I Will Break Off the Engagement Because I'm Jealous - The Untalented Villainess Who Rejected the Prince Searches for a Safe Haven with the Cheat Heroine - Chapter 4.3

Led to the assigned guest room, Emilia changed clothes and immediately burrowed into bed.

Alone at last.

The tears wouldn’t stop.

Not since she’d begun to distrust the prince, nor even before that she had never cried this much.

To be rejected by her family.

It was simply, unbearably painful.

Emilia was a reincarnator. But of course she clearly remembered everything before recalling her past life memories too. Among the memories of two lifetimes, her recollections with the Persicam ducal family were irreplaceable. After moving to the royal capital for princess education and entering the academy, they had grown distant. But that didn’t mean everything before then had vanished.

Though her father was busy, he had paid her considerable attention. He often took Emilia into the mountains and forests, personally swinging his sword to defeat wild beasts and monsters, leaving the guards pale-faced. When the guards begged to be allowed to handle things, he would retort, “If I hadn’t, someone would have gotten hurt.” But looking back, Emilia realized she had never seen anyone injured along the paths her father took. He often grieved over the hardships and death notices of his subjects, always striving to help someone, however little. Emilia had grown up watching such a father up close.

Her brother was the same. Now that she thought about it, she remembered hearing he had apprenticed with some adventurer group when she left for the academy. Perhaps it was the Blazing Flame Corps managed by Iris’s mother. He was always passionately declaring he would lead the duchy to independence in his generation and give everyone a better life. Emilia was proud of such a brother. Though she wondered – if the duchy became independent, wouldn’t she, as Sieg’s wife, become his enemy? Still, she genuinely wanted to support her brother Cycle. In the distant future, perhaps they could join hands. She had vaguely dreamed of such things.

Her mother was strict, but even more than that, she was kind. She never got angry. Emilia only remembered her raising her voice once. When it seemed likely Emilia would become engaged to Prince Sieg, her mother Clarice had rushed to the capital to see her. She interrogated her about Sieg, looking somewhat angry… and finally, with tears in her eyes, said, “Be happy.” Beneath that composed face, love for her overflowed — Emilia had been certain of it then.

Memories of a happy family.

Bonds with precious family.

All of it.

(Having, what have, I done… no, that’s wrong)

Had been destroyed.

(—I did it)

By none other than her own hands.

(If only I hadn’t broken off the engagement! If only I hadn’t tried to trap Lord Sieg! If only I hadn’t been jealous of her, hadn’t doubted his love……!)

Round and round her thoughts went. Hugging the futon, clutching it tightly. Suddenly, a laugh escaped.

“Fu, fufu. I’d forgotten… if that happened, then perhaps. Right now, I’d be enemies with father and the others.”

The duchy’s independence. This was predetermined in the otome game too. The villainess Emilia, jealous of the heroine Iris, trying to demean her being condemned and having her engagement broken off. Enraged by this, the duke declares independence. Issues a declaration of war against the kingdom and the country falls into chaos.

Behind the drama of the heroine and capture targets, the ducal house is destroyed. The villainess is exiled, setting out alone beyond the country’s borders.

“What should I have done… what should I have done! After losing Lord Sieg, my family too. That I can never return here again either.”

Everything had moved according to fate. She could only think that now. The ruin scenario that should have been avoided by becoming friends with the heroine. Had circled around —surrounding Emilia.

Through her own choices.

“Tell me, Iris… hey, Iris… Iri-”

Her muttering cut off. Her breath caught. What surfaced in Emilia’s mind was.

The familiar… Iris and Kismort Baron.

That girl who had scorned Sieg.

Had clearly opened her heart to him.

(If that girl has entered the Kismort route. Now that we’ve reunited. Perhaps through overlapping “coincidences” ————— they might be united?)

If that happened. Iris would surely go to Kismort’s territory. Taking his hand, leaving Emilia’s side.

(Then I’ll be, all alone. In the empire, completely alone. This is ruin… ruin just like the game… it’s too much, too much!)

From beneath her tears, more tears overflowed.

“Gguuuuu, fuguoooooo…!”

Even sobs escaped. She pressed them into the cloth.

Emilia.

Widened her eyes.

“—At the very least, give me back Iris!”

The moment she sat up.

(Huh?)

