A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 110

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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 110
Before I knew it, far too many people had gathered around me. Sezare joined us a bit later.
When Sezare saw me, he smiled knowingly—a sign that everything I had instructed him to do had gone perfectly.
‘So that means… Sezare played the role of my assistant again…’
I hadn’t actually asked him to do it intentionally. I had simply gone to the Research Lab to craft magical artifacts for this hunting tournament, and Sezare had naturally helped me. Before I knew it, he had even taken care of all the installations himself.
“Your Highness, I apologize for arriving a bit late.”
Sezare calmly brushed past the sharp gazes of my Grandfather and Joshua, approaching my side with unwavering composure. Then he fixed his gaze upon Seliet.
It was less a gaze and more a glare—unmistakably telling her to vacate the spot beside me. Of course, my other side was already occupied by my Grandfather, so he couldn’t very well ask him to move.
‘Well, she’ll move soon enough.’
Someone as timid as Seliet could never withstand Sezare’s overwhelming presence. Yet Seliet trembled while stubbornly refusing to rise from her seat. It was quite remarkable courage.
“Your Highness.”
Finally, Sezare spoke gently.
“Is there somewhere you wish to go?”
“N-no, there isn’t.”
“I beg to differ. There must be somewhere.”
“…”
Seliet took a deep breath and turned her head away with a sullen expression. Sezare asked with a look of utter disbelief.
“Your Highness, am I perhaps displeasing to you?”
“W-what?”
“I understand this is our first meeting. Have I perhaps made some mistake toward Your Highness?”
It was a sharp question that seemed to seize the initiative. The man who had been smiling warmly at me moments ago now emanated such a chilling atmosphere that I could scarcely believe they were the same person.
Joshua and my Grandfather exchanged glances with expressions of intrigue. Lea, who was wrapped around Joshua’s arm, wagged her tail excitedly, thinking “Wow, this kind of power struggle is really fun!” Loyte also stood watching with evident interest.
However, the difference in their auras was far too great for this to be an actual contest of wills.
“T-that’s n-not it at all…”
Naturally, Seliet surrendered immediately. Her face already looked ready to cry as she stood up hastily, losing all composure and beginning to make excuses.
“I j-just… thought that there might be s-someone who suits the Princess better… I-I’m so sorry.”
“Ah.”
Sezare asked with an easygoing yet sharp gaze.
“And who might that damnable fellow be, Your Highness?”
“…”
“Your Highness?”
The pressure was so overwhelming that even I found it difficult to interject. She murmured with a face on the verge of tears.
“I-I’m sorry. H-he’s just my b-brother, the Crown Prince Your Highness…”
“Hmm?”
Suddenly, Sezare’s expression began to soften. Of course, Seliet, who was bowing her head and vacating the seat, didn’t see this change.
Unable to endure the immediate pressure any longer, Seliet surrendered in an instant.
“S-still, among the men I k-know, he’s the m-most decent…”
“Hmm.”
“H-he’s gained some w-weight, but he’s still a m-man of power…”
“Weight can always be lost.”
“W-well, his personality was a bit too soft, but, but he was still kind and….”
“His personality would have hardened more as he matured.”
“H-his features are somewhat indistinct, but still, his face has a certain harmony to it….”
“He would have become more defined as he grew.”
Seliet, who had been speaking frantically, suddenly lifted her head with a puzzled expression. Joshua was also whispering to Lea, “Isn’t that guy an idiot?” Loyte, his interest already waning, clicked his tongue and muttered, “He’s already fawning over the Crown Prince so much… Avian is better.”
“W-well, then I shall take my leave!”
In the meantime, Seliet hurried away, and Sezare Levin took her place with a pleased expression. Loyte asked casually.
“Will the Duke not be participating in the hunting tournament?”
“No.”
Sezare Levin answered without a moment’s hesitation. Though he possessed a sturdy frame that hunting attire suited remarkably well, he showed no intention whatsoever of venturing into the forest. Instead, he answered with leisurely amusement.
“I prefer to follow the Princess around rather than chase after beasts.”
