I'm a Villainess, Can I Die?-Chapter 124

“Pardon?”

Vivian blinked at my sudden offer.

“You gave me a dress before, remember? Think of this as a return gift.”

“But you already gave me a brooch.”

That sounded like a polite refusal. I glanced at her and let a smile curl on my lips. Vivian's eyes widened at the sight.

What, never seen someone smile before?

Actually... she probably hadn’t. At least, not me.

The first time I’d started smiling like this was at that party—the last one where we met. So yes, to her, this really might be the first time seeing me smile.

I smiled again, gently, into those startled eyes.

“Well, then... let’s say it’s a gift in return for all your letters. I just want to give it to you. If you keep refusing, it’ll honestly hurt my feelings.”

“...Alright... then. Thank you. I’ll accept it.”

Vivian, recovering from her shock, finally nodded. Though she couldn’t quite hide the way her eyes kept flickering over to me.

I shrugged and pushed another catalog her way.

“Aiden, you too. Pick something. Madame has a lot on her plate today.”

“Oh no, not at all,” Madame replied with a flustered laugh, though she looked positively delighted.

Of course she was—how often does a noble lady commission a gift dress for someone else, and from your boutique at that? It was bound to be good for business.

Giving away dresses on the road to death. How generous I was. The thought made me feel oddly satisfied. Almost proud.

We each began choosing our outfits. I picked a winter dress with a high lace neckline—a little fancy, but this would be the first real winter dress I wore here.

“You seem to have lost more weight since last time,” Madame commented with concern as she measured me.

I didn’t answer. Just shrugged.

“Make the dress a little tighter than those measurements.”

“Excuse me?”

I watched her jot my measurements into her notebook and replied quietly, just in case anyone overheard.

“Smaller than that?”

“Yes, smaller.”

“But...”

She trailed off.

It was considered terribly rude for a dressmaker—especially one working for a noble—to question a client’s requests.

“...As you wish, my lady.”

I nodded, raising a finger to my lips.

“You understand that everything we spoke about just now is to remain completely confidential?”

“Of course, my lady.”

Her tone turned firm, and she bowed her head. I looked at her for a moment, bitterly, then turned and left the fitting room.

Vivian was next to be measured. Then Aiden. Once I’d shoved him inside, I sat with Vivian for a bit of idle chatter.

“I heard you enjoy painting! That suits you so well!”

“Do you think so? What about you, Lady Vivian?”

“My hobbies?”

Vivian’s bubbly reply faltered. She clearly hadn’t expected me to ask anything about her.

A sign, perhaps, of how I used to live my life.

“I like browsing through shops,” she said after a pause. “My father has a wide network—he sponsors several boutiques, restaurants, and specialty stores. I enjoy visiting them, imagining that someday I’ll inherit his business and make it even bigger.”

Her voice was serious, her eyes shining. The eyes of someone with a future... they really were beautiful.

Ha...

The sigh slipped out before I could stop it. My head spun suddenly. Thank the gods I was sitting down—if I’d been standing, I might’ve stumbled. My vision went white for a moment, before slowly settling back.

“My lady?”

Vivian called out. I must have looked strange, closing my eyes like that. I shook my head, brushing it off.

“I had a bit of a cold. Seems like it’s still lingering.”

“Oh no, should you be resting?”

“I’m fine. Just a little dizzy. Besides... this is fun.”

“My lady...!”

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Vivian smiled wide and hugged my arm. The sudden touch made me flinch, but I didn’t pull away.

It wasn’t unpleasant. It felt like... genuine girl talk, like I’d never really had before.

Not in my past life, and not as Selina.

“My lady?”

“Yes?”

Still leaning against me, Vivian looked up.

Her bright eyes reflected my face so clearly. I smiled more deeply than before and asked:

“Will you be my friend?”

Vivian didn’t respond right away. She blinked at me, then slowly lowered her gaze.

...She doesn’t want to? That badly? Why does she look like that?

She remained silent, then peeked at me from the corner of her eye.

“...I already thought we were soulmates.”

Soulmates...?

She already thought we were friends. Not just ordinary friends, but soulmates. And now here I was, asking if she wanted to be my friend. So she thought I hadn’t considered her one all this time.

Which, well—wasn’t a misunderstanding. It was the truth.

But there was no need to hit a sulking girl with that.

I stifled a laugh and reached up to ruffle her round head.

Just like my brother often did to me.

“Yes. Friends. Soulmates.”

That finally brought her sunny smile back.

“I knew it! I knew you’d say that!”

Still clinging to my arm, she laughed cheerfully, and I couldn’t help laughing with her. Loud, silly laughter that was so very Vivian.