Her body swayed unsteadily.

(Why, is he. How come, I’m sleepy)

Moreover, the guest room door was open.

Standing there was.

The maid she’d seen during the day… vivid, garish colors.

(I can’t resist. I have to take Iris, take Iris and escape from here)

Thump, her body fell back onto the bed.

Her legs, hands, fingers wouldn’t move.

Her heartbeat settled.

Her breathing quieted.

Her eyelids fell.

(Escape————————)

“Now then, young lady. Reveal your true feelings.”

Her ears heard something last.

☆ ☆ ☆

The moment she opened her eyes.

She thought it was a dream.

It felt disgusting. Yes, because it was so very disgusting.

Emilia was wearing a dress she’d never seen before, walking through the mansion’s corridors. Though it was the ducal house, the time was already daytime. But she didn’t feel particularly hungry… Emilia’s feet simply advanced forward without hesitation, deeper into the hallway.

She thought she was “being controlled.” Though it was a familiar sensation. She couldn’t resist. The discomfort was strong. The familiarity was shallow.

(Even though I have to leave here today… if I don’t, Prince Sieg will come. It’ll cause trouble for father———— ah)

Remembering her father had disowned her, Emilia’s heart sank. But her expression didn’t change, her body simply wouldn’t obey.

<Please rest assured. People’s true feelings are always kind. Don’t be afraid, please>

Something like a voice she remembered hearing somewhere slipped into her head. Emilia blinked several times, then began walking. Without hesitation, straight toward the salon.

When she opened the door.

Her family was there.

“Fa…ther”

The words slipped out. Tension and anxiety seeped through. The depths of her chest felt painful, tightly constricted. Watching his red eyes as he tried to rise from the sofa… her heartbeat quickened, her neck and ears grew hot, a damp breath escaping in a puff.

“—I adore you, father.”

(…………Eeeeeeeeeeeeh!? What am I saying!?)

Emilia was confused. Her actions and what slipped from her mouth didn’t match. If she thought it was a dream, that made sense… but it was unpleasantly vivid.

Speaking of vivid. For some reason, that maid was sitting on the sofa. But somehow, the number of people felt insufficient.

“Oh. I love you too, Emilia.”

Her view was blocked by an embrace. Hugged powerfully, relief and disappointment grew stronger. She certainly felt affection. But it wasn’t romantic love. Realizing this, the depths of her chest tightened painfully.

“Father, I beg you. Please see me as a woman.”

“That I cannot do. You are charming, but not to my taste.”

“Ah, how cruel! Then at least hold me as your daughter! Tighter! Let me feel you, father!”

“What a hopeless daughter. Ah, how teasing, how precious…”

(What the hell is this!? Stop it, I’ll die of shame, I’ll die—!)

Emilia screamed internally, detached from her emotions.

“Emilia, dear Emilia. I’ll build a country for you…”

“Emiliaaaaa! Stay here, by my side! Don’t go getting married!”

“Brother! Mother!”

The four family members hugged each other tightly. In Emilia’s chest, happiness, breathlessness, and heat welled up.

(Wrong)

Looking at the maid visible through the gaps in their arms. Or thinking of the two people not here.

In her heart, she calmly muttered.

<It’s not wrong at all. These are your true feelings. The heart of a kind person. At first, your feelings might not match. But given time… yes, just one more day. One more day, and you’ll continue sleeping>

The voice came again.

Dark, calm-sounding.

Emilia.

(—Wrong!)

Widened her eyes.

(That’s right, Kismort… who said he came through “Prince Sieg’s introduction,” Kismort! This is wrong! This is all wrong! Even if that was everyone’s true feelings!)

Her body moved, her emotions aligned. A mysterious light quietly emanated from Emilia.

She could absorb “things inhabited by spirits” and use their skills. Then what if. What if the skill’s user had infiltrated her heart—?

(My true feelings are where’s the “muddled confusion”! Where’s Iris?!)

In the depths of Emilia’s chest.

Like a small wisp of smoke.

A flame ignited.

“These are my true feelings!”

<What!? How can you move! Inside my skill!>

If asked why, it was surely because.

Emilia, in this short time.

Had moved from “borrowed things” to “the real thing.”

“Give me back Iris! Kismort!”

Pushing her family aside.

Emilia stood up.