A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 164

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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 3
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Upon arriving at the Levin Domain, the white-haired Count Levin welcomed us.
“I welcome you most sincerely.”
He stood leaning on his cane, trembling visibly, and it was clear that each passing day weighed heavily upon him.
“Your Highness… This old man is truly delighted that you have returned safely.”
Count Levin grasped Edmund’s hand firmly with his age-spotted fingers, his eyes glistening with tears. Even during the banquet that followed, Count Levin spoke in a trembling voice, overwhelmed with emotion.
“And an engagement, no less… I truly regret not being able to attend the engagement ceremony. This is indeed a joyous occasion beyond measure.”
Count Levin gazed at me with such moved eyes that it felt burdensome. While it made sense that the Levin Domain, being far removed from the Capital, might not know of my notorious reputation, I still couldn’t fathom why he showed such favor toward me, a woman he was meeting for the first time.
“In fact, when His Highness was a young man, he said he would trust no one.”
As if answering my bewilderment, Count Levin spoke gently.
“He said that even if there were a woman he favored, he would not trust her either and would merely use her plainly—he said this every single day.”
I nearly spat out the water I was drinking. Now that I think back on it, that was truly nonsensical drivel of the highest order…
“Seeing him in such a state pained this old man’s heart greatly.”
Count Levin continued speaking with a gentle smile.
“Yet now that I see you both wearing such happy expressions, I would have no regrets even in death. Is marriage not planned for the future?”
I answered him softly.
“Ah, yes… In truth, there is no reason to rush at the moment.”
“I see.”
Count Levin smiled with a hint of disappointment, then added naturally.
“I say this only because Fernando is not here, but truthfully, I have harbored a sincere wish that His Highness the Crown Prince would abandon his vengeance and remain here to govern the Levin Domain. How selfish of me, indeed.”
And as if to console Count Levin, Edmund spoke with grace.
“Fernando will do well.”
Even as he spoke, he was cutting boiled vegetables with his own hands and offering them to me as I nibbled away.
“By any objective measure, he is a worthy candidate for leadership.”
And he subtly pressed a fork back into my hand, urging me to eat more.
“If I were not here.”
Edmund added playfully. It seemed that Fernando’s severe inferiority complex regarding Edmund meant he could not make rational judgments whenever Edmund was involved.
“By the way… Where has Fernando gone?”
“He went on patrol.”
Count Levin sighed softly as he spoke.
“He said there might be remnants of the barbarian tribes still lurking about…”
Edmund had already exterminated all the barbarian tribes long ago. So the claim that Fernando was patrolling because of them was clearly nothing but an excuse. Knowing this, Count Levin himself had trailed off his words.
The psychology behind it was transparent. He simply did not wish to show his face at such a grand welcome celebration.
“What a pity.”
Edmund answered with ease, his tone suggesting he was not the least bit disappointed. Count Levin shook his head and spoke.
“When everything was revealed, he reflected that he had behaved too immaturely and said he would apologize to His Highness the Crown Prince… But when news of His Highness’s engagement reached him, he began acting as he did before. It seems he still has a long way to go before he matures.”
Thus, that topic came to an end for the time being.
Throughout the meal, Count Levin spoke of the days he had spent with Edmund over the past five years. He emphasized several times that his gaze had become much softer compared to those times.
“It was around twenty years old, during his coming-of-age ceremony.”
Count Levin drank his wine deeply and spoke.
“At that time, His Highness confessed his true identity to Ranaq and me for the first time. That he was actually Edmund Tailyes, and asked us to help with his revenge.”
“My goodness.”
“I didn’t say it then, but I thought something was off with his head. Because his eyes weren’t blue, you see. Well, I helped him earnestly, but honestly, I didn’t fully believe it until the Imperial Palace issued a reward.”
Count Levin chuckled as he spoke.
“When that fact became known, many people in the Levin Domain were shocked. Huheuheuheu….”
I found his past, which I knew nothing about, fascinating.
One thing was certain: he had spent his time in this rough western frontier taming and subjugating the barbarians, experiencing a completely different era than at the Imperial Palace. Yet, because of his unique ability to draw people in, he seemed to be greatly beloved in the Levin Domain as well.
“Sezare… No, Your Highness the Crown Prince!”
“Your Highness! I’ve missed you!”
As we toured the castle together, people greeted Edmund from all directions. They called him “Your Highness the Crown Prince,” but their eyes showed tremendous warmth. Well, they hadn’t met as lord and subject from the beginning—they were people who had spent years together… I stood beside him, smiling gently as I watched Edmund.
Edmund seemed to have many people eager to reconnect with him, so I went ahead to my room to rest from the journey.
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The room given to me at Levin Castle was extremely luxurious and wonderful.
According to the maid who guided me here, this was the “Ruby Room,” used by the mistresses of the Levin Domain. It had been empty for a long time, but it was prepared for me. It was only natural, being the prospective Crown Princess and a princess of Prelai. Everything was comfortable and splendid.
【Kiana!】
And the moment I entered the room, Piyak fluttered his wings and cried out with startled eyes.
【No, what on earth is this! I’ve never seen Kiana like this before!】
“Why? What do you mean?”
【Keeping your mouth shut!】
Piyak spoke as if it were very unexpected, and the spy maid beside him nodded vigorously.
【No, why aren’t you saying anything at all? Huh? Why are you just sitting there smiling quietly? Piyak is so worried.】
After Piyak poured out a stream of words, the spy maid quickly chimed in as well.
“Your Highness, are you hurt somewhere, or is there something that greatly displeases you?”
“No.”
I answered with a yawn.
“Here… I want to live a bit differently.”
【Differently?】
“Yes.”
The Levin Domain was very far from the Capital. So people here didn’t know much about my reputation as a villainess. My misdeeds were limited to Melissa and Lord Rodrigo on a very localized scale, which made it possible. From what I heard, the people here seemed to know that I was the Crown Prince’s first love and the benefactor who helped him to the end.
“Who would like being called a villainess?”
I spoke while gazing out the window.
“Honestly, in the Capital, people tremble even when I do nothing.”
【Ah… well… I mean, you did have dealings with Melissa…. No matter how bad Melissa was, everyone knows you have that kind of temperament?】
Now, no one called me a “fake princess” like before. Instead, everyone trembled before me and scrambled to please me.
“But here, I want to live differently, at least for a while.”
【Differently, you say?】
“A princess of Prelai who grew up loved enough, with no twisted inner self whatsoever. Nothing more, nothing less—just an ordinary noblewoman.”
That was my innermost secret that I couldn’t even tell Edmund, as it would hurt my pride.
At my words, both the spy maid and Piyak froze for a moment.
“But honestly, I’m not sure how to appear like an ordinary noblewoman to people. So I just kept my mouth shut and smiled. That way, I’d hit the middle ground, right?”
At my words, the Spy Maid’s nose stung slightly as she bit her lower lip for a moment.
【Ah… yes, that’s true.】
Piyak also maintained silence for a moment before stroking my head with her wing and speaking.
【Since Kiana keeps her mouth shut and smiles, she’s actually incredibly cute and lovely. She looks docile yet adorable. That’s the truth.】
It was only natural. Even Alex would be a first-class groom candidate if he kept his mouth shut and smiled.
“So I’ll just stay like this.”
I smiled faintly and spoke to the Spy Maid and Piyak.
“As long as no one touches me.”

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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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