A World Where You All Are The Villains - Chapter 16.1
Nancy recited Edith’s words from that time without even blinking, her tone flat and unruffled.
Since it was yet another scene that hadn’t appeared in the novel, I couldn’t easily find anything to say.
“Nancy, that’s…”
“I know. I know you didn’t really say it to defend me or anything.”
“……”
“You didn’t even remember my name back then, Milady.”
With a look as bright and innocent as ever, Nancy spoke as if she truly felt no resentment at all, and I felt a pang of guilt in my conscience.
‘Edith, you idiot… If you brought her with you, the least you could do is remember her name.’
I shook my head inwardly.
“…Even so. From that moment on, I decided I’d serve you as my master for the rest of my life.”
“Nancy…”
“And don’t worry about me running my mouth anywhere! I’m already an outcast, so…”
Nancy gently folded my outstretched fingers closed.
The sparkling ring disappeared into her fist.
“Please give it to me later, Milady. You’ve already given me one, after all.”
At those words, I realized that Edith had never taken back the ring from Nancy after getting it returned.
A strange feeling welled up in me.
Now it was my eyes, not hers, that were trembling.
‘This isn’t right. I’m supposed to make absolutely sure she keeps quiet…’
Even as I thought that, I just couldn’t bring myself to offer her the ring again.
Because the face looking back at me was just so gentle, so radiant.
‘Is this right?’
It was a sincerity I couldn’t deny.
‘Can a villain really be like this?!’
I felt a little confused.
* * *
Rustle, rustle.
With the steady sound of pages turning, the woman’s eyelids trembled.
“Mm…”
“If you’ve come to, why don’t you get up now?”
“…Ah!”
At my cold voice, the woman’s eyes snapped open.
As she sat up, her face was filled with confusion.
Naturally so. She’d collapsed on the floor of the ducal lady’s room, and someone had even changed her clothes.
“W-What is…?”
Tap.
Closing the book I’d been reading, I turned my gaze to her.
“You must have been really exhausted. I was startled when you suddenly collapsed.”
“…Milady.”
“It’s gotten very late. If you’re awake, you should get going now.”
At my composed words, her brown eyes wavered as if struck by an earthquake.
“Eston, get up now.”
Nancy gently coaxed Eston, who was still sitting there with a dazed expression.
“I-I have something to ask!”
Suddenly, she snapped her head up and blurted out her question.
“Earlier, you… I mean, you said there was exactly 4% left, didn’t you…?”
“……”
“Did I— Did I perhaps do you any harm, Milady…?”
“What are you talking about? Did you have a dream or something?”
Cutting off her faltering words with an irritable question, I watched as Eston’s expression went blank with shock.
After a moment of silence, she finally gathered herself.
“…I’m sorry, Milady. I’ve been very fatigued lately and caused you a lot of trouble.”
“……”
“It’s too late tonight, so I’ll head home and come visit again when I return to work tomorrow.”
The more she spoke, the quicker her words became.
From the way she glanced anxiously at the darkening window, it was obvious she wanted to leave as soon as possible.
Part of me wanted to mess with her a little longer, but I let it go.
“Alright. You can go.”
When I answered lightly, she bowed her head deeply and quickly turned to leave.
As Eston reached for the doorknob, I spoke up lazily.
“Eston.”
“……?”
“You’ll have to pay the price for the help I gave you.”
The movement of the woman’s hand on the doorknob froze.
As she turned to look at me, her young face was slowly overtaken by shock.
I smiled sweetly at her.
“Don’t go home. Wait here at the ducal manor until tomorrow morning. That’s an order.”
Found it.
My bargaining chip.
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