The Abandoned Villainess Decides to Take It All Chapter 36

Chapter 36

The Villain’s Castle

“Ugh… kgh…!”

“You’re incredibly lucky, little brother. You really picked the right day—one when I was in a good mood.”

Truly blessed.

He probably didn’t even realize he was alive thanks to Lillian.

“Go back and give my regards to the esteemed head of House Favil. Don’t forget to tell her you were sick and crying, too.”

Kyle clenched his teeth as he raised his head in humiliation.

The head of House Favil.

He meant his mother—the Second Empress, Lovellia.

At a glance, it sounded like praise.

In truth, it meant that he didn’t even recognize her as an Empress of Tarandia.

And by extension, Kyle himself wasn’t considered Tarandian either.

Just a son of Favil—
one not chosen by the Power of Annihilation.

Kyle convulsed when he realized the members of Dawn who had been around him had vanished without a trace.

“You damned monster! After what you did to my knights, you dare—!”

“Dare what?”

Ebren replied with an innocent smile.

“Do you have proof?”

Unless you had a controller like Lillian, who meticulously gathered evidence.

“The only facts here are that you dragged knights around without authorization—
and sold out your own subordinate.”

“Ugh…!”

“I’ll make good use of your aide and return him later.”

Ebren turned away, still smiling.

“Next time you try to ambush me, you should consider preparing evidence too.”

He walked off, leaving Kyle gasping behind—

like death itself, or the god of returning winter.

The Shadows who had accompanied them emerged from the dark forest.

“…Your Highness, are you all right?”

Elias approached him.

Blood spattered his face—he must have dealt with Dawn as well.

Ebren, unconcerned, spoke out of nowhere.

“Lillian worries about me.”

“…Pardon?”

“She said earlier that she was worried about me.”

In truth, he’d been mildly irritated when she kept paying attention to others.

I’m already using all my mental space worrying about you, Your Highness.

“That makes no sense. If I don’t even go berserk anymore, what is there to worry about?”

It was an utterly inefficient thing for Lillian to do.

And yet, for reasons he couldn’t explain, his heart felt pleasantly ticklish.

He asked Elias again.

“Do I look weak? If that’s why she worries, that’s illogical.”

“…Rather than that,” Elias hesitated,
“isn’t it because the lady is simply kind to you?”

“Kind.”

Ebren rolled the word around in his mouth.

He knew the dictionary definition—

but had never once applied it to himself.

Lillian being kind to him…

“Hah.”

He touched his lips.

This time, he hadn’t meant to smile—but the corners of his mouth kept lifting.

Unfortunately, Elias didn’t notice.

And as was often the case, he added something unnecessary.

“Kind people tend to worry about those close to them.”

“……”

“Just as the lady did for all of us this time.”

“……Hmph.”

Ebren’s mood cooled slightly.

So kindness was more… public than he’d thought.

Did normal humans scatter emotions like that everywhere?

Still… I didn’t dislike how it felt back then.

Then perhaps he should test it.

See under what circumstances Lillian’s kindness would be directed at him.

A gloomy mansion on the outskirts of the capital.

In a room whose windows were concealed by velvet curtains, a man sat in a plush armchair.

Black hair streaked with long white strands near his temples.

His wrinkled face twisted as he looked at his familiar.

A dragon of stone—
a creature that could freely traverse the earth.

“So the First Prince has found a controller.”

—Yes, Master.

“….”

—On the day he confronted Prince Kyle, his esper power stabilized through that controller.

“Who is it?”

—Lillian Tillard.

The man paused.

“That Lillian? Elric Tillard’s powerless granddaughter?”

—Yes. The presence around her is unmistakable.

“Hah!”

Utter nonsense.

But a familiar without human prejudice wouldn’t lie.

“…So he hid her from me quite well. And intended to keep doing so.”

—My apologies. Due to the vigilance of His Highness and the Shadows, discovery was delayed.

“That will do.”

Duke Balthazar murmured.

“Bring her to me when there’s an opening.”

—Yes, Master.

“If she’s already imprinted, all the better.”

It would make things easier to deal with.

When they finally reached the outskirts of the capital—
when she no longer had to sit curled up in the carriage—

Lillian stood before the First Prince’s castle gate and parted her lips slightly.

“Wow…”

She knew it was unbecoming.

But who cared?

The white castle crowned with a muted cobalt-blue roof was breathtaking.

“Lillian. Your room is this way.”

“Yes.”

She followed the villain without much expectation.

At the Tillard estate, her living conditions ranged wildly—from basements to rooms where silverfish appeared.

But when she reached the room prepared for her, she froze.

“…Your Highness, is it possible there’s been a mistake? Shouldn’t I be in the next room?”

“Hm? The next room is the dressing room for this one.”

“Oh.”

“Did you want to see that first?”

“N-no.”

She stepped carefully into the room decorated in pearl and blue tones.

It was too well done.

Uncomfortably so.

And even more unsettling—

“Your Highness… don’t you usually decorate interiors in black and white?”

Honestly, she’d expected that. Just a little.

“You’re strangely perceptive about odd things…”

“It’s the Tillard blood.”

So it was true!

But… why does all the furniture feel so rounded?

She’d seen this before—in her previous life.

Furniture with softened edges so babies wouldn’t get hurt.

As a result, the entire room felt gentle and cozy.

…Was this the villain’s taste?

Even the curtains are odd.

Noble curtains were usually tied back with tasseled cords.

But these use buttons. That’s rare…

Something felt off.

And once she noticed one odd thing, more followed.

Such a beautifully decorated room.

A terrace overlooking rolling green hills.

And its location—deep within the most secure part of the castle.

Structurally… this looks like a lord’s consort’s quarters—

But the villain cut off her thoughts at the perfect moment.

“You need a workshop to make artifacts, don’t you?”

“…Yes! If you could give me a space near the forge—”

“The forge is too far. See that corner of the garden?”

She followed where he pointed.

A small white cottage stood in one corner.

Surely not—

“A workshop is best when you can draw clean water immediately, and test circuits on natural materials, right?”

“Yes… that’s right…”

“This room happens to meet all those conditions.”

“Ah…”

Well, artifact workshops were demanding.

“Come, my lady.”

She forgot all her suspicions and followed him.

Wow…

Perfectly sized for working with a few people.

And the worktables are all adjusted to my height.

Then she nearly stopped breathing.

This equipment is more advanced than anything I own!

The villain handed her a new torch.

It could reach 1,600 degrees, with additional functions installed.

As she stared, entranced by the grip and balance, he spoke.

“…You like this?”

“Yes. Very much. It’s… beautiful.”

“I don’t understand…”

Now she finally understood.

Why people in her previous life said—

If you’re going to be someone’s underling, do it at a major corporation, not a corner shop.

I know it’s bait—and my heart is still racing!

Lillian beamed at him.

“Your Highness, thank you so much!”

“……”

“I truly mean it. I’m so happy.”

At the Tillard estate, no one had ever even checked on her room.

“…Is that so?”

The villain lowered his head slowly.

To her, he looked oddly… thirsty.

Dehydrated?

Workshops were dry places, after all.