A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 177

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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 16
Even from a distance, I could see that she wore an expression of deep anxiety. I pressed myself closer against the glass window and opened my eyes wider.
‘…But she’s only brought one maid with her?’
Normally there would be numerous attendants and servants, yet in the Garden of the Palace of the Second Imperial Consort, there was only the Second Imperial Consort and a single maid.
‘That is….’
The Second Imperial Consort and the maid were carrying a large basket filled to the brim with food.
They made their way to a corner of the garden and, with great effort, pushed aside a large boulder. Every action seemed mysterious, but beneath where the boulder had been, I glimpsed a staircase descending into darkness.
“Oh my!”
I let out a small gasp of surprise, and the Second Imperial Consort and maid hurriedly descended the underground stairs.
“What on earth….”
Not long after, the two of them emerged again.
The basket still contained something, but this time it was covered with cloth, making it impossible to see what lay inside. The two quickly pushed the boulder back into place, concealing the staircase once more, and returned to the palace.
‘So to summarize… there’s a secret space beneath the garden. They’re transporting food there like this….’
If this was the secret of the Second Imperial Consort that Edmund had mentioned, then this hidden space seemed to be the reason she never left her palace for more than half a day.
Edmund brought his lips close to my ear and whispered.
“Now let me explain the secret of the Second Imperial Consort.”
* * *
Twenty years ago, the Kingdom of Teriana sent Princess Katia to the Emperor as his bride to request the Empire’s protection.
The Kingdom of Teriana was in chaos due to both external attacks and internal strife. During a particularly tumultuous assault on the royal palace, the King of Teriana entrusted Princess Katia with these words.
“I know the situation is dire. But you must reach the Empire by any means. Since marriage negotiations have already been conducted, they will receive you as Empress once you arrive.”
In the chaos, he had her escape without even sending word of her departure to the Empire.
“And you must hold the position of Empress there.”
At that time, the King of Teriana already sensed the impending fall of his dynasty.
“Even if Teriana ends, the land must not fall under foreign rule. Our people, who speak the Teriana language and write in Teriana script, must be free to live here.”
He could accept a change of dynasty due to civil war, but he could not accept becoming a foreign colony.
“As long as you remain in the Empire, no one will dare to seize our land as their own territory. A new king will also respect you and minimize the damage.”
Princess Katia had been sickly since childhood and lived only within her own palace, but due to these political and diplomatic matters, she departed for the Empire with only two maids and a single Guard.
However, the journey through a land ravaged by civil war could not be easy. Princess Katia died just one month into her journey. Given her frail constitution and the fact that she had to traverse a war-torn region, survival was nearly impossible from the start.
“The Princess cannot die here. Teriana needs the Empire’s protection now.”
The Guard selected one of the two maids who bore a resemblance to Princess Katia. He removed the Princess’s ring and placed it on the maid’s finger.
“Hardly anyone knows what Princess Katia looks like anyway. From today on, you are Princess Katia. You must hold the position of Empress.”
Thus the maid suddenly became a princess. And on the journey to the Empire, even the Guard who protected her died.
“I die for Princess Katia. Protecting you is protecting our land.”
The maid-turned-princess felt the weight of his sacrifice and had no choice but to continue toward the Empire. The other maid attended to her. After arriving at the Empire in a pitiful state, she trembled as she introduced herself as Princess Katia.
The lie was immediately discovered. No matter how similar in appearance, the Imperial Court was not foolish enough to confuse a princess with a maid. Yet the Emperor educated the maid and introduced her as the princess, marrying her nonetheless.
“If other nations wage war over the Kingdom of Teriana’s territory, it will only become more troublesome.”
Since the Emperor had never loved Princess Katia and taken her as Empress for that reason, he decided to maintain this marriage.
In fact, the maid who became Princess Katia was remarkably composed and intelligent, quickly mastering all her education. She even handled affairs quietly and competently, earning recognition from many.
The problem was that the Countess of Eclaire had discovered the switched Princess Katia. Of course, the Emperor took it lightly.
“We can simply silence her appropriately, and even if she spreads the truth, it will be dismissed as nonsense. After all, there is no evidence that the Second Imperial Consort is not Princess Katia.”
There were no members of the Teriana royal family left in the world. And there was no method to conduct a paternity test.
“A truth that cannot be proven, known only to oneself. That’s not even a weakness. Unless the Countess of Eclaire is a fool, she wouldn’t think to exploit this fact.”
* * *
I stood there slack-jawed, utterly dumbfounded. Wait—they’d deceived everyone by passing off a maid as a princess and had her remain as the Second Imperial Consort all this time?
“However, five years later, a rather serious problem emerged.”
Edmund spoke with a grave expression.
“The Second Imperial Consort began displaying strange symptoms. She started secretly hoarding food throughout her chambers and became anxious and restless. She couldn’t leave her room for more than an hour, terrified the food would spoil or someone would take it.”
The Second Imperial Consort had crossed a warzone to reach the Empire. When she first arrived, she was in terrible condition. She’d been severely wounded when artillery shells landed nearby, and she’d experienced starvation countless times, nearly to the point of death.
“It’s the aftermath of war. It’s slowly manifesting now. She fears war could break out at any moment, so in her anxiety, she began collecting food. The memory of prolonged hunger was far too vivid and traumatic.”
“Good heavens….”
“When I tried to stop her, she immediately reverted to the perfect posture of a maid and cried out, ‘Your Highness, I apologize!’ The extreme anxiety of potentially dying seemed to push her mind to its limits.”
Edmund sighed deeply and continued.
“And to this day, no treatment has worked.”
“I see….”
“Ultimately, the Emperor had a large basement constructed in secret beneath the Empress’s Garden and ordered it to be filled with provisions.”
So the basement in that garden I’d seen was a food storage vault.
“With a sufficient quantity of food there, the Second Empress visits that place every half day to stock new provisions and remove spoiled ones. She can only find peace of mind by confirming every half day that an adequate amount of food is stored there.”
And Edmund said the Countess of Eclaire now knew this fact as well. The first symptoms had appeared when she was present.
“In any case, this means the Countess of Eclaire has obtained leverage over both the Imperial Court and the Second Imperial Consort.”
Edmund spoke in a weary tone.
“If she merely keeps the Second Imperial Consort confined outside for half a day, she would become pale and revert to being that maid from those days. When the Countess of Eclaire claims ‘that princess is actually a maid,’ she would have evidence.”
Edmund said the Countess of Eclaire hadn’t yet used this leverage for anything, but he noted that she was an ambitious woman who dominated high society, so there was always a potential danger.
“Moreover, the Second Imperial Consort’s symptoms are worsening. Recently, she’s begun replacing even food that hasn’t spoiled yet, anxious about its condition. At this rate, she may become unable to manage daily life.”
Only then did I understand why Edmund had been so concerned about “the Second Imperial Consort’s affairs.” I couldn’t predict when everything related to her might collapse. And if that became classified as my responsibility, I would clearly suffer from overwork during the Academy’s busiest period without even receiving a proper handover.
“Since you’re now family to the Imperial Court, I’ve informed you. No one outside knows. Only the one maid who came with the Second Imperial Consort knows of that secret passage.”
Right…. This clearly seemed like something that had to remain secret from everyone. There was no way to suddenly announce now that the Second Imperial Consort, who had taken on matters of state, was actually a maid….
“Hmm.”
I tilted my head once and spoke.
“It certainly is a problem. It’s worth worrying about.”
“It’s become a concern for everyone lately.”
At Edmund’s melancholic response, I smiled and met his gaze.
“But I think I might be able to resolve this for you?”

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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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