A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 112

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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 112
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The Spirit Forest lay shrouded in pale, billowing mist. Of course, it wasn’t the entire forest—only the western section, including the headquarters where Hiton was stationed, was blanketed in thick fog.
‘Sezare did excellent work.’
Of course, that dense mist was artificially created by me.
The principle was remarkably simple: force pressure to create dry ice, then submerge it in water, and smoke billows forth. By refining it delicately with magical power, I could spread far thicker mist across a much wider area and sustain it far longer.
‘Eventually only water remains anyway, so there’s no evidence left behind!’
Hiton would be hiding somewhere, pretending to have narrowly escaped assassination. And he would immediately summon all the participating nobles. Of course, there would be no attendant capable of delivering that message in time to Alex, who was riding wolves with bloodlust clouding his judgment. Alex would inevitably respond late to the summons, and in the original story, he becomes the prime suspect in an instant.
Without evidence, they couldn’t impose severe punishment, but regardless, the House of Prelai receives a reprimand for responding late to the summons. After all, a member of the imperial family nearly died, and he remains a prime suspect, so it couldn’t simply be overlooked. Consequently, my Grandfather and Melissa are confined to the Prelai Manor, while Alex receives what amounts to exile—an order to sail to distant shores to eliminate pirates.
‘After that, when he’s framed for treason, he gets caught at sea, probably….’
Alex lacks skill in naval combat, so he’s inevitably captured and dragged to the Capital. While everyone’s movements are thus restricted, Hiton can comfortably plot his schemes against the House of Prelai.
‘But now it’s obvious. He’s terrified of the thick mist, so he’s frantically ordering his guards to protect him thoroughly.’
Hiton is probably trembling with fear. Because the Picnic members are being attacked by the Crown Prince. Terrified he might be slashed to pieces by the Crown Prince himself, he’s gathered every available guard and won’t leave headquarters.
‘Anyway, I’ve tied up that end….’
Within the thick mist, I stood calmly before the Nepel Monument at the edge of the western section of the forest, lost in thought.
‘The Crown Prince should appear soon, right?’
Sezare had helped me create this magical device. Truthfully, he had no real reason to help, but regardless, when I began using the research laboratory at the Marquis’ Mansion, he naturally assisted me from beside my side.
By that time, I had already sent a reply to the Crown Prince.
My only concern was that the mist was so pale he might not recognize me, but Sezare had mentioned something in passing.
“For people like Duke Prelai, this kind of mist holds little meaning. With aura, one can maintain vision even in fog this thick.”
“Ah, really? This aura thing is quite remarkable.”
“Indeed. I’ve heard that at the Sword Master level, one can concentrate aura in the vocal cords or hands to freely alter one’s voice or handwriting.”
Aura users were exceedingly rare, but the Crown Prince had already received praise in his youth as someone who would soon become the youngest Sword Master. Therefore, moving about in mist like this would be nothing for him.
I told Sezare that I needed this magical device to meet someone in secret, and he accepted it. He only mentioned that he had business at Count Levin’s territory and couldn’t stay at the hunting tournament all day. So he said he would activate the mist device and return to the Marquis’ Mansion.
‘Since I’ve activated the device, he’s probably heading to the Marquis’ Mansion by now?’
That was when a voice reached my ears in a hushed tone.
“Greetings, Princess.”
It was a voice strangely devoid of inflection, something artificially produced. Probably, as Sezare had said, aura concentrated in the vocal cords to alter the voice.
The artificial mist was so thick that only a person’s silhouette was faintly visible. A tall man, whose outline barely showed through the haze, wore a hood pulled over his head.
“…Your Highness, the Crown Prince?”
He affirmed my words through silence. Though his entire body was wrapped in the hood, one thing was certain—his physique was lean, not the plump figure it had been.
According to the original story, he should have just begun his activities by killing Nix. But the timeline suddenly accelerated, and now I had no idea what he would do next.
‘Did the Crown Prince visit the Spirit Forest during the hunting tournament in the original story?’
Since he hadn’t been with me then, it would have been easier for him to move about secretly alone. Something felt strange, and I was staring at him intently when he began speaking.
“Time is limited, so I’ll state my business quickly. We will go to meet a Spirit.”
…A Spirit?
‘That Spirit who helped Elika Prelai and Edmund Tailyes defeat the dark mage Ortson and then fell asleep?’
He wanted to meet that Spirit now? Sadly, since I had no interest whatsoever in history, my knowledge of Spirits extended only that far.
