The Villain's Lost Daughter - Chapter 92

 

 

 

 

After a brief discussion about what happened next, it was another ten minutes before we stood up.

 

 

“I think we should call it a night, then.”

 

 

“Yes, it’s getting late.”

 

 

We all nodded in agreement.

 

 

By the time the little gathering began, there was no sign of the sun in the scarlet sky.

 

 

As we organized ourselves, my father and Fern listened to what Cayden had to say, Aaron and Callian stood before us.

 

 

Leaning slightly against the table, I watched them.

 

 

“I apologize for not being able to see you off, Your Highness.”

 

 

“As you wish.”

 

 

Callian smirked at Aaron’s indifferent tone that belied his apology.

 

 

“Next time you come to visit, challenge me to a duel.”

 

 

“I’m not going to let you off the hook this time.”

 

 

“You make it sound like you have.”

 

 

“You have a point.

 

 

Aaron, with his scowl, and Callian, with his faint smile, seemed to be at ease with each other.

 

 

Their demeanor was quite amiable.

 

 

‘You must be really close, since you’re talking back to Callian.’

 

 

Although Aaron’s words were respectful, his tone was comfortable.

 

 

Ever since Aaron had told me about the dessert shop and how he’d heard about it from Callian, I’d suspected they were closer than I’d thought.

 

 

Apparently, the bond they’d developed in the eight years I hadn’t known them was pretty solid.

 

 

“Hey, is there something on my face?”

 

 

My brother, who felt my gaze as I looked at the two of them with a smirk, asked me with a puzzled look on his face.

 

 

Unable to answer, ‘No, I don’t think so,’ I abbreviated the question to fit the situation.

 

 

“No, you just seemed to be close.”

 

 

At my smirk, Aaron gave a shuddering look, but didn’t deny it. Then something clicked in my head.

 

 

‘Come to think of it, I made something the other day and left it for a while.’

 

 

My mind racing with thoughts of the artifact I had made in the North before arriving in the capital, I shifted my gaze to Callian.

 

 

Somehow, I thought my eyes were drawn to the clean forehead I’d seen earlier, but I was probably mistaken.

 

 

Turning my thoughts back to the artifact, I realized I must be mistaken.

 

 

An artifact I’d created during my research on black magic, the kind that weakened the effects of curses.

 

 

‘It’s not without its limitations, but with a little more tinkering and refinement…’

 

 

It wouldn’t be an immediate solution to black magic, but it would ease his pain.

 

 

Finishing my calculations, I strode briskly over to Callian.

 

 

“Your Highness.”

 

 

“Yes, Princess.”

 

 

His expression was stoic as he looked at me, wondering where I had just been, compared to the puzzled look on his face earlier.

 

 

Of course, as a Lian, Callian had a sneer.

 

 

Clearing my throat, I spoke, “Your Highness, is there any way I can reach you privately?”

 

 

At my words, Callian blinked.

 

 

Ah, the puzzled look again.

 

 

He repeated, a beat too late, “…You mean to me?”

 

 

It was such an awkward question that one might have thought I’d said something bizarre.

 

 

Just when I thought there was a sly side to him, there was also a pretty cute side…

 

 

“…No, I mean…”

 

 

I quickly shoved the thought into the corner of my mind.

 

 

He smiled and nodded, as if nothing had occurred.

 

 

“Yes. I just thought there might be something I could give you.”

 

 

“Ah… If that’s the case, I’ll contact you first when I get back to the palace.”

 

Was it my imagination, or did I see a hint of disappointment on Callian’s face at my casual answer?

 

 

“…Besides, there are some things we haven’t finished talking about yet, and it’s not appropriate to discuss them in front of everyone.”

 

 

“…!”

 

 

Callian adds with a mischievous grin, and the beautiful face appears to light up the room.

 

 

“Yes, it is.

 

 

He replied, his eyes narrowing, “…Don’t you think you should be going now?”

 

 

At that, Aaron’s impatient urging came from beside me and Callian.

 

“It’s time for dinner.”

 

 

Aaron, who had been looking at Callian with a slight frown on his brow, broke eye contact with me and smiled sweetly.

 

 

Then he glanced back at Callian with a hard stare.

 

 

‘You should leave.’

 

 

That’s what he meant.

 

 

What had happened to the two who seemed to be getting along just a moment ago?

 

 

‘…And my brother, for that matter.’

 

 

I’m sure Aaron didn’t want Callian to contact me.

 

 

“I’ll get back to you in a bit, but don’t be so surprised.”

 

 

Spitting out a wry smile at Aaron’s urging, Callian paused beside me for a moment, whispered something in my ear, and then left.

 

 

The dinner that followed was a bit more hectic than usual.

 

 

“Erita, if you have something to deliver to His Highness, I could deliver it for you.”

 

 

“Sweetheart, you don’t need to bother. This father will deliver it.”

 

 

Whether it was Aaron or his superior hearing, I don’t know, because my father joined in to try to prevent me and Callian from communicating.

 

 

“It’s okay, I’ll deliver it myself.”

 

 

“Mmm…”

 

 

As I said that, I could tell that my father and Aaron were disappointed, even if they didn’t show it.

 

 

Of course, I didn’t realize it until the end.

 

✿

 

 

After finishing my unexpected day, I returned to my room in a furry mess.

