A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 176

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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 15
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Seliet and Joshua were holding their second meeting with various pieces of information in hand.
“This is… truly impressive, all in just one day.”
Seliet exhaled with delight, her nose flaring slightly.
Combining Seliet’s incredible persistence in her background investigations with Joshua’s information network, even the most secretive details became easy to uncover.
“…But do we really need to go this far?”
Joshua muttered with a somewhat weary expression.
“Can’t we just… handle this Countess of Eclaire differently?”
“We can’t. There are circumstances within the Imperial family.”
Seliet spoke quietly. Joshua tilted his head and asked.
“What exactly are these Imperial family circumstances?”
The only connection between the Countess of Eclaire and the Imperial family was the Second Imperial Consort.
‘The Second Imperial Consort rarely appears in society, yet the Countess of Eclaire is exploiting her authority…. It seems she’s discovered some weakness.’
Joshua could deduce at least that much. Seliet answered with a sly smile.
“Of course I can’t tell you that. You’re not family of the Imperial household, after all. To share such sensitive information, you’d need to be bound to them as family directly.”
“What if you told Lady Kiana instead?”
“Ed would probably tell her on his own anyway.”
Seliet shrugged as she spoke.
“…And even if Lady Kiana knew, she could never disclose it publicly.”
Joshua, as someone who dealt with information, had essentially completed his own investigation.
The Second Imperial Consort wasn’t particularly reclusive by nature. She appeared at meetings and official events, spoke coherently, and never refused invitations. Yet upon closer inspection, something odd existed: she never left her palace for more than half a day.
‘If I could just resolve the Second Imperial Consort’s secret weakness, the Countess of Eclaire wouldn’t be able to act so brazenly, would she? But since she won’t tell me what that weakness is….’
Without knowing what Joshua was thinking, Seliet continued calmly.
“The previous Lady Kiana could act appropriately because she knew the future. Now that may be difficult, so I must pave the way ahead for her myself.”
That was true. Now Kiana was an ordinary person without the advantage of regression, and going forward, she could indeed suffer such schemes from behind.
“No matter how intelligent and capable one is, you can’t resolve everything. Especially not when it involves such complex matters of the human heart. So….”
Seliet looked at Joshua with gleaming eyes and spoke.
“Let’s search faster. Find a way to swiftly and effectively eliminate the Countess of Eclaire’s close associates. Dig deeper. Work harder.”
And Joshua gazed at Seliet with profound admiration.
‘She’s the real deal…. She truly is….’
That madness seeping meticulously through such a beautiful face….
‘She’s genuinely insane….’
Hitten and Dolores’s decision to confine Seliet to the palace and isolate her without a single coin was remarkably wise. Had they not done so, they would surely have suffered greatly by now.
Seliet muttered while breathing heavily.
“Until Lady Kiana marries, I’ll make absolutely certain nothing goes wrong.”
“Hmm.”
Joshua merely shrugged at that tremendous resolve.
“Marriage will probably take a while though.”
“Why? Both of them have been adults for quite some time, and they’re already engaged.”
“My father has made it official. He absolutely cannot allow his youngest daughter to marry first. So it would be wise to set more realistic goals.”
“I see.”
Seliet set down the documents she had been holding. Then, looking at Joshua, she spoke matter-of-factly.
“Lord Alex has no prospects of marrying in this lifetime, so Lord Joshua must marry soon. I’ll compile a list of renowned designers for you shortly.”
“That’s not necessary. I’m a bachelor by conviction.”
Joshua immediately refused, waving his hand dismissively.
“I have no interest in marriage or women whatsoever. I simply enjoy helping Lea raise ‘Lorelai’ and pursuing my hobbies.”
“Well, that’s certainly possible. I’m exactly that sort of person, so I understand. I have no interest in marriage or men either, and I’d be perfectly content spending my entire life holed up doing this.”
Seliet buried her nose back in the documents. Then she muttered darkly.
“Though I must say, ‘Lorelai’s’ information network is quite enviable. If Lea Clona were a man, I might even consider marrying her. Then I could access such high-quality information every day.”
Lea, who had been clinging to Joshua’s arm, let out a cough. Joshua felt a chill run down his spine.
“I would greatly appreciate it if ‘Lorelai’ could give prominent coverage to this person’s infidelity allegations. Here are the compiled pieces of evidence, and then this person was implicated in his brother’s delivery fraud…”
In any case, thanks to Seliet, ‘Lorelai’ had obtained numerous scoops. A plan to deal with several individuals who appeared to be close associates of the Countess of Eclaire was quickly formulated.
After some time had passed and they had roughly sketched out the framework, Seliet sighed and spoke.
“Actually, I know something too.”
“What is it?”
“That Lady Kiana would be better suited as a scholar than as Empress or family head. The Imperial Palace is a glittering center of power, but it’s equally a dangerous, blade-like place where enemies won’t leave you alone even if you remain still.”
Seliet’s voice grew somber—the voice of someone who had endured alone in such a dangerous place for so long.
“There are so many people who covet that immense wealth, honor, and power. But both I and Ed know that Lady Kiana is not such a person. Ed will probably remain anxious his entire life.”
Joshua slowly nodded. If Kiana were someone obsessed with power, the Crown Prince’s heart would be more at ease, but she had chosen this complex position as Crown Princess purely out of love.
“That’s why I must do well. I’ll handle all the dirty work quietly behind the scenes and protect her like this.”
