The Crazy Villainess in This Area Is Me

“She’s already dead.”

The moment Magorit uttered those words, the magical connection to Merilly surged tumultuously. There was no doubt that something had happened to the child.

I grabbed Magorit by the hair fiercely.

“

!”

“If anything happens to Merilly, you won’t be left alone.”

Threatening her, I instantly teleported to the location where my magic was connected. And there,

“Why should I save you?”

“

! No…!”

Merilly, who had gone berserk like my past self, was there.

“Merilly…!”

The child slowly turned to look at me.

“Merilly…”

I released Magorit’s hair and embraced the child tightly. And then,

“Mom…?”

Merilly called her me ‘mom’. My eyes widened. I stared intently at the child, surrounded by golden light, trembling.

“What did you say just now…?”

“You were my mother…?”

“Merilly…”

“The power showed me…”

As the divine power manifested, flashes of past memories raced through her mind. The face smiling at her through the blurred vision was not Magorit’s. The smile that looked at her with affection soon overlaid Lobelia’s face.

“My real mother was…”

“…I’m sorry.”

Feeling the powerful divine energy emanating from the child, I finally understood. When the blood of the Shinsu Clan mixed with that of humans, the power didn’t disappear; it became even stronger.

I held my child close to me. Apologies, guilt, and fear of rejection from Merilly intermingled, causing my fingers to tremble uncontrollably.

“I’m sorry for losing you. I’m sorry for being powerless.”

I sobbed uncontrollably, continuing to apologize. Merilly’s shoulders also shook violently.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t rescue you right away.”

Softly patting the child’s back, my voice wavered with sobs.

“I’m sorry for leaving you in such a place.”

Unable to stop apologizing, fearing that the moment I stopped, Merilly might pull away from her embrace.

“Mom is sorry for everything…”

I looked into the child’s eyes, begging earnestly. “Can you forgive me just once? I really will…”

I admitted she had been a bad mother. Not knowing the child was abducted and abused in that place. But if given just one chance…

“This time, I can do it right… I can protect you…”

I was confident I could do well. I could love with all my heart and fulfill all the child’s wishes. Now, I finally had that power.

“Can you live together with mom…? Would that be okay…?”

My earnest plea was reflected in her emerald eyes, shining brightly.

“Why…?”

After a long cry, Merilly’s lips finally parted. Tears smeared across her face, she sniffled and said, “Why wouldn’t it be okay…?”

“

, Merilly…!”

At the child’s words, I sighed deeply and hugged Merilly once again.

“Mom… Mom…!

…!”

Now, Merilly understood why Lobelia had cried in front of her, why she had entered the mansion to protect her, and she too burst into tears.

“Now, it’s all over. We’ll be happy…” I whispered, soothing the child.

That’s when Magorit, who had been struck down by my power, slowly got up. She glanced around slowly. Then, Magorit’s eyes landed on a sharp-edged rock.

“

…”

It was a desperate situation. She had nothing left to lose. She grabbed the rock and lunged towards me.

“Die, Lobelia!”

“Mom!”

As I turned my head, Merilly’s eyes flashed. The child slowly extended her hand. From her fingertips, a power as blue as Frinel’s eyes surged.

“

!”

Driven by Merilly’s force, Magorit flew through the air, crashing into a tree and falling to the ground. The child slowly approached her.

“

! Don’t come!”

Terrified, Magorit scrambled backward on her buttocks, but the large tree behind her left no escape. Eventually, Merilly’s steps reached her.

“Ple-please…”

I simply watched the child impassively. Merilly must have despised Magorit more than anyone. I was prepared to follow whatever choice the child made. However, the words that came from Merilly’s lips were unexpected.

“I loved you.”

“…What?”

Magorit’s gaze wavered for a moment. The child extended a small hand.

“I’ll forgive you.”

“Now, what did you say…?”

When she realized this person tried to kill her, it felt like her blood was boiling in reverse. Even though she didn’t want to hurt anyone, the uncontrollable, intense power overwhelmed even her rationality. Fortunately, now, those powers seemed to flow steadily within her body.

