I May Be A Villainess, But I Won't Live My Life That Way - Chapter 22

Chapter 22

“The dress should be that sky-blue over there. Necklace is fine, just prepare earrings with small diamonds embedded.”

I instructed the maids, my eyes quickly scanning the clothes and jewelry.

Leaving the women who were preparing what I had chosen, I looked at myself in the mirror.

Though I seemed a bit tired from reading books until late yesterday, I could easily cover it up with makeup.

No, maybe going with this face as it is could be better.

Despite being busy and tired, I can make it feel like I’ve specially carved out time for you.

“Keep the makeup light. Avoid heavy shades, and go for nude tones on the lips.”

“Yes, Miss.”

The book still seemed to want to kill me, but I had no intention of doing so.

Whether you’re a novice or an ancient being, you might think you can feel refreshed by cutting my throat, feeding me poison, and killing me to the end, but do you really think I’ll die that easily?

“That’s not possible.”

The beautiful woman in the mirror sharply illuminated her eyes.

In those sharp, blade-like eyes, a strong determination was felt.

It was a resolute pledge, a declaration to survive, not to die.

***

“Bianca!”

The voice that I had heard once as I stepped down from the carriage warmly called my name.

“Hello, Maria.”

“I was surprised when you suddenly showed up.”

“Oh, did you have other plans?”

“No, no! It’s not that. I was just pleasantly surprised that you came to visit.”

Maria beamed.

“Come inside. I have prepared some refreshments.”

“Sure.”

Looking at her, I smiled back. Maybe in a little while, she’ll smile even brighter.

Because I’ll make sure she does.

Wensbury Manor, belonging to the Wensbury Viscount, was a familiar place for me, as Lady Wensbury liked to invite people.

However, without expressing such sentiments, I followed Maria’s guidance to the drawing-room.

As she said, refreshments were already prepared in the drawing-room.

“I didn’t know what you liked….”

Judging by her hesitancy, she probably prepared the menu herself.

Hot chocolate and macarons.

It seemed like a combination that would elicit a sigh.

“I like both of them.”

However, to be clear, I meant individually. But there was no need to dampen Maria’s spirits by explicitly stating that.

Maria smiled brightly at my comment, thankfully.

Fortunately, perhaps due to the preparations at Wensbury Manor, the hot chocolate was delicious. The rich and robust flavor with just the right amount of sweetness suited my taste.

As the sweetness entered my system, it invigorated my body as if filling the lack of sugar in my sleep.

“Actually, I hesitated a bit because I was afraid it might be unnecessary meddling.”

Setting down the teacup, I cautiously broached the subject.

“Meddling?”

Maria, who was nibbling on a macaron, widened her eyes and asked. A few cookie crumbs fell from her lips onto her dress.

My gaze naturally followed it downward, but with the power of reason, I pretended not to see it and looked back at Maria.

“Yes. After hearing the story about your mother last time, it was hard for me to just stay silent. So, I came to deliver this.”

I took out an envelope from the handbag I brought and handed it to Maria.

“What is this?”

In response to Maria’s question, I merely smiled as if to say she would know once she opened it.

Reading my intention, Maria blinked and opened the envelope.

“Oh… This is a letter of recommendation?”

“Yes.”

“Saint Lumenica Hospital?”

“Yes. It’s a hospital operated as an annex to a monastery sponsored by the Croft family.”

Maria blinked a few times, then quickly returned her gaze to the letter of recommendation, reading the remaining contents.

“It’s a letter of recommendation for my mother’s hospitalization.”

“Yes. I believe the Wensbury Viscount would have found an excellent hospital as well. However, regarding respiratory diseases, Dr. Kenwill at Saint Lumenica Hospital is considered the best.”

“I’ve heard of him, too.”

“Then, there’s no need for me to say more.”

“But I heard that Dr. Kenwill no longer accepts new patients due to the existing ones. So, I had given up as well.”

“Yes, that’s correct. That’s why I wrote the letter of recommendation.”

“Really?”

Looking at Maria with widened eyes, I nodded slightly and smiled.

“Oh my! Thank you, Bianca!”

“No need to thank me. I’m glad if I could be of help, seeing how pleased you are.”

“Help? You wrote a recommendation letter for Dr. Kenwill! You’re like an angel to me!”

Maria seemed genuinely overjoyed, as if she didn’t know what to do.

