The Abandoned Villainess Decides to Take It All Chapter 7

Chapter 7

The timing to quietly slip away toward the border checkpoint was approaching.

In terms of terrain, Lillian had the advantage over the villain’s group, who were unfamiliar with the area—armed only with original-story knowledge and a month of escape preparations.

And I even taught them how to process control stones.

At the very least, he wouldn’t split the Empire in half due to a rampage.

Not like in the original story.

Please don’t let the aftermath reach the Kingdom of Tenevrin.

Still, her physical condition was starting to worry her.

Why do I have a fever? I can’t even taste anything properly.

She had deliberately dumped in the most expensive pepper she’d stolen from the estate.

And yet—no stimulation.

The villain’s group is more polite than expected, but…

If she asked for a fever reducer, they’d fuss unnecessarily.

Sneaking away would become even more exhausting.

Tch. What an idiot—not bringing medicine.

Lillian pushed herself up from the corner of the tent where she’d been crouching.

Earlier, while drinking soup, she’d spotted something.

A sparsely snow-covered plain.

And beneath a certain tree stump—a flower.

It resembled a dandelion, but from blossom to root, it had antipyretic properties.

Jackpot.

Heh.

She carefully confirmed it wasn’t the poisonous look-alike.

After rinsing it with melted snow, she began chewing from the root up.

But when the flower brushed her lips, she tilted her head.

That’s strange. It usually works right away.

When she was young—after her parents died because of her—

“You want to take something like you to the temple…?!
My heir died because of a worthless parasite!”

By her grandfather’s order, the entire family had once cut her off.

There were days when even basic food and shelter were hard to come by.

When she had a fever back then, she’d chew whatever medicinal herbs she’d read about.

That treatment only stopped after she became engaged to Karkin.

Suddenly, a thought crossed her mind.

Maybe the reason I believed I loved my fiancé for ten years—

Was because of the decent treatment I received thanks to Karkin Favil.

Was I clinging to him out of survival instinct…?

Afraid of returning to the days of being discarded.

Then had she ever truly known what love was?

Even once?

Not in my previous life either.

In that life, Lillian had no family at all.

She was found in a baby box and raised alone.

She had to do everything by herself.

Had to be strong on her own.

And yet—she preferred her previous self.

Even alone, she’d never groveled so pathetically before others.

She planned to live like that again—

“LILLIAN TILLARD!”

What the—?!

Lillian flinched in surprise.

The yellow flower was still clamped between her lips.

The original-story villain was charging toward her, face rigid.

“Hah… you—”

“…Yes?”

“Spit it out. Right now.”

Ptui.

Lillian obeyed without understanding.

Espers were more likely to rampage when emotions spiked.

This man had to stay stable until they reached the destination.

Please.

“Your Highness, what’s wrong—ah.”

Only after asking did she objectively assess herself.

With a flower in her mouth, she probably did look unwell.

Let’s clear this up. I’m not crazy.

“Your Highness, there’s a reason—”

“Open your mouth wider.”

“…Pardon?”

“Now.”

She was too stunned to understand what was happening.

The villain bit off his black glove and yanked it free.

Then grabbed her chin—

No, wait.

Why was this man touching someone else’s skin at all?

Barehanded?

Didn’t he avoid contact because of his ability?

If he was worried about dirt—thanks, but no thanks.

He pressed his bare thumb firmly against the center of her parted lips.

“W-wait, Your Highness.”

Lillian grabbed his wrist.

“I think you’ve misunderstood—”

At the same time, the tip of her tongue brushed against his thumb.

What… is this?

Her vision suddenly blurred.

The original-story villain had misunderstood something—badly.

She was about to shout, Please don’t panic and rampage—

But the instant her lips brushed his hand—

A far more violent heat surged through her body than before.

This wasn’t simple fever.

Because I touched the First Prince…?

But she was powerless.

Touching an esper shouldn’t change her condition at all—

Lillian grew dizzy.

“Tillard…!”

She heard someone calling her.

But unable to endure the heat, she collapsed forward.

The First Prince caught her—but that didn’t help at all.

Her entire body felt like it was on fire.

This is bad.

In her hazy consciousness, she dimly sensed him carrying her into the tent.

“Physician! Now—this way!”

Before the physician could even arrive—

Elias rushed in from outside.

“Your Highness! I have something to report—”

Lillian barely caught fragments.

Below the slope. Suspicious individuals…

Why now?

If it were monsters, she’d understand.

Outside civilized areas, danger was everywhere.

But suspicious people?

The First Prince gave an order.

“Lady Tillard is to be treated inside the tent.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Wait—

You’re leaving me here…?

Grinding her teeth through the heat and dread, Lillian felt it.

The sound of her plan collapsing.

She refused to accept it.

No. It can’t be.

Do you know how hard I worked to prepare for crossing the border?!

No matter how cursed my luck is—

This once, it has to side with me!

The physician approached.

“Lady, stay with me. Can you hear me?”

“I—”

“Lady?”

“Damn… it… original-story villain…!”

At first, Ebren’s group suspected assassins.

Sent solely by the Second Empress.

Or House Favil.

Or—worst case—the Emperor himself.

“Everyone, masks on.”

Ebren suppressed the heat climbing up his throat.

Because of Lillian Tillard, both his mind and body were in chaos.

This was not the time to lose focus.

As the bushes beneath the moonlight began to rustle—

Torches appeared below the ambush point on the slope.

Moments later, Elias sent a hand signal.

—They’re Tillard knights.

They bore the teal family insignia.

Some faces were recognizable.

Their voices carried clearly.

“…Ugh, what a pain.”
“Never thought she’d drug us and run.”
“Just let us catch her. I’ll teach that bitch a lesson.”

A shadow slowly fell over Ebren’s eyes.

The expressions of his subordinates mirrored his own.

They loathed House Tillard.

That house had been involved in the death of the First Empress—Ebren’s mother—and had continued pressuring them in alliance with the Second Empress.

But what they were saying now—

Was something no proper master–servant relationship should ever contain.

The vulgar chatter continued.

“Hahaha! She’s just a young lady—what could she do?”
“Oh? You didn’t know? First time escorting Lillian?”