissed, glaring at Laurencia.

“Honestly, would anyone even miss a missing illegitimate child like me?” Laurencia said, the words laced with sarcasm.

Illina’s anger flared as she glared at Laurencia, but Laurencia just smiled at her, enjoying the situation.

“If I were to suddenly disappear, Illina would find herself in quite a predicament, wouldn’t she?” Laurencia teased.

“Is that something you should even be saying? And why are you smiling?” Illina’s voice trembled with rising fury.

Illina grabbed Laurencia by the collar, shaking her in frustration. The anger in Illina’s voice grew louder.

“Are you going to keep smiling? Aren’t you going to answer me?”

Laurencia, still with a smirk, looked up at Illina, unfazed by the grip on her collar.

“Why are you like this? Just because you’re staying at the palace, you think you can act however you want?”

Laurencia nodded in response, still smiling brightly. In that moment, Illina slapped Laurencia’s cheek with all her might. The sound of the slap echoed through the room as Laurencia’s head turned sharply, and the fabric of her dress tore from where Illina had grabbed it.

Illina shoved Laurencia to the floor. Laurencia stood up calmly, as if unaffected by the fall.

Seeing Laurencia rise so indifferently sent a chill down Illina’s spine. It felt as though someone was watching her from behind.

Without thinking, Illina turned around to look over her shoulder, but when she turned back, she glared at Laurencia again.

“How did this happen? My sister… you don’t even have the same malice you had when you used to kill small animals.”

Laurencia took a step closer to Illina. Illina, feeling uneasy, took a step back. Every time Laurencia approached, Illina stepped back, and they continued this back-and-forth until Illina’s heel hit the wall.

She couldn’t retreat any further.

“You only make me feel anxious,” Laurencia said, pointing to Illina’s trembling hand.

“I’m worried about you, Illina,” Laurencia added softly, her lips curling into a smile. She reached out and gently brushed Illina’s golden hair. Illina flinched, looking at Laurencia’s hand as it neared her.

“Could it be that you’re already worried because you’ve been abandoned by Prince Luance?” Laurencia teased.

“Abandoned? The prince said that I would be the Crown Princess,” Illina retorted.

Laurencia’s lips parted, and then she smiled lazily.

“Seeing Illina, who used to smile while killing small animals, trust people so innocently…”

Laurencia stopped smiling and fixed her gaze on Illina.

“It’s rather unsettling.”

Illina clenched her teeth so hard they nearly cracked. The memory of Julia, who had worked at the Heredian estate for years and left because of Laurencia, came to mind. It didn’t matter. She could always find new servants. But now, even Anne had left.

Now, she was left alone in the estate. The loneliness that had already begun to set in was a kind of torment she had never experienced before. It rendered her powerless, leaving her feeling like a helpless, abandoned creature. The only ones she could still trust were her father, Brandt, and Prince Luance.