I'm a Villainess, Can I Die?-Chapter 129

Fortunately, not long after my motion sickness kicked in, we arrived at the estate in the capital.

I used the nausea as an excuse to skip dinner. If I tried to force anything into my stomach, I felt like I would throw it up on the spot.

I headed straight to my room and collapsed onto the bed. Jane followed me in and began unpacking my things into the wardrobe.

“My lady, please change your clothes before you sleep.”

“Mm, Jane... you did well. Go ahead and rest.”

“Yes, my lady. Have a good night.”

With a quiet word of thanks to Jane, who had worked even while traveling, I pulled the blanket all the way up to my chin.

The only sound in the quiet room was my own breathing.

As I lay there, listening to it and nothing else, someone suddenly knocked on the door.

Who could it be? My brother? Mother? Or... maybe Ian? Did someone hear I wasn’t feeling well?

“Come in.”

Whoever it was, there was no reason to turn them away.

At my reply, the doorknob turned.

I sat up, waiting for the person to enter.

The door opened—and the figure on the other side stepped into view.

We didn’t speak for a moment. I was the first to break the silence.

“Aiden.”

At the sound of his name, Aiden gave an awkward smile. Thunk—the door closed with a soft thud behind him, and he flinched at the sound.

...God, he’s cute.

He walked into the room with slow steps, then rummaged through his coat before pulling something out.

“I heard you weren’t feeling well. I brought you some medicine.”

A pretty bottle filled with a rippling pink liquid.

“It’s strawberry-flavored.”

I laughed at the added comment. It reminded me of the time I once told Aiden to buy me strawberry-flavored potion.

Was it just a coincidence? Or had he remembered that all this time?

“Thank you.”

I reached out and took the medicine. A lovely bottle, still warm from his hands.

“Aiden... you’re really... so constant.”

“Pardon?”

“You’re always kind. I don’t know how you’re always so gentle.”

I toyed with the bottle for a moment, then set it down on the nightstand beside the bed. There was something else already sitting there.

The glass jar I received as a gift during the festival.

My precious glass jar, filled with beautiful marbles.

Aiden’s gaze lingered on it briefly, then slowly returned to me. His eyes held a flicker of confusion.

I opened my mouth, pretending not to notice.

It seems... I’m a bit more of a tease than I thought.

“When we get to the lake tomorrow... will you hold my hand?”

“...What?”

“Just... hold my hand. Is that okay?”

Aiden didn’t answer.

And of course he didn’t. Even I thought it was a strange thing to say.

Definitely not the kind of thing someone should say after rejecting a confession.

“Of course... I will.”

But Aiden answered anyway.

With the same gentle voice, the same warm look. And because of that, I smiled again.

After that, there was nothing more to say.

He’d brought me medicine. I’d accepted it. That was the end of it.

Aiden, holding my gaze in the silence, slowly turned to look past the large window.

The sky outside was bright and clear, scattered with stars that looked as if they might tumble from the heavens.

The next morning, after a light breakfast, we left for the lake.

We’d rented a tent in advance, so we’d decided to have lunch there.

It really was like a summer picnic in the middle of winter.

We arrived at the lakeside just before lunch.

“My lady, if you get cold, please come back here right away.”

Jane, checking my cloak in front of the fire, whispered the reminder.

When I slowly nodded, she gave me a suspicious look. I narrowed my eyes at her playfully, and she burst out laughing.

“Selina, don’t wander too far. Just walk nearby.”

Mother, wrapped in a shawl, gave her reminder.

“Yes. Don’t miss lunchtime,”

Father added, standing beside her.

I nodded and glanced at my brother and Lukas.

Usually, this was the point when they’d each chime in with something of their own.

“Want me to go with you?”

See? The script never fails.

At my brother’s gentle offer, I shook my head.

“No, it’s just a lap around the lake. Aiden’s coming with me.”

“Aiden?”

