The Crazy Villainess in This Area Is Me

A stifling silence filled the room. After a long contemplation, the emperor finally nodded.

“…I get it.”

“I’ll take my leave then, Your Majesty, now that my purpose is fulfilled.”

Just as Frinel was about to rise from his seat, the emperor grasped his chest in discomfort. He hurriedly covered his mouth with a handkerchief.

“

!” The raspy coughing continued for a while.

Frinel looked at him with slight surprise, then turned his eyes towards Duke Gracie. Duke Gracie nodded slightly as if understanding Frinel’s thoughts.

“Could it be that you have a terminal illness, Your Majesty?”

“…You don’t need to know.”

“You have heard that Duke Gracie’s granddaughter is a descendant of the Shinsu clan.”

The emperor’s complexion indeed looked notably pallid. Yet Frinel turned his face away and spoke coldly, just like the emperor had done to him. “Even if it’s Your Majesty who killed the entire Shinsu clan, that kind woman would help if I asked.”

“

Frinel.”

“But I won’t do that.” He concluded firmly, a smirk lifting one corner of his mouth.  “If you have the audacity to beg for your life from the last descendant of the clan you exterminated, ask yourself.”

Then, as if remembering something, he spoke again. “And about the crown prince appointment, it remains a secret until I announce it myself later.”

“…I get it. As you wish.”

“Then.”

Without a trace of regret, he left the room.

Duke Gracie watched the sighing emperor and said, “Are you alright, Your Majesty?”

“…If I say I’m not, I’d be a shameless person until the moment of death.”

“Please show a changed side of yourself. Then perhaps one day…” He stared out the window, lost in thought, and murmured, “Perhaps a day will come when we don’t scowl at each other.”

A spring-like day had finally come for him. The day when his lost granddaughter, whom he had driven away, would come to him and call him ‘grandfather.’

“I won’t ask anything of your granddaughter. I don’t want to die as a shameless man, even in my last moments.”

“…Your Majesty.”

“But there is one thing I’d ask of you.”

The emperor glanced at Duke Gracie, gathering courage. “Would you join me for a drink? It’s been a long time.”

Before death, he wanted to straighten out even a little of the twisted relationship.

“

, yes. But before that…”

Surprised for a moment, Duke Gracie then smiled and continued, “Please first write the decree appointing the first prince as crown prince.”

He then brought a stiff piece of parchment from somewhere and presented it to the emperor.

“You really…” With a chuckle, as if admitting defeat, the emperor wrote the decree.

In his youth, he had been irritated by Duke Gracie’s assertive attitude. Now, he was grateful that such a meticulous person was by his son’s side.

“Fine. Alright.”

The emperor wrote the decree appointing Frinel as crown prince and stamped it with the imperial seal.

“Is this satisfactory?”

“Yes.”

Duke Gracie carefully rolled up the decree and put it away. This document would now become a sword to elevate Frinel’s position.

“Do you have good wine?”

“Yes. To think that I’d be sharing a drink with you.”

They had always been at odds with each other. But he never imagined they would sit down and drink together. Life is indeed long. The emperor awkwardly stroked his white beard.

“I can’t easily forgive Your Majesty either.” Watching him, Duke Gracie slowly spoke. “But I’ll try.”

“…Duke Gracie.”

“Because I’m already old, and I don’t want to waste my time blaming someone.”

“…Thank you.”

Acknowledging someone’s resentment is a sad affair, but admitting, apologizing, and accepting had somewhat lightened his long-heavy heart. Although small, it was the beginning of change. He wished he had acted sooner.

The emperor smiled faintly.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

I sat dazed, looking at the golden key on the table. My lips twisted into a slight smirk. After all, it was a now-worthless item to return.

“There’s nothing left anyway.”

The once treasure-filled warehouse of the Marquis Hamilton’s family was now empty. I had infused magic into it on my first visit, ensuring everything teleported to Duke Gracie’s private room when I wished. So, returning this insignificant item was of no concern. My task was just to strip Endimion of his assets using his personal seal.

