The Yandere Villainess’s Past Life Was That of a Lonely Woman. After Reflecting and Stopping Her Stalking of Her Fiancé, He Somehow Started Approaching Her Instead. - Chapter 20

Suddenly, I was engulfed in burning red spider lilies. Scorched by their flames, I raged at the pain, only to be burned again, and then grow furious at being burned again.

It went on and on like a torment from hell. When I finally turned to ash and opened my eyes, I was lying on a luxurious bed.

Above me stretched a canopy adorned with delicate floral carvings. The blossoms were spider lilies. Their color was not red, yet the sight made my throat tighten with fear.

But that was all. I had endured the torture without losing my mind. The relief of surviving brought tears to my eyes. They were not tears of hatred, but of comfort.

Then, a voice froze that fleeting sense of peace.

“Morning, Sis. Sleep well?”

You still look pale though.

From behind the canopy curtains, a red moon grinned at me.

In that instant, a chilling rage blazed in the pit of my stomach. I forced myself to suppress it and slowly sat up.

If I showed any intent to attack him, the same thing might happen again.

I had no idea what the correct choice was, but I was not foolish enough to keep choosing the wrong one.

“…Yes, I slept well. Though I did have a terrible nightmare.”

“Hah, poor thing.”

His words of sympathy were followed by laughter full of delight.

He clearly enjoyed my misfortune. It made me furious, but at least my answer seemed to satisfy him.

Part of me felt ridiculous for being pleased about that, like I had just cleared a flag in an otome game.

While I was lost in thought, the black-haired man casually pulled the curtains aside and sat down on the bed.

Reluctantly, I tolerated the lack of distance between us.

“But I’ve never seen anyone return from the Witch’s Garden without going mad.”

“The witch?”

“Yes. Anyone who tries to possess Lycoris Radiata’s body gets burned by the dark flames she left behind.”

A self-defense spell, he explained.

From the perspective of someone who had been thoroughly incinerated, it was absolutely excessive.

I never tried to possess her. One day, I simply woke up as Lycoris. Why was I only now being punished for it?

“…Ah.”

Perhaps it was because I had envied and coveted her power. Because I wanted to live in her body as my own.

That was why the spell she left behind had judged me a thief and tried to purge me.

It was strangely easy to accept. Lycoris was the sort of girl who would do something like that. A girl who, after heartbreak, would nearly destroy the world.

Feeling somewhat guilty, I lowered my eyes. Looking back, my desire had been pitifully selfish.

Still, I had survived only by clinging to the thought that I would never forgive the man who did this to me. And now, I had no one to take revenge on.

That man’s kiss had not actually killed me.

As I sat there with my emotions adrift, the inhuman youth who called himself my brother watched me.

When he had touched my lips and drained my magic, his expression had been carelessly cruel. But now, it was not. If anything, he looked… dejected.

“When I heard that Lucius had kissed you, I knew right away it couldn’t be true. Not with him still alive.”

“Alive…?”

The dangerous word slipped out, and I gasped.

“But if the Witch’s Garden activated, then this body really does belong to Lycoris. And if you returned without going insane, that means you’re Lycoris on the inside as well. That’s right, isn’t it?”

“That is… true, but…”

Before I could finish, his hand covered my mouth. This time his smile looked unbearably lonely.

“I know. But don’t say it. Don’t tell me with that face that you don’t know me.”

“You…”

“I’ll say it myself. I am Hydrangea, the dark spirit who made a contract with Lycoris.”

“…Ah.”

The moment he named himself, a scene flashed across my mind.

Three figures arguing in a courtyard: Lucius, the heroine, and Lycoris.

Her fiancé told her it was over. Lycoris smiled with only her lips, while her eyes, hidden by long bangs, wept bl00d. She cursed the world.

Answering that voice, a black figure emerged from her shadow. To feed on the souls of Lycoris and countless others, and drag the world into darkness.

“…My Hydrangea.”

The words slipped from my lips, sounding as if they belonged to someone else.