The Crazy Villainess in This Area Is Me

“…What?”

He never imagined such words would come from him. A hollow laugh burst from him involuntarily. Frinel tilted his head as if finding the matter unbelievable.

Lawrence stared at him and continued emphatically. “And she also said, if I fail, she will hand you a poisoned cup.”

“

…!”

He had thought she might be plotting something soon, but he never expected her to reach the extent of the swordsmanship competition. Frinel scoffed and slowly rolled his eyes.

“Poisoning, huh?”

If his words were true, it would be the first attempt in a very long time. Since Frinel became an adult and started going out, there haven’t been any attempts. However, the fact that Lawrence was the one to bring this to him, he couldn’t dismiss the possibility of a trap.

“Why are you telling me this?” His sly smile disappeared, replaced by a sharp gaze directed at him.

“Lawrence, how can I trust you, Her Majesty’s beloved son…?”

“To you, Older Brother…!” Lawrence raised his voice, which had been low throughout. “What am I?”

“What do you mean…?”

“We may be half-brothers, but the same blood flows through us. Our mother may be different… but am I not your brother?”

Frinel looked at him intently.

Lawrence was truly odd today.

“Alright, let’s say that’s the case. So, your mother tells my younger brother to poison me.” He raised the corner of his mouth as if joking.

Normally, Lawrence would have responded with sarcasm too. But not today. He twisted his lips for a while before slowly speaking.

“I know what my mother has done. I found out by chance.”

Frinel’s eyes widened. It seemed he hadn’t been aware all along. He quickly hid the fleeting look of confusion and smirked unevenly.

“

, you’re only realizing this now?”

Frinel had mistakenly thought Lawrence knew all along. His innocent approach had been suffocating for him. The fact that everyone hated him while Lawrence was loved by all also troubled him.

On one hand, Frinel despised himself for being jealous of his brother and even felt guilty. So, he pushed him away. He couldn’t bear to look at his face. But that innocence was real. He really hadn’t known anything.

“I thought you were smart, but you seem to be clueless too.” Frinel coldly retorted.

By now, feelings of apology were rising in him like smoke. But it was too late for anything to change. The man before him was the only son of the woman who had abused him since he was a child.

“I despised Older Brother for living like that.” Words mixed with sighs flowed out from Lawrence’s lips as a lament.

In the past, he had looked down on Frinel for enjoying parties. He thought Frinel was pathetic for not receiving the proper education that befitted royalty without knowing the background behind it.

Lawrence pressed his dry lips once more before continuing. “Yet, I wanted to beat you. Fairly and squarely.”

He slowly lifted his head. His slightly wet, sky-blue eyes fully captured his older brother.

“Then, I found out too late. What was behind it… that mother had abused you and even attempted assassination.”

“

…”

“I am ashamed of mother. No, I detest her.” Looking straight at Frinel, Lawrence frowned as if in pain. “You may punish mother as you see fit. She deserves it for what she’s done.”

“Lawrence.”

“But us, our relationship…” At the conclusion of his speech, his words were soaked with emotion. “Can’t it change? Older Brother.”

At that moment, Frinel looked at Lawrence without the prejudice of being the empress’s son for the first time. And then he realized. The defensive mechanism he had built to protect himself was hurting another.

“…Lawrence.”

His blue eyes sparkled like moonlight on a lake.

The situation given to Lawrence and him was heartbreakingly regrettable. If it weren’t for the empress, the two of us could have been like normal brothers, occasionally bickering but getting along well.

He brushed his hair back and spoke lowly. “… I’m sorry.”

“Older Brother.”

“And sorry, but… I still can’t fully trust you.”

Lawrence’s eyes blinked slowly at the clear rejection. Rejected again, just like when he was a child. Even though he had come prepared to forsake his mother. Well, it was naive to think a single conversation could improve their relationship now.

He chuckled resignedly and nodded. “…Older Brother has suffered, so it’s understandable. I get it.”

Lawrence slowly turned away. Just as he was about to take his bitter steps, Frinel’s voice echoed from behind.

“But if what you say about the swordsmanship competition is true…”

Lawrence turned back toward him.

“If it’s as you say, then we…”

As their eyes fully met each other,

“Things can change. Surely.”

For the first time, looking straight at his brother, Frinel’s eyes softened.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

“Depose the Empress! Lawrence!”

She couldn’t believe this situation. So, it turned out Lawrence was the informer who had told Frinel all about her plans. This was unimaginable.

The plan to kill Frinel was solely for the purpose of placing him on the throne. How could her own son, whom she bore, betray her like this? Patricia’s gaze fluttered like a leaf in the wind.

“Please stop this nonsense. Mother.” But Lawrence spoke with an expression of disgust, his eyebrows furrowed deeply. “You were never worthy of being a mother.”

At those words, as if snapping out of it, Patricia’s face turned ice-cold. Her frantic breathing slowly calmed down.

Now was not the time to rage. The more cornered she was, the more rational she had to be. She immediately grabbed a handkerchief, pretending to cry.

“

, what are you talking about right now…? I don’t understand what Lawrence is saying, Your Majesty.”

“Take the antidote now. Are you planning to vomit blood in front of everyone?”

“I know nothing of the poison. Since I did not poison it, there is no need for an antidote,” Patricia calmly replied.

But even a small amount ingested was already bringing the poison up her throat. She swallowed hard, trying to hide it. Sweat trickled down her back. But she couldn’t show any weakness. Falling or vomiting blood here would prove their accusations. Patricia clenched her fists.

“Even a small amount could be dangerous for a woman’s body. Mother.”

“Well, I’ve said I don’t know. How unjust I am. Look at my face, Your Majesty. Does this look like the face of someone who has ingested poison? Perhaps my two sons are throwing me a surprise party.”

She tried to smile nonchalantly. Unfortunately, her face was turning pale.

“Stop being stubborn, Mother!”

Having come here to expose the crimes of the mother who bore him, he didn’t do this to watch her stubbornly refuse the antidote.

Lawrence looked around and called out authoritatively. “Imperial doctor, come and examine the Empress!”

“Yes, yes, Your Royal Highness!”

The imperial doctor, belatedly popping out from among the people, stumbled toward the empress. Just as he was about to take Patricia’s wrist,

“

…!” She clamped her hand over her mouth.

“Empress!”

“Mother!”

Patricia bit her lip hard. Her face was turning paler, and the poison had already reached the top of her throat. She could no longer hold back.

Still covering her mouth, she fumbled for the antidote in her clutch. Unfortunately, her trembling hands caused the clutch on the chair to fall to the floor. Consequently, the contents inside are scattered all over.

“That’s…”

Everyone’s gaze turned to the floor. Among the small objects typically used by women, a bottle containing the antidote rolled around conspicuously.