The Villain’s Future is Visible, and It Troubles Me – Chapter 18
“Had he followed along, he would’ve lost his head with the others today. Seems he’s a lucky one.”
“Bring him here.”
At Shiraz’s command, he turned and strode away.
Obeying the Grand Duke’s order, Hughie quickly signaled to the soldier.
The soldier, utterly bewildered by the situation, was dragged forward without knowing why.
Forced to kneel on one knee before Shiraz, he didn’t dare lift his face. His terrified eyes darted back and forth.
Just a moment ago, he had breathed a sigh of relief, believing heaven had spared him. Now, suddenly, he was dragged before the Grand Duke.
It felt like swinging between heaven and hell.
“You were supposed to go as part of the vanguard.”
“Y-yes, Your Excellency.”
“Then why did you abandon your post the night before?”
The soldier was stunned that the Grand Duke even knew such a detail, but he quickly answered.
“I heard that my grandfather had been injured… I lost my wits. I’ve committed a grave sin.”
The vassals around them exchanged glances, baffled as to why the Grand Duke would concern himself with something so trivial.
“And how is your grandfather now?”
“He’s in perfect health, sir.”
“He was sick enough for you to abandon your post?”
“Ah, that… well…”
Scratching his head, the soldier confessed the truth.
“A maid told me my grandfather was hurt, so I rushed over like a madman. But he was perfectly fine. I was angry she lied, but in the end, it was thanks to her lie that my life was spared.”
“Why would the maid tell you such a lie?”
“To be honest, I don’t know. She was fond of my grandfather, so maybe she didn’t want me going somewhere dangerous. I thought she was worried more for him than for me.”
Shiraz fell silent for a moment, then asked again:
“So, the maid told you not to join the vanguard?”
“Yes. She suddenly called me out while I was on duty and said something strange. At the time, I thought it odd.”
The soldier blinked, recalling that day.
When that pretty maid had come to him, his heart had pounded foolishly, thinking maybe—just maybe—she’d come to confess something.
While the naïve soldier spoke, Shiraz stared down at him, expression unreadable.
“That’s all, sir.”
At those words, Shiraz’s lips curved in a small, mirthless smile.
So this was the man the woman had spoken to? He wondered what kind of ridiculous misunderstanding he had been laboring under all this time.
‘Right… no matter what, she was once a noblewoman, the wife of a lord.’
The contempt he had harbored toward her began to ease, just slightly.
The icy hardness on his face melted away like thawing snow.
“You may go.”
“Eh?”
The soldier’s eyes widened at the Grand Duke’s words.
Dragged here for displeasing his lord, he had naturally assumed death awaited him.
But to simply be dismissed—was this a dream?
When Hughie gestured urgently for him to leave, the soldier bowed hastily and withdrew.
The tension finally dissipated.
Hughie, who had been anxious all day, let out a relieved breath and said:
“I don’t know who that maid is, but she’s remarkable. Almost as if she knew this would happen. I’d like to meet her myself, ha ha.”
His attempt at humor to lighten the mood was met with no reaction from the Grand Duke.
Hughie promptly shut his mouth and focused solely on following.
In truth, Shiraz hadn’t heard him at all. His thoughts were consumed entirely by that maid.
He saw again, in his mind, the image of her holding shards of a broken teacup, staring at him with wide, troubled eyes.
The emperor he hated enough to kill. Marcus, whom he must one day eliminate.
Until now, his mind had been occupied solely by those two foes.
For the first time, someone else had slipped in.
“Garnet!”
While hauling a cart piled high with vegetables and fruit toward the storehouse, someone called out to me.
I squinted under the harsh midday sun—oh, it was the Head Maid Witch.
‘Why her? Did something happen?’
But what she said was completely unexpected.
“You’re being sent back to the main castle.”
“The main castle? Again? This time?”
“It’s the head maid herself who’s summoned you. I didn’t pull you out on my own, so just do as you’re told.”
