The Villain’s Ending

Chapter 69

Delusion (8)

The sandwich tasted ordinary.

It was a sandwich with ham, cheese, and lettuce, the kind you could find anywhere.

But perhaps it was because Seraphina had made it.

Somehow, it felt a little special.

"Shall we get up now?"

I put the last remaining piece of sandwich into my mouth and stood up.

Seraphina looked disappointed, but soon nodded and followed suit, standing up.

Together with her, I skillfully packed up the leftover food and the picnic mat.

The servants were waiting nearby, but we didn't feel the need to call them."I'll walk back. I have some errands to run in town."

She, who had been naturally walking towards where the carriage was, stopped at my words.

"I'll go with you. Or shall I take you in the carriage?"

Seraphina asked.

A faint hint of expectation was laced in her voice.

"It's fine."

I shook my head.

Seeing the clear disappointment on her face, I added.

"The sandwich was delicious. And it was nice being with you."

Her expression seemed to soften a little.

A faint smile spread across her lips.

Watching Seraphina, I shivered slightly.

It felt as if an unknown chill was running down my spine.

If only it had been like this from the beginning, if only it had been like this before I died.

If she had trusted me even a little, it wouldn't have been so sad.

Every time she made a sad, regretful, or disappointed expression, I wanted to approach Seraphina.

But if I approached, it would be the opposite. No, always.

She always abandoned me, blamed only me, never trusted my words, only listened to others'...

I knew very well that the thoughts swirling in my head were eating away at me.

Yet, I simply couldn't stop them.

"Let's often do things together like this again next time."

Somehow, I uttered empty words.

"Yes! Next time, let's go together... right, let's stop by the bakery we used to frequent."

Seraphina answered with genuine delight.

It was a bright, childlike smile.

I stood there, watching her retreating figure until it disappeared from view.

Once she was out of sight, I took out the pipe from my pocket.

I tapped out the remaining ash and refilled it with fresh tobacco leaves.

Fearing that I might see things overlapping as soon as I looked, I also sprinkled a little of the powder Levina had given me on top.

I struck a match and lit it.

Sizzle.

I roughly rubbed the sticky powder clinging to my finger off on a piece of tree bark nearby.

I sat blankly on the bench, inhaling the smoke deeply, then slowly exhaling.

Hazy smoke blurred my vision.

If Seraphina told me to trust her, I just wanted to trust her.

But every time I look at her, something hurts.

I understood perfectly well, intellectually, that treating Seraphina with indifference even when she approached me like this, asking me to trust her, was just like a child's tantrum or sulking.

Even though I knew it was the act of an overgrown child who had never received proper love from their parents, and I clearly knew that 'Lavin' was that kind of person and I wasn't, in front of Seraphina, I still became 'Lavin'.

But my narrow-minded heart simply couldn't accept the possibility that Seraphina might have changed.

I felt incredibly ugly.

Saying I'd do anything for Estelle, or whining to Levina - who used to torment and brutalize me - to get money, tobacco, or alcohol.

Or smiling moderately at Seraphina and saying it was fun to be with her.

I felt like a prostitute selling my heart, not my body.

Continuing those thoughts, I ceaselessly inhaled and exhaled the smoke.

My throbbing headache had eased a little.

I stopped inhaling the smoke and waited until the embers died down.

I silently watched the red ember turn into black ash.

I tapped out the ash, took a small piece of cloth from my pocket, and meticulously cleaned the pipe.

The metal parts gleamed.

Then I put the pipe back into its box and tucked it inside my clothes again.

I stood up and headed towards the street.

Right in front of the park was a bustling commercial district.

Carriages and people mingled, creating a noisy commotion.

I slowly walked into the crowd.

After walking for a while, I spotted a girl dressed in ordinary casual clothes, but with her mouth agape, looking around as if she had clearly just come up to the city from the countryside.

It wasn't a mistake.

It was definitely Lineta.

The only problem was that Kyle was with her.

I wondered if Lineta hadn't been able to find Kyle in the previous timeline because I had arrived at the annex.

Then again, I remembered that Lineta had said at the time that she wouldn't visit him, at least not this year.

Perhaps it was just my imagination.

But since Kyle was beside her, I naturally walked around the street, browsing items, and bought a suitable necklace.

It was a necklace with a modest silver chain and a red gem that wasn't overly expensive.

I put the necklace in my pocket, walked a bit further, then turned and ran into Lineta and Kyle.

As if we had met completely by chance.

"Oh, you. Aren't you that kid who worked at the annex?"

I approached her, acting as if I knew her.

"Uh, uh? Do you, do you know me?"

Lineta answered, slightly flustered.

Her large eyes widened further in surprise.

"I saw you at the mansion last time."

Watching Lineta like that, I somehow felt like crying.

