I Will No Longer Live As Your Villainess

“Laurencia, this isn’t like you. You’ve always listened to me before.”

“I used my power not long ago. If you could give me time to recover, I’ll act as soon as I’m able…”

“Are you saying you can’t endure even that much pain for me? Would you rather I die like this?”

“No, Your Highness Luans.”

At the mention of his death, Laurencia’s face turned pale. A tense silence filled the space between them.

“To be honest, I’m starting to wonder what advantage there is in associating with an illegitimate child of Count Pol Heredian like you. Perhaps Mother is right—maybe it would be better to meet and engage with a noblewoman from another family instead of continuing with this.”

His words struck her like countless needles piercing her heart.

“If that’s what Your Highness desires, then proceed with an engagement to another noblewoman. After all, I—”

Laurencia looked at Luans with a vacant expression, her voice hollow. However, his mood visibly darkened.

“That’s not what I meant, Laurencia Pol Heredian!”

At his outburst, Laurencia flinched and shrank back slightly.

“But—”

“You think I’d just move on and engage with another woman while loving you? Do you really think I could abandon you and promise myself to someone else? Can you even imagine that? Please, think before you speak. It’s no wonder people don’t take you seriously.”

Even though Luans said he loved her, Laurencia couldn’t shake the suffocating weight in her chest.

“But Your Highness—”

“But? What? You always start with ‘but.’ Haven’t I told you not to say that in front of me? Have you already forgotten? Why do you keep making the same mistakes?”

His raised voice made Laurencia bow her head deeply. Luans sighed heavily.

“I’m sorry for raising my voice. But I got angry when you suggested I should engage with someone else. Do you know how much I care for and love you? How could you say something like that to me?”

“I wasn’t thinking clearly. I’m sorry.”

Seeing Laurencia’s restless demeanor, Luans smiled and gently stroked her hair.

“Just as I have only you, Laurencia, you have only me. So don’t say things like that again. Understand?”

“I’m sorry.”

Laurencia lowered her gaze, her voice strained as she apologized again. Suppressing the anxiety welling in her heart, all she could do was apologize. Even though she knew she was loved, why did his affection feel so burdensome? Why did her heart ache so much?

“Laurencia, you love me, don’t you?”

“…Yes.”

“Then I’ll ask again. Can you check if Crown Prince Adrian dies according to my plan, and whether I’ll be suspected or not?”

Laurencia felt a crushing pain in her chest.

“Your answer?”

“I’ll do it.”

“You’re so sweet, Laurencia.”

Luans smiled warmly, gazing at her longer than usual. Watching his gentle expression, Laurencia exhaled softly and began fiddling with the small purple amethyst pendant hanging around her neck.

Laurencia, the illegitimate child of Count Pol Heredian. Her only ally, her mother, had died suddenly when Laurencia was eleven, leaving behind nothing but the amethyst pendant.

Her memories of her mother revolved around a small window in a tower room. Her mother’s sweet lullabies, drifting out of the open window, always brought her peace. Around that time, small, charming birds would gather. When the lullaby ended, they would fly away, and Laurencia would watch them wistfully.

“Mother, I want to go outside, like the birds.”

As a child, she hadn’t realized it, but looking back, she and her mother had been confined in a high tower, never stepping outside their room. Though suffocating, her mother never allowed her to leave.

“Laurencia, to protect your destined fate, you must never go outside.”

Though she didn’t understand, her mother’s sorrowful expression and tears made Lorencia hug her tightly. She kissed her mother’s forehead, and her mother would smile through her tears.

“Loa.”

“Yes, Mother?”

“No matter how hard things become, always remember this one thing.”

“Yes!”

“You are a child of the goddess Ella.”

Though life in the tower was stifling, her mother’s presence kept her from feeling lonely. But after her sudden death, Laurencia was left with a void of solitude and sorrow.

One day, her father, Brant—whom she’d barely seen—came to her with an absurd question.

“Have you ever seen what’s to come? Perhaps in dreams?”

“The future?”

“Yes, the future.”

“No, Father. I don’t see such things.”

The idea of seeing the future seemed ridiculous, and she thought his question was absurd. Yet, Brant’s disappointment at her answer puzzled her.

Then it happened.

Slap!

A loud, sharp sound echoed as Laurencia’s head snapped to the side. Clutching her stinging cheek with trembling hands, she stared at Brant in shock.

“Did you just call me Father? How dare a bastard like you!”

Brant shoved her to the ground with both hands, and Laurencia collapsed helplessly. Fear overtook her as she looked up at him.