My Grandfather and Joshua were glaring at Sezare Levin from beside me, but he remained utterly unmoved.
‘…I told Grandfather not to come just in case, but Joshua came too.’
I had already suggested to my Grandfather that he might not participate in the hunting tournament. Of course, I understood it would be difficult for Duke Prelai to be absent on the founding anniversary, but my Grandfather had shouted, “How can I not go when you’re going!”
So in the end, I had no choice but to tell my Grandfather, “There will be some commotion in the middle, so you don’t need to look for me—just stay put.” I had prepared various answers in case he asked why, but my Grandfather asked nothing at all.
He only spoke with great concern.
“Don’t worry about Joshua or Alex. I’ll keep those rascals in check. Just be careful. Please don’t do anything dangerous.”
‘What does Grandfather know… Why doesn’t he ask anything?’
It seemed he had sensed something amiss from observing my actions. Indeed, everything I’ve been doing since returning to the Empire has been quite extraordinary….
‘I’m sorry, Grandfather. Right now I’m planning to act alongside a man driven mad by revenge, one who cuts people down indiscriminately….’
But this concerns Piyak, so how could I not act? I had no choice but to take the risk, however reckless it might be.
‘Hitten’s side must be waiting for Alex’s appearance right now.’
Alex loved the hunting tournament. More precisely, he loved swordplay at the hunting tournament. Therefore, after escorting Melissa to the Convent, he would come no matter what.
In fact, Alex was Hitten’s target at this hunting tournament, and the very fact that he hadn’t appeared yet allowed me to keep them immobilized.
‘Well then… I should start things before Alex arrives.’
I smiled slightly while meeting Sezare Levin’s gaze.
‘I need to meet the Crown Prince too.’
* * *
Originally, Seliet had confined herself to her own palace in a corner of the Imperial Palace. However, there was one event she always attended without fail—the autumn hunting tournament. This was because her biological mother, the Fifth Imperial Consort, was buried in the Spirit Forest. The Fifth Imperial Consort, who loved flowers and trees and believed in the protection of spirits, had requested to be buried in the Spirit Forest.
So at this hunting tournament as well, Seliet had made a small bouquet of wildflowers and placed it before the Fifth Imperial Consort’s grave. She had lingered a bit longer because she wanted to stay beside Kiana, but in truth, visiting the Fifth Imperial Consort’s grave was her real purpose.
“Is there not somewhere you wish to visit?”
“N-no, there isn’t.”
“I think there is.”
I had no idea how Sezare Levin had discovered her real purpose….
In any case, having lost her place beside Kiana, Seliet could not view Sezare Levin favorably. She quietly ground her teeth once, then barely managed to compose herself.
“Mother.”
And she spoke quietly before the grave.
“That wretched Ben can no longer move about freely. That’s wonderful, isn’t it? I can finally sleep with my legs stretched out these days.”
Everyone else was whispering, “It seems the Crown Prince really has returned.” Meanwhile, Seliet felt like she could shout for joy.
“I do hope that mysterious assailant was Crown Prince Ed.”
Seliet prayed with desperate longing.
“Come back soon so we can diet together… and I hope you meet a good woman.”
As she naturally found herself thinking of Sezare again, her expression twisted slightly.
“I also hope the Princess breaks up with that reckless marquis… that scoundrel, with nothing but a pretty face to show for it…”
It was just as Seliet turned around, still muttering away earnestly.
“Wait a moment…”
A massive man with a fierce and intimidating appearance whom she had never seen before blocked her path. Since Seliet had no guards with her at the moment, she was so startled she nearly collapsed.
“P-please wait… I’m… I’m not a strange person.”
And she was shocked once more by the slurred speech that came from that enormous frame.
“I-it’s not that…”
Ranaq squeezed his eyes shut, clearly hating this situation. He was deeply embarrassed to let a stranger hear this ridiculous pronunciation on their first meeting. But it was Sezare’s order, so he had no choice.
“Would you read this once? Someone asked me to deliver it to you.”
Ranaq held out a letter to Seliet.
Seliet slowly opened the letter. And in an instant, her expression filled with astonishment.
This neat and tidy handwriting was…

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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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