Please Leave The Sickly Villainess Alone

After returning to my room, I decided to stake a lot on the expression I had briefly witnessed from him.

Drehan, who had not responded, finally met my gaze directly only after I finished speaking.

‘Just as I felt Dad and Miller’s sincerity and accepted them…’

However, I couldn’t wait forever until he acknowledged me. Today, I decided to visit the great library of Rayes.

If it followed the original story, the ancient text discovered by Drehan from the founding Duke Rayes would be hidden there.

I had no intention of showing Dad and Miller that book, which described my fatal, incurable illness.

Because I didn’t want to show my weakness to anyone.

Especially those who cherished me.

I didn’t want to see them more distressed and anguished than I was.

-Why are you crying? Stop crying! Don’t cry like the world is ending because of me!

It was even difficult to embrace my tearfully sobbing mother with my casted arm.

Lingering like an afterimage, a memory from my previous life flashed through my mind.

But inevitably, I had to reveal that truth to Drehan as proof of who I was.

According to Garnett, the great library was located in a secluded part of the Ducal estate.

There were still so many places beyond my current range of activity, one of which was the annex building where the library stood.

Walking through the garden pathway connected to the main residential building, a beautiful manor you could only expect to see in fairy tales appeared.

With fewer servants assigned there, it was normally used to house guests, but there were none present now.

Beyond the second-floor windows of the annex I found more easily than expected were rows of bookshelves packed tightly together.

I heard from the gardener tending the grounds that the librarian had temporarily stepped away.

The door opened with a creak, and the only things greeting me inside were the scent of wood and tens of thousands of books.

“Woah-“

Even though it was merely filled with books, it exuded an elegant, mystical ambiance. Like something out of a fantasy novel, the bookshelves towered far above my height, with ladders placed alongside them.

The sunlight streaming through the enormous windows, the spring breeze wafting in from beyond.

As I leisurely crossed the library, the brisk tapping of my heeled steps resounded.

Interesting-looking books filled the shelves endlessly – this world’s classic novels, historical texts, and more.

I wanted to read them all someday, but my feet soon led me before a set of double doors at the library’s end.

A sign clearly marked it as the ‘Rare Books Repository.’

This had to be it.

Creak-

Unexpectedly, the door I had thought would be locked opened easily. Inside was another secret library with a soaring ceiling height.

The circular floor was narrow, but the room extended upwards about five stories high, the walls completely lined with books.

However, unlike the books outside, these emanated a more antiquated atmosphere. Even at a glance, the books appeared aged and worn.

It seemed certain that the book I sought would be found here.

The ancient text from the founding Duke Rayes that Drehan had read in the original story, allowing him to properly confirm Princess Rayes’s identity.

‘The question is, which one among these…’

I systematically scanned the rare books on the first row. Though ancient script was occasionally interspersed, the Imperial language hadn’t changed much since the founding of the Greffin Empire, so I could read most of the titles.

Flee at Midnight, The Moon that Swallowed the Sun, The Chef Shrimp’s Love Affair…

‘Why are all these titles so weird…?’

By the time I had climbed up and down the ladders, searching row by row until I lost track of time, a thought occurred to me.

‘Garnett must be worried.’

I had left without a word, assuming I would return shortly, but concern gradually welled up within me. Just as I decided to quickly scan this last row before leaving-

A red hardcover book lodged higher up caught my eye – ‘The Roots of Rayes.’ It looked highly suspicious.

‘Why didn’t I notice that one before?’

I hurriedly positioned the ladder there and stretched my arm out as far as I could towards the book.

But…

‘Too short!’

My arm couldn’t reach. No matter how hard I strained, it was still out of my grasp.

“What are you doing here?”

“What does it look like, I’m trying to retrieve that book-“

…Wait, who else is here?!

“Who…?!”

I whipped around in an instant to identify the person, but the sudden movement caused the ladder to lose balance and topple over.

‘Oh, oh no!’

