I May Be A Villainess, But I Won't Live My Life That Way - Chapter 97

Chapter 97

My fingertips trembled, like a fool.

“Calm down.”

There was still time. The book changed while glowing, and it took a while for the letters to settle.

To steady my trembling hand, I grasped it with my other hand, which was trembling just as much. Now, I could feel not just the trembling but also the icy coldness of my hand.

“Ha…”

I exhaled softly and waited for the light to fade.

Mocking my sigh and signaling that the time had come, the light from the book gradually diminished.

As soon as I opened the book, all traces of Panya’s name, which had been there just moments ago, had disappeared as if it had never been there.

But instead of Panya’s name, another name occupied that space.

“Ricardo!”

The name that escaped like a groan scattered across the book.

It was a cruel twist of fate.

It was fate’s prank that Ricardo, an outstanding hunter, discovered the rare silver fox, approached it cautiously, but the elusive silver fox quickly sensed his presence.

And it was fate’s prank that a small stone kicked up by the fox struck the horse’s shank.

Everything was a joke of fate.

The horse that got hit on the shank reared up in surprise, lifting its front legs and whinnying.

“Whoa! Whoa-whoa!”

Ricardo, the commander of the First Order and a master horse rider, swiftly tightened the reins and tried to control the horse.

But fate had one more trick up its sleeve.

The horse, which seemed to have calmed down by lowering its front legs, suddenly lifted its hind legs.

“Ugh!”

Ricardo tried to hold on by bracing himself in the saddle, but he couldn’t withstand the frenzied horse.

His hand lost its grip on the reins in an instant, and he was thrown to the ground in an instant, his head hitting a rock with equal speed.

“Ugh… ugh…”

Sounds like groans escaped Ricardo’s mouth.

“Bi…ang… ouch…”

And the name of the woman he loved could never be completed on his lips.

Just like the love he held in his heart, Ricardo closed his eyes with her name still on his lips.

My hands no longer trembled.

I was paralyzed, unable to speak or act.

I could only read and re-read the passage about Ricardo’s death.

“This is absurd.”

First, they killed the female protagonist, and now they’re killing the male protagonist?

And so hopelessly? So ridiculously?

How could Ricardo, who had exceptional swordsmanship, practiced riding for years, and fought in countless battles, die from a fall?

What will happen to the story now that the male protagonist is dead?

“I can’t believe it.”

But, as if mocking me, the book continued to show the same content without change.

“I have to stop this.”

I hurriedly stood up, clutching the book. It didn’t matter now who saw this book or not.

“Where is Ricardo?”

It was undoubtedly in the forest. He was somewhere in the vast northern forest, hunting. Of course, I had no idea where exactly.

“What should I do?”

Looking at the dense, tree-covered forest, I bit my lip.

The forest felt like a massive barrier blocking the way between Ricardo and me.

“I can’t just stay here!”

Even though I didn’t know where he was, I was determined to find him. As I started moving toward the carriage, I hesitated.

The carriage I had arrived in had already departed with Panya to the Croft Mansion.

“It’s okay. There should be an urgent messenger waiting for the royal court.”

Calming myself, I continued walking. Since Panya was sent away, I had no choice but to act myself.

I could easily raise my hand to call someone, but I wasn’t sure if the urgency of the matter would be conveyed accurately through that process.

“Who is in charge here?”

I called out loudly, pulling back the curtain of the tent next to the podium where Asel had mentioned something like a stable before departure.

I saw the busy court officials momentarily stop.

“What’s the matter, Lady Croft?”

Asel’s secretary, whom I had seen a few times, asked politely.

“I need someone.”

“What kind of person do you need? Should we clear the tables or provide more refreshments?”

“Send someone to the forest immediately.”

“To the forest? The hunting grounds where the contest is currently taking place?”

“Do you know Ricardo Winkaiser?”

“Yes, of course.”

“You need to find him and have him come back immediately.”

“Uh… I mean…”

The secretary, startled by my demand, hesitated to respond.

It was understandable. To tell a participant in the imperial hunting contest, especially one who was a strong contender for victory, to return immediately? 

