A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 12

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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 12
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I picked through the General Store’s inventory without hesitation. The Maid’s expression grew increasingly bewildered as I handed her various items—disguise potions, stimulants, and the like.
“My lady, what on earth are all these for…?”
“Let’s just buy them and go. I’ve spent more time at Joshua’s place than expected, so we’re running short on time.”
The sun had already climbed to its zenith, and it seemed Grandfather would be waking from his rest soon.
Perhaps because I carried the guilt of causing trouble and running away, the prospect of reuniting with Grandfather felt strangely embarrassing. But if I could fix Hou, surely Grandfather would see me differently. More than anything, I felt I could face him with greater confidence.
In my heart, Grandfather occupied a different place than my older brothers.
Since we shared the same mother, I harbored an unwavering belief that our blood was mingled. So when facing them, I felt no embarrassment.
But Grandfather was different. No matter how kindly he treated me, throughout my childhood I had kept my distance, secretly weeping behind closed doors with the thought: “What if I’m not truly his granddaughter…?”
But I was no longer a child. And so I could make a new resolution.
‘Even if I truly share no blood with Grandfather, even if that’s what he believes, I can still prove my worth in other ways.’
Once, Grandfather had simply felt awkward to me. I had believed I could only stand before him as a worthy granddaughter if I could summon a Summoned Beast. But I was already a seasoned adult who had even reached the rank of professor.
‘I just need to prove my usefulness through my own abilities. Even without a Summoned Beast, I’m already accomplished!’
I had already demonstrated this at the Academy. Even without a single drop of shared blood, whenever I achieved results, everyone trusted me.
Since my sixteenth year, nearly all my human relationships had been forged at the Academy. So those experiences still profoundly shaped my values. The less confident I felt in my bloodline, the more desperately I wanted to prove my worth to Grandfather in other ways.
Just as I was about to quickly finish my purchases and leave the General Store—
A bell chimed as the door opened. My eyes, which normally paid little attention to my surroundings, suddenly moved in an unusual way. It was almost a reflexive reaction.
A young man with black hair and golden eyes had just entered the General Store.
“…Huh?”
My expression became slightly flustered.
‘I’m certain someone like him wasn’t in the Capital six years ago.’
I had always believed that with two older brothers who were perfectly presentable on the surface, I wouldn’t be easily swayed by mere appearance. Yet my eyes mocked that very conviction, following his every movement.
His legs were beautifully proportioned, his broad shoulders looked firm and taut, and his high nose and sharp jawline—which anchored the center of his face—were simply perfect. But what was truly beautiful was something invisible to the eye: an innate nobility.
‘How can his clothing be so impeccably arranged, and how can each movement of his body be so refined and composed…?’
Without realizing it, I found myself gazing at him blankly for a long moment.
‘Wait… the longer I look, the less exceptionally handsome he seems? Actually, he looks quite ordinary now.’
That was when the bell chimed again, and a squid-like figure entered the shop. And that squid addressed me.
“There you are, Kiana.”
Oh my.
“I naturally expected you’d visit Purbis Manor first. I’m a bit disappointed, you know.”
How remarkable—a squid that can talk?
…Or rather, no.
Snapping back to my senses, I realized that “squid” was someone very familiar to me. It was Lord Rodrigo, the man I had chased after so eagerly during my childhood.
With his light brown hair and deep crimson eyes, Lord Rodrigo was quite handsome, but after staring at such an exceptionally beautiful man for so long, he appeared relatively unremarkable by comparison.
When I didn’t respond, he carefully called my name.
“Kiana?”
In an instant, every customer’s gaze in the General Store fixed upon us.
“Oh, I apologize.”
I blinked once and offered a polite apology.
“My eyes took a moment to adjust to the ordinary appearance. Think of it like dark adaptation.”
“…What?”
Goodness, she didn’t know what dark adaptation was. Well, it was a scientific term that ordinary people might not know. I began explaining kindly.
“You know how when you go from a bright place to a dark place, you can’t see well for a moment? It’s like that.”
“….”
