The Villainess Intends to Have It All - Chapter 77

Sereni stared intently at Erina’s hands resting atop her own clasped ones.

For someone who had always lived a life of doubt, this unexpected and unconditional kindness was so intensely sweet that she didn’t want to let it go.

Sereni’s eyebrows trembled slightly.

“When I was on a hunger strike, my father came to me and spoke incomprehensibly, saying everything was for the cause.”

Sereni couldn’t forget her father that day, who had held her and spouted only manic words.

So much so that she could still recite her father’s words from that time verbatim.

“Soon, a new era will dawn. When that person arrives, we will spend glorious days as knights serving them.”

Her father, muttering as if he had lost his mind, had said that marriage was also destiny, and that it must be willingly accepted for the future.

“That person?”

When Erina asked, Sereni carefully replied.

“I asked my father the same. Who is that person? My father only answered that they are a descendant of fairies.”

Erina flinched in surprise at Sereni’s words.

Heila, not noticing Erina’s startled reaction, became intrigued by the mention of fairies, something that seemed to belong in folklore.

“A descendant of fairies?”

“Yes, he also mentioned some family name…”

Erina couldn’t possibly not know that family.

How could she forget the name of the family that Rose had tried to hide, the name of the family that had taken everything from her and destroyed her, the name that had become etched into her life after learning all the truth?

“The Risky family.”

“Ah, yes! That’s right, the Risky family. Do you know of this family, Countess?”

Sereni asked in response to Erina’s murmured family name, but Erina couldn’t answer.

“The Risky family? I’ve never heard that name before.”

Terik, who had been standing quietly and just listening, answered.

Terik, who had memorized all the names from high nobles to those above the rank of junior baron, carefully said about the unfamiliar name.

“Are they a fallen noble family?”

“I don’t think so. Even in my father’s recent communication, the person he referred to as ‘that person’ seemed to be living well, like a current noble.”

As Sereni shook her head and answered, Erina’s face darkened.

“It’s natural that you don’t know.”

“Pardon?”

“The Risky family doesn’t belong to any empire or any kingdom.”

Those in the reception room wanted to ask more about these incomprehensible words, but couldn’t because of Erina’s dark expression.

Appreciating their considerate behavior, Erina smiled faintly and said.

“I’d like to tell you, but I’m a bit cautious about whether I should freely talk about the Risky family, as it involves the temple and the tower.”

Except for Erina, the other three people just nodded at the mention of the temple and tower, deliberately ignoring their curiosity about the Risky family.

“Did King Tula say he was waiting for that person?”

“Yes, he said he was waiting for that person to find them.”

At Sereni’s words, Erina realized why, before her regression, they had suddenly stopped provoking Rose, who owned the mana stone mines.

It was clear that Rose had approached the Small Kingdom Alliance first.

But why couldn’t she, who remembered the time before regression based on Rose’s memories, remember this fact?

The one thing that was certain was that her pre-regression memories were also not perfect.

The Book of Wisdom had said that God had used Rose’s memories to create another set of memories for her.

If so, she shouldn’t blindly trust her pre-regression memories.

“Countess, are you keeping the painting you won at the auction safe?”

“Yes, it’s a painting I bought for 3,000 gold after all.”

“Please keep it stored inconspicuously. I heard that many in the Small Kingdom Alliance were reprimanded for not obtaining that painting.”

At Sereni’s words, Erina was convinced that the painting indeed held something.

They probably put the painting up for auction before the regression too, embezzling the empire’s money and then getting the painting back.

The Small Kingdom Alliance clearly thought that no one would try to buy a painting by an unknown artist with an ambiguous price.

But Erina, sensing something, had snatched the painting for 3,000 gold.

“Is there a reason for the painting?”

“According to my father, it’s like a symbol indicating that one is a knight of that person.”

Erina nodded at Sereni’s words.

As Erina had vaguely suspected, what the painting held was something like a symbol that could unite the kingdoms.

Probably the Kingdom of Tula, the Kingdom of Smale, and the Kingdom of Trumto, which had joined the Small Kingdom Alliance, were places that had supported the Risky family for generations.

There was a reason why the Risky family could be maintained for thousands of years even after the fairies disappeared.

It was possible because there were those who secretly protected the Risky family.

“I heard that each kingdom is sending a delegation. Did you hear if the Small Kingdom Alliance is sending one too?”

“Yes. The Kingdom of Trumto has already departed, and the Kingdom of Smale seems to be leaving soon. But for the Kingdom of Tula, my father seems to still be considering it.”

