Chapter 260: Epilogue (4)

Chapter 260: Epilogue (4)April.

The season when the stirring spring ripens.

The weather that had been chilly during dawn and night was now embraced with warm coziness.

Ferzen, who was in Euphemia’s bedroom taking care of her, turned his head towards one of the maids.

“My Lord. Your commission has been completed.”

"Is that so."

After gazing down at the sleeping Euphemia, Ferzen left the care of her to the maids, got up and left the room.

Immediately after, entering the workshop separately prepared in the annex, a faint scent of sweat and a thick smell of paint wafted over.

"Oh, you're here."

"I heard the work is all finished."

"Yes!"

"Will you show me?"

"Th-this way, please."

These artists were the best Rosenberg had to offer.

Ferzen prayed he wouldn’t be disappointed since he even met that Old Snake just to get everything necessary for this.

"......"

But as expected of artists who made a name for themselves in Rosenberg, the holy land of art and culture.

The results that entered his eyes were flawless beyond compare.

Although Ferzen was the one who drew the sketch, the fact final product perfectly matched his intentions without a single error was absurd.

And the artists hired by Ferzen, seeing him silently appreciating their works, also clenched their fists tightly.

They also had ample experience and intuition, so they realized through Ferzen's reaction that they had succeeded.

A quiet silence without a single word.

Could there be a more definite praise than that when it comes to appreciating artwork?

“You may take your leave now. The maid waiting outside will take care of the promised compensation.”

“Yes! T-Thank you for our generosity, My Lord.”

After gathering their tools in the workshop and stepping outside, the artists sighed contently, after such an exhausting job.

Besides the generous compensation, they mostly accepted Ferzen’s request to build good ties with Brutein.

"But... honestly, isn't it amazing?"

"It really is. I didn't think he was the type to prepare such a gift for his wife."

“Ahh...I was so afraid that we might get some paint stains in that Azelia’s dress he put there for reference...”

“Hahaha...I think that was something everyone feared.”

The artists chatted about their work as they walked. However, when they saw compensation, waiting for them outside the annex, their eyes widened.

“You know...If he had that much money prepared...I wonder if he was planning on beheading us if we had stained that dress...”

Unless the compensation also included a life’s annuity, the artists wondered if it was okay to receive that generous pile of gold.

One by one they blinked, as a broad smile spread through their faces.

There was so much gold they couldn’t even grasp it within their arms.

*****After a long time, Ferzen who had been appreciating the paintings, turned around.

As he left the workshop, he saw Yuriel enjoying a tea party with some young ladies from various noble families in the Brutein’s mansion garden.

Then, one of the laddies noticed him, and following her eyes, everyone in the tea party glanced at Ferzen, including Yuriel.

Being the center of attention, Ferzen lightly waved his hand.

'......'

Yet, despite that half-hearted greeting, Yuriel gave him a radiant smile.

All this time, you were waiting for me.

So Yuriel.

This time, I... will be waiting for you.

*****"Hah..."

Late at night.

Yuriel entered a carriage accompanied by some maids.

Leaning against the window, she sighed tiredly.

She had received a letter from her grandfather, an urgent summon.

Did he know of her pregnancy?

Well, the Old Snake would surely obsess over this child growing in her womb more than even herself.

Yet, the fact she had been summoned urgently, meant that something important was happening.

Throb.

Yuriel, pressing her temples tightly as if a slight headache was rising, tilted her head back.

The carriage had already begun to leave Brutein.

Looking at the scenery of the forests heavily blanketed in darkness, Yuriel closed her eyes.

Since the carriage would be moving for quite a long time, she should forcibly get some sleep so it wouldn't strain the child.

Creak.

However, when the carriage stopped before even 30 minutes had passed since leaving Brutein, Yuriel, who had been napping, opened her eyes and looked around.

What could have happened?

As Yuriel looked at the maids with unwarranted tension, the maids, without resolving Yuriel's question, opened the carriage door, got off, and bowed deeply.

As if moonlight had settled in the quiet forest.

As if this was the destination.

"......"

Although Yuriel was on high alert in case there was a risk of an ambush, it would be ridiculous for the maids of the Brutein family to be bribed by someone.

So, carefully getting up and getting off the carriage, Yuriel quietly followed behind the maids who were moving with soft steps, treading on the undergrowth.

"Ah..."

Then, in the center where moonlight shone down, there was a small cabin made of logs.

As the maids opened the door of that cabin, a large mirror and a pure white dress placed next to it were revealed.

The words she wanted to ask, what on earth this was, rose up to the end of her throat, but what suppressed it was a vague sense of anticipation.

“My Lady, please come here. And we shall make you the most beautiful woman in this world.”

"......"

The moonlight softly coming in through the window truly possessed a bewitching charm.

If not for that, the maids attending to her wouldn't look like fairies.

Swish.

Like that, Yuriel changed into the pure white dress of Azelia’s make, and in front of the large mirror, she could feel her heart beating rapidly as she saw herself becoming more and more beautiful.

