I’m a Villainess, Can I Die?

“Um… Are you feeling better?”
“Yes.”

“I see… That’s good.”
Aaron fidgeted awkwardly, as if there was more he wanted to say.
He was probably worried about his beloved sister, yet too afraid to speak to her, knowing her personality.

Over the past five days, he had only appeared once, briefly passing by. It was likely for the sake of her mental and emotional stability.
Avoiding someone entirely for their well-being… Selina, look at this situation! Sit yourself in the reflection chair and think about what you’ve done.
“Would you like to take a walk with me, Aaron?”

I wasn’t shameless enough to treat Selina’s family as my own.
But since I had been dragged into this life because of her, I figured I should at least do this much. That was why I decided to call him brother.
Selina, if you don’t want to end up miserable, reflection and apology are a must. Otherwise, in the very last moment, everything will just be regrets. You know that, don’t you?

“…What?”
Aaron looked dumbfounded as he repeated my words, then turned to glance behind me at the other two.
I could already imagine their expressions—probably shaking their heads in shock, as if to say, We had nothing to do with this.

“If you don’t want to, then forget it.”
“No, no. Selina, I’d love to. Let’s take a walk.”
Satisfied with his answer, I turned on my heel.

Aaron still had a dazed expression, while Lukas blinked in silence, his face neutral as always.
Their reactions were quite amusing.
“You heard that, right? You can leave now. I’m going for a walk with Aaron.”

The two hesitated, glancing between me and Aaron like they were debating something.
Are you planning to join us? You’re really going to pass up this exclusive opportunity to walk alone with me? Seriously?
“…Alright. I’ll take care of Selina, so you two can leave.”
Now that’s a proper (sub) male lead. He really did know all the right answers.

As we walked side by side, Aaron kept sneaking glances at me.
He looked like he wanted to say something—or maybe he was waiting for me to ask something first. Either way, it was obvious his mouth was itching to speak.
The ever-composed young lord, famous for his intelligence, was now acting like an anxious wreck.

Selina, think carefully. Why did you hate your brother so much? Do you think there are many people who would agonize over you like this?
Of course, my question would never reach her.
In the end, silence remained between us.

“…How are you feeling?”
“Huh?”
It was me who finally broke the silence.

Aaron looked startled, as if he hadn’t expected the question.
Look at him—this major sub male lead, making such a dumb face. With this level of reaction, aren’t you already more of a protagonist?
“I meant your body. You look exhausted.”

“Oh… I’m fine. Thank you for asking, Selina.”
“It’s nothing.”
Aaron rolled his eyes noticeably, as if calculating the right timing for something.

His emotions were much more obvious than before, which I found interesting—so I chose to stay silent.
“Um… Your memory… Is it still incomplete?”
He asked cautiously, and even before I could answer, he already looked terrified.

It wasn’t an annoying kind of fear. No, it was… something else. Something that, oddly enough, didn’t bother me.
“Yes, it’s not fully intact. But I remember a few things.”
“You… remember?”

“Yes. It’s not clear, but… for example…”
I stopped walking.
We had arrived at a tree in full bloom, its pink flowers spread across the branches.

I didn’t know the name of the tree.
But who cares about the name of a flower? As long as it’s pretty, that’s enough.
Maybe, with such a beautiful scene, it would soften the impact of what I was about to say.

As I lifted my head to gaze at the blossoms, Aaron mimicked me, looking up as well.
What are you, a puppy following its owner?
“I remember that I used to hate you.”

The moment I spoke, Aaron flinched, stepping back.
This translation is the intellectual property of .
A beautiful backdrop of fluttering petals—yet his expression was anything but fitting for the scene.

Don’t worry, Aaron. I won’t bite.
I stepped forward, closing the distance.
Aaron stopped backing away and looked down at me.

Wow, there’s quite a height difference.
His golden eyes trembled, unable to stay still.
He probably thought I was about to lash out at him again.

Poor guy.
I knew what it was like to offer love and receive nothing in return.
For Aaron, it was affection.

For me… I wasn’t sure what form it took.
But I understood that emptiness. That quiet grief.
And I knew something he had yet to experience—what it felt like after all hope was gone.

Maybe that’s why, Selina…
I feel like I understand him more than you ever did.
“…I’m sorry for hating you, Aaron.”

Aaron’s expression froze.
No, rather than froze, it was as if he had completely stopped functioning.
Like he had shut down entirely.

All this, just from an apology? Isn’t your love for your sister a little excessive?
“Sel… Selina… What did you just say?”
“I said I’m sorry for how cruel I was to you.”

Aaron felt his body tense.
This should have been a moment of pure happiness, yet—
His sister, standing there with that detached face, telling him she was sorry—

Looked as fragile as the petals being carried away by the wind.
“Selina… you’re not…”
Aaron swallowed back his words.

