I'm a Villainess, Can I Die?-Chapter 117

“Let’s go... let’s go up. Brother must be scared.”

“Oh, I’m sure he is. I’ve been through it—I know how terrifying that can be.”

With my face buried in Aiden’s chest, I rolled my eyes upward. His clean jawline came into view.

Ugh. Making me feel guilty with just that.

But this time, I really didn’t have a choice. Even if I could go back in time, I’d do the same thing all over again.

“Yeah... sorry for scaring you.”

“...You promised you’d listen.”

“I did. I remember. I’ll listen to everything. I’ll pay full attention to every single word.”

Curled up in Aiden’s arms, I babbled softly. I was the one who almost died, and yet somehow, I felt like I was the one comforting him. But... it wasn’t a bad feeling.

Aiden slowly began to rise, levitating us both. I cautiously turned my head and looked down at the ground fading away beneath us.

“The High Priest... he’s dead, right?”

I remembered that loud crash just before my back hit the ground. That had to have been him.

“...He’s dead. But when he hit the ground, he was still alive. I confirmed it—and ended it.”

I clenched my fists at the firm voice from above. I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye, then turned my gaze back to the ground.

A lie. He’d come straight to me. There was no time for that. Was he trying to shield me from guilt, afraid I’d blame myself if I knew?

I had so many questions on the tip of my tongue, but I didn’t say a word.

For now... I just wanted to accept this quiet kindness.

Soon, we reached the top of the tower.

We flew through the very window the High Priest and I had fallen from.

Everyone standing there, watching in a daze, wore faces painted with shock and relief.

And then there was my brother... collapsed on the ground in despair, trembling with grief.

As if he were the one who’d done something wrong, sobbing in deep, broken moans.

Only when the knight behind him called his name again and again did he finally lift his face. The trails of tears down his cheeks were so heartbreaking that I bit down on my lip.

“My lady has returned.”

“...What?”

Still tilted back, trying to swallow his sobs, my brother slowly lowered his head.

Eventually, his eyes found us. His tear-filled gaze shook violently before he covered his face with both hands.

Even from here, I could hear the sound of his deep, shuddering breath.

“Selina.”

Was hearing my name from my family always this comforting? If I had died... I never would’ve heard it again.

I smiled faintly. I really wanted to laugh. That tear-soaked face... I’d missed it so much.

Even in that moment, falling through the air—I missed my family terribly.

“Brother.”

And with that final thought, everything went dark.

I felt warmth on my fingertips. As I wiggled them, someone gently grasped my hand, holding it tightly.

Who...?

When I slowly opened my eyes, it was just before dawn. Blue light filtered in through the window, bathing the room in a shifting glow of blue and red.

...Mother.

The warmth was coming from her. She was seated in a chair beside my bed, asleep in a terribly uncomfortable position. Her hand was wrapped firmly around mine.

As if she was refusing to let me go anywhere.

Next to her, my brother was also asleep, leaning against the chair. He must have so much to take care of... why was he here?

I watched the two of them for a long moment, then slowly turned my head toward the window.

Someone was standing there. A man, his back to me, bathed in the blue morning light.

“...Aiden?”

When I whispered his name, Aiden slowly turned around. With the light behind him, I couldn’t see his face clearly. But I could tell one thing—

“My lady.”

His voice as he said my name was heartbreakingly tender. We said nothing after that. Just stared at each other.

It was the kind of silence that suited the space between night and morning.

After a while, Aiden took a step. Then another. Closer and closer.

The closer he came, the clearer his face became. Twisted in emotion, maybe smiling. Eyes red, or maybe hollow.

When he finally reached the edge of my bed, he knelt down.

I looked at him quietly.

The way he moved... it felt like a painting. I couldn’t say anything.

He gently reached out and took my free hand in both of his. Then he bowed his head and pressed his face against it.

His hair tickled the back of my hand.

“...I might go back to being a servant.”

“Why?”

“...Because that way, I can stay closer.”

What kind of stupid line was that? I wanted to say it aloud.

But his shoulders were trembling as he held my hand—so I chose silence instead.

I opened and closed my eyes slowly.

The room was filled with the quiet sound of breathing—maybe his, maybe mine.

Watching Aiden’s golden hair, I spoke softly.

“...Even as my guard, you can still stay close. You can come to my room every day.

I’ll greet you. ‘Sleep well,’ ‘Good morning’... I’ll say it all.”

“...Every day?”

“Yeah. Every day. Let’s have snacks together, too. Your favorite cake, my favorite tea.”

“...Do I look like a child to you?”

“If you were a child, you wouldn’t say things like this. Let’s go on walks too. While the sun’s out—it’s cold lately.”

Aiden slowly raised his head.

His red eyes shimmered with tears.

Honestly, anyone walking in might think I was the one who died.

