I May Be A Villainess, But I Won't Live My Life That Way - Chapter 18

Chapter 18

The only question swirling in Ricardo’s mind was why she had cried.

After apprehending the pickpocket and scanning the people surrounding him, Ricardo’s eyes met Bianca’s gaze.

Even in the midst of many people, Bianca was easily recognizable. Her sparkling golden hair and glamorous appearance inevitably drew attention wherever she went.

Although today she had dressed modestly and restrained herself from excessive jewelry to go to the festival with the kids, her beauty was not something that could be concealed.

So Ricardo recognized her at a glance.

The moment their eyes met, tears streamed down from Bianca’s eyes.

Ricardo, wondering if he had misjudged something due to sunlight, doubted himself. But it wasn’t the case.

It was undoubtedly Bianca looking at him, shedding tears.

“Bianca?”

Ricardo called her name at the sight of Bianca crying for the first time in his life, but it was already too late.

Bianca turned around and disappeared into the crowd.

“Bianca!”

Realizing he was holding a pickpocket, Ricardo couldn’t just let him go.

“Darn it!”

Cursing, Ricardo forcefully twisted the guy’s arm.

The guy screamed as if he were dying, but Ricardo ignored him.

When Ricardo lowered his head to look at the pocket, he saw the name “Maria” embroidered on it, just as she had said.

“Well, here’s your money.”

Throwing the pocket towards her, Maria awkwardly reached out and caught it.

“Get up. Let’s go to the security office.”

Ricardo roughly lifted the pickpocket.

“Hey, there! Can you tell me your name?”

Maria, blocking Ricardo’s way as he was about to leave with the pickpocket, said, “You found my precious money, and I want to repay you.”

“No need for repayment.”

“But I want to.”

Ricardo stared at Maria carefully.

Her very clear green eyes were looking at him.

There didn’t seem to be any ulterior motive. She genuinely seemed thankful and sincerely wanted to do something in return for him.

However, Ricardo simply didn’t need her repayment.

To anyone’s eyes, Maria didn’t seem wealthy. Ricardo, who had seen many noblewomen in high society, immediately recognized that.

In the first place, they weren’t supposed to come to a place like this.

Just like Bianca, who seemed to be here for the first time.

Suddenly, Ricardo recalled Bianca’s face, showing surprise as she looked at many people.

It was truly a face that revealed her astonishment.

He remembered her cautious steps, carefully walking one step at a time with a tense expression.

The moment it seemed like she might collide with someone in front, her startled expression. When someone tapped her shoulder while passing, her eyes widening in surprise.

Then suddenly, she noticed she was walking quite well among those people and felt a little triumphant.

The words he thought didn’t suit Bianca at all back then now seem to fit her exceptionally well.

‘Cute.’

Ricardo had thought that.

Not only then, but also when he watched her playing catch with a tense expression, the surprise and joy on her face when catching the third mouse, and the way she looked at Lara when she finally hugged the doll.

It was all like that.

Today, too, Ricardo would surely discover a new side of Bianca.

Cute Bianca.

“If you really want to repay, help other people instead of me.”

“What?”

Maria didn’t immediately catch Ricardo’s words and asked in return.

“I don’t need repayment, so do something good for others. Help an orphanage or donate to a homeless shelter.”

Ricardo recited recent things Bianca had done.

“That’s my way of being repaid.”

“Oh, there!”

Ricardo was no longer listening to Maria.

He led the pickpocket towards the security office.

And he wondered.

Why did Bianca cry?

***

“What should I do?”

The empty, hollow question filled the room.

There was only one place I could return to after aimlessly running away from the festival scene.

My home, my room.

It was a comfortable space decorated only for me, but it felt like it was gradually being invaded by them.

“What should I do?”

Once again, the question mark spewed from my mouth and hung in the air.

If my friend and I meet again after wandering around, we might ask each other the same question, but we will never find a permanent answer.

Now, the two of them have met.

I tried to prevent it, but I couldn’t stop it.

They would fall in love.

“So, what about me?”

Quietly closing my eyes, my long, if it was long, or short, if it was short, life flashed before me.

Learning etiquette, accumulating culture, studying, and expanding connections.

The reason I did all that was the only one.

To become a perfect lady.

To become an elegant duchess.

