"Villainess No More: The Flight from Fate Begins"

CHAPTER 18

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Chapter 18: "Being Treated Badly"

"Lord Maze, what are you doing?" I inquired as I observed Maze dragging Lailiana toward us.

"Prince Leon, I've brought Lady Lailiana as you instructed," Maze tossed Lailiana in front of us.

Lailiana fell on her rear, tears of frustration streaming down her face.

What on earth is happening?

I stared at Maze in shock. Had he really thrown Lailiana like that? Weren't they supposed to like her?

What on earth were they trying to accomplish?

"You... What did you do to Azele?" Lucelio demanded, walking briskly toward Lailiana, his glare fixed on her.

"I..." Lailiana began to tremble as she noticed everyone's accusing stares.

"We... We only talked!" she shouted defensively.

"I bet you hurt her again, didn't you?" Maze interjected, his tone accusatory.

I looked at these ridiculous men, their behavior confusing me.

Why were they acting this way? Were they attempting to protect me to soothe their guilty consciences? Was that it?

For heaven's sake, I had asked them to stop doing this! Couldn't they just leave me alone?

"Speak, Lady Lailiana! Did you hurt Lady Azele?" Prince Leon demanded, his gaze intense.

Lailiana cried even harder when she saw the man she loved standing up for another woman.

Watching Lailiana cry like that, looking so pitiful, evoked a protective instinct, but the capture targets remained unmoved; they already knew her true colors.

Azele sighed as she observed the white lotus heroine sitting on the floor.

"Your Highness, Lailiana and I only discussed something," I said, attempting to put an end to the unnecessary commotion.

"Did she harm you?" Lucelio inquired gently.

"No, she didn't. Truly, we only talked, nothing more."

"Lailiana! Are you okay?" Ranze suddenly appeared and helped Lailiana up.

At least someone was behaving normally.

Maze and Prince Leon continued their strange behavior, and even Yuno had been acting oddly lately. What on earth was going on with them?

Were they really feeling that guilty?

"Ranze," We all fell silent, observing Lailiana as she hugged Ranze, tears streaming down her face onto his arm.

Was she oblivious? He was a man! Hugging an unmarried man was strictly prohibited in a noble society. That was one of the first rules taught to us noble women. Did she not know that?

To make matters worse, she embraced him in front of other noble people. She was practically digging her own grave.

Ugh, what a stupid woman!

"Ranze," she called his name again while clinging to him tightly.

Ranze raised his hand slightly, feeling awkward in this situation.

"Lady Lailiana, can you please back off? You're hugging an unmarried man. Are you trying to tarnish my reputation?" Ranze suddenly felt annoyed with Lailiana when he noticed that everyone had begun to criticize him.