The Tragedy of The Villainess

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She didn't know how much blood Tuban would cough up this time, so Seria untied the wide ribbon that was binding her waist.

It was strange.

Tuban didn't say anything, and his face was hidden by his long, fine hair, so she couldn't read his expression.

Still, she had a feeling that Tuban was in a lot of trouble. It was hard to explain in words, it was just a feeling. In the midst of this, bloody was still leaking out of his mouth.

Soon, letters began to be engraved on Stern's insignia.

The writing was more forceful than before.

<She is…>

"……."

<She is a replica.>

"……?"

She couldn't believe her eyes.

Tuban, who had not moved slightly until then, collapsed with a thud. At the same time, blood flowed out of his mouth like water flooding a river. To give you an idea of what level it was, it almost bled up to the ankles in no time.

The problem was after that.

"Ah! Tuban!"

Seria hurriedly tried to cover Tuban’s mouth with the ribbon and wipe it off.

Suddenly she turned her head back at the strange presence.

Soon after, she had no choice but to open her eyes wide.

"……!"

Something that looked like Tuban was crawling quickly towards her. That was when the unidentified thing reached out its long arms and tried to snatch her ankles.

White light flashed before her eyes.

“Ahhhh!”

Seria jumped up like she was having a seizure. The arm she was trying to shake off didn't go as far as she wanted. Her both wrists were being held tightly by someone.

“…Seria? Seria!”

Her eyes widened in response to the voice in her ear. In an instant, her body lost strength.

“Lesche?”

She understood belatedly. She was being held in Lesche’s arms while lying with her back on Lesche’s abdomen. It was like Lesche was holding her like that as she slept.

The strong force that held her trembling body in complete captivity, the tension that had made her shudder all the way up to my neck, melted away as if it were a lie. Unlike her, who was relaxed, Lesche’s body had more strength than usual.

She stroked her face down with both hands and turned her over. She wrapped her arms around Lesche’s neck and buried her face into his shoulder, the heart pounding fast at the close contact. Her heartbeat was slow and steady, whereas Lesche’s was not.

"…I saw something strange.”

“What do you mean ‘strange’?”

“Something monstrous tried to grab my ankle…It's like a nightmare."

Seria shuddered. After the recent mining incident, she had decided to tell Lesche everything about Tuban. She thought it was the polite thing to do for this man who supported her.

“How long did I sleep?” (Seria) (*Whenever Seria goes to Tuban’s world, she will sleep for a long time.)

“You slept for a day.” (Lesche)

“…One day? Is that all?” (Seria)

“You sound disappointed. ‘Only slept for a day.’” (Lesche)

"……."

“Seria.”

“Yes.”

“I wish you didn't go there so often."

Her heart ached at the slight tremble in his voice.

“I understand. Then I won’t be able to see you for a while.”

Lesche chuckled low.

"I hope that feeling lasts for a long time.”

After keeping Seria trapped in his arms for a while, Lesche finally let her go when she told him she was thirsty.

Shortly after, the doctor came in and she was examined like a rite of passage. Of course, there was nothing wrong with her body. She used her sacred power just to be sure, and it was fine too.

‘Thank God.’

Honestly, if it wasn't the powerful divine power coming from her hands.

“Seria.”

“Yes?”

“Why can't I follow you there?”

Also, if it wasn't for Lesche, she would have suspected many times that she was crazy.

“I don’t know if you can, but I'll ask Tuban next time.”

“I want to ask him a question.”

"What are you the guardian of…?"

Seria asked that question back, but her aching heart felt warm. This man who informed her that she was in reality was too precious to her.

On the other hand…

She couldn't help but think of Lesche’s heart, who had no choice but to watch over her as she slept.

‘I'll have to live as Lesche’s slave for a year once everything is sorted out.’

She lay down on her darkened bed again and reconsidered.

‘By the way…Lina is a replica?’

What exactly does it mean? No, the question is ‘Lina is a replica of who?’

‘It’s not me, is it?’

The reason why such a thought suddenly came to her mind was because she remembered what Tuban had said the other day.

Seria’s and Lina’s name was Rain..

Could it be that their names were similar?

Seria and Lina.

Lina, Seria.

‘D*mn it.’

Seria was scared. It was an eerie feeling, as if she had suddenly fallen into something terrifying.

She felt fortunate once again to be in the real world that was completely in her favor instead of Tuban’s world.

***

The next day.

She finished the work that needed to be done as quickly as possible, and immediately began to select jewelry auction houses. No matter what she thought, it seemed that the most important thing was to quickly unseal Tuban.

“Grand Duchess.”

It was Linon who had brought her the list of auction houses. He glanced at the stack of papers on her desk and tilted his head.

“I was wondering what you are looking for. Are you looking for the Mermaid Spring?"

“Do you know this?"

"Yes. But why are you looking for it?”

"I want it. I'm not quite sure where to find it.”

"As far as I know, it's in Murat."

"……?"

Seria raised her eyes. She wondered if Berg's aide knew that well in the beginning…

"Are you sure?"

“Yes, Grand Duchess.”

‘Is he a search system, or something?’

