The Abandoned Villainess Became a Zombie - Chapter 6

“I ask for your forgiveness and offer my apology, and even if you can’t forgive me, even if you hate me, I understand.”

Of course, it would still be a long time before Lilia had enough strength to protect me, but even so, the words she shared reassured me.

Just knowing that there was someone inside this fortress who didn’t hate me, that someone was thinking of me, brought me comfort.

“Still, I want to try my best so that I might be forgiven someday.”

Lilia, with that lovable face, said something that made it impossible not to love her, then looked at me as if seeking permission.

I wanted to thank her for saying that. I wanted to apologize for snapping at her when she greeted me kindly. But I was Penelope Lloyd.

The very Penelope who made Lilia Sweedy’s life miserable.

“Unlike you, Lady Sweedy, who’s probably used to living like this since you’re a poor baron’s daughter who couldn’t even afford a dress for the party—this life is not for me.”

Even on the journey to escape, she took every opportunity to criticize Lilia, nitpicking at everything.

“Stop hovering around me like that!”

Even while climbing the mountain, she put Lilia in danger multiple times. Of course, Lilia wasn’t the type to just take it.

“It’s true that my family isn’t wealthy, but that doesn’t mean I’m used to living like this. I’m just enduring it because of the circumstances. Unlike you, Lady, I don’t want to inconvenience others for my own sake.”

“Lady, it’s dangerous—please don’t push. And if you want to go first, you’re welcome to.”

Because Lilia always stood her ground and never backed down, Penelope pushed her harder, and before long, they became as good as sworn enemies.

That’s why I thought Lilia hated Penelope too…

But she worried for Penelope from the heart and even apologized first.

There was no way I could hate a Lilia Sweedy like this.

“Young Lady, then please do me just one favor. Then I’ll forgive you.”

I deliberately added a condition.

“…What kind of favor?”

Lilia looked at me with a slightly nervous expression. As though she was hopeful at the idea of being forgiven, but also worried I might ask for something unreasonable.

…An unreasonable favor.

It certainly was. But in order to save that genius—who was probably spending the night in a tree right now, watching for zombies—it was necessary. And the only suitable people for the job were Lilia or Uben.

But regardless of the situation, how could I ask that of a nine-year-old child? A child whose head barely reached my waist, with hands and feet so small—it was something I couldn’t bring myself to say… Not that he would agree to help me anyway.

So Lilia was my last hope.

“I need your blood. Quite a bit of it.”

The Crown Prince had to go outside the fortress, so he couldn’t bleed. And once he left, the Grand Duke, who would be the only remaining combat strength, couldn’t either. If he smelled of blood while inspecting the surroundings, zombies would swarm.

The only ones who could shed blood were Uben and Lilia, who lived solely inside the fortress. Of course, I would also remain within the fortress, but since I was a zombie, my blood was useless.

“…My blood?”

“I heard His Highness is leaving the fortress tomorrow. Zombies react strongly to human blood, so if we use that…”

“They react to blood?” Lilia asked again in surprise at a fact the main characters hadn’t yet discovered.

“Yes, so if you could just give a little of your blood, His Highness will be able to return safely.”

“…So His Highness is leaving the fortress.”

Apparently, she hadn’t yet heard that Idorian would be leaving. She repeated my words softly, blinking slowly as if lost in thought.

“Then… you want my blood for His Highness’s sake?”

“…Well, yes.”

Somehow, Lilia’s question felt like it carried a hidden meaning, making me hesitant to answer, but for now, I could only nod.

“Understood, Lady.”

After a moment of thought, Lilia nodded as if she accepted it.

“But, Young Lady, I’d like you to keep it a secret that I asked this of you.”

Lilia once again nodded without saying anything.

If the Grand Duke or the Crown Prince were to find out about this, they would definitely say not to burden Lilia and that I should draw my own blood.

It wasn’t difficult to draw blood—I couldn’t feel pain anyway—but as I had said before, my blood was useless.

“There were some small glass bottles in the kitchen—would filling one of those be enough? How many would it take to ensure his safe return? Maybe three?”

“…One is enough.”

Lilia waved her hands, as if trying to recall and indicate the size of the bottles to me. Since it was for Idorian’s sake, she seemed determined to be of help somehow.

“Thank you.”

Lilia’s hands, which had been flitting through the air, stopped awkwardly at my sudden words of gratitude. Her lips parted in surprise.

If it were Penelope, she would have never felt or realized such a thing—she would never have said those words. But I still wanted to say it.

Drawing her own blood and filling a bottle wouldn’t be an easy task. Especially for Lilia, the beloved youngest daughter of a noble family.

And yet, she willingly agreed to help me and even came forward despite knowing she might not be praised for it. I was grateful for it all.

“…Young Lady?”

“Nothing.”

I hurriedly pushed the flustered Lilia out of the room and handed her the bandage I had received from Idorian.

“I’m tired, so I’ll rest for a bit.”

“What about the blood?”

“It’ll be no use if it clots. Tomorrow morning.”

“Then… should I bring it to you in the morning?”

Lilia seemed to be in a good mood for some reason. I stared at her blankly for a moment, then belatedly nodded.

“A-and please make sure to drink the tea. It’ll help your stomach feel a bit better.”

Lilia reached out quickly and urged me. I nodded, and she spoke again.

“But you haven’t eaten anything for days. Are you really okay with just that potato? If you’d like, I can try making some soup…”

“…It’s fine.”

“If you feel unwell or need anything, come to me.”

She pointed down the hallway.

“My room is over there.”

Unable to ignore the sparkle in Lilia’s light green eyes that seemed to want me to remember, I leaned out of the room and looked toward where she pointed.

“It’s two doors down from yours.”

“…Got it.”

She seemed to be waiting for an answer, so I nodded and said, “If what you said works out, I’ll come find you.”

“Oh, not that I’m hoping you’ll get sick or anything!” Lilia hastily shook her head and waved her hands.

“I know, Young Lady.”

Only then did Lilia calm down slightly—or maybe she’d just run out of things to say—but her persistent gaze still made it feel like she was waiting for something more.

“Is the room uncomfortable?”

In the end, Lilia found another question, and I couldn’t help but let out a short laugh. It was clear she wanted to keep the conversation going, even just a little longer.

Lilia was definitely showing affection toward me. It seemed to be because of my earlier thank-you.

To think someone could let go of all the resentment they’d built up just because of one small word of thanks.

‘How is someone that soft going to survive in a world like this?’

It seriously worried me.

“I appreciate your concern, but I’m really fine. More than anything, I just want to rest.”

“Ah, of course.”

Just as Lilia finally seemed to back off a little, I gave her a light nod.

“See you tomorrow, Lady.”

Lilia said that to the closing door. And just like that, I truly felt—out of nowhere—that it was a good thing I had come to this fortress.