I Became A Squirrel Seeking For The Villain Chapter 61

Lizzy nodded excitedly.

 

Mariel had a reputation in high society as ‘The delicate greenhouse flower of a noble lady, too kind and easy to fool.’

 

And that rumor turned out to be completely true at the victory banquet.

 

She was even intimidated by an adopted daughter taken in only for her mother’s sake.

 

Looking at Yurika, who came out dressed more extravagantly than Mariel, many people whispered behind her back, “How can the household be managed so poorly…?”

 

Of course, even then, some who could see through appearances took interest in Yurika, saying, “She’s not ordinary.”

 

However, there was no way that Lizzy, who had not attended the banquet and had only heard rumors, could have known that much.

 

“Then will you follow me?”

 

Mariel smiled and asked Lizzy.

 

“There is a place I want to go together.”

 

“With me?”

 

“Yes. When Yurika was there, it was a place I couldn’t go because I felt self-conscious.”

 

Lizzy nodded inwardly.

 

‘As expected, She was unable to be intimate with her because she was concerned about her reactions.’

 

“Um, sis,”

 

So Lizzy smiled cautiously and said.

 

“You don’t have to speak so formally to me… I mean, I used to be a commoner….”

 

In fact, there was no reason for Mariel to speak politely to Lizzy.

 

And yet, Mariel had always treated her with courtesy.

 

Somehow, that had created a distance between them, making Lizzy feel a bit awkward.

 

But Mariel smiled brightly and shook her head.

 

“I’ll take my time in being comfortable with you. I’ll make sure that Miss Lizzy is treated with the same respect I show.”

 

Although Mariel’s character was truly admirable, Lizzy still failed to achieve what she wanted.

 

‘But at least Yurika’s gone now.’

 

Lizzy tried to comfort herself with that thought.

 

‘Of course, it’s a little different from the plan…’

 

 

She hadn’t expected Yurika to leave for the Hyrad Duchy so quickly.

 

The higher-ups were probably a bit displeased with how it turned out because the Duke of Hyrad’s house was not as easily accessible as the Duke of Medest’s house.

 

‘Well, when do things ever go perfectly according to plan?’

 

In fact, not everything was easy.

 

Sienna looked at her and shouted, “The thief who stole my daughter’s clothes!”

 

Jayden, flustered and unsure, hadn’t once said, “You’re the real one.”

 

Even Mariel had kept her distance.

 

‘It’s all because that girl Yurika took over everything here.’

 

Originally, Lizzy’s goal was just to drive Yurika out, but after staying at the Medes’s house, her ambitions grew.

 

It was a place where a nameless orphan with light brown hair and pink eyes could roam so freely.

 

Then what about her?

 

She had dressed the same, and even brought a real baby’s clothes.

 

There was no way to verify someone’s birth right anyway. She was far more fitting for the title of the second noble daughter than Yurika.

 

Lizzy fell in love with this place right away.

 

So she asked the higher-ups if she could stay here, as long as Yurika had left on her own.

 

But the secret response she received was blunt.

 

[It’s too dangerous. Absolutely not.]

 

But Lizzy was too experienced to give in quietly.

 

‘If I bring them something to negotiate with, they might approve it.’

 

Yurika’s room, which she had left behind, was tempting just from a glance.

 

From gorgeous furniture to all sorts of accessories and even expensive dresses.

 

And Mariel, who would become her sister, was so beautiful and kind.

 

Her uncle Jayden boasted immense wealth.

 

‘Honestly, even Yohan Hyrad may have chosen Yurika as his partner just because she was Medes’s second daughter.’

 

The second daughter of Medes, and Yohan Hyrad’s lover… those were truly enviable positions.

 

There was a rumor that ‘Yohan Hyrad was charmed because he doesn’t know the truth yet.’

 

If that was the case, maybe she still had a chance.

 

While Lizzy was letting her imagination run wild, Mariel took Lizzy to an unfamiliar backyard.

 

The backyard, full of roses, had a locked entrance and required a key.

 

“This place is actually called ‘Yurika’s Garden,’” said Mariel.

 

“What?”

 

Lizzy looked around with her eyes wide open in surprise.

 

Mariel smiled.

 

“Right next to this place is ‘Mariel’s Garden.’ It is said that it was set up in the mansion according to the father’s order that his daughters might need some private space.”

 

Lizzy, who had studied the Medes family quite thoroughly, had never heard of this before.

