She is the Daughter of the Villainess in a Ridiculous Novel - Chapter 97
After rushing into Vilred’s room and confirming it, Melisa’s potion was indeed a shape-shifting magic potion. Of course, the potion did not turn Melisa into a biologically female person.
‘Vilred said it was similar to how he transforms his appearance, but a more efficient method.’
He said it was a method only possible if one was confident in the purity of their magic, but I don’t know exactly what that means.
What I remember is that he was happy, saying that his own magical burden would be much reduced from now on, and…
‘Milady, since all magic imitates nature, it has a circulatory system. Magic potions are no exception.’
‘What are you trying to say?’
‘That this potion isn’t just evidence but could also become our weapon? We can create a customized potion. A customized potion to return Melisa to her original appearance.’
It was the possibility of acquiring another weapon.
‘…It’s almost over now.’
All that remained was to wait for Melisa to reveal exactly what she would request and the news Count Bright would bring from the temple.
Idel unconsciously clenched her hands as she recalled the days she had been preparing, from the events six months ago until now.
As the silence continued, the Duchess, who had been easily and meticulously explaining the designs sent from the dress shop, closed her mouth and looked up.
On the surface, Idel merely seemed to be deeply pondering which design would be best. Her eyes hadn’t left the designs, and her lips were tightly sealed.
However, Rowena quickly realized that she was thinking about something other than the clothes.
‘Well, Idel sometimes gets lost in her own thoughts like this.’
This was a fact discovered not just by her, but also by her husband, Vincent.
Since the day they vowed to truly become a family with Idel, the two of them had diligently learned everything about the child.
‘What on earth is going on in that little head?’
Judging by the determined expression she always adopted, it must undoubtedly be a very serious and important matter.
‘I wish she would share her worries with us, if possible.’
The disappointment that was briefly hanging on Rowena’s lips lingered and then vanished.
She didn’t know what the child was thinking, but time would eventually resolve everything.
Just like the child who had kept her distance now allowed her into her room.
Having gathered her thoughts, Rowena called Idel’s name in a gentle voice.
“Idel?”
“Ah.”
Only then did Idel snap out of her thoughts, lightly shake her head, and blink.
“Navy blue… you said navy blue might be a pity because it’s too dark?”
That was a story from more than ten minutes ago. However, the child, who was wide-eyed as if she had been listening well, was so cute that Rowena decided to just nod instead of correcting her.
“Yes. Our youngest has very lovely red hair, so I thought it might be better to wear brighter clothes than navy blue.”
“…Hmph, I don’t really like this distinct red color. Isn’t Gianna’s hair color brighter and prettier?”
“Gianna is beautiful like the morning sun, and our Idel is lovely like the red sunset. Both of you sparkle like the sun.”
Rowena answered Idel’s complaint with a voice full of laughter.
Idel rolled her eyes as if she didn’t care about the Duchess’s words and then abruptly spoke.
“So, until when do I have to choose the design?”
“Hmm, preparations are finished so that whatever you choose can be made right away, but your birthday is right around the corner, isn’t it, Idel? Considering the time to receive it in advance and try it on… as quickly as possible?”
Right around the corner…
Idel unconsciously swallowed hard after hearing Rowena’s words. It was the moment she had dreamed of ever since the day she entered the Duke’s residence holding Melisa’s hand.
‘To be free from Melisa’s curse, prevent the Duke’s death, and then leave this place to return to a commoner’s status.’
Thinking that, Idel pressed her lips shut for a moment and slowly blinked. She slowly rolled her eyes to look where the Duchess was talking to Diane.
It seemed she wanted to confirm the dress shop’s schedule more definitely.
‘A normal daily life away from the original story.’
It was a phrase she had clearly repeated many times. But thinking that this fantasy was about to become her reality, somehow…
‘My mouth feels strangely bitter.’
As if she were a person who actually wanted to stay here.
She shuddered at the thought and quickly dismissed it.
‘…Seriously, what nonsense is it that I want to stay in this place full of dramatic elements? Besides, these people and I aren’t real family.’
Not even a drop of blood is shared.
‘Let’s stop with these useless thoughts. It’s ridiculous to get ahead of myself already, anyway.’
Her birthday hadn’t come yet, and Melisa was still alive and well. Worrying about such useless matters wouldn’t be too late after she was free from Melisa.
‘Probably.’
With that final thought, Idel decided to focus on the task at hand.
“I’ve chosen. I’ll go with this pink dress.”
“Then the date is… Huh? Already?”
“Yes.”
“Oh dear, Idel. I wasn’t trying to rush you. You could look through them more carefully and choose the one you truly like…”
Seeing the somewhat downcast expression on the duchess’s face, Idel shrugged her shoulders.
“It’s fine. Thinking about it longer will only give me a headache. They say it’s best to choose the one that first catches your eye for things like this.”
“You mean to follow your intuition. Who did you hear such a wonderful phrase from?”
…My sibling in my past life.
Idel swallowed the truth and tilted her head, acting nonchalant as she opened her mouth.
“Count… Bright.”
“Ah, you heard it from Count Vivian. She is a wonderful person.”
Her cheerful agreement to Idel’s words was brief. Rowena, who pressed her bent index finger to her lips as if contemplating something, asked Idel again.
“By the way, what is it about Count Vivian that our Idel likes so much? It’s not often, but you consistently go to see them, don’t you? You follow their lead exceptionally well, too.”
“…We’re not ‘that’ close. Well, because she uses a sword… well?”
The Duchess, whose eyes widened at the excuse Idel made, lightly clapped her hands and spoke.
“That she could become close with Idel because she uses a sword well… that’s a shame. Hmm, should I try to learn the sword from now on?”
The duchess’s face looked quite serious as she said that. Idel glanced at her expression and opened her mouth petulantly. If she didn’t stop her now, she felt she might run into her at the training grounds from tomorrow morning.
“It’s fine. Not everyone has to use a sword to be strong.”
Although she said it to dissuade Rowena, it was sincere. A person’s strength isn’t determined only by their physical power.
‘The same reason I’m weak against someone like Gianna.’
Therefore, the Duke and Duchess, who raised Gianna to be a person with a strong heart, were bound to be strong people even without doing anything more.
Furthermore, according to her sibling’s book report, the Duchess, as it turned out, had a natural talent for magic, specifically enhancement magic. It’s just that she hadn’t needed to bloom that talent until before she returned after her ‘transformation.’
‘Hmm, if she combines that magical talent with swordsmanship, she might have no equal. Well, it would be best if she didn’t have to become so hardened.’
Idel wished that the kind and warm-spirited duchess in front of her would always stay as she was now.
There was no need to torment a person who lived kindly down to the absolute bottom and make them become spiteful.
While Idel was thinking that, Rowena was reflecting on the words Idel had just spoken. Those deep and thoughtful words.
“…Every time this happens, I wonder what it would have been like if we had talked sooner.”
“Pardon?”
“No, it’s nothing. We can share much more time together from now on.”
She smiled with an expression exactly like Gianna’s, checked the time, and let out a small gasp.
“Oh dear, look at me! I don’t have much time left until my appointment!”
“Ah.”
“I enjoyed the tea. And the conversation was pleasant, too. Sylvia will take care of it, but don’t skip your meal, and be sure to have dinner with Gianna. Understood?”
Instead of replying, Idel lightly nodded her head. The Duchess gave Idel a kind hug one last time and quickly left the room. It truly seemed like she didn’t have much time left until her appointment.
Around the time Idel wet her dry lips with the now-cold tea, the raven artifact she had momentarily set aside vibrated softly.
[Hey, why aren’t you answering? Are you ignoring my note because you feel guilty?]
