A Runaway Villainess, Now Healing In An Enemy Country - Chapter 50

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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 50】

 

For some unknowable reason, Chessier looked at that woman and unconsciously thought of Irene.

 

Those red eyes like candles that would never go out.

 

That damned…

 

“Your Highness, are you enjoying your love games?”

 

That day’s Irene was undoubtedly the most disheveled he had ever seen her.

 

From her tangled hair to the signs of having faced harsh winds for too long, her veined hands and reddened nose and ear tips, her frayed clothes – all of it told the story of her journey.

 

Irene, who had rushed toward him frantically, questioned him with remarkable logic for someone so enraged.

 

Chessier found her tiresome, burdensome, and furthermore, he only wanted to think about loving Lishie.

 

“I suppose you’ve completely forgotten our promise.”

 

“Let’s just break off the engagement, Princess.”

 

So he answered with a declaration.

 

For a brief moment, he felt something like thin glass breaking inside him, an awareness that he had said something irreversible, but it quickly evaporated.

 

He didn’t remember any promise with her anyway. So he didn’t think about what it might mean to Irene either.

 

Perhaps he couldn’t have.

 

From the moment Chessier first met Lishie, without realizing it himself, he had become less inclined to ‘think.’

 

Clouded reason, hasty and foolish judgment.

 

“Farewell, Your Highness. I’ll follow you, so don’t feel too wronged.”

 

…A foolish judgment had been made.

 

He couldn’t tell whether the subject of that judgment was Irene pointing her sword at him, or himself accepting the blade without the slightest resistance.

 

In that moment, Chessier simply had the ‘thought’ that Irene must not die following him…

 

“…”

 

Suddenly he looked down at his palm, bloodied from being pierced by mirror fragments.

 

“Your Highness should treat your hands more preciously.”

 

“You’re a swordsman. Even without His Majesty’s recognition, you’re more than enough.”

 

When was that memory from?

 

The sharp scent of medicinal herbs. Careful hands changing blood-stained bandages. A voice whispering softly that there was no need to prove anything.

 

Those were probably words he had wanted to hear. But he hadn’t been able to return those words to her.

 

He just…

 

It felt like he had been having nightmares for a long time.

 

Even now that he had awakened from sleep, it was the same.

 

Chessier tore his sleeve to carelessly wrap his hand, then spoke to the knight who remained prostrate like a statue.

 

“I must see His Majesty.”

 

* * *

 

“Irene, let me introduce you. This is Irene.”

 

When Ally, who might be the reincarnation of Pygmalion, pointed at ‘Irene,’ she lightly grasped her skirt and smoothly offered a noble’s greeting.

 

“Hello.”

 

“…She really looks real.”

 

I examined her with admiration from various angles. She looked exactly like me, like an identical twin, staring at me expressionlessly.

 

She didn’t seem like an elaborate fake, but just like a person.

 

“Since it’s confusing, let’s reverse the name and call her Nereni.”

 

“I accept Irene’s wishes as top priority.”

 

Her heart beats, she breathes. Her skin is a bit cold though.

 

Pressing my ear to Nereni’s chest, I listened to her regular heartbeat and kept exclaiming in wonder.

 

So abilities really do come from divine power.

 

The replica human moves using her life force as its driving power, she had said. That ‘living’ time is very short – it would be fortunate if it lasted about a day at most.

 

A day, or even just a few hours, would be enough.

 

Today was the day of reckoning.

 

Since that day when I almost had my identity discovered by Chessier, I hadn’t left the inn room except to check the operation routes.

 

I even pretended to be sick, worried that the innkeeper might find it strange if an outsider who came to enjoy the festival suddenly disappeared.

 

As a result, I was somehow misunderstood as a terminally ill young lady, and my meals became invalid food…

 

Jepi, who had just returned from returning the finished meal dishes, looked at us, paused for a moment, then asked.

 

“Which one is the real Irene?”

 

Nereni answered.

 

“What are you staring at, you idiot.”

 

“Fake. Don’t say things like that with Irene’s face.”

 

“I’m more disgusted having to look at your face.”

 

…She perfectly resembles her creator’s personality.

 

When I quietly moved away from Nereni and stared at Ally silently, she winked.

 

“The inside is just another me. I can’t make it different. If I could do that, I’d be a god.”

 

“…So it’s you, Ally, with my face.”

 

That’s when I felt somewhat uncomfortable.

 

Buuuu!

 

The sound of a horn being blown long came from outside. I quickly opened the window.

 

Over the midday street where fireworks had burst, colorful flowers and papers were being scattered.

 

It seemed Chessier and Lishie’s engagement ceremony in the Imperial Capital had just ended. This meant it was now time for the parade event.

