Please Leave The Sickly Villainess Alone

Jen seemed a bit surprised by my firm words. He may have thought I was a fool who still lacked discernment despite his extensive explanation.

But I truly did have a plan, aware of the hidden secret only revealed by reading the novels.

“In any case, I’m really grateful for today. Don’t forget your promise.”

As I beamed at him, Jen was about to open his mouth when-

Bang! Kinder burst through the door, with Dad behind him.

“Ria, are you feeling better?”

Striding over to me, he examined my complexion.

“Yes, thanks to the mages’ exceptional skills.”

I looked towards Jen and Kinder as I spoke. Jen had already pulled his robe back over his head.

“Your color does seem to have returned somewhat. Well done.”

He gifted them each a bottle of shrimp sauce. Apparently, this liquor aged for a year by Head Chef Shrimp had gained quite a reputation even outside the estate, with connoisseurs paying astronomical prices to secretly buy and sell it amongst themselves.

“Don’t sell it, drink it yourselves. Your stamina is far too lacking. I’m concerned.”

I saw them off. Gratefully accepting the precious shrimp sauce, Kinder politely excused himself first before leaving the reception room.

“Since you have gifted me such a rare liquor, allow me to offer this in return.”

“This is…?”

What Jen presented was a ring.

A smooth, thin silver band without any embellishments or designs.

“If a time comes when you require my aid, I will help you just once.”

The refreshingly upturned corners of his mouth visible beyond the robe indicated I had piqued the curiosity that was both a mage’s innate flaw and occupational hazard.

“I accept it gratefully. If such a time arises when I need help.”

But such a time wouldn’t come.

I gave a slight smile, convinced of that.

* * *

After the mages’ departure, I finally regained my freedom.

Thanks to the moisturizing effects, my skin had fully recovered its luster and suppleness, so it seemed Dad could no longer insist I remain bedridden.

With Miss Belly’s lessons ultimately postponed another two days, I confirmed I was alone in my room, climbed out of bed, and retrieved the ancient text I had hidden underneath.

Opening to the first page, the indecipherable spell that had definitely been written there on the day I lost consciousness had vanished.

Utterly gone, as if it had never existed in the first place. I couldn’t even recall the spell I had clearly spoken aloud back then.

While I remembered that specific moment, the vocalized words had been erased from my memory, as if muted.

Instead, I read the small paragraphs concisely written at the bottom of the page.

[It shall grant the fervent wish of the earnest.

– Reviving the dead is impossible.

– Wishing to control someone’s heart is impossible.

– Curing an incurable illness is impossible.

– Overturning one’s social status is impossible.

– Wishing harm upon others is impossible.

– Becoming an immortal being is impossible.

…]

There were over 100 more prohibitions listed. It seemed there were far more restrictions than possibilities.

‘More importantly, a wish?’

Below a line stating ‘The spell takes effect immediately upon recital,’ crimson text was inscribed.

[A spell has been used.]

“When…?!”

But the question didn’t linger. My wish had remained solely one thing for so long.

To bid my parents a final farewell – that was what had been granted.

‘It’s miraculous it didn’t violate any of the 120 restrictions.’

Just knowing it hadn’t been a mere dream, that I had truly met and conversed with them, overwhelmed me with emotion once more.

And that fleeting sensation when I had returned to my original body… I sprang up from the bed, determined to confirm it.

Ever since sustaining that injury, I hadn’t gripped a sword, nor had any intention of practicing.

Now that my hands were uninjured, I had simply assumed too much time had passed, that I must have forgotten everything entirely.

But those passionate moments lingering in my mind seemed to beckon me to take up the sword once more.

‘It doesn’t matter either way, so why not?’

My hands felt empty.

* * *

Donning the comfortable attire Garnett had brought, I followed her guidance to the training grounds.

She seemed surprised at first when I mentioned wanting to tour the training grounds, but remembering Dad’s words to indulge my every whim, she agreed while cautioning me not to cause any trouble as she made the preparations.

Dad had surely never imagined that among my desires would be ‘to try holding a sword.’

The path Garnett led me along to the training grounds was another new route I had yet to take.

‘Wait, there’s a forest inside the estate?’

We were traversing a wooded area, following a well-paved path flanked by vast green trees that made one question if this was truly a residential manor.

After passing through the short forest, we arrived at an expansive site containing both the knights’ quarters and the training grounds.

Focused on their training, Rayes knights gradually came into view.

‘Well-trained knights, indeed.’

