I Awoke as an Imprisoned Villainess-Chapter 42 - The desire to help

In a space where petals danced with every breeze, Lily sama gave me a strong stare.

“Why are you here?”

“Um, ummm...because of being caught by the grand duke...?”

“…You look like Sophia Alcott now”

Lily sama seemed to relax her guard, albeit slightly.

As I thought, she must’ve realized the switch after yesterday’s conversation with Violet sama and me.

“Why is Lily sama here...?”

“…It’s none of your business”

The expression on her face was tense as she abruptly turned her head away. She looked very tired.

She had black circles under her eyes which makeup couldn’t hide, and her complexion was pale, even though it was not so bad yesterday. I couldn’t help but open my mouth when I smelled the strong scent of lilies, which I remember smelling before.

“Lily sama...why are you helping the grand duke?”

Lily sama looked depressed at my question.

“…Do you really think I’m going to answer that?”

“I would be happy if you could answer me...”

I’m sure she wouldn’t tell even a person like me. But I can see her reaction.

“Um, the Count of Redgrave’s estate is located far away from the royal capital, you see. ...Donovan and a place called Zambas, which is even further away from the capital. About a year or two ago, there was a major flood, and most of the crops...as well as fields were devastated”

As part of our small talk, I recalled what Neil sama had told me.

Lily sama’s territory was originally a hard place to grow crops. The people in the territory suffered from starvation due to the flooding that occurred on top of that.

Normally, food would’ve been provided by other territories or countries. But, during the time of the flooding, the weather was so bad that crops were not growing well in all areas, and there was a shortage of food.

The government distributed all the food stored in the national treasury, but not enough support was given to far-flung areas.

However, the hard work of the farmers paid off in Zambas and one day, the crops began to bear fruit.

When the food problem subsided, Lily sama began to appear at social gatherings in the royal capital, catching the attention of His Highness, and from then on, the two were seen as friends.

“…Did you ask for help knowing that the grand duke could produce plants in any land after seeing the starving people of your domain?”

Lily sama did not answer my words.

I looked at her face, thinking that was probably the answer.

“If my prediction is correct, then I can see that you’ve...made a difficult decision. But no matter what the circumstances are, His Highness’s case isn’t something that can be forgiven. Um”

“That’s a lovely, beautiful thing to say”

My words were interrupted by Lily sama if she meant to dump her feelings.

“I agree. I also think that it is not good to kill people. I would’ve condemned it too if I had been from the privileged side like you. It is insane to attempt to kill the crown prince in order to save commoners, isn’t it?”

“Lily sama, I...”

“But I value the lives of the people I have lived with since I was a child more than the lives of all the royalties and nobles who have done nothing for me!”

The agitation in Lily sama’s sad voice reverberated.

Her emotions are more stirred up than usual. I don’t know whether it is because my words were not thoughtful, or because of the grand duke’s magic, or because something she had been holding back finally snapped, or none of the above.

“Even if I could go back in time, I would make the same choice. I would do better this time. I don’t care if I’m condemned for it. I care more about my own people than the life of His Highness!”

Biting her lip as she said that, Lily sama said to herself, “No matter how nicely you say it, I won’t change. I definitely—won’t change”.

“Well.....”

I muttered to myself in response to Lily sama’s words.

“Surely the life of someone you love is more important than the life of His Highness...”

“……Eh?……”

I nodded as if I was convinced, and Lily sama gave me a puzzled look.

“For example, let’s say His Highness and the head chef who always prepared delicious meals for me were drowning in the river right in front of me. If I could only save one of them, I probably would save the head chef”

I looked straight at Lily sama, and she looked aghast, as if she was looking at a creature which was impossible to understand.

“You...do you understand what you’re saying?”

“Of course. Lily sama has someone she wants to protect no matter what the cost is, right? I understand that everyone want to protect the lives of those they care about”

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As I said this, the images of Violet sama and Claude sama softly came to mind. Both of them, to protect His Highness and to protect me. They were willing to put themselves on the line to help me.

I think that the desire to help someone itself is a very kind thing.

“Just...about His Highness. There are also people who strongly wish to protect him”

“…..”

Lily sama’s expression was distorted. I said, “There’s still time!”.

“Even though I look like this, I have recently been working on a project to solve the food problem! If we could solve the food problem, you wouldn’t have to do this, would you? Today you seem to be suffering from the grand duke’s magic. Let’s find a way to solve this problem together without turning to the grand duke...”

“…It’s, It’s already impossible”

Lily sama said that and burst into tears.

“The grand duke cannot be stopped. No matter whether I help you or not, no matter what happen”