Seeing her speechless expression, it didn’t seem like she understood well. I was about to explain the scientific principles of light and dark adaptation, but I gave up and just stated the conclusion.
“It just means my appearance isn’t great, so I reacted slowly.”
At those words, the people murmuring behind me let out a stifled laugh before quickly disappearing. There weren’t many people in the Capital who could openly mock the second son of House of Purbis. About a third of the customers in the General Store vanished that way.
Lord Rodrigo stared at me quietly, then smiled and spoke.
“It seems you’ve harbored quite a bit of resentment toward me, Kiana. Is that why you’re not even greeting me properly—because of the marriage talks that went back and forth with Melissa?”
“What?”
“But you need to understand. When did I ever say I was happy? You suddenly left for the Academy one day. As for the marriage talks with Melissa…. I did that in a fit of anger, not from the heart.”
Lord Rodrigo stepped closer to me slowly and continued.
“Of course, you also… must have gone to the Academy in a fit of anger to get my attention. So we’ve both pouted at each other once. Shall we settle our past accounts with that?”
To be honest, it was complete nonsense from beginning to end. Still, thinking of our old connection, I listened carefully. I listened so carefully that I seriously analyzed that bullshit and asked probing follow-up questions.
“Settle accounts? Do you know how to do calculus with transcendental functions?”
“Y…Yes? What function?”
“I can tell you can’t. It seems the skill gap is too great for us to calculate together. Did you perhaps give up on mathematics when someone tore up the calendar for that problem?”
“What do you take me for!”
Lord Rodrigo grew angry. I tilted my head and asked.
“Then what about when Mary and Charles run in different directions?”
“I was fine until then!”
“Then what about when someone keeps mixing salt water?”
“….”
“So you gave up at the salt water problem—that’s better than expected. You have quite the nerve bringing up calculations in front of a magical engineering major.”
I let out a light sigh and added.
“Anyway, well….”
Then I gently grasped my skirt hem and bowed politely. Even if he wasn’t someone I particularly wanted to impress, there were noble courtesies to observe, and I was quite a courteous person. Besides, he was my first love after all. A bit late, but I greeted him warmly and affectionately once more.
“If you wanted a greeting, I’ll give you one now. Have you been well? I thought by now you’d have become a fine chef.”
“…A chef?”
“You’ve been so diligently tasting between Melissa and me since childhood.”
Once again came the stifled laugh, and about a third of the original customers quickly disappeared.
“Kiana, what do you mean by….”
“I understand though. It’s even praiseworthy how you schemed ahead to marry into House of Prellay so as not to fall behind the eldest son.”
Kiana, a direct heir but unable to summon spirits, and Melissa, not a direct heir but able to summon spirits… It seemed he’d been seriously deliberating over which one to choose.
Thinking of our old connection, I gave him sincere advice.
“But Lord Rodrigo, in such situations, you usually have to choose just one. Understood?”
After all, we were now complete strangers with no conflicting interests, so there was no reason to criticize him. And like a former professor, I didn’t forget to offer constructive advice for his future.
“Of course, before choosing anyone, it would be better to first develop some masculine charm.”
“…What?”
“Melissa fled to the Convent before her engagement, didn’t she? That’s basically saying she’d rather serve the poor of the entire world than serve you, isn’t it?”
Another sharp exhale echoed through the shop, and nearly all the remaining customers hastily disappeared.
I still had more to say, so I was about to continue when someone suddenly appeared before me.
“My lady, I do apologize!”
It was the Shopkeeper.
“Please… might you and this gentleman continue your private conversation outside? It’s causing quite a bit of disruption to business…”
“Oh, my apologies.”
I blinked and spoke.
“When Lord Rodrigo spoke to me earlier, he laughed and said what an entertaining spectacle this was, so I thought people enjoyed listening to our conversation.”
The Shopkeeper had clearly been delighted when the departing customers lingered and whispered instead. He’d even chimed in with “How fascinating!” as they gathered.
Well, if he’s asking us to leave, we should leave. I’m someone who respects others’ wishes, after all.
“Kiana!”
But my wrist was suddenly seized. My body stumbled forward.

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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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