A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 162

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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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Side Story Episode 1
Side Story 1. What Happened in Levin Territory
“This is a prisoner transport carriage.”
Dolores and Hitten were scheduled to be transported north along with other prisoners when Julius returned to the northern territories. Edmund and I were examining the prisoner carriage they would ride in.
“Wow… I suppose it’s fine now, but once we start heading north, it’s going to be truly freezing.”
I shuddered at the sight of what was called a carriage but looked more like a cart for prisoners. The cold in the north was really… dreadful.
“Is it that cold there?”
Edmund, standing beside me, pulled me close and whispered.
“I haven’t been there once in this lifetime, so I wouldn’t know.”
“It’s genuinely freezing. The guards accompanying the transport might even flee from the cold.”
Edmund answered with a gentle laugh at my words.
“Well, the one in charge is Captain of the Guard Avian Risineus.”
“Ah… I can trust him then.”
Avian Risineus had recently returned to the guard unit following my advice. Seeing that he was originally the fifth captain and was immediately promoted to second captain showed just how exceptional his abilities were.
In any case, I could trust Avian Risineus. That sincere and upright man would undoubtedly complete the prisoner transport duties with utmost diligence.
“He’s currently on an assignment in the Lepin region and will rejoin us near the capital, I heard.”
“Rejoin us near the capital?”
That meant I wouldn’t see him even when saying farewell to Julius.
“Now that I think about it, I’ve only heard rumors about Avian but never actually seen his face…”
I frowned as I spoke. Come to think of it, Avian hadn’t attended the trial, the groundbreaking ceremony, or the engagement ceremony due to external assignments.
“His return to the guard unit was likely influenced by my career counseling.”
It wasn’t that I desperately wanted to see Avian, but I did want to exchange some feedback with him.
‘It feels like things keep turning outward for some reason. Is it just my imagination?’
In any case, I wanted to cheer him on for the path ahead, even if it wasn’t something we’d deliberately arrange to meet for. So I asked the Spy Maid following behind me for a note and pen.
As I was writing the note, Edmund frowned and spoke.
“Kiana, what is this?”
“It’s something to send to Captain Avian.”
I was planning to have even the youngest guard watching the prisoner transport carriage deliver it. But before I could continue writing the contents, Edmund casually snatched my note away.
“That won’t do, Kiana.”
“What?”
I hadn’t even finished writing what I wanted to say. Moreover, I hadn’t even completed the basic letter format of “To Captain Avian, with sincerity from Kiana Prelai”!
I blinked in bewilderment as Edmund spoke leisurely.
“Weren’t your letters something only I could receive?”
My unfinished note slowly fluttered down from his hand into the corner of the transport carriage.
“If you have something you want to say, you can ask me to relay it. Is there really a need to leave physical evidence?”
“Hmm… Is leaving just a simple note really something that bothers you so much?”
“Yes.”
Edmund raised his eyebrows and answered immediately.
“I feel absolutely terrible thinking that Avian might keep that note close to his heart, looking at it whenever he thinks of you, and eventually sleep with it beside him, touching it again each time he tosses and turns.”
“Hmm…”
When I recalled how I once sent Edmund many notes through room 1135, it seemed like an excessively specific example.
“Well, I understand.”
In the end, I shrugged my shoulders and turned away. Then I told him that I could fully understand Edmund’s jealousy.
“It’s true that Captain of the Avian Guards liked me. And since he’ll never marry in his lifetime, I might be his last love. He may never forget me for the rest of his life and watch me from afar beside Ed, nursing his unrequited feelings in loneliness…”
I didn’t forget to make a rational and objective assessment of the situation.
“Given the circumstances, he’s a man who might harbor feelings for me until his death, so I can understand your jealousy. When I put myself in your shoes, I’m actually grateful you don’t have someone like that in your life.”
“Hmm. You certainly have a way with words.”
Edmund sighed once and smiled faintly. His expression suggested he couldn’t refute me since there was nothing wrong with what I said.
