I’m a Villainess, Can I Die?

Lukas observed Ian carefully—his wary glances at Isaac, the dust clinging to his robes, the way he had been referred to as a fool earlier. It wasn’t difficult to piece together Ian’s place in the temple.
He was either mistreated or ignored.

Or, more likely, both.
That meant his living quarters—or wherever he was made to spend his time—was probably just as neglected and filthy.
Whatever the reason, it didn’t really matter.

The important thing was that Ian clearly had a strained relationship with the temple.
And that was an advantage.
For a moment, they had worried that recruiting Ian might also mean taking on the burdensome baggage of the temple. But now, it seemed the temple was full of idiots—hardly an asset to the Duke’s house.

Perfect.
"We won’t be needing tea, and High Priest Isaac, I’ll have to ask you to step outside as well."
"What? But Ian is just a lowly priest. How could someone like him possibly converse properly with the young lord and Sir Lukas—"

Isaac’s words were cut off as Lukas smoothly interrupted, his tone almost lazy.
Aaron, who had subtly signaled for restraint earlier, simply tilted his head and idly twirled his fingers, as if telling Lukas to handle it however he pleased.
"High Priest Isaac, it seems you don’t quite understand something."

The moment their eyes met, Isaac stiffened.
Lukas’s purple irises gleamed sharply beneath his half-lowered lashes.
The infamous knight’s gaze was just as piercing as the rumors suggested.

"I don’t like repeating myself.
"There’s nothing more tedious than wasted words.
"I trust that a wise man such as yourself understands exactly what I mean."

Lukas’s voice was as smooth as ever, flowing like a melody.
Yet Isaac felt his throat constrict, an invisible pressure pressing down on him. His instincts screamed at him to kneel. His pupils darted around, trying to find an escape.
Forcing a boisterous laugh, Isaac tried to mask his discomfort.
"Haha, of course, of course.

"Ian, be sure not to trouble these esteemed guests."
"Y…yes."
Under Isaac’s pointed glare, Ian flinched and lowered his head.

Only when the doors finally shut behind Isaac did Ian allow himself to exhale.
Aaron and Lukas exchanged a glance.
"Now, take a seat."

Despite their invitation, Ian hesitated for a moment before finally lowering himself onto a chair.
"I’ve heard about what you did.
"You healed my sister’s leg.

"Thank you."
"There’s no need for thanks… I was only doing what I could.
"I was moved when I saw how bravely she stepped forward to help a commoner child.

"I'm just glad I could be of some assistance."
Now that Isaac and the other priests were gone, Ian spoke without hesitation.
Lukas’s lips curled slightly.

So his stuttering and nervousness from earlier—it hadn’t been an act, but rather the result of learned fear.
A person who has been conditioned under violence will always shrink away instinctively.
That day, Ian had said what Lukas had wanted to tell Selina—but had been unable to.

Now, finally, he could speak freely.
Lukas watched as Ian let out a quiet breath, a faint, relieved smile crossing his lips.
With a lazy flick of his foot, Lukas decided to cut to the chase.

A temple ruled by violence.
A duchy where the princess had made a favorable impression.
There was no reason for Ian to refuse.

"So, my sister saved a commoner child, you say?"
"Yes."
"Oh…"

Aaron raised a brow at Lukas.
That wasn’t exactly what Lukas had told him.
Lukas had mentioned that Selina had simply tripped.

So why was Ian describing it as though she had heroically stepped in to help someone?
Lukas grinned and casually looked away.
Aaron sighed, but let it go.

"Regardless, I’m very grateful that you healed her.
"Which brings me to my next point…
"Have you given any more thought to my offer?"

"My offer…?
"You mean the one where you asked me to become the Duke’s household’s personal priest?"
"Exactly.

"The young lord is quite eager for this arrangement as well.
"Isn’t that right, young lord?"
This translation is the intellectual property of .

Aaron shot Lukas a small glare for so deftly tossing the topic to him.
But in the end, he turned to Ian and nodded.
"Indeed.

"The White Duchy does not yet have a dedicated priest.
"If someone as capable as yourself were to fill that role, it would be truly reassuring.
"What do you think?

"Whatever conditions you have, I will meet them."
He was sincere.
If they could buy a priest like Ian, he was worth any price.

Of course, he was concerned for Selina’s well-being.
But beyond that, Ian was a strategic asset.
For a duchy aligned with the Emperor’s faction, he could be an invaluable piece in increasing the Emperor’s authority.

Ian’s value was immeasurable.
And yet—
"…I’m sorry.

"But I cannot accept."
Another refusal slipped from Ian’s lips.
"May I ask why?"

Lukas spoke softly, as if soothing a child.
Aaron frowned slightly at his overly gentle tone but turned his attention back to Ian.
"It’s just that… I wouldn’t be of much help. There are many priests far more capable than I am… If someone like me were to join a noble household, I would only bring disgrace to your family."