I didn’t even have time to scream. I just tightly shut my eyes, bracing for the imminent impact, when someone’s urgent hands caught and embraced me.

“Oh my, Dre…han?”

For some reason, his face looked even more startled than mine as it filled my vision. His disheveled silver hair proved he had rushed over from the doorway to desperately save me.

“How reckless!”

His admonishing tone snapped me back to my senses.

‘I just said I would try to make it work, and I’ve already angered him…’

It seemed I had even dropped the honorific and spoken informally to him just now.

“I’m so sorry. I really thought I was about to crack my head open. Thank you for… um…”

My voice gradually trailed off.

His glowering expression didn’t seem to welcome any gratitude.

I ended up giving him an awkward, sheepish smile instead. Surely he couldn’t say anything to a smiling face.

For an instant, his emerald eyes wavered as they met mine.

Drehan then let out a light sigh before setting me down.

“Did you know there’s a commotion at the estate over your disappearance?”

I really should have informed Garnett before leaving. I had intentionally not brought her along on this quest for the confidential ancient text out of concern that she might insist on accompanying me, but it seemed I had caused her worry instead. My head hung mutely in silence.

“You still haven’t answered what you were doing here.”

“Ah right, I was trying to retrieve that book since I couldn’t reach it.”

“What is that…?”

Drehan walked over to where the book was shelved. Then, merely standing on the bottom rung of the ladder I couldn’t fully ascend, he easily took down the ancient text.

He scrunched his nose at the musty smell from the dust-covered book. However, upon checking the title, he showed a hint of surprise.

“You… this is…”

It seemed he had recognized the significance of the book – the records of the founding Duke Rayes, said to have vanished generations ago.

The text largely praising their elven ancestors that had simply been misplaced by negligent servants, or so most had assumed.

Drehan shot me a look demanding an explanation.

He was questioning why I had tried to retrieve this particular book.

“Since I’ve become a part of Rayes, I wanted to study the family’s history.”

And I swiftly snatched the ancient text from his hands.

“Thank you.”

Despite Drehan having initially brushed off the dust, traces of age still clung to my hands.

Usually, key information is packed right from the first page in this sort of revelatory item. But this book exceeded 1,000 pages – if the crucial details only appeared towards the end, wouldn’t the protagonist be likely to miss them?

Watching me, Drehan muttered in a voice barely audible:

“You do… resemble…”

Of course, he would recognize me. I had been told that Drehan and Miller used to embrace me affectionately every day when I was too young to remember.

And now, I intended to drive the truth home to him.

As I focused on reading the opening pages, Drehan observed me with a solemn emerald gaze tinged with darkness.

“You should inform them that you’re here. You can read it after returning to the estate.”

Just as he abruptly turned towards the door, I urgently grabbed his hand to stop him.

I had come searching for this ancient text to show Drehan, so I couldn’t let him leave like this.

The gaze that had momentarily thrown me into confusion was now fixed on my hand gripping his.

Ah right, he had disliked physical contact with others, even in the original story.

I gently released his hand and spoke:

“Please give me a moment. I wish to read a bit more before returning to the estate, where I’ll be obligated to prepare for my debutante ball nonstop.”

Contrary to my expectation that he would surely make a terrible expression, Drehan glanced down at his hand for a moment before raising his eyes back to me.

He let out a faint sigh, running a hand over his face, and muttered softly:

“Just for a moment, then.”

Phew, heaving an inward sigh of relief, I swiftly delved into reading the ancient text.

The first page contained an indecipherable phrase, as I had hoped.

[Trenaila]

“Trenaila…?”

It sounded like some magic spell, so I tried reading it aloud, but nothing happened.

Perhaps expecting revelations from the first page was too greedy – starting around page 3, the Rayes family lineage began to be mentioned.

I continued flipping through the book, searching for any information about Princesses of Rayes.

Just as unease was building from the scant details, a passage about Deios, the sister of the founding Duke, caught my eye.