 

“Davuer.”

 

I turned my gaze to him, sitting obliquely in a chair positioned below the window. Dressed in a simple shirt, he wore a ring on a string around his neck.

 

His eyes slid toward me like glass beads.

 

“Shall we go.”

 

“Let’s go.”

 

The operation is simple.

 

While I cause a commotion to draw attention, Jepi will spirit Lishie away, then Nereni and I will switch places immediately.

 

Though a few things had changed from the beginning, I didn’t mind. It was impossible to control all variables anyway.

 

So I didn’t bother changing the plan.

 

‘If this wraps up well, I can return to Winter Castle.’

 

I wouldn’t have to worry about who else might come looking for me and stir up Belmayer.

 

I thought only of that.

 

“So the Countess will become Her Majesty the Empress soon?”

 

“They make such a perfect pair… It’s like a novel.”

 

‘Perceptive. It is a novel.’

 

The clock tower of Central Plaza of District 3, the largest in the Citadel.

 

Leaning against that wall, I listened to the cheerful chatter as background noise and responded only in my mind.

 

The entire street was as splendid as if welcoming early spring.

 

Flowers that didn’t match the season, surely created by exploiting mages, were decorated everywhere in brilliant colors.

 

As I looked at that sight with a jaded expression, Davuer, who as usual stood holding my hand, suddenly asked out of the blue.

 

In a carefree tone as if asking what was for lunch.

 

“Did you want to become Empress?”

 

“What?”

 

I looked at him, unable to hide my bewilderment.

 

Wearing his newly changed robe, he lifted the hand he was holding and gently stroked my index finger, which still bore a reddish scar, with his thumb.

 

“What’s so good about becoming Empress?”

 

“…Well, what. You’d have the power second only to the Empire’s Emperor.”

 

“And?”

 

I couldn’t answer.

 

I hadn’t wanted to become Empress so much as I simply wanted the seat next to Chessier.

 

Young me, drunk on love, was like a bulldozer – I abandoned the heir position I had desperately clung to, tossing it to Noaren, and begged to be engaged to the Prince instead.

 

In truth, marriage talks with the Imperial family had been ongoing for some time. I had simply been stubbornly opposing them because I, who had never seen Chessier, coveted the Duke’s position more than that of Empress.

 

But because of that damned love, I gave up without even properly competing with Noaren for the succession. They were positions I couldn’t hold simultaneously.

 

Davuer spoke.

 

“If power is the reason, I’ll give you the Ducal position.”

 

And he added like a prophecy.

 

“You’re going to become Belmayer anyway.”

 

“Ah, no…”

 

Give me what?

 

He was exceptionally talented at causing confusion.

 

I couldn’t understand why this Duke kept being conscious of Chessier, or why he conveyed it to me in this manner.

 

…I shouldn’t make rash assumptions.

 

Bang!

 

Just then, the sound of fireworks broke through my thoughts.

 

Soon, cheers of “His Highness the Prince!” and “Lady Countess!” swept over the streets like a tidal wave.

 

In the middle of the street where Royal Guards had organized order, a lavishly decorated flower carriage appeared with a long procession of escorts surrounding it like armor.

 

More precisely, only the front of that procession was faintly visible.

 

I lowered Davuer’s hand and simply nodded.

 

For now, I had to focus only on the operation. The moment I had been eagerly awaiting was truly right before me.

 

‘A little closer.’

 

I could see the facial outline of the knight at the front.

 

‘Just a little more.’

 

I could see the two people waving at the crowd.

 

Chessier with his picture-perfect smile, and Lishie who seemed to be forcing a smile but looked unusually pale.

 

I felt somewhat relieved that today’s Lishie didn’t appear to be some other ‘something’ like the previous day.

 

‘Now’s the time.’

 

And now.

 

Bang!

 

Boom!

 

Along with the fireworks, a magic projectile that exploded in mid-air struck the massive bell at the very top of the clock tower.

 

The bell’s toll settled heavily over the street’s commotion.

 

Dong— Dong dong—

 

“Wh-what?”

 

“Everyone stay calm! It’s a mage!”

 

The procession that had stopped due to the unexpected situation didn’t fall into chaos but quickly entered a defensive stance.

 

I released Davuer’s hand and approached them alone. Coincidentally, the wind blew, and the robe covering my face slipped away smoothly.

 

No particular self-introduction was necessary.

 

Just like everyone’s villainess.

 

“Hello, Lishie. Are you happy? I’ve come for revenge.”

 

I just needed to act like the villain in that third-rate play, like a woman driven mad and vicious by ruined love.

 

Then at this moment, every single audience member gathered right here wouldn’t be able to help but focus on me.

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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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