A Runaway Villainess, Now Healing In An Enemy Country - Chapter 47

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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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【Episode 47】

 

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“Do you really want to see it?”

 

In front of the plaza where a makeshift stage had been set up.

 

I asked while holding two tickets that had been checked.

 

These were tickets for the ‘Biography of the Countess’ play that I had bought impulsively due to Davuer’s persistence. We even got a decent discount.

 

As is typical of third-rate troupes that wander from place to place, the stage and decorations were truly crude. It seemed they had hastily put it together for the engagement celebration festival.

 

Davuer, wearing a pitch-black robe, watched the troupe members bustling about on stage and replied.

 

“I’m curious about what you were like in the Empire.”

 

“…There’s no need to go that far.”

 

Being by my side, he must have already figured it all out.

 

I was indeed the incorrigible villainess as rumored. If I received something, I had to pay it back to feel satisfied, so though unintended, that’s how it turned out.

 

I added with a faint hope.

 

“But you know, the original for the Countess role here is Lishie, right? She’s different from that person from a hundred years ago.”

 

“I know that much.”

 

Oh, I thought he might be confused by the title mentioning a countess.

 

Instead of questioning Davuer further, I dragged him to sit in the back row of the audience seats set up inside the tent.

 

Despite being an outdoor winter stage, there were quite a lot of people.

 

This is just my guess, but the Imperial Court probably held the festival more grandly to cover up the recent unpleasant rumors.

 

Things like the Prince being critically ill, or the divine power losing its strength… Well, the common people gathered here probably don’t know the deeper circumstances.

 

“Anyway, don’t expect too much.”

 

I whispered that and turned my eyes to the stage.

 

Since Ally was working hard and Jepi was idling around, neither Davuer nor I had anything urgent to do.

 

‘If they cross the line… I’ll disband them.’

 

They say even the king gets cursed behind his back, so I could generously overlook things to some extent.

 

Without waiting long, the play began.

 

“In the dark age covered by Magi—”

 

As a young host opened the curtain with exaggerated gestures and voice, an actor appeared against a backdrop with a painted sun.

 

“A Countess has appeared after a hundred years!”

 

With a blue water-colored wig, it was unmistakably an imitation of Lishie.

 

The play’s content flowed as clumsily and predictably as I had expected. A Countess healing poor patients, a Prince completely smitten with her, a villainess driving a wedge between them…

 

‘What kind of makeup is that, is she even human?’

 

They had promoted it as terrifying, and indeed it was. The villainess with black hair hanging down had very dark eye sockets and even had horns on her head.

 

“I will never forgive you…!”

 

And it was tremendously bad acting.

 

I wasn’t angry. I just didn’t understand why I should feel embarrassed when I paid to watch this.

 

That villainess plotted to kill the Countess, but was defeated by the power of love between the Countess and the Prince.

 

Clap clap clap!

 

When the short play of about thirty minutes ended, applause erupted from the surroundings. And a hollow laugh escaped from me.

 

“…Ha.”

 

Applause came out after watching such trash? I was deeply worried about the cultural life standards of the Empire’s people.

 

“…”

 

The Davuer sitting next to me showed not even the slightest movement. Even while the actors who finished their curtain call came down from the stage to collect donations.

 

“Are you shocked because it was so terrible? Shall we go?”

 

It was when I grabbed his hand to pull him.

 

I could sense the flow of Magi, and then a faint black mist, so light you wouldn’t notice unless you concentrated, shot toward the stage.

 

Bang!

 

A pillar made of overlapping wooden planks broke.

 

Then the stage, having lost its weight axis, instantly collapsed like a sandcastle hit by waves. A thunderous roar covered the wide plaza.

 

Crash!

 

“Kyaah! Why so, so, so, suddenly…!”

 

“It’s collapsing! Ugh, get out of the way!”

 

The surroundings became pandemonium.

 

Fortunately, no one seemed to be hurt, but the stage that had collapsed with dust was damaged beyond repair.

 

And in this chaos, only I knew the culprit behind this senseless disaster.

 

“…Davuer.”

 

It was indeed a terrible work I couldn’t bear to watch. But was it worth getting this angry over? Well.

 

If someone in high society had done this, I would have set it on fire immediately, but when common people wanted to enjoy a heroic tale of the Countess, I thought ‘whatever.’

 

But why did this man, when it wasn’t even his business.

 

Having already moved Magi as he pleased, and belatedly remembering his promise with me, he rolled his eyes uncharacteristically and said.

 

“…How about overlooking this one.”

 

Then he added with a serious expression.

 

“It was absolutely necessary.”

 

What exactly was?

 

Even while thinking that, I somehow felt refreshed inside, so I couldn’t help but laugh.

 

“Ha, it really was like trash.”

