I May Be A Villainess, But I Won't Live My Life That Way - Chapter 40

Chapter 40

“In truth, I didn’t expect things to turn out this way.”

Her lips slowly parted, and unexpectedly, Megi gave an honest response.

“You didn’t expect it to turn out this way?”

“The modest servant girl who fell in love at first sight with the handsome knight who came down to the countryside undoubtedly knew her place. Even though I felt a connection with him, he was a nobleman, and I was a lowly commoner.”

“But Maria was the child of that nobleman. Why didn’t you reveal that?”

“At first, I intended to reveal it. After all, it was the child’s father. However, by the time I made up my mind, it was already too late. He had left for the capital, and shortly after, it was revealed that the girl was pregnant. After that, I was driven away by my parents without receiving a single penny.”

This was a story I hadn’t heard before. Such details were not in the book.

“I couldn’t go after him to the capital. I found out that he already had a wife and child there, at that time.”

Upon hearing that, I furrowed my brows unconsciously.

Even with a wife and child, he dared to pursue an innocent country girl.

That was indeed a disappointing aspect of Lord Wensbury. It was a letdown for me, who had perceived him as a decent person until now.

“So, I raised Maria alone. But I never regretted that fact. That child was truly my joy and the reason for my existence.”

Despite the bleak expression she had worn earlier, a glimmer of light, like a smile, returned to Megi’s face.

Her rapidly changing expressions, now sincere, now contrived, reminded me of Maria.

“I even considered taking that secret to my grave.”

“But you didn’t.”

Megi nodded quietly.

“Why?”

“I thought I would die soon.”

“….”

“Now, it feels vivid, but back then, I really thought I was going to die. I had no energy in my body, and I bled for several days.”

With a bitter smile, Megi continued.

“Maria became more and more like him as she grew up. Well, she was already similar from the beginning, but maybe I tried not to see it. She had the same red hair and clear green eyes as him.”

Megi was right.

As soon as Maria appeared in high society, rumors spread that she wasn’t just an adopted child but rather Marquis Wensbury’s illegitimate child. There was an uncanny resemblance between Marquis Wensbury and Maria, not just because of the matching hair and eye color.

“So, the child was always curious and wanted to reveal the truth before I died.”

“Like a testament.”

“Yes, exactly. That’s what it was. However…”

Megi shrugged her shoulders instead of finishing her sentence.

But it meant she had survived despite everything.

“That child sold Anthony’s house. It was an old house, so it sold for a very low price, but it was enough to cover my hospitalization for a while. During that time, Maria went to find him.”

Now, the things I had been curious about were finally coming together.

Why Maria suddenly appeared in my life.

Maria, who had discovered the secret of her birth, was seeking Marquis Wensbury to cure her mother’s illness, or more precisely, to gather the money needed for the treatment.

Perhaps Maria resembled Lord Wensbury more than Raintar, who seemed to be carved from stone.

Lord Wensbury, who boldly charged into enemy lines during his younger days.

“That child went through poverty and hardship, but she grew up happily. I can guarantee that. I wanted Maria to grow up just like that.”

I believed Megi’s words. The anecdotes she shared about Maria’s childhood were filled with joy, and the events that unfolded could only happen to a loved and cherished child.

Furthermore, looking at Maria now, it seemed to be true.

She was pure, cheerful, and had a bright smile.

If she remained unchanged, as the book suggested.

“Maria also mentioned it. While some dream of becoming nobles, she didn’t see herself as part of that category.”

“I expected that. That’s why she hesitated to talk about her birth parents…”

“Oh, right. Aren’t you feeling stifled being confined to the hospital?”

As Megi’s mood had momentarily darkened, I tried to lighten the atmosphere by bringing up a different topic.

“No, it’s okay. The gardens are spacious, and I walk every day. The chapel is nearby, so I often go there to pray. It’s quite comfortable, gaining peace of mind.”

“Do you ever feel uncomfortable living here?”

“No, everyone is so kind, and my health is improving. What could make me uncomfortable?”

“Do you have any other health concerns?”

“Well, maybe an allergy? But everyone seems to have that kind of thing.”

