I'm a Villainess, Can I Die?-Chapter 66

There were only five days left until the ball, yet Aiden had not returned to the estate.

As expected, it was taking longer than I had initially anticipated.

Still, not even a single letter? That was a little disappointing. After all, we had spent quite a bit of time together.

This content is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

I pushed the chocolate cake toward Jane.

“...I’ll gain weight.”

Her words said one thing, but her mouth stretched into a grin that nearly reached her ears.

Resting my chin on the table, I watched Jane eat her cake with delight. It reminded me of the times I used to do this with Aiden.

“So in the end, Sir Lukas will be your escort?”

“Yeah, looks like it.”

As I absentmindedly wiggled my toes in response, Jane, who had been biting her fork, subtly glanced at me.

“Say it.”

Jane immediately beamed and set her fork down.

“Why did you want Aiden to be your escort?”

Oh, that was a rather personal question.

Jane must really feel comfortable around me.

Hopefully, she only asks questions like this to me and no one else.

Though the question was personal, my answer was purely practical.

“Aiden used to be a servant. It’s better to announce his change in status at a large event like this, and the most effective way to do that is by having him escort the duchess.”

“Do mages have different social ranks?”

Jane’s question made me close my eyes and recall the contents of the book.

Yes, I distinctly remembered that once Aiden gained the official status of a mage, the way people treated him had changed.

The book never explicitly described a mage’s exact rank... but since his treatment had improved, it must be something respectable.

Surely, it wasn’t just because he had contributed ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) to the downfall of the villainess, right?

I brushed off the ominous thought and simply answered, “Not sure.”

Jane pursed her lips but didn’t press me further.

A week ago, Madam had visited once more for my final fitting, and yesterday, the finished dress had arrived.

For a brief moment, I wondered if ordering Aiden’s outfit had been a waste.

Still, there would be future parties he’d need to attend, so it wasn’t entirely pointless.

After finishing my tea with Jane, I leaned against my bed.

For some reason, the empty room felt especially quiet today.

As the silence pressed in, I closed my eyes, debating whether to take a nap, when I heard a slight commotion outside.

I opened my eyes and peered out the window.

Several servants were making their way toward the front gate.

Did someone arrive?

Well, I hadn’t been informed of any guests, so whoever it was, they weren’t here for me.

Feeling unconcerned, I closed my eyes again.

But then—

Crash!

A loud noise rang out, followed by an urgent knock at the door.

“My lady!”

Jane’s voice was higher and more excited than usual.

“Come in.”

The door burst open with such force that I flinched.

What the hell?

What’s gotten into her?

Was there something wrong with the cake we ate earlier?

Am I sick too?

I instinctively touched my stomach, but nothing seemed off.

“My lady, he’s here!”

Jane blurted out without context.

When I tilted my head in confusion, she stomped her feet impatiently.

“Sir Aiden! Sir Aiden is back!”

Aiden?

My mind went blank at the unexpected name.

Aiden... is back?

I turned toward the window again.

The garden had fallen quiet once more.

It seemed the visitor had already entered the mansion.

And according to Jane, that visitor was Aiden.

Slowly, I got up from my seat.

The ever-loyal subordinate who had sworn to serve me had returned.

I should at least step outside to greet him.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

I quickly fixed my disheveled hair and clothes before leaving my room.

As Jane and I walked down the hallway, we spotted Lukas standing in front of the central staircase.

“Sir Lukas?”

“...Aiden has returned.”

“Yes, so I’ve heard.”

“That’s why you’re here, Selina.”

His assumption was correct, so I nodded.

I wasn’t sure why he felt the need to state the obvious.

“If you’ll excuse me, I’m heading downstairs now. Is there something else you’d like to say?”

Since I had a destination in mind, I had no intention of lingering here for idle chatter.

Still, I asked out of courtesy, just in case Lukas had something to say.

But he simply shook his head.

What was that about, then?

I gave him a brief nod before turning away.

Lukas remained on the upper landing while I descended the stairs.

One step.

Two steps.

Three steps.

Then—

“Selina.”

Lukas’s voice called out to me again.

So he did have something to say.

Why was he hesitating, then?

I sent Jane ahead first and turned to look at Lukas.

He still hadn’t moved from his spot on the stairs.

Shouldn’t he come down if he wants to talk?

I had to tilt my head back to meet his gaze.

At last, his lips parted.

“I’ll be your escort, Selina.”

“...What?”

When I questioned him, Lukas took a step down the stairs.

As our gazes grew closer, I blinked, and Lukas flashed a grin.