I was also relieved that things became much easier since she already knew Dr. Kenwill. If not, I would have had to explain how excellent a doctor he was and how difficult it would be to get treatment at Saint Lumenica Hospital.

“Thank you so much, Bianca.”

“No problem.”

I just directed a compassionate and kind smile towards her.

I had intended to show her the maximum kindness and benevolence that I could offer. Therefore, I planned to bestow upon her a grace she could never repay.

Unless she turned into a true embodiment of desire and jealousy, truly becoming a beast, my plan would not backfire.

However, I also planned to control even such a scenario.

“In reality, a letter of recommendation can be sent as a simple letter, but there’s a separate reason for personally coming here.”

“Other than this?”

“Yes.”

“What could be the reason?”

“Since you’ve become a part of Wensbury, wouldn’t you need to prepare for your debutante ball?”

“Oh…”

Maria sighed as if she had forgotten about it.

“That’s…”

Maria lowered her head slightly, avoiding my eyes.

Seeing her like that, I realized that my suspicion was correct.

The Viscountess Wensbury probably had no intention of making the debutante ball of the sudden illegitimate child of her husband a grand affair. Or perhaps, it might not even be a matter of grand or modest; it could be treated as if nothing had happened.

Judging by Maria’s reaction now, it seemed more like the latter.

“Is there something wrong?”

“I think I might not be prepared enough.”

Maria hesitated, then finally looked up and smiled.

“Just a few days ago, I was a rural commoner. Debuting in high society seems difficult.”

“But now you’re the Viscountess Wensbury. All noble young ladies in high society go through a debutante ball, followed by social activities.”

“I’m fine without debuting in high society. I’m still awkward in dancing, lacking in aristocratic etiquette, and deficient in many ways.”

“Is that your own opinion, Maria?”

“Yes. It’s how I feel.”

“Hasn’t Viscount Wensbury said anything about it?”

“Viscount Wensbury, or rather, my father, of course, wants me to go into society. He told me to live as a proud viscountess from now on.”

It seemed like Viscount Wensbury suddenly acquired a very lovely daughter. At least, that’s how it appeared with the words he used.

But the problem was that men weren’t very influential in high society, and even less so in debutante balls.

The flowers of society were the women, and everything related to it, including organizing and hosting debutante balls, was the domain of hostesses and women.

If the Viscountess Wensbury didn’t favor Maria’s debutante ball, even if it were to take place, it would likely be a modest event at best.

Perhaps it was even worse than the debutante ball of the fourteen-year-old child of Viscount Mo that I had attended not too long ago.

“Maria.”

“Yes.”

When I called her name, Maria finally raised her head and looked at me.

“Could you be honest with me?”

“…”

“Some people, of course, don’t desire to debut in high society. There are those who are introverted, shy, or enjoy solitude.”

But Maria wasn’t like that.

According to the reports I received, she was lively, cheerful, enjoyed socializing, and people liked her. Living among people, Maria didn’t suddenly become introverted just because she came to the capital.

“Some dislike the glamorous social scene or find things like pretty dresses and delicate makeup bothersome.”

If she really wasn’t interested in those things, there wouldn’t be a story about her becoming the flower of Sprendo’s social circle.

Books were created based on the past to shape the present and reveal the future. Ricardo’s transformation in the book was evidence of that.

“Some people dislike meetings with men or having enjoyable times. Some have no interest in marriage.”

“Is socializing related to marriage as well?”

“It’s not entirely unrelated. Social circles are the stages of aristocratic society exchanges.”

“I see.”

Maria seemed to be deep in thought. Did she now know that the person she met on the festival day was the heir of the Winkaiser Duke?

“Do you, by any chance, have someone in mind?”

“Oh, no. It’s not that…”

Maria blushed, lowered her head again.

From her reaction, I had a hunch. Had she figured out who Ricardo was?

How could she have known?

Was it fate that led Maria to him?

It didn’t matter. No, it was even better.

If Ricardo was involved, Maria might actually want the debutante ball, and she would feel even more grateful to me for helping.

“If you truly don’t want the debutante ball, Maria, I’ll leave as is. But if you wish to debut in high society…”

I directed a compassionate and gentle smile towards Maria, who was looking at me cautiously.

“I’ll help you.”

While hoping to appear as saintly as possible.

“Smile Love”