Chapter 125 – I Possessed the Villain’s Daughter
“Lara, are you okay?”
It was only when I heard my brother Eit’s voice calling me that I came back to my senses.
“Ah, yes…”
My voice trailed off, and he leaned closer, studying my face with concern.
“Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”
“N-no, I’m fine.”
I shook my head.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
I forced a faint smile.
We had just finished lunch and were now strolling through the Imperial Palace gardens together.
The sky was bright and clear, and colorful blossoms filled every corner of the garden. The palace gardeners tended to it so skillfully that new flowers bloomed in sequence as time passed, making every visit feel fresh and breathtakingly beautiful.
But I had no room in my mind to appreciate any of it.
My thoughts were completely consumed by Elia.
What on earth had she been thinking?
Or… could it be that this world really does have an unstoppable current of fate?
Was it destiny that Elia and Alteo fell in love—even though, unlike in the original story, they barely had any real connection this time?
Without realizing it, I found myself gazing up at Eit’s face.
“What’s wrong?”
He looked down at me with a carefree, radiant smile—so bright, so at ease, as though he had not a single worry in the world.
I didn’t want to believe in fate.
Because if life was destined to flow as written in the original story… then my brother, and our whole family, didn’t have much time left.
I wanted to ask him—
“Brother, if…”
But I couldn’t. I couldn’t bring myself to voice the dread festering inside me.
If a civil war were to break out, what would you do?
If you knew you were fated to die brutally a year from now… what would you do?
I couldn’t ask.
Instead, I asked something else.
“…You’ll stay with me, right?”
“What? Haha!”
Eit laughed, as if I had just asked the most unexpected question.
But I was deadly serious.
“Please answer me. You love me, don’t you, Brother? Then…”
My words made him blink, a hint of confusion in his clear green eyes as he looked straight at me.
“Why are you suddenly saying something like that?”
“That’s… because…”
I lowered my head.
I couldn’t say it. How could I possibly explain?
I told myself there was no way a rebellion would suddenly break out—yet anxiety gnawed at me, relentless.
And the fact that there was no one I could share this fear with only made it worse.
If I told anyone that this was all inside a book, that we were nothing but characters on its pages, and that maybe—just maybe—fate was real…
They’d think I’d gone insane.
I clenched my hands tightly.
Tap.
“…?”
Suddenly, something warm and heavy rested on top of my head.
Startled, I looked up.
It was Eit’s pale hand.
As if it were the most natural thing in the world, he gently ruffled my hair.
Of course, that ruined all the effort I’d put into styling it that morning.
“….”
This wasn’t the first time.
In fact, his touch was so familiar by now that I almost expected it.
I glared at him, and he only smiled softly.
“I know why you said that.”
“…!!!”
My heart skipped a beat.
How—?
Seeing my startled eyes, Eit’s smile deepened.
“Did you think I wouldn’t notice? I’m your brother.”
“B-but…!”
My heart pounded wildly. My throat felt dry.
Relief and panic tangled together, making my face flush hot.
“I… I just…”
I fumbled for words, but he continued.
“You’re worried I might get married, aren’t you?”
“…What?”
I blinked at him, dumbfounded.
Marriage? Where did that come from?
But Eit only shrugged.
“Well, that thing with Lady Langrang last time—it was a misunderstanding, but still. And I’m at the age now where it wouldn’t be strange for me to marry, like our older brother did.”
“…”
“When I get married, I’ll probably have to leave for another estate, since Rochahill will go to our brother. That’s what you’re worried about, isn’t it?”
I felt tears prickling behind my eyes.
He was completely off the mark—but one thing he said was true.
I was terrified of losing him.
I didn’t want him to leave.
Not ever.
“…Yes. I was worried you might leave.”
“Lara, really…”
He scratched his cheek awkwardly.
“Don’t worry too much.”
“…”
“Think about it. Even if I get married and move away, it’ll still be somewhere in the Ulysses Empire, right?”
“…”
“I’ll visit often. And if I do get married, that just means you’ll have another person in the family. Isn’t that a good thing? More family to love.”
