I Will No Longer Live As Your Villainess

“Our dear Crown Prince Adrian has a thick neck, you say? Isn’t that quite an extreme way to put it?”

“Your Highness, may I remind you again of the time I saved Crown Prince Adrian during a monster hunt? If I had been even a moment late, he wouldn’t have survived to meet you.”

“I know, I know. Can you stop bringing that up already? Just how long do you plan to milk that story?”

“I wonder the same. How long do you think I can milk it?”

“Well, now I’m curious too.”

“In any case, Your Highness, the carriage may shake quite a bit on the journey.”

“I understand. I leave it to you to ensure a smooth trip to the Isuter Empire, Marquis Spencer.”

“As you wish, Your Highness.”

Teishar smiled and turned to survey the armed knights following the carriage. Their expressions were somber, their determination clear.

“We’re heading for the Isuter Empire. Let’s move out!”

Taishar stifled a sigh that threatened to escape. By now, he should have been back in his marquisate.

But in recent days, monster sightings had inexplicably surged.

It was eerily similar to the time twenty years ago, when the first wave of monsters began appearing in April. Back then, the creatures descending upon villages caused escalating losses of both life and property.

The Poloid Empire and the Isuter Empire, divided by a high mountain range, were forced to deploy their armies to combat the sudden influx of monsters.

This led to a joint agreement between the two empires to hunt the monsters together. Border villages and trade routes were fortified as the first line of defense, but the monsters didn’t diminish—they multiplied.

Numerous investigation teams were dispatched to locate the source of the creatures, but even now, the root cause remained unknown.

Taishar’s thoughts drifted to something his father had once said.

Decades ago, his father, Magus, claimed that monster sightings were virtually nonexistent. He spoke of a time when the absence of monsters was simply taken for granted.

A sharp glint appeared in Taishar’s determined gaze. Who exactly was this “Ella” his father was so obsessed with?

The identity of Ella’s Child was a mystery. Yet his father remained relentless in his search. Taishar had dismissed it as a symptom of grief over his mother’s sudden passing.

The Spencer family crest bore the symbol of a serpent. As all men in the family were born with crimson eyes, Taishar had assumed this was what his father referred to.

The connection between the family’s symbol and Ella’s Child remained unclear to Taishar. When he pressed for answers, his father simply insisted that the truth would only be revealed upon meeting Ella’s Child in person.

The memory of his father’s words stirred a strange feeling within him. His heart raced unexpectedly, leaving him restless and uneasy.

When Taishar inherited the title of Marquis, his father had handed him a small jewelry box, claiming it was meant for Ella’s Child. Inside were shattered fragments of amethyst.

“Marquis Spencer, why the grim expression?”

Lost in thought, Taishar turned toward the voice. Upon recognizing the knight who had spoken, his brow furrowed.

It was Carlos, the commander of the royal knights. A man of wild charm with tanned skin and golden hair, Carlos was the third son of the Duke of Roild, one of the Poloid Empire’s three ducal houses. Jovial and approachable, he was always surrounded by people, especially women.

As was typical of someone so popular, Carlos was an incessant talker—whether his words were welcome or not.

“I have a feeling you’ll meet someone special once we reach the Isuter Empire. Don’t you think so, Marquis Spencer?”

Taishar didn’t respond, his expression making it clear he had no interest in answering. Carlos, noticing this, only smiled more broadly.

“Marquis, if you keep showing your displeasure so openly, I might take offense.”

“You never know when a monster might appear along the way, Commander Carlos.”

Clearly uninterested in continuing the conversation, Taishar pulled on his horse’s reins and rode ahead.

Laurencia awoke from her sleep.

“Why am I dreaming like this?”

Popular people tend to be talkative, and Carlos was no exception. He spoke incessantly, whether his words were pleasant or not.

“Marquis Spencer, I know a young lady. Would you like me to introduce her to you? What’s your type?”

“I have a feeling you’ll meet someone special once we reach the Isuter Empire. Don’t you think so, Marquis Spencer?”

Taishar didn’t respond to Carlos’s words. His expression, however, made it clear that he wasn’t interested in the conversation. Noticing this, Carlos’s smile only widened.

“Marquis, if you show your displeasure so openly, you might hurt my feelings.”

“You never know when a monster might appear on the road, Commander Carlos,” Taishar replied curtly.

Clearly uninterested in further conversation, Taishar tugged at his horse’s reins and rode ahead.

Laurencia woke from her sleep.

“Why am I having dreams like this…”

“Why is Marquis Spencer in my dream?”