The Villainous Family Loves Me Too Much!

“Hey there, young man! Try to stay conscious!”

Robben repeatedly slapped Liam’s cheek while addressing him, but Liam remained unresponsive.

To provide emergency treatment, Robben placed his ear to Liam’s chest and mouth, detecting faint breaths.

The unconscious Liam exhaled in ragged gasps.

“Dear, quickly bring some water!”

“Why? What’s the matter… Oh my!”

Upon seeing Liam, Robben’s wife hurriedly fetched a large bowl filled with water.

He then tilted the water bowl towards Liam’s lips, letting him drink in small sips.

“Sir! Can you hear me? Please try to speak.”

With Robben’s aid, Liam barely regained consciousness and slowly opened his mouth.

“Hungry… So hungry…”

* * *

“I have summoned you all here today as there is an announcement.”

After a long absence, I visited the Roati Manor.

I had called this gathering of our loyal staff disguised as employees, and the servants and knights from the Felosite palace who accompanied me to the Empire – for there was something to be disclosed.

As everyone assembled, the dwindling numbers were glaringly apparent. With several knights having perished during the Liam crisis, the staff count had clearly plummeted, filling me with sorrow.

Hearing how they had sacrificed their lives battling Liam to protect me left me disheartened.

I could no longer barter others’ lives in exchange for my own safety. Hence this decision.

“Now that we have accomplished our purpose for coming here, I’ll send you all back to your original posts.”

Though some showed reluctance, most welcomed the prospect of returning to Felosite.

“I will first dispatch those wishing to depart immediately to Felosite. The Archduke and I shall return last. Before that, let’s hold one final banquet for you all to fully enjoy. You have all worked hard.”

Having endured considerable mental anguish serving in the Empire, most staff opted to leave on the first day.

Among them was the young maid Eloise, who had dedicated herself to assisting me.

“Your Highness the Archduchess.”

“Eloise.”

This child had persevered greatly, posing as my Lorraine persona to handle the unruly Beatrice on my behalf.

I tightly embraced Eloise.

At such a tender age, yet braver than most adults in overcoming her fears – I deeply admired this girl.

“Does this mean I no longer have to pretend to be Lorraine?”

“Of course, Eloise. Now you can return and live comfortably. If you wish, you need never serve as a palace maid again. I’ll compensate you sufficiently to spend more time with your family.”

“I am truly… grateful, Your Highness.”

Tears welled in the child’s large eyes.

“No, I am the one grateful. You have endured so much.”

It seemed I had placed an undue burden on this young maid.

To the reddened eyes of Eloise, I handed her a handkerchief embroidered with my initials and a rose.

My final gift to this child.

* * *

From early the next morning after the banquet, the Roati Manor was bustling with activity.

It was the day the first group of volunteers would depart for Felosite.

The knights rode on horseback while the servants took carriages, leaving via different means. Eloise too boarded a carriage.

The start seemed auspicious enough, with fair weather as if bidding them farewell.

But not long after their departure, fierce winds and thunderstorms unleashed torrential downpours.

The Felosite carriages were constructed so sturdily that potential issues had been unforeseen.

However, the fact of being the world’s most durable carriages didn’t equate to maintaining visibility in the rainstorm.

When the swiftly moving carriage collided with a massive tree and overturned, Eloise thought this might be her demise.

Yet the carriage’s sturdy steel exterior spared all passengers from more than minor bruises.

One knight examining the engine shouted towards the others:

“We have to lodge at an inn nearby for today! Once the weather clears, we shall resume our journey!”

Fortunately, there was an inn of sufficient capacity near the accident site to accommodate everyone.

Though the room allotted to Eloise, being the lowest-ranked, had a leaky ceiling soaking everything.

‘Well, at least I’m not sleeping outdoors.’

Eloise wrung out her sopping wet skirt before stripping off her clothes, draping them over a chair, and crawling into the bed.

While lacking amenities like a fireplace or heating found in nobles’ rooms, it was far better than the slums her family inhabited.

Then a knock sounded at the door.

“Who is it?”

“…”

“I asked who’s there?”

“…”

Clear signs of movement, yet no response.

“Sisters, is this another one of your pranks?”

As the blanket-swaddled Eloise opened the door, someone in a black cape instantly barged into her room.

The cloaked figure gestured for silence with a finger to their lips after locking the door.

“Wh…Who are you?!”

Eloise grabbed the nearest object and aimed it threateningly at the black cape.

“Answer me! Who are you?!”

The cloaked figure let out a mocking snicker.

Clutched in Eloise’s hand was her own white sock.

“Trying to kill me with that trifle? Go ahead and try, you foolish lowborn wench.”

The voice’s owner flung back their cape, revealing their face.

“Y…Your Highness the Crown Princess!”

Eloise dropped the sock in shock.

“So you’re the Lorraine who deceived me? Or is Lorraine even your real name?”

Prostrated before Beatrice’s visage, Eloise froze completely.

Here, with neither Princess Karena nor the Archduke to shield her from Beatrice.

Her judgement in this instant could determine whether Eloise lived or died.

“Well then, shall we hear the truth?”

* * *

“So you’re not Lorraine, but a maid named Eloise. And Lorraine was a fictitious persona?”

With a terrified expression, Eloise nodded vigorously.

“I… I merely lent my face and voice to the Archduchess.”

Beatrice furrowed her brow, puzzled by the young maid’s words.

“What do you mean by lending your face and voice? What kind of nonsense is that?!”

As Beatrice raised her hand as if to strike, a white glow emanated from her palm.

While regular divine white light seldom inspired fear, Beatrice’s radiance differed.

The white light she exuded contained an unsettling, ominous aura.

“In Felosite, there are disgu… disguise masks!”

“Disguise masks?”

“Magical artifacts that alter one’s face and voice. If I wore one and passed it on, the next wearer’s face and voice would become identical to mine. Princess Karena… used such a mask imbued with my appearance.”

Beatrice seemed to have her lingering doubts resolved by Eloise’s explanation.

Though she had witnessed Karena tearing off her own face at the wedding, it was merely a mask.

“Do you have one of those too?”

“No, this is my original face…”

“Well, where is one then?!”

Though not shouting, Beatrice’s quiet menacing tone while leaning uncomfortably close reminded Eloise of rumored ancient witches.

Trembling uncontrollably in terror, Eloise spoke:

“Th… There was one in the wrecked carriage. But that carriage is out in this downpour-“

“What are you waiting for? We must retrieve it immediately! Lead the way, quickly!”

The panicked Eloise hastily dressed and escorted Beatrice out into the rainstorm.