The Villainess Intends to Have It All - Chapter 61

At the time when Erina’s marriage was decided, her pride was at rock bottom and their disregard for her had reached its peak.

Although Erina was ignorant of the ways of the world due to her self-imposed confinement in the Medelia mansion, she knew that the marriage she was entering into was not particularly good for her.

In the process of deciding her marriage, there was not even a single consideration for her choice or herself.

Even for a political marriage, the opinions of those involved are considered more important.

But Erina was put in a position where she had to marry immediately at just one word from Romdrik.

Erina did not want to leave the Medelia mansion to get married.

Erina mustered up the courage to move in order to say that she did not want to get married.

But Romdrik and Camille were too busy with wedding preparations to even look at her.

Of course, even if they had listened, it was obvious they would have sneered and ignored her.

Terik, who at least used to look at her, had long since become independent and was not in the mansion.

In the end, Viana was the only one Erina could turn to in that house.

Erina, pushed to the edge, ran to Viana without thinking, knelt down, and begged for help.

Just like Viana is doing now.

“I begged you, saying I didn’t want to get married, please help me.”

The two hands placed on Viana’s knees turned white from the intense pressure.

Erina was curious.

Would Viana remember that unforgettable incident, or would she not?

“Do you remember? I begged just like you are now.”

Viana bowed her head deeply.

The dress around her knees was thoroughly crumpled, and her body was trembling.

It was the appearance of someone who couldn’t overcome their shame and didn’t know what to do.

A sigh of admiration involuntarily flowed from Erina’s lips.

“Ah, you do remember.”

The corners of Erina’s mouth trembled and rose endlessly.

She was so happy that she worried if it was okay to be this joyful.

“But Viana, back then.”

Erina deliberately wiggled the toe of her shoe in front of Viana’s face again as she continued speaking.

“Did you offer any help when I begged you, pleading for assistance?”

“But!”

Viana suddenly raised her head and shouted at Erina’s words, but Erina’s eyes were so intense that she was left speechless.

Viana learned for the first time that golden eyes as lustrous as gold could be this chilling.

Erina’s eyes when looking at Viana had always been submissive and servile.

It was the first time Viana felt afraid of the golden color shining as sharply as if dozens of blades had been driven in.

“But?”

“It’s, it’s already in the past!”

At Viana’s words, Erina leaned back from her forward-leaning position and slumped back into the chair.

Viana did not disappoint her expectations to the very end.

She was exactly as Erina had imagined, thankfully.

“Yes, you’re right. It’s in the past.”

“So, please, just…!”

“And what’s happening now, with you begging me, will also become the past later.”

“Erina!”

For the first time, Erina felt that Viana’s shocked face was lovely.

The face that had been frightening and painful to confront now felt dizzyingly desirable to the point of wanting to face it every day.

“So you’re refusing now? Are you really going to throw me out to the Zillon Barony?”

Viana, feeling that begging submissively was no longer effective, suddenly stood up and shouted.

“Viana, you should use the right words. Throwing out, you say.”

When a cold sneer appeared on Erina’s face, Viana’s body trembled.

The word ‘throw out’ didn’t suit them.

It was merely returning to one’s rightful place, so who was throwing out whom?

“It’s Uncle’s choice.”

“What choice! You’re the one who requested His Majesty to throw us out to the barony!”

Erina clicked her tongue at the sight of Viana screaming and throwing a tantrum like a child as usual.

As expected, Viana and Uncle’s family would never change.

Except for Terik, perhaps.

Erina stood up from the chair, crossed her arms, and took a step towards Viana.

Wearing high heels, Erina looked down at Viana.

Viana wanted to step back but forced strength into her fidgeting feet and glared at Erina.

Then Erina asked Viana with a clouded face.

“What if I had remained at Medelia as the heir from the beginning, Viana?”

Viana, finding the question absurd, spoke her mind without hesitation.

“Would anything have been different?”

Viana was right.

Nothing would have been different.

Erina would have become a puppet doll moving according to their tastes in Medelia, and the son-in-law they desired would have entered Medelia.

What was she trying to confirm when she already knew this?

Erina showed a self-deprecating smile and answered.

“Yes, you’re right.”

In any case, everything was inevitable.

For Erina, for Sandes, and for Viana trembling in front of her.

“Nothing changes, Viana. Uncle’s choice, you returning to the Zillon Barony. Right?”

Viana bit her lips tightly and shook her clenched fists.

“You selfish woman. Is it fun to indirectly say no?”

Erina gave no answer.

Viana turned around abruptly and ran out of the reception room.

