A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 158

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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 158
I cried out with exultation, but the Emperor and Seliet exchanged bewildered glances with one another.
“Hmm….”
“…Wait a moment.”
The Emperor even paused to consider, clutching the small fragment tightly in his hand. His voice trembled as he muttered to himself.
“…Let me think for just a moment about what might be better for Ed, Princess. Of course, taste is precious… but marriage is precious too….”
“If things revert to how they were, won’t it be hopeless? Right?”
Seliet also whispered desperately to the Emperor, and I heard every word.
That was when it happened.
“Hand that over at once, Your Majesty!”
Father rushed at the Emperor and pried the small fragment from his grasp with his own hands. I cried out in shock.
“Father! You can’t just charge at His Majesty like that!”
【It’s fine, Kiana! Hyde is the Emperor’s lifesaver! Surely he wouldn’t be so ungrateful as to destroy him?】
No matter how much Piyak and I protested, Father snatched the small fragment and pressed it into Edmund’s hands.
“Destroy it!”
Edmund stared at Father with a bewildered expression. The Emperor, Seliet, Piyak, and I all felt the same way.
When had Father ever cared for Edmund like this?
“What’s this?”
The Emperor muttered in utter astonishment. Seliet quickly whispered.
“Could it be the result of Brother Ed leaving such a strong impression every single day? Perhaps he’s grown fond of him…. That’s promising.”
Just as I was about to be moved by Father’s meddlesome choice, he urged me on urgently.
“Once his sense of taste returns, I’ll be able to take care of our Kiki even more splendidly! I’ll be able to understand Kiki’s palate in much finer detail!”
“….”
…It was all for me after all. It seemed he had been diligently reading through my daily health reports that I received every night.
In the end, I sighed and interjected.
“Honestly, food is all the same to me, and since I eat out of necessity rather than pleasure—just pouring fuel into the tank, so to speak—I don’t see why this is so important. But still, since dark magic remains, let’s destroy it quickly.”
To be frank, I didn’t eat because food tasted good; I ate because I hated being hungry, so I just grabbed whatever was convenient. That’s why I thought it wouldn’t matter much if I lost my sense of taste tomorrow. So I had never truly pitied Edmund for his loss.
Still, I knew how genuinely passionate young Edmund had been about eating, so I suggested destroying the fragment as a way for him to rediscover that joy. Upon hearing my words, Edmund sighed deeply and nodded, then spoke.
“The Duke is right. Despite all my efforts, I still think of food merely as fuel…. It seems that relying on memory alone to plan my meals wasn’t enough. Clearly, I need a new breakthrough.”
And turning to me with a gentle smile, he spoke as if making a vow.
“Kiana, I made you a promise on the day you awakened.”
His tone was utterly sincere.
“That I would maintain the appearance you find pleasing.”
Edmund had indeed said such a thing that day. But that was only because I had inadvertently told him he looked too gaunt, and somehow those words had slipped out….
“I promise you. I will use my sense of taste only for your sake.”
The Emperor and Seliet behind him nodded with relief. Before I could say anything, Piyak wrapped his wings around his belly and began laughing uproariously.
【Ahahahahaha! Kiana didn’t say a single word, yet somehow she’s become trash! Ahahahahaha!】
Only then did I understand why I had felt so uncomfortable since earlier.
【Trash who only sees her lover’s appearance! Ahahahahaha!】
I had never said a single word about plump Edmund! In my indignation, I protested, “It’s fine even if you get chubby! I didn’t fall for you because of your looks!” but even that was drowned out by the sound of Edmund destroying the remaining fragment.
And that day, Edmund shed tears while eating the cookie I had given him.
* * *
Several days later, an official trial was held regarding Dolores and Hitten. Ever since Edmund had appeared at the last noble assembly and imprisoned them as perpetrators caught in the act, this was the official trial concerning “the attempted poisoning of the Crown Prince and black magic.”
Not only the relevant officials but also all the influential nobles attended. Thus, the trial grounds were crowded with people. The entire direct line of the Prelai household attended and sat in the front row.
