I May Be A Villainess, But I Won't Live My Life That Way - Chapter 93

Chapter 93

My hands were trembling.

No matter how tightly I tried to squeeze them to stop the shaking, it didn’t work.

I even felt as though someone was mocking me, saying, “How can you change your fate when you can’t even control the trembling of your hands?”

“Ha…”

With a light sigh, I gave up trying to calm my hands.

As I let my hands fall limply to my sides, something hard brushed against the back of my hand under the dress. It was the book I had secretly altered and hidden for this day.

The moment I felt its presence, my mouth went dry again.

Today was the day.

The day of the royal hunting tournament, and the day I was supposed to be killed.

“My lady, it seems we’ve arrived.”

Panya, oblivious to everything, just announced cheerfully that we had reached our destination.

“Yes.”

The place where the royal hunting tournament was held was always the same—the northern forest, a bit away from the royal palace.

So, when the carriage door opened, I was greeted by a familiar sight.

Perhaps because we had arrived a bit early, the surroundings still appeared somewhat chaotic, but I could see the splendid platforms, the tables set up outdoors, and guests who, like me, had arrived early.

“I’ll get off in a little while.”

“Oh, would you?”

The biggest topic in Sprendo’s social circles was still my engagement to Ricardo. The moment I stepped out of the carriage, I would undoubtedly be bombarded with all sorts of questions.

Rather than that, I wanted to calmly think about today’s plan, so I asked to stop the carriage in a slightly secluded spot.

Once the carriage stopped somewhere in the surrounding forest, I told Panya to step out for a moment, then took out the book.

Even though I had checked it again last night, I opened it once more.

Just in case, please, I thought, but the book remained unchanged.

I died after eating the cookies the Viscount  of Wensbury had swapped.

“Just don’t eat them. It’s okay.”

As if comforting a frightened little girl, I whispered softly.

According to the book, Ricardo and Maria would later find the court lady who swapped the cookies and interrogate her until she confessed.

She had been promised that her lover, a knight, would be promoted by the Viscount  of Wensbury, but instead, he was disgracefully discharged from the knighthood.

“Marianne.”

I quietly repeated the court lady’s name. I had to catch her.

“My lady?”

With a knock, I heard Panya’s voice calling me from outside.

“What is it?”

“Ricardo Winkaiser is here.”

Ricardo?

“Let him in.”

When the carriage door opened, Ricardo looked at me and smiled.

“You’re here early.”

He said as he swiftly climbed into the carriage.

“It just turned out that way. You’re here early too.”

“There was a lot to prepare.”

“Is that so?”

Although I had attended the hunting tournament several times, I didn’t really know what the knights prepared, so I lightly nodded at Ricardo’s words.

Well, hunting isn’t done barehanded.

“So, are you ready?”

“For the most part. I saw the Croft family’s carriage while taking a short break, so I came by. Is the Marquis of Croft still averse to the hunting tournament?”

“To be precise, it’s my mother who hates it.”

Mother always said that hunting tournaments were barbaric. She believed that hunting for survival was inevitable, but indulging in it as a pastime was cruel.

Father didn’t entirely agree with her, but since he tried to avoid things Mother disliked, he didn’t attend the hunting tournament.

He was truly a devoted husband, and they were the epitome of a harmonious couple.

I wondered if Ricardo would also accommodate me if I told him I disliked the hunting tournament.

“Why?”

Perhaps sensing my gaze, Ricardo asked.

“It’s nothing.”

There was no need to mention it. I didn’t particularly think this kind of event was bad.

Encouraging the unity and subtle competition among the nobility under the royal family’s sponsorship was necessary, whether it was hunting, a ball, or anything else.

“In fact, I feel the same way.”

…What?

Caught off guard by Ricardo’s sudden, bashful smile and words, I felt slightly flustered. But since he said, “I feel the same way,” I didn’t want to ask what he meant, fearing it might embarrass him, so I stayed silent.

“Even though I knew we’d see each other soon, I couldn’t stay still when I saw the carriage you were in. I just wanted to see you sooner.”

Ah, so that’s what he meant… Wait, what?

As soon as I realized what Ricardo’s “I feel the same way” meant, I felt more embarrassed than relieved.

“I know. I must seem… strange like this. I don’t know why I’m so impatient. I just realized how impatient I can be.”

Ricardo turned his head, looking embarrassed.

“When you’re not in sight, I want to see you, and when I’m seeing you, I want to touch you.”

