I Became the Villainess’s Daughter – Chapter 76
Magic is truly mysterious.
The principle behind magical potions, crystallized from the invisible force called “mana,” is equally complex.
The essence of a magical potion isn’t really as a “medicine”—it’s magic itself.
Each drop carries both mana and magical formulas.
Therefore, just as wizards sometimes fail in casting spells, magical potions can also “fail.”
A failed potion may look perfectly normal on the outside, but once its mana is corrupted, it can cause various side effects. Mild symptoms might include nausea or dizziness, while severe cases can leave lasting damage to the body.
Among these side effects, the most dangerous is when a potion goes berserk.
A potion going berserk occurs when a failed potion reacts uncontrollably within the body due to certain magical principles. It wasn’t extremely rare, but it wasn’t common enough to be considered normal either.
Once a potion goes berserk internally, it behaves almost like a poison.
Just like Altheo, who was vomiting blood in front of me.
“Altheo… Your Highness…”
“Prince Altheo!!!”
I heard the head steward scream.
I reached out with trembling hands toward Altheo—but it was useless.
My ears felt numb. Could this really be happening? Could it be a dream?
It felt as if everything in the world had suddenly drifted far away.
Altheo staggering and vomiting blood, the shattered potion bottles clattering to the floor, the stewards rushing off to get help—all of it seemed distant.
Had I trembled? Had I blinked? Had I screamed, or stayed silent?
The face of Prince Altheo, twisted in pain, his bright eyes fixed on me, seemed to say: This is your fault.
I raised my hand to cover my mouth, feeling like a scream might escape.
Altheo was rushed to the infirmary by his personal physician, summoned by the head steward.
All that remained for me was to wait for my own punishment.
I slowly closed my eyes.
Everything felt like a nightmare. If it were a nightmare, I wanted to wake up…
But the reality before me was solid, unavoidable.
“…Huff, huff!”
Like someone gasping for air after drowning, I drew in breaths violently.
“L-Lyla, are you okay?!”
Chelsea, standing beside me, hurriedly patted my back. I exhaled shakily. My ragged breaths sounded unstable even to my own ears. After some time, I managed to lift my head.
“…What… time is it?”
“…It’s half past ten.”
I looked around. Thick winter curtains covered all the windows, and no lights were on, making the room as dark as night.
It was my bedroom in the Roshaill estate. I closed my eyes again.
Everything felt gray.
My mind was in utter chaos, so disordered that it couldn’t get any worse.
I couldn’t even remember how I’d endured the past few days. I had just been swept along, dragged by events.
The day Prince Altheo collapsed, I was temporarily imprisoned in the castle’s jail. It wasn’t the typical dark dungeon one might imagine, since it was meant for nobles. But a jail is still a jail. Though my father’s influence eventually allowed me to return home under house arrest, the honor of the Roshaill family had already sunk to the ground.
Several people came to question me. My family tried desperately to protect me, but in the face of this enormous incident, they couldn’t shield me completely.
I couldn’t say a word.
All I could remember was Prince Altheo collapsing before me, vomiting blood; the red droplets scattering across the floor; the sound of glass shattering.
“…Ugh…”
Remembering that scene again, I clutched my mouth and gagged.
“…Lyla…”
Nana, standing beside me, had tears in her eyes.
I had grown so haggard over the past few days that I barely recognized myself.
I had no choice. Every night, Prince Altheo appeared in my dreams.
He was in critical condition because of me.
Since he had internal injuries from magical backlash, the use of magic for healing was limited. Only potions and holy water could help, making his recovery painfully slow.
Had he been preparing for the campaign as planned, the empire and the military would have been troubled by his condition as well. Soldiers awaiting his orders were thrown into confusion, and civilians were anxious.
“….”
The war couldn’t be postponed. Someone would have to go in his place.
Who that would be, I didn’t know. But one likely candidate was my father.
My father, one of the only two dukes in the empire, was a powerful commander with plenty of battlefield experience—perfect for the role.
In fact, to restore the family’s honor, it was probably best if my father volunteered himself.
To prove loyalty to the crown, and to take responsibility for what had happened… because of me.
“….”
After staring blankly for a long moment, I said to Nana beside me. My voice was hoarse, barely sounding like my own.
“…I want… to see Father for a moment.”
“…Yes.”
Nana nodded, tears in her eyes.
