The Villainess Runs Away

“Lady Vina, are you all right?”

Yua’s voice was filled with concern.

Holding a bag of ice water against her swollen cheek where she had been struck, Vina gave a small nod.

“That’s a relief. I don’t know what I would have done if even the slightest scar had been left on your beautiful face.”

How dramatic.

And besides, it didn’t matter anymore.

To House Lilifar, she was no longer needed. She wasn’t even useful as a political marriage pawn anymore.

If that was the case, then what did it matter if her body was scarred? What did it matter how badly she was sullied?

Nothing mattered anymore.

As though she had seen straight through those thoughts, Yua spoke softly.

“Please don’t give up on yourself like this.”

Impossible.

For Vina, House Lilifar had been everything.

Losing it was no different from losing her own worth.

The Lilifar family valued ability above all else. Sentimentality between family members barely existed there. Those who were useful were employed. Those who were not were discarded—even if they were their own children.

That was House Lilifar.

If you wanted recognition, you earned it.

But the moment a daughter was married off elsewhere, it was effectively a mark of incompetence.

That was what set the Lilifars apart from other noble houses.

Even women and children had the right to influence family affairs if they possessed talent. In fact, Vina’s younger sister already acted as their mother’s aide whenever the academy was on break.

Vina had worked tirelessly to earn the family’s approval.

But it was over now.

At the very least, disappearing without causing further trouble would be the last thing she could do as a member of House Lilifar.

“Lady Vina…”

“—!”

Suddenly, Yua wrapped her arms around her.

A modest yet soft warmth pressed against Vina’s cheek.

“I’ve drawn my brother’s attention now as well. Until his influence weakens, I’ll need to remain hidden too.”

That was true.

After the way she had confronted the prince, returning to a royal palace dominated by supporters of the Second Prince would be dangerous.

No one could predict what they might do to her.

Like Hubert, she would need to disappear for a while.

And it’s all my fault.

Vina lowered her eyes.

If only she had noticed the schemes of the Second Prince—that foolish younger brother—and that common-born girl. If only she had acted beforehand.

None of this would have happened.

I failed.

“Which is why,” Yua continued, “I have a proposal.”

A proposal?

What could she mean?

Yua’s face flushed red.

“How about… we elope together, Lady Vina?”

For a moment, it felt as though the air itself froze.

Elope…?

She knew what that word meant.

Two lovers defying the world around them, vanishing together so they could be united.

Surely Yua was speaking metaphorically.

She simply meant they should run away together.

…Run away together.

With Yua.

Somehow, that didn’t sound so bad.

Vina knew exactly what it meant to flee with a royal princess.

She understood the consequences.

But…

She couldn’t bring herself to care anymore.

Nothing seemed important now.

And so she nodded.

Accepting Yua’s proposal.

There was no turning back.

Being accused of bullying Mina had been a false charge.

But what she was about to do now was unquestionably a crime.

One severe enough to earn her execution.

Still…

Perhaps that was fine.

After all, wasn’t that a fitting ending for a villainess?

◇ ◇ ◇

“…You understand why you’ve been summoned here, don’t you, Glen?”

Having been called back to the family estate for the first time in quite a while, Glen stared at his father in confusion.

He hadn’t done anything wrong.

The one responsible was that foolish sister of his.

Yet he failed to realize that very attitude was the source of his father’s fury.

“Do you truly not understand, you fool? Why do you think I sent you to that academy? Certainly not to indulge in some childish imitation of youth.”

His father’s words openly mocked his years at the academy.

Glen bristled.

“With all due respect, Father, building connections is important for nobles as well—”

“Silence. Who gave you permission to speak back?”

“—!”

The sheer force of the rebuke made Glen’s body tremble with fear.

“I regret now that I sent a worthless incompetent like you. I should have sent Rena instead.”

The mention of his twin sister made Glen grit his teeth.

Why was he being spoken to like this?

This was all because of that sister of his.

The disgrace of House Lilifar.

“You disgrace to the Lilifar name.”

“!”

The words struck him like a blow.

His father had just voiced the very thing Glen often thought about Vina.

Except he wasn’t saying it about her.

He was saying it about him.

“W-Why…? I… I ranked among the top students at the academy…”

“That is only natural.”

His father answered coldly.

“My grades were better than hers. And unlike her, I never did anything that brought shame upon House Lilifar—”

“To think you are this blind.”

His father sighed.

“You can’t even comprehend why her grades were lower than yours. Rena. Surely you understand.”

“Yes, Father.”

Standing beside him, Rena Lilifar stepped forward.

She looked at Glen with eyes devoid of warmth.

“Sister’s grades were poor on purpose.”

“…What?”

Glen couldn’t understand what he had just heard.

On purpose?

The Lilifars valued excellence above all else.

Results were everything.

Numbers were absolute.

So what was she talking about?

Was she actually trying to defend that useless sister?

Rena let out an exasperated sigh.

“It seems my brother truly doesn’t understand. Sister’s grades fluctuated wildly. Sometimes excellent. Sometimes poor.”

“So what? That just means she studied sometimes and slacked off other times.”

“No.”

Rena shook her head.

“There was one consistent pattern. Anyone who paid attention to the overall rankings would have noticed it. But I suppose you were too busy thinking only about yourself.”

