Chapter 2: The Villainess Contract
* * *
“Are you sure you’ll be alright alone?”
Kaylon was thoroughly exhausted by Michel’s unusual restlessness. He’d been like this ever since Kaylon suddenly decided to travel to Turia.
It wasn’t as if he was walking straight into danger, yet Michel couldn’t take his eyes off him for a moment.
“Nothing’s going to happen.”
“But still. They’re carrying guns, aren’t they?”
“I have a gun too.”
“That’s not what I mean. You know very well that…”
“Michel Rogedale.”
Kaylon cut off Michel’s words. They say worry can become a sickness, and today it seemed particularly severe.
“Sigh, very well. Just please take care of yourself.”
“I will.”
“I’ll have the horses ready immediately. And if anything serious happens, make sure to send word first.”
Michel spoke his piece and left the room. Kaylon watched the back of his overly loyal subordinate, only allowing himself a slight smile after Michel had completely disappeared.
“Hard to tell who’s the superior here.”
A moment later, a bellboy entered with a knock. He offered polite and courteous greetings before gathering the minimal luggage and heading out.
After scanning the room one final time to confirm all traces of his presence were gone, Kaylon finally took his leave.
It was time to depart for Turia, where he expected the owner of the badge had gone.
* * *
The carriage, which had departed in the morning, reached Turia as the afternoon sun ripened.
Passing through the arched iron gates and along the forest path, Lyra couldn’t tear her eyes away from the scenery outside.
The small flowers blooming everywhere were beautiful, and the magnificently grown trees caught her eye. She couldn’t help but marvel at the perfectly maintained forest path.
‘Oh my!’
Her emerald eyes sparkled. Perhaps it was the cool breeze coming through the open window, but her heart kept fluttering.
“Be careful. You might hurt yourself.”
Sabrina, who had been quietly watching Lyra, offered a gentle reproach. She worried the girl might aggravate her wounds with such excitement.
Briefly furrowing then smoothing her brow, Sabrina whispered softly to Lyra, who was now sitting properly with flushed cheeks.
“The Count is quite a proper gentleman. Do you understand what I mean?”
“Yes.”
“Good. I’m glad you understand that much at least. It shows I haven’t taught you entirely in vain.”
Though there was a strange barb in the words, Lyra brushed it off. Despite recent changes, this demeanor suited Sabrina better.
“Ah, and another thing. Once you’re married, make sure to provide an heir first.”
“An… heir?”
The sudden instruction made Lyra’s face flush red. Even though marriage seemed a foregone conclusion, she couldn’t help the embarrassment that suddenly overwhelmed her.
“That’s your path to gaining favor. That’s what being a lady of the house means. Your treatment will depend on how strong and precious a son you can bear. Do you understand?”
“…Yes.”
“No, better yet, it would be good to conceive a son during the engagement. Given the Count’s age, it wouldn’t be rushing things at all. So when he calls for you, don’t think of refusing.”
At that moment, Lyra’s head tilted slightly.
‘Didn’t she just say he was a proper gentleman…?’
Besides, she’d heard that Count Almar was only in his late thirties, merely aged in appearance.
Not knowing until what age men could produce heirs, and unable to defy Sabrina’s orders, she could only nod in response.
By then, the carriage had stopped in front of an imposing mansion. Lyra stepped down amid the welcome of dozens of servants.
“Thank you for the invitation, Count.”
Entering the reception room, Sabrina greeted Count Almar, who bore a seasoned countenance, with proper courtesy. Lyra, fidgeting nervously beside her, followed suit with a curtsy.
“Ha ha. I should thank you for accepting. I was rather worried…”
“You’re too modest. Who would dare refuse the Count’s invitation? It’s simply an honor.”
“Is that so? Well then, let’s sit down.”
After the brief exchange of pleasantries, Count Almar led Sabrina and Lyra to their seats with a kindly expression. He wore a satisfied smile as he looked at Lyra.
Sabrina, observing Count Almar, took Lyra’s hands in hers as if handling something precious.
“This is my precious daughter. Every single thing she does is so lovely. You’ll soon see for yourself, Count. Lyra, greet the Count again.”
At Sabrina’s words, Lyra awkwardly rose from her seat.
“I-I’m Lyra Norris. Th-thank you for the in-invitation.”
Sabrina’s face crumpled like paper at the overly stiff pronunciation and gestures. To think she couldn’t even manage a proper greeting. How embarrassing.
However, unable to make a scene in front of Count Almar, she merely turned her head away with an awkward smile.
“Hmm, you have a very beautiful daughter.”
Should this be considered fortunate? Count Almar kept his gaze fixed solely on Lyra’s face. Secretly relieved, Sabrina attempted to engage the Count in proper conversation.
Having struggled to bring her this far, all that remained was to sell her. And preferably for far above her worth.
“Do you like what you see? As you can see, she’s a daughter I’ve raised with great care. Obedience is in her nature.”
“Hmm…”
Though a smile graced his lips, his sharp gaze, its true intentions unreadable, carefully examined Lyra from head to toe.
Lyra endured the suffocating atmosphere while keeping her eyes fixed on her fingertips. Unable to shake her worry about how she appeared, her tension wouldn’t subside.
When she unconsciously shrank into herself, Sabrina gently wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Just as the kind and soft gesture began to ease her tension, an affected voice captured her ears.
“You needn’t worry about her virginity. This child knows nothing of men. Ah, but since she’ll soon be yours, you can teach her according to your preferences.”
