A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 15

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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 15
When I arrived at the Greenhouse, the Maid assigned to watch over me stood blocking the entrance with a respectful posture.
“I apologize.”
The Maid lowered her head and spoke firmly.
“The Young Mistress ordered that no one be allowed inside the Greenhouse for two hours.”
“Step aside.”
Scari spoke with an eerie tone. His eyes were filled with killing intent. Compared to his gaze and manner of speech, his command was relatively mild.
“I apologize.”
However, the Maid did not move.
“I’ve already been scolded extensively today for being late with the coffee errand. If I fail to carry out this order as well, I may truly lose my position.”
“Have you forgotten whose orders you should be following right now?”
Scari rarely lost his composure and shouted harshly.
“You should have handled this before it ever came to this!”
“She was so resolute that I couldn’t even dare to touch the matter. And….”
The Maid trembled as she bowed her head and spoke.
“The Young Mistress said that I need to endure for at least a month before I could even list spy experience on my resume.”
“What?”
“She’s already noticed that the Duke ordered me to watch her.”
At those words, Joshua, who had followed Scari, asked urgently.
“But didn’t it not work out? You said your cover as a spy was blown.”
“Yes, it didn’t work out. But with every word she speaks, it feels like I’m being hit.”
The Maid answered dejectedly, thinking of Kiana who had begun appending “spy” to the end of every sentence. Joshua rubbed his chin and murmured.
“As expected…. Nothing’s changed at all.”
At Joshua’s words, the Maid hesitated for a moment before courageously expressing her honest opinion.
“But it didn’t feel particularly unpleasant. Rather… well, this might sound strange….”
“Go on.”
“It felt refreshing and somewhat cool. It was certainly criticism, but the words weren’t wrong either—they made me reflect on myself. And through it all, I felt a tiny, dust-like consideration.”
Joshua slowly nodded at the Maid’s description.
“That’s right. I felt the same way…. I was criticized for being a luxury goods addict in front of others, but in between those words, I sensed a kindness as small as a chick’s tears.”
“Criticism? You being a luxury goods addict falls within the realm of fact.”
In the meantime, Scari spoke firmly. Then the Maid spoke carefully.
“Yes…. Well, in any case, since there’s nothing the Duke said that isn’t true, I wasn’t resentful.”
Then the Maid immediately bowed deeper before Scari.
“In any case, Duke….”
She was a Maid with such sharp eyes and quick judgment that the Head Maid had personally selected her as Kiana’s watcher. So with animal instinct, she had already made her decision about what action to take now. Though she trembled at Scari’s killing intent, she did not lift her feet from where she stood.
“From what I’ve observed, the Young Mistress is not one to boast empty words. Therefore….”
And gathering all her courage, she barely managed to assert herself.
“I believe this is the time to trust the Young Mistress once.”
“…What?”
“She will not do anything that harms Hou. She said she would definitely fix it herself.”
“A child who’s neither a physician nor a veterinarian!”
Joshua interjected as Scari’s anger flared.
“Summoned creatures can’t be treated by physicians or veterinarians anyway, Grandfather.”
While Scari’s words caught in his throat, the Maid bowed deeper and continued.
“The young lady gathered her materials without hesitation. It seemed she knew exactly what she was doing. After all… she’s the Academy’s prodigy, possessing knowledge we simply don’t have. Perhaps it would be wise to trust her for now.”
A brief silence fell. Scari stood motionless in place, as if frozen solid.
“…Now that I think about it…”
He murmured as if realizing something entirely new.
“…I’ve never actually trusted Kiana.”
Joshua shrugged beside him.
“How sudden, Grandfather. You’ve cared for us, but you’ve never trusted anyone—not just Kiana, but anyone. You only use Alex when he needs to bite something.”
“That’s because you’ve all grown up to be absolute disasters! If I’d entrusted this family to you, what would have become of it?”
“It would have already collapsed beyond recovery.”
“Exactly! So this old, sickly man is working himself to death even now! All to pass on an intact family to you! Do you understand this magnificent love?”
“No, Grandfather, why do you keep bringing up things you’ve never mentioned before…”
“This is excellent! I’m expressing my heart, so why doesn’t my heart feel relieved?”
The Head Maid’s face, who had been hurrying after him, twisted with guilt.
‘With such a relieved expression on his face… I can’t possibly tell him now that he wasn’t trying to make a point of it!’
The Head Maid felt internal despair watching Scari’s characteristic stern charisma crumble.
Then it came—a distinct fluttering sound from within the Greenhouse. Unmistakably the sound of wingbeats. Kiana’s voice leaked out faintly.
“Don’t get excited! There’s still more to do! The toxins are still in your body! Don’t act like you’re completely healed!”
And Scari could no longer contain himself. The Maid couldn’t stop him either.
The door burst open, and Scari, Joshua, and the other servants attending to Kiana rushed into the Greenhouse.
【But my body’s finally moving properly after all these years!】
At the sight before him at the innermost part of the Greenhouse, before Hou’s nest, Scari was momentarily stunned.
【This is so thrilling!】
Hou, who had always lain listlessly with closed eyes, was now slowly fluttering his wings in the air.
【I’m going to live!】
“You’re already living. Just stretch your body lightly until the calculations are done.”
And beside the nest, I was frantically scribbling formulas on parchment laid across the floor, calculating like a madwoman. It was quite an impressive sight, nearly as much as Hou flying.
“…Kiana?”
Several cups of coffee, stimulants, and empty medicine bottles lay scattered everywhere. And in the midst of it all, I sat buried under mountains of parchment, wearing glasses.
Each piece of parchment was filled with formulas that looked difficult just to look at. Strange-shaped magical items rolled about haphazardly between them. Both Scari and Joshua now understood what the Maid had meant earlier: “We simply couldn’t bring ourselves to touch anything.”
“Ah.”
Joshua murmured softly.
“If being so absorbed in something is this impressive, I wonder if I look like that too when recruiting Lorelai knights…”
His summoned creature, the green serpent, answered him.
【Aning.】
Joshua slowly bent down and picked up one of the rolling empty medicine bottles. It was a digestive tonic. Just as he was about to say something, I spoke sharply.
“One moment.”
She didn’t even lift her head from the parchment, muttering irritably.
“Don’t interrupt me. I’m concentrating right now.”
And beside Kiana, Hou chimed in.
【Did you hear? Don’t disturb her!】
Scari froze in place. It had been so long since he’d heard Hou’s spirited voice that he even wore an expression of deep emotion. Since Scari remained silent, Joshua couldn’t say anything either. The two men who had been growling at each other moments before fell completely silent at Kiana’s command not to disturb her.
Kiana, wearing her glasses, moved her quill pen ceaselessly, occasionally muttering “I need sugar…” as she popped candies into her mouth. Before long, candy wrappers had accumulated in a heap beside her. It seemed… almost manic.
The Maid quietly left and returned with a folding chair. And so for a while, Joshua and Scari had to sit on that chair, holding their breath and remaining perfectly still.

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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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