“I don’t know much myself, but I’ve heard that dark magic is a power capable of nullifying the innate abilities of Prelai and Tailyes.”
“Dark magic, you say?”
It was a word I had never seriously contemplated in my entire life. Wasn’t it merely a single line mentioned in history books?
“The Tailyes Imperial Family originally cannot be harmed by poison, yet I nearly died from it. Of course, I suspected dark magic, but there was no evidence.”
“Ah… um…”
“And the direct line of House Prelai originally commands summoned creatures, so isn’t the Princess essentially robbed of that ability?”
Only then did I understand what the Crown Prince was saying.
‘Wow, how didn’t I think of this until now? We’ve both suffered similar harm!’
Because the innate abilities of Tailyes and Prelai differed, I had never connected them, but regardless, neither of us had received the benefits of the family’s inherited abilities.
So was my summoned creature stolen because Roki used dark magic? If we were both victims of dark magic, it was highly likely that the mastermind behind what happened to us was the same.
“Since I cannot find anyone who knows about dark magic, I suppose I should try to awaken a Spirit.”
The Crown Prince spoke calmly and gently extended his gloved hand.
“Forgive my presumption. The Princess likely cannot see, so we must venture deep into the forest.”
If the Spirit slept anywhere, it would be in the deepest part of the forest. I let out an exasperated sigh and asked pointedly.
“…Are you really asking me to hold that and walk through the forest?”
The Crown Prince’s carefully extended hand flinched.
“If… if you find it unpleasant…”
“My stamina is terrible, so I’m not good at hiking. I would be grateful if you carried me. That would be faster anyway, wouldn’t it?”
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The Crown Prince seemed somewhat surprised but easily lifted me onto his back and began running through the forest at a truly remarkable speed.
Indeed, I was clever. Everyone knew the Crown Prince was skilled with aura, so why would I exhaust my feet hiking when we could travel this quickly and easily?
Meanwhile, the Crown Prince spoke in an oddly artificial tone.
“The Spirit is said to sleep in the deepest pond of the forest.”
“How do we awaken it? You said it hasn’t awakened even once since the Empire’s founding.”
“That is…”
At my question, the Crown Prince hesitated before asking.
“Princess, do you know what the Spirit said when it last fell asleep?”
“How would I know that?”
“I only learned today myself…”
The Crown Prince released a faint sigh and continued.
“‘I won’t wake up until you two start dating! Hmph!’ That’s what it said.”
…No, what kind of Spirit is this frivolous and absurd?
“For reference, that ‘you two’ refers to Elika Prelai and Edmund Tailyes.”
So that meant the first patriarch of House Prelai and the First Emperor of the Empire…
Something suddenly came to mind.
I had once dreamed of them—Elika Prelai and Edmund Tailyes in a dream with a peculiar atmosphere, like a romance novel. Ultimately, because Elika was terminally ill, the two never came together, but…
“So, perhaps if someone says ‘Prelai and Tailyes are finally in a romantic relationship,’ it will awaken… That’s what the person who studied ancient history most diligently in the Empire advised.”
“…”
“It seems those two were likely in love with each other.”
That dream also seemed to be true. Kailon had said I dream of past events, after all.
If they were in love but never came together, that’s exactly what my dream showed. As I recalled the hazy dream content, the Crown Prince spoke dryly.
“Depending on necessity, the Princess and I may have to pretend to be in a romantic relationship.”
At those words, I exclaimed with confidence.
“Oh, really? I’m experienced at this, you know! I can really do it well. Don’t worry.”
“No.”
But the Crown Prince cut me off decisively.
“Just… please refrain from saying anything if possible. I’ll handle it myself.”
“Why? I’m really confident about this?”
“Whether you do well or poorly, my heart won’t be at ease either way, Princess.”
And at the same time, his body carrying me came to a halt.
A subtle scent of water began to drift through the air. Beyond my hazy vision, a perfectly round pond of moderate size came into view.
Was this… the place where the Spirit slept? At the faintly ominous aura I could sense, I swallowed hard involuntarily.
The Crown Prince carefully set me down, took a deep breath, and spoke softly toward the pond.
“…Prelai and Tailyes are… finally in love.”
Wow… Hearing it with my own ears, I genuinely thought, ‘Is this a joke?’ Could such a pathetic statement really awaken a Spirit that had slept for over a thousand years? Really?
【Really? Finally? Seriously?】
The Spirit awoke immediately at that pathetic declaration.

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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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