“I’m sorry…”

“Just like your useless mother, you’re nothing but trash.”

“I was wrong.”

“Red hair… Those eyes, they fill me with nothing but disgust!”

Brant, unable to contain his anger, raised his right hand as he watched Laurencia kneeling and begging for forgiveness.

Time passed indifferently. Laurencia remained confined to her room in the high tower. She gradually became accustomed to Brant’s occasional visits, filled with verbal abuse and physical violence. One day, as she pondered the purpose of her life, unfamiliar voices echoed from outside her door.

“Is this the room?”

A young male voice, distinct from Brant’s, came through the door.

“There’s a lock on it.”

Bang!

“Is someone in this tower? If so, answer me.”

Fear gripped Laurencia as she listened to the stranger knocking on the door. Soon, she heard the sound of the lock breaking, followed by the creak of the door opening.

Huddled in a corner, Laurencia met the gaze of a man with slightly curly blond hair and green eyes. His expression was kind. For Laurencia, this was the first time she had ever encountered someone other than her mother or Brant.

“So, there was someone locked in here. Good thing I came up to check.”

“W-Who are you?”

Laurencia asked the man in front of her. He looked at her with a smile, his green eyes twinkling.

“My name is Luance von Ischter. And you are?”

“Laurencia.”

“Why are you locked up in here, Laurencia?”

“Because I’m an illegitimate child… They said I’m a disgrace to the family and must not show my face.”

“The illegitimate child of Count Pol Heredian? I’ve heard of it, but so it’s you.”

Luance seemed to be deep in thought as he slowly approached Laurencia, who remained crouched in the corner.

“Your hair is the color of a red rose.”

Brant’s hateful words echoed in Laurencia’s mind. She closed her eyes tightly and trembled.

“Your hair is truly beautiful. And your eyes—they’re as stunning as amethyst.”

Laurencia stopped trembling at his words.

“B-Beautiful?”

Other than her late mother, no one had ever called her beautiful before. Luance was the first.

“You’re very beautiful. But aren’t you curious why I came here?”

Laurencia nodded hesitantly.

“You’re the one who always reaches out the window to call the little birds, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“I found it fascinating, so I came up to see for myself. Have you been here alone all this time?”

“Yes.”

“That must’ve been lonely.”

At his words, Laurencia felt a lump rise in her throat.

“Laurencia.”

“Yes?”

“Would you like to be friends?”

“Friends?”

From that day on, Luance continued to visit Laurencia’s room. She couldn’t hide her confusion at first. Yet, each time he visited, he brought her sweet treats she had never tasted before, winning her over bit by bit.

“Try this too. It’s a pastry with chocolate.”

Though Laurencia began to enjoy Luance’s visits, a part of her remained anxious. She feared what might happen if Brant found out. Unfortunately, her fears became a reality—but the situation unfolded differently than she expected.

“Y-Your Highness?!”

Instead of anger, Brant bowed deeply upon seeing Luance. To her surprise, Luance was revealed to be the empire’s second prince, who had just turned 20 that year.

Once Luance’s identity was known, Laurencia’s confinement came to an end. Luance intervened with Brant, ensuring that Laurencia was formally recognized as a lady of the Pol Heredian family.

Her life changed drastically in an instant, leaving her feeling more afraid than excited. But Luance gently embraced her, reassuring her with his warmth.

The first time Laurencia stepped outside, she gazed at the blue sky and green leaves. Looking up, she saw clouds floating above, filling her with wonder. Stretching out her arms, she sang the lullaby her mother had taught her. Squirrels and little birds, hiding in the trees, began to gather around her.

“You really are amazing, Laurencia.”

“Me? Amazing?”

“The ability to call animals isn’t something just anyone can have.”

Blushing at his compliment, Laurencia lowered her gaze.

“You’re so lovable. From the moment I first saw you, I was drawn to you.”

His confession made her heart race.

That night, after hearing his words, something extraordinary happened. For the first time, the amethyst pendant—her mother’s keepsake—began to glow. At the same time, Laurencia was overwhelmed with a high fever and a nosebleed. Objects around her moved on their own.

Seeing this, Brant called her a “monster.”

But Luance was the only one who comforted her.

“It’s okay, Laurencia. Calm your mind.”

He held her hands firmly, soothing her. At that moment, the amethyst pendant shone even brighter. A vision appeared before her eyes—a brown-haired maid mixing white powder into food. That same food was being prepared for Luance.