Failed To Abandon the Villain - Chapter 4

“I told you not to use your abilities without my permission! Do you dare to defy me? Your powers, your clothes, the food you eat—everything, even your body, belongs to me!”

‘If everything belongs to the one who created it, then wouldn’t your body belong to your predecessor?’

Valetta swallowed the biting remark that rose to her lips and instead looked blankly up at Count Delight.

It was clear that what truly angered him was that she had used alchemy to save the slave without his explicit approval.

“I’m sorry. The slave seemed on the brink of death yesterday,” she replied.

“So, you used alchemy on a mere slave?”

“Well… he’s the birthday gift you brought for me, Father. I couldn’t let him die just like that,” Valetta said, deliberately choosing words she knew would appease him.

The Count narrowed his eyes, his expression tightening as he processed her response. Though displeased, her justification seemed to mollify him slightly, and he remained silent for a moment.

“Even so, using your powers without permission is a crime.”

‘In that case, everything in the world must be a crime,’ she grumbled internally but outwardly bowed her head submissively, feigning remorse.

“…I’m sorry, Father.”

Valetta hated the very idea of a parent treating their child as a possession, but she hid her disgust well.

“You are confined to your room for the rest of the day. No meals. Reflect on your actions.”

“Yes, Father,” she replied, her tone meek.

Satisfied with her compliance, Count Delight turned and left the room. The curtains were drawn, and the door clicked shut behind him. The sound of a lock sliding into place filled the silence, and darkness descended over the room.

“At least it’s just one day,” Valetta muttered under her breath.

The idea of not being allowed to use her own abilities grated on her, but she swallowed her frustration.

By now, Reinhardt’s body should have recovered fully. Tomorrow, she would prepare him to escape. She’d return the bead to him and create a chance for him to flee. Surely, he’d find a way to remove the seal on his heart once he was far enough away.

As she thought back to the morning’s yelling, Valetta slowly let herself collapse back onto the bed.

‘Might as well sleep.’

There was nothing she could do today anyway. In this pitch-black room, she wasn’t even allowed to pull back the curtains without her father’s permission.

Curling up like a shrimp, Valetta hugged her pillow tightly and let the quiet settle around her.

* * *

“Master, it’s morning.”

“Mmh… five more minutes…”

“It seems your five minutes last about an hour. Surely, a kind master like you can spare a thought for the poor slave who’s heard ‘five more minutes’ twenty times already.”

“Ugh.”

Valetta grimaced at the voice that poured naggingly into her groggy ears.

When she slowly opened her eyes, she found Reinhardt’s strikingly handsome face alarmingly close to hers.

“You’re here again…”

“Hearing you say that so openly wounds even me, Master.”

Valetta shoved Reinhardt away from her, pushing his face out of her space.

He always spoke in that sweet, gentle voice, yet it seemed he was entirely unaware that his eyes never smiled.

And as usual, he was far too close, brushing the line between friendly and intrusive. Even when waking her, he had to lean in like this. It made her wonder—was he trying to flirt with her, or at least make her react?

Is he testing me? She shoved him away again and shook her head.

Don’t fall for it, Valetta.

It had become a ritual to brace herself before facing him. Reinhardt had been living here as a slave for five years now, and in that time, Valetta had turned fourteen.

Over the years, she had tried several times to give him the magical beads that would grant his freedom, telling him he could leave and live as he pleased. Each time, he refused.

He’s made this place his nest, she thought, burying her face into her pillow. It was clear that he had decided to stay until he reached adulthood. Wandering outside aimlessly until his awakening was probably far less appealing.

“Why won’t you leave when I’ve offered you everything?”

“A slave like me could never dream of leaving my master.

Reinhardt answered in a light, sing-song voice, as if everything was fine.

But what was she supposed to do about those cold, unsmiling eyes? He clearly thought a kind voice was enough to fix everything.

Wherever he goes, that face alone could guarantee him a good life, she thought.

On the day they first met—the day Valetta had splashed him with a potion she had created through alchemy—Reinhardt had lost his room. Count Delight, furious with him, had taken away his place to stay. Since then, Reinhardt had been forced to sleep in the stables, the basement, or sometimes even snatch moments of rest in the kitchen.

Valetta had begged the count to allow Reinhardt to stay in her room, but the man had only lashed out at her with fierce reprimands.

As a result, Reinhardt seemed to live under constant oppression, serving her while enduring abuse from some of the stewards and maids. Valetta had told him more than once to stop putting up with it, but it appeared the bullying continued out of sight.

