A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 13

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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 13
“…It seems nothing has changed from those miserable days of old.”
Lord Rodrigo turned me around with a sinister smile.
“Having returned after so long, it appears you don’t quite understand your own position.”
Then he chuckled softly and whispered.
“You think you can escape from me? It won’t matter what you do.”
A subtle madness had begun to seep into Lord Rodrigo’s deep crimson eyes.
I had once adored those reddish eyes. I’d thought that if I married this man, I might bear children with red eyes. My obsession with my own eye color had been that consuming back then. Hair could be dyed or covered with a wig, after all.
“I’m the man you first begged to marry, Kiana. Six years ago, you didn’t know what to do whenever I so much as smiled at you.”
Lord Rodrigo spoke with confidence.
Hmm. A man I’d once clung to was now suddenly treating me with ease and bringing up the past. I decided to respond with equal comfort and sincerity.
“What nonsense. According to my governess, the first man I said I wanted to marry was Alex. Was I four years old then? It’s just proof that my taste in men has always been terrible.”
And I graciously considered the other person’s position.
“In any case, seeing you chase after me like a masterless dog, disguising it as coincidence, it seems you covet me because I’m still a lady of the Prelai Family? Well, that’s possible. But wouldn’t it be better to wipe the sweat from your palms and try a different approach? Your scheme is far too transparent.”
I gestured to my own face and continued wistfully.
“Even with a ruined reputation, don’t you think I could still marry someone? I’m still intelligent, kind, beautiful, and lovely, aren’t I?”
“….”
Lord Rodrigo’s expression became one of disbelief for a moment, but he couldn’t deny my words. He simply said something else instead.
“You have no choice. The House of Prelai would be delighted if someone would take away such a troublesome villainess.”
The engagement had been unilaterally broken during marriage negotiations between Melissa and him. From Lord Rodrigo’s perspective, it was a loss. Naturally, the House of Purbis could hold the House of Prelai responsible. Even if the circumstances seemed odd, if they insisted that the marriage between families must be maintained, the House of Prelai would have nothing to say. After all, there was still another lady of the Prelai Family who could marry him in Melissa’s stead.
So I shrugged and pointed out the reality.
“What are you talking about? All that’s left for me is to become the youngest lady of the household whom Grandfather loves and my brothers are obsessed with?”
“Such a thing could never happen, and even if by some miracle it did….”
Lord Rodrigo chuckled and took another step closer.
“…it probably wouldn’t matter? So don’t waste your energy, my lady.”
Right. There was no point in wasting energy on such meaningless bickering. So it was just as the Spy Maid was about to pour the disguised medicine over my head.
“Well.”
The man standing behind us set down the magical artifact he’d been examining with a soft sound and spoke.
“The lady of Prelai doesn’t seem to have said anything particularly wrong.”
His voice was languid yet low. Yet his pronunciation was so precise that it clung perfectly to the ear.
The owner of that voice was the one remaining guest who hadn’t yet left—that handsome man with black hair. Wow…. His voice was truly beautiful as well. But his tone was somewhat peculiar. It was as if his superiority over others came to him entirely naturally.
“So isn’t that precisely why you couldn’t give a proper answer?”
Even in the gesture of setting down an object, such grace overflowed that both Lord Rodrigo and I couldn’t help but flinch.
There weren’t many people who could speak to the second son of the House of Purbis in such a manner. Even the angle of the buttons fastened up to his neck was sharp as a blade. Looking closely, he was a gentleman whose clothing bore not a single wrinkle.
‘What is this? Why is he so beautiful?’
No matter how noble, no one could possess such perfect appearance. Even his standing posture was flawless, and before him, Lord Rodrigo seemed to stiffen involuntarily.
“In my personal judgment….”
His words were leisurely and composed, yet carried an immense pressure. He slowly approached us.
“Looking at what you’re doing, you seem more like the villain.”
And while Lord Rodrigo was momentarily overwhelmed and couldn’t speak, he effortlessly removed Lord Rodrigo’s hand that had been gripping my wrist. Even that small motion contained not a single unnecessary movement.
“And, the young lady of House Prelai.”
He turned his head to gaze directly at me. Those uncommon golden eyes were distant and unfathomable. Simply meeting his gaze made me feel the inhuman vastness of his presence. Perhaps it was this overwhelming pressure that kept Lord Rodrigo instinctively paralyzed.
He spoke with courtesy, yet his tone carried a distinct, impenetrable wall.