But now that dream was on the verge of shattering.

The only goal of my life was about to disappear.

Because of a girl who was nothing.

She claimed to have been born in the countryside and raised as a commoner. Although she excelled in her studies, she ultimately couldn’t secure a decent job.

Her mother was a commoner; she had no manners or education, and of course, no connections. Yet, this girl, who was supposed to be all those things, appeared to take the place I had dedicated my entire life to achieving.

“Why?”

A new question mark emerged.

What did I do wrong?

Why do I have to be like this?

I haven’t neglected a single thing in my pursuit of becoming a duchess. If anything, I’ve been too excessive.

“Why me?”

Why should I be pushed aside like this?

Why do I have to yield my place to such an insignificant girl?

Why should she take Ricardo away from me?

It had been 10 years.

For nearly a decade, it was a position I naturally considered mine, and he was a man I naturally considered mine.

Suddenly, a boiling resentment welled up in my heart.

Unfamiliar, or perhaps better known to me than anyone else, jealousy and hatred surged towards a woman I barely knew.

“If only you weren’t here…”

Would it have been better if I had killed her?

If I had taken action before meeting Ricardo, would it have been okay?

Even if I couldn’t sleep peacefully, would it have been better if the place I fell asleep was the Winkaiser Ducal Palace?

Knock, knock.

Just when the hatred was slowly transforming into resentment towards Maria, a sudden knock was heard.

“What’s going on?”

“Somebody from Wensbury is here.”

When Panya, who opened the door, saw my face, she was momentarily taken aback. But soon, she bowed her head and conveyed the message.

“Who is it?”

“It’s a person named Maria.”

As Panya spoke, I recalled telling Raintar that I would see Maria today.

Since I couldn’t hold on to Ricardo all day, I had planned to keep him during the day and Maria in the evening.

Now it seemed like a futile plan.

“I’m sorry, but for her…”

I was about to tell her that I wasn’t feeling well and that she should go back.

But soon, I closed my mouth.

“No, I’ll get ready and leave. I’ve invited her to dinner, so please escort her to the dining room.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Panya bowed her head, quietly closed the door, and left.

After she left, I sat in my seat for a moment and then slowly got up.

“Hello, Miss Maria.”

“Oh! Hello!”

Maria, who was sitting in a chair, was startled and stood up abruptly when she heard my voice.
Thanks to that, the chair was reluctantly dragged backward, and the table seemed to have bumped into her foot, making a clunking sound.

As I expected, she seemed far from elegant etiquette.

“I invited the guest and came down late. I was just doing my hair.”

“No, I came a bit early.”

“Please sit.”

“Yes, yes.”

Maria nodded and sat back in the chair. As she pulled the chair forward again, it made a creaking sound.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Bianca Croft.”

“Hello, I’m Maria Bello. Oh, no, Maria Wensbury.”

Still not used to her new surname, Maria hastily corrected herself.

I observed her with a smile, as if I knew everything and was okay with it.

Her thick red hair was somewhat styled, but the tips were messy. Her facial features were pretty, but she lacked sophistication. To put it bluntly, she seemed a bit old-fashioned.

When our eyes met, her gently smiling expression was… Honestly, even from my perspective, it was charming enough to admit.

Her green eyes were full of vitality, and her smile radiated purity.

It was something I didn’t possess. Something I didn’t necessarily want, but still.

“Lord Wensbury has told me much.”

“Which Wensbury are you talking about?”

“Oh! So, the one I mentioned earlier is Raintar Wensbury.”

“Ah, Raintar.”

“But another Wensbury also talked a lot about Bianca… Miss? No, Miss Bianca? So, um…”

It seemed like Maria was confused about the titles.

“Just Bianca is fine.”

“Oh, yes! Miss Bianca. So, the Wensbury Marquis also talked a lot about Miss Bianca.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, he gave a lot of compliments. He said you’re a lady with many qualities to emulate.”

“That’s an exaggeration. I hope I’m not disappointing Maria today.”

“Oh, no!”

Maria quickly extended her hand forward and clapped her hands.

“Actually, meeting you in person, you are much more elegant and beautiful than I heard.”

Lowering the hand that she had just shaken, Maria shyly smiled.

“In fact, I thought you were my ideal type.”

Did I just mishear something?

“Smile Love”