Episode 16: My Hero is Out of Proportion! (3)

I feel conflicted. I had to somehow get Lynette to be disgusted with me right now. It was much better to end this as early as now rather than being cursed.

What should I do? Should I pick my nose or something? What should I pretend that there’s something stuck in my teeth? No, I need something more specific…

I suddenly remembered the frame in my hand. Of course! There was nothing more better than this!

“Then I’ll draw a picture for you! For your information, this is my drawing skill!”

I pushed the frame into Lynette’s face. Lynette’s eyes widened.

“Oh, my.”

Lynette observed my drawing very slowly and with a cautious face and gave a speech.

“Hm.., what does this picture mean? Is this a primitive human being who climbed up a tree to pick bananas, but rolled down, hit his head against a rock, and tinged off the rebound, and fell down a cliff? Is that right?”

“Ah, well… “

Is it really that bad?

“I’m kidding. This is Ash, isn’t it?”

This villain sister is quick-witted.

“That’s right.”

“And you mean you’re going to draw me like this?”

I nodded.

“… Anastasia, do you know what I hate the most? Ugly, unpleasant, dirty, embarrassing, and insulting my beauty.”

I was nervous and waited for words to follow.

Now you’re going to say that you’re disappointed in me, right?

Are you going to slap me in the face?

“But even if I’m about to get angry…my heart melts when I see your face. I’ve never felt this way before.”

“What?”

I doubted my ears. Lynette muttered in a deep thoughtful voice.

“I heard that Count Sinclair’s daughter was very beautiful, but I was skeptical because it was all a floating cloud*. But now I’m madly resentful of myself for finding you late. Anastasia, I’ll admit it. You are a priceless person enough to destroy my values. I think I’ll like you even if you dig up maggots.”

_{(t/n: baseless rumor)}

Is this a death flag? I only have 2 years left, is it going to be shorter because of this?!

“Um.…”

“The poor Anastasia, who was fated to die, not knowing when even though she has the beauty like a deadly poison that can possess everyone…Too bad. I want to add you to my collection. If only I could display you in the basement and appreciate your beauty alone until I die…”

“Lynette, you’re saying something very dangerous just now.”

The villain sister was surprised and covered her mouth with her hands.

“Oh, I’m sorry! You’re not mad, are you? If I get hated by Anastasia, I might faint with shock. Oh what a terrible thing, just imagining it hurts my heart. I didn’t know you were so soft-hearted.”

The coy voice was so attractive that my heart was pounding, but I had already lost all my motivation.

There’s not much to live. The death flag was easily established…

“May I go now?”

I held the frame in my arms, wondering if I should draw her portrait in advance.

The villain sister made an innocent face.

“Of course! You said you’d give me a drawing, so let’s make an appointment. When would be a good time? An hour later? Two hours later? What about secretly at midnight?”

It seems that her mind is already in the realm of criminals. I think she’s already a hopeless case.

I slowly backed away and shouted swiftly.

“I’ll send you a letter when I get better. Then have fun.”

Then I immediately turned around and started walking quickly as Lynette shouted back.

“I’ll wait!”

Reluctantly glancing behind me, I saw the villain sister waving her hand. She was smiling so brightly to the point that it’s so absurd.

I quickly got into the carriage, and only could I take a breath when I finally escaped the Marquis’ estate.

“T-that sister was scary …”

My hands were still shaking. I was so focused on screwing Ash, I completely forgot that that villain sister was close to him.

Although the two did not have a deep affection for each other, they often met as needed.

That sister liked Ash’s handsome face and unbridled attitude.

Come to think of it, that sister seemed to have noticed something…

“Welcome back.”

When I got off the carriage, the handsome man that seems to come out of a fairy tale welcomed me.

My surrounding suddenly felt so dazzling. It was as if it’s the first time I saw sunlight while being confined to a dark and gloomy place.

“Adele! I missed you!”

I hugged Adele without realizing it. The refreshing scent of citrus touched the tip of my nose, and I laughed.

Adele was as polite as always, so I stepped back.

“Hua, I feel a little safer now.”

“You look tired, Anastasia. Wouldn’t it be better if you take a break?”

Adele looked at me with worried eyes. I spoke bravely.

“I’m fine. Dressing up like this took a long time, it’ll be a waste if I change already. Let’s go play. You were bored waiting for me, weren’t you?”

“I was worried because he will definitely try to get revenge on you.”

I also agreed with Adele.

“Well, I also think that’s inevitable with his temper. By the way, did you put another spell on Ash?”

When I asked her because I remembered what the villain sister said, Adele looked as if he was smiling.

“It’s nothing.”

“I heard Ash likes pretty girls, but he’s a little cold to me earlier.”

The villain sister also fell in love with my beauty! Of course not a good thing!