No matter how noble the one who requested it, it was clearly an unreasonable request.

“What’s the matter?”

“There is something.”

“If you could tell me…”

“I can’t. It’s something only Ricardo can hear.”

“Well, it’s a very honored request, but…”

“I don’t want to hear any honored requests.”

After silencing him, who seemed about to offer excuses or persuasion, I glared at him.

“I will take responsibility. So send a knight, a servant, or even you yourself—whoever it is—to fetch Ricardo right now.”

I stared at him with unwavering resolve.

“Now.”

The last word was spoken in a low voice.

So low that if he wasn’t paying close attention, he might not have heard it.

“…Understood.”

There was no way the person before me wasn’t listening to my words.

Finally, the secretary nodded and raised his hand as if to show he would act on my orders immediately.

A young man who had been watching this scene approached quickly.

“You heard what Lady Croft said just now, right?”

“Yes.”

“You need to ride to the forest immediately and find Sir Ricardo Winkaiser. And let him know to return as soon as possible.”

“Yes, understood.”

Even though he had already heard the details, he listened carefully to the secretary’s instructions and nodded as if he fully understood.

“Now, could you wait just a moment?”

After watching him mount one of the tethered horses and ride off toward the forest, the secretary said.

“Thank you.”

I expressed my gratitude for his efforts and turned away. Then I looked at the book in my hand.

The book remained unchanged.

Perhaps it was to be expected. It had been only a moment since the messenger had left to find Ricardo. He probably hadn’t even reached him yet.

According to the secretary, I had to wait a little while.

“Please…”

I bit my lip tightly and squeezed my eyes shut, praying for Ricardo’s safety.

With each step I took back to my seat, I offered a silent prayer. Please let him be safe.

Returning to the table, I placed the book down and sat back in my chair. My eyes were fixed solely on that book.

Please, let it glow.

Let the story change.

Please… please…

“Lady Bianca, what is that book?”

A voice came from beside me. I recognized it.

“You’ve been quite busy since earlier; is something wrong?”

It was Kate and her group. I noticed other people were also looking over this way.

“It’s nothing.”

I answered with a slight smile, though it was likely frozen.

“What kind of book is that? If it’s worth bringing all the way here, it must be something significant.”

Kate reached out as if to point out that the book didn’t fit the occasion.

“It’s just a book I brought along to read if I get bored.”

I lightly covered the book with my hand to prevent Kate from touching it.

“Oh, a book here?”

Kate blinked in surprise.

“What kind of book could it be…?”

Kate, still curious, threw another glance at the book, clearly intrigued.

“I’ll lend it to you next time I see you.”

Had the book glowed just now? Or was it just the sunlight reflecting? 

I grew increasingly anxious.

“Oh, really? Lady Bianca, coming all this way to read a book—now I’m really curious. I read a very interesting book myself not long ago. Perhaps, as an avid reader, you might know the renowned author…”

I began to find her annoying and irritating. This wasn’t the time for small talk with Kate.

“I’ll arrange a time to tell you later, so could you please leave me alone for now?”

“What? Oh my! We just thought you might be lonely on your own and wanted to keep you company.”

“I’d prefer to be alone right now.”

When I indirectly told her to leave, Kate’s face flushed red in an instant.

I shouldn’t have acted that way towards her, the Count’s daughter. Her family was quite affluent in Sprendo, and they maintained friendly relations with both the Winkaisers and the Croft. And when I became a duchess… Damn it!

What good is any of that if Ricardo isn’t here?

What’s the point of being a duchess or having a noble family if you’re not here?

Please come back alive, Ricardo!

“……”

“……”

When I fell silent and seemed unwilling to say anything more, Kate and her group finally withdrew.

I anxiously flipped through the pages, worried I might have missed a change in the book.

“Ricardo…”

But the book remained unchanged. As before, Ricardo lay cold on the dirt floor.

“Please!”

I couldn’t even pray with my eyes closed.

I had to make sure not to miss any changes in the book while my eyes were shut.

I remained staring at the book with desperate intensity, not blinking even once.