"There are many priests more capable than you?"
"Well… yes. Most of them have already left this temple to serve as personal priests for noble families. Besides, in a country where there are doctors, what use is a priest with healing abilities?"
Lukas and Aaron’s minds worked faster than ever.

This man was far too meek.
The temple had oppressed him, silenced him, and stripped him of confidence.
Even with his extraordinary abilities, he truly believed he was worthless.

This was conditioning.
Brainwashing.
They had planted it in his head—Your abilities are useless. You are insignificant. You deserve to be ignored, scorned, and forgotten.

But why?
If his abilities were valuable, they should have paraded him around as a symbol of the temple’s power.
If they were protecting him for some reason, they wouldn’t have treated him like this.

No, this was deliberate.
A heavy silence filled the room as both Aaron and Lukas tried to untangle the mystery in their own ways.
Ian, caught in the quiet, shifted uncomfortably.

"Who told you that?"
Lukas broke the silence first, his tone as smooth as ever.
Ian looked surprised by the question.

"Why does it matter—?"
"It’s nothing serious. It’s just… As a knight, I can’t help but notice that the other priests seem unusually hostile toward you."
Ian inhaled sharply.

Despite his height and sharp features, he was painfully fragile.
"This must be unpleasant for you. If I offended you, I apologize."
"No… It’s the truth.

"But they’re all good people."
"I see. If you say so, then it must be true."
Lukas didn’t bother hiding his skepticism.

Instead, he smoothly changed the topic.
"Earlier, you said that because there are doctors, your abilities are unnecessary?"
"Yes, that’s right."

Lukas nudged Aaron’s side with his elbow.
This guy always makes me do the talking and then expects me to hand things over to him when it gets serious.
Aaron scowled and pinched Lukas’s arm in retaliation.

With an irritated sigh, he finally spoke.
"Actually… My sister is ill."
"What? The young lady?"

Ian’s eyes widened.
Aaron let out a deep sigh, his expression clouding with sadness.
Lukas lowered his gaze slightly, his posture shifting subtly to match the solemn mood.

"This is confidential.
"Can I trust you to keep this a secret under Chief God Ariana’s name?"
Ian hesitated.

He wasn’t sure why he needed to hear this.
Secrets from the nobility were dangerous.
But the air was so heavy, so painfully serious, that he found himself nodding.

"My sister, Selina, suffers from an illness of the heart.
"No doctor can treat it.
"No medicine can cure it.

"And it’s consuming her."
A small, pitying sound escaped Ian’s lips.
Lukas let out a slow breath, running a hand down his face as if trying to steady himself.

"Only the healing power of a priest can help her.
"That’s why… We need you."
A weighty silence followed.

The atmosphere made refusal nearly impossible.
Aaron lowered his head, his thoughts briefly lingering on Selina’s face.
"…But… I…"

"Wasn’t your concern that you’d be useless to the Duke’s household?"
Lukas’s voice was still polite, but there was an undeniable sadness woven into it.
"You are exactly what we need.

"Please.
"At least consider it."
Ian bit his lip.

All his life, he had been the temple’s burden.
He was told he had no value, no skills, no future.
Even his appearance was considered unpleasant—dark, ominous, unlucky.

The only person who had ever spoken kindly to him was High Priestess Vanessa.
He had admired her.
Respected her.

But she was so far beyond his reach that he had never even dared to hope to follow in her footsteps.
Now, sitting before the young heir of the White Duchy and the renowned knight Lukas Bar, he hesitated.
Would he really be of any help?

Would they regret taking in someone like him?
Or maybe… just maybe…
Would this be his chance to follow even a fraction of Vanessa’s path?

But before he could answer—
Bang!
The doors burst open without warning.

All three of them turned to see Aiden standing there, breathless.
The moment they saw the urgency on his face, they immediately stood up.
Aiden’s voice trembled.

"Lord Aaron—!"
Something was wrong.
Before they could ask—

A messenger bird flew in through the window.
Aaron snatched the letter, his fingers shaking as he unfolded it.
His eyes darted across the words.

The young lady is in critical condition. Bring the priest immediately.
Aaron’s body swayed.
Lukas caught him before he could collapse.

Then he read the letter himself.
His expression hardened.
Both of them turned to Ian.

"Priest Ian… We need you."
"Wait—what?"
"Selina—"

Aaron’s voice broke.
"Selina is in danger."
His usual composure shattered, he rushed toward Ian.

Ian instinctively recoiled, his shoulders hunching.
Lukas frowned and grabbed Aaron’s arm.
"Aaron! Calm down!"

"Calm down?! How am I supposed to—?"
Ian stared in shock at the two noblemen panicking before him.