“He took your hand, and he even received a drawing you made as a gift. I only restricted his sexual desire, appetite, and sleeping with the touch of your hand in advance to prevent inappropriate feelings. It’s going to last a few days.”

It was a more decisive answer than I thought. The painting is now stuck in the corner of a carriage…

Adele naturally turned the subject around as I hesitated.

“Did you enjoy your first social gathering?”

“It was nice that everyone was kind. Lady Lynettia Bliss was especially nice to me.”

I stuttered casually. I pretended not to notice Adele’s gaze.

“I’ve met Lady Bliss a few times before. She bought the albino gazelle I caught at the last hunting competition, saying she wanted to stuff* it.”

_{(t/n: taxidermy)}

“Should I say it’s a good thing that only animals can be stuffed …?”

I mumbled in a voice as small as an ant.

The scariest thing about the villain sister was that she doesn’t care about the other people around her at all and that she would be half crazy until she got her hands on something she wanted.

And the object was usually a rare, colorful, and beautiful animal or person.

“I’m glad you liked it. Can you tell me what happened?”

I blinked in bewilderment.

“Didn’t you already know everything?”

I thought he’d be watching with magic.

Adele didn’t necessarily deny it.

“I was wondering what Anastasia thinks. It would be nice to listen to your story while taking a walk.”

Adele held out his hand and I grabbed it naturally.

I couldn’t get used to holding Adele’s hand, so it was a problem.

The smooth, soft, and warm feeling were so good that my hands seemed to melt.

We got out of the count’s by exchanging trivial conversations.

I looked around. Small shops were sometimes seen, but the streets were quiet. There was no one but us.

“I can’t see the boy today. Did he gave up?”

“It rained a few days ago. I might have been swept away by the rain and washed away somewhere.”

Adele said in a very calm voice, which shocked me.

“You’re saying scary things.”

Is he joking? He’s kidding, right?

“Anastasia, you should forget people who aren’t worth caring about.”

It was gentle but determined advice. I agreed.

“Yeah. Well, I’ll be fine. Don’t worry, Adele.”

For a moment, Adele tried to say something, but I was distracted by something else.

“Huh?”

I could see roses on display at a flower shop made by stacking bricks that looked painted with paint.

The pink rose was very different from the rose I used to know.

“Adele, look at that. The roses are very small.”

I let go of Adele’s hand and went to the flower shop. It was even more fascinating to see it up close.

Roses as small as my fingernails were blooming.

If you hadn’t observed it closely, you might have thought that it was painted with a paintbrush.

Feeling our presence, a man who seemed to be the owner of a flower shop walked out.

“Welcome… Hyuk! “

He looked at me and opened his eyes widely. I asked, pointing to a super dainty rose.

“What’s the name of this rose?”

Waiting for an answer, the man blinked several times and shook his head violently.

“Ah…ah…I’m sorry. What did you say?”

I burst into laughter. He was so honest and clear that I can’t help but laugh instead of getting angry.

“I’ll buy all these flowers. Can you bring them to Sinclair Mansion?.”

“T-thank you! I’ll serve you with all my heart!”

What does he mean by serving? The flower?

I looked at Adele and pulled him away from the man that said a confusing thing just now.

“Let’s go, Adele.”

Adele was easily led by my touch, but he still looks lost in thought. I walked a few steps and looked back at him.

“Adele? What’s wrong?”

“You laugh well in front of anyone.”

Well, that was a bit weird. I replied insignificantly.

“Is that so? I’ve never really been conscious of it.”

“You don’t feel obligated, do you? You didn’t take orders, you just did it because you like it. It’s strange.”

“Strange?”

His red eyes, which were filled with unknown emotion, faced me.

“You don’t look like a terminally ill person at all. Recently, you don’t feel pessimistic or cry even though you foresaw death. It was easier for me to understand you before.”

Only then did I realize Adele’s intentions.

“I just found it useless to do so.”

“Did you give up?”

“I don’t know, did I?”

Adele dropped his gaze. Is he hurt by what I said? Does he think I gave up hope?

“Don’t you want to ask me to save you?”

What does he mean by that?

“Most people think anything can be accomplished with magic. It might actually be like that. Perhaps I can treat Anastasia…”

I felt the blood disappearing from my body. I interrupted Adele’s words.

“Adele, don’t ever say that again.”

Magic was by no means universal. In particular, it will take a tremendous price to restore a person destined to die, like me, with magic.

In the old days, a king of a country was said to have offered a thousand sacrifices to heal his illness. It was terrible.

“I don’t intend to live if it takes your life away.”

My voice is broken. When I was uplifted, Adele persuaded me with a softer tone.

“What if it’s not my life? What if you use someone else’s life? Is it okay to sacrifice someone who’s never even encountered, Anastasia?”

It sounded so sweet, and on the other hand, it was a dark remark. My mind turned blank.