A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 156

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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 156
Upon leaving the prison, the Spirit said she would return to the forest.
“If you need help anytime, come find me, descendants of Ed and Eli. I’ll accept payment just like today.”
In other words, she was telling me to kiss her again if I wanted to see her.
“Next time, I hope it lasts a bit longer.”
…Just how much was she expecting…
After escorting the Spirit away, we headed to the Duke’s estate. It truly felt as though everything had finally come to an end.
In the drawing room of the Duke’s estate, I methodically explained everything that had transpired to my Father and Grandfather.
“And so… that’s how it all came to pass.”
The sudden regression and its cause, and how we all traveled to the past together to deal with the final heart fragment containing Roki’s soul.
“Dolores and Hitten will be handled by the Crown Prince, who has become dark and cruel. Through proper judicial proceedings and trial. We don’t need to stain our hands with blood.”
I spoke clearly.
“And once the Emperor awakens, he can destroy this remaining fragment.”
Only one heart fragment of Otson remained now. Though nearly shattered, broken pieces still existed—the fragment bearing the Tailizes mark. It was still being kept at the Duke’s estate.
“Then his body should recover. After all, it was damage caused by dark magic.”
The reason I hadn’t revealed everything until now was that matters hadn’t fully concluded. I was also worried my family might become too anxious. And since regression itself was such an unbelievable fact, I feared they wouldn’t believe me.
But now that Edmund was here as a witness, and we had the broken heart fragment as evidence of time reversal, there was no reason to hesitate. Still… I thought regression might be difficult for them to accept, but Grandfather was the first to nod.
“I see.”
Grandfather even smiled knowingly, as if he had already sensed something.
“I suspected you were hiding something from me.”
I laughed awkwardly, feeling caught.
Come to think of it, Grandfather had stopped asking me “why are you doing such things?” at some point. During the hunting tournament alone, he had even said, “Do as you wish. I’ll manage Alex and Joshua.”
“I offer my renewed gratitude, Crown Prince.”
And Grandfather bowed respectfully toward Edmund.
“Of course, you saved your life thanks to our Hou, and you were able to return comfortably thanks to our Kiana.”
“Ahem, ahem! Let me say it again—that poison was truly vicious. I really thought I was going to die.”
Now even Hou had been won over by Grandfather and began taking credit alongside him. And the moment Grandfather finished speaking, Father let out a beastly wail and began to cry.
“Oh no… oh no… waaaaaah, my poor Kiki, what am I to do… waaaah.”
Watching a large, muscular middle-aged man dressed in luxury clothing from head to toe cry out loud was… well… quite surprising.
I put on a sorrowful expression and nodded.
“Yes. I really am pitiful and pathetic. So everyone should treat me well. You all need to cherish and care for me greatly.”
After indulging in the crying for a moment, I couldn’t contain my curiosity and asked.
“But why am I pitiful? I’ve been succeeding at everything and it all ended well?”
“Waaaah… hic, hic… how lonely you must have been, Kiki…”
Father wiped his tears with the back of his large hand and continued.
“You alone knew the future all this time… hic, your family knew nothing… waaaah, hic… how lonely it must have been. Even when I was in Arun, I had tribesmen I was close with, but waaaah, knowing something different from everyone else was so lonely. Waaaaaah… that loneliness of not being able to tell anyone…”
“Ah.”
Father seemed to find me terribly pitiful. I assured him there was no need to worry.
“It’s alright, Father. There were many times when you weren’t by my side and my family knew nothing, spouting nonsense, but still… Piyak knew. I wasn’t alone.”
“Yes, Piyak knew!”
Piyak puffed out his chest proudly from atop the table and spoke.
“So it turns out I wasn’t the only one who knew about the regression.”
In the end, Kitty wiped Father’s tears and the commotion came to an end.
“Stop your crying, meow. You’re coming here now and sobbing away, but you don’t seem like an ordinary daughter who’d be moved by that, meow.”
“In any case, so…”
I handed Edmund the last remaining heart fragment and spoke.
“Take this to the imperial palace, and have His Majesty the Emperor destroy it himself once he regains consciousness. Then his body should recover.”
“Mm.”
