A Runaway Villainess, Now Healing In An Enemy Country - Chapter 38

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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【Chapter 38】

 

If Nishe had been in this party, he would have definitely raised objections at least five hundred million times.

 

Having Ally join instead of Nishe was a stroke of divine genius.

 

‘…This combination should be fine.’

 

They’re all skilled individuals who’ve lived longer than me, so I don’t know why they seem like children left by the waterside.

 

I earnestly pleaded with them.

 

“Don’t call my name, don’t act alone, call me first before doing anything. Got it?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“Yes.”

 

As we entered the Central Square, the Citadel had a more lively atmosphere than what we’d seen in the alleys.

 

Street vendors were busily setting up one after another, and various decorative ornaments were being hung throughout the streets.

 

Even though it was winter, street performances seemed to be taking place, making everything as bustling as if preparing for a festival.

 

‘A festival, not a funeral.’

 

What kind of festival?

 

The Foundation Day Festival held during spring was the most splendid and grand festival in the Citadel, but spring was still far away.

 

‘This is way too strange.’

 

We blended into the passing crowds.

 

Whether holding hands had the effect he mentioned, there was no sign of people being wary because of the Magi.

 

There were many people in unusual attire here and there, so Davuer and I wearing robes didn’t look particularly awkward.

 

“Welcome! We’re offering special discounts!”

 

I glanced back at Ally and Jepi following behind, then pretended to browse a jewelry stall while striking up a conversation with the owner.

 

“Um, I’ve been recovering from illness… It’s been a while since I’ve been to the Citadel, so is something happening?”

 

“Oh my, didn’t you see the special edition? There was an announcement from the Imperial Palace this morning!”

 

“An announcement?”

 

“Yes, His Highness the Prince has recovered and will soon hold an engagement ceremony with the Countess!”

 

“…*cough*, what?”

 

“So there’s a commemorative festival until next week. On the engagement day, they’ll ride a flower carriage around the entire Citadel!”

 

I was stunned by such an unimaginable reason.

 

‘Suddenly? At this time? Are they insane?’

 

“Why are the two of them, so suddenly, *cough*! *Cough*!”

 

I was so shocked by that absurd news that I ended up choking and coughing.

 

I let go of Davuer’s hand to cover my mouth, then quickly grabbed his hand again, noticing his expression had become strange.

 

Just as he parted his lips to say something.

 

“Oh dear, you must be really sick.”

 

The owner looked at me pitifully and chattered on.

 

“The Countess hasn’t been appearing much lately. It’s because she’s been saving His Highness the Prince who was on the brink of death! Isn’t it truly the love of the century?”

 

“*Cough*!”

 

“I’m sure your illness will be cured by the power of love too!”

 

‘Damn, the power of love can freeze to death…’

 

I thought that, but fortunately didn’t say it out loud.

 

The cheerful-faced stall owner handed me the bracelet I had been touching earlier and smiled brightly.

 

“I’ll give you this as a gift. Get well soon!”

 

* * *

 

We rented an inn room nearby.

 

With the festival underway due to the surprise engagement announcement, all sorts of crowds were flocking to the Citadel in real time, so we barely managed to secure even that one room.

 

Inside the cramped room with four people squeezed in.

 

I read today’s newspaper that described the love of the century in lengthy detail, then threw it aside.

 

After a brief investigation, my conclusion was this.

 

“They’ve lost their minds.”

 

Actually, the engagement itself isn’t that surprising.

 

After all, wasn’t the reason for breaking off the engagement with me to marry Lishie?

 

However, there’s such a thing as proper timing in this world.

 

“It’s Irene.”

 

Jepi, who caught the newspaper I threw, let out a light exclamation.

 

In one corner of the newspaper featuring the engagement news of the Countess and Prince, there was the face of ‘Irene Baltres.’

 

‘Ugh, damn. Of all portraits, they had to use that one.’

 

Jepi looked at the newspaper where my face appeared not as large as a door… but the size of a small window, and asked.

 

“Who did you kill back then?”

 

That’s a coming-of-age commemorative portrait painted when I was nineteen.

 

Maybe because I started painting it after spending the worst birthday, far from smiling, my face looked absolutely murderous.

 

The anger from having my birthday turned into Lishie’s debut stage without any notice lasted throughout that year, making nineteen-year-old me the most ill-tempered I’d ever been in my life.

 

That’s also when my life started getting twisted in various ways.

 

“I didn’t kill anyone. But more importantly.”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“What could be the reason for all this?”

 

Right, my face was sold to the newspaper due to the wanted notice for ‘Irene Baltres’ issued by the Imperial Palace.

 

[Wanted Notice Temporarily Suspended

 

However, report to the Imperial Guard upon confirmation of survival]

 

But now it’s suddenly canceled.

