Chapter 002
Lillian Tillard saw her future at the age of twenty.
Or more accurately, she realized that the events of her life were nothing more than the contents of a book she had read in her “past life.”
The heroine of this world was her cousin, Iris.
Beloved Iris, who gave warmth to everyone, an S-rank Guide who could soothe the rampages of supernatural users.
In contrast, Lillian was the direct descendant of the family, yet she was powerless.
Lillian was mocked for being gloomy and consumed by an inferiority complex.
And in the year she turned twenty-four—
‘She dies at the beginning of the end.’
During the “War of the Princes,” the ceiling of a ballroom collapsed, and debris was about to fall on Iris.
But why did Lillian die?
Because Lillian died in her place while trying to protect her.
That was the sole “utility” for the villainess who had been a burden due to her complexes.
It all happened for the sake of that one dramatic scene.
At that moment, her brother, her cousin, her grandfather, and her fiancé…
And Iris, too.
‘My sister is already finished! We have to get out of here quickly!’
In the end, Lillian died alone in the dark from blood loss.
Lillian, who had possessed a sharp temperament in her “past life,” realized the truth.
‘If I keep living like this, I’ll definitely end up killing someone.’
So she decided—
‘I will devise a plan to distance myself from these humans perfectly.’
Thus, after regressing, she spent an entire month meticulously crafting her plan.
And it was time to begin the next step—
“Lillian! An annulment? What on earth is the meaning of this!”
The rebuke came from her grandfather.
White hair, a white beard growing along his square jaw, and a physique resembling a warrior.
Her grandfather, Duke Elik Tillard, hated Lillian intensely.
‘Tch, since she caused the death of her parents, she should at least have had a clever mind!’
He was a man skilled at grating on people’s nerves with a voice that dripped with mockery.
But now, were there any nerves left to be grated? There was nothing.
“How did you behave for the Young Duke to throw an annulment document in your face!”
“It seems his love for Iris was more important than anything else, Grandfather.”
“What did you say? You insolent girl…!”
Beside the grandfather, Iris was sobbing bitterly.
“Grandfather, this is all a lie. I—I never did anything like that with the Young Duke…!”
“Tch, stop crying, Iris. You are the one who will become the Crown Princess!”
“Yes…!”
Iris smiled while still struggling with her tears.
“Sister, you must also forgive the Young Duke with a merciful heart… Who else but the Young Duke would accept marrying you?”
“Do you have the luxury to worry about me?”
“Why wouldn’t I worry about my sister—”
“An embezzlement issue has surfaced in your project. It’s said that the losses amount to about a thousand gold pieces.”
“…Huh?”
Iris flinched slightly.
Supernatural users who do not have their own Guide must purchase artifact stones of control.
Since Iris was an S-rank Guide, whatever she made sold for whatever price she demanded.
‘But you dumped all the work on me, didn’t you?’
So, how could she possibly know about the embezzlement?
“Sister, what are you talking about? In front of the family—”
“It is said that your nanny has been deceiving you for a long time, right? Even the maids passing by my room knew about it.”
“W-What!”
While Iris was flustered by Lillian’s attack, the branch members of the family began to whisper.
“Was there really embezzlement?”
“That nanny has worked in this house for many years—”
“Then, is it possible that Lady Iris didn’t know what the nanny was doing?”
Iris’s lips trembled.
But at that moment, a voice rose to rebuke Lillian.
“Lillian. How can you embarrass Iris this way?”
“Heh, Brother Quern.”
It was Young Duke Quern Tillard.
Lillian’s older brother—meaning he was useless.
With his platinum blonde hair, glasses, and delicate features, he might be considered “fragile and beautiful.” But his essence was like that of a bat.
Quern said as he patted the crying Iris’s shoulder, “Don’t cry, Iris. Come now, Lillian, I told you to apologize immediately.”
“…Young Duke.”
“Oh…?”
“Even if this embezzlement is handled internally, tax returns must be resubmitted. Then the Empress will find out.”
“That—”
“And the Empress knowing means her political opponents will know too, doesn’t it?”
“……!”
“I was only fearing for our family falling into danger.”
The Second Empress, Rubellia Tarandia Fernies de Pavil.
She was the aunt of Karkin Pavil, the trashy fiancé.
And she was also the mother of the Second Prince Kyle, the “hero of the original story.”
