A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 118

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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 118
10. My Son Has Returned
It was only natural that the Imperial Palace could not be entered by just anyone. Ever since the Emperor had fallen ill, security had become extraordinarily strict. They sealed off the Imperial Palace as if to prevent any external infection, claiming that even the smallest pathogen could prove fatal.
The Empress and the Imperial Consort were unable to receive guests except for official occasions. Only Prince Hitten, who managed state affairs, could summon his close aides to the Meeting Room and his own palace.
That was why the delegation from the Kingdom of Sola could not stay within the Imperial Palace. Only Enoch, the King of Sola, was able to meet the Empress through official procedures the day after his arrival in the Empire.
“Be careful, Enoch. Please, be careful.”
We were in the Garden of the Empress’s Palace. The Empress cautioned her twin brother and the king of their homeland, Enoch.
“I told you I wished you would not come to the Empire.”
And Enoch sighed as he spoke.
“Your Majesty, as always… you truly lack any sense of politics whatsoever.”
Both the Empress and Enoch possessed deep brown hair and deep green eyes. In other words, the Crown Prince could be seen as a son who resembled only the Emperor.
Enoch was not unaware of the rumors circulating throughout the Empire. That the members of the last picnic where the Crown Prince disappeared were being attacked by mysterious assailants. Though the identity of these assailants remained unclear, all the victims insisted that he was the Crown Prince.
That was why the Empress had already sent Enoch a letter suggesting, “Would it not be better if you did not come this time?” Of course, Enoch had ignored that letter and visited the Empire as planned.
“We have visited the Empire every year on the founding day. But you would not come because of some mysterious assailant? Do you not realize how strange that would appear to others?”
“But… since you would not be staying in the Imperial Palace, it would be rather dangerous…”
Enoch cut off the Empress’s words abruptly.
“I am a king. Do not underestimate my guards. Surely you are not disrespecting me?”
“Oh, no! I would never… I apologize if I have offended you.”
The Empress lowered her head dejectedly.
“In any case, until the day I depart, please prepare this well.”
Enoch handed the Empress a parchment scroll and spoke curtly.
“Your Majesty is a person of Sola. Do not forget. The reason Your Majesty came to the Empire is for Sola’s sake.”
“…I know.”
The Empress accepted the scroll with a bitter expression. It contained a list of things Enoch wished to take back with him from the Empress.
“First, I would very much appreciate it if you could secure cotton for us. The cotton field owners are currently colluding…”
And Enoch’s explanation continued for each item. As the Empress listened patiently, she gradually began checking the time.
Eventually, the Empress spoke carefully after some time had passed.
“I apologize, but I would like you to leave now, Enoch.”
“Pardon?”
“I have an appointment with a guest soon.”
“A guest?”
Enoch asked with a suspicious tone.
“What guest? The Imperial Palace is not receiving visitors under normal circumstances.”
“Ah… but this guest has an audience permit.”
The Empress answered while adjusting her teacup.
“Princess Kiana Prelai is visiting with her lover. The Emperor granted the Princess an imperial family audience permit. And according to protocol, since the Emperor cannot receive guests, I must receive them.”
“Hmm.”
Enoch frowned and did not rise from his seat.
“She is still just a princess, after all.”
In other words, he was saying that since he outranked her in status, he would not leave first.
“Let’s continue with the cotton story for now….”
That was when the promised time arrived. A maidservant guided Kiana and the man who appeared to be her lover as they approached from a distance.
One of the Empress’s attendants had asked them to wait, so the two stood briefly in the garden.
“Hmm.”
Enoch set down his teacup as he observed the Empress’s restless expression.
“Your Majesty has always had that problem. What is a mere princess’s appointment that you’re already so anxious about it? That’s precisely why Father entrusted the throne to me instead of you.”
Then he chuckled softly and rose to his feet.
“This tea is quite pleasant. Do have several containers prepared for me.”
“…Very well. In any case, take care of yourself.”
Enoch bowed respectfully to the Empress, then stood and passed by Kiana and her lover.
The glimpse I caught of Kiana’s lover revealed a handsome man—tall, slender, with sharp features. His face was one that faded subtly from memory once you looked away, yet undeniably beautiful.
‘Why does this irritate me?’