But despite his embarrassment, Ricardo didn’t stop talking. And neither did his hands.

With a slightly awkward smile, Ricardo turned his head back toward me and reached out his hand.

He said he had been sharpening his sword earlier, so there was a faint metallic smell as his hand gently caressed my cheek.

“When I’m touching you…”

He brushed aside the hair lingering on my cheek, his hand lightly grazing my earlobe as he did so. No, it wasn’t just a graze.

Ricardo’s thumb pressed on my earlobe, and his index finger traced along the outer edge of my ear. Meanwhile, Ricardo had leaned forward from the opposite seat, his upper body inching closer to me.

“…I want to kiss you.”

Ricardo’s breath touched my nose and lips as he spoke, his face now so close to mine.

When did he get this close?

He was always close, yet I felt he was far away.

He was the person I was supposed to marry, yet I didn’t think of him as mine.

“Bianca.”

His voice was filled with urgency.

His eyes looked as if he didn’t know what to do.

His lips seemed to be on the verge of saying he couldn’t hold back anymore.

“Ricardo.”

I quietly reached out and touched it all.

As I watched his face, which had closed its eyes to feel my touch, I leaned in first.

His lips, which I lightly pressed against, were soft, unlike his rough hands. As I inhaled his breath more deeply, a warm and sweet taste gently spread within me.

A little more, just a little more.

I wanted more, saddened by the fleeting purity of the moment. I bit down, reluctant to let the feelings slip away. The sigh that escaped was so tangled up I couldn’t tell if it was mine or his.

“How unfortunate.”

With lips that seemed slightly swollen, Ricardo muttered those words.

“It would have been nice if this were after the hunting tournament instead of before.”

Looking outside, Ricardo sighed, as if frustrated by the time he had to leave.

“Indeed. It would be nice if this were after the hunting tournament.”

I wished the same.

I wanted everything to end peacefully and return home without any worries.

Together with Ricardo.

“I’ll escort you to your seat.”

Ricardo suggested, standing up first.

“It’s alright. I can go alone.”

“I want to do it.”

“Alright, then.”

I didn’t refuse Ricardo’s offer any further. The time had nearly arrived, after all.

As we walked toward the event venue with him escorting me, I noticed the tables were now organized, and quite a few people were already in their seats, unlike earlier.

As soon as people noticed us, they began to whisper, and we walked through a sea of eager faces, all waiting to speak with us.

“Hey, lovebirds over there!”

Of course, there’s always someone who can’t hold back.

Turning my head toward the voice, I saw Asel grinning widely at us.

“Do you have to flaunt your relationship like that?”

He frowned, looking displeased, at a particular spot between Ricardo and me.

Wondering what bothered him so much, I followed his gaze to see that it was focused on where Ricardo was holding my hand for the escort.

“A bit much for a public place, don’t you think?”

“This is just a normal escort, you know?”

I was flustered by Asel’s words, as if we had done something scandalous, even though there was nothing special about Ricardo escorting me.

“Normal?’”

Asel strode over, leaning forward and fixating on our hands.

“No way. Unacceptable. As the host of today’s event, I can’t allow this.”

Using only his thumb and forefinger to pinch my wrist, Asel jerked my hand away from Ricardo’s as if he were picking up an appetizer and setting it down.

“What exactly is wrong with this, Your Highness?” Ricardo asked, his brow slightly furrowed, clearly displeased with Asel’s behavior. His hand hovered near mine, ready to reclaim it at any moment.

“Too much love.”

“……”

“……”

“If it’s a normal escort, it should be more neutral and restrained. But you two are overflowing with love.”

“……”

“……”

“It’s an imperial decree. From now on, no hand-holding between you two for the rest of the event.”

Asel declared this with such seriousness that Ricardo and I were left speechless, unable to respond. Ricardo’s hand, which had been ready to hold mine again, remained suspended in the air as if frozen.

“Understood? No hand-holding, it’s forbidden.”

Asel emphasized his command, pointing his finger at us as if to ensure we fully grasped his decree.

“If it’s an imperial decree, I suppose we have to comply,” Ricardo was the first to recover his composure.

“Then, is anything else permitted?”

“What do you mean, anything else?”

“Like linking arms?”

“No.”

“Lips, perhaps?”

“Absolutely not!”

“Then maybe—”

“Enough, both of you!”

I couldn’t take it anymore and finally shouted.

Both Ricardo, who seemed to have more to say, and Asel, who was denying everything and provoking him further, fell silent at my words.

Good. It’s quiet now.