The Abandoned Villainess Decides to Take It All Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Leash, Lifeline

Ebren hadn’t planned to go this far.

A count from some minor kingdom—was that really worth this much effort?
Someone like that was meant to be toyed with lightly.

No one poured their heart and soul into tormenting an ant crawling on the ground.

But then—

Blood streaked Lillian’s face.

“…Huh?”

The moment she flinched in startled confusion, something inside his head snapped cleanly in two.

Maybe I should play with whatever did that,
until it breaks completely.

Just imagining it made his pulse race.

Up until a moment ago, he’d been enjoying himself far too much.

Pink butterflies drifted through the air, and Lillian’s voice cut through the haze—

“Your Highness. Please, stop now.”

“……”

“Your Highness? Are you conscious?”

Ebren slowly lowered his gaze.

He stared at her without blinking.

They said imprinting was handing your leash to someone else.

He’d understood that intellectually.
He’d even said it aloud.

But he had never imagined it would feel like this.

So completely—

She can play with me now…?

It felt as though everything he was had been placed on the table as collateral.

For a brief moment, he couldn’t move at all when she spoke.

Rage flooded his vision, staining it red.

Lillian Tillard was fascinating.

Useful. Capable.

Her outward expression never matched the turbulence inside her.

When they’d held hands in the workshop, the emotions flowing from her had been… entertaining.

Something worth savoring for about a year.

But standing over him like this?

No.

That wouldn’t do.

Absolutely not.

The violent impulse he’d almost forgotten surged back to life.

The whisper of annihilation slithered through his thoughts.

“You…”

Ebren grabbed Lillian by the chin and forced her face up.

Her green eyes—flecked faintly with gold—widened.

Breaking the imprint now would hurt him too.

But if this was what a leash felt like—

There was no reason to wait a year.

“Your Highness,” she said quickly, voice steady despite everything,
“touch isn’t working, is it?”

Then—

Lillian cupped his cheeks with both hands.

“Alright. I’ll try using my face for a moment.”

“…!”

Ebren froze.

It was as if thick, sweet liquid had been injected straight into his brain.

The sensation spread from scalp to spine in less than a second.

His entire body flooded with warmth—his heart pounding wildly, erratically.

“—Ghk.”

Ridiculous.

For someone called the heartless Tarandia.

“……”

Ebren dragged a hand down his face again and again.

“This is insane.”

“…? You seem okay now.”

“Then I really am losing it.”

His lungs were full of warm, sugary air.

At the same time, the fury aimed at Lillian collapsed without resistance.

She said firmly,

“No. You’re fine now.”

“How would you know…?”

“You’ve calmed down.”

Ebren didn’t understand.

But Lillian did.

That terrifying spiderweb mark beneath his eye was gone.

Her expression remained composed.

Slowly, Ebren wrapped his hand around the one still resting on his face.

This time, something familiar flowed into him.

“…You were scared.”

“Yes,” she admitted calmly. “You’re… kind of terrifying.”

“Honest.”

He liked that she didn’t bluff.

With his head clearer, Ebren finally looked at her properly.

From her temple to her eyelid, her skin was split—blood beading there.

That blood irritated him.

Deeply.

“Let’s head back. We’ll need a priest.”

“Okay.”

Lillian turned toward the others without hesitation.

Walking beside her, Ebren bit the inside of his cheek.

One year after imprinting…

Damn it.

This needed to be undone—quickly.

That sweetness was far more dangerous than he’d expected.

As they walked, Ebren casually kicked the collapsed trash once.

There was one convenience in a world with espers.

No matter what disaster occurred, saying “it was a rampage” explained everything.

A building half-destroyed? Rampage.
A bridge collapsed? Rampage again.

So while the priests of the Temple of Aeterna were horrified, they understood.

Just another day in Perniès.

After imprisoning both the count—unconscious from pain—and the attendant who had sold out the princess’s location—

The princess repeatedly thanked Lillian in her chambers.

“Lady Lillian… truly, thank you.”

“It was nothing, Your Highness.”

“But thanks to you, I survived. My ability—and my life.”

The vision stone evidence was handed over without issue.

Monster cores were classified as Class-One hazards in the empire, but the kingdom’s laws were looser.

And it had already been processed.

The princess’s bitterness over the betrayal lingered, but her voice was steady.

“I trusted him for so long. If not for you… I think I would have been led around forever.”

“……”

“And it’s true, isn’t it?” she asked softly.
“You designed all the artifacts attributed to Iris Tillard.”

“Yes.”

Lillian answered immediately, pulling out her sketchbook to show the original designs.

“Incredible…”
“If you’ve awakened as a controller, will you be making them from now on?”

“Yes.”

“…!”

The princess’s eyes sparkled.

At that moment, Lillian knew—

This cleanly severed any future path for Iris and the Second Prince to borrow Tenevrin’s power.

And if things went well…

It would also help greatly if she ever sought refuge here.

While Lillian quietly envisioned a comfortable future—

The princess glanced uneasily past her.

As if looking at a living cursed talisman.

“The First Prince… what is his relationship with you, Lady Lillian?”

Sneaking into the empire without notice—it was natural to be cautious.

Lillian had never explained her position.

The villain answered for her.

“We’re engaged.”

“…!”

The hesitation vanished from the princess’s face.

A solemn, royal composure replaced it instantly.

“Then should this be understood as an alliance between the Tarandia imperial family and House Tillard?”

And Favil?

“Well,” Ebren replied lazily, “think whatever you like. Just remember who saved you.”

A warning—clear and sharp.

“…The royal family of Tenevrin does not forget its debts,” the princess said.
“We will remember this.”

“No need to worry.”

“In that case, since we’re overlooking the kingdom’s mistake, we trust you’ll keep this quiet.”

“Agreed.”

A clean exchange.

Lillian nodded, satisfied.

For esper diplomacy, this was remarkably civilized.

She was genuinely pleased.

That sets everything before the original story even begins.

But then—

A shadow fell over her.

Before she could react, her body lifted cleanly off the floor.

“Then we’ll take our leave.”

“…!”

“My lifeline is injured,” Ebren said calmly.
“I need her alone for now.”

Lillian barely managed a hurried farewell as she was carried off like luggage.