Erina stood still in her place for a while, lost in thought.

[This is the timeline separator]

At dawn, when no one should be active, the Kerenik mansion was bustling with activity.

The carriage gifted by Sandes with the seal of the Medelia County, and three luggage wagons filled with Erina’s belongings were ready and waiting to depart.

Behind them, the knights of the 5th Imperial Knights Brigade who were escorting Erina waited on horseback.

Erina stood in front of the carriage, facing Sandes who didn’t want to let her go.

“Sandes.”

“Yes, Erina.”

“I have to leave now.”

“Yes.”

Erina burst into laughter at his actions, looking at her sweetly and stickily as if honey would drip, not letting go of her hand.

“Shouldn’t you let go so I can leave?”

Sandes, as if reluctant, slowly caressed the white, slender fingers in his hand, savoring the moment.

His day always began by seeing Erina when he opened his eyes and left his room.

Thinking about the disappearance of these ordinary yet happy daily occurrences, he didn’t want to let her go due to the sense of loss.

“Is that so.”

“Yes, it is.”

The corners of Sandes’s mouth, which had been raised high, fell dejectedly.

“Sandes.”

“Yes.”

Erina found this response, subtly different from before, both pleasing and regretful.

Just when they had finally come to understand each other’s hearts clearly, the fact that they had to part immediately felt inexplicably regretful.

“The Medelia mansion isn’t that far.”

“That’s right. It’s close enough, less than half a day’s journey.”

Erina suddenly brought her face close to Sandes and smiled brightly.

“You’ll come to visit, won’t you?”

At that smile that even looked happy, Sandes could not possibly hide his pounding heart.

“…Of course.”

Sandes bowed his head and carefully kissed her gleaming forehead.

He wanted to bury himself deeply in Erina’s brightly smiling face, on her lips, right then and there.

But the gazes of those waiting for departure were still quite focused on them, so he had to stop here.

A sigh involuntarily escaped Sandes’s lips.

“Just don’t go.”

At Sandes’s whining, Erina giggled and hugged him.

“Come anytime. I’ll always be waiting.”

“You too, Erina. Leo and I will always be waiting.”

They held each other for a long while before letting go.

Erina boarded the carriage with Heila’s help, and after Baroon checked the carriage once more, he shouted.

“Depart!”

The carriage wheels slowly began to roll.

Erina opened the carriage window wide and looked at the Kerenik mansion that had made her soar.

In front of the mansion, Shimildun and the head maid were waving their hands.

Sandes smiled tenderly towards her.

Somehow, that smile felt like it was cheering for the path Erina would have to navigate from now on.

Erina waved her hand towards them.

In an instant, the carriage gained speed and the Kerenik mansion began to recede.

As Erina closed the carriage window, Heila asked with a grin.

“Do you feel regretful?”

“It would be a lie if I said I didn’t. Everyone treated me so kindly.”

Erina, leaning back fully against the backrest, suddenly felt sleepy, having not slept a wink due to her excitement about returning to the Medelia mansion.

She tried to stay awake, wanting to arrive at the mansion with a clear mind, but the ride was so comfortable that she soon fell asleep.

When she woke up after a brief nap, the carriage was already slowing down.

“We’ve arrived.”

Heila tidied Erina’s dress and fixed her hair that had become disheveled from leaning.

Erina tried to clear her groggy mind.

The carriage soon came to a stop, and Erina alighted with Heila’s help.

Before her eyes stood the mansion she had missed and once feared.

Though much smaller than the Iolls or Kerenik mansions, it had a neat and warm atmosphere.

Despite it being the quietest time in her lazy uncle’s daily routine, the front of the mansion was in disarray.

“Hurry up and move! We need to leave before Erina arrives!”

“Did you pack everything? Viana! Terik! What are you standing around for!”

The voices of Romdrik and Camille echoed in front of the mansion.

Five luggage wagons, packed so full they looked like they might burst, were lined up ready to depart.

Erina approached them, inwardly mocking their dullness.

“What are you doing? We need to leave quickly!”

“Where are you going, Uncle?”

As Erina spoke while approaching them, the noisy place was instantly left with only a chilling air.

Romdrik and Camille stiffly turned their heads towards the voice they absolutely should not have heard.

“Ah, right. Today is the day you’re supposed to return to the Zillon Barony, isn’t it?”

Romdrik gave no answer.

“But what on earth is all this luggage? His Majesty clearly said not to take anything with you.”

It wasn’t that there was no answer, but that they couldn’t answer.

Because everything that shouldn’t have been discovered was exposed to the very person who shouldn’t have discovered it.