The Villain’s Ending

Chapter 53

Escape (11)

The carriage ran smoothly on the night road. The sound of wheels rolling over gravel was heard rhythmically.

Levina gazed blankly at the darkness outside the window.

The conversation they shared at the annex, Lavin's expression, and the moment he had called her 'Sister'-

Such things vaguely reappeared and faded in her mind, repeating themselves.

It was then.

She felt something cold shatter on her left index finger.

Levina unconsciously looked down at her hand.

The exact same ring she had given Lavin, the pair of rings that matched, crumbled into dust and spilled onto her palm.

The gently glowing gem had lost its light and turned into an ordinary stone."Stop the carriage."

Her voice was as cold as ice.

"Yes? Young Mistress, but we're almost at the capital..."

"I said, stop."

The coachman, flustered, pulled on the reins.

The carriage creaked to a halt.

Levina immediately opened the carriage door and sprang out.

Then, without hesitation, she climbed onto the coachman's seat and pushed aside the bewildered coachman.

Levina drew a small dagger from her clothes, imbued it with magic, and roughly cut one of the leather reins connecting to the carriage.

She then mounted one of the horses and swung the reins.

The horse began to gallop madly into the darkness.

The cold night wind sharply grazed her cheeks.

Only the sound of the wind could be heard in her ears.

After a long ride, she arrived at the annex.

The horse stopped, panting heavily.

Levina glared at the firmly closed iron gate for a moment.

No one would open the gate for her.

Without dismounting her horse, she extended her hand and chanted a short spell.

A faint crack seemed to appear in the air, and then the iron gate crumpled inwards and shattered.

She rode her horse straight inside.

The wooden door of the annex was no different.

The wooden door splintered into pieces, scattering everywhere.

Levina leaped off her horse.

And without hesitation, she headed for Lavin's room.

As she ran down the corridor, the servants scattered, their faces filled with terror.

She saw nothing.

Only the closed door to his room was visible.

As she opened the door, the metallic scent of blood stung her nose.

The room was in a dreadful state.

Lavin was collapsed beneath the sofa, his entire body trembling violently as he vomited dark red blood.

Next to him, Lineta was also collapsed in the same state.

And there was the Head Butler.

He was calmly wiping away bloodstains on the floor with a serene expression, as if dusting.

The Head Butler, whose eyes met Levina's, showed a surprised expression for a moment, but soon tried to regain his composure.

"Young Mistress, h-how on earth did you get here...?"

It was the moment he was about to make excuses.

Black thorns sprouted from the Head Butler's knees and shoulders.

The thorns instantly sliced off his limbs.

Thorns were even blossoming from his mouth, so the Head Butler collapsed to the floor, unable to even scream.

"Call a physician right now!

No, a priest! Bring a priest!

From the nearest place around here! Anyone will do! Immediately!"

Levina's voice was sharp and tearing, filled with rage.

The surrounding servants scattered in terror.

Soon after, an old priest from the lower village church came rushing in a hurry.

He turned deathly pale at the sight within the room.

With trembling hands, the priest placed his hands on Lavin, who was laid on the bed, and Lineta, who was seated on a chair, and infused them with divine power.

A faint light enveloped the two, but that was all.

The light soon faded, and the two continued to tremble violently and vomit blood.

"Th-this isn't ordinary poison.

With my abilities... I can keep their lifelines attached like this, but they will eventually pass away.

We must bring in someone more skilled."

The priest's voice was filled with despair.

The face of one person came to Levina's mind.

Estelle.

There was no one else but that insane Saintess.

"Move these two to the church.

Keep them alive, no matter what, until I return.

If anything goes wrong, I'll link it to you and kill you all."

Levina growled at the priest.

Since even the Head Butler was in such a state, none of the servants in this annex could be trusted.

She rushed back outside.

She had to go bring the Saintess.

As quickly as possible.

She mounted her horse again and threw herself into the darkness.

****

When I regained consciousness, the first thing I saw was a ceiling adorned with sacred paintings.

And a faint scent of herbs.

Instead of the metallic smell of blood, it was a fragrance that somehow calmed the mind.

"You're awake?"

A voice came from beside me.

I turned my head and saw a face that was both familiar and unfamiliar.

Silver hair, playful red eyes.