Seliet clasped her hands together as if making a vow to herself and smiled.
“So that the kind and gentle Lady Kiana can fully display her abilities, and many of the Empire’s people can receive help and salvation from her achievements, just as I have.”
Joshua felt an itch to object to the words “kind and gentle,” but since hearing Kiana praised didn’t feel unpleasant, he remained silent.
“That would be the true attitude of a member of the Imperial Family who loves their people. I’m sure the Emperor and Ed share the same thoughts. Lady Kiana’s magical engineering will be remembered throughout history and praised by countless descendants.”
Seliet’s expression was so earnest that Joshua couldn’t bring himself to reveal that he greeted Kiana daily with the phrase “I hope magical engineering fails.”
Yet he was dying of curiosity.
‘What on earth is the Second Imperial Consort’s weakness? What’s her secret?’
* * *
After confirming that I had finished even my dessert, Edmund stood up, escorting me as he suggested we visit the Second Imperial Consort.
“…Now? You want to go now?”
We had eaten an early lunch. The appointment time was clearly 4 o’clock, which was suitable for tea time.
“There’s still so much time before the appointed hour.”
“We’ll go to the scheduled tea time at 4 o’clock. Before that, I thought it would be good to visit the Second Imperial Consort once.”
“Ah.”
I caught on quickly. So I nodded as if I understood.
“So we’re going to spy on the Second Imperial Consort’s secrets. Like a completely creepy stalker criminal.”
“Let’s omit that last part… since we’re accomplices.”
Edmund kissed the back of my hand once and whispered.
“The Second Imperial Consort is ordinary beyond measure, but… in fact, she cannot leave her palace for more than half a day. She even suffers from insomnia.”
And that was all because of a deeply confidential secret known only to those within the imperial family.
Though I typically showed little interest in others’ affairs, I found myself growing curious at this point. I had resigned myself to learning the truth today anyway, but I couldn’t help regretting that I hadn’t asked Joshua about it beforehand.
“Well then, shall we go?”
It wasn’t even noon yet, and visiting someone else’s palace seemed rather impolite, but I assumed Edmund had already considered such matters and said nothing.
However, the place Edmund led me to was not the Second Imperial Consort’s residence. To be precise, it was the topmost room of a tall building with a clear view of the Second Imperial Consort’s palace. Old furniture was stacked about as if it served as storage, and it was evident that no one had entered in quite some time.
Edmund checked that the surroundings were clear, and as we carefully stepped inside, the door slowly closed behind me.
“…Ed? Where is this place?”
“Come over here and see, Kiana?”
Edmund took my hand and led me toward a large window.
“Ah….”
I placed both hands against the glass and blinked. It appeared this room was positioned to overlook the entire Second Imperial Consort’s palace.
“Look carefully, Kiana.”
Edmund wrapped his arms around me from behind and whispered against my ear.
“Soon the Second Imperial Consort will emerge. She has light brown hair and a small frame, so you should be able to recognize her easily.”
This was my first time spying on someone so brazenly. For some reason, the guilt of doing something wrong made my heart pound.
“Ed… but couldn’t you step back a little? I’m already nervous, and being trapped against your body like this is making my heart race even more.”
“There’s nothing to be nervous about. There’s no way she’ll notice us watching from here.”
He mischievously pressed his lips against the nape of my neck.
“Well, I must admit my heart is racing too.”
His hands wrapped around my waist with unmistakable urgency.
“After all, we’re alone together in this new enclosed space.”
“Seriously!”
The glass in front of me was cold, but the heat I felt from behind was overwhelming.
“We didn’t come here to do this!”
“To be precise, this isn’t the only reason we came.”
Edmund responded with a sly tone. If only he could just talk….
As my dress hem skillfully descended, my cheeks flushed crimson.
“I haven’t forgotten our purpose for coming here, Kiana. Listen carefully.”
“…Ah….”
Each time his hands and lips pressed against me, my breath came in white wisps. My fingers gripping the window pane turned white with force. My legs began to tremble, but Edmund’s composed voice continued.
“The Second Imperial Consort hails from the Kingdom of Teriana. You’re aware that the Kingdom of Teriana ultimately fell, aren’t you?”
Though his tone was slightly breathless, it remained impeccably formal, which somehow made me feel even more wronged.
“Mm… wait… ah, just a moment.”
A delicious sensation spread through my entire body, clouding my mind, so I couldn’t even respond coherently. Supporting my wavering body, he pressed further as he continued his explanation.
“After the Teriana Dynasty fell and the Phelep Kingdom took its place, that region endured countless civil wars. In exchange for borrowing the Empire’s power, they sent a princess to the Emperor, but she was attacked during the journey.”
Our reflection flickered across the glass window. My hazy expression and Edmund’s crimson lips biting my skin behind me were laid bare.
Embarrassed, I turned my head away, but Edmund playfully kissed my cheek and turned me back to face forward. When I shrank back, he gently embraced me again in a soothing manner and continued.
“And when the Second Imperial Consort arrived at the Empire with only a single maid in attendance, it was already half a year past the promised time. Everyone had assumed they had all perished in the war, so everyone was shocked.”
Shouldn’t I at least stop his hands or stammer through the explanation? Just as I was barely regaining my senses to protest and tell him to stop, to say I couldn’t concentrate…
‘Huh?’
Suddenly, the Second Imperial Consort rushed out into the garden of her palace.

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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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