A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 18

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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 18
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Grandfather brought out a large box from his study and showed it to me. It was the first time I’d ever seen his hands tremble. Inside were letters from the Academy, stacked neatly one upon another.
Lady Kiana is doing very well. She advanced to the intermediate class in just two months and has begun participating in three collaborative research projects.
She has advanced to the advanced class. Her supervising professor even suggested she send a letter to the Ducal Residence, but she declined. She is currently participating in five collaborative research projects and is doing exceptionally well.
The more I read through them one by one, the more hollow laughter escaped me.
We would prefer the letter contents to be somewhat simpler. Last time, Lady Kiana said she didn’t want to reply because they were too verbose. If you wish to receive a response, please keep them as brief as possible.
It would be better if you did not attend the graduation ceremony. Lady Kiana is scheduled to receive a commendation, but she has stated she will not attend if family members come.
“Heh… heh.”
The shock was tremendous. I had no idea the professors were sending letters like this to the Ducal Residence.
Moreover, they told me to send letters? That was clearly a bald-faced lie. Rather, my supervising professors were always busy comforting me on special occasions like birthdays and New Year’s Day.
“Lady Kiana, I’ve also been estranged from my family for a long time. You can marry your studies here instead. If you’re always with us, that’s all that matters. This is at least a place where you’re treated according to the number of papers you publish.”
“At times like these, sitting around dazed only drains your spirit. Lady, shall we just do research as usual? We’ll all celebrate your birthday together.”
These were lies that would be exposed the moment we compared notes. But we never did compare notes. Very intelligently, the short and simple letters sent by Grandfather and my brothers reached me. So we both assumed we were staying in casual contact with each other.
“Wow, they’re really vicious.”
Joshua muttered while shaking his head.
“They completely destroyed a family.”
【You should speak up right away.】
Hou declared solemnly.
【It was already broken to begin with.】
In any case, Hou was right. Even if we contacted each other sporadically and half-heartedly, we could brush it off thinking, “Ah, so our relationship was never that close.” That very fact spoke volumes about where our family stood.
“These insane bastards…”
I read the letters the professors had sent to Grandfather over and over again.
It felt like something inside me was quietly crumbling. Even though I already knew I’d been betrayed once because of what happened before the regression. If I had continued to trust the people at the Academy like before, the psychological shock would have been absolutely devastating.
‘My sense of belonging had a reason behind it, which made it so desperate. I was terrified that if I didn’t perform well, I’d have nowhere left to belong.’
So I drove myself harder. Of course, magical engineering was enjoyable and research was my hobby, but I always felt I had to produce satisfactory results at the Academy. That’s why I lived a life locked away in the research lab without sleep, and grew accustomed to eating less because heavy meals didn’t digest well.
And the reason the Academy had to hold onto me so desperately was crystal clear.
“Let me confirm once more. If Professor Kiana Prelai were to die, all patents registered under her name would be transferred to the Academy according to Riloni Principality law, correct?”
In any case, all my achievements were tied to the Academy. I’d sensed before the regression that they weren’t sincere, but I never imagined they were deliberately driving a psychological wedge between me and my family like this. Perhaps they feared I might return to the Prelai Ducal Residence again…
Hard knots formed in my chest, leaving me feeling suffocated. Of course I’d decided to take revenge on the Academy. But the fact that I’d been delaying it even slightly made me angrier than I could bear.
“Grandfather!”
Joshua erupted in anger.
“Are you really going to leave that damned Academy alone?”
“Leave it alone?”
Grandfather spoke with a chilling expression.
“I should send Alex.”
Good heavens. Send that mad dog? I muttered without thinking.
“Oh my, the poor damned Academy, what will become of it.”
Then I immediately came to my senses.
Wait, the opponent was the Academy. I’d reacted too reflexively to the name Alex. I quickly shook my head and corrected myself.
“No, no. Never mind feeling sorry for her. This is quite fitting.”
Just imagining Alex standing in front of the Academy made all the knots in my chest unravel in an instant. Joshua nodded with an expression of complete satisfaction.
“That Academy is finished.”
Joshua even added while clapping his hands.
“And with that mad dog going far away, that’s also very fortunate. I won’t have to see his face for a while. That mutt said he’d cut off my legs if I ever set foot in the Ducal Residence.”
The Riloni Principality was quite far away. I’d heard he was already away investigating the recent assassination incident. But now it seemed even longer before Alex would return home.
“You just wait here quietly, and that mad dog will take care of everything for you.”
Joshua spoke as if taking credit for it himself. I simply nodded quietly.
There was no need to grit my teeth at the Academy anymore. Sending Alex away—what more perfect revenge could there be? My heart felt completely relieved. But still, I had to protect what needed protecting.
“Um, Grandfather.”
I also had to ensure my various future plans wouldn’t be disrupted.
“…Students, so please add in the letter that you’ll overlook it up to graduate students. What would they know anyway? And don’t collapse the Academy system itself. I still have work to do at the Academy.”
“Very well. I’ll only deal with the top brass.”
Grandfather nodded readily.
That’s when I suddenly heard a soft fluttering sound from outside the Greenhouse—flutter, flutter, flutter.
‘Huh?’
It was exactly the sound of Piyak’s wings.
But I thought it couldn’t possibly be Piyak. I’d been clearly told the secret delivery would take a week. Not even a full day had passed yet. However, my prediction was spectacularly wrong.
【Tada! I’m here!】
A cute little yellow lark began chattering away, perched on top of my head.
“What?”
I asked Piyak, who had arrived far sooner than expected, in a bewildered voice.
“You said it would take a week?”
【I came super early, right? I don’t know why either! It definitely took a week when I was with Melissa, but this is really strange!】
Both Grandfather and Joshua stared at me and Piyak in turn with startled eyes. This embarrassing situation was unfolding far too quickly…
“W-well, Grandfather! This is, um…”
I panicked in a way unlike myself, rolling my eyes as I spoke hurriedly. I was mortified by the gazes of the other servants around us. For Piyak to appear right now, just when I was finally getting closer to Grandfather…
“That kind-hearted fool Melissa… saying she’s no longer part of Prelai, she sent Piyak to me…”
Then, after catching Grandfather’s eye for a moment, I quickly added.
“This time I really didn’t threaten or get angry or bother her! I really didn’t want to have Piyak, but Melissa just suddenly out of nowhere…”
I had accumulated so much karma from childhood that I had no choice but to make excuses frantically. But before I could even finish speaking, Piyak flew up with a look of great shock.
【You don’t want Piyak?! That’s so mean! Your heart has changed! And to think you’re so fickle on top of having such a terrible personality!】
Tears were already welling up in Piyak’s eyes.
【When you were young, you wanted Piyak so badly and did all sorts of mean things! Now that Piyak has come to Kiana, you’ve lost interest? You wicked woman! I hate you!】
Then, with a sound like “wahhh,” Piyak fluttered away to my room in a huff.
“…”
It was a far more dramatic reaction than I had anticipated.

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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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