I gathered my coat and headed toward the parlor on the first floor.
My father’s angry voice echoed down the hallway from the parlor.
“There’s no way she did this on purpose!”
I froze in place.
A calm voice replied to him.
“…But… it can’t be avoided…”
Nana glanced anxiously at my face.
“Um, Lyla, it seems the Duke has a visitor… should we come back later?”
“…No.”
My voice, surprisingly calm even to myself, flowed out.
“Tell him I’m here.”
“…B-But…”
“Hurry.”
Nana hesitated for a moment, then scurried into the parlor. Though the room was noisy from arguing, she knocked on the door, and silence fell.
“Princess Lyla is here.”
“….”
I stepped carefully into the parlor as Nana gently opened the door.
“…Lyla.”
My father sat inside the water-colored parlor, his face lined with worry. His eyes were filled with concern for me.
Seeing him like that made something well up inside me, threatening to burst. I turned my head away, trying to control myself.
The person sitting across from him was also familiar to me.
Count Shints.
A royal administrator who worked under my father, the Minister of Education, he often visited our estate. I had seen him many times since childhood. Loyal to my father, he also liked me quite a bit. That he came as a messenger felt almost cruelly fated, yet I greeted them without showing it.
“Good afternoon.”
“…Are you feeling any better?”
“I’m fine. Sorry for interrupting your visitor.”
“No….”
My father subtly signaled Count Shints. Probably a silent message to discuss matters later. But I insisted on speaking.
“You came because of me, didn’t you?”
“…!!!”
“Lyla…”
My father’s face twisted in worry as he called my name. Count Shints only looked at me with sympathy, then, perhaps realizing there was no point in hiding, he spoke solemnly.
“Yes, Princess Lyla.”
“….”
“There will be a noble trial at the royal palace next week.”
I had to force myself to stand straight. Without that effort, my body would have trembled from shock.
“The charge is… attempted assassination of the prince.”
“…Yes.”
I had anticipated this, yet I couldn’t remain entirely calm. I clenched my hands so tightly that my nails bled.
“Lyla.”
My father stepped closer and gently placed his hand on my shoulder.
“…Lyla.”
“….”
I had expected the trial. No matter what excuse I gave, the fact remained that Prince Altheo had been seriously harmed because of me.
“Do not worry, Lyla.”
My father repeated my name in a gentle voice. I looked up at him with confused eyes.
“There is nothing to worry about. We all know it was a mistake.”
“B-But…”
“It’s alright. Don’t worry.”
It wasn’t just my father.
Eddie, Ethan, and many others who came to check on me all reassured me:
Everything will be fine.
There will be no problem.
Even though countless people—including Evharun, Sern, Lukran, Raon, and Elia—visited me, I rejected them all, citing my poor health. The real reason was that I couldn’t face them.
Such kind people.
So precious, so gentle.
I thought that for their sake, I could give everything, yet how did this happen?
How did I end up making that potion in the first place?
Yes, I had been searching for something I was talented at, and I found this field.
Uncle Laska said I had a magical aptitude. I also heard my mother had similar talent… so I wanted to try hard.
At first, I didn’t understand much, but as I practiced, I began to enjoy it. I felt exhilarated to realize I could accomplish something.
Ah, and Thea.
I wanted to be helpful to him.
So I enrolled in the Rebecam Academy and decided to become a court magician.
Even when the future seemed uncertain, I tried to remain optimistic, knowing that my presence in this world had already changed many things.
Everything will be fine.
There will be no problem…
I wiped away my tears.
Sending all the maids and stewards away, I sat alone on my bed.
I felt stifled, almost wanting to run anywhere just to escape.
But I couldn’t avoid my responsibility.
Someone nearly died because of me.
I had always disliked Prince Altheo. He was a rival of Thea and saw me only as a political pawn, arrogant and haughty.
But that didn’t mean I wished him dead.
Hating someone, wishing someone dead, and someone dying because of you—these were three very different things.
The outcome I had wanted was never this.
Tears fell, blurring my vision.
Then I heard a knock on the window.
It was faster, stronger than usual.
I stared at the window, then staggered to my feet.
“….”
Before opening it, I hesitated. Tears hung in my eyes, and I had no idea what he thought of me.
But I wanted to see him more than anything.
I finally opened the window.
The cold winter air and the faint scent of the moon filled my senses.
Before me stood Thea, his expression firm.