Lukas muttered, having been listening. When I looked over at him, I nodded to confirm.

He tilted his head, watching me with an odd expression, then hummed with interest.

“Can’t make sense of it.”

Tell me about it. I can’t make sense of it either.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Oh well. It’s not like he’s ever been easy to read. I shrugged lightly and turned without regret.

“Well then, you two enjoy yourselves.”

With a brief farewell, I walked toward Aiden, who was waiting for me in the distance.

“My lady, are you cold?”

“No. I’m fine. It’s refreshing.”

There weren’t many people at the winter lake—maybe because it wasn’t very popular in this season. Only our group was lively and noisy.

I glanced back briefly at our tent.

Even from far away, it looked warm and happy. That alone made me feel a little better.

“It’s beautiful. Isn’t it?”

I turned my gaze back to the lake and quietly stopped walking.

A blue lake under a vast blue sky. A thin layer of snow on lightly frozen ice. Cold air, clear feelings.

There was nothing about it that wasn’t perfect.

“Yes. It’s beautiful.”

Aiden replied softly. I closed my eyes, listening to his voice.

This stillness, this silence. The distant sound of laughter, that warmth. Just this much.

Nothing more, nothing less—just this much.

“Aiden. Do you think I’m happy right now?”

Aiden didn’t respond.

I waited a while, then cautiously opened my eyes. His gaze was fixed on the lake’s edge, where the water had frozen.

“Whether you’re happy or not... I just want you to be okay.”

This time, I was the one who couldn’t answer. I looked up at him, his open, honest face. And I smiled faintly.

Yeah. Right now... I was happy.

Slowly, I lifted my hand and held his.

He turned to me, startled.

“You promised to.”

“...You’re strange, my lady.”

“...I know.”

“And I’m even stranger.”

“...That too.”

We walked slowly, quietly tracing the edge of the great lake.

“Selina hasn’t been eating well lately, has she?”

The duchess, watching a few servants prepare the barbecue, suddenly spoke.

The duke nodded in agreement.

“I asked the kitchen staff. They said she requested lighter meals. ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ She looks thinner, too...”

“She said she hasn’t had much of an appetite lately—because it’s winter. Still, I’m worried. Our daughter needs to eat well...”

Their concern was light and ordinary—just casual parental worry.

From a short distance away, Aaron, overhearing, also sank into silent concern.

Anyone else might’ve called them dramatic. Who worries this seriously over a drop in appetite?

But to Selina’s family, it was important.

The three of them clenched their fists.

They made a pact—today, no matter what, they would make sure Selina ate a full meal.

Lukas, watching their wholesome exchange, smiled softly.

Then, turning his head, he looked toward two figures walking in the distance.

Hand in hand, side by side.

No one could deny how close they looked.

Hard to believe they were the same two people who’d had a confession—and a rejection—just days ago.

“The more I think about it, the stranger it seems.”

No matter how he thought about it, Selina clearly liked Aiden.

Just look at them. They got along so well.

Then why did she turn him down? Was it because of their difference in status?

...But Selina wasn’t that kind of person. She was far too remarkable. A person no ordinary noble could ever fully understand.

“She’s been eating less too... maybe it’s connected.”

There’s something terrifying about the intuition of someone perceptive.

Lukas rubbed the back of his neck and cracked it with a light tilt. As he turned, another face came into view.

A tense expression. A creeping anxiety.

It was Ian—staring at Selina and Aiden with barely veiled distress.

And just then, an old memory surfaced. His childhood. His pale-faced mother. And the way he’d watched over her, helpless.

Why that memory now?

“Aaron.”

Lukas called, and Aaron turned his head.

Even with the short response, Lukas didn’t look away from Ian.

Aaron, curious, followed his gaze.

“What is it? Is something wrong with the priest?”

“...No, not exactly. It’s about Selina.”

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“Huh? Why? What about my sister? And why are you calling her so casually? Be more respectful.”