“Don’t take away my right to be your partner.”

I just blinked in response.

Why was this man suddenly so obsessed with being my escort?

It’s not like he was particularly helpful the last time.

I still hadn’t forgotten the image of him standing in the corner, watching me while raising his glass.

Before I knew it, Lukas had taken another step down.

Now, the distance between us was uncomfortably close.

With our proximity, I had to tilt my head back even more, while he looked down at me from his higher position.

It felt as if I were a small animal standing before a great predator.

Like... a crocodile and a plover bird.

Wait. That’s not quite right.

Lukas studied me for a moment, then lifted his chin and walked past me, descending the stairs.

Now two steps ahead of me, he turned back to look up.

I remained silent, not understanding his actions, until Lukas suddenly laughed.

Everyone today seemed a little off—maybe the air was bad.

Still wearing a faint smile, Lukas extended his hand toward me.

I looked at his long fingers, calloused from years of swordsmanship.

After a moment’s hesitation, I gently placed my hand in his.

It seemed like he was expecting me to take it, and given that his condition was rather questionable today, I decided to just go along with it.

Lukas gripped my hand firmly.

“Let’s go, my lady.”

The moment Aiden stepped inside the mansion, his eyes darted around, searching for someone.

The lady he had missed for an entire month.

But disappointingly, she was nowhere in sight.

Well, he had returned earlier than expected, before even sending a letter about his arrival, so it couldn’t be helped.

“Aiden.”

The one to greet him first wasn’t Selina, but Aaron.

Upon hearing from the butler that Aiden had arrived, Aaron had immediately rushed down to meet him.

To Aaron, Aiden was someone who had endured Selina’s temperament more closely than anyone else in the past.

And later, he had even saved her life.

With a bright expression, Aaron welcomed him back.

Aiden bowed politely.

“It’s an honor to see you, my lord.”

“What happened? Are you back for good?”

“Yes. I sent a letter, but it seems I arrived first.”

Aiden spoke with slight awkwardness.

Noticing his tension, Aaron patted his arm to ease it.

“You passed the exam and officially registered as a mage in just a month?”

“I was lucky.”

Aiden answered modestly.

But unlike his humility, his accomplishments were far from ordinary.

“Luck is just another form of skill.”

Aaron knew as much.

But since Aiden was clearly trying to downplay it, Aaron let it slide with a knowing smile.

The Mage Tower.

A lofty institution where the empire’s mages were gathered, boasting immense prestige.

The first reason for its prominence was that most high-ranking mages came from noble backgrounds.

The founding members of the Mage Tower had been granted noble titles in recognition of their contributions, and their descendants continued to inherit both their abilities and their positions.

This had led to rumors that the upper-ranking mages discriminated against common-born mages.

But that was just a rumor.

In reality, the high-ranking mages were too absorbed in their own abilities to care about anyone else—be they noble or commoner.

The second reason was the sheer scarcity of mages.

Within the empire, the total number of mages barely reached a hundred.

Over time, their numbers had dwindled.

The Mage Tower had expressed concerns over this, but ultimately, it remained just that—concern.

After all, when food is limited, having fewer people means larger portions for each individual.

Similarly, as the number of mages decreased, the strength of those who remained—whether existing or newly born—only grew.

In the present era, a hundred mages possessed the combined might of the five hundred mages from previous generations.

For these reasons, mages were highly esteemed.

Even commoners who became mages were treated as nobles.

Of course, not all mages received equal treatment.

Those with mediocre abilities were relegated to menial tasks at the Mage Tower—or worse, they were stripped of their magic permits and left to live as ordinary people.

That was the fate Aiden had feared—being a ‘talentless mage.’

To be recognized as a proper mage, one had to pass the exams.

These tests determined whether one would remain a mere apprentice or rise to the status of a noble mage.

And as time passed, the exams only became more difficult.

So much so that possessing the same level of mana as mages from the past was no longer enough to qualify for the title.

The usual process began with an apprenticeship under a high-ranking mage, lasting from one to three months.

There, candidates learned everything from the basics to practical applications of magic.

After about a month, they took their first test.

Most candidates failed at this stage.

Passing the first test meant possessing extraordinary talent—true, undeniable genius.

And Aiden was a genius.

Even his mentor, the Grand Mage Allogen, had wanted to keep him.

“Must you return to the duchy? I had hoped you would stay here and research magic with me...”

Allogen had clung to Aiden, reluctant to let him go.

It had taken Aiden approximately 125 refusals before he was finally able to leave the Mage Tower.