When I Finished Playing the Terminally-Ill Villainous Omega C31

Chapter 31

I was still glaring at the boutique owner’s thumbs resting on Locke’s waist when I quietly called out to Howard.

“Howard.”

He bent down and leaned closer.

“Yes, Young Master?”

“When they made my clothes… did they measure my waist too?”

“They can’t make trousers without measuring your waist, Young Master.”

“Oh… right.”

I’d thought perhaps I was upset because they hadn’t measured my waist when making my own clothes.

If that wasn’t it…

Then what exactly about the owner was bothering me so much?

After jotting down Locke’s waist measurement, the owner smiled warmly as he looked between the two of us.

“I’ve been doing this for over twenty years, but I’ve never met a customer as perfect as you. Your muscle definition, proportions, and overall physique are like a masterpiece a craftsman spent his entire life sculpting. You’re not only beautiful—you carry yourself with remarkable dignity. I’d believe it if someone told me you were a divine steed pulling the gods’ chariot!”

He laughed, explaining that he had an occupational habit: whenever he met someone who looked exceptionally good in clothes, his competitive spirit flared up.

He even said Locke’s body would become the perfect model for the boutique’s records and that he felt he was about to create the finest outfit of his career.

Hearing that made me strangely proud, almost as though I’d raised Locke myself.

Yet at the same time…

Something sharp kept pricking my chest.

What is this stinging feeling…?

“This time, I’ll measure your hips. If you’d rather not, or if anything makes you uncomfortable during the process, please tell me immediately.”

Shrrrk.

The owner unfurled the measuring tape and crouched down.

For some reason, the position of his face irritated me.

Chewing on my lower lip, I whispered to Howard again.

“When making trousers… do they measure your hips too?”

“…Yes. Especially in Locke’s case. His lower body is particularly well-built, so there are more things that need to be taken into consideration.”

He didn’t say it outright.

But I had eyes.

I didn’t ask any further.

The owner, who had been wobbling slightly while taking measurements, finally lost his balance and stumbled forward—

Grabbing hold of Locke’s thigh.

He immediately apologized and stepped back.

Meanwhile, my hand tightened around the sofa’s armrest.

…Damn it.

It felt as though coarse salt were scraping down my throat.

I asked Howard to prepare some black tea.

By the time two full turns of the hourglass had passed since the owner arrived, I could no longer endure either the boredom or the discomfort.

“So… this is taking longer than I expected. Exactly when is it going to be finished?”

“We’re almost done. Just the final touches remain.”

I was about to take out the pouch of gold coins I’d prepared for payment when—

Knock, knock.

Someone knocked on the drawing room door.

Howard exchanged a few words with the servant outside before returning.

“Lady Lila has arrived.”

I blinked in surprise and mentally counted the dates.

Isn’t this a little early?

“Shouldn’t she still have some time before her visit?”

Lila White.

She was an Eighth Circle mage serving the Imperial Palace and a close friend of Mother.

As a healing mage, she visited the estate once every month to examine everyone’s health and prepare medicine tailored to my condition.

Because her schedule depended on the Imperial Palace, her visits had always been on the same date.

So why had she come now?

In the novel, her role was simply to manage my medicine.

Unless I was dying or critically ill, there shouldn’t have been any reason for her behavior to change.

“It seems her schedule changed, so she came earlier.”

Novel settings don’t change for such simple reasons.

Did I unknowingly alter one of Lila’s story events?

While I searched my memory, Howard reminded me that I needed to leave immediately.

Reluctantly, I stood up from the sofa.

Yet my eyes kept drifting back toward the handsome boutique owner.

Fidgeting with the money pouch in my sleeve, I waited for him to say he was finished and ready to settle the payment.

Instead, he completely misunderstood the look I was giving him.

“If you’re busy, you may leave first.”

“Well… I’d rather pay after the work is done…”

“Oh, come now. It’s not as if this is our first or second time doing business with House Hestian. I’m sure you’ll compensate us fairly. Please don’t worry about the clothes at all. Go take care of your business, Young Master.”

“Still…”

As I continued to hesitate, Howard finally cleared his throat.

“Lady Lila must return to the Imperial Palace at a fixed hour. Keeping her waiting any longer would be discourteous, Young Master.”

“I know.”

Letting out a deep sigh, I walked a few steps toward the door.

Even then, I couldn’t help looking back.

“The measurements are finished.”

“…Pardon?”

“That means all that’s left is for him to leave, right?”

“Yes… but is there some problem?”

“No. Nothing.”

“…Just hurry up and leave.”

Telling them to finish everything properly, I reluctantly placed the pouch of gold coins on the cabinet beside the door.

Under Howard’s pointed stare, I shuffled away toward the room where Lila was waiting.