Aaron’s half-joking tone made Lukas twitch an eyebrow.

Ignoring the jab, Lukas continued.

“She’s been eating less?”

“Yeah, she barely eats. And she’s been holed up inside because of the cold. It’s not good.”

“...I see.”

Lukas trailed off. Aaron stared, waiting for him to explain—but Lukas fell silent again.

What’s with this guy.

Grumbling to himself, Aaron stood and went off to check how the food was coming along.

“It’s strange. Feels like... we’re all walking into the sunset.”

Left alone, Lukas murmured quietly, watching Selina from afar.

“Cough, cough... Khh, cough!”

“My lady! Are you all right?”

I wasn’t. Not even a little.

The lake was beautiful. So beautiful, in fact, that I’d forgotten the cold as I wandered the frozen grass, immersed in a rare moment of real happiness.

So beautiful, that I’d eaten too much under the warm gazes of my family and the attentive care of everyone around me.

And that was the problem. Humans always repeat their mistakes.

Why did I push myself to eat just because I felt watched, knowing my body couldn’t handle it?

Halfway through the long meal, I stood up.

I felt bad, interrupting my family as they chatted happily, but I couldn’t take the pressure in my stomach any longer.

“Selina?”

My brother called as I stood, confused.

I shook my head lightly.

“We’ll be heading back soon anyway... I just want to take one more walk. Help my digestion a bit... is that okay?”

“All right, go ahead.”

“But don’t push yourself.”

I nodded at my parents’ concern—though I’d already pushed far past my limit.

“Yes.”

With that short reply, I glanced at Ian.

A signal. A plea for help.

Somehow, he understood. He stood up.

“I’ll go with her.”

“Thank you, Priest.”

Ian and I.

An awkward pair. Enough to draw everyone’s attention.

But I didn’t care. When someone’s about to collapse, attention doesn’t matter.

Ian stepped beside me, and we walked away.

With a speed uncharacteristic of either of us—more like a sprint than a stroll.

Until we were out of sight.

Eventually, we reached a path shaded by thick trees, and I leaned against a large trunk to catch my breath.

Here, hidden in the shadows, no one could see us.

“Ugh...”

“Are you all right, my lady?”

Ian positioned himself in front of me, blocking the view with his robe. I doubled over.

“Yes, I’m fi—fine...”

Clutching the tree, I vomited.

What a thing to do in the middle of such beautiful nature.

Sorry, tree.

If I could still think something that stupid while in pain... maybe I wasn’t ready to die just yet.

Ian gently patted my back.

Another to apologize to.

Sorry, Priest.

“Haah... haah...”

Only after emptying my stomach did the tightness ease. The dizziness finally began to fade.

“Tha... thank y—urgh.”

But it wasn’t over.

Another wave surged up.

I turned slightly and vomited again into the dry dirt.

“Ha... haah...”

The only sound was my ragged breathing. Ian said nothing. I said nothing.

No, we couldn’t say anything.

Thick red droplets landed on the dry ground.

Sticky red lumps.

Hard to even tell what it was. Was this... the third petal’s symptom?

Nosebleed. Now blood in my vomit. At this rate, I’d bleed out.

A hollow laugh escaped me.

Hell has no bottom. Every time I think I’ve reached the worst, there’s always a deeper pit waiting.

“My lady...”

Ian’s trembling voice called out to me. I slowly lifted my head to look at him.

A trip that was supposed to be joyful.

No—had been joyful.

And even here... I couldn’t be happy.

This blood—this mess—felt like the answer. To this trip. To my remaining days.

No matter how much I wished for it... happiness wasn’t mine to have.

Eunji, you were wrong. I can’t be happy.

And with that thought, the world spun.

So dizzy I thought I’d pass out, stars dancing in my vision.

I swayed hard.

But just before I collapsed, something held me up.

Something warm.

Like a breeze.