A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 106

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

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Chapter 106
As everyone seemed to accept the proposal, Duke Purbis continued with enthusiasm.
“All those involved must be punished as well. Even the slightest connection warrants punishment, as this is the first enforcement of this law and we must set an example. Let me see….”
Duke Purbis furrowed his brow and flipped through the documents.
“The Prelai Duchy also opened the roads without any investigation. In the territory of a high noble, no less… This calls for a hefty fine.”
In that instant, all eyes turned to Kiana, who stood as the Prelai representative.
In truth, when everyone discovered Kiana at the Noble Council, they had simply assumed that Scari had finally fallen ill. Given his advanced age and how long he had been managing the family’s affairs alone, they thought he had merely sent his granddaughter to occupy a seat. That was all.
But of all things, the Prelai Family was involved in this matter… What could this sullen-faced young princess possibly handle? Especially when she lacked any political backing to defend herself.
Duke Purbis then proposed an extraordinarily large sum as the fine.
“Yes, well.”
And Kiana nodded as though it were nothing of consequence.
“If that’s the principle, then we must pay it. It’s not as though the Prelai Family lacks funds like Duke Purbis does.”
The nobles sighed inwardly.
No matter how wealthy the Prelai Family was, to accept without a single objection? Normally, one would feign anger and shout, then negotiate down to half the amount! Clearly, the young princess’s political acumen was utterly lacking.
“Please refrain from saying the Duchy lacks funds, Princess. That’s not the important matter here.”
“Yes. I won’t say such things about you again, Duke. In any case, I agree with the impoverished Duke Purbis’s opinion. The Crown Prince said everything must be conducted strictly according to law.”
“Don’t call me impoverished!”
As Duke Purbis’s face flushed red, Kiana responded with an expressionless tone.
“But truthfully, it doesn’t seem likely that the Kingdom of Sola would do something so insane as prepare for war against the Empire.”
The rational nobles who harbored similar thoughts nodded ever so slightly. What Kiana was now arguing was precisely what those nobles had been unable to voice, suppressed as they were by Hitten’s authority and the pretense of principle.
“This really does look like a simple mistake—the Tyron Pool was included in military supplies without anyone realizing it, based on the dates….”
“What!”
Duke Purbis immediately erupted in indignation.
“If excuses like ‘obviously it’s not war preparation,’ ‘it was done unknowingly,’ or ‘the dates could easily be confused’ are accepted, then what’s the point of having principles?”
He spoke passionately, spraying spittle as he gestured.
“This is precisely the kind of matter that must be resolved according to principle, without any leniency!”
“Yes.”
Kiana answered obediently once more.
“I understand perfectly the impoverished Duke Purbis’s passionate love for principle. I hope that earnest devotion never wavers.”
Hitten offered no further response. It was effectively his agreement with Duke Purbis’s position.
After a brief pause, Kiana raised her hand again and continued.
“But if I may, impoverished Duke Purbis, might I formally address another urgent matter at this time?”
“Hmm.”
“I’d prefer you didn’t use words like ‘impoverished’ or ‘destitute,’ Princess. And formal statements are only permitted from family representatives. No matter that the Princess sits here, well, it’s not as though the Princess is truly Prelai….”
His words trailed off. Then he shrugged as though everyone understood.
Kiana looked at Duke Purbis and asked.
“Why am I not Prelai, impoverished Duke Purbis?”
“Well, hmm… there’s the matter of lacking a Summoned Beast….”
【This is Kiana’s Summoned Beast.】
At that moment, a yellow lark suddenly sprang forth from Kiana’s lap as she sat.
In that instant, Duke Purbis found himself at a loss for words. He couldn’t possibly bring up the matter of birth in such a public setting. Besides, there was no evidence that Kiana wasn’t truly his daughter…. But for a summoned creature to suddenly appear like this.
The yellow lark chirped while looking at Duke Purbis.
【My, you certainly have a lot to say about Prelai family affairs. If you’re so eager to get involved in Prelai matters, you should just apply for a butler position…. The problem with young people these days is they don’t want to start from the bottom.】
“Me, young?”