People blinked their eyes as they watched Hyde and Joshua, who were dressed almost like a matching couple. This was because today was Hyde Prelai’s first official outing. Until now, he had been cooped up in the ducal residence receiving a handover from Scari.
“His physique has grown quite large from building excessive muscle, but if you look carefully, you can still see traces of his former appearance.”
“That’s right. Hyde Prelai is truly Hyde Prelai. Even just sitting still, he exudes such an elegant atmosphere.”
“As for fashion… it seems he was forced to follow Joshua’s styling. Since he originally preferred neat clothing, he’ll soon find his own style.”
“Indeed. To express his love for his second son like that—he’s truly a wonderful father.”
Everyone glanced at Hyde and whispered, “He’s certainly impressive.”
This was because Hyde had received considerable grooming under Joshua’s guidance, and his appearance had become quite refined. Of course, his physique had become excessively large. Moreover, thanks to Scari’s diligent education, he was currently sitting still with his mouth shut.
‘Everyone’s only looking at Father. Well, his body is rather muscular, but it’s not often you see a middle-aged man this handsome.’
And Kiana, seated in the very center of the family, stood expressionless in a checkered dress with her arms crossed.
‘The problem is when Father opens his mouth. He instantly becomes like Alex…’
As always, as long as he kept his mouth shut, things would be fine.
In any case, around the time Alex was muttering something about how long it was taking to start, the trial began.
“Now.”
And the Emperor, having completely recovered from his illness, personally presided over the trial. There was no trace of his former pallid appearance; instead, a dignified middle-aged man with sharp, bright eyes sat commanding everyone from above with a piercing expression.
The Empress had been confined to her quarters due to poor health for several days and did not attend the trial. Instead, Edmund sat in the seat of honor with a neat but cold expression.
While the accused had not yet arrived, the Emperor declared:
“Let us begin now.”
A tedious procedure followed for a time.
The Announcer explained the details of this case at length and enumerated the crimes of Dolores and Hitten one by one. Then Edmund’s survival was also revealed. In this process, the Prelai household’s contributions were recognized, and Hyde received a gift from the Emperor on the spot.
The gifts were a plaque and a fertile territory in the south. That territory, famous for its vineyards, was also renowned as a producer of quality wine, and as a symbolic gift, a bottle of wine was presented on the spot.
“As you all know, Lady Kiana, whom we met by chance, was also of great help by enabling the change of eye color.”
Edmund spoke in a flowing voice.
“However, I believe there are still those who harbor doubts. After all, a magical tool that changes eye color has never been revealed to the world. Yet when I previously asked if there were any volunteers for the experiment, no one stepped forward, did they?”
He was using polite language toward everyone as he had when he was Count Sezare Levin, but instead, it created an atmosphere so chilling it sent shivers down one’s spine.
“Therefore, I wish to demonstrate it here directly.”
In fact, no one doubted Edmund’s legitimacy, but Edmund smiled kindly and gestured to an attendant.
And soon after, a man was roughly dragged in. Everyone was startled upon seeing him. This was because the man brought in was Lord Rodrigo, whom everyone had forgotten.
“What? That damned bastard…”
Alex, upon seeing Lord Rodrigo, was the first to curse and jump to his feet, but Kiana sighed and said:
“Sit.”
“Right.”
Alex gritted his teeth and sat back down, and Scari gave Kiana an approving look. Hyde muttered in disbelief.
“That wretched-looking bastard was our little Kiki’s first love? What happened to our young Kiki’s taste?”
This was because Lord Rodrigo’s appearance had become pitiful from his long imprisonment.
Lord Rodrigo was thrown onto his knees in the middle of the courtroom, bound. Joshua whispered quietly to Hyde:
“Originally, it wasn’t quite that bad. He was rather presentable. Naturally, not quite as much as me, though.”
In the meantime, Edmund walked slowly forward and positioned himself before Lord Rodrigo.
He smiled coldly, and with his gloved hand, he wound Lord Rodrigo’s hair around his fingers and forced his head upward. The gesture was so brutally elegant that even Alex found himself holding his breath, swallowing back a curse.

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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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