Selina… You’re not trying to die again, are you?
He was too afraid to even say it aloud.
No matter how hard he racked his brain, there was no answer.

What was the point of graduating at the top of the academy if he couldn’t even find the right words to say to his own sister?
“I’m fine, Aaron. Let’s just take things as they come.”
Honestly, Selina… I don’t even know what’s supposed to be ‘good’ here.

“…Right. Let’s just take things as they come.”
But all Aaron could do was say those words and force a smile.
Burying the unease he couldn’t bring himself to voice deep in his heart.

“Aaron, how long are those people planning to follow me around?”
It was strange how naturally the word brother now rolled off my tongue.
He had spent his entire life devoted to his younger sister.

Was it just human nature to adapt? Or was it because Aaron felt more familiar to me than the others?
Either way—Aaron, please, get rid of those nuisances.
They’re really annoying.

“Well… Your body hasn’t fully recovered yet, so wouldn’t it be best to put up with it for a little while longer?”
His voice lacked confidence.
It reminded me of my younger self, carefully choosing my words in front of my parents.

Hoping to be loved.
Constantly watching for signs.
Afraid that if I made one wrong move, I’d be abandoned again.

Anxious.
The problem was, Aaron never showed this side of himself to anyone else.
Only to the people he wanted to be loved by.

Only to the people he didn’t want to lose.
And when I looked at his broad back, I saw my own small, fragile silhouette from the past reflected there.
How foolish.

If I could reach back to my younger self, I would grab those tiny hands and tell them—
Give up. They will never truly love you. Not in the end.
What would happen if I took Aaron’s hands right now and told him the same thing?

Would he realize it too?
…No.
In the end, even Selina must have wanted someone to be there before she died.

Maybe she did think of you, Aaron.
In that sense, you’re better than me.
A bitter taste filled my mouth.

As I remained silent, staring straight ahead, Aaron grew restless, sneaking glances at me.
“…Now that I think about it, you’re right. But I have one request.”
Selina’s request was to meet Ariel, the imperial princess.

She said she wanted to apologize for her past mistakes.
Aaron, moved by this, immediately agreed and promised to inform the duke and duchess.
Unlike Aaron, who easily gave his approval, the two adults hesitated, discussing the matter in hushed voices.

Before losing her memories, Selina had despised both her brother and the princess, his intended partner.
Her hostility had mostly taken the form of cruel words.
But insulting a member of the imperial family, even with words, was practically an unforgivable offense.

If House White hadn’t been such a distinguished founding family, known for their unwavering loyalty, Selina’s head would have rolled long ago.
And now?
Her memories were still incomplete, and just a few days ago, she had…

No. The duke didn’t even want to think about it.
Was it truly wise to let her meet the princess…?
Sensing their hesitation, Aaron smiled gently.

It was a smile meant to reassure them.
“It’ll be fine, Father.
She apologized to me.

Her memory isn’t completely back, but some of it is.
I think that’s why she wants to meet Ariel—I mean, Her Highness.”
The duke nodded, but his expression remained tense.

Had his daughter truly apologized to Aaron out of sincerity?
Or was she regaining her memories and plotting something?
The thought of doubting his own sick child filled him with sorrow.

“You must be there with her,” the duchess said firmly.
Aaron nodded, still smiling.
“Yes, Mother.”

“The young lady… wishes to meet me?”
Golden hair cascaded past her shoulders, and her bright, jewel-like golden eyes shimmered like embedded stars.
Ariel Franklin.

“Yes, Your Highness.”
Princess of the Franklin Empire.
The novel’s heroine.

Seeing her in person, she really looked the part.
She and Aaron, sitting side by side, were a picturesque pair—like something out of a painting.
Wow, they even look alike. They’re perfect for each other.

And yet, in this story, Aaron was cast as a supporting male lead while Ariel fell in love with his best friend instead.
That level of emotional detachment… It was something you’d expect in Hollywood, not in the ever-so-traditional East.
Honestly, that dynamic is so cool it’s almost freezing.

For a fleeting moment, I wondered if Selina’s real name was actually Medusa.
Both Aaron and Ariel had frozen stiff, staring at me.
Seriously? We’ve barely even exchanged greetings.

Should I knock on the table?
They’d probably jump out of their skins.
But I decided against indulging my curiosity.

If one little tap got me locked in a room, I would not be amused.
Instead, I slowly rose from my seat.
Their eyes widened like startled rabbits.

I ignored them.
Slowly, I bowed.
“I sincerely apologize for my past rudeness, Princess Ariel.”

Apologies should always be polite.
That was one of the lessons I had learned—both from long hospital stays and corporate life.