“But the head maid told me herself not to return. That can’t be right. You must be mistaken.”
“I only deliver the orders. If you’re so curious, ask her yourself.”
My temples throbbed.
There were plenty of other maids to send if hands were short—why me again?
Hearing my sigh, the Head Maid Witch paused and spoke coldly.
“She singled you out. This time, you might not return so easily.”
I stared at her, puzzled.
“After what happened before, I have to admit—you’re not ordinary.”
“What do you mean by that…?”
Her thin lips twisted into a smile.
“The head maid came running in a panic to deliver this order. Doesn’t that tell you clearly who wants you back? Are you truly clueless—or just pretending to be?”
Her eyes accused me of false innocence.
I was flustered. I had no idea why the head maid had rushed here to summon me again.
Why should I be misunderstood like this?
“In any case, congratulations. Everyone wanted to be chosen to serve at the main castle, and now it’s you.”
At that, I finally realized what she meant.
“I still don’t like you,” she added, “but credit where it’s due. Depending on how you conduct yourself, you could put us all at risk. So don’t act recklessly.”
Unlike usual, her words didn’t sound mocking—more like a genuine warning.
I nodded once.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Satisfied, she turned and left without another glance.
Left alone, my thoughts tangled.
This wasn’t some accidental summons anymore. If the head maid herself had pointed me out, then there was intent behind it.
‘First they say go, then don’t go, then go again… What game are they playing? They’ll drive me mad.’
Biting my nails, I tried to calm the unease.
Unless I isolated myself completely, I couldn’t help but form connections with people. And through those ties, I was inevitably dragged into unforeseen events.
Like with Grandpa Milk. I hadn’t expected to get involved in that mess.
In the original story, his grandson was supposed to die.
I could have let things play out as written. But after befriending the old man, how could I let his grandson perish?
I told myself not to care about anyone here, since I’d eventually escape. But it was easier said than done.
Even in the villain’s camp, there were good people—Grandpa Milk, Alicia.
It wasn’t easy to coldly push away kindness, to build a wall around my heart.
I knew this could change the story, alter my future in ways I couldn’t predict.
Knowing the original plot had seemed like an advantage at first. But little by little, it was becoming a burden.
Because now I could see the futures of the people I met.
In the book, events passed swiftly from one to the next. But living here, time crawled unbearably slow.
‘If Shiraz would just leave the castle, I’d have a chance to escape too.’
Gnawing at my nails, I prayed for that day to come soon.
Back at the main castle, I learned who the guests from the capital were.
I didn’t even need to try to eavesdrop—their chatter gave away plenty.
“My goodness, those sapphire earrings are stunning! I’ve never seen the like.”
One young lady gushed over the red-haired lady’s earrings.
Everyone’s gaze, mine included, turned to the snow-pale ears and neck adorned with the dazzling gems.
The admiration wasn’t exaggerated.
The jewels sparkled brilliantly, refracting golden sunlight from the window into shards of blue light across the room.
For the first time, I felt a twinge of curiosity.
Could these ladies have appeared in the original story?
Perhaps one of them was even a significant supporting character.
Her extravagant display made her seem even more ostentatious than Cecila, the Grand Duke’s younger sister.
Judging by appearances alone, it was hard to tell who outranked whom.
‘Other than the princess, no woman outranks Sevila. Then who could this young lady be?’
They never used proper names, only affectionate nicknames like “honey” and “darling.”
But my question was soon answered.
“This was a gift from my father, made from stones mined at his site.”
“I’ve heard about the new mine—supposedly it holds vast deposits. I’ve never seen sapphires of such purity before.”
“It hasn’t been fully developed yet, but once it is, there’ll be enough for everyone to have some.”
Her tone was smug, though she tried to mask it with false modesty.
“As if the finest stones won’t go straight to your father, the Marquess of Carlisle. Do you really think the rest of us will get any?” one girl muttered bitterly.
At that, my ears pricked up.
‘Wait. The Marquess of Carlisle?’