He smiled—his usual, sun-bright smile.
“For the record, yes, I love you very much.”
“…”
“And I love Father, and everyone else in the family, just as deeply.”
He brushed his fingers along his sword’s sheath—a weapon he never went without.
“Every day, when I swing my sword, I swear to grow strong enough to protect the people I love. My sword exists for that purpose. My life too.”
He lowered his gaze slightly.
His clear green eyes glimmered like jewels. They were so much like my own.
“So if I were to die protecting the ones I love, I wouldn’t regret it.”
“…”
“Too serious? Haha… Lara?”
A tear slipped from my chin and fell.
“Why—why are you crying? Did I say something wrong?”
“N-no,” I answered automatically.
“I just… suddenly remembered something sad.”
The tears wouldn’t stop.
“I love you too, Brother. Not just you—Father, Sister, my other brother, Uncle, Grandma, Grandpa… I love all of you so much.”
“Lara…”
He looked helpless, clearly unsure what to do with my sudden tears.
I wiped them away with the back of my hand.
When I looked up again, Eit was still watching me with worry.
“You’re right, Brother.”
“…?”
I smiled faintly and looked past him, toward the Imperial Palace garden.
In the distance stood the tall spires of the Central Palace.
If it’s to protect the people I love, dying wouldn’t be a waste.
There truly were people I loved that much—so much that the thought came naturally.
And surely, Eit felt the same way.
After work ended, I hurriedly packed up and rushed out.
There was somewhere I needed to go.
I’d even told Father and Eit in advance to go home without me.
The palace administration seemed as busy as ever.
The person I was waiting for didn’t come out for quite a while—likely working overtime again.
It was only after waiting for an hour or two that I finally saw her.
Summer was drawing near, and the sun set later these days.
Even so, the time had dragged long enough that now the palace was bathed in sunset.
That orange glow spread everywhere—over my head, and over the violet strands of Elia’s hair alike.
I stood from the bench and looked at her face.
She was walking briskly, her expression weary and drained.
She must have been exhausted from endless work.
Part of me wanted to go to her, smile, and comfort her… but I forced that feeling down deep inside.
“Elia.”
My quiet voice rippled through the air.
Her violet eyes widened in surprise.
She hadn’t noticed me until then.
Her gaze darted around before it finally landed on me.
“…Laila?”
She whispered my name softly, almost fearfully.
I stepped toward her, slowly, until I was standing right in front of her.
“I came because there’s something I need to ask you.”
“L-Laila…”
Elia faltered, taking a step back.
I looked at her calmly.
The first time I met Elia had been at the academy.
But I’d known her long before that—
as the protagonist of my friend Ye-eun’s novel,
and as my character, Laila’s rival.
When I first saw her in this world, for some reason, I disliked her instantly.
Because whenever I looked at her, I couldn’t help but be reminded that this world was a book.
But Elia was too good of a person to hate for something so vague.
She was always diligent, never gave up no matter how hard things got, and never once complained about her miserable family situation.
Watching her made you want to cheer her on.
Even her clumsy moments were… endearing.
I really did like Elia.
That’s why I accepted her as a friend—and stayed by her side all this time.
But…
If her being with Prince Alteo was going to tear this empire apart,
if her love would lead to rebellion,
and if that rebellion would end with my family’s deaths—
Then I couldn’t just stand by and watch.
No matter what it took, I would stop her.
I would stop Alteo.
Even if it meant risking my own life.
I had always been afraid of harming others—
because to hurt someone, you must first be ready to be hurt yourself.
Back when I half-heartedly dealt with Lupe, it was because I hadn’t yet found that resolve.
If it’s to protect the ones I love, dying isn’t a waste.
That’s what Eit had said.
With the love he’d given me—how could I possibly ignore my family’s fate and try to survive alone?
I finally spoke.
“It’s about Prince Alteo.”
As I expected, Elia didn’t look surprised.
“Is it true,” I asked, “that you’re… dating him?”
Her violet eyes trembled violently.
The cool evening breeze scattered both our hair through the air.
