The Villainess Who Accidentally Stole Their Hearts - Chapter 18
Chapter 9.2
Knowing the truth and suffering because of it… or living happily in ignorance. She would choose the former, though she wasn’t sure which was the right answer.
“The ones who lied and deceived me were others, not you. Why would I resent the person who told me the truth?”
“….”
“Thanks to you, I was able to break free from the lies, even if it’s only now. Thank you.”
“…But pain is still pain. That hurt doesn’t just go away.”
Nikaearsha’s murmuring seemed less directed at Leonard and more like something she was saying to herself.
Leonard looked at her in silence.
Her beauty was too dazzling to merely call ‘stunning,’ almost dangerously captivating. She had the natural aloofness of someone born into a life where everything was within reach. Yet, her downcast red eyes held a lonely look as though they were wandering, lost.
Almost like a small, wounded creature.
“As a merchant, I hate taking losses due to things I don’t know. I prefer knowing all the details and making calculated decisions—whatever the information may be.”
Nikaearsha, who had been looking off into the distance, turned her gaze toward Leonard and let out a small laugh.
“For someone who talks about calculations, you’re rather kind.”
“…Excuse me?”
“You’re speaking as if you’re blaming yourself for the pain I caused you.”
Leonard chuckled, looking a bit surprised.
“A merchant shouldn’t let his thoughts be read so easily.”
“Judging by what you’re saying, maybe I didn’t read you well enough.”
“You read me correctly.”
Leonard looked at Nikaearsha with newfound interest. He had sensed it back in the office as well, but she was quick-witted and adept at conversation. She was entirely different from what he had seen or heard in newspapers or rumors.
“So, why did you want to see me?”
In truth, Nikaearsha already had a pretty good idea of his intentions.
‘He probably wants me to invest in the merchant guild he plans to establish in the future.’
Right now, he was part of the Periwel Merchant Guild, but he’d eventually establish his own, the Fabian Merchant Guild, which would elevate the empire’s ‘two major merchant guilds’ to the ‘big three merchant guilds.’
‘Partnering with him would be a welcome opportunity.’
It was obviously a smart move to make an initial investment in a venture with guaranteed success. Before her regression, Mikarin, who had become close friends with Leonard, had benefited greatly from the Fabian Merchant Guild.
Just then, Leonard spoke up, his expression determined.
“Please allow me to serve as your aide, my lady.”
“All right, as for the investme… what?”
“Please allow me to serve as your aide.”
Nikaearsha looked at Leonard, utterly bewildered.
‘Wait, why would someone destined to run a merchant guild…’
His career path had completely shifted, and she didn’t want to change his future. After all, he was bound for success.
“You want to stay by the side of a wicked witch?”
“That whole act of being an evil witch was just a performance, wasn’t it?”
“No, I really am an evil witch.”
“Well, from what I’ve observed since coming to this estate, it’s hard to believe that.”
Scolding Emma.
Intentionally showing weakness in front of Mikarin.
It was all part of the plan.
“You’ve been deliberately acting like the ‘witch’ all this time because you had a plan, didn’t you?”
“….”
“Please, allow me to be a part of your plan.”
Seeing Leonard’s clear green eyes shining with conviction, Nikaearsha thought to herself, albeit reluctantly.
‘…But there was no plan behind the reckless things I did in the past.’
Now, at least, she had some goals.
Taking down cheating sc*mbags.
And surviving.
Neither of those goals seemed worthy of the admiration Leonard was directing at her.
“Lady, please accept me!”
“No.”
̊ · : * ✧ * : · ̊
Right after I turned down Leonard’s proposal and stepped out of the parlor, I ran into Akain.
‘What’s this? Was he standing outside the parlor the whole time?’
Why would he do that? Could he still be caught up in the scandalous love drama? I shot him a suspicious look at the thought, but Akain seemed to be in an unusually good mood.
“Exactly. You can’t just let anyone into the house.”
“….?”
“Not just anyone can come in, of course.”
Akain looked at Leonard with a wide grin.
‘For him to smile like that…’
I got goosebumps.
‘Could he have some terminal illness?’
I looked him over, but he seemed perfectly fine.
Ignoring him, I headed back to my room.
“Oh, y-you’re back, my lady.”
When I entered my room, the maid welcomed me. It was the same maid who had burst into the office with the books earlier.
“I, um, I heard you appointed me as your personal maid…”
“That’s right. I have the authority to assign positions. Congratulations on the promotion.”
“Th-thank you!”
Watching the maid bow repeatedly in gratitude gave me an odd feeling.
“I thought you were afraid of me.”
“N-no, not at all!”
The maid exclaimed, her face turning red as she stammered out an explanation.
“A-At first, I was scared, but I realized you’re nothing like the rumors, my lady.”
“….”
“When I broke that vase that one time, you didn’t scold me… Everyone said you were going to break me into pieces like that vase.”
“….”
“And you even let me take a break when I was sick.”
“Did I?”
“You told me to leave because my breathing was annoying you…”
“….”
“O-Of course, it’s not like I think I got any special treatment. I’m sure you probably don’t even know my name…”
“I do.”
The maid raised her head in surprise, looking at me.
“It’s Alice.”
“….!”
Alice’s eyes fluttered.
“There’s no need to be impressed. I only knew because I read the reports.”
“Yes, yes! It’s an honor!”
“I’m telling you, I just read it in the files.”
“I’ve never told you my name, so the fact that you looked it up separately and remembered it… I’m truly touched!”
“….”
“I’ll be loyal to you for the rest of my life!”
‘…This girl’s a bit strange.’
The only reason I knew anything about Alice was thanks to the 〈 Detective Agency 〉.
‘If she’s going to be by my side, I need to check.’
After what happened with Emma, I wanted to be certain.
Alice wasn’t a cheater, nor was she a married woman.
‘…Is there something strange in the information I haven’t seen yet?’
I might as well take this chance to upgrade the 〈 Detective Agency 〉. Since I have a whole 10 ♥s right now, I could upgrade if I wanted to.
Using a ♥ to upgrade the 〈 ♥♡ Forbidden Love Detective Agency 〉 ( •̀ ω •́ )✧
Dududududu—
: ̗̀ ♥ˎˊ: Ta-da! : ̗̀ ♥ˎˊ:
You can now track 〈 Abilities and Talents 〉 while hunting =͟͟͞͞➳❥
‘What…?’
I paused, taken aback by the message that appeared.
‘Abilities?’
This was significant.
The only beings who could interfere with the ‘abilities’ of the 〈 Empowered Ones 〉 were 〈 Awakeners. 〉 Even though I was born with immense potential, I was ultimately unable to become an Awakener.
‘Even the empowered ones don’t fully understand their own abilities.’
There was only one person who could know, which was the awakener, who directly awakened that power.
But now…
‘I can know all of that?’
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