I slowly stood up. Although my physical condition wasn’t fully recovered, I needed to do something to quell my anger.

“Please prepare the carriage.”

I dressed elaborately and stepped out. Then I saw Chelsea standing outside with her hand raised as if she was about to knock on the door.

“

, are you going out?”

It seemed she had brought food for me. She put down the tray and readied to follow orders.

“I’m going to the downtown area. I’m sick of those dresses. I need new ones. Give the ones I wore to the servants.” I spoke lightly with a mischievous smile on my face.

“B-But Madam, you had only worn those once.”

“

, I heard nobles don’t wear the same dress twice.”

“Yes, that’s true, but…”

“And since the marquis gave me his personal seal to use freely, it’s fine. Please share it equally among the servants.”

“T-thank you. Then I will prepare the carriage, Madam.”

“Yes.”

My expression darkened. The servant who tried to poison Merilly had already been captured by Frinel’s aide. Ironically, it was one of the maids I had treated kindly.

I nonchalantly turned my face as the maid was taken away. Surely, there were still others helping Magorit. But now, it didn’t matter.

Even if I exposed another traitor, people tempted by her allure would continue to emerge.

Humans were like that. Some are like trees, unshaken even in storms, while others are like reeds, swaying at the slightest breeze. But not all reeds can be uprooted.

I sighed deeply and took Endimion’s personal seal. “

”

Then, I hopped into the carriage and headed to the downtown area. I ordered new dresses and jewels, bought various things without a second thought, and promised support to another orphanage that I couldn’t visit using Endimion’s seal last time. To spend all the money on the seal, I even signed a contract for a seaside villa at the edge of the empire, planning to demolish it and build a school for commoners.

All the bills were due on the same day. It would be on my debutante ball.

The thought of Endimion being expelled barehanded amused me. As promised, I would pass the title to Roseni and become her guardian.

After my lengthy shopping, I returned to Marquis Hamilton’s residence.

“Should I place these here, Madam?”

“Yes. I’ll unpack them.”

“Alright.”

Boxes of gifts piled up in one corner of the room. The door closed, and silence returned.

Exhausted from non-stop activity, I felt tired despite the exciting shopping trip. I wished for someone’s company. Faces of my dear ones came to mind – Merilly, Duke Gracie, Bella… And among them, there was Frinel’s face.

Amid the glittering jewels and dresses, I picked up a small box.

I opened it slightly. Inside was a boutonniere with topaz, closely resembling Frinel’s clear, bright eyes. My heart fluttered as if looking directly into his eyes. My fingertips trembled.

I recalled Frinel bleeding and collapsing in front of Merilly when facing the assassins. A destructive desire surged in my heart. It was more than simple anger; it was a deep and terrifying emotion. I wanted to destroy everything, and this desire seemed to be slowly consuming me.

What if Merilly had been the one being poisoned? Even knowing the shield would protect my child, I might not be able to control my power.

I clenched my fist, deciding to restrain her power for a while.

I thought of Frinel again. He had thrown himself to save me. Before I knew it, the longing for Frinel had spread deep within my heart.

I stood up decisively.

It was evening, but not yet bedtime. Usually, he would be reading or exercising at this time.

Having made up my mind, I tightly held the box, closing my eyes and thinking of Frinel. Though I could teleport to a place by thinking of it, teleporting near a person by thinking of them was also possible.

A bright blue light, resembling his eyes, flashed, and I was instantly transported somewhere. As I opened my eyes,

“…

?”

Feeling the sudden moisture on her skin, anxiety gripped me.

“This.”

A low, languid voice echoed.

“You sometimes surprise me too much.”

Through the rising steam, what she saw was none other than,

“Isn’t this a bit too fast? Lady Lobelia.”

“

!”

Frinel, enjoying a bath, completely nude.