The Villainess was Loved

Chapter Forty-Five: The Raven that Lost Its Wings

There was barely a scream in the hall, but the worried look on Étienne’s face as he retracted up the stairs gave me the encouragement I needed.

The flowers blooming in the hall grew larger, making their purple emissions more visible, but that didn’t matter.

“Oh gods of salvation, clear the path for the righteous-,”

Regina’s voice rang as she cast a divine spell.

However, before she could finish, the potted fern next to her coiled its leaves to her mouth.

Seeing this, Étienne clamoured up the steps in desperation, but there is nowhere my power cannot reach in such a rich environment.

The boutonniere* on his white suit expanded, the clipped flowers extending their stems to encompass his entire body, squeezing until he could no longer breathe.

“Étienne!!”

Regina screamed as she tried to fight off the fern.

‘I guess the effects of the skullcap can’t be felt by those with divine energy.’

My gaze turned to the Emperor and Queen, but they were passed out like most of the population.

Which begged the question, where the hell did Étienne get his divine mana.

I had little time to ponder this as dizziness claimed me as once again I was presented with the glorious view of my own headless body splurting blood haphazardly over the silver of my gown.

This time it wasn’t the system that cut my tantrum short, but two imperial knights with stern faces.

‘Right…there still exist more powerful beings who are neither nobility nor leads…’

Drowning in my own thoughts, I had forgotten that.

Still, rather than displeased…disheartened that the game made it clear my role was only to die infinite deathless deaths with no reprieve, I felt exhausted.

Suddenly…the task of giving birth to escape this reality felt sensible…doable even.

My chest, if it were still attached to me, would it ache anymore…or has it shattered beyond repair?

I hope the latter.

I hope I never have to pick its flimsy pieces again.

They clearly were not written to stay in place…this must be the consequence of my disobedience.

*

*

*

“Better than Elora, whoever heard of a princess succeeding the throne.”

“Women don’t lead. The results of this race have already been decided.”

“I wonder why they decided to do it this way.”

…

This time, rather than wait for Étienne’s expression, I turned to the door.

“I believe that th-through it all, true love always prevails, that is why I will not give up on you...on us!”

Those were the last words I heard said in Étienne’s shaky voice as though his death by my hand twice in the span of a night did little to his confidence.

I took my coat from the gentleman and walked out into the wet but warm night.

It wasn’t raining anymore but-

*Ding*

{THE HOST IS NOT PERMITTED TO KILL A LEAD CHARACTER.}

‘Hmm…?’

‘Quieter than before…’

{CALCULATING PUNISHMENT…}

‘Punishment?’

My mind flashed to the paralysis I experienced in my dorm room.

‘Crap!’

Fainting like that in my room is different than-

I grabbed my dress and hurried down the wet and slippery steps.

Gods, but could this be how Cinderella felt?

No…her magical night differs horribly from mine.

{NEW SAVE FORCEFULLY CREATED}

{CONGRATULATIONS ON UNLOCKING A NEW CHECKPOINT.}

{FOURTY EIGHT (48) HOURS OF TOTAL BODY PARALYSIS, SEVEN (7) DAYS OF REDUCED MANA AND EIGHTEEN (18) MONTHS LOSS OF THE ‘SAVE’ REWARD.}

‘Wai- wait! No! That's unfair!’

If I die before eighteen months, I return to this moment?!

‘Will…will I face the consequences again?’

‘Screw consequences! What if Étienne follows me?’

‘That psycho will practically use the forty-eight hours to-,’

‘No, this isn’t the time!’

I tried to up my speed, but the heels I had on did me no favours.

I was almost to the bottom when the numbness radiating through my arms seeped into my feet. I lost my footing.

The ground was too far to imagine a non-bloodied landing, so I instinctively shut my eyes.

I wish I hadn't.

By the time I thought otherwise, I could no longer open them.

‘F*ck!’

‘F*ck!!’

‘F*ck it all to high heaven! If Étienne finds my body, I am as good as imprisoned.’

‘Forty-eight hours??!! F*ck.’

*

*

*

Rheyes Kerhid Novig Yarez

“So, where is he now?”

“Who? Killian? The second and third prince were not permitted by the Empress to attend the ceremony.”

“Oh…mother dearest is so hard on them.”

“That reminds me, The first princess said, and I quote, ‘Tell that jackass to get his head out of his ass and focus!’”

“What?”

Stanley sucked in a sharp breath at Rheyes’s expression.

“I- I said I quote, right? I swear I did!!”

“We’ve been together too long; you keep overexerting your boundaries.”

“Don’t say that, your highness, I can hear you.”

Rheyes was used to Stanley’s nonsense; Elora, on the other hand, grew more nightmarish by the day.

Since Étienne’s engagement to Regina, the political views shifted dramatically from, ‘Perhaps a woman can lead’ to ‘God has spoken.’

This led her to force him to ‘scout the supporters of Étienne’.

The event was a headache all on its own, especially seeking such a favour based on their past friendship.

‘Annoying…’

The scent of sour amarena cherries minced into cold cream assaulted his nostrils.

Before he could process its reminiscent taste, shimmering raven coloured hair with a greenish glaze filled his view.

The woman’s eyes were closed, in the process of falling down several hard steps.

Usually, he left Stanley to handle the women forcing themselves to tumble before him, but before he could make sense of anything, he stretched his arms wide towards her.

She did not so much as let out a sound when she landed hard against his chest.

‘Hmm…how off-putting.’

The woman’s skin was cold, but her coat was clasped tightly in her hands rather than placed on her shoulders for the much-needed warmth.

“Hey, start the carriage.”

He commanded, lifting the limp mass in his arms to carry her as one would a princess, or rather one they adored.

“What, why?”

“Her pulse is slowing rapidly.”

“Poison?”

“Could be, either way, we have an excuse to ditch this thing.”

“Do you know who she is?”

“I have an idea.”

This answer was enough for Stanly to nod and dash in the direction they were from.

There was no doubt about it; the woman in his arms was the adventurer A, more formally known, Countess Arusei Evergreen.

The woman who rejected the fourth prince, shattered his self-image and stole the queen's efforts in securing a birthright that was never his...but all that paled in his mind because, to him, she was simply the woman who, not too long ago, stole his prey.

‘Hah! This night is surprisingly looking up.’