But Edmund simply placed the fragment back into my hand and smiled quietly.
“Well, this is clearly Duke Prelai’s achievement. It would be the proper procedure for the House of Prelai to formally present it and receive adequate compensation.”
Now that I thought about it, the person who had been safeguarding the heart fragment all along was Father.
Edmund suggested gently.
“Perhaps later, when His Majesty the Emperor regains consciousness, you could visit the palace together with the Duke.”
Of course, Father, who had actually received the suggestion, slammed the table and spoke ominously.
“Arrrgh! Struggle! Struggle! Struggle! Get your hands off right now! …please.”
“Father, even if you let go now, I’ll just hold on longer later anyway. You got married even younger than me—why are you suddenly trying to interfere with someone else’s romance?”
“…”
At my indifferent remark, Father writhed in agony, muttering that he now understood why Julius swung his axe so fiercely whenever he made advances toward Enes.
That was when there came a knock, and Alex entered.
I inwardly chuckled when I saw what was in Alex’s hands. It was something I had originally asked him to bring.
“Huh?”
Piyak tilted his head in confusion.
“What’s that unnecessarily expensive-looking staff?”
“It’s not a staff.”
It was the golden torch that had been in Jeonseogoo Tower. The very torch I had bought with my allowance while waiting for Piyak when I was young.
I walked to the reception room door, took the golden torch from Alex, and stood it on the floor. Then I looked at Piyak on the table and smiled warmly.
“It’s yours.”
“…Mine?”
“I didn’t buy it now—I bought it a very long time ago while waiting for you. I had a feeling I’d somehow manage to summon an avian summoned beast.”
Piyak’s eyes wavered.
Joshua, who had entered quietly, rolled out a narrow carpet from the table to the torch. Father’s eyes widened at the sight of the carpet covered in luxury brand logos.
“Joshua, does this brand make things like this? The pattern is quite bold and I really like it.”
“I commissioned it specially. This pattern will be revealed in the next SS season, but they’re releasing it early as a favor to me and Father.”
“Oh.”
Grandfather let out a deep sigh as he watched Father and Joshua converse excitedly back and forth. Their relationship seemed to be exceptionally good.
Regardless, I spoke to Piyak.
“The truth is, I never cared what abilities you had. Not since before I even met you.”
Piyak blinked and looked at me. I tapped the golden torch and continued.
“Thank you for coming to me.”
It was something I had wanted to say to my long-awaited summoned beast since I was eight years old.
“I really will treat you well for the rest of my life.”
I smiled brightly and met Piyak’s gaze.
“You’re absolutely the perfect summon for me. Truly, genuinely, sincerely. You’re cute, adorable, and even your sharp tongue—that’s exactly what makes you my summon.”
Piyak took a deep breath. Then tears welled up in his eyes as he hopped down from the table and began walking across the carpet Joshua had laid out. Watching him, Father, Grandfather, my brothers, and Edmund all applauded.
Piyak fluttered his wings while receiving the applause and perched on his stand.
【Kiana….】
And he spoke in a voice brimming with emotion.
【Kiana is also the perfect master to me. Truly, genuinely, sincerely. You’re intelligent, clever, and you really understand everything….】
I sighed and cut off Piyak’s words.
“Wait. That’s not right.”
Everyone who had been applauding suddenly stopped and looked at me with confusion.
“No matter who it is, I don’t understand all of quantum mechanics. Don’t idealize me too much.”
“….”
【….】
A brief silence fell. Piyak sat on his stand and muttered.
【I wish magical engineering would fail.】
At those words, Joshua hesitated before adding.
“I was trying not to say that anymore…. I kind of regretted it when Kiana collapsed.”
So I shrugged and told him not to regret it.
“You can say it. After all, your wishing for magical engineering to fail and the actual trajectory of magical engineering are independent events, so they don’t influence each other.”
“I wish magical engineering would fail. Piyak, you were magnificent.”
Joshua said it sulkily. Piyak nodded with determination and responded.
【What matters is an unbreakable spirit. I wish magical engineering would fail.】
That was when it happened.
“Your Highness!”
Along with a knock, one of Edmund’s attendants rushed in with an urgent expression.
“The Emperor has awakened!”

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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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