I will not die a Villainess's death

'You know, bad luck comes in a bundle. So when you start getting unlucky, get ready for a rough time ahead.'

This was something Lexus has said a little time in Elysia's training. She had heard it a few other times when she had been in the other world as well. And somehow, the saying had stuck in her mind.

Elysia could not help but feel like the saying had turned true for her because she kept thinking about it all the time. Otherwise, how could you explain all this bad luck she was facing?

"Lucas, you are bleeding. W-We need to *cough* go call a doctor as soon as possible *cough* Even, can you handle him? Can you heal him? *cough*"

Elysia was still coughing and her chest was making a whistling noise. It hurt badly to be even speaking right now but Elysia pushed through the pain.

Right now, she needed to take care of Lucas.

"I don't need a doctor since they won't be able to do anything for me. I will recover quickly once I rest a little so you don't need to worry."

Lucas was looking to the side as he said that. It was a face he made he was lying and Elysia instantly knew that he was not alright.

And because Lucas had lied about being injured, the chances of him being gravely injured were high. Maybe whatever Lucas was suffering from could not be cured. It was likely a curse in that case.

"Fine, we can talk about it once we are alone. Now is not a place to talk about this topic."

Elysia did not want to back down because she knew that her brother would find a way to get out of this conversation with her if Elysia allowed him time.

That was why she neither agreed with him nor denied him when he asked for some time. Finally, it was Eve who decided that she had enough of this small fight between siblings and pushed them both together.

"Look, you both need to clear the air out so I will help you out. The side room is available so have a nice talk."

Lucas opened his mouth to protest and Elysia took that time to get hold of his hand and pull him after her. Eve stopped anyone else from following the sibling pair so that they could have privacy.

Her brother looked ready to run away from her but Elysia did not allow him to take a single step outside the door. There was a time in her life when Elysia would not have dared to go against her brother like this but she had changed from back then.

She was stronger and she could take the truth when it was being told to her.

And Lucas realized that about her as well because he sighed and allowed Elysia to hold him captive.

"The truth will be difficult to listen to. Ignorance will be bliss for you."

"I can take the truth. Even if it is not something I like, I need to hear it. Only then can I even hope to find a solution to your problem."

Lucas was adamant about not revealing what was wrong with him. He tried everything he could to divert Elysia's attention but she was not going to sit back and let him.

Not when she knew that Lucas was ill and his life was in danger. Elysia loved her brother enough to look for a cure.

When Lucas avoided her eyes for the third time in a row, Elysia decided to confirm him.

"It's a curse, right? Is it something you received while trying to protect me? Is that why you are not telling me anything."

One had to give Lucas Dirac credit for not moving an inch when he was accused openly like that. He was brave and stood still as he heard Elysia's words.

But it was the little actions that gave him away. The tensing of his jaw as well as the lines over his eyes, everything was making Lucas look overly suspicious.

"When did you get this curse? When you saved me the first time? The second one? Or when you were looking for me across dimensions? Which time was it?"

Elysia knew that she was being too forceful with Lucas but her brother would not spill anything if she was not firm.

Besides, Elysia could take her temper to any height if it meant that her brother got to live a happy and long life. That was all she wanted for Lucas.

"I….cannot tell you that. But don't worry. The curse won't take me away and I won't leave you alone."

Lucas assured her, his voice strong. In any other given situation, Elysia would have believed him and let this talk go. But this was a matter of life and death for his brother.

Besides, she did not like how lightly Lucas was taking his own life.

"I don't like it. You are lying to me again and I don't like it. Do you think I will feel happy if you said all this to me? If you are in pain then you should say it out loud."

Elysia's voice had reached a new octave. She was so loud that even Lucas flinched. She was sure that everyone could hear her if not for the privacy spell on the door Eve had cast.

'Darn Lucas Dirac and his habit of hiding from me. How does he expect me to believe and rely on him when he doesn't tell me anything important?'

Elysia's mind was a mess she was trying to sort out. There was a lot she wanted to say to her brother regarding this topic.

But when she opened her mouth, she was beaten by Lucas.

"You make me worried about you all the time Elysia. I cannot sit still when I know you are in trouble so believe me when I say that my condition is the least of my worries."

Elysia's words died on her tongue, never to see the light of day again.

What could she say in front of Lucas's words when he voiced his worries like that? Elysia knew that Lucas was not blaming him but the way he had said those words had hurt all the same.

"I….know I am trouble but this is not about me. Since I am such a big trouble to you, they will not say anything. But you-"

"Will be alright. I contacted Chrome and he is helping me look for a solution for my curse. That was why I wanted to go to the Akatsuki kingdom. It is for both you and myself."

Elysia did not want to leave the empire and all the people who were dear to her but it seemed like there was no other option.

She had a feeling that things were meant to end like this anyway. But it was still disheartening for Elysia to realize that she would have to leave everything behind.

"You do not have to come with me if you do not want to. You can stay back here and manage things for me-"

"I will come with you. Chrome promised to help me if I asked him for it. I will cash in on this offer now."

Lucas looked amused at Elysia's words and she realized that she might have said a little more than she might have wanted to say. Her words made it seem like she was close to Chrome than she was.

"I see. You do care about me, huh? Then, we should get ready to leave the empire for a long time. We might not be able to come back before you turn 18 in the next few months so you should say your goodbyes now."

Elysia's heart gave a painful tug as soon as she realized that she would have to say goodbye again and so soon. It felt like yesterday when she had said her last words to Lexus and now the time was here again.

But this time, even Elysia knew that her leave would be temporary and she would be able to talk with her loved ones whenever she wanted to.

That thought made it much more bearable for her.

"I am sure that Adam will throw a fit as soon as he hears that you want to go away."

"I am sure he will as well."

Elysia laughed with Adam as she heard him make fun of Adam. It was all lighthearted but Elysia was happy to accompany her brother.

Leaving the empire would not only serve to make Lucas feel better but it would also ensure that Elysia was nowhere nearby Adam and Eve for her 18th birthday.

It hurt to say this, but Elysia was almost glad to be going away for her birthday since it would ensure that she would live past the date.

Suddenly, the end looked to be in sight. Elysia could finally feel like she would live past her 18th year.