A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 111

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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 111
Seliet’s eyes darted urgently across the letter.
And when she saw the signature at the end of the letter, she nearly fainted.
It was her half-brother who shone so brightly to everyone that she had never grown close to him!
“Th, this… this….”
Seliet felt as though she couldn’t breathe. So she grasped Ranaq’s arm and gasped out her question.
“Is, is it really… really? Really Ed, my older brother?”
“If you do not believe me, he said to add the words ‘the key to the Third Library.'”
“Ah….”
That was the library key Edmund had given her directly.
“Would you like to have this? I don’t really look at these books anymore, so they would probably be more useful to you.”
Edmund was the kind of person who showed such gentle kindness to everyone, and because she could not forget that small warmth, wasn’t that why she had chosen him as Kiana’s match?
“Then I shall collect the letter.”
Ranaq, noticing that she had accepted everything, took the letter back. And he looked at Seliet intently, as if asking if she had anything else to convey.
How to awaken a spirit… There was advice worth giving, referencing just one line hidden in the corner of an old manuscript. After all, Seliet had nowhere else to rely on in the Imperial Palace, and all she did was shut herself away in the Third Library.
After Seliet gave Ranaq advice about how to awaken a spirit, she quietly added something more.
“Additionally, dark magic is a power that neutralizes the abilities of both the Tayliz and Prelai families. You cannot think of the two houses separately.”
“U… understood.”
Ranaq’s face showed he didn’t understand at all, but he nodded as if he would relay it anyway.
“Then I shall take my leave now. And this is a postscript.”
‘…Somehow his manner of speech seems to have changed to sound like Lady Kiana?’
Seliet tilted her head in confusion, but Ranaq collected even that letter and immediately turned to leave.
“…Wait, just a moment!”
And Seliet quickly grabbed Ranaq’s arm. If, if Edmund really had returned… If she could truly convey her words to Edmund through this person….
She whispered very earnestly.
“M, might you perhaps… be, be a person of the Crown Prince?”
“….”
“P, please be sure to tell the Crown Prince my words when you see him. It’s important.”
Seliet spoke with bright, eager eyes.
Ranaq hesitated for a moment. He had never received any other instructions from Sezare. But still, she was a member of the imperial family, even if she had no particular abilities. Perhaps she might deliver a very important message.
So when Ranaq nodded seriously, Seliet spoke in a very firm tone, as if making an earnest request.
“Tell him to go on a diet before he comes back.”
“…Pardon?”
Seliet was deadly serious. No matter how she thought about it, Edmund didn’t seem to have any competitive advantage compared to Sezare. How could he possibly overcome that unique decadent and dreamlike atmosphere?
“And… tell him not to keep that slack-jawed expression! Okay?”
Ranaq tilted his head in confusion.
“Just now, slack… jawed, you say?”
“Y, yes! Like, don’t, don’t act like a water tank or anything like that, okay?”
“….”
Ranaq wondered what exactly a water tank in the Imperial Palace was. However, he had received orders from Sezare to avoid conversation as much as possible, so he could not ask further. He could only promise to relay her words.
“Y-yes! I’ll make sure to tell him! Thank you!”
With that, Ranaq disappeared, and Seliet decided to simply wait.
As I spent time in front of the Tomb of the Five Empresses as Edmund had instructed, I couldn’t help but think that Edmund might actually stand a chance against Sezare if he just lost some weight.
When I’d encountered Sezare earlier, I’d sighed inwardly thinking, ‘Ah… unless he goes on a serious diet, he won’t win…’ but already his face was becoming a blur in my memory.
“Brother, you’ve got this! How could that bastard ever overcome your long-standing devotion?”
So Seliet laughed vibrantly and raised both fists in the air.
“I don’t know what kind of commotion he’ll cause, but I hope you’ll meet with the Princess this time! After all, she came to the Hunting Competition too! And besides…”
Seliet clutched her racing heart and gazed toward the western edge of the Forest of Spirits in the distance.
“…the spirits of this forest are absolutely helpless when it comes to young love between men and women, so if things go well, the two of you might become quite entangled!”
* * *
Ah, really. I’d wanted to sit quietly in a corner, but everything was so chaotic that I couldn’t focus.
With Loyte beside me, the other guards began subtly approaching and saying things like, ‘Thanks to the Princess, this investigation went very smoothly.’
Among those approaching were noble ladies who carefully greeted me after catching petty thieves who’d been their families’ headaches. Some matrons even dragged their sons along, saying, ‘We’d like to have our sons study magical engineering…’ Of course, those sons didn’t look like they wanted to study at all.
“Wait, what is all this? When did you build up such influence? That’s not very Prelai of you.”
Joshua asked with a furrowed brow. My grandfather answered his question.
“It’s simple—people gather around those with exceptional abilities. Those who naturally shine on their own always attract others.”
And he clicked his tongue while looking at Joshua’s expensive hunting attire with disdain.
“Hyde was like that back then. He stood out to people without dressing so flashily like you do. Why do you insist on dressing that way when you inherited Hyde’s looks?”
“Ah, Grandfather! Don’t go criticizing other people’s fashion sense with such outdated views! I really can’t have a conversation with you because of the generation gap!”
My grandfather had now begun openly expressing his longing for his son in front of us, and Joshua grew even more rowdy. Of course, Loyte also chuckled quietly and asked me softly.
“I’m curious too. Why does everyone seem so drawn to the Princess?”
“Hmm.”
I thought for a moment before answering.
“…Universal gravitation?”
“Pardon?”
“All objects have a force that attracts each other, don’t they?”
“…”
That was when it happened.
【Kiana!】
Piyak, who had flown off into the distance, rushed back to me and whispered.
【Alex is coming from far away!】
“…I see.”
My prediction was correct. Alex never missed an opportunity for a justified strike. And if Piyak had spotted him, Prince Hitten’s eyes would soon follow.
“Here, just deliver this to Alex.”
I quickly handed a prepared note to Piyak and stood up abruptly. Sezare also gave a small nod.
It was time to act in earnest before Hitten’s faction made their move.
* * *
“Alex Prelai’s Gray Wolf has begun appearing from the east.”
Hitten finally received the message he’d been waiting for from his aide.
“Is that so?”
He chuckled softly and rose from his seat, waiting for nothing but Alex’s arrival.
His plan was simple. Since Alex traveled on his wolf and was exceptionally swift, he would claim to have been attacked by an unknown assailant during the hunt, then summon all the nobles.
He exchanged a meaningful glance with Dolores, then slowly drew his sword and opened his mouth.
“Sitting here is growing tedious. I suppose I should stretch my limbs, at least….”
That was when it happened.
The mist that had been thinly scattered throughout the Forest of Spirits gradually thickened, until soon the forms of people could no longer be seen clearly.

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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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