She is the Daughter of the Villainess in a Ridiculous Novel - Chapter 113

“The abandoned orphanage… Ah, you mean the place where we obtained the materials regarding Nox.”

Vivian immediately understood what Idel meant and tilted her head slightly.

“Didn’t you get all the data you wanted back then? I assumed you did, since you haven’t looked for it since.”

“That’s right. I also thought there would be no reason to go back.”

That implied a “new” reason to visit had recently surfaced. Before Vivian could ask why, Dante, who had been watching the situation silently, raised his hand and spoke.

“Idel, does that orphanage have something to do with me? You mentioned that seeing me reminded you of it.”

“With the Young Lord?”

Idel nodded lightly at the confusion in Vivian’s voice.

“In a way, yes. It’s related to you too, Dante. Because the reason I’m looking for the orphanage is Patrick.”

“Patrick…”

“His behavior at the banquet was simply too suspicious.”

Idel counted on her fingers as she pointed out the dubious actions he had shown her.

The way he had hoped she wouldn’t step forward, the clue he dropped about hiding away for a while after taking care of Melissa, and above all…

“The fact that he emphasized the rabbit he was wearing on his wrist to me.”

“A rabbit?”

Unlike the three who looked completely clueless, a low gasp escaped the duchess’s lips.

“Ah…! You mean that rabbit ornament that was dangling from his wrist. I didn’t see it in detail, but he was definitely wearing something like that. But what does that have to do with the orphanage?”

“Patrick asked me if I knew that ‘rabbits dig multiple burrows’ and gave me a clue about the orphanage. At first, I thought it couldn’t be true, but……”

Idel trailed off, but everyone understood what she was trying to say.

This was the result of the deep conversation the duchess had shared with Count Bright while the child was asleep.

The Duchess nodded in understanding and summarized Idel’s point once more.

“In other words, Idel, you believe Sir Patrick has a different intention.”

“Yes.”

“However, young lady. Even that could be a trap.”

Vivian, who had been listening to the conversation between the duchess and Idel, naturally stepped in to challenge Idel’s assertion.

It was a valid point.

If, contrary to Idel’s reasoning, the “rabbit hole” had been dug by ‘Nox,’ then the abandoned orphanage would be nothing more than a snare.

Rubbing her chin out of habit, Vivian looked at Idel with a serious expression.

“Though they mentioned needing to hide for a while because the situation has escalated, Nox has essentially revealed its identity to the nobility starting with your debut stage. This means they’ve changed their long-standing policy.”

To put it another way, Nox’s actions in front of Idel were a declaration. A declaration that they would not only move secretly beneath the surface but would also show themselves and use force whenever necessary.

Vivian’s sea-like eyes wavered deeply.

“Now that the risk of Nox taking action has increased, I want you to act conservatively from now on.”

“……”

“I am saying this for your safety above all else.”

Idel realized that Vivian’s words didn’t just refer to the visit to the orphanage.

‘She’s talking about everything related to chasing Nox, including Little Veil.’

More precisely, as an adult, Vivian was making a request of the young girl. She was asking Idel to let them step in and resolve the issues now that her constraints were gone.

Because that was what an ‘adult’ was supposed to do.

‘Honestly, Count Bright is a hundred times right. Until recently, I planned to do exactly that.’

Originally, hadn’t she even planned on leaving this place once she was free from Melissa? Leaving all the aftermath to them.

‘But is there anything in this world that ever goes exactly according to plan?’

The version of her that would have readily agreed to Vivian’s words was already gone. Specifically, from the moment she chose Sigmund instead of ending Melissa.

‘…Besides, they just said we’re family now, didn’t they?’

Idel knew exactly what kind of person Melisa was. It was something she had realized while struggling to escape the curse, but she also knew the facets of his character from the original story, glimpsed through her younger sibling’s book review.

‘In the original story, Melisa ultimately drove the Duchess—who rejected him until the end—to her death.’

Like the saying goes: if I can’t have it, I’ll destroy it.

‘So, even though I’ve taken double and triple precautions, he’ll show his face again someday.’

Finishing her train of thought, Idel blinked slowly and tilted her head. Her lips parted as she wore a naturally sharp, cool expression.

“The day I left the materials from the orphanage with you, I said something at your manor, didn’t I, Count?”

“Hm?”

“That I had no intention or desire to fight against the darkness for the sake of the Empire’s future.”

“…Yes, I remember.”

“I added one condition back then. I said that if the bug I was trying to catch happened to crawl into a nest and wouldn’t come out, I’d have no choice but to take on the entire nest.”

“Are you trying to say that this is that situation?”

Idel shook her head. Then, with a mischievous smile playing on her lips, she lifted her chin defiantly.

“No. I woke up and realized that I was actually letting that bug go—letting it return to its nest. Because I’ve decided I want to stop that nest from touching my people.”

“Sigh, Young Lady…”

“Count. Do you know the characteristics of the ‘rumored second child of the Clementine family’?”

Vivian narrowed her eyes at Idel’s words. Looking at the count, who was now clutching her forehead as if a headache were coming on, Idel gave a sly shrug.

“Capriciousness, shamelessness, and defiance. What can you do? Since you’ve accepted me, you’ll just have to deal with it.”

“Pfft…! Ahaha!”

Hearing Idel, the duchess burst into laughter involuntarily before catching herself in surprise.

“Ahem! Oh, dear. Sorry, Vivian. I wasn’t treating your words lightly. It’s just that this side of Idel is so new to me…”

Vivian shook her head lightly, reassuring Rowena as she scrambled to smooth things over.

“…It’s quite alright, Rowena. Honestly, I nearly laughed myself.”

Vivian let out a short sigh as she confessed her true feelings. It was a sigh of resignation.

Just as the heavy atmosphere began to lift, Dante—who had been silent for quite a while alongside Gianna—rejoined the conversation.

“Idel, I’m sorry, but may I ask one thing? That mark on Patrick’s body—is that definitely the crest of Nox?”

“Hm? Why do you ask?”

“If it is… then I believe there is no harm in visiting that abandoned orphanage.”

At Dante’s serious tone, Idel and Vivian briefly exchanged glances.

Regardless of their look, Dante chose his words with deliberate care before speaking again.

“I am not saying this to shield him just because he is like family to me. It is because there are points that simply do not make sense if Patrick truly is a member of Nox.”

“What doesn’t make sense?”

“First of all, Patrick has had that mark on his body for as long as I can remember, and he has never once hidden it from me or anyone else.”

“Well… couldn’t that be because he was confident no one would recognize what it was?”

“Yes, perhaps. But since I was a child, Patrick pointed out that mark to me and gave me a warning. He told me that anyone bearing that symbol is dangerous—so if I ever meet such a person, I should run away immediately.”

As Idel tilted her head in thought at Dante’s words, Gianna, standing beside him, nodded vigorously and added her own piece.

“I heard something similar recently! That’s why I was so shocked when they said he was on the same side as those people.”

“But even that could be……”

“Yes, Idel, you’re right. This alone isn’t enough. However, while retracing my memories, another fragment came to mind.”

“What is it?”

“Shortly after my mother’s funeral, Patrick grabbed me and pointed to the mark. I expected him to tell me to be careful, as he always did, but it was different that day.”

He paused for a moment, took a short breath, and looked Idel straight in the eye.

“Patrick held my shoulders then, and with a hollow look in his eyes I had never seen before, he said:”

‘…My nephew… no, Dante. If you ever see anyone around you with this mark, will you tell me? Day, night, or at dawn—it doesn’t matter when. Just… please.’