“But it seems Iris’s dignity is more important than everyone’s safety. Isn’t that what you mean, brother?”
Quern’s face turned bright red.
Because “everyone’s safety” included his grandfather as well.
The branch family members began to whisper in confusion while observing the atmosphere: “The projects that bind us to the Pavil family aren’t just one or two.”
“My word, I didn’t expect her to think of all that.”
The gazes directed at ‘Lillian’ shifted slightly.
Since they had always treated her like a lowly insect, they must have been somewhat astonished.
Tak—!
The grandfather struck the table with his hand.
“Hah, that’s enough! Get rid of Iris’s nanny. And you, Lillian!”
“Yes, Duke.”
“Go immediately and ask for forgiveness from the Young Duke. Go to him and cancel the annulment!”
“Understood. But I will do so a month from now.”
“What did you say…?”
“Because according to Imperial law, once an annulment is signed, it cannot be canceled until a month has passed.”
The grandfather’s eyebrow twitched slightly.
Had this girl always been this sharp and confident?
“Since the annulment happened due to the Young Duke’s fault, I will not pursue him immediately for the sake of the family’s honor.”
“Kuh!”
“So, if you’ll excuse me, I will go to recuperate at the Northern Villa.”
The Duke fell silent.
Normally, Lillian would beg and cry not to be sent away if something like this happened.
His powerless and pitiful granddaughter.
But for the first time, he saw her this calm.
Meanwhile, Iris, who was their source of pride, panicked and made a scene.
“N-No! My sister must stay here—!”
“Tch. Iris, be quiet!”
“Oh…!”
Iris began to shift her eyes anxiously, lost in confusion.
Lillian pretended not to notice.
While you were smiling brightly and elegantly, I was the one completing all your work.
Won’t you feel the burn in my absence?
‘I’d like to see that sight for a bit, but it’s not worth risking my future.’
The Lillian of the “past life” died alone in a hospital room.
Life was shorter than she thought, and death was closer than she imagined.
So, she no longer had time to wait for these humans to fix themselves.
“Then, I will take my leave now. Farewell, everyone.”
* * *
Lillian’s trip to the villa was prepared quickly.
Lillian was the “Princess of the direct line of the Duchy of Tillard.”
But, surprisingly, there wasn’t a single close maid accompanying her.
For a powerless person, even that was considered a luxury.
Instead, her cousin accompanied her.
“Ah, this is annoying. Do I really have to protect someone like you?”
“…….”
“It hasn’t been long since I joined the Imperial Palace Knights! And I had to take a leave of absence too!”
Ramio Tillard, with shimmering platinum blonde hair and green eyes that resembled a cat’s.
He was Iris’s younger brother and the youngest knight in the Palace Knights.
And also—
‘Lillian doesn’t matter! Protect Lady Iris!’
He was one of those who had left her behind in the “original story.”
Ramio despised his powerless cousin intensely.
Even now, as they drank tea at a roadside rest stop, he didn’t stop hurling insults at her.
Despite the etiquette that one should not even disturb a dog while it eats.
Lillian felt a pang of sadness.
“Since you are deficient, it’s only natural for Pavil to cheat on you. Why must I be dragged here too?”
“…….”
“Hey, Lillian. Aren’t you going to answer—?”
“Tell me. How does the tea taste, Ramio?”
“Oh, the taste of the tea… oh?”
“My goodness, it seems it tastes delicious.”
Were you very surprised?
Where else could you pay money to drink tea mixed with a sleeping pill?
“I put many other things in it besides that.”
“Kuh, kuh!”
“Your sister’s touch is really good, isn’t it? It reminds me of our childhood.”
“You, you…!”
“When I used to bake cakes for you, you ate them with such relish…”
Lillian placed her hands on her cheeks and watched the sight with satisfaction.
Ramio wasn’t the only one who collapsed while clutching his face.
“Wuaak, kuh.”
“Oh….”
“M-My eyes…”
All the guards who drank the tea sat on the ground or fell unconscious.
She wasn’t worried about them getting hurt; they had earned what they got.
“But thanks to you, I was able to reach the border for free and safely.”
You worked hard, you trash~
Lillian whispered those words as she stood up.
Why would she go to that villa she hated so much?
‘Because I must seek refuge in the Kingdom of Tenbrine, where even the powerless are not discriminated against.’
