2.

1. I’m a Villainess, but I want to live.

I cautiously entered the room.

Thud.

After closing the door and turning around, the sight of a well-arranged room greeted me.

In the center.

A young man sat there, radiating an aura like a wild beast.

It was Lucian.

“Oh, so you’re already awake.”

I struggled to suppress the sigh that wanted to burst out.

I had tried to examine his severe wounds while he was unconscious, but it seemed I was too late.

Now I was in trouble.

The moment he noticed me, his lips twisted into a sneer.

“Ah, so you’re the woman who ordered me to be knocked out.”

Lucian shot back at me and started to approach.

However, Lucian couldn’t fulfill what I had intended.

Clang!

The chains connected to the bed made a loud noise as they restrained Lucian.

A fierce anger surged in his azure eyes.

“What the hell is this?”

Clang, clang, clang!

Unable to overcome his frustration, Lucian violently shook his tightly bound wrists.

But there was no sign of escape.

In the end, Lucian gave up and pressed his lips together, leaning against the bed.

“Who are you all, and why have you imprisoned me?”

Was it because of his rising fury?

His voice, mixed with a metallic tone, was low and filled with intense anger.

“Whose orders did you receive to dare commit such a reckless act?”

“…”

“Dare you kidnap the Duke of Kalleid and think you can survive?”

Lucian questioned fiercely.

I stared at him with an expressionless face, then unexpectedly replied.

“The Duke’s cousin.”

In an instant, Lucian opened his eyes wide.

A chilling silence fell.

“…”

“…”

I met Lucian’s gaze with a composed expression.

“You asked whose orders I received to do this.”

“…”

“That person is the Duke’s cousin.”

As I gave my indifferent response, astonishment flickered across Lucian’s face once again.

Silently, I clicked my tongue inwardly.

“Well, to a young man who has just reached adulthood, it must be quite a shocking truth.”

The age of adulthood in the Empire is eighteen.

And Lucian, at most, had just turned eighteen a few days ago as a green youth.

Well, here’s the gist of the story.

The Kalleid Dukedom was a renowned and long-standing noble family in the Empire.

However, tragedy struck when Lucian’s parents, who should have supported the Dukedom, passed away in an unforeseen accident.

To protect Lucian, who had lost both parents at a young age, an older cousin, who had a close relationship with the Dukedom, became his guardian.

Initially, it was a contract where the cousin would act as the guardian of the Kalleid Dukedom until Lucian reached adulthood and then return the title to him…

‘But that cousin betrayed Lucian.’

It was such a calculated and ruthless act to strip him of his title that Lucian was officially recorded as leaving overseas for recuperation.

In reality, he had been imprisoned in this boarding school all along.

‘Meanwhile, the original Elze had been steadily accumulating villainous acts…’

Like an empty-headed villainess, she tortured Lucian to relieve her stress.

Honestly, even if Lucian was brought to the boarding school, he is currently the only heir of the Dukedom.

To abuse him without considering revenge or consequences.

Looking at the development itself, it may seem improbable, but…

‘In the first place, the original Elze was only placed as a villainess to create conflict, so there’s no need to meticulously adhere to plausibility.’

Anyway, let’s return to the original story.

After countless trials and tribulations, Lucian finally awakens to transcendental abilities that are inherited only by the direct line of the Duke.

And so, he demolishes the boarding school and escapes.

In reality, losing both parents was the cousin’s scheme, so I am determined to seek thorough revenge…

‘And then the person who saves the mentally and physically exhausted Lucian is the heroine.’

…From then on, an immense obsession with her begins, but anyway.

I glanced at Lucian out of the corner of my eye.

Lucian’s face was filled with despair as if the ground beneath his feet had collapsed.

After a while, Lucian sneered coldly.

“Don’t spout nonsense.”

However, his sneer was more of a pretense to hide his restlessness rather than a truly calm demeanor.

“My cousin wouldn’t do that.”

“Duke.”