 

 

“Ah, I’m tired…”

 

 

“Miss, are you tired, would you like me to massage you?”

 

 

Mary asked with concern as I slumped down on the couch.

 

 

Mary was so sweet…

 

 

After looking at her with eyes full of admiration, I shook my head nervously.

 

 

It wasn’t that I was tired. Just mentally tired from taking in so much new information in such a short time.

 

 

“No, I’m fine, but can you get some warm water for me, I’d like to take a bath.”

 

 

“Sure, just give me a minute!”

 

 

Mary nodded and left the room. While Mary prepared the bath water, I stretched out still, eyes closed.

 

 

How many minutes did we spend resting our heads?

 

 

Mary poked her head out of the door and asked.

 

 

“Miss, everything is ready, do you want to go now?”

 

 

“Yes, I’ll go now.”

 

 

‘Ugh.’ I pushed myself to my feet.

 

 

“When one is tired, it’s best to soak in a warm bath and spread out.”

 

 

Sinking into the tub of fragrant oils and soothing flower petals, I let out a groan of pain.

 

 

“Ugh, good.”

 

 

“Phew!”

 

 

Mary laughed at the savory sound that escaped me.

 

 

“Mary…”

 

 

“I’m sorry, your reaction was so, um… haha.”

 

 

Making sure not to blush, Mary tried to excuse herself, but ended up smiling sheepishly.

 

 

Without even hearing the blurry afterword, I knew what it was.

 

 

‘…Come to think of it, I wonder if the bathhouse I used to go to is still there.’

 

 

Suddenly, a fragment of a memory from my past life came to mind.

 

 

A memory of going to the bathhouse in the early hours of the morning.

 

 

The bathhouse in the neighborhood used to charge four thousand won, but I could use it for two thousand won.

 

 

And I knew it was a favor to me.

 

 

‘…The owner’s aunt made it cheap for me.’

 

 

The owner of the bathhouse, who bluntly said, ‘Two thousand won, student,’ didn’t ask me about my red, swollen eyes.

 

 

‘I was so grateful for that.’

 

 

More than any sympathy, her quiet consideration was the greatest comfort to me.

 

 

It was usually at dawn the next day after I had been harshly criticized by the director that I went to the bathhouse.

 

 

He said, ‘How much does it cost to use the water in the shower’

 

 

In retrospect, he was a really mean person.

 

 

He didn’t like children, which made me wonder how he ever became the director of an orphanage that cared for children.

 

 

“Miss.”

 

 

“Uh, huh?”

 

 

“Is the water too hot for you? You didn’t look pleased…”

 

 

Mary asked me as I remembered a memory from a long time ago.

 

 

Good and bad memories occupied my head, but the bad ones were apparently more influential.

 

 

I hurriedly shook my head, “Uh, no, I’m just having a little flashback… The water is just the right temperature right now.”

 

 

“Mmm, well, I’m glad to hear that… Oh, by the way, Marilyn just brought in some new oils! Would you like to take a look? They smell amazing!”

 

 

“Huh? Uh, yeah…”

 

 

Mary paused for a moment, then quickly blurted out.

 

 

When I nodded in bewilderment, she stood up walked over, and grabbed a pretty bottle from the shelf.

 

 

“This is it! The butler got a deal on a new top this time, which Marilyn picked out.”

 

 

“Really?”

 

 

“Yep. She said it’s the kind of stuff that takes away headaches.”

 

 

My thoughts were elsewhere as I listened to Mary’s words.

 

 

“Has Marilyn been having a headache lately?”

 

 

As I asked in a concerned tone, I recalled Marilyn’s face from earlier. Her normally sour face didn’t look like she was suffering from a headache…

 

 

“You’re right, it was purchased for the mansion, and there’s no way Marilyn would have bought it for her personal use.”

 

 

Mary burst out laughing and denied it.

 

 

“Actually, Marilyn had noticed that you seemed to have a lot on your mind lately.”

 

 

“Huh? Me?”

 

 

“Yes, you. You’ve been having difficulty sleeping lately, and you seem lost in thought.”

 

 

At my wide-eyed question, Mary nodded, her face tinged with frustration.

 

 

Apparently, she was worried about me, as I’ve been a bit of a wreck since arriving in the capital.

 

 

“I’m sorry I worried you.”

 

 

“Oh, no, just don’t tell her I told you that Marilyn bought the oil, because she’s a little shy, even if she doesn’t look at it.”

 

 

“Oh, okay, I won’t tell her!”

 

 

✿

 

 

And so, after a rather chatty and enjoyable time.

 

 

“Well, miss, good night!”

 

 

“Yes, Mary, goodnight too!”

 

 

After helping me get ready for bed, Mary left the room.

 

 

‘Come to think of it, Callian said he’d be in touch.’

 

 

Sitting down at my desk, my hair still a little dry, I glanced at the clock.

 

 

The hands were already pointing to ten o’clock.

 

 

‘Well, yeah. I don’t think I should send a letter at this hour.’

 

 

The thought crossed my mind of trying to reach him through the comms, but Callian wasn’t a mage, and he’d have to be with someone who worked magic to reach me.

 

 

‘I don’t think he’ll use the comms to contact me, since he said he’d do it privately.’

 

 

Well, I’ll hear from him tomorrow anyway, I concluded.

 

 

Click-clack!

 

 

A small sound came from the window.