Chapter 1. The Heiress of Wizberry Forest
“Dayna! Daynaaa…!”
A sharp, irritable voice echoed through the entire mansion.
Dayna, who had been dozing off in a chair on the second floor, jolted upright and hurried down the central staircase.
The old wooden stairs creaked unpleasantly with every rushed step she took.
“Dayna! Where are you? Dayna! Ugh, it’s freezing!”
“I’m right here, my lady!”
‘Hold on a second, my precious!’
Shouting inwardly, Dayna raced down to the first floor in one breath.
“What’s the matter?”
As Dayna arrived, catching her breath and looking up, the irritated expression on the woman’s face softened into one of relief.
The woman, bundled in thick clothing and fidgeting with her lush, red hair that reached her waist, let out a sigh of relief and approached Dayna.
“I’ve been looking for you forever. I thought you’d gone out.”
The woman, whose expression had now shifted to one of calm, was Stella Viviwood.
She was none other than the villainess from the original novel I Can’t Live Because of the Villainess! ,Dayna’s former favorite character and now her beloved “precious.”
“I must’ve dozed off on the second floor. What’s wrong? Did something happen outside?”
At Dayna’s question, Stella grabbed her hand and started walking.
“Ugh! I’m just so dumbfounded. Come here and listen to this. Someone from the village tried to pick a fight with me again!”
A fight? There was no way the villagers would do that without reason.
Dayna’s expression quickly lost interest, her gaze drifting to the ceiling. Oblivious to this, Stella kept chattering away.
“Why does everyone hate me so much? What did I do that was so wrong?”
“Tell me about it.”
“Ever since the Viviwood family went completely bankrupt, and my parents passed away, leaving only this mansion, it feels like everyone looks down on me!”
“Oh, those awful people.”
Muttering soulless responses, Dayna thought to herself:
‘Oh, looks like my darling precious has caused trouble again.’
It had only been two years since Dayna met her beloved Stella Viviwood.
That day was the one when she, having been hit by a reincarnation truck and ending her short life, opened her eyes as the lone maid of the Viviwood family. It was also the day Stella Viviwood, now penniless, moved into the dilapidated mansion in the northern Wizberry Forest.
Before she could even adjust to her new life, Dayna found herself living alone with Stella, the heiress of the Viviwood family. But instead of confusion, she felt overwhelming joy.
And for good reason…
“She’s so beautiful!”
Stella was a character from I Can’t Live Because of the Villainess!—or ICLBV for short,and Dayna’s all-time favorite character.
Though a villainess, Stella stood in stark contrast to the frustratingly kind heroine. She cursed with sharp wit, crushed her enemies with flair, and punished even her allies ruthlessly, delivering thrilling catharsis and satisfaction.
“To think that I get to be the closest maid to that Stella Viviwood!”
Dayna was overjoyed.
Through the fangirl lens she wore, Stella was even more stunning than described in the novel. Every detail,from her sharp tongue to her sensitive gestures,was utterly adorable and lovable.
It was the perfect setup to fulfill the fangirling she couldn’t complete in her past life!
But there was one small problem.
Stella, who committed countless misdeeds against those around her, was destined to meet a tragic end in the novel, punished in the spirit of poetic justice.
“That can’t happen…!”
How could Dayna let her beloved favorite face such a horrific, unhappy ending?
As long as she was by Stella’s side, she was determined to give her a much happier and more meaningful life this time around.
Upon reflection, what had turned Stella into such a notorious villainess was her upbringing,neglected since childhood,and her overwhelming inferiority complex, constantly worrying about others’ opinions. So, Dayna decided to boost Stella’s self-esteem to the max.
From that day on, Dayna showered Stella with endless encouragement, support, and praise.
“You did so well! How are you so perfect in every way?”
“Don’t worry about what others think. Why not write your own story, my lady? I’ll cheer you on every step of the way.”
“Amazing! As long as you’re happy, I have no regrets.”
She hoped her small encouragements would help Stella shed unnecessary stress and insecurities, leading to a change of heart that would transform her from the novel’s villainess into a virtuous protagonist, ultimately granting her a far happier and more fulfilling life than in the original story.
…But perhaps she had cheered her on too blindly, without questioning or doubting?
“So I grabbed them by the collar, got right in their face, and yelled, ‘What did you just say?’”
