The Abandoned Villainess Became a Zombie - Chapter 8

‘No.’

I clenched my fists tightly, struggling to suppress my instincts. I needed to escape from this scent as quickly as possible. However, with the grand duke standing firmly in front of the door, blocking my way, I had no means of escape.

“If you truly wanted to help the crown prince, you should have given your own blood.”

There was a perfectly valid reason why I couldn’t do that, but since I couldn’t reveal it, there was no way to clear up the misunderstanding.

“I’m sorry, young lady.”

In the end, the only way to end this situation was to apologize.

“Hah? Is there even a shred of sincerity in that apology?”

“I’m sorry for hurting you.”

I pressed myself as close to the wall as possible and apologized just as he wanted.

I only hoped this situation would end quickly.

‘No. I have to endure this.’

Suppressing my instincts was not easy.

I was afraid. I feared that if I lost focus for even a moment, I would end up biting Lilia. Of course, I would likely be decapitated before I could even do so.

Even so, my heart pounded violently, as if it would burst, and my body kept trying to move against my will.

“…I’m sorry.”

Even if it meant death, I wanted to bite her. If I could sink my teeth into her just once, I felt like dying wouldn’t be so bad.

“Stop it. She had no choice. She wandered the forest alone for three days before finally making it back!”

It was the moment I collapsed to the floor.

“She hasn’t even been able to eat properly since returning. She needs to recover. How can you say she should have done this when she’s unwell? If anything, it should have been me.”

Lilia Sweedy raised her voice as she continued, “I told you I was fine! Why are you blaming her like this?”

I didn’t even have the energy to lift my head, but I heard the commotion and then the sound of the door shutting.

…It seemed Lilia had shoved the grand duke aside and closed the door.

***

Penelope Lloyd.

She was an infuriating person. Lilia had never hated anyone before in her life, but when it came to Penelope, she fully understood the meaning of hatred.

“Lady Sweedy, where in the world did you get that dress? How utterly tasteless. How could you show up in such a shabby outfit? Never mind shame—do you not even feel sorry for the host?”

Constant, biting insults.

“Oh dear, my hand slipped. At least it spilled on your already pathetic dress.”

Blatant bullying.

Even in the midst of an apocalypse where people were turning into monsters, she didn’t change.

She had whined about not wanting to walk, snatched a horse that should have gone to a pregnant woman, and refused to enter the estate that had offered them shelter just because she was being stubborn.

Even on the way to the fortress, she insisted on riding a horse up the mountain. Because of her delays, they had run into zombies.

By the time they reached the mountain, most of those who had gone ahead had already been bitten and turned into grotesque creatures.

Only after seeing zombies up close did Penelope seem to grasp the gravity of the situation. She had thrown a fit, demanding to return to the estate.

She had scorned the deaths of others but fought desperately to preserve her own life. Seeing her like that had stirred a revulsion Lilia had never known before.

In the end, it was because of Penelope that their group’s hiding place had been discovered.

A foolish woman. The only thing she knew how to do was whine and flaunt her background.

As she ran up the mountain, Lilia had genuinely cursed Penelope. How many people had suffered because of her?

What Lilia felt toward Penelope was pure hatred. Unquestionable.

Or at least, she had thought so…

Her breath was ragged, her body growing weaker with each passing moment.

That was when Penelope Lloyd grabbed her wrist and pulled her forward with all her strength—as if telling her not to fall behind, as if she was trying to help her.

Even as she gasped for breath, Lilia stared at the hand gripping her wrist in disbelief.

Then she saw Penelope up close—mouth gaping, drool slipping from her lips as she panted, utterly exhausted. And yet, she did not let go of Lilia’s hand.

Though her face twisted in pain, though she looked on the verge of collapse, she held on with all her might.

And when they came across a large boulder blocking their path, what did she do then?

She willingly gave up her turn. She should have been scrambling to climb up first, but instead, she pushed Lilia forward as if it were only natural. There was not even a moment of hesitation in Penelope’s actions.

That same Penelope Lloyd wedged herself beneath Lilia and braced herself as if telling her to step on her and climb.

“Your Highness, what about the lady?”

“…It’s too late.”

The crown prince spoke as if telling her to abandon hope. It was a death sentence already passed, yet Lilia kept looking back.

The wrist Penelope Lloyd had been holding onto for so long was still damp with her sweat.

…A foolish woman who knew nothing except how to whine and flaunt her background.

When they finally reached the fortress and Lilia no longer had to run for her life, she collapsed and threw up. As her breathing gradually steadied, a thought came to her.

If Penelope Lloyd hadn’t lifted her up first…

It wouldn’t have been her who should have died. It should have been Lilia.

She had thought she understood everything about that simple-minded woman. But no matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t understand why Penelope had reached for her hand or why she had pushed her forward first.

However, defining Penelope no longer mattered to her. Understanding why she had saved her was no longer important.

Regardless of the reason, she had saved Lilia’s life.

The moment she saw Penelope again after days spent shedding meaningless tears, she made a promise to herself.

Just as Penelope had saved her, Lilia would protect Penelope Lloyd in return.

***

At some point, the sun had set, and darkness had fallen outside the window. The reason I woke from my deep sleep was because of Lilia knocking at my door.

“Lady, would you like to have dinner?”

Once again, Lilia knocked on my firmly shut door several times.

Morning, noon, and night. She asked if I wanted to eat with her every mealtime, and if I refused, she would bring me homemade soup.

“No, I’m full from the soup.”

“Ah, you ate? Did it suit your taste?”

“Yes, thank you.”

Leaning against the desk that blocked the door, I answered quietly.

…A zombie.

Even though I had turned into one, I could still think. It wasn’t easy, but with effort, I could move my body as I wished. I reacted to the scent of blood, but even that, I could suppress.

I had thought I could endure it.

But I was wrong. Instinct was not something I could control.

If Lilia hadn’t shut the door that morning, I might have bitten her. Just like the zombies outside, I might have let out a monstrous cry and lunged at her.

The impulse was uncontrollable.

The bigger issue was that once my senses were heightened, even the faintest trace of blood triggered a reaction.

When I opened the door to take the soup Lilia had left, I caught the faintest scent of blood lingering in the corridor, and my body responded instantly.

…Was my zombie nature growing stronger?

I was afraid to open the door. I didn’t want to smell blood anymore.

Losing control of my body was an experience I never wanted to repeat. More than anything, it left me utterly exhausted.

Perhaps it was because suppressing my instincts drained me mentally, or maybe it was the side effect of awakening in response to the scent of blood. Either way, while pushing the desk against the door, I had fallen asleep.

At some point, just like the zombies in the forest, I had ended up sleeping while standing. At least I was still light enough of a sleeper to wake at the slightest noise.

“…Lady, are you sure you’re alright?”

I had thought she had left, but Lilia was still standing outside my door, asking cautiously.

“Yes. You don’t need to worry.”

Another long silence followed. But I heard no footsteps leaving, meaning Lilia was still standing outside.

“…But, lady. Why did you tell His Highness that the blood was mine?”

After much hesitation, that was the question Lilia finally asked.