I Will No Longer Live As Your Villainess

“You must make Prince Luance fall for you. My dear child.”

Anne kept telling her to win Luance’s heart. As if she didn’t know. The one who wanted his heart the most was herself.

“Illina, shall I tell you an interesting story?”

“Prince Luance, are you seriously asking me to call the woman who beat Laurencia my mother?”

But Luance only cared about himself. She knew this, and yet she gave him her heart.

“It’s a very interesting story about something Prince Luance once told me.”

“What’s one more bad rumor about Lady Anne? Could her reputation sink any further, Lady Illina?”

Even though she gave him her all, she knew that Luance continued to meet not only Laurencia but many other women.

She forced herself to understand that, as a royal or noble, it was common to keep mistresses.

“Aren’t you curious why Prince Luance pays attention to me?”

“Don’t get the wrong idea just because he’s giving a little attention to a monster like you, Laurencia.”

“You’re right. Prince Luance finally said that he found a use for me. What I’m about to share with you is a very interesting story related to that.”

In truth, even Illina couldn’t understand why Luance was so invested in Laurencia. Watching him value his time with Laurencia more than the time he spent with her was agonizing. So much so that she pleaded with him tearfully. But he coldly and calmly replied:

“What you should focus on, Lady Illina, is how to maintain your value as the flower of the social scene. Don’t forget that. The reason I meet with you is because of your worth as that flower. Nurture it well if you wish to become my princess consort.”

All she had ever done was dedicate herself to being the ideal flower of the social scene for Luance. She invested countless hours to maintain that image. And during all that time, Luance enjoyed his moments with Laurencia.

Her efforts often felt meaningless, yet the hollow emptiness would vanish whenever Luance whispered sweet words in her ear.

Illina was jealous of Laurencia. After Luance left, she would torment Laurencia mercilessly. But even that didn’t quell her resentment. It only left her feeling more empty.

“Prince Luance knew that Lord Lorirolds was going to be my social dance instructor.”

“How could Prince Luance know that? Only my mother and I were supposed to know.”

“That’s not the point, is it? Isn’t it more important that Prince Luance knows about the private conversations between you and Lady Anne?”

Illina’s anger began to boil. This couldn’t be true.

“Prince Luance told me to deepen my relationship with Lord Lorirolds.”

“What did you just say? Don’t lie to me.”

For the first time, Illina had the sinking feeling that she shouldn’t listen to Laurencia’s words.

“Just as he instructed, I did as he asked and became close to Lord Lorirolds. You wouldn’t believe how much praise I received from Prince Luance for doing so.”

Illina wanted to cover her ears with her hands. She felt like she was about to uncover a truth she didn’t want to know.

“Prince Luance threw down the white glove to Lord Lorirolds as planned. The rumors spread like wildfire, but look at the situation now. Nobles, commoners, and young ladies alike sing praises for you and Prince Luance. The kind noble and royal who saved an abused illegitimate child.”

Illina’s pupils trembled violently.

“Prince Luance needed a villain to use Lord Lorirolds as a pawn. And of course, a villainess was also necessary. Who do you think he chose as the villainess, Illina? You already know, don’t you? It was none other than Lady Anne.”

“Stop it! Don’t try to come between Prince Luance and me!”

Illina, who had been muttering softly, began trembling.

“You said I was the reason Lady Anne was sent to the convent. But that’s not true. Prince Luance wanted her to go there.”

“I told you to shut up!”

“Even though Lady Anne is heading to the convent, Lady Illina is still actively participating in social events as the flower of the social scene.”

Knowing that Anne was being sent to the convent, Illina didn’t stop her social activities. She continued to maintain her image as the flower of society, just as Luance wished.

“When Lady Anne is sent to the convent, it’s uncertain when she’ll return. Perhaps it would be good to create some pleasant memories together, Lady Illina.”

Luance had told her to make happy memories with Anne before she left. Tears welled up uncontrollably.

“Oh, and one more thing. Prince Luance said this as well.”

“Don’t say it.”

“He said that if Lady Anne were to end her life in the convent, it would be perfect.”

“Stop! No more! Aah!”

Illina screamed and collapsed onto the floor.

“Are you sure you don’t want to hear the most interesting part of the story?”

“I don’t want to hear it! I told you to shut up so many times!”

“Are you afraid of denying the truth you believed in? But you should know the truth, shouldn’t you?”

“Please don’t say anything. I’m begging you.”

“This isn’t like you, Illina. Is it because you’re hoping to become the princess consort?”

In the end, Illina covered her ears with her hands and squeezed her eyes shut. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

“Illina, do you want to marry a man who sent your own mother to the convent? I’m sorry to say, but Prince Luance already has his princess consort decided. And it’s not you.”

“Stop trying to come between us! Stop lying! I… I’m the flower of society… the daughter of Count Paul Heredian… sob… sob…”

“Prince Luance said it would be absolutely perfect if Lady Anne ended her life at the convent.”