Seria was bewildered and confused at the same time. She put down her pen and stood up.

"Will I be able to get it if I send someone to Murat?"

“It's a little difficult to send someone inferior. It's an island near the Mermaid Sea, and the jewel Mermaid Spring is very important.”

“I'll have to go to Murat myself then."

Murat was a small to medium sized island village located in the south. Linon's eyes suddenly began to shake at her words.

"What's wrong?"

Linon quickly cleared his throat.

“I can go and buy it for you.”

“Linon? What about your work schedule?”

“I'm fine. I still have a lot of unused vacation time left. May I leave for Murat in twelve days? It will take about a month in total.”

"Then, well, you'll be grateful…."

How difficult it was to buy a piece of jewelry when you only know its name. She thought she would spend at least a whole season to find it. It was also time that she had drastically reduced because she was Stern and Grand Duchess of Berg.

She felt much lighter. However, her smile froze as soon as she saw the expected cost.

‘Tuban, you b*stard.’

It was fortunate that she had a lot of money from the mine. Swallowing tears of blood, she asked Linon.

"Are you going to see your relatives? I'll prepare some presents, so take them."

"What?"

"I heard you were born in Murat.”

"……."

Linon was silent for a moment, then slowly asked back.

"Do you remember that?"

"I do remember. Do I look like an idiot?”

"No…"

Linon's cheeks reddened slightly.

“I didn't know the Grand Duchess would remember."

It was the moment Seria blinked. Abigail, who had been with her in her office the whole time, suddenly moved like the wind. She grabbed Linon by the chest. Seria got up from her chair with a puzzled expression.

“Bibi, what's wrong with you all of a sudden?”

"He’s trying to invade my territory.”

"Your territory? What ….?"

“I'll go for a walk with him. Lady."

"……?"

Seria couldn't understand what was going on, so she just tilted her head. Linon was dragged by Abigail’s merciless grab on his collar.

The door slammed shut. Seria couldn't see Linon's face for days after that.

"……."

***

"Oh, Grand Duchess. You've received a letter from the Great Temple.”

“Letter?"

The sender of the letter was High Priest Jubelud. She was wondering if there would be any mention of Lina in the letter, but there wasn't. It was a letter asking how she was doing. (*too much pressure from Lesche ?)

‘Why are you suddenly asking me if I'm well?'

He wasn't the kind of person who would even send a letter to ask about his well-being. The High Priest was a very busy person.

‘I'll have to reply to him when I get back.’

She looked at her face in the mirror. The hair was neatly braided with a red jewel decoration. Even in this mansion, the maid was very skillful.

The dress she wore was bright and light in color and it went well with summer. It was also the work of designer Begonia. As a famous designer, Begonia didn't make everyday clothes. The fancy dresses for banquets were her main creations.

Just like the one Seria was wearing.

"Wow, Grand Duchess! You really are dazzlingly beautiful! There's a reason why rumors have been spreading that she was always beautiful!”

A young lady openly and exaggeratedly praised Seria. Seria turned around in disgust. Linon was barely able to keep his hands together. If there was one thing that was different from the norm, it was that Linon was also decorated splendidly.

“Duke Howard will be surprised, as Chief Aide Berg at his own banquet.”

Linon flinched.

“I've heard some strange things about Duke Howard…Should I not go?”

“If you want to go, you can go. You've already made your preparations."

Linon's face immediately brightened.

Seria climbed into the carriage alone and looked out the window. Lesche, who had been busy for the past few days, decided to leave the Imperial Palace right away.

Seria didn’t plan to attend Duke Howard's banquet in the first place.

However, Lina had always been eager to make her debut in the imperial court, and instead of bullying the saint, she would not let the battle stop her from doing so .

The Grand Noble Family was just about to hold a banquet, so it would be better to attend and check out some social trends. As an aristocrat, socializing was an inseparable part of daily life.

In fact…hearing the strange story that Lina was a replica didn't change things much.

It wasn't that Lina would suddenly disappear, or die. However, that divine power in her belly would certainly not be the child of God. Of course, that would be determined in a month or two, when the results were certain.

Does Lina know what she is?

I don't know.

Then will she find out later?

Seria frowned.

There were many people at Duke Howard's banquet. Abigail and her image in his mind had deteriorated, but he was still a dignified Duke of the empire.

“Seria!”

Marlesana saw Seria and approached her. The Duke of Polvas was also with her. They exchanged a brief greeting and stepped inside.

“They have decorated the banquet hall with an unusual atmosphere.”

"Since there's a subjugation…"

It was obvious that the Duke had prepared this banquet in a hurry. She picked up a glass of champagne and drank a few sips.

When she went inside, Marlesana tilted her head slightly and asked.

“I was wondering, what is that strange thing in the corner?”

“Hm.”

Marlesana was right, there was a low, flat wooden table in the corner of the hall. It was on wheels and appeared to be easy to move. On top of it was something covered with a plain white cloth, but looking at the outline alone, it looked like a box of some kind.

Suddenly, Seria turned her gaze towards Linon. Linon, who came to the banquet as her escort, had his eyes fixed on the white box strangely.

“……?”