Sereni’s face clouded over.

Erina read in her sad face the worries and emotions that she still hadn’t resolved.

“Lady Borbom.”

“Yes, Countess.”

“Are you alright?”

Sereni’s sapphire-like eyes shook greatly.

Erina gently stroked Sereni’s trembling hands.

Even if she felt it was wrong, even if it was a choice made to protect the person she loved and the child in her womb.

The person she had betrayed was her father.

It was an act of turning her back on someone she had lived with and loved as family throughout her years.

How could it be easy?

“Ah…”

The jewel-like eyes that had been shining beautifully began to blur.

Round, clear tears slowly formed and then fell.

Sereni, startled by her sudden tears, hurriedly wiped them away with both hands.

“I-I’m sorry. Ever since I became pregnant, I’ve become so tearful.”

As Sereni continued wiping her tears, a myriad of emotions seemed to cross her face. When the falling tears began to flow freely, she finally buried her face in her hands and started to cry.

Erina quietly waited for her.

Sereni was trying to abandon her family in order to protect her family.

Unable to fully comprehend her feelings, Erina could only hope that her own wish for Sereni not to suffer more would be conveyed.

[This is the timeline separator]

Sereni calmed her emotions faster than expected and hastily concluded the meeting before leaving.

Returning to her office, Erina quietly gazed at the painting hanging on one wall, ignoring Terik and Heila who were silently watching her.

It was the fairy painting she had won at auction for a whopping 3,000 gold.

Then Barun entered the office.

Still looking at the painting, Erina asked Barun.

“Did the carriage depart well?”

“Yes, I sent an informant skilled in disguise along with it, just in case.”

“And the intruders?”

“All have been identified and dealt with. It seems each kingdom sent one.”

“Lord Barun, please ensure that Lady Borbom arrives safely until the very end.”

“Understood.”

Barun bowed his head at Erina’s words and left the office.

Silence once again fell over the office where Terik, Heila, and Erina remained.

Erina, still unable to take her eyes off the painting, spoke to Terik.

“Baron Semul.”

“Yes, Countess.”

“When the delegation from the Small Kingdom Alliance arrives this time, please check if Rose Asila or the Asila family tries to contact them.”

Terik hesitated for a moment at Erina’s words, then unable to contain his curiosity, asked indirectly.

“Is it because she’s Count Iolls’ mistress?”

To Terik, Erina’s order strangely seemed to imply that Rose Asila and the Risky family were not unrelated.

He tried to dismiss his suspicion, but Terik simply couldn’t hold back.

“No, it’s because Rose Asila is the last remaining person of the Risky family and a descendant of fairies.”

Terik and Heila were startled.

Erina had clearly said in front of Sereni that she was refraining from speaking because it involved the temple and the tower.

“Erina.”

As Heila called out to Erina in bewilderment, Erina finally took her eyes off the painting and looked at the two of them.

“I’ve only met Lady Borbom twice. I thought it was too early to fully trust the emotions she’s expressing.”

“Ah.”

Terik nodded slightly, and Heila smiled with a relieved expression.

“Do you think I’m being cruel to her when she’s approaching me sincerely?”

Heila moved her body, which had been standing at a distance, towards Erina as her face darkened.

Then, just as Erina had done for Sereni, Heila gently stroked Erina’s hand.

“Not at all, Erina.”

Erina’s golden eyes, which had been shining brightly, dimmed at Heila’s gentle touch.

“But…”

Erina hadn’t disclosed everything to Sereni.

Yet Sereni had told Erina everything, even revealing her family’s shameful secrets.

Although it was because Sereni was more desperate and needed Erina more, Erina was still bothered.

“Erina.”

At Heila’s call, Erina couldn’t bring herself to look up and just stared at the hand that kept comforting her.

“A person’s trust and heart are different. And they can’t be repaid.”

Heila’s words were right.

Because the heart cannot be forced, Erina couldn’t gain Peiron’s love.

But knowing painfully well how agonizing an unrequited heart can be, she was concerned about Sereni, who was approaching her with her whole heart.

“It’s because Erina’s heart is so beautiful and kind.”

“That’s not true.”

Erina moved her free hand to cover Heila’s hand that was holding hers.

“Erina’s suspicion is justified, and shallow trust is natural. So do as Erina wishes.”

“…Thank you, Heila. Thank you, Brother Terik.”

Terik and Heila smiled at Erina, who was smiling shyly.