I'm a Villainess, Can I Die?-Chapter 120

"Selina."

At the familiar voice, I came to a sudden stop. Turning around, I saw Lukas approaching with a smile, his hair neatly arranged.

"Sir Lukas."

"I was just thinking how dull it was walking alone. Looks like I found good company."

Lukas naturally took the spot beside me. I stared at him, a little dumbfounded, then gave a slow nod.

Well, we were heading the same way anyway. No reason to stop him.

Lukas gave me an exaggerated bow.

Now, the three of us walked together. Aiden said nothing, eyes fixed straight ahead with his usual stiff expression.

Seriously—why did the two of them always act like this when they were together? A cat and a mouse would’ve become friends faster.

"My, I see Selina’s side is no longer mine," Lukas remarked with a light laugh, clearly aware of Aiden’s rigidity.

"You're no longer my assigned escort, Sir Lukas."

"Should I return to the position?"

I looked up at him.

As if he’d been expecting that glance, his pale eyes were already on me.

Of course. I slowly shook my head.

"...That would be a waste of manpower. Things are fine the way they are."

He'd been appointed the commander of the subjugation campaign—well, in title only, though Father said he’d led like a true commander. And now he wanted to go back to guarding me?

People would talk. A lot.

At # Nоvеlight # that point, it wasn’t even using a legendary sword to cut tomatoes anymore—it was more like slicing tofu with a divine blade.

"Pity. If I returned to guarding Selina now..."

Lukas trailed off and turned his head, looking past me. His eyes landed on Aiden. And Aiden, clearly sensing the gaze, turned to meet him.

I could practically see the sparks fly over my head.

"...I imagine it’d be a little more entertaining."

Then Lukas reached out and playfully flicked a strand of my hair.

Like a child teasing someone on purpose.

A sigh escaped from one side. From the other, a small laugh.

And I, caught between the two of them, thought—

I hoped this lazy, bothersome, yet warm routine wouldn’t fall apart. At least... not for another three years.

Until the day my time ran out.

Or maybe... just a little sooner than that.

Because this party was to thank the knights, the hall was filled to the brim with men.

We’d held a similar gathering just before the subjugation campaign, so it wasn’t an entirely new sight, but still, it felt a little unfamiliar.

And the way the knights were staring made me uncomfortable. Like they’d never seen a woman before, the way all their eyes turned toward me was borderline painful.

Ugh, being pretty is such a burden.

These stares, this spotlight—such a hassle.

Well, it’s just a thought. I can say it here.

Not long after we entered the hall together, Lukas was quickly swept away by a swarm of knights once the party hit its stride.

Most of them were young men, their eyes practically sparkling as they surrounded him. Clearly, Lukas was someone they admired.

Understandably so. He was the protagonist of the original story, after all.

I gave him a light shove toward the crowd. A little push of encouragement into the chaos he disliked.

Good luck, Lukas.

"Aiden."

As I stood quietly in a corner, watching the tipsy knights chatter and laugh, I called to Aiden beside me.

He dipped his head.

"Yes?"

"You should go talk to the mages. You're returning to the tower tomorrow, right?"

The mages were set to leave for the tower the next day. He should say his farewells—it was the polite thing to do.

"I’m fine."

But Aiden replied instantly, firmly.

"No need to be stubborn. Go on."

I gently slipped my arm out of his. His gaze followed the movement of my arm, then came back to my face.

"Go, already."

"My duty is to remain by your side, my lady."

"I’m not a child. You know there’s no one here who’d dare lay a finger on me. I’ll be out on the terrace."

"Will you... be drinking?"

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

"I won’t. I promise. Don’t worry. Just come get me when you’re done—third terrace."

Aiden looked at me for a long moment, then finally nodded, though it was clearly reluctant.

Anyone watching would think I was forcing him to go somewhere he hated.

I shrugged my shoulders, motioning for him to go. With a resigned air, he finally turned his back.

"Ah, Aiden."

"Yes?"

He turned back so fast it was almost comical—like he thought I’d suddenly changed my mind and would cling to him.

Geez. I was just trying to send him off to talk with old colleagues. And it didn’t even seem like he had bad blood with them.

Tch. Go make some friends.

Clicking my tongue lightly, I said something he clearly wasn’t expecting.

