I Became A Squirrel Seeking For The Villain [EN]: Chapter 35

“At the moment… Lady Yurika is with Lady Sienna and Baron Renat,” the butler reported carefully to Meriel.

Meriel touched her forehead, a wave of frustration washing over her.

Of all days, it had to be today, Renat’s scheduled check-up day for Sienna.

And Yurika was always present during Sienna’s check-ups.

Sienna had, from some point, insisted on having Yurika by her side during these appointments.

It was a testament to how deeply Sienna believed Yurika was her lost second daughter.

Everyone else considered it a symptom of her illness, a form of delusion.

Sienna’s health had improved significantly under Renat’s care, but the delusion of mistaking Yurika for her daughter persisted.

“The check-up… it must have just begun.”

Moreover, Renat and Yurika were quite close, so they would likely have tea together afterward.

Meriel rolled her eyes, a mix of exasperation and determination in her gaze. She quickly instructed the butler, “Inform Yurika of the situation, but do so discreetly, without Mother’s knowledge. Get a message back. Mother will worry if she finds out.”

With Renat actively treating Sienna, everyone in the Duke’s residence was treading carefully.

According to Renat, maintaining a calm emotional state was paramount for Sienna’s well-being.

Yurika’s message, swiftly delivered by the butler at Meriel’s behest, read:

[He seems to anticipate our intentions and has come to negotiate.

First, stall for time by acting difficult, insisting there’s no official document identifying ‘Lady Medeste’ as Meriel.

If you can manage to thoroughly annoy him, Mother’s check-up will conclude, and I’ll join you.

He’ll likely be surprised to see me, but if you give them some private time while he’s in a state of shock, they’ll resolve it quickly.]

In essence, Meriel’s role was to be a nuisance and delay Johan.

‘So, I just have to act wild, right? Can I even do that…?’

Meriel, who had never been deliberately difficult in her life, felt a pang of doubt. However, the thought of her beloved Crown Prince spurred her on, igniting her fighting spirit.

‘Until Yurika arrives, I’ll somehow stall for time in this office!’

After receiving the secret message from Meriel, I furrowed my brow, a confused expression clouding my face.

‘What is it? What’s going on?’

I never anticipated Johan visiting the Medeste Duke’s residence.

This was truly unexpected.

“Yurika? Is something wrong?”

After excusing myself to the bathroom to send a message to Meriel, I returned to Sienna’s side.

During Renat’s examinations, I always held Sienna’s hand.

‘I’m not the real Yurika, but… if it brings you happiness, I’ll do my best.’

Over time, I had grown quite fond of Sienna.

Initially, I felt a strange sense of guilt whenever she looked at me and called me her second daughter, but now I simply wished for her to live longer.

In the original story, Sienna dies relatively soon, though I don’t know the exact time…

Renat claimed Sienna’s condition was improving significantly, but knowing the original plot, I couldn’t shake off my anxiety.

No matter how skilled Renat was as a doctor, and despite Sienna’s improvements, she still saw me as her real daughter…

Therefore, Renat had recently declared his intention to actively address her mental confusion as well.

To be honest, I feared she might reject me if she regained her senses, but I nodded, wanting Sienna to recover.

Sienna, oblivious to my inner turmoil, said with concern, “You don’t seem well, somehow…”

“Ah, no. I’m just worried about Mother.”

I wanted to meet Johan immediately and negotiate, but I wanted to stay with Sienna until her check-up was over.

‘Meriel probably can’t be a pain, but… somehow, she needs to annoy him and disrupt his peace of mind, then throw him into a panic.’

From Johan’s perspective, even if he didn’t fall in love with Meriel at first sight, there was no reason to break off the engagement.

He wouldn’t want to relinquish Meriel, the head of the family, until he had established himself in the capital. But if I, his savior, appeared then!

And if I pleaded with him to continue the engagement with me for Meriel’s sake, who had protected me until now!

If he gave up Meriel, he could leverage the Medeste Dukedom’s power, and I would offer to quietly break off the engagement whenever he wished!

Even if he was hardened by the battlefield, wouldn’t there be room for compromise if he met me after a long time?

I pondered what to say to Johan, waiting for the check-up to end.

The countless nights spent climbing the tower as a small squirrel, knocking on his window, saving him with my unparalleled acorn-throwing skills, and even informing him of Ella’s intentions…

‘I have to make the most of it.’

If I admitted to using him for humanization, I’d have no argument. But if I played dumb, he couldn’t say anything, right?

‘But… Johan erased my Highrad crest, so I can’t claim I gave unilaterally. My logic is a bit flawed. He needs to panic when he sees me.’

I was making full preparations when the check-up concluded.

“Well, take your medicine regularly… and avoid stress. Remember to focus on positive thoughts.”

Renat adjusted his glasses and spoke kindly as usual. Sienna soon drifted off to sleep, thanks to the sleeping pills he prescribed.

“Renat, I’m sorry.”

Originally, I was going to have tea with Renat after Sienna’s check-up, but this was an emergency.

“My sister is receiving a guest. I should be there as well. Can we reschedule? I’ll visit you at the Baron’s residence.”

“Is that so? Then I’ll escort you to Lady Meriel’s office.” Renat smiled gently, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

He had graduated from the medical academy early and come to the Medeste Duke’s residence to fulfill his promise to me. He was inherently kind and easy to get along with.

He was a good young man in many ways – kind, gentle, and strong. He had become my best friend.

Although we had initially met as a patron and protégé, we no longer treated each other as superiors and subordinates.

Even as a duchess, I was an adopted daughter from an orphanage, and Renat, despite his orphanage background, was already celebrated as the empire’s best doctor. There wasn’t much difference in our positions.

Of course, Renat used honorifics with me out of respect for my title, but that was the extent of it. We treated each other as comfortable friends.

“We haven’t seen each other in a while; shouldn’t we exchange greetings?”

“Shall we? Oh, that’s right.”

I walked quickly down the hallway, chatting with Renat about various things.

Just before entering Meriel’s office, a clever idea struck me. I briefly grabbed Renat’s arm as he said goodbye, saying he would leave now.

“Do you happen to have any medicine that could make someone look a little… pale or unwell? Someone who needs to appear pitiful.”

“Someone who needs to look pitiful?”

Since I was about to ask Johan for a favor, looking a bit pitiful wouldn’t hurt.

If I looked too healthy compared to someone who had suffered on the battlefield, he might feel betrayed…

“Then this would be suitable. It temporarily reverses the body’s mana flow, causing the complexion to worsen rapidly. It’s not yet available commercially, but I developed it, so its safety and effectiveness are guaranteed.”

Renat readily rummaged through his medical bag and handed me a potion. I drank it in one gulp, following his instructions.

The taste wasn’t unpleasant, but the scent was a bit off-putting. I frowned and handed him the empty bottle, saying,

“Oh, there’s medicine like this? If Renat made it, I trust it completely.”

“Yes. It affects a person’s mana, so it won’t affect their actual health. Don’t worry.”

“But why did you develop this kind of medicine in the first place?”

“I made it in case they threatened to keep me at the academy. I could drink it and claim I needed rest to get out.”

“Oh my.”

“I had to keep my promise to the Duchess. That’s why I didn’t announce it publicly.”

Renat smiled comfortably.

I was once again touched by his dedication to keeping his promise.

“I’ve done clinical trials myself, so you don’t have to worry.”

“Well, if Renat made it, I definitely trust it.”