“Stop it! Aah!”

Illina screamed and collapsed to the floor.

“You don’t want to hear the most interesting part now?”

“I don’t want to listen! How many times do I have to tell you to shut up?”

“Are you afraid to deny the truth you’ve believed in? But you still need to know it.”

“Please don’t say it. I’m begging you.”

“You’re not yourself today, Illina. Could it be that you don’t want to hear about Prince Luance’s plans because you’re hoping to become the princess consort?”

In the end, Illina raised both hands, covered her ears, and shut her eyes tightly. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she closed her eyes.

“Illina, do you really want to marry a man who sent your own mother to the convent? I hate to tell you this, but Prince Luance already has his princess consort chosen. And it’s not you.”

“Stop trying to come between us! Don’t lie to me! I am… the flower of society… the daughter of Count Paul Heredian… sob… sob…”

Laurencia stared at Illina with a bitter smile.

“Prince Luance said that, like Lady Anne, you won’t be needed for much longer.”

Illina opened her eyes and met Laurencia’s violet gaze. Wiping away her tears with the back of her hand, Illina stood up.

“That’s impossible.”

“When you sent that letter to Lord Lorirolds, you wrote it yourself, didn’t you? Do you remember?”

Illina’s complexion turned deathly pale in an instant. Her heart thudded as if it had plummeted to the ground. Only after that dreadful sinking feeling did Illina realize she had fallen into a trap.

“How do you know about that?”

“Prince Luance told me. He said everyone’s handwriting is unique. Yours is distinctly yours, Illina, and it will serve as evidence in the future. Doesn’t that make you curious?”

Laurencia tilted her head slightly to the right and smiled faintly. The red swelling on her left cheek, caused by Illina’s slap, was visible.

“Aren’t you curious who has that letter you sent to Lord Lorirolds?”

“No way…”

Laurencia had cornered the mouse with a future she had glimpsed through her amethyst necklace.

It didn’t matter whether the cat wanted the mouse or not. What was important was that the mouse, from its position, believed it had no escape from the cat. A cornered mouse often bites the cat. But what happens if the mouse bites? And how will the cat deal with a biting mouse?

“There’s no way… Does Prince Luance really have that letter?”

As Illina’s shoulders slumped and her head hung low, her spirit seemed to collapse.

“Your guess is correct, Illina.”

Writing that letter to Lord Lorirolds must have brought her a fleeting joy. She never imagined that momentary delight would cost her everything.

But even if she had known, it wouldn’t have mattered to Laurencia. She could strip Illina of everything she held dear in other ways.

Looking down coldly at the fallen Illina, Laurencia smirked, raising the corner of her mouth in satisfaction.

After Laurencia left the drawing room, Marquis Taishar began pacing back and forth anxiously.

“This is driving me mad, Marquis Taishar.”

“I’m uneasy, Princess Charlotte. I feel I must go to her.”

Taishar was already worried about what might happen to the young woman he had just met. Knowing that Laurencia had been repeatedly abused at Count Paul Heredian’s estate and had endured silently to survive filled him with unspeakable sorrow. He blamed himself for not finding her sooner.

And now, the same people who had abused her had taken her away. The wave of despair washed over him again, and his worries swirled like a storm.

“Marquis Taishar, calm yourself and sit down. This is the royal palace. Do you think Lady Illina, the flower of society, would dare lay a hand on Lady Laurencia?”

“Princess Charlotte, I feel as unsettled as if I’ve swallowed a stone.”

“Why are you so concerned about Lady Laurencia, Marquis? To be honest, I didn’t expect you to go so far as to wait on her hand and foot.”

Taishar, who had been pacing the drawing room, immediately sat on the sofa at Charlotte’s question.

“She is someone very precious and important to me.”

“Precious and important? What do you mean? Please explain.”

Forgetting that he was speaking to a royal, Taishar let out a deep sigh.

“She is the last person my family must protect.”

“Please explain further.”

“Lady Laurencia is the child of the Goddess Ella, whom my father searched for so desperately.”

Charlotte was inwardly shocked by Taishar’s words. The child of the Goddess Ella had always been a recurring topic in conversations between the former Marquis Spencer and the Empress of the Polloyd Empire. Each time, her mother, the Empress, would sigh deeply.

“Are you referring to Musila, the child of the Goddess Ella who vanished 20 years ago?”

“Yes.”

“Surely you’re not saying that Lady Laurencia is Musila?”

“When I spoke with her, it was clear she didn’t know she was the child of the Goddess Ella. My father described Musila’s distinctive feature as navy-colored eyes, but Lady Laurencia has violet eyes. It seems she’s Musila’s daughter.”

“The features don’t match. How did you recognize her as the child of the Goddess Ella?”

“I’ll explain in detail later.”

Only the red eyes of the Spencer family could identify the child of the Goddess Ella. That was why the former Marquis Spencer had passed on his title early to his son, Taishar, and scoured the empire. But he never found even a strand of Musila’s hair.