【Hello, I’m Piyak, born about 900 years ago. I haven’t been in the human world for very long, though.】
“….”
Duke Purbis found himself speechless. Instead, he began pointing fingers, as if he’d found another angle of attack.
“Shouldn’t that be investigated? Does a summoned creature stolen from someone else even count as a summoned creature?”
At those words, Kiana replied bluntly.
“Melissa sent her to me.”
“Ha!”
Duke Purbis slammed the table with a bang.
“Everyone in the Empire’s nobility knows how she threw tantrums wanting that summoned creature since childhood. Who would believe such a claim?”
Of course, Kiana didn’t bat an eye and offered Duke Purbis some sincere career advice.
“It seems Piyak gave you the wrong job recommendation. Rather than a butler position in the Prelai Family, you seem better suited to be Melissa’s spokesperson. If you end up even more destitute later, I’ll look into getting you a place at the Convent.”
Duke Purbis trembled violently but barely regained his composure, then shouted toward the nobles.
“In any case, should we listen to the words of such a vicious princess who even seizes a summoned creature that no one else can take?”
【Why is a third party questioning my ownership like this?】
Piyak fluttered her wings in exasperation. Then Hitten interjected.
“Separate from other matters, Princess Kiana should return the summoned creature to Melissa Prelai.”
The conference hall fell silent in that instant.
Piyak’s beak fell open in disbelief. She had realized that Hitten was saying this because he harbored lustful feelings toward Melissa.
“It doesn’t seem right to covet another’s possession throughout childhood and eventually seize it. It also seems to set a bad precedent that a priestess must yield everything.”
Kiana stared at Hitten with an expressionless face.
Hitten cleared his throat and continued.
“Then perhaps the public’s reputation of the princess being presumptuous might improve somewhat.”
In that moment, Piyak’s heart sank.
“I won’t exchange any more letters with Post Box 1135. You’re not needed for anything urgent anymore, so rest well for a few days.”
A few days ago, Kiana had said that to Piyak. No more letter exchanges with the secret Post Box 1135. Of course, Kiana had later decided to resume the correspondence, but Piyak didn’t know that fact at this moment.
In other words, Piyak’s abilities were no longer truly necessary to Kiana. Then what about Piyak’s very existence? Keeping her around wouldn’t earn her recognition as a true summoned creature, only damage her reputation. Everyone looked at Piyak and thought of Melissa.
And Piyak knew well. As a child, Kiana had hated most the idea of appearing inferior to Melissa.
‘Wait. Now… my very existence means a complete defeat in character comparison with Melissa!’
Being in this place made it all the clearer.
‘No, no.’
Piyak murmured to herself.
‘Kiana is my original owner. Melissa just… took me from her. I still don’t know exactly what happened….’
Until now, Piyak and Kiana had never spoken openly about that matter. They had simply, naturally, lived as if they had been owner and summoned creature from the beginning. Like any other family.
But Piyak was also aware of it. Kiana had never summoned her. Whether she was taken or not, the only summoning experience Piyak had was with Melissa. A summoning was the act that truly bound a summoned creature and owner together, and in that sense, Piyak and Kiana had never truly become a relationship like Hou and Scari’s.
Until now, it had been comforting to remain unchanged and the same with Kiana, but when such a situation suddenly came under scrutiny before others, she suddenly felt anxious.
“Piyak, I’m no longer Prelai now, so there’s no reason for you to stay by my side. Go to Kiana.”
Besides, Piyak had experienced a change of ownership before, albeit for different reasons. Moreover, Kiana had something she absolutely needed to accomplish in this moment. On top of that, she had even instructed me: ‘Never speak a word about Melissa intercepting the summons outside of this place. We still don’t know exactly who’s behind it.’ This meant I couldn’t possibly declare here that Piyak was actually my true summoned beast.
‘So perhaps to lighten the atmosphere, I could dismiss this summoned beast—one that serves no purpose and only stirs up painful memories—from this place once more…’
It was precisely when Piyak’s body trembled at the memory of the past.
“Piyak is far more precious to me than what society thinks.”
Kiana spoke flatly.
“Piyak listens to my commands, so Piyak is my summoned beast. It doesn’t matter what others think.”

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

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