“...Alright. It’s a promise. But... you have to keep all of it.”

As a sign of agreement, I slowly reached up and wiped under his eyes.

My fingers came away wet. The skin under them was burning hot.

“I promise. I’ll keep it all.”

For a long time after that, we just stared at each other.

No words, but our heads were full of noise. A quiet sort of chaos. I didn’t even know what kind—just that it was loud.

Loud, and... not unpleasant.

Aiden eventually stood up, and soon after, my ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) mother and brother woke up.

The moment they saw my eyes open, they both exclaimed something like Oh my god and hugged me so tightly I thought my third rib might’ve cracked. I’d probably be stuck in bed for a while.

“I... I can’t breathe.”

I patted their backs as I wheezed, and they jolted in surprise, quickly letting go. Their expressions were complicated.

They were so relieved that I was awake, and so furious that I’d done something so dangerous... but I had been kidnapped, so they couldn’t exactly scold me either.

God, their faces were so blunt I felt like I’d already been told off without them saying a word.

“...Father and Sir Lukas... they’re not back yet?”

I ignored their expressions and asked carefully.

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My mother brushed the hair from my face and tucked it behind my ear.

“They came back yesterday. The mages opened a passage. But there’s something urgent they had to deal with this morning. They’ll be back soon.”

Something urgent today... I was glad they’d returned, but also a little disappointed I didn’t get to see them right away.

Does your mental age regress every time you come back from the dead? Or maybe I was just getting clingier.

“You were asleep for three whole days. Do you know how worried we were?”

My brother stroked my cheek as he spoke.

I know. I do. I remember you collapsing in grief—crystal clear.

But even so... I would make the same decision again if I had to.

Still, I thought it best not to say that out loud. So I just nodded.

Three days asleep... I must’ve been exhausted from all the sleep deprivation.

Couldn’t sleep, too much to worry about, then I got kidnapped, choked, thrown around, jumped off a tower... yeah. Total disaster.

“My poor baby... my heart nearly gave out...”

My mother caressed my cheeks, tears flowing freely again.

I reached out and wiped her tears. They were hot. The warmth on my fingertips spread through me.

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I’m glad I’m alive. That thought came to me, sudden and clear.

Everything from a few days ago felt like a dream. Now, there was only peace.

Father and Lukas returned just before evening. After nearly suffering a second rib injury in my father’s arms, I finally got to face Lukas.

It had been a while since I’d seen him. But it didn’t feel awkward.

His sharp violet eyes seemed to be lecturing me with no words at all.

“It’s been a while, Sir Lukas.”

“Sure has. I was the one at war... and yet Selina’s the one who took down the High Priest.”

He smiled faintly as he spoke, but his eyes didn’t smile at all.

That was scarier.

I looked away awkwardly and nodded. Lukas studied me in silence, then dropped the forced smile and spoke again.

“Well, at least you’re safe. But judging by the atmosphere... looks like we’re back to square one.”

“Square one?”

“Yes. Right back where we started.”

And with that, Lukas walked past me.

Where we started...? What was that supposed to mean?

I found out not long after.

Actually—literally the next day.

The next morning, there were chairs outside my bedroom door.

It was a disturbingly familiar sight.

“Jane.”

“Yes, my lady?”

Jane answered cheerfully from the chair on the right side of my door. I waved her off, a little dazed.

I hadn’t even needed anything.

But Jane aside... what the hell was he doing there?

“Aiden.”

“Yes, my lady.”

If Jane was sitting on the right, then Aiden was seated in the chair on the left. I let out a deep sigh.

Yeah. Definitely back to square one.

The day after I first arrived here, when I was caught trying to jump from the bell tower... that’s where we were again.

Snaps for Lukas and his prophetic insight. Truly.

“We’re not watching you. It’s just that, with things still unresolved... who knows what might happen. It’s just a precaution.”

“Ah... I see. And how long is this ‘precaution’ supposed to last?”

Aiden just smiled.

That insincere smile I hadn’t seen in a while made me roll my eyes.

Yeah. So it’s going to be a while.

Yesterday he talked about going back to being a servant... and look. He’s right back where he belongs.

Still has all his power—he just physically moved back into place. How clever.

Sigh. Well. I get it.

My family’s worry isn’t exactly subtle.

And with how things went this time... even a normal family would’ve overreacted.

I mean, my brother literally saw me get kidnapped in my sleep, choked, and thrown from a tower. Of course he freaked out.

Fine. I understand. Understanding makes life so much more peaceful.

Besides, it’s not like I’ve got some big secret to hide.

With that, I flopped back onto my bed.

I remembered those early days after I first came to this world. And the memories made me want to curl up and sleep again.

This was my sanctuary.

I pulled the soft blanket up to my chin. This—this was heaven.

It was all finally over. I could finally laze around in peace.

And just knowing that... made everything else seem irrelevant.