“Who sent you? Who told you to come between my cousin and me?”

The imposing figure of the Duke Kalleid, which had been surrounding him like armor, suddenly disappeared.

Lucian appeared as an inexperienced young man.

His deep blue eyes shook desperately.

“Do you really think I will be deceived by that?”

Well, I understand why he wouldn’t believe my words.

For Lucian, the cousin was a precious person who stood in place of his lost parents.

However…

“Do you even know where this is?”

Before Lucian could finish his words, I, as a villainess, who had a life planned just as diligently, interrupted him.

“It’s Rose cross Boarding School.”

Lucian froze in place.

I asked with a bitter tone.

“Duke, you’re aware of it, aren’t you? What kind of place Rose cross Boarding School is.”

A boarding school from which you can never leave.

A place that eliminates people who are inconvenient to keep in the family but too risky to kill.

To the nobles, this boarding school was a necessary evil, so even though they knew of its existence, they all kept quiet.

Is that all?

The owner of this boarding school itself was dangerous.

Dante de Sa B. Offenheir.

He was the man who, in the original story, was the object of Elze’s obsessive love and the one who subdued the Empire’s underworld after a long battle.

Upon hearing that, Lucian seemed to realize something.

“Then… you are Lady Lepherian.”

“That’s right.”

I nodded calmly.

Lucian couldn’t hide his desolate expression any longer.

Actually, such a reaction was expected.

Elze Lepherian.

She was the lover of Marquis Offenheir and claimed to be the caretaker of Rose cross Boarding School in place of the Marquis.

My very existence was proof that this place was indeed Rose cross Boarding School.

“By the way, the fact that the Duke is here is a secret known only to a few in our boarding school.”

“That means…”

“The Duke has entered our boarding school as discreetly as possible.”

Ha.

Lucian held his forehead and let out a bitter laugh.

“Duke.”

I tried to say something to the disheartened Lucian, but…

“Don’t call me so casually.”

Lucian shot me a venomous glare with his hardened right eye.

Hmm, it seems like now is not the time for a conversation, right?

But he doesn’t seem physically unwell, at least based on appearances.

After quickly examining Lucian from top to bottom, I lightly nodded.

“I’ll leave for now.”

“…”

“Just one thing, please understand.”

I concluded calmly.

“I am on your side.”

Upon hearing those words, Lucian’s angry expression was replaced with a stunned gaze.

“Well then, rest well.”

After giving Lucian a smile,

I left the solitary confinement cell.

* * *

‘I am on your side.’

I pondered over the words I had said to Lucian as I walked slowly through the corridor.

Well, I do have plans to manipulate and control Lucian as I please in the future.

However, that statement was sincere and completely truthful.

Because…

‘Lucian is the most important person for me to escape from the boarding school.’

Dante fundamentally wants this golden goose, the boarding school, to run quietly and safely.

That’s why he has meticulously prepared numerous safeguards within the boarding school.

An ordinary person cannot penetrate those safeguards.

Well, someone like me, that is.

However, that statement implies that someone with the protagonist buff like Lucian can eventually break through those safeguards.

That’s why I needed Lucian.

To form a good relationship with him and escape together when he eventually breaks free.

That was my plan.

…Of course, because Lucian is the male protagonist who will eventually tear me apart, I also need to show myself in a favorable light.

So the position I chose was…

‘To be the only collaborator willing to help Lucian.’

But right at that moment…

“Ms. Elze!”

A voice filled with hostility sharply called out to me.

I narrowed my eyes and turned around.

A middle-aged man with a snake-like ominous impression was staring at me with fierce eyes.

Victor.

Like me, he holds the position of caretaker, a position unique to the boarding school.

And as a character from “Trampled Flowers,” he particularly dislikes the “villainess Elze.”

Approaching me with heavy steps, the man growled as if threatening me.

“Could you please stay quiet for just one day? How dare you meet Duke Kalleid without my permission!”

…Look at this, can you believe it?