 

“…That’s right.”

 

“Then why did you want to watch it? I want to have a brain that didn’t see it. Will you take responsibility?”

 

“If you want, I’ll make sure they never perform plays again.”

 

I didn’t know what methods he’d use, but if it were him, he really seemed like he’d do it. I chuckled and got up from the audience seat, pulling his hand.

 

In the completely chaotic plaza stage, only where we were was strangely peaceful.

 

“Revenge done by others isn’t bad either.”

 

“So you’re overlooking it?”

 

“No? That’s that and this is this.”

 

Since he had recklessly used Magi again, I couldn’t just let it slide. He had nagged me so much to fix my habits!

 

So.

 

“Actually, there’s something I’ve wanted to try?”

 

I pointed at the bustling street with the festival.

 

“For today, please play with me.”

 

It was an impulsive decision.

 

Since things turned out this way, it might be good to follow Mel’s advice… that kind of impulsive thought.

 

There was something I had overlooked.

 

I had overlooked that neither Davuer nor I knew how to have fun.

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

A street bustling with people coming and going busily.

 

Standing side by side like buoys in one corner, we silently looked at each other and exchanged glances that said ‘So what should we do?’

 

This is hopeless…

 

Still, I was in a somewhat better situation than Davuer. I shouldn’t fall behind someone who had lived shut up in Winter Castle after possession and reincarnation.

 

I squeezed out knowledge about festivals I had read in Loban novels and mixed into the crowd with him.

 

Just then, as if waiting, a food stall came into view.

 

“Chicken skewers. We absolutely have to eat those.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Everyone else was eating them.”

 

The skewers I bought thinking that copying what others did would get us halfway there… I threw away after one bite.

 

“That’s a failure. Next!”

 

We went around to all sorts of places and bought something to eat at each. Since most had no taste to speak of, by the time we had visited about ten places, my stomach was unpleasantly full.

 

“We’re done eating, so let’s try that.”

 

What I pointed to was balloon darts.

 

The street vendor who greeted us with a bright smile turned pale when I popped over ten balloons.

 

“Please, I’m begging you. Please leave…”

 

Then he pleaded as if he was about to kneel down. Feeling awkward, I left without even taking the prize.

 

I tried participating in similar games a few times, but I was too good at them and they all ended the same way.

 

“Damn it.”

 

Perhaps because I had been looking forward to the festival, I felt particularly disappointed. As I trudged along, Davuer asked me.

 

“Are you satisfied now?”

 

I glanced up at him, then carelessly realized that staring at his face would have been more entertaining.

 

The difference between romance and reality is this vast.

 

“Do I look it? This is completely boring right now.”

 

“You can use me until you find it fun.”

 

“What, what would I use you for? I’ve done everything, so let’s just… Oh.”

 

Just as I was about to turn back, one stall caught my eye.

 

I immediately dragged Davuer there, and the somewhat familiar owner greeted us cheerfully.

 

“Welcome… Oh! Aren’t you that young lady from before?”

 

“Thank you for the bracelet.”

 

It was that chatterbox I met on the first day.

 

When I examined the bracelet later, I discovered that for something sold like this, its quality was surprisingly decent.

 

To her who was being kind by asking if my body was okay now, I took out a ring from my pocket and showed it to her.

 

“I’d like to attach a necklace chain to this. Do you sell just chains?”

 

“Oh my, of course! Would you like to choose from these?”

 

Speaking of this ring, it was something that had been in the jewelry box I brought from the Duke’s mansion, and for me it was a meaningful object symbolizing the manifestation of my ‘first magic.’

 

Actually, I specifically brought the box because of this.

 

The ring that broke in half after I dealt a blow to the World Tree was carefully placed inside, and I took out the original ring…

 

‘I was already wondering how to give it to him.’

 

After choosing a chain and paying for it, I pressed the ring with the long necklace chain into Davuer’s hand.

 

“It’s a gift.”

 

“…”

 

“Since I broke what you gave me, I’ll give you this. It’s not exactly the same, but it looks very similar.”

 

The fact that his ring had broken kept bothering me.

 

I didn’t know for sure, but I was certain it was an object with special meaning to him.

 

It didn’t take long for me to think that perhaps my ring resembled his because I was meant to repay him.

 

So ever since I got hold of the box, I had been constantly looking for an opportunity to give him the ring.

 

Since it’s for women, it wouldn’t fit his finger, but with a chain attached, he could wear it around his neck.

 

Seeing this stall suddenly reminded me of that idea. Even I think it’s a really good idea…

 

“Huh?”

 

Suddenly, a drop of water fell on the back of my hand. Reflexively, I looked up.

 

“…Are, are you crying right now?”

 

Davuer was crying expressionlessly.

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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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