Megi chuckled and shrugged.

“Actually, I was relatively healthy before I collapsed. To raise a child alone, you need to be strong.”

As if it were nothing, Megi laughed. Her laughter made me feel even more touched.

She sacrificed her youth and health for the sake of the child.

“Bianca.”

With a tone different from before, Megi gently took hold of my hand.

“Thank you for treating Maria so well.”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

“And please take care of her in the future.”

Holding my hand firmly, Megi spoke with a cautious tone, and her eyes were filled with earnestness.

It struck me that even after sacrificing her health for the sake of the child, she still worried about her.

“Yes, I will.”

Only after hearing my answer did Megi finally release my hand, smiling brightly.

“I’ll be looking forward to the scarf.”

“Yes. Even though it might be early for the season, winter always comes back.”

“I’ve also prepared a little gift.”

“Oh my, you didn’t have to!”

“It’s nothing special. I brought some snacks for when you get bored. I’ll have a servant deliver them later. I think Maria would like them, so I hope they suit your taste too.”

“Thank you so much, Bianca.”

Megi laughed brightly, and her face, with that laughter, didn’t seem like that of someone on the brink of death.

In the returning carriage, I was left alone with my thoughts.

How on earth does Megi die? And why does Maria come to think that her death is my fault? I couldn’t understand.

First of all, the hospital was perfect. Megi’s illness was improving, and there were no apparent threats based on the results I observed today.

The garden where Megi took walks was very flat, and if she collapsed, nurses would quickly rush to her aid from all directions.

There wasn’t any major illness.

There were no known people in the capital, and besides Maria, no one else visited.

I asked around just in case, but there was no one who hated Megi enough in her life to want to kill her.

‘Could she not have died?’

The thought that finally came to mind was precisely this.

Moreover, this was a setting that often appeared in books.

Everyone thought someone had died, but in reality, they were still alive!

‘That’s not it.’

However, I quickly dismissed that thought. In the book, Megi was just a supporting character.

Her death was a crucial reason for Maria’s transformation, but after that, it was never mentioned.

Even if she hadn’t died and had secretly gone down to Anthony for some reason, if Maria thought Megi had died, the result would have been the same.

‘Someone must have murdered her.’

I arrived again at the conclusion I had thought before meeting Megi.

If it were an accident, Maria wouldn’t hate me so much.

Someone killed Megi, and Maria framed me for it; that was evident.

If not, then Megi, who was recovering her health, suddenly died, and Maria wouldn’t think I was behind that death.

“Panya.”

“Yes, miss.”

Panya, who was sitting opposite and dozing off, responded hastily.

“When we get home, tell the butler to visit my room.”

“Yes, understood.”

I thought I should send two reliable soldiers to the hospital. So, it seemed I needed to tell them to guard Megi’s room.

No, I should tell them to guard Megi herself.

The hospital director or Megi might find it strange, but it should be manageable if I handle it properly. At least, it’s better than something happening to Megi.

“Oh, and Panya.”

“Yes, miss!”

Panya, who was dozing off again, responded with a start.

“Don’t go straight home; you need to stop by Angelica Patisserie.”

“Oh, is it the pastry shop you mentioned last time?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you placing another order?”

With slightly widened eyes, Panya asked. Considering the quantity of the last order, her reaction was understandable.

What I took to Viscount Conwells was just one box, but what I gifted to Panya was the entire daily production of the patisserie for the orphanage children.

Since a master managed everything from selecting ingredients to the final product, Angelica Patisserie’s pastries were both expensive and not produced in large quantities.

“Yeah.”

“Should I order a whole day’s worth again this time?”

“No. This time, order a set of madeleines and a set of almond crunchies.”

My mother liked moist and soft madeleines with tea, and my father enjoyed almond crunchies while reading books.

Although I had given the taste of Angelica Patisserie to others, I hadn’t given it to my most precious people—my parents, who wished for my happiness more than anyone else and sacrificed everything to protect me.

On the day the madeleines and almond crunchies arrived, I vowed to spend a warm time with my family.

“Smile Love”