If he’s been doing this for twenty years, he should at least be in his thirties or forties…

Damn this novel.

Why did they have to make even a background character so ridiculously young and handsome?

Tch.

Even while climbing the stairs, my thoughts stayed fixed on the two people I’d left behind in the drawing room.

According to the novel’s setting, Cedric suffered from a disease that caused magical power to accumulate inside his body.

For someone capable of using magic, it wasn’t much of a problem.

For an ordinary person…

It was practically a death sentence.

Magic that couldn’t be expelled would cling to internal organs, clog blood vessels, and eventually harden, putting tremendous strain on the body while slowly consuming the person’s life.

Of course, Cedric’s illness was ultimately just part of the story’s setting.

It couldn’t actually kill me.

My death had already been determined to come either through Locke’s rage or as a penalty for failing a mission.

Just to test it, I’d stopped taking my medicine while Cassian was staying at the estate.

Aside from feeling slightly under the weather now and then, nothing serious had happened.

Recently, my relationship with Locke had improved as well.

Even the system window had remained quiet.

It only looked as though my illness wasn’t getting worse.

It had nothing to do with Lila’s medicine.

“The accumulated magic hasn’t increased.”

Lila smiled.

“Cecile will be pleased. I’ll prepare the same medicine as before, so make sure to take it twice a day without skipping.”

For the first time since entering the novel, I heard her say my condition wasn’t worsening.

Since she knew nothing about my secret, it was only natural for her to assume the medicine was working.

“Thank you, Lady Lila. As always.”

As I quietly watched her pack up her bag, Eclat suddenly came to mind.

In the original story, she’d manifested during the ball.

I’d heard she’d suffered greatly because she hadn’t been prepared.

Wouldn’t suppressant pills make it a little easier?

I cautiously glanced at Lila.

Medicine made by Imperial healers was reserved exclusively for the Imperial Family.

They weren’t allowed to produce it freely for others or sell it publicly.

The only reason she could care for House Hestian and prepare medicine for us wasn’t simply because she was Mother’s friend.

It was because the Emperor had personally granted permission.

Without that approval, she wouldn’t even have been allowed to visit once a month, much less prepare medicine.

The Imperial Family treated House Hestian so favorably because the first head of the Hestian family had rendered great service during the Empire’s founding.

From what I’d gathered, it seemed related to Allure’s domain.

But since only the family head knew the full truth, I couldn’t investigate any further.

Come to think of it…

How does Locke deal with his rut?

As a dominant Alpha, suppressant herbs alone shouldn’t be enough.

There were suppressant pills on the market made by mid-level mages.

The problem was…

They cost more than an ordinary noble servant earned in wages.

Most people either relied on suppressant herbs or had a partner instead.

There was no way Locke’s salary could afford proper suppressants.

And weaker medicine wouldn’t completely suppress the rut of a dominant Alpha.

If proper pills didn’t work well enough…

There was no way ordinary herbs would.

…Don’t tell me he has a partner?

No wonder that jerk was so comfortable kissing me!

That was my first kiss!

With a slightly sullen expression, I unconsciously touched my lips.

Though…

I couldn’t really remember how the kiss had happened.

“I should be going now.”

Still imagining that shameless man’s face, I answered absentmindedly and nodded.

Then I suddenly came to my senses and hurriedly stopped her.

“Wait, Lady Lila!”

She blinked in surprise.

“My, that’s the first time I’ve ever heard you raise your voice. What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

She walked back toward me.

“No, I’m perfectly fine.”

“It’s just…”

“I was wondering whether it might be possible to obtain one of the suppressant pills you make.”

“Why?”

“Are you beginning to manifest?”

Lila asked with visible surprise.

I still didn’t want anyone to know about my manifestation.

It would take several more bouts of manifestation pain before I fully awakened as an Omega.

If Cassian discovered it before then…

I was certain he’d find some way to eliminate me before my manifestation was complete.

You only revealed your hand once you were sure of winning.

I quietly shook my head.

“No.”

“The truth is… there’s someone who cares about me.”

“I just wanted them to suffer a little less.”

“Since you’re the Empire’s greatest healer, I thought your medicine would make an irreplaceable gift.”

Lila smiled warmly.

“Thank you for saying that.”

“But the medicine I prepare may only be used by members of House Hestian.”

“Those are His Majesty’s orders.”

She thought for a moment.

“Hmm…”

“Ah, that’s right.”

“What about medicine made by one of my disciples?”

“They haven’t officially joined the Imperial Palace yet, but they’re an exceptionally talented healer.”

“The suppressant pills they make are far more effective than anything sold on the market.”

She offered to call her disciple over if I wanted to speak with them.

Smiling brightly, I nodded.

“Thank you very much, Lady Lila!”