The Terminally Ill Villainess Goes on a Journey - Chapter 10

Albert stood with his arms crossed, gazing out the window.

Beyond the spacious glass of his cabin, the scenery outside unfolded—the view of the Lamiere Express departing Lisman Station and leaving the Landa Sea behind.

“…What is this?”

He suddenly recalled Irene, who had faced off against the pickpocket during the day.

The way she had cradled the filthy child, rolling on the ground to protect him.

He had assumed she was merely caught up in an incident, but had she truly been invested in resolving it?

Irene Hartmann.

Albert had been observing her for a long time.

She was the worst among all the women he knew.

Especially after her magic had manifested—she had always been hysterical, overly sensitive, and increasingly insecure.

She treated her servants like objects, lashing out at the slightest provocation.

At some point, she had completely lost the dignity befitting a noblewoman.

And when he heard that Irene had been boasting about their past engagement talks, spreading tales about him, his fury had led him to hurl sharp words at her.

Most of all…

“She would never meddle in other people’s affairs.”

Let alone embrace a commoner child, whom she once regarded as a mere insect, and roll around on the street for him.

Yes, Irene had undoubtedly changed.

Not only in the way she treated him but also in how she interacted with others.

“It’s the truth. I just felt suffocated and wanted to go on a trip.”

“I didn’t expect to meet Your Highness in a place like this either.”

“I thought you disliked me.”

Recalling their breakfast together, Albert exhaled lightly.

“What on earth got into her…?”

Could a person truly change so suddenly?

She was a woman impossible to figure out.

Shaking his head in disbelief, Albert returned to his book.

Still, at least the direction of her change wasn’t entirely undesirable.

***

“Wow, what’s this?”

Finn wandered around the first-class cabin, peering curiously at every corner.

I had allowed him to stay overnight in my cabin so I could monitor his condition a little longer.

Yesterday, he had looked somewhat weak, but by morning, he had fully regained his energy.

Under normal circumstances, he would have returned to third-class with Harry.

But since he was already here, I thought it wouldn’t hurt to let him experience first-class a little longer.

There were no scheduled stops today, so I would likely get bored anyway.

“Since you’re already in first-class, why not experience a noble’s life for a bit? If you’d like, you can stay a little longer.”

“Really, Princess?”

Finn’s eyes sparkled as he turned to Harry, silently pleading for permission.

And so, Finn and Harry ended up spending more time in my cabin.

“Wow, this looks fun! Is this a toy, Princess?”

“That’s a sculpture. It’s the work of Estalt, a renowned master of the craft.”

“Oh, I see! It looked so fun, I thought it was a toy…”

Finn had been pointing excitedly at a statue, only to suddenly straighten up at my explanation. His flustered reaction was adorable, and I smiled faintly.

Even Harry, unfamiliar with first-class, seemed discreetly fascinated as he observed his surroundings.

“If it were up to me, I’d love to show you the first-class exclusive facilities, but other guests might find it uncomfortable, so that’s not possible.”

“That’s alright. Just being here is an experience we’ll never have again.”

Harry gazed at the paintings decorating the walls and spoke quietly.

“…This looks like an original piece. I never expected to see a painting like this on a train.”

“You recognize the artist?”

Ah, that’s right.

In the novel, Harry’s profession was a wandering painter.

“My brother knows every famous artist, Princess! He’s a painter himself! He’s really good at it too!”

Finn proudly boasted from the side.

Knock, knock. A knock on the door interrupted the conversation, and a staff member appeared.

“Excuse me, passengers. The meals you ordered have arrived.”

The staff member, bowing respectfully, wheeled a round table into the cabin.

While dining in the restaurant car was the standard practice, passengers could also request meals to be served in their cabins. I had ordered additional meals for Finn and Harry as well.

“Then please enjoy your meal, and if you need anything, feel free to call for assistance.”

“Wow…”

As soon as the staff left, Finn’s eyes grew wide at the feast laid out before him.

Various soups, salads, steaks, and even the turkey I had specially ordered!

Finn, his mouth agape as he stared at the spread, then looked at the array of forks and knives before him with a flustered expression.

“I’ll teach you, Finn. Start with the utensils placed on the outermost side and work your way in.”

I briefly explained noble table etiquette.

Though my soul was Yoon Se-hee, my body still carried Irene’s memories, and these formal manners came naturally to me.

Finn, using his small hands, followed my lead and skillfully cut his steak.

Taking a bite, his eyes widened as if he’d just tasted heaven.

“Wow, this is the most delicious food I’ve ever had! Do nobles always eat like this?”

“Hmm, not always, but generally, yes.”

“Wow… That must be amazing.”

I understood Finn’s admiration.

Honestly, even I had never eaten such lavish meals before coming to this world…

Feeling sympathy for Finn, I nodded knowingly.

It seemed he was thoroughly enjoying his “one-day noble experience.” Watching his joy, I couldn’t help but feel pleased myself. As we continued chatting, the afternoon gradually faded into the evening.

“…Finn, it’s time to go.”

Harry, who had been silently watching the sunset outside the window, finally spoke.

“Lady, we should prepare to leave soon.”

“Already?”

Finn pouted, reluctant to part, but he nodded obediently.

“You can stay a little longer.”

“We can’t just linger here forever. I’m also worried about leaving our seats unattended for too long.”

“…Alright, I understand.”

I had enjoyed my time with Finn, so parting felt bittersweet, but I nodded.

“And… I was thinking about how to express my gratitude. I don’t have much to offer, but I drew this for you.”

Harry had been quietly sketching something on paper for a while now.

Since he was so focused, I hadn’t disturbed him, but I had suspected he was drawing.

I took the sheets he handed me, and the moment I saw them, a soft gasp escaped my lips.

“…Wow.”

Several pages contained charcoal sketches of me.

One showed Irene gazing out the window, lost in thought.

Another captured me laughing warmly while chatting with Finn.

And there was even one of me turning my head slightly, meeting Harry’s eyes, smiling faintly.

I had known he was a talented artist, but I hadn’t expected this level of skill.

The me in his drawings looked as though I was genuinely enjoying my journey.

Happy and at peace.

The warmth in the sketches even seemed to bring happiness to those who viewed them.

Perhaps it was because of the gentle way Harry saw me.

“It’s a gift. If you want to preserve it longer, I recommend using a fixative spray. Also, if you look in the corner…”

Following Harry’s words, my gaze shifted to the lower corner of one of the drawings.

“I realized I never properly introduced myself.”

There, his signature was inscribed.

Harry Jackson

“My name is Harry. Harry Jackson.”

“……”

“We probably won’t see each other often, but if we do meet again during our travels, I’d be grateful if you greeted me warmly.”

Hearing Harry’s gentle voice, I looked up from the drawings.

“…Alright. I’ll treasure these. Thank you, Harry.”

As we smiled at each other, the golden hues of the sunset streamed through the window, casting a soft glow over us.

Bathed in the warm light of the late afternoon sun, we exchanged quiet smiles.

It was a truly heartwarming moment.