Finding the desired content, I barely suppressed the smile threatening to spread across my face, instead feigning surprise.

“Oh my…”

Drehan solemnly approached and skimmed the contents beside me.

“There are details about Princess Rayes here!”

I reread the ancient text several times, pretending not to notice his expression stiffening. Everything was recorded – my dull silver hair that had seemed to deny my existence, and the reddish spots adorning my abdomen like burn scars.

I slightly lifted my top to show him the distinct red marks on my stomach.

His eyes shook minutely at the sight.

“You…”

Drehan started to speak, but didn’t continue.

‘Yes, hurry and acknowledge me.’

I could vividly feel my heart pounding.

“If what’s written here is true, then does that mean you’ll soon die…?”

Rather than the fact that I was the real Princess, he focused on that instead? Though not an inaccurate statement, I gave a vague nod.

“It may be so? I’m already showing similar symptoms.”

At my words, Drehan asked in dismay:

“But why are you so calm about it? We should find a solution right away…”

“It doesn’t seem there is one… It says it’s an incurable disease right here.”

There was no cure, but as long as I could find a medium to transfer the vast mana gradually consuming me from within, that would suffice. I thought I should start searching for its whereabouts soon.

“I can’t… believe it.”

It seemed he was grappling with conflicting emotions, unable to easily continue.

The sister he hadn’t seen in 12 years, the final gift left behind by the deceased Duchess.

Occasionally on TV or social media, you could witness miraculous reunions of families separated for long stretches due to varying circumstances.

Regardless of the lengthy years apart, they would shed tears.

‘I suppose such a sight couldn’t be expected from Drehan’s personality…?’

Drehan’s hesitant lips finally parted.

“Even if you truly are Laveria, I can’t bring myself to believe it. For 12 years, I’ve lived believing you were already dead.”

I could somewhat empathize with his words. In the original story, the decisive moment that made Drehan accept the contents of the ancient text was Laveria’s death unfolding exactly as described within it.

At present, my overly healthy appearance pleading with him to believe the recorded details would be fortunate just to plant a seed of doubt, I had thought.

Just as I was about to express my understanding and acceptance.

Drehan looked at me with an expression of firm resolution. The moment our emerald eyes met, an incredibly ancient memory flashed through my mind.

Just as Drehan seemed to recall something resembling me, an excessively old recollection I had thought long forgotten surfaced from his face.

A much younger-looking Drehan than my current self was tenderly embracing and smiling at the baby me.

Like a fleeting photographic instant, the transient memory passed, and the Drehan before me opened his mouth.

“And yet, I want to try believing. It’s laughable, but when I embraced you earlier, memories from the past resurfaced.”

Drehan seemed to reminisce – likely the same day I was recalling.

While I had initially found his disbelief perplexing… perhaps a greater resolve and effort had been required from him.

“…Even if it takes time, it’s alright.”

I smiled. As Dad had said, we needed time. But I didn’t view it as an indefinite wait.

At the very least, Drehan had already begun making an effort.

It was then that hurried footsteps rapidly approached the library we were in.

Bang!

“Miss!”

“Ria!”

Garnett and Sister Serine burst into the library.

“You were here! I was so worried, I thought you might have gotten lost somewhere…”

“Were you really going to make your sister panic like this?”

I admitted my mistake with an awkward smile.

They noticed Drehan beside me and politely greeted him. Garnett seemed slightly flustered, as if surprised to find Drehan and me together.

“We’ll be escorting the Miss back now.”

After Drehan gave a nod, Garnett and Serine led me out of the library. Clutching the ancient text to my chest, I turned back towards Drehan and mouthed the words:

‘This is a secret.’

Though I didn’t specify, he would surely understand what I meant.

The contents that couldn’t reach others’ ears – ‘incurable illness’, ‘demise around 20 years of age’, and so on. I had revealed it to him because he had kept such secrets in the original story as well.

With a complex expression, Drehan couldn’t tear his eyes away from me until I exited the library.