It was Estelle.

She was someone I shouldn't have met.

"Even though I pestered Levina so much to see you once, she wouldn't even bat an eye.

But now, she's begging me to meet you..."

Estelle said, looking at me while sitting in a chair with her legs crossed.

Her voice was calmer than I expected.

Estelle stared at me, then made a blank expression and trailed off.

Was this a hallucination right before death?

Either way, it didn't matter.

Looking at Estelle, who didn't remember me, was far more painful than I had imagined.

Estelle saw me crying, and her body trembled violently.

Then, as if possessed, she walked over to me and hugged me tightly.

At least this time, Estelle and I should be meeting for the first time, yet she hugged me with familiarity.

The scent of apples, and warmth.

Just then, a cough burst out.

Cough!

"Hmm. It's a white outfit."

Dark red blood splattered onto Estelle's pure white priestly robes.

"Just lie still and rest.

Levina was in a state to kill everyone because of you."

Estelle said, gently laying me back on the bed.

Hearing her voice, I thought that I wasn't dead yet.

"Lineta..."

I asked in a hoarse voice that barely came out.

"The maid who was with me..."

At my words, Estelle looked at me for a moment.

"She's alive, for now. But only just barely alive."

Estelle said she would go change her clothes and left.

Soon after, the door was roughly thrown open, and Levina rushed in, panting.

Her appearance was dishevelled.

Her hair was messy, and her expensive clothes were torn in places and soiled with dirt and dust.

Dark shadows were heavily cast beneath her bloodshot eyes.

Levina didn't cry when she saw me.

She merely trembled at the shoulders, then slowly walked over and hugged me tightly.

"Ah, Lavin. My, my Lavin."

For a long time, she didn't let me go.

"The annex is no good now. Let's go to the mansion. Next to my room... no, you can stay with me in my room. I won't let anyone in.

No one, I will never let anyone lay a hand on you again. I will."

She rambled on incoherently.

"Whether it's Mother or the surrounding servants, I won't let a single one in. I'll personally bring you all your food and anything else you want.

I won't be swayed by Mother's words, nor will I manipulate you however I please, okay? So..."

Levina couldn't continue speaking.

Because she had seen my face.

She carefully wiped away the blood around my mouth, then gazed at my lips for a long time before speaking.

"How... how are you feeling?"

"...I'm fine."

As soon as I heard those words, it felt as if my entire body was twisting, but the pain wasn't enough to kill me.

It was much better than being hanged or burned alive.

"By the way, do you know who poisoned you?"

Levina's voice sank low.

"There was only one cup, and that maid also collapsed with you, so at first I thought the wine I gave you had been switched.

But the wine bottle was also one I'd never seen before."

Levina took out a handkerchief to wipe the blood from her hands, then calmly folded the handkerchief and put it back into the pocket on her chest.

"That wine was brought by the Head Butler.

Someone also saw Lineta talking alone with the Head Butler..."

I interrupted her.

"I drank it because I didn't want that child to die. She was trying to die in front of me."

"What in the...! What kind of stupid, idiotic... Hmph."

Levina's face twisted, then she was about to scream in rage but let out a sigh, and continued speaking in a low voice once more.

"Still, you won't have to worry about that anymore."

"What do you mean?"

I had an uneasy premonition.

"Because she'll die anyway."

At those words, I stumbled to my feet.

Levina supported me from the side so I wouldn't fall.

And then she led me somewhere.

It was a room in the church.

Lineta was lying on the bed, still writhing and bleeding from her entire body.

Dark red blood flowed from her nose, ears, eyes, and mouth.

She was letting out painful moans.

I stared blankly at the sight.

Levina whispered into my ear.

There was no emotion in her voice.

"I thought it would be better to keep her alive like this rather than explicitly killing her with my own hands, so I kept her alive."

I approached Lineta with stumbling steps.

And called her name.

"Lineta."

No answer came back.

All that came back was Lineta coughing, and dark red blood splattering onto her face.

I turned back to Levina.

And knelt before her.

"Save Lineta. I'll do anything.

If you tell me to die, I'll die. So please."

I clung to her, begging.

Levina hugged me tightly.

"Why would I kill you? You're my beloved younger brother."

When I raised my head to look at Levina's face, she was smiling.