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Chapter 23
Reluctantly, he revealed his intentions to Anila.
“…She’s the woman I’ve been working on recently. I heard a rumor that the villainess has become kind, so I thought I’d try my luck and throw her a bait—and it actually worked.”
“Ah… I see.”
“So, what are you scheming? Like I said, I already had my eye on her! No matter how saintly she is, if she interferes, I won’t just stand by…”
“Is that so? No, it’s fine. How unusual. You actually helping me?”
However, instead of getting angry, Anila began to giggle.
Julian stared at her blankly, unable to understand.
Covering her mouth with her small hand, Anila’s laugh made her seem almost like a perfectly innocent child.
“The one I’m really after is the crown prince who’s engaged to that woman! Got it? The really handsome one.”
“So that means…”
“It means I’d be happy if you took her away! I hear she was forced into the engagement anyway. That guy acts all noble, but he’s actually pitiful.”
Of course, the words spilling from her translucent, pale lips were nothing but sly scheming.
Seeing Anila giggle at someone else’s misfortune sent a shiver down Julian’s spine.
He wasn’t exactly a person of scruples himself, but the saintly figure in front of him was clearly on another level.
“So I’ll personally save him. That’s what a saint should do.”
Anila declared this confidently to the speechless Julian, flipping her hair over her shoulder. Her aurora-colored hair sparkled like falling snow.
It was impossible to believe this was the same person who had just spoken of stealing someone else’s fiancé.
In a haughty tone only someone loved by the gods could display, she commanded Julian.
A faint divine light shimmered behind her, sacred yet somehow ominous.
“Let me join your plan, too. When exactly are you meeting that woman next?”
“No going out! Absolutely not!”
With a fierce voice, Anwen slammed his cane against the marble floor.
It was a firm refusal.
Though Anwen was known as a golem in human form for his almost emotionless demeanor, recently, his emotional expressions had become so abundant they overflowed—thanks to his proud daughter, Leriel Tenebris.
“How long has it been since I ordered extra confinement, and now you’re wandering outside? What if you pick up some strange ideas!”
“Father, I’ve told you many times! Julian hasn’t done anything wrong! I only became ‘kind’ because…”
“Enough!”
The moment the word kind left her lips, Anwen recoiled as if he’d heard some vulgar curse. He slammed his cane on the floor again, the echo so loud the nearby servants instinctively shrank their shoulders.
“Don’t speak nonsense! You’re only overwhelmed by this sudden engagement. This happens to brides-to-be all the time.”
“…”
“We’re looking for a highly reputed psychologist in the kingdom. Until then, your only task is to stay home.”
But Leriel did not budge. Her stubbornness was just as strong as ever.
Seeing her unwavering stance, Anwen almost lowered his guard—but the next words stopped him.
“My only task from now on is to perform good deeds.”
“Leriel, are you really—!”
“I regret what I did in the past. I can’t undo it, but shouldn’t I at least reflect?”
If she said more, she could be excommunicated. Leriel muttered the truth she couldn’t voice aloud, standing firmly.
Anwen clenched his mouth, shook his head, and realized nothing he said would reach her.
All he could think now was to find a therapist as soon as possible.
“Go back. There’s no more point in talking.”
And so, Leriel was chased out of the study. Ignoring the servants’ murmurs, she returned to her room and closed the door.
Once alone, she let out a deep sigh. Disappointing her parents was expected, but the timing was terrible.
“I never expected extra confinement. At this rate, I won’t even be able to participate in the expedition…”
Leaning against the wooden door, Leriel glanced at her desk. There lay a letter she had received three days ago.
The seal on the envelope bore the emblem of a white wing—it was from Julian.
Dear Leriel,
Congratulations once again on becoming a member of the White Wings. I’m already looking forward to the days of good deeds we will share. There’s an expedition service scheduled for a week from now.
It will be hard work, but all the more rewarding! I hope for a positive reply.
—Julian
Having read the familiar words multiple times, Leriel pursed her lips in frustration.
An expedition service.
It was completely different from small-scale domestic good deeds. It would be overseas, so the workload was enormous, and the service would last more than a day or two.
If foreign assistance was needed, it usually meant large-scale disasters like monster attacks or natural calamities—meaning even basic safety could not be guaranteed.
But that also meant it was a noble, highly respected good deed worth risking all those dangers.
“Look! The saint performed a miracle and returned!”
“Even those without connections receive her help—truly holy and merciful!”
In the original story, there was also an episode of Anila going on an expedition service. The crowds’ cheers for her return filled the streets. Of course, she had actually gone to avoid attention and meet the male lead, Ferric, but the point was that it was an excellent opportunity to leave a good impression.
“If I do this, even I, Leriel, who’s been a villainess for twenty years, could be called ‘kind’!”
Leriel clutched her dress in frustration. The expensive fabric wrinkled, but she didn’t care.
She paced the carpet, biting her deep red lips, deep in thought.
“I must somehow participate in this expedition. Is there any way?”
The best option would be to lift her confinement. But after seeing Anwen’s reaction, persuading him seemed nearly impossible. He recoiled at every word about kindness. Even saying she wanted to go out was met with refusal—asking to go on an expedition would be worse.
“I’ll just go without saying anything…”
A sudden impulse tempted her, but Leriel quickly reconsidered.
“Calm down, Leriel. Running off won’t solve anything.”
Sneaking out of the heavily guarded duke’s mansion would be as difficult as persuading Anwen. Even if she succeeded, getting to the expedition’s location was another problem.
“The expedition is… in the Kingdom of Mumatra, right?”
Even though it was a neighboring country, it was still foreign. There was no way to walk there. And as a princess stripped of her wealth and power, how could she even secure a carriage? Alone, it was impossible.
Still, as a princess, shouldn’t she have at least one connection who could help?
…But checking her memories, only enemies came to mind—befitting her reputation as a villainess.
The only familiar face who might help was Julian.
“Even if Julian helps, can he really get a carriage?”
Would the coachmen, knowing the villainous duke’s reputation, obey the requests of someone reduced to a mere commoner? She couldn’t be sure.
But one thing was certain: getting on the villainous duke’s bad side meant a life of suffering. No one would risk helping a villainess under such circumstances.
“…Except for one person.”
