The Abandoned Villainess Decides to Take It All Chapter 44

Chapter 44

Before Dawn

“Ah… I’m exhausted.”

As dawn approached, Lillian Tillard slumped into a chair inside her room.

Unlike when she controlled the abilities of the villain—or others—there were far more things she had to be careful about this time.

After all, something intangible like a dream couldn’t exactly be presented as evidence.

But traces should still remain on the duke.

She had confirmed it through the connection used to send the nightmares.

I’ve located where the duke is.

He was somewhere on the outskirts, far from the capital.

Since it had nothing to do with House Baltazar’s main residence, even his own family likely didn’t know where he was.

“The rest… the Shadows will handle.”

Even if it was all for the sake of a peaceful future, she had worked far too hard tonight.

Still, sleep wouldn’t come.

So Lillian stepped outside into the garden.

Beyond the small hut that served as her workshop—

That area was completely dark.

Well, of course.

The owner of that room wasn’t there.

…The villain went to the Imperial Palace last night, didn’t he?

Suddenly, she remembered something Elias Baltazar had told her.

“The duke has attempted to assassinate His Highness several times.”

The First Empress had carved marks into the villain’s body whenever he showed destructive impulses.

And the duke hated him.

Some relationships can never be repaired.

All Lillian wanted was minimal sacrifice, a safe escape, and a peaceful life.

“…Ah.”

Lost in thought while walking, she accidentally kicked something at the edge of the garden.

It was a small stone tower decoration.

“Oh no.”

Hopefully this wouldn’t lead to a compensation claim.

She should probably fix it before anyone noticed.

At that moment—

The gravel beneath her feet trembled.

…Hmm?

—“…Now we can finally speak.”

Was this some kind of auditory hallucination from lack of sleep?

Still, she had never heard such a rough voice before.

—“I will escort you to my master.”

Suddenly, darkness swallowed Lillian’s vision.

Somewhere Else

When she came to, her head was resting on something hard and cold.

Wherever this place was, life really wasn’t fair.

If someone was going to drag another person somewhere, the least they could do was offer a cushion.

That was basic Perniès Empire etiquette.

But where exactly was she?

“…Huh!?”

Lillian hurriedly pushed herself upright.

But the moment she lifted her upper body, she froze.

A monster had coiled itself around her, watching her with its head tilted.

—“I apologize for bringing you here so suddenly.”

“…What?”

The monster… spoke?

No.

If it can talk, then it’s a familiar.

Ordinary monsters lacked intelligence and slaughtered humans indiscriminately.

But occasionally, an exceptional individual appeared—one capable of forming a master–servant bond with an ability user.

Even the Temple of Aeterna recognized such beings.

If the ability user could control them, they were considered useful.

“Wouldn’t it have been better to politely ask before bringing me here?”

—“My patience is not sufficient to persuade humans.”

It certainly spoke quite fluently.

—“Please come. My master is waiting.”

The creature’s tail—made entirely of rock and gravel—blocked her escape route.

It told her to follow.

While making sure she had absolutely no choice.

Still, Lillian obeyed.

Because she already knew the identity of the one who had summoned her.

Someone she would inevitably have to meet.

Her grandfather.

“May the blessing of the Creator God be with you.”

“….”

“Duke Baltazar.”

But this wasn’t about Lillian.

It was about the villain.

Inside the dim reception room, the man standing with his back to her slowly turned around.

He was enormous.

Black hair.

Sharp, predatory features.

If he had to be compared to an animal—

He resembled a black hawk.

Or perhaps a seasoned mountain bandit.

“You’ve never seen me before, yet you recognize me.”

“The one who commands the Rock Dragon and can transport people wherever there is earth.”

“….”

“Among the Baltazars of Earth, who else but the duke could it be?”

The duke stared silently at Lillian.

Then she noticed something at his temple.

Her eyes widened.

That’s it.

A prominent blue vein.

The lingering trace left by Marquis Somnis’s nightmare ability.

If I could extract that trace, I’d have evidence.

Of course, she didn’t mean literally removing his blood vessel.

She wasn’t that barbaric.

The duke frowned slightly.

“You’re thinking about something else.”

“Not at all, Your Grace. It is an honor to meet you.”

She had only thought about it for a moment.

Yet he noticed immediately.

And since he had been affected by the nightmare ability, she needed to stay cautious.

If he suddenly attacked—

“So you awakened late.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“And what relationship do you have with my grandson?”

“I am currently His Highness’s Guide, and we will soon announce our engagement.”

“Break it off. If you’re sane.”

“….”

Wait.

Had she just been kidnapped for a morning-drama confrontation?

In the morning dramas she remembered from her previous life, they at least offered a thick envelope of cash.

Not a rock-and-gravel familiar.

“Hm. Judging by your reaction, you weren’t merely captivated by the prince’s face.”

Apparently she had been dragged here under the assumption that she was just another fangirl.

“Otherwise, there would be no reason for you to stay by his side.”

She couldn’t exactly say that the prince had imprinted on her unilaterally.

“We share a common goal.”

“Since you hid your awakening from House Tillard, your goal is obvious.”

“….”

“Planning bloody revenge against House Favil and House Tillard, perhaps?”

“I wouldn’t use such frightening words… but it’s similar, Your Grace.”

Lillian blinked.

He seems calmer than I expected.

Those affected by nightmare abilities usually became extremely unstable.

After all, they were forced to relive their most painful memories repeatedly.

As expected of a high-ranking ability user… his mental strength is remarkable.

If that was the case, perhaps he might cooperate with her plan.

But that hope vanished almost immediately.

“Give it up.”

“May I ask why? I thought Your Grace also did not think highly of those two houses.”

“It’s true that House Favil and House Tillard had a hand in driving my daughter away.”

The duke smirked.

“But in the end, the ones who caused my daughter’s death were the Tarandias.”

That was interesting information.

I heard many times that the First Empress loved the emperor far more than he loved her.

But he said the Tarandias.

Plural.

“Didn’t His Highness tell you?” the duke asked.

“About what he did with that ability.”

Lillian had never heard such a story.

It hadn’t even appeared in the original plot.

“When he was five years old,” the duke said coldly,
“right in front of my daughter, he erased the rabbit she cherished.”

“….”

“It was intentional.”

The duke’s voice grew colder.

“The prince was smiling.”

“My daughter fainted.”

…Wow.

Even if she wanted to defend him—

This one would be difficult.