Enoch, who grew displeased whenever he saw a handsome man, became even more dissatisfied.
The maidservant guiding them spoke gently.
“It seems the conversation grew lengthy since it’s been so long since Her Majesty has seen her blood relatives. You must have waited quite a while. My apologies.”
“Oh, it’s fine.”
Kiana answered matter-of-factly.
“We were just passing through anyway, so we didn’t even notice the time while talking.”
Enoch’s footsteps halted. He shot a brief glare at Kiana.
“I pay my respects to King Enoch of the Kingdom of Sola.”
Kiana offered a bow that was oddly perfunctory. She had a doll-like beauty, yet her expression was sullen. Despite her small stature and petite frame, she somehow emanated a peculiar strength.
“So you are the Princess of Prelai. Delighted to meet you.”
Though his mood had soured considerably, showing displeasure here would only make him look like he’d reacted alone to being called a beggar.
“Then do enjoy your time with Her Majesty the Empress. Oh, how clumsy of me….”
Unwilling to simply leave, Enoch pretended to stumble slightly and bumped Kiana’s shoulder.
“Ah!”
Kiana’s small frame lurched dramatically. The man accompanying her as her lover quickly steadied her.
That handsome man with black hair, apparently her lover, suddenly glared at him. Enoch instinctively sensed the killing intent in those eyes and apologized reflexively.
“Ah, my apologies. I’ve been sitting for so long that I momentarily lost my footing.”
And he quickly left the garden.
* * *
‘How utterly vexing.’
I really… held back because I’m a king. There was much I wanted to say, but it could cause diplomatic complications. Still, irritation was irritation.
While waiting in the garden, I overheard the conversation between Enoch and the Empress despite not intending to eavesdrop. No matter that she’s his sister, she’s the Empress of the Empire, yet he treated her so carelessly and openly. Worse, he made demands like a beggar—this and that….
‘Ultimately, that’s why Her Majesty the Empress nearly faced deposition.’
One of the items he requested was secretly designated as military supplies, which caught Duke Purbis’s proposed law. Had I not verified it in the middle and given the Empress’s Palace a heads-up, she would have fallen right into the trap.
I harbored no particular affection for the Empress, but I didn’t wish to see her manipulated by family. When I heard her called useless and such things, I saw my younger self reflected in her. That’s why I helped her.
“Please, sit, Princess. And welcome to you as well, Marquis.”
In any case, the Empress, having sent Enoch off, spoke gently and offered us seats.
“Thank you for reminding me about the military supplies legislation last time. It could have been a real disaster.”
The Empress and I were practically strangers. We may have crossed paths a few times at events during childhood, but neither of us had taken interest in the other. Yet the moment the Empress laid eyes on me, she displayed a remarkably favorable demeanor. It seemed she believed I had saved her during the last aristocratic council meeting.
“I was just wondering how to express my gratitude when I heard that the Princess would be using her right of audience with the imperial family. You cannot imagine how delighted I was.”
“Not at all, Your Majesty. I merely happened to inspect some military supplies passing through Prelai territory. Of course, had I not done so, you would have found yourself in quite a predicament.”
I regarded the Empress with proper courtesy.
Erla Sola Tailizes. A woman who had shown no movement whatsoever beyond seclusion since her son’s disappearance.
Of course, even when her son was present, she had displayed little activity—merely watching her radiant son quietly from behind. It was precisely this delicate nature that the Emperor had publicly stated as his reason for choosing her as Empress.
Before coming to see the Empress, I had spoken briefly with Joshua.
“Let’s suppose that the members of that picnic party conspired to push the Crown Prince off the cliff.”
“Right.”
“If I were the missing Crown Prince… I would find it difficult to trust the Empress, no matter that she is my biological mother.”
“Why?”
“Most people don’t know this, but after that incident, Prince Hitten increased the subsidies to the Kingdom of Sola. The Crown Prince, on the other hand, had been cutting such allocations ruthlessly.”
This was news to me as well. And watching the Empress’s reaction to Enoch’s words…
‘This is psychological dependence, isn’t it?’
I could only click my tongue inwardly. Of course, I had experienced something similar once, but that was during childhood!
Yet understanding precisely what kind of psychology was at work only frustrated me further.

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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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