“Though you tormented me… I’ve never hated you.”

“Me-Merilly…”

“It’s not because you’re my mother. Just… it’s enough now.”

Merilly simply smiled at her peacefully. “I’m going to live with my real mother now. Farewell.” With a nod as if saying her last goodbye, the child turned towards Lobelia.

Watching Merilly, Magorit’s face turned red as if she had been slapped. What had she done all this time? The guilt and shame she had suppressed swelled up like hail, overwhelming her. Tears of regret streamed down Magorit’s face.

“Even until the end…”

Their gaze followed the voice inside the warehouse.

“Roseni!”

Roseni, who had come to her senses thanks to Merilly unconsciously using her divine power, was walking out of the warehouse.

“Roseni…!”

Seeing her daughter, Magorit struggled to get up.

“Mother.”

“Roseni, you…”

Her gaze landed on the child’s bluish lips.

“Why…”

“I ate the poison meant for Merilly.”

“…What…?”

“I, your real daughter, nearly died from that poison. If not for Merilly’s power, I would have been dead.”

“Ro-Roseni…!”

“I don’t want to live as your daughter anymore. I won’t.”

Magorit’s lips trembled at Roseni’s firm words.

“No, that can’t be… Roseni, you are the one I love…” She slowly reached out her hand towards the child.

“Wrongdoings eventually come back around in some form.” But I coldly swatted that hand away. “If only you had taken the chance I gave you…”

Then, holding Merilly and Roseni by the hand, I looked down at Magorit with cold eyes.

The moment their gazes met, Magorit finally realized. The woman who had tried to kill her, who had cursed her neck, was indeed Lobelia.

“You should have come to your senses.”

As those words ended, they all returned to the great hall of the Gracie Duchy at once.

Magorit, completely losing her senses, remained motionless, sitting on the spot.

Concerned for the children and Lobelia, Frinel quickly assessed the situation and ordered, “Arrest the three trash of the Marquis Hamilton family.”

“No! What have I done wrong!”

“Lia, Honey!”

Immediately, the guards came in and took them away. Despite their continued defiance as they were dragged away, I simply turned my head away.

“Roseni, are you okay?”

“Mom, Roseni ate the poison meant for me…!”

Hearing Merilly’s words, I quickly injected divine power into Roseni. Fortunately, Roseni seemed to be recovering without any issues due to the previous healing.

“Wow, I’m okay now. It doesn’t hurt, and I feel lighter…!”

“Roseni, thank you for protecting Merilly… really, thank you.”

What thoughts had this little child harbored when stepping forward to protect Merilly? Feeling the sincerity of that intention, tears welled up in my eyes.

“Perhaps the children should rest a bit now, Lobelia.”

“Yes. Let’s go, my children.”

Everything was finally over. Leaving many nobles behind, I walked out of the hall with Frinel.

My three-year marriage life. My lost five years. And finally, the end of my revenge, though it seemed both long and short.

After sending the children to the bath, I collapsed onto the bed.

“… It’s okay. It’s all over now, Lobelia.” He gently wrapped his arms around my shoulders.

Then, I sharply lifted my head to look at him with clear eyes. “I’m not crying. See?”

“

. I thought you were crying.”

“Why would I?”

They were so evil that I couldn’t feel any guilt for their miserable end. Imagining their fate, I felt an unburdened relief.

“Really, it’s all over now.”

I lay down on the bed. My eyelids, heavy with fatigue, slowly closed.

“Get some rest. You must be tired.”

“…Yes.”

My voice, already laced with sleepiness, melted into a smile.

“Thank you, Frinel…”

“

?”

“For helping me and for loving me…”

Blinking slowly, I tightly held Frinel’s hand.

“Without you…the ending might have been different.”

“…That’s unlikely.”

Holding my hand back, he replied in a low voice.

“Even without me, you would have made it through.”

Frinel turned his head slightly away. As the sound of gentle breathing indicated, Lobelia had fallen into sleep,

“Think of nothing else now. Sleep well, Lobelia.”

Wishing she would now dream not of revenge but of her own happiness, he gently kissed her forehead.