From the way they gripped their swords, their intensities, their expressions – one could tell this wasn’t mere practice, but akin to actual combat for them in that moment.

Garnett said she would summon the knight commander, but I told her it was alright.

I hadn’t come to select my own knight, after all.

Simply watching the clashing of blades was just as thrilling as if I were the one sparring directly.

I plopped down on the grass warmed by the sunlight.

“Garnett, you can sit comfortably too.”

“If you had mentioned a picnic, I would have brought sandwiches…”

Smiling slightly at her words as she joined me, I replied:

“You’re right. It’s more fun to have snacks while watching competitions.”

It brought back memories of eating pork buns at baseball games.

Thus seated at a distance from the sparring knights, my eyes were fixated on the movements of one particular knight.

His brief tousle of chestnut hair fluttering in the breeze would resettle before the next stance, his swift motions revealing no hint of his thoughts.

The angles of his hands, the direction his feet shifted – various signals hinted at his next stance, which had to be read and countered instantly.

Thud-

“I, I surrender!”

So as not to end up like that knight who had lost his sword and collapsed prostrate before his opponent. To the defeated knight who seemed to convey he could fight no longer, the man extended a hand.

“Read your movements. Three hours of log training in the forest before returning.”

“Th-Three hours…?! Ah, yes. Understood!”

Startled by the man’s stern gaze, the knight leapt up and dashed towards our direction.

“Oh, Commander! There are people over there!”

Ah, we’ve been spotted.

The knight who had addressed the chestnut-haired man as Commander, along with dozens of other knights in the midst of training, noticed our presence.

Though I had been at the Ducal estate for quite some time, I had never crossed paths with the knights until now. It made sense, as they inhabited this secluded space requiring passage through an entire forest.

To the extent that I wondered if news of my arrival had even reached them here.

The knight commander approached me.

Before Garnett could introduce me, the man knelt on one knee before me in a courteous bow.

“Allow me to pay my first respects to the young Princess of Rayes, Lady Laveria Jenne Rayes. I am the knight commander, Hewt.”

Soon, the other knights who had followed suit also offered their courtesies towards me.

Somehow, despite my casual attire without any formalities, I ended up making my first acquaintance with the Ducal knights in this manner. Not that their own appearances were much better, sweaty from training…

Including Hewt, the Rayes knights referred to me as their lady. That my existence had been so ingrained into these men who had sworn lifelong allegiance to the Duchy attested to the influence wielded by the master of this estate.

“I greet the proud knights of Rayes for the first time. I am Laveria Jenne Rayes.”

A refreshing summer breeze blew.

“Please rise. I was merely observing your training out of youthful curiosity, but it seems I have disrupted your practice. My apologies.”

“Not at all. It is an honor for you to grace us with your presence. But that attire…”

Noting my outfit ill-suited for mere observation, Hewt remarked.

With my flowing silver tresses tied up in a single ponytail, wearing not an ornate dress but simple yet embroidered tunic and pants, it was only natural to assume…

“I wanted to try holding a sword.”

I smiled sheepishly, the kind of remark a naive young lady might make after rushing out, caught up in fantasies of knighthood from reading too many romance novels.

* * *

I could sense Garnett shooting concerned looks from behind – not towards me, but at the knight before me.

Fortunately, Ion, the knight who had avoided log training, was visibly trembling as he gripped his sword.

-If you harm our lady, not only will you die, knight, but I will as well.

Such were the terrifying words Garnett had imparted.

Garnett herself seemed unaware I truly wished to try wielding a sword, initially protesting vehemently that it couldn’t be allowed.

I had nearly fallen for the seasoned persuasion skills of this elder sister who had raised numerous younger siblings.

‘Yeah, I suppose? It is a bit dangerous. I’m not a trained hand, after all. Yeah… But just this once!’

It was an opportunity I had struggled to obtain.

All the knights in the training grounds watched me and Ion with concerned gazes.

This time, their worry was directed not at me, but Ion.

“This could very well be the last time we see Ion today.”

“Isn’t it common knowledge how dearly the Duke dotes upon the Miss? If she were to sustain any injury…”

Even Hewt, observing from afar as a precaution, likely shared their sentiments.

At the knights’ murmurs, Ion was nearly in tears.

Gripping the wooden practice sword, I spoke:

“Believe in me, Ion. Mistakes stem from unease.”

My unexpected words seemed to widen Hewt’s eyes in surprise, but he quickly concealed that fleeting expression and stated:

“For safety, Ion will only defend, not attack.”

I nodded in agreement.

That had been Garnett’s final condition.

“We will begin.”