The Abandoned Villainess Decides to Take It All Chapter 48

Chapter 48

Lillian’s head was filled with question marks.

More importantly… why did the conversation jump from the rabbit story to something like that?

No.

The other person was clearly sending a signal that he wanted to say something.

Yes, I can at least tell that much from the atmosphere.

But Lillian felt like she had wandered into a dead reception zone and couldn’t understand the signal.

It was as if one person were speaking in dolphin frequencies while the other replied in bat frequencies.

What exactly… was it?

Lillian stared at him for a moment before finally speaking.

“Your Highness.”

“Yes.”

“Now that I think about it… you seem to prefer easy solutions.”

“…What?”

The villain, who had been standing with his arms crossed, relaxed slightly.

It seemed like no one had ever said that to him before.

Lillian was more surprised by that than anything.

She was speaking more bluntly than usual because she was tired.

Did Elias… just never say it?

No—perhaps even his family had been too afraid to.

Come to think of it, there really wasn’t anyone who could say it.

But Lillian could say it now because they had a contract.

She believed he wouldn’t kill her immediately even if he got angry.

And most importantly—

When something interesting was said, he listened.

Trusting that, she gathered her courage.

“What do you gain by killing everyone?”

“Efficiency compared to the time invested.”

“And what will you do with all the time you saved?”

“…Isn’t it enough for most people to simply reach the result quickly?”

“I mean… I do agree with that. But even if you become emperor quickly, it doesn’t seem like it would make you happy.”

She was genuinely curious.

“You don’t seem like someone who enjoys luxury very much.”

Because this man was actually quite frugal.

Only the room Lillian used—the Pearl Room—was extravagant.

The rest of the castle’s rooms were strangely ordinary.

The villain stared directly at her.

As if she had just said something completely incomprehensible.

“So you would choose the path of obtaining things one by one, even if it’s inefficient?”

“Maybe you could say it’s choosing the option that gives both fun and reputation.”

Instead of becoming a tyrant who ruled through fear after killing everyone—

Wouldn’t it be more interesting to become a great emperor who was capable but a little frightening?

When respect and fear were balanced just right, people’s reactions became far more interesting.

“…Not finding enjoyment in trying itself, I think that’s a lack of effort.”

“You’re saying something academy students would get executed for, Lillian.”

“No, really. Life just works that way.”

To create accessories worth selling—no, now artifacts—

Lillian had gone through countless attempts.

There were times when the process itself was painful.

Times when she wondered why she was suffering like this and wanted to quit.

But once she passed that stage, sometimes it became enjoyable.

“When I start getting good at something, it becomes fun little by little… Sometimes learning something new is enjoyable too.”

“….”

“Efficiency where everything ends at once is nice. But the process has meaning too.”

Lillian closed her eyes.

The imperial officials whose lives had been saved today should truly be grateful.

Trying to change the villain’s mind using nothing but words was exhausting.

Of course… I’d also like to gain a little more compared to the effort I put in…

It would be nice if selling one new product gave her a lifelong pension.

But not if it involved human lives.

“Then, Lillian.”

He spoke quietly.

“But if I still decide my earlier method is more efficient.”

“….”

“And I do it anyway—would you leave me?”

“No.”

She answered without hesitation.

Lillian had excellent social survival instincts.

She knew when to lie appropriately.

You imprinted on me. You wouldn’t let me go unless it’s解除 anyway.

Still, she mixed sincerity into her final words.

“But I don’t think I’d be able to like you.”

“….”

That would be difficult.

Lillian knew her answer probably meant nothing.

But—

Huh?

When had she started holding a cup of water?

While she had been busy answering, she suddenly found water and candy in her hands.

“Take your medicine.”

“Ah… okay.”

“Then suck on the candy afterward.”

He had already poured the medicine into her palm, somehow knowing it was time.

What kind of perfume does this man use?

The thought came randomly because she was tired.

That forest scent was pleasant.

She should have been cautious, but instead it made her feel strangely safe.

“…About that rabbit.”

There it was again.

The dangerous rabbit topic had returned.

And the scent slowed her reactions.

“What the duke said is true.”

“Mm…”

“I wanted to try my ability on that rabbit once. It was pink and soft.”

…Lillian desperately pretended she didn’t realize her own hair was pink.

The medicine she had taken contained sleep-inducing ingredients.

There was no escape now.

And he had already tucked the blanket around her.

“So I couldn’t run away.”

“I wanted to see the rabbit inside the snow.”

“….”

“Get some rest now, Lillian.”

He stood up.

Lillian whispered softly toward his retreating back.

“The rabbit must have looked beautiful in the snow, Your Highness.”

“….”

He didn’t answer.

Lillian stared at the doorway long after he had left.

Come to think of it…

He wasn’t calling her Lady Tillard anymore.

He was calling her Lillian.

Later That Night

Late that night, Ebren muttered quietly to himself.

“…She’s a really strange person.”

Lillian.

When he had gone to see her because of the rabbit story, he had wanted to test her.

To see whether she feared him.

He hadn’t even decided what he would do if she did.

…That’s a relief.

Lillian hadn’t feared him.

She had even asked him questions.

What will you do with the time you saved?

Exactly.

He had always assumed that since he was born a prince, he would eventually become emperor.

But if he accelerated that process—

What did he actually want to do afterward?

This situation isn’t bad.

Just knowing that Lillian was in the same castle felt strangely satisfying.

Fun instead of efficiency.

No one had ever shown him that perspective before.

“But I don’t think I’d be able to like you.”

So what if you don’t?

While thinking about her words, he traced the surface of the table with his finger.

“Ah.”

The surface quietly annihilated along the path his finger had drawn.

“…?”

He normally never used his ability unintentionally.

Ebren leaned his head against the chair and closed his eyes.

That night—

He dreamed of a pink rabbit running alive through the snow.

The pink-haired woman was there too.