I'm a Villainess, Can I Die?-Chapter 119

"Just... in case you didn’t have anything to wear. I figured we should prepare ahead of time.”

I stirred the teacup with the spoon in my hand. The red tint that had settled at the bottom swirled up in a spiral.

I watched the teacup slowly fill with the colors of sunset before setting the spoon down. Even after I’d stopped, the tea inside kept spinning furiously.

“I wanted to be the one to get it for you.”

“...Why do you always want to give me something?”

Says the pot to the kettle.

“Good question. Why do you?”

Aiden didn’t answer, and neither did I. We drank our tea in silence. Maybe I’d added too much sugar—it was annoyingly sweet.

It had been a while since I picked up a brush.

There are days like this, sometimes. When you want to paint a night sky full of stars, or a field of flowers in full bloom.

Today was the latter.

My mind had been such a mess lately that I’d been neglecting my hobbies. It felt awkward holding a brush again.

Great. The one passable hobby I had, and I’m back to square one.

I dabbed paint onto a palette and faced the white canvas. Sitting quietly like that, staring at a blank page, always felt like facing a world that hadn’t been created yet.

And I... would slowly, carefully fill it in.

By the time I was done, I’d painted a flower field overflowing with white baby’s breath. Dotted here and there with white lilies. Lying down in a place like that, the scent alone would knock you out.

When I finished the piece, I set the tools in their place and stood up.

Neck, wrist, fingers, knees... everything ached. Like my joints were competing over which one could complain the loudest.

A competition I’d very much like to opt out of.

“Ah.”

As I stretched, I saw smears of paint all over my hands and arms.

I swear I’m always careful. And yet, somehow, I end up like this.

“Jane, could you run a bath for me?”

Jane, who’d been steadily knitting in the background while I painted, nodded and got up.

I stood as well and gave the painting one last look before taking off my apron without hesitation.

When I turned around, Aiden was still sitting there.

He stared at the painting for a moment, then looked up at my face. His shoulders twitched, and he let out a quiet chuckle.

What was that supposed to mean?

I turned and glanced out the window.

The sky was already dark. I must’ve started painting after dinner—somehow, it was already night.

I hadn’t noticed the time. I’d accidentally forced both Jane and Aiden into unpaid overtime.

I’ll have to give them a bonus later. I hated overtime. Being made to work past hours was the worst—no time for the hospital, constant anxiety about the office. But the past is the past. No need to dig too deep.

“I’m going to wash up and sleep now, Aiden.

Sorry for keeping you so late. Go rest.”

When I said it softly, Aiden nodded.

There wasn’t the slightest trace of fatigue in the gentle smile on his face.

“This was my first time watching you paint, my lady.”

“Oh, was it?”

Now that I thought about it, I had told him painting was one of my hobbies, but he’d never seen it firsthand.

When I acknowledged it, Aiden slowly stood up.

“It was a pleasure to watch. I didn’t even notice night had fallen. Then, I’ll take my leave. Sleep well.”

He smiled again, bowed lightly, and his golden hair shimmered under the light.

I watched him until he turned and exited the room. Just as he crossed the threshold, he looked back at me.

Like a big dog waiting for one last cue.

His green eyes stared gently, and I remembered—what he was waiting for.

“Good night, Aiden.”

Only then did he close the door.

I stood in a daze, staring at the shut door, and fiddled with my fingers.

I don’t know. It just... felt a little itchy inside.

While I stood there wiggling my fingers like some caught-in-the-act fool, Jane stepped out of the bathroom.

Startled, I looked at her.

Her hands and feet were damp—she must’ve been checking the bathwater.

“Jane, you can go now. Sorry I kept you so long today.”

She wiped her hands on a towel and gave me a faint smile. A clear, bright smile with no trace of resentment.

“I don’t mind. I got to knit in peace. And the bathwater’s not all the way ready yet.”

“It’s fine. I’ll finish it myself. I can turn a faucet, you know.”

She glanced toward the bathroom, clearly unsure. When our eyes met for the third time and I gave her a firm nod, she finally relented and left the room.

Once I was alone, I headed straight to the bathroom.

I turned off the tap as warm water poured into the tub and hung the towel nearby.

Honestly, if I had to name one thing I liked about this world, it would be the magic.

Especially the practical kind. Sure, it’s expensive... but convenience always costs money.

That’s just how the world works. No matter where you go. What a filthy world.

The running hot water, the purification channels—they were all products of magic engineering.

If it weren’t for those, adapting to this world would’ve been so much harder.

As I sat in the tub, letting the warmth seep into my skin, I found myself appreciating bathtubs, faucets, and mages alike.