 

“Oh… I see…”

 

As she blinked, Mariel handed her the key and smiled.

 

“This is for you.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“It’s a secret gift, given while Yurika is away at the Hyrad estate. Yurika always wanted to have this place.”

 

Mariel continued speaking.

 

“I also secretly invite my lover to ‘Mariel’s Garden’ whenever I meet him. Since His Highness the Crown Prince often confides in me.”

 

“Oh….”

 

By now, there was no one left in the capital who hadn’t heard the rumors about Mariel and Crown Prince Roimond’s relationship.

 

Lizzy accepted the garden key from Mariel.

 

“Yurika has gone to Duke Hyrad’s house, so let’s get along well for the time being,” Mariel said with a soft smile.

 

“Don’t worry about what others think, and go wherever you want. I know you’ve been staying in your room because of Yurika.

 

Lizzy cheered inwardly.

 

All she had to do was slowly adapt to the Medes estate without Yurika, and make sure that Yurika could never return.

 

Seeing Lizzy quietly savoring her joy, Mariel calmly spoke.

 

“Well then, I’ll go now… I have an appointment this afternoon, so I need to get ready.”

 

Mariel smiled and turned around quietly.

 

* * *

 

“What?”

 

Inside the Imperial Palace, Theodore sat with a blank expression on his face, then suddenly got up in surprise.

 

“Lady Yurika Medes… went to the Duke of Hyrad’s estate?”

 

“Ah, yes….”

 

His close aide looked slightly startled by Theodore’s strong reaction, then continued.

 

“It seems… after the real second daughter showed up, she couldn’t handle it and ran away to her lover’s house…”

 

A flash of emotion crossed Theodore’s blue eyes.

 

‘Rivena… Did you think I cooperated with your plan just to create this mess?’

 

Thinking back to the way Yohan and Yurika looked at the banquet, Theodore felt very uncomfortable.

 

It was the wizard’s instinct. Not wanting to share the power of calm that was once considered perfect.

 

A deep desire to fully possess what he once wanted.

 

He had first seen Yurika over five years ago.

 

He used to secretly visit the temple from time to time to soothe his magical power, and one-day Rivena handed him a small squirrel.

 

“This divine beast is still too young to be sold, but it already has considerable calming power.”

 

The light brown-furred squirrel was sleeping soundly, its tail wrapped around itself, its soft fur quivering with each breath.

 

Without a second thought, Rivena lifted the squirrel’s tiny front paw and pressed it to Theodore’s forehead.

 

“It’s pretty good.”

 

Theodore had thought many more divine beasts like it would appear in the future because Rivena’s research skills were amazing.

 

“I’ll ask for this one again next time.”

 

But there was no “next time.”

 

That divine beast was assigned to someone, and shortly after, Rivena abandoned divine beast research and turned to calm potion development.

 

Just when he was still lingering with regret, that same subtle feeling returned.

 

Theodore never wanted to miss that feeling again.

 

Besides… that squirrel, even after becoming human, was still remarkably clever.

 

Even the plans of Rivena, who was considered the most powerful figure in the temple, were destroyed one by one.

 

He couldn’t help but be impressed by Yurika’s brave actions.

 

‘She really is a lot like the Duke of Medes.’

 

And Theodore instinctively knew.

 

Yohan and Yurika weren’t truly in love.

 

Just like him and Rivena, they were just pretending to be lovers.

 

Only someone who had staged a fake relationship and fake engagement like Theodore would be able to tell.

 

The smile was too artificial and the timing too perfectly calculated to say that they were truly in love.

 

‘Of course, that wizard… might be a different case..’

 

‘If he had felt that much of a calming effect, it would be understandable that he would also be obsessed with her.’

 

‘I guess he feels the same way as me.’

 

It is natural for a wizard to feel possessive towards a divine beast, so he will want to do whatever he can to keep her by his side.

 

Of course, the divine beast wouldn’t pay any special attention to the wizards, so she probably wouldn’t feel much emotion.

 

But pretending to be a fake couple at a banquet and staying in the same house were two completely different things.

 

‘If things continued like this, the two of them might really fall in love.’

 

Theodore slowly stood up, his eyes shining gloomily.

 

He couldn’t bear to watch that happen.

 

“Send a letter to Duke Hyrad immediately.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Tell them I’ll be visiting soon.”

 

* * *