Glen clenched his fists.

“What pattern?”

“The grades of Prince Arnight.”

Rena answered without a trace of pride, as though the conclusion should have been obvious.

“…What are you talking about?”

“You really never think, do you?”

Her voice was merciless.

“To be blunt, Prince Arnight performs poorly in both academics and practical studies. Unlike Lord Hubert, he was always meant to be a puppet king.”

Glen’s expression darkened.

Arnight was both his liege and his closest friend.

Seeing the insult on his face, Rena continued.

“What is that look for? I’m merely stating facts. If you hadn’t been so obsessed with your childish game of friendship, then Sister wouldn’t have… wouldn’t have…”

For the first time, emotion cracked through her composure.

Anger.

Raw and intense.

Unlike their father, she still hadn’t fully mastered the art of suppressing it.

After a moment, she took a breath.

“…My apologies. I lost my composure.”

“It matters not,” their father replied. “Feeling emotion is not weakness. Failing to control it is. Like this foolish son.”

Glen lowered his head.

Unable to argue.

“I’ll continue. Sister likely kept her grades intentionally below Prince Arnight’s. She didn’t want to wound the pride of a man whose self-esteem was already fragile.”

Rena’s gaze sharpened.

“In other words, she acted as the ideal fiancée. The kind of woman who elevates her future husband. Much like Mother.”

“That’s just speculation.”

Glen shook his head desperately.

“Besides, that’s impossible. Unless she somehow knew Arnight’s scores beforehand, there’s no way she could consistently place just below him every time—”

No.

It couldn’t be possible.

Yet if Rena was right…

Then Vina had been calculating those results all along.

Always staying just beneath Arnight.

Every single time.

Rena looked at him with naked disgust.

“The fact that you think it’s impossible only proves how little you understand her.”

Her voice carried undeniable conviction.

“After all, she defeated Miss Mina in a mock battle when they first entered the academy. Sister was never incompetent. She understood people. She knew how to move hearts.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“Since my dear brother seems determined to misunderstand, let me educate you. Sister wasn’t recommended as Prince Arnight’s fiancée because she was useless and needed to be cast aside.”

Quite the opposite.

“She was—”

“Enough, Rena.”

Their father’s voice cut her off.

“You will tell him no more.”

“…Understood.”

Rena bowed and stepped back.

Glen’s thoughts spun.

What was going on?

Hadn’t Vina been discarded because she was a failure?

“Rena is correct,” Alcatros said.

“Vina intentionally ranked beneath the Second Prince. To do so, she constantly observed him and remained by his side.”

His gaze became colder.

“And yet you noticed none of it.”

The room seemed to grow heavier.

“What exactly were you doing at that academy?”

The question struck like a hammer.

“Why didn’t you prove Vina’s innocence?”

That was the heart of Alcatros’s anger.

Glen had done nothing.

Because he had done nothing, Vina had been condemned.

Yet even now, he failed to understand.

In his mind, her guilt had always been obvious.

He had never witnessed the incident himself.

But she seemed capable of such things.

And so he had sided with the prince.

With his friend.

He had accused Vina.

That was the right choice.

Wasn’t it?

It had to be.

“…No answer?”

Alcatros closed his eyes.

“Very well. Someone who forgets his purpose and wastes his time playing at friendship has no place in House Lilifar.”

His gaze hardened.

“Ordinarily, you would be discarded.”

Glen stiffened.

“But circumstances do not permit that yet. Continue watching that puppet prince. That is the only purpose you still serve.”

Glen swallowed his frustration.

His friend had been insulted repeatedly.

Yet he couldn’t utter a single word in response.

“Leave.”

“…Yes, Father.”

Glen bowed and exited.

As soon as the door closed, Rena spoke.

“He’s useless now. Worse, there’s a chance he’ll side with the Second Prince and betray us.”

She tilted her head.

“Wouldn’t it be better to cut him off immediately?”

“I know.”

Alcatros’s expression didn’t change.

“I no longer expect anything from him.”

A faint smile touched his lips.

“He has only one purpose left.”

“To be a bomb.”

“Fufu.”

Rena laughed softly.

“You truly show no mercy, even toward your own child.”

“Child?”

Alcatros snorted.

“I stopped seeing him as one the moment he betrayed Vina and helped trample her.”

“Father really is soft when it comes to Sister.”

A large hand settled atop Rena’s head.

“Not only Vina. I cherish you and Abel equally.”

His voice was gentle.

“The only one this family no longer needs is him.”

Abel—the eldest son and future head of House Lilifar.

Rena smiled faintly.

“And you’re hardly the only one who’s soft on Sister.”

That much was true.

A shadow of worry crossed her face.

“…I wonder if Sister is all right.”

Alcatros chuckled.

“Have faith.”

His eyes softened.

“That princess who’s hopelessly obsessed with Vina is with her.”

“There is no danger greater than that,” he added dryly.

Rena couldn’t help laughing.

You’re right.

Yua… I’ll lend you my place as her little sister for a while.

So please… take care of my sister.

Her thoughts drifted to the childhood friend she used to fight with almost daily over who got to monopolize Vina’s attention.

And for the first time since the chaos began, she offered a silent prayer.