A hot bath like this makes you forget about all the fatigue of the day.

“...Whew.”

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

I let out a deep sigh, slowly opening and closing my eyes. Through the rising steam, a familiar face floated to mind.

I buried my face in my open hands. Then I dunked my head into the water.

One, two, three...

Just when my lungs started to burn and my face turned hot, I shot back up.

“Pwah.”

Get it together, Selina.

I’d probably been in the tub for twenty minutes now. Time to get out, or I’d start going loopy.

Although, mentally, I already was a little loopy.

Dazed. Itchy. Fuzzy. Yeah. That about sums it up.

I splashed some water over my shoulders. Did it a few more times, and then—

“...A mole?”

There was a mark near my left breast I hadn’t noticed before.

Had it always been there?

Leaning in, I saw that it was an odd shape—more like an oval.

When had that shown up? I rubbed at it with my thumb, then stood up.

Ugh. I’d stayed in too long. My head was spinning.

“I told you I can bathe myself.”

“But, my lady... today is the day of the party...”

Jane looked like she was about to cry, clutching the scented oil in her hand.

What a dramatic little thing. Knowing her sniffles weren’t real, I shook my head firmly.

“It’s just a light party. You know I don’t like people bathing me. For grand events, I’ll let you do it without complaint. But today, I’ll take care of it.”

After that, Jane gave up.

She glanced at the bathroom, back at me, then handed me the oil like a defeated puppy.

“Good girl.”

“I’m not. I’m just a poor lower-class citizen bowing to power.”

Wow.

What a metaphor.

Or maybe not a metaphor at all. Maybe just the truth.

Either way, I was pretty sure no other maid in the world would pout about not getting to bathe their master.

I shrugged and headed to the bathroom.

After washing up alone, getting ready went quickly. It was a light party, and a simple dress was all that was needed.

“What about earrings and a necklace?”

I glanced at the jewelry box, then looked into the mirror. ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) The dress was plain enough that a bit of jewelry wouldn’t hurt.

“Earrings... those pearls. As for a necklace...”

I reached up and ran my fingers along my bare neck, stared at the empty space in the mirror, and shook my head.

“No necklace.”

I pretended like it didn’t matter, but the memories were vivid.

The cold stone I felt the moment I woke up. That eerie voice. The red glowing eyes. The slender fingers around my throat.

This chapter is updated by freēwēbnovel.com.

Every part of it was still crystal clear.

Especially the pain of being choked.

I probably wouldn’t be able to wear necklaces for a while. I glanced at one, then rubbed the ring on my pinky.

The green gemstone embedded in that magic ring no longer functioned, but it made me feel safer, so I kept it on.

When I touched it, I remembered the warm wind that had caught me from behind.

It calmed me down, strangely. I didn’t know why.

Maybe because that was the day Aiden came to save me.

Once I finished dressing, I checked my appearance one last time when—knock knock. A brief knock at the door.

“Come in,” I said, and Aiden entered.

He was in full dress uniform, and the moment Jane saw him, she gasped.

“Oh, oh—my! It suits you so well!”

Aiden responded calmly with a polite thanks, but his ears turned red.

Cute, honestly.

Watching those two clownish puppies made me smile as I slowly stood up.

“Shall we go, my lady?”

Aiden reached his hand toward me as I stood. I rested mine lightly atop his and stepped out into the hall.

He really does look good...

Jane’s voice followed us all the way down the corridor.

“...It feels strange.”

“What does?”

Aiden spoke stiffly as we walked. I replied casually, and he glanced quickly at me, then looked away.

“For every party before this, Sir Lukas was your escort.”

“Oh, right. That’s true.”

Though this wasn’t really a party that needed an escort.

Still, I didn’t say that. Didn’t want to.

There were several paths to the banquet hall, but most people were taking the main road.

Aiden and I chose a quieter path through the garden.

It was peaceful. The only sounds were faint echoes of the party in the distance.

Early winter air chilled my cheeks. I had a shawl around my shoulders, but the breeze that brushed my arms made me shiver slightly.

“Are you cold?”

“A little.”

The moment I said it, Aiden stopped in his tracks. He unfastened his coat, then carefully draped it over my shoulders, warm from his body.

I looked at him, startled.

He adjusted the coat over me with a serious expression, then smiled, satisfied.

What on earth was so satisfying?

But before I could even ask, a smile slipped onto my lips too.

Ever since the subjugation ended, I’d been smiling a lot more. It surprised me, honestly—how often I smiled.

Just then, from behind us, a voice called my name.