I wished she would remember me, wished she would love me just as she did last time, but knowing it wouldn't happen, I simply sighed.

After our eyes met, Lineta blushed slightly for a moment, then fidgeted with her fingers, looking confused and unable to properly answer.

Whether it was because she hadn't expected to meet someone from Edelgard while working at the mansion, or simply because she met me, I couldn't tell.

Recalling that her reaction hadn't been like this when we first met last time, I smiled.

Seeing that, Kyle pulled Lineta slightly behind him and spoke to me guardedly.

"Lineta, don't talk to a guy like that.

He's famous as a good-for-nothing scumbag who's going to be expelled from the family anyway, so don't even go near him."

Hearing that, Lineta's eyes widened.

Then, as if realizing something, she clapped her hands.

"Ah! The one, the one from the main house who always torments the servants terribly!

The one who makes them cut the grass all day with nail clippers if they lose rock-paper-scissors to his shadow!"

While it wasn't exactly wrong, I felt rather amused.

Last time, she had been terrified the moment she saw me and couldn't do anything, but now, somehow, she spoke with a very relaxed air.

Perhaps it was because Kyle was beside her.

"Really? Do you want to trim the grass too?"

I asked, smiling.

Lineta was startled and shook her head vigorously.

Curiosity seemed to outweigh her fear.

"Just kidding. Are you on leave?"

"Ah, yes! My brother, who I lived with like family back in my hometown, lives here!"

At her words, I naturally glanced at Kyle.

"You're from the village near the annex, right?"

"Yes! You know that place? It's really remote, and for an outsider to..."

"It's a nice, cozy village in the middle of a forest, past the river, with good air, isn't it?"

"Oh, you've been there?"

Lineta asked, looking delighted.

I hesitated for a moment.

Fragments of memories flashed through my mind.

The forest path we walked together, the fireplace in the small hut, the stew Lineta's aunt had cooked.

"I have, indeed, been there."

Though it should have been my first time meeting Lineta, the conversation flowed naturally, as if we weren't strangers.

She also looked somewhat puzzled.

A look as if she had met someone from a long time ago.

"It's starting to get unpleasant, so move aside."

Kyle said.

His voice was low, laced with a hint of anger.

"Oh, Oppa! He's a young master from a noble family, you can't talk to him like that!"

Lineta tugged at Kyle's sleeve and whispered.

I cut her off.

"It's fine. Kyle is an uneducated fellow who, having come all the way up here, has learned nothing but how to wield a sword.

My magnanimous self fully understands him."

At those words, Kyle tried to grab me by the collar, but I lightly swatted his hand away and stepped back slightly.

Kyle, seeing Lineta tugging at his clothes, sighed and didn't approach further.

Reaching out with your hands first isn't exactly a good habit, you know.

"Do you have a place to stay now that you've come to the capital?"

Lineta glanced at Kyle, then answered.

"Kyle found me lodging."

"Stay there today, and from tomorrow, since you're an Edelgard servant, you'll stay in the servant's quarters attached to the Academy dormitory.

In the morning, holding Kyle's hand, you can come find me, or the young master of the house.

Oh, and by the way, it's an order. If you don't listen, your leave will be canceled, and I'll just send you back to the annex."

Lineta started to open her mouth as if to refuse, but closed it after hearing my words.

Her face was filled with a troubled expression.

I don't know if there's a room available, but if I ask Levina, she'll make one even if there isn't.

Thinking that, I spoke nonchalantly.

"I thought you were expelled from the family; can you even do something like that?"

Kyle said sarcastically.

This time, I stepped closer to Kyle.

Looking him straight in the eyes.

"If I had truly been expelled, would I be walking around like this?"

If we had been alone, it wouldn't be strange for his jaw to be dislocated, but then again, I wouldn't have approached him in the first place.

It's just because Lineta is here that I'm provoking him.

"My sister might be looking out for you, but that's because you're capable, not because you were born well.

As Lineta said, you must have been born in the same village.

A remote village where you wouldn't know anyone else in the capital."

I lightly patted his shoulder, then approached behind Lineta, who seemed flustered by the escalating tension.

"Kyle, no matter how ridiculous you find someone, you should still know your place."

And just as I was about to put the necklace I'd bought earlier on the street around her neck, Kyle grabbed my wrist.

It felt as if my bone might slightly twist.

"Don't try anything with Lineta."

Kyle growled in a low voice.

"She's a younger sister I care about; if you try to get close to her like this one more time, you won't like what happens."

He squeezed my wrist, then released it as if throwing it away.

I simply placed the necklace on Lineta's hand.

The red gem sparkled on her pale palm.

"You're right. I haven't seen a good outcome."

I answered, and then walked away.

From behind, I could hear the sound of the two of them talking.