I May Be A Villainess, But I Won't Live My Life That Way - Chapter 67

Chapter 67

“Panya, get ready to leave early tomorrow morning.”

“Oh! Yes!”

I said as I changed into my pajamas, and Panya nodded vigorously. As I approached the bed, she quickly picked me up and carefully sat me down on the bed, making sure not to strain my stomach.

At that moment, I noticed a wound on Panya’s neck. It was already scabbed over and healing.

“Did you get hurt back then?”

At my question, Panya hesitated for a moment, then realized that I was referring to the wound on her neck. She touched her neck with her hand.

“Oh, yes. But it wasn’t too bad.”

“What about your arm?”

“Huh?”

“Back then, wasn’t your arm injured too? I think I saw blood on it.”

“Oh! It wasn’t too bad either. I was startled when the master suddenly drew his knife, and I got cut while trying to stop him.”

Panya smiled as she extended her hand to show the wound. It seemed worse than the one on her neck; her hand was still bandaged.

“I was really shocked. The master suddenly…”

Panya couldn’t continue speaking warmly about the servant, probably calling him ‘the master’ out of habit or affection. According to Ricardo, that servant was also dead.

I didn’t know whether Panya’s complicated emotions stemmed from his betrayal or his death. Perhaps it was both.

“Shouldn’t you have rested if you were hurt?”

Both physically and emotionally hurt, Panya seemed like she needed more rest.

“I started going to work in the mornings when you were discharged from the hospital. Until then, the housekeeper took care of me, so I could rest.”

“Did you rest until your hand and neck healed?”

“Oh, well…”

“Is it because of financial difficulties?”

I remembered Panya crying and talking about being fired before. Didn’t she mention having a sick father? No, it was a sick mother, wasn’t it? She had many siblings, but the rest of the details escaped me.

What mattered was that Panya’s family situation wasn’t good, and this little girl earned money to support her family. So, if she took time off, they would undoubtedly face financial difficulties.

“Rest until your wounds heal. I’ll make sure your salary remains the same as before.”

“Oh! That’s not it, Miss Bianca!”

Panya vigorously shook her head.

“I went to work because I was worried.”

Panya confessed shyly, fidgeting with my fingers as if making a shy confession.

“I heard from another maid that you were okay and receiving good treatment at the hospital, but I was still worried about whether your wounds were healing well and how you were doing, so I went to work.”

“You were worried about me?”

“Well, of course, it’s not my place to worry about you, but still…”

Panya blushed and giggled awkwardly, as if making a shy confession.

“Do you care about me?”

“Huh? I’m not…!”

Feeling unjustly accused when I called her caring, Panya protested.

“Alright. I like people who care well for others. Being good at anything is commendable.”

“Oh, then should I strive to be good at caring for others?”

Panya tilted her head, looking puzzled. It was quite adorable.

“Anyway, you’re my personal maid, so you should take care of yourself.”

Panya spoke as if being a personal maid was some sort of honor, puffing up her chest with pride.

“Rest, Miss. Panya, your personal maid, will prepare everything for your outing tomorrow.”

As if telling me to trust only her, Panya patted her chest confidently. I just chuckled softly.

“Got it.”

After Panya left the room, I leaned forward and took a book from the bookshelf.

I flipped through it as soon as I got home, but nothing had changed.

I couldn’t decide whether to be grateful for the lack of events or disappointed by the lack of change.

“I should focus on what I can do.”

I murmured quietly as I closed the book.

***

As soon as I opened the door early in the morning, there were hardly any guests in the import shop. It seemed quieter here, which would be good for conversation.

“Welcome, Miss Bianca.”

The neatly dressed clerk, recognizing me as a frequent visitor, greeted me with a smile.

“We just received some excellent tea leaves yesterday. Shall I show them to you?”

“I’ll take it.”

“Without even seeing it?”

“I know this is the best product from Sprendo, so is there a need to see it? I trust your recommendation.”

“Thank you for your kind words.”

The clerk smiled widely, feeling pleased that the first customer had decided to purchase immediately and praised his judgement.

“I have one question.”

I took out a checkbook from my bag, revealing my true purpose for coming here. Of course, I smoothly brought up the topic without letting the clerk know what my real intentions were.

“There might be someone else who shares my tastes. Do you happen to know who that might be?”

“Why would you…?”

Rather than asking what he would do if he found out what I was truly after, the clerk trailed off.

“I believe people with similar tastes would have good conversations. It can be tedious seeing the same faces all the time in social circles. Meeting someone new with similar tastes could bring fresh air to our mundane lives, don’t you think?”

“Oh, I understand what you mean. You want to have deep conversations with people who share the same taste in tea.”

“Exactly.”

I nodded as I listened to the clerk’s interpretation. I did want to find someone who shared the same taste in tea to have meaningful conversations with.

“Why not try…?”

Finally, the moment arrived when I could hear the name of the person who had bought the tea. Just as the door suddenly swung open, Panya rushed in, her face pale.

“Something’s happened!”

Panya held up a crumpled piece of paper in her trembling hands.

“W-what happened?”

The clerk, looking more surprised than I was, stammered as he looked at Panya. Stepping forward, Panya handed me the paper that was in my hand.

Lara is in my custody. If you want her back safely, stop digging into my mother’s death.

“This!”

Unexpectedly, the name was written on the paper. When I saw Lara’s name, my heart sank.

I remembered Lara’s soft cheeks and her sparkling hazel eyes whenever she looked at me. But now, it seems like a distant memory.

“My mother’s death, then it must have been…… that took Lara!”

Maria!

As I realized who might have sent this note, my grip on the paper tightened involuntarily. I wanted to tear it into shreds or even chew it up, but it wouldn’t satisfy me.

“Oh, Miss Bianca.”

A trembling voice called out from behind.

“Are you alright?”

The clerk, not knowing what had happened, asked with curiosity and concern.

“I seem to have an urgent matter.”

I tried to compose myself as best as I could. I calmly explained to her as if it were nothing serious.

“I asked you earlier, could you recognize the person who ordered?”

“Oh, yes. If we check the customer records, we might find out. Since tea is not a frequent item, there should be a list of reservations.”

“Good. I’m a bit busy today, so I have to leave now. But please let me know who they are next time. And if I decide to host a tea party with them, I’ll make sure they place their orders here.”

I smoothly hinted that I had urgent matters to attend to.

I didn’t know how she found out I was here, but Maria knew. The clerk in front of me could be a spy, or even the clerk arranging shelves over there. If not, the new servant I hired might be a traitor.

I couldn’t risk Lara’s life. I had to follow her demands, for Lara’s safety.

“Yes, of course.”

The clerk nodded with a smile. Although he seemed curious about the paper note Panya brought in, he tried not to show it too much.

He wouldn’t want to meddle in the privacy of a noblewoman.

“I’ll buy the tea later. Can you keep my share?”

“Of course, Miss Bianca.”

Before hearing his response, I quickly left the shop. I hurried onto the carriage and shouted urgently.

“To the orphanage!”

“Yes, Miss!”

“Hurry!”

“Yes!”

As the carriage rattled off, my heart rattled just as much.

I prayed that the note was false.

When I arrived at the orphanage, I hoped to hear Lara’s voice calling out “Princess!” and running into my arms.

“Lara…”

Both of my hands clenched together involuntarily, as if in prayer.

“Smile Love”