“I was actually looking for you. Would you perhaps have a moment to spare for me?”
His face was the kind that made one want to give him anything. But of all things, time was the one thing I couldn’t afford to give. I had something crucial to do before meeting Grandfather, and running into Lord Rodrigo unexpectedly had already cost me precious minutes.
So I answered him immediately.
“No, I’ll be going now.”
And without a backward glance, I took the Spy Maid with me and quickly boarded the carriage.
* * *
Sezare Levin stumbled slightly as he exited the General Store.
“So the Duke’s concerns have come to pass like this… It seems my insight still has much to improve.”
Ranaq offered comfort to Sezare, who appeared somewhat shaken.
“It’s fine, Duke. You’ve always emphasized that your relationship with the young lady is nothing more than ‘a simple mutual arrangement.'”
“….”
“There’s no need to feel hurt just because the young lady won’t spare even the briefest moment, as that’s simply not her style.”
“….”
“Perhaps she simply saw you as just another man making advances. So she felt no romantic attraction and cut you off immediately.”
“….”
“Later, if you simply say ‘let’s just conduct a simple transaction between us,’ she would surely make time for you, even if she thought you weren’t much as a man. I’m certain of it.”
Sezare Levin shot a glare at Ranaq, his closest and seemingly innocent subordinate.
“Of course, I learned not long ago that ‘No, I’ll be going now’ means ‘Stop bothering me and get lost’….”
“Enough, Ranaq.”
“But still….”
“I said enough.”
“Yes, sir….”
Without understanding the situation, Ranaq finally fell silent.
* * *
I immediately purchased several more coffees and headed toward Prelai Manor. Time was running short.
“Carry these and follow me, Spy Maid.”
Back in my room, I changed into simpler clothes and had the Spy Maid carry my supplies. Then I headed straight to the Greenhouse.
The bag contained not only the magical items I’d brought from the Academy, but also stimulants and concealment potions, along with plenty of coffee. I’d also carefully packed parchment scrolls and fine writing quills. Grandfather would likely wake soon and summon me, so I needed to move quickly.
“Young lady.”
The Spy Maid following behind me hesitated before speaking.
“About lunch… I’m sorry, but you didn’t even have a proper breakfast.”
“I ate lunch.”
“Pardon? When?”
“Joshua gave me cookies in the Drawing Room earlier.”
The Spy Maid’s eyes widened as she asked.
“What? You call that a meal?”
“That’s good enough.”
I answered with composure and continued walking.
“Ugh, this blasted manor… why is it so enormous?”
The Prelai Manor was so vast that by the time I reached the Greenhouse, I was gasping for breath. Not that I could ride a Carriage inside the house.
“Spy Maid, you’re really quite sturdy, aren’t you?”
The Spy Maid was muscular and carried a heavy load, yet showed no signs of fatigue. Rather, she gazed at me with a pitying expression.
“Forgive me, but it appears your stamina is below average, Miss.”
“Wow, you say you’re sorry but then speak your mind anyway. Looks like you’re a Spy Maid with backbone.”
“…Thank you.”
“If you just bring coffee promptly, you’ll become a Spy Maid worth her weight in gold.”
I praised the Spy Maid and then flung open the Greenhouse door. This blasted manor even had a massive Greenhouse.
“Miss, why are we going here…? Actually, I suspect we might need the Duke’s permission to enter the inner chambers.”
The Spy Maid, following with her burden, spoke cautiously.
Well… I’d been absent from the Prelai Manor for so long that I should naturally respect the opinion of a maid who’d been here all this time. But before respecting it, I needed to verify the facts first.
“Are you certain?”
“Pardon?”
“Is such a procedure really necessary?”
“…Well, but… the inner chambers… truthfully, it’s a section we haven’t entered in quite some time…”
“So there’s no such procedure, then? A Spy Maid lecturing the Miss is rather unexpected, don’t you think?”
The Spy Maid flinched and shrank back. Being the sentimental sort, I’d already grown fond of her, so I kindly offered her advice on efficient work practices.
“Spy Maid, I appreciate your backbone, but going forward, I’d prefer you didn’t try to stop me. I don’t listen to others anyway. Keep that in mind, will you?”
Having finished my sincere counsel, I proceeded without hesitation into the deepest part of the Greenhouse. And there, just as I’d anticipated…
【Who are you?】
Inside a Nest the size of a house, large enough for only my body to fit, lay a massive black hawk, collapsed as if lifeless.
It was Hou, Grandfather’s summoned beast.

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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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