Aiden returned just then, having finished his measurements. He paused at the doorway, then silently walked over and sat beside me.

“Are you enjoying yourself?”

His voice was gentle.

I didn’t hesitate.

“Yeah. I am.”

It really was fun. Talking nonsense with someone my age, laughing, goofing around... more fun than I’d imagined.

It made me mourn the times I never got to live like this.

After meeting Vivian, I felt something shift in me. A sense that I should hurry and check things off my list. That doing things sooner was better than waiting.

So the very next day, during a family meal—

I told my family I loved them.

The sudden confession made their forks clatter to the floor.

Really now. Was that such a big deal?

But when I saw my mother’s tears, I realized... maybe it was.

And my brother’s reddened eyes, too.

Lunch was a whirlwind after that. And yet on the way back to my room, I couldn’t stop smiling.

It felt good. Refreshing. All I did was say the things I’d never said—but it was enough to lift a huge weight off me.

In that lightheaded moment, one more face came to mind.

There was still a promise I hadn’t fulfilled.

One I needed to fulfill while I could still stand.

So I called Aiden.

He arrived earlier than usual, looking confused. I pushed a plate of cake toward him.

“Thank you.”

He accepted it politely, though he tilted his head.

We talked a bit about the trip, now less than a week away.

He nagged me—saying it’d be cold by the lake, I should dress warmly, wear a hat... most of it was Aiden’s fussing.

I nodded mechanically, not wanting to interrupt his worried face mid-rant.

“Aiden.”

But everyone has a limit.

A line they can’t go past. I waited until he paused to sip his tea and used that moment to change the subject.

“Yes?”

“I think I’m done with sweets.”

“...Sweets?”

As I listened, I’d been nibbling at the cake. The thick cream had coated my mouth. It was sweet. It was delicious. The problem was... my body couldn’t handle it anymore.

It had been four days since the first petal bloomed. The second was due any time now. I could feel it—more headaches, poor digestion, a body steadily declining.

I put down my fork, picked up the teaspoon from the teacup, and said it casually.

“Too much sugar’s bad for you. I’m trying to take better care of myself. You should too, Aiden.”

“...Alright.”

He nodded softly.

I could feel his eyes studying my face. I stirred my tea like nothing was wrong.

Clink, clink, clink.

The clear sound rang in the silence.

“And also.”

“Yes?”

I stopped stirring and looked at him. His platinum hair shimmered in the light.

“We had a promise, remember?”

“...Didn’t that just disappear a moment ago?”

...Was that a joke? It didn’t sound like one. His voice and eyes were too serious.

I gave a short laugh and rested my chin on my hand.

“No, not that one. Before that.”

The promise we made before he left for the temple. The one I’d nearly forgotten amidst everything.

He was supposed to tell me something. And I was supposed to listen.

It had been more than two weeks now.

“Oh, that... that promise?”

Aiden’s face stiffened immediately.

“Yeah. That one. I want to hear it now.”

After meeting Vivian, after spending time with my family—I’d decided. No more delays.

The longer I waited, the fewer things I’d be able to do.

Already, I’d lost one—sweet desserts.

I looked at the half-eaten cake on my plate with regret.

I quietly slid it toward Aiden and blinked at him. A silent push: Speak.

Even as he understood, Aiden couldn’t speak right away.

Because what he was about to say... was a confession.

He hadn’t forgotten the promise. He just hadn’t wanted to burden me, not while I was finally looking better.

Or so he told himself. Maybe that was just an excuse. Maybe he’d simply been too afraid.

Afraid of telling me how he felt.

And now, here he was, eating cake while I pushed mine toward him. His was chocolate. Mine, topped with whipped cream.

How was he supposed to confess in a moment like this?

He set down his fork and let out a long sigh. Just imagining the scene gave him a headache.

“...So...”

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“Yeah. Go on.”

I nodded encouragingly as soon as he opened his mouth.

But Aiden made a decision. Not now.

“I’ll tell you during our walk later today.”

“During the walk? Why not now?”

“I just... I’d rather say it then.”

I stared at him, trying to read his mind. But I gave up quickly.

Now or later—what did it matter?

I shrugged lightly, and Aiden exhaled in relief.

Still, his mind was in chaos.

He’d only bought himself a few hours. But he was going to do it—make his confession. And if he was going to do it, he at least wanted to look cool.

So he agonized. Even as he left my room, promising to meet again for our walk.

Even as he shut himself in his room, chose his stiffest outfit, fixed his hair, practiced his words in front of the mirror.

Even as I, alone in my own room, clawed at my chest in pain, crawling to the mirror only to find—

The second petal had bloomed.