"I’ll go talk to Sir Alogen."

"...Pardon?"

"Well, I was the one who sent you to the tower. I figured I should at least say a proper goodbye before he leaves. He worries about you a lot, you know. I want to tell him you’re in good hands."

"What do you—"

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Before he could finish, I gave his arm a light tap.

My eyes said: You get it now, right?

And with that, I brushed past him and walked away.

His baffled gaze clung to my back, but some things just were what they were.

Because I did have something to discuss with Sir Alogen.

I walked past the mages and toward the knight who stood slightly apart, chatting casually with a few others—Sir Alogen.

As I approached, I felt the other knights stiffen slightly. Come on. I wasn’t a ghost. That reaction was kind of hurtful.

"Are you enjoying the party?"

Unusual for me, I initiated the conversation first.

Noticing me at last, Sir Alogen smiled warmly.

"My lady."

I nodded in return, then glanced at the knights beside him.

"Forgive me for the interruption, but... may I borrow Sir Alogen for a moment? There’s something I’d like to discuss."

"Ah, yes... Of course!"

"Thank you."

I gave a polite nod of thanks to the knights and turned to face Alogen directly.

He blinked at me, puzzled.

I gestured toward the third terrace and began to walk. Alogen, curious but unresisting, fell into step beside me.

Once we entered the terrace and I checked the surroundings, I slowly pulled the curtain shut.

The cold air brushed against my cheeks.

But my thoughts were even colder.

"What is it you wish to speak about, my lady?"

Straight to the point. That was fine. I wasn’t one to dance around either.

"I have a question about the High Priest and black magic."

The excuse I’d given Aiden earlier was a lie. I had said I was going to talk to Alogen—but I hadn’t said about what.

And this... This was the real reason.

"The High Priest and black magic?"

Alogen echoed my words.

I nodded.

His expression grew cautious, his eyes narrowing as he studied me.

"I’m not interested in black magic. Not like that."

At my firm response, his tense gaze slowly relaxed.

What, did he think I was about to start dabbling in the dark arts?

Well... I guess I do have a bit of a reputation.

The Mad Young Lady. The Worst Villainess. That kind of title makes people jump to conclusions.

"Actually... on the day I was kidnapped, the High Priest said something strange to me."

"The High Priest did?"

"Yes. He said... when the flower blooms, I would die. Do you think that might be connected to black magic?"

Alogen went quiet, his eyes drifting into space like he was trying to recall something. The longer he stayed silent, the more sweat pooled in my palms—despite the chilly air.

"Ah."

With a soft exclamation, he reached into his coat.

He pulled out an old, black book. I recognized it instantly.

The black magic tome.

So he had brought it with him.

Well... that was probably safer than leaving it lying around.

He hurriedly flipped through the pages.

Rustle. Rustle. Rustle.

The only sound in the stillness was the turning of paper.

Then, his hand stopped.

Alogen’s eyes scanned the page, his expression tense. I watched him for a moment, then glanced at the book, unable to see its contents clearly.

I shut my eyes.

I didn’t know where to look.

His voice brought me back.

"He said you’d die when the flower blooms...?"

"Yes. And..."

I paused. Then slowly raised my hand and placed it over my left chest.

His eyes followed my hand instinctively.

"Around here... a mark appeared in the shape of a leaf. About a week ago, it looked just like a dot—but it started to change. The shape twisted, then turned into something like a leaf. Could this be related?"

The more I spoke, the more his face distorted. Finally, once I’d finished, he spoke—urgently.

"Why... why didn’t you come to me sooner?"

Like a doctor scolding a patient for waiting too long.

But his worry made me strangely calm.

Why hadn’t I come sooner?

"At first... I just thought it was a mole. When I found it a week ago, it didn’t seem like anything serious. Then, as it started to change shape..."

I paused again.

When I’d first discovered it while bathing, I’d brushed it off. Moles appear and disappear all the time.

It was two days later that I realized something was wrong.

Since I didn’t inspect myself closely every day, it was only during another bath that I noticed the shape had changed—like a sprout pushing through a seed.

What is this...?

And in that moment, the memory came back to me.

The High Priest’s chilling voice. Whispering that when the flower blooms, I would die.

When the flower blooms, you’ll die...

"I was scared."

I said it quietly after a pause.