To be the Villainess

O47.

Chapter 47

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THE REWARD for completing the first training session was delivered to me earlier this morning. My body feels surprisingly refreshed now. It’s strange, really—I would’ve expected my muscles to still be screaming in pain. But since they aren’t, who am I to question it?

My gaze drifted toward a row of glass bottles on the table, each containing remnants of my failed elixirs. I had spent hours practicing on my own, carefully following the notes Mire had given me. Speaking of him, I haven’t seen that elusive beast since yesterday. Where on earth could he be?

With a sigh, I began cleaning up the mess from my latest experiment. The explosion had been minor, thankfully, but it was enough to reduce the table to splinters. The palace servants, efficient as ever, swooped in and replaced it almost immediately. Their speed was almost unsettling.

“They must really fear the Empress,” I murmured, shaking my head. Perhaps she had ordered them to attend to me with this much urgency. Was I being treated as some sort of VIP guest? The thought made me chuckle. The idea of myself as someone important enough to command this level of attention was laughable.

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The next training session will be given to you in the evening! Please wait patiently!

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I glanced at the system’s announcement and nodded. Pabait ng pabait ang system sa akin. Ano kaya ang nakain nito?

After finishing my clean-up, I stepped onto the balcony, inhaling deeply as the crisp air filled my lungs. The freedom of the outdoors called to me, but for now, I was confined to this room.

The palace was a marvel in its own right, an intricate blend of craftsmanship and grandeur. Marble columns framed the view, each one etched with delicate patterns that gleamed faintly in the sunlight. The sprawling grounds below hinted at the power and prestige of the Empress who ruled here.

Unfortunately, my current room didn’t boast the finest view. Beyond the balcony stretched a dense forest, its emerald canopy swaying gently in the breeze. The occasional birdsong broke the silence, but the scene felt oddly isolated, like a barrier separating me from the wider world.

I leaned against the railing, allowing the quiet to settle over me. The beauty of the palace was undeniable, but my restless heart craved the vastness beyond the trees.

Maybe there are wild animals I could tame in that forest? The thought alone sent a spark of excitement coursing through me. My lips curled into a small grin at the idea of commanding a beast to follow my will.

But...

My gaze shifted to the glass window. The faint reflection staring back at me brought my excitement to a halt. My fingers instinctively reached up to touch my hair as I studied my appearance.

“I’m not ready to tame anything yet,” I muttered under my breath, running my hand through the jet-black strands of my hair. My crimson eyes, framed by unsettling silver-white eyebrows and lashes, only made the image more jarring. I looked... cursed. And maybe I was.

A faint chuckle escaped me. “If that silver-white hair of mine ever comes back, I’m challenging the Empress to a rematch,” I said with a small, amused smile. Her ethereal beauty still lingered in my mind—unforgettable and intimidating in equal measure. She was frustratingly perfect but kind enough to let me stay at the palace despite everything. For that, I couldn’t bring myself to dislike her.