Stella’s chilling voice snapped Dayna out of her thoughts, pulling her back to reality. Quickly regaining her composure, Dayna spoke up.
“W-Wait a minute. You picked a fight with some random passerby?”
“No? They weren’t just passing by! They stared right at me with both eyes wide open!”
‘Well, of course they did,they have two functioning eyes…’
But Stella, seemingly unaware of what she’d done wrong, continued to breathe heavily.
“S-So, what did you do next?”
“What do you think I did? I punched them right in the face.”
“What?!”
“They were bleeding from the nose. A lot.”
‘No, you can’t just…!’
Dayna’s face went pale. Good heavens! She attacked someone for no reason? Again?
Despite all her efforts, Stella’s vicious and violent behavior hadn’t improved or been corrected in the slightest.
Tears welled up in Dayna’s heart as she let out a hollow laugh.
‘Maybe this is an unchangeable trait? Did I underestimate my precious’s true nature…?’
“Oh no…”
A headache surged through her. How much would they have to pay in compensation this time?
As the sole servant of the Viviwood mansion, also responsible for its finances, Dayna began mentally calculating the remaining funds in Stella’s name against the potential compensation costs.
If Stella kept assaulting people like this, she’d soon have to sell the only thing her late parents left her,this mansion.
‘My precious has gone and done something precious again…’
As Dayna stood lost in thought, Stella, who had been watching her quietly, spoke up slowly.
“I messed up again, didn’t I?”
“Huh?”
“I just… couldn’t control my temper again. Like you said, I should’ve closed my eyes and counted to 100 when I got angry, but I didn’t even think of that earlier. My vision just went white…”
Stella’s voice, now dejected, trailed off as she hung her head.
‘Oh no! When you talk like that, it breaks my heart! Lift your head, my darling!’
Overcome with emotion, Dayna bit her lower lip and reached out to Stella.
Since Stella, well-fed and tall, was much bigger than Dayna, it ended up looking more like Dayna was being embraced rather than embracing her. Still, it was the best gesture of comfort she could offer.
“You’ve improved a lot, though! Last time, you broke someone’s arm just for brushing your shoulder, but this time it was just a nosebleed, right? I’m sure it’ll get even better next time!”
“Is that really considered improvement?”
“…Probably.”
Stella, if nothing else, was good at self-reflection.
Dayna continued to gently pat her back and spoke softly.
“I’ll always believe in you, my lady. I know you can become a better person. You’ve got me, who believes in you, by your side!”
“Dayna…”
“Don’t forget, okay? Stop caring about what others think and write your own story! Go find your own happiness!”
“Yes!”
Stella nodded vigorously.
Thanks to Dayna’s tireless efforts, Stella was indeed improving,little by little. Very, very little.
If things continued like this, even if she couldn’t achieve a perfectly virtuous ending, she might at least avoid the tragic death she was destined for.
“Dayna, I’m so lucky to have you by my side. How do you always know how to comfort me? You’re like a big sister.”
“That’s because I want you to change, my lady.”
“Yes! I’ll definitely become the person you want me to be! I’ll find my own happiness without hurting others!”
Looking at Stella nodding again, Dayna smiled with satisfaction.
Yes, her beloved precious was growing, slowly but surely.
* * *
The next morning, Dayna visited Stella’s room early and knocked on the door.
“My lady! Are you still sleeping?”
It was going to be a very busy day.
First, they had to visit Mr. Brown, the victim from the village, to apologize for the assault. Then, they needed to scrape together enough money from their tight budget for compensation. For the next few weeks, they’d also have to help with chores at his household.
“…”
But the room was eerily quiet today. After knocking repeatedly, Dayna finally called out an apology and pushed the door open.
“My lady! It’s time to get up… Huh?”
She’s not here?
As soon as she opened the door, she saw a neatly made bed,unusual for Stella,and a small envelope placed carefully on top.
Glancing around the eerily silent room, Dayna cautiously approached the bed.
‘What’s this?’
The envelope bore the words “To Dayna” in Stella’s distinctive, elegant handwriting. With a puzzled expression, Dayna flipped it over and pulled out the letter inside.
[To Dayna,
Hello, Dayna? By the time you find this letter, I won’t be here anymore.]
…What?