The fingers gently stroking her shoulder suddenly dug in. Though Lyra doubted her ears for a moment, the pain pressing into her skin quickly scattered her thoughts.
She stared blankly at Sabrina, who was offering praise she’d never heard before, while breathing in the unusually strong scent of roses.
The words piercing her ears felt strange and unfamiliar.
“That’s enough. The lady appears to need rest.”
Count Almar, who had been quietly listening until now, stopped the seemingly excited Sabrina.
As Lyra let out a relieved breath, the Count laughed heartily.
Confused, Lyra looked back and forth between the Count and Sabrina. Sabrina’s face wore the same round smile as the Count’s.
“You may go now. The rest is adults’ business.”
A gentle hand lightly pushed against Lyra’s back. Feeling a warm sense of liberation, she followed a middle-aged woman who had entered at their summons outside.
* * *
Her steps through the garden were slow. Having left the mansion, Lyra walked aimlessly, without choosing a direction.
‘Something’s strange.’
Her heart grew increasingly unsettled, as if something were amiss, but she found it difficult to pinpoint why. Everything just felt unfamiliar, and she wondered if this was simply how marriage proceedings normally went.
Lyra revisited the events in the reception room.
That particularly scrutinizing gaze, the exaggerated explanations and gestures, as if presenting something well-packaged.
‘I felt just like merchandise.’
“Ah…”
A small sigh escaped her lips. She finally understood why her mood had sunk so low.
“I see…”
She had felt insulted. This wasn’t merely because of the Count’s appearance, which looked older than expected, nor just because of Sabrina’s stream of ill-fitting praise.
‘I actually thought I’d become a real daughter for a moment…’
What was the right word for this feeling? Betrayal?
“…”
She’d endured far worse countless times before, but was it really okay to feel this way?
She didn’t know. Not knowing made everything feel strange and difficult.
“You needn’t worry about her virginity. This child knows nothing of men.”
Suddenly remembering words she hadn’t fully processed earlier, her face grew hot. The red lips that had proudly uttered those words and the satisfied low laugh that followed continued to echo in her ears.
What did virginity have to do with bearing children? But this too was part of a world unknown to her, so the thought didn’t linger long. Even with all she’d learned by listening in, there was still so much she didn’t understand.
Just then, voices came from nearby. Judging by the tak, tak sounds of branches being cut, they must be gardeners.
Lyra quietly turned around. She had somehow strayed quite far from the mansion and needed to return before someone came looking for her. However, she stopped after a few steps when she caught what seemed to be a mention of herself.
Slightly curious, Lyra carefully moved to hide herself among the shrubs.
“Such a shame, isn’t it? She was quite a pretty young lady.”
“You’re quick. Have you already seen her face?”
“Of course. Everyone who needed to see has probably seen her by now.”
“Really? Must not have had much work to do, eh?”
The men trimming the boxwood into neat shapes continued chattering, unaware that someone was eavesdropping.
“Well, what can you do? They say he’s particular in his tastes, only wanting pure virgins. So don’t get too attached to someone who’ll die soon.”
Lyra’s shoulders suddenly trembled.
‘Did I hear wrong?’
A word completely incongruous with the situation tumbled through her mind.
“True enough. We’ll be lucky if she even makes it through the wedding night.”
Though the conversation continued, a cold sensation crawling up her spine prevented her from hearing anything more.
Her unconsciously turned gaze fell upon the mansion. The white, beautiful mansion suddenly seemed bathed in red.
Lyra collapsed where she stood. Her legs trembled so badly she couldn’t possibly remain standing.
Hidden among the shrubs, she was now invisible to everyone’s eyes. Except, perhaps, for anyone watching from high up in the mansion.
She couldn’t rise again until long after the gardeners had left.
* * *
The noblewoman led Lyra, who had just returned to the mansion, to a specific location. It was to conduct a virginity test, as per the Count’s immediate orders.
“You can remove your undergarments over there.”
The emotionless voice urged Lyra, who was hesitating and only stealing glances. Still, she couldn’t bring herself to move.
“Um… Madam.”
“It’s Madam Jansen.”
“Oh… yes. M-Madam Jansen.”
“Go on.”
“I… taking off my clothes right now…”
Lyra cautiously studied Madam Jansen’s expression. Usually, when she spoke like this, people would cut her off. But Madam Jansen simply stared at her silently, as if telling her to continue.
“Well… I’m having my… monthly…”
Lyra’s voice grew increasingly inaudible as she spoke, caused by the slight twitch of Madam Jansen’s eyebrow.
Determined to somehow avoid this situation, Lyra summoned every ounce of courage she had, both real and imagined.
Even though they were both women, the thought of showing her intimate parts to a stranger was unspeakably embarrassing.
That wasn’t all. Not knowing how a virginity test was conducted, her mind kept conjuring up bizarre and terrifying scenarios.
Lyra squeezed her eyes shut and exclaimed, “The day after tomorrow!”
Then, with a quiet sigh, Madam Jansen spoke.
“Very well. I will inform the Count. There will be a banquet soon, so please return to your room and rest. Someone will come to escort you when it’s time.”
After finishing, Madam Jansen gestured to a nearby maid.
Having experienced heaven and hell in mere moments, Lyra quietly sighed in relief as she followed the young maid who led the way.
The relief of overcoming one hurdle was short-lived. Once in the guest bedroom, Lyra couldn’t sit still. Now alone, her mind was inevitably dominated by the words she’d heard in the garden.
‘I’m… destined to die?’
“Why?”
Why would they say such horrible things?