If this were a game, his hate meter would have maxed out ages ago, she thought bitterly.

This household is hopeless.

She let out a deep sigh, wondering if it was worth trying to reason with Count Delight again today.

Why doesn’t he understand that I’m trying to save him?

He’s dangerous. He’s definitely dangerous. I’m sure he’s secretly meeting with Tower agents somewhere, plotting everything. One day, he’s going to destroy this entire household!

Frustrated, she grabbed her hair and rolled over on her bed. Reinhardt, who had been watching her antics silently, tilted his head slightly to one side.

“…I still don’t understand why you keep trying to send me away, Master.”

“I don’t need a slave.”

“Am I causing you trouble?”

“I just don’t like slaves.”

What she couldn’t say out loud was: Because someday, you’re going to annihilate my entire family.

Reluctantly, Valetta got up from her bed. Even with the whirlwind of thoughts in her head, her morning routine never failed to include a moment of distraction at the sight of his beautiful face.

My head hurts.

Mornings were always tough for her. When her vision suddenly spun, she staggered, and Reinhardt quickly caught her around the waist, steadying her.

“Be careful.”

“Yeah.”

His arm was firm as it wrapped around her, holding her upright. Valetta’s brow furrowed slightly at the feeling of his grip. With his free hand, Reinhardt reached out and placed it on her forehead.

“Are you all right? Is it anemia again?”

“No, just a brief spell of dizziness. I’m fine now.”

She gently slipped out of his hold, pressing her hand to the back of her neck.

She could see now why the Valetta in the novel had fallen so hopelessly under his spell, willing to give him everything—her heart, her mind, her very soul.

With someone as deliberate as him, anyone would feel as if they were the most beloved person in the world.

“If you ever feel like leaving, just let me know.”

“I like you, Master. That’s why I’ll stay by your side.”

Kneeling on the floor, looking up at her, he played the part of a submissive servant to perfection, like the most obedient and devoted slave.

Valetta knew he was enduring harassment from some of the stewards, but at the same time, he seemed to have won over a few of the maids and workers. Still, plenty of others in the household appeared to dislike him just as much.

“I don’t believe your lies. I’m going to bathe, so get out and call a maid.”

“…Understood.”

Reinhardt narrowed his eyes briefly at her back before bowing his head and exiting the room.

As soon as Reinhardt left the room, Valetta let the tension drain from her back and collapsed onto the bed.

“Ugh… Just a little longer…”

She groaned, clutching her head. She was fourteen now, and it had been five long years since Reinhardt had come here… which meant six more years to go.

She hadn’t expected him to last this long. Despite all her efforts to make him leave, he stubbornly stayed, waking her every morning with those pleading eyes and a delicate, almost seductive smile.

“Why on earth…”

Why won’t he leave?

In the original novel, Reinhardt hadn’t left either, even when their roles reversed, because the Valetta of that story had been obsessed with him.

Perhaps it was because the magical bead, his only key to freedom, had been in the possession of Count Delight. But this Valetta had no such obsession.

She was willing to return the bead. In fact, she had already tried handing it to him several times. Each time, however, he had smiled and carefully placed it back around her neck.

“Never let go of your lifeline, Master,” he had whispered.

The way he said it made it sound as though it was her lifeline, not his.

In truth, when she thought about it rationally, Reinhardt’s decision to stay wasn’t wrong. Living as a servant in a noble household until he came of age was far safer than wandering the streets as a child.

Especially with his looks, he’d be an easy target for slave traders. Count Delight himself seemed to be considering using Reinhardt for that very purpose. It was clear he thought Reinhardt’s value would only increase as he grew older, more refined, and less fragile.

Still, shouldn’t he be ready to leave by now? she thought.

At fourteen, Valetta estimated Reinhardt to be sixteen. Surely, at sixteen, he was old enough to survive on his own. Why did he insist on staying?

And on top of that, he could use magic.

He wasn’t as powerful as he would be after his awakening, but he was clearly capable of practical spells. She hadn’t realized it at first, but one day she had caught him using magic to assist with cleaning tasks.

“I don’t get it…”

Valetta groaned, her voice thin and despairing.

Six more years. Six long years until she became an adult. His awakening would occur on her eighteenth birthday. Two years after he reached adulthood, he would finally unlock his full power.

Once that happened, there would be no stopping him.

With a grimace, she buried her face in her pillow.