“In any case, since you understand perfectly, I don’t need to explain further.”
“No. I’ve spared your vocal cords.”
Perhaps moved by my expression of affection, Edmund’s eyes crinkled as he smiled happily. After that, I asked the youngest guard to simply tell him that he’d done well in finding his aptitude and wished him continued good fortune, then Edmund and I stepped outside.
“Let’s visit Duke Prelai’s estate later. You should see it in this life too.”
Since Edmund had mentioned earlier that he hadn’t visited in this life, I made the suggestion gently.
“I want to introduce you to my maternal grandmother and grandfather.”
In the north lay the gravestones of my maternal grandparents. And it was obvious that Julius would soon wish to see me often.
“It would be my honor.”
Edmund spoke softly.
“After all, His Majesty the Emperor is handling all the work.”
True to his word, the Emperor, now restored to health, worked very diligently.
“When you suffered most, I was not there to support you.”
The Emperor carried an enormous debt of gratitude toward Edmund. It seemed he felt quite sorry that for five years, the Crown Prince couldn’t even inform him whether he was alive or dead.
“I do not regret the many marriages I undertook as Emperor for the peace of the Empire. But as a father, I can only regret them.”
Since regret wouldn’t change anything anyway, it was simply an apology. In any case, the Emperor understood well what kind of father Edmund needed now.
“Even now, I will be the best father to you. So pursue the Princess relentlessly. That’s been your dream since childhood, hasn’t it?”
That didn’t mean Edmund did nothing as Crown Prince. He was never that kind of person to begin with. But regardless, he now had a leisure incomparable to when the Emperor had been bedridden, and he was enjoying our courtship.
“I’m already excited that we’re going on a trip together. Come to think of it, I don’t want to go ‘later.'”
Huh? Wait a moment. When did we say we were going on a trip? Something seems like a huge leap in logic here?
“Since I haven’t seen Julius in long, it would be awkward to follow him to the north right now… Actually, there’s a place I want to go. Would you come with me?”
Edmund whispered while cradling my cheek.
“I want to go to Levin territory with you. There’s someone who was once my adoptive father.”
Ah, that’s right. The young man Edmund, with no foundation whatsoever, changed his name to Sezare and hid in the nearby Levin territory. After that, he saved the elderly Count Levin in battle against the barbarians and became his adopted son, building his power. It was only natural that Levin territory held meaning for him.
“After he learned my true identity, he helped me in every way possible.”
And after Sezare Levin found his rightful place, Count Levin received his position back. It was natural that the Emperor bestowed a generous reward. However, since Count Levin was so elderly that traveling to the capital was difficult, he couldn’t receive it in person.
“He is another benefactor to me. He cared for me greatly. He even told me that if revenge seemed too difficult, I should marry here, build a family, and live happily.”
Edmund spoke in a somewhat subdued voice.
“But it took me a very long time to truly trust him. I regret that somewhat, so once the capital’s affairs are settled, I wanted to visit him for sure. That’s why I want to show you to him, Kiana.”
Hearing those words, I recalled the young boy determined on revenge, and my heart ached strangely. In the end, I looked into his eyes and nodded.
“Yes, let’s go. Let’s go soon. Let’s leave as quickly as possible.”
And so our western journey was decided.
Of course, Grandfather, Father, and my older brothers were shocked, but they couldn’t overcome my determination.
“What’s wrong with me going to see my fiancé’s benefactor alongside my fiancé?”
And as I departed the capital confidently alongside Edmund, Piyak muttered beside me.
【After all… Edmund is a hundred steps ahead of Kiana when it comes to handling people. In the end, we’re going on the journey as he wanted. If most of Kiana is magical engineering, then most of Edmund must be schemes and politics.】
“Piyak, that’s not it.”
I answered seriously.
“The greatest component that makes up me and Ed is water.”
【…I hope magical engineering fails.】

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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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