 

“I thought they’d search for me on a massive scale.”

 

The reason we hurriedly left at dawn was because I needed to appear in the Citadel before the Imperial Army could harass Belmayer demanding they hand me over.

 

I was definitely a major criminal of the Empire, so I was worried that a war might break out because of me.

 

But I couldn’t find even the most important detail about me being the Prince’s would-be assassin anywhere.

 

“And then suddenly what engagement? Really now.”

 

I let out a hollow laugh.

 

Something must have changed in the Imperial Capital while we were traveling. Otherwise, there’s no way they’d withdraw the wanted notice in just one day.

 

No way they’d make such a hastily arranged engagement announcement.

 

‘No way Chessier could be so crazy in love.’

 

…Could he be?

 

I don’t know.

 

It would be nice if Giselle could observe with her ‘eyes’ and relay information, but we were too far away to communicate telepathically.

 

Communication device? Winter Castle doesn’t have such state-of-the-art magical tools.

 

Instead of spending time developing dust-cleaning magical tools, they should have made communication devices.

 

‘Anyway, I need to get reliable information…’

 

“Irene.”

 

The voice that suddenly appeared was Davuer’s.

 

“Are you still thinking about the Prince?”

 

“Of course I am.”

 

I answered immediately while looking at the bustling scene outside the window.

 

I was thinking that I should have finished things back then, or that I’d like to crack open his head to see what’s inside.

 

“A man who’s grinding his teeth wanting to kill you?”

 

“That’s exactly why I need to think about him more… what?”

 

…Wait a minute. Don’t tell me this is.

 

‘Another extension of that crazy misunderstanding?’

 

I shot up and immediately put on a serious expression.

 

“I don’t mean I can’t forget my unrequited love!”

 

I came all the way to enemy territory prepared for the worst after hearing about the wanted order, only to be greeted with a festival – it’s absurd.

 

Logically, it doesn’t make sense. It’s not like they’re holding a festival after an execution.

 

It’s ridiculous to talk about the original story when everything’s already gone awry, but in the original, the engagement announcement came only after executing the villainess.

 

“I really have no feelings for him. Isn’t it about time you believed me? Do I look like someone with the peculiar taste of liking a man who’s trying to kill me?”

 

“You came all this way to see that man.”

 

“Do you think I came because I wanted to see him? Davuer, you do remember what our plan is, right?”

 

“You’re being overly concerned about the engagement news.”

 

“No, that’s…! Whatever, forget it.”

 

I was about to argue further but just waved my hands dismissively.

 

From past experience, I’d learned that the more strongly I denied it, the more he took it as confirmation.

 

The terrible misunderstanding that dominated all of Winter Castle had already taken root like the common knowledge that the sun rises in the east.

 

I had no choice but to wait for time to resolve it. Denying it one by one would only tire me out.

 

“Once this matter is properly concluded, I won’t even set foot in the Empire’s direction, so just know that.”

 

Then I collapsed onto the table in the inn room.

 

Davuer, who had been standing askew, gently lifted my disheveled hair.

 

The hair that had turned brown due to the disguise magic was rubbed between his fingers like tea leaves.

 

“I truly hope that’s the case.”

 

He murmured that and then tidied my hair. By hand, not using magic.

 

Though hair shouldn’t have sensation, my scalp tingled so much that I froze with my cheek pressed against the table.

 

And at that moment.

 

Crash!

 

“I brought the meal… Ah!”

 

Our maid, who had brought a late lunch from downstairs, screamed.

 

“Master! That’s my job!”

 

“…Ally.”

 

“Managing Irene’s hair is the job of her ‘personal’ maid – me. Even if you’re the master, I can’t yield on this.”

 

“…”

 

After a large number of servants joined us and she was no longer the only maid, Ally began asserting a strange sense of privilege, calling herself the personal maid.

 

I couldn’t bring myself to tell such a maid that the Duke’s touch was more delicate than hers.

 

I just tidied myself up and received the meal she brought.

 

Jepi tilted his head.

 

“But where’s mine?”

 

What Ally brought was only two bowls. Excluding Davuer who doesn’t eat from the start, she seemed to have only prepared portions for herself and me.

 

Sure enough, Ally snorted.

 

“Why would I prepare yours?”

 

“…Trash. Human scum.”

 

“Non-flammable trash. Sub-human.”

 

Their usual childish bickering ensued.

 

Their squabbling settled like white noise that strangely gave me a sense of stability.

 

‘Right, for now… let’s eat.’

 

I worked my spoon diligently. I could feel a piercing gaze but deliberately ignored it.

 

‘The festival actually works in our favor.’

 

It’s perfect for causing a commotion and escaping. The process of kidnapping Lishie might become a bit easier too.

 

But before that.

 

…I should probably stop by ‘home’ first.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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