Soon, the maid who finished the makeup stepped back and brought a small box, took off the shoes Yuriel was wearing, and carefully put on shoes that looked exactly like the dress she was wearing, taking them out of the box placed on the floor.

Creak.

Immediately after, the maids who had worked their magic on her, opened the cabins door, letting the gentle moonlight caress the place...

Clack.

「In a cold land, where winter reigns supreme, and pure snow blanketed the land.」

「In Louerg, a chillingly cold place...」

「 I Became The Villan Who Robbed The Heroines. 」

──The End.

*****Authors Note.

*****How should I start the afterword?

Yes.

First of all... When writing novels, I tend to be inspired by just attractive original ideas or the personality of the heroine I want to portray.

In fact, Agaphe Philia started after seeing the relationship between Sesshomaru and Rin in Inuyasha.

As I mentioned, "The Villain Who Robbed the Heroines" started when I saw a magic thousand character classic comic book lying around at home and went "Oh...?"

Also, I originally had some interest in doing sim city-like model gardens.

I wonder if everyone enjoyed that feeling of having their own kingdom by putting soil, twigs, and catching ants in a small plastic bottle since childhood?

Of course, that was the beginning of the model garden.

But when writing, my biggest desire was to see where my current limit was.

Even while completing the third volume, the narrative of the story couldn't gain strength.

My capacity to write a full-length novel didn’t increase.

However, that greed overlapped with my physical condition and produced very bad results, but it was the work that made me self-objectify the most...

No, I think it just made me know my place the best.

Anyway, the reason I'm saying this is... Rather than being inspired by the original idea or the heroine's personality in "The Villain Who Robbed the Heroine".

I was inspired by a work that you would know without me having to mention it.

While following it with great interest, I felt a sense of regret thinking, "Even this talented author doesn't want to describe a truly villainous protagonist..."

Of course, that will be more in line with popular tastes.

But that regret was so great that the motivation for writing "The Villain Who Robbed the Heroine" was to try writing a character worthy of being a villain that wouldn’t change even if put though the washing mashine.

Naturally, since this basically deviates from popular tastes.

I thought that a certain line should never be crossed.

Fortunately, that line seems to have been kept appropriately...

Nevertheless, many people frowned because of Lizzy.

But I thought it was unavoidable.

Because Lizzy was the only element that couldn't be compromised.

However, through "The Villain Who Robbed the Heroine" like I mentioned.

I realized something.

"Ah... I have a knack for unraveling relationships between characters, especially love-hate, more than I thought."

That arrogance seems to have been a considerable mistake.

Yuriel.

Euphemia.

It was extremely difficult to unravel the relationship with Lizzy, which was far more intertwined than the two of them.

In fact, what felt neat in the set plot.

Especially at the end, I felt that my capacity was still very lacking.

In fact, you may have known what kind of picture I was trying to draw in the underworld.

But there were many people who said they didn't understand the emotional lines.

...There is one more mistake besides this.

The April Fool's incident, as people call it.

This was a catastrophe brought about by my lack of capacity, but also by my greed, and my usual writing mindset had a big impact on choking me.

"Basically, in terms of plausibility, there should be no loopholes that readers can dig into."

This was the basic attitude of writing.

To avoid that, I always made sure to choose only the best that I could think of in my head, whether it was the protagonist, the enemy, or other characters.

Apart from my obsession, this is also why it took me a long time to write.

If I give the enemy the best move I can think of in my head.

Naturally, the best move to break through it from the protagonist's point of view must also come from my head.

I spent a tremendous amount of time pondering that.

In fact, for the characters not to feel stupid, the protagonist in the early part only goes through the best choices to survive.

As a result, naturally, there seemed to be no way out from the perspective of the original protagonist, Ciel.

Yet, it was the catastrophe brought by the greed to try to save Ciel, and my lack of capacity.

Looking back, there were really many eventful things.

But thanks to "The Villain Who Robbed the Heroine", I think I've grown a lot.

I, who couldn't even surpass 200 episodes each time, recorded a full-length novel of 260 episodes.

Coming this far, I often think about giving up the capacity to deal with the central narrative that serves as the basic skeleton.

It's my taste, and what has always been my strength is the characters.

In fact, the narrative of "The Villain Who Robbed the Heroine" followed the order of resolving Euphemia's conflict - resolving Yuriel's conflict - and resolving Lizzy's conflict.

Ah...

Before I knew it, the afterword has become extremely long.

"The Villain Who Robbed the Heroine" took up 1 year and 7 months of my life.

How much time does "The Villain Who Robbed the Heroine" take up in the lives of the readers?

Lizzy.

Yuriel.

Laura.

Euphemia.

Jeremiah.

Princess Elizabeth.

And the other supporting characters.

I hope the process of running from episode 1 to episode 260, intertwined with the protagonist Ferzen.

Was enjoyable.

And happy.

And left a short lingering feeling that it was fun.

Thank you so much for following this clumsy author's journey.

( __ )

─ Songarakburojim (Broken Finger) ─

This is the last registered episode.

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