A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 190

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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 29
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The day of the Hunting Competition that Seliet had been waiting for so eagerly. Just like a year ago, the sky stretched endlessly high, and the weather was perfectly clear.
This year, all members of the Prelai family attended the Hunting Competition. I sat in the same spot as I had a year before, dressed in a checkered hunting outfit, and crossed my legs elegantly.
“Princess, one last time… please think about this one more time.”
Ranaq approached me secretly and whispered.
“Really… do you truly have to go this far in front of so many people?”
I glared at Ranaq with wide eyes.
“You’ve been doing spy work perfectly well until now—why are you acting like this?”
It was Ranaq who had diligently followed my orders up until the day of the Hunting Competition, reporting Edmund’s whereabouts. From the fact that Edmund would participate in the competition to roughly how he’d planned his movements.
“There’s no such word as ‘cancellation’ in my dictionary. We’re going through with the plan no matter what.”
When I opened my eyes wide, Ranaq flinched and shrank back. Beside him, the Spy Maid patted her own chest and laughed heartily.
“Princess, spying isn’t something just anyone can do. I’m much better at it, aren’t I?”
“That’s right. There’s no spy quite like you, truly.”
At those words, Ranaq pouted his lips sulkily.
With two such enormous people standing before me like this, something felt… well… rather strange.
“And Ranaq….”
The Spy Maid whispered loudly enough for all to hear.
“If this proposal falls through because of you, Princess Seliet won’t let you off easy… if you disappear without a trace, I’ll at least pray for your soul.”
“Gasp!”
Only then did Ranaq snap to attention, covering his large mouth with both hands.
“Now, stop talking nonsense and go back to your position. Ed might catch on.”
After pushing Ranaq away, I crossed my arms with determination.
“I’m definitely proposing today no matter what. Piyak has already left.”
All this time, it had been exhausting to pretend not to understand whenever Edmund subtly brought up marriage. Honestly, the sharp-witted Edmund surely knew that I wasn’t actually failing to understand—I was deliberately refusing to give him the answer he wanted.
‘Lately, once I’m pinned to the bed, it’s just too much. This man doesn’t know how to stop properly… Not that I particularly dislike it, but I do need to resolve that frustration of his soon.’
I took a deep breath, burying another reason I couldn’t tell anyone deep in my heart.
And so the Hunting Competition began with the Emperor’s speech.
Edmund smiled broadly, approached me, and deliberately kissed my cheek lightly before swiftly entering the forest. With him leading the way, several people entered the forest, but everyone except one seemed to have already decided Edmund would win, so they all looked rather unenthusiastic.
And that one person was none other than Alex.
“××! Did you think I’d lose the championship? Every year since I came of age, the victory has been mine!”
Well, that was because Edmund hadn’t participated until now….
“Of course ××, I’ll admit that that bastard uses his ×× body better than me, but ××….”
Alex ruffled his already disheveled hair further and muttered hopefully.
“×× You never know. Like last year, maybe those beast bastards will suddenly want to die by my hand and ×× pour down before me.”
Well… I only learned this later, but all those prey pouring down was actually because of Edmund’s Duke behind him… Anyway, hope is a good thing, so I didn’t bother telling him.
“×× If I can’t even win this year, ×× then I’ve become a washed-up old relic, so I should go to the Northern Region and slice up those monster bastards.”
Alex made such unfilial remarks in front of his grandfather who was over sixty, and I thought to myself that Alex’s future career path really did seem to be the Northern Region. At least monsters don’t understand human speech. Besides, ever since Joshua’s wedding, he’d been bringing up the Northern Region quite often, so it seemed he thought that place was better than here.
Anyway, the Hunting Competition began like that, and only after everyone had completely entered the forest did I slowly stand up.
“Well then, let’s go.”
“Yes, I think we should leave as soon as possible.”
The Spy Maid quickly agreed with my words.
“Everyone is clearly eager to have a word with you, Princess.”
Ever since the Countess of Ekillar had been disposed of without anyone knowing, the social circles had begun watching me carefully.
In their eyes, someone who had been trying to pull me down from behind had vanished in an instant without them even noticing. In other words, they concluded that I possessed some mysterious power they couldn’t comprehend, and they were all scrambling to establish connections with me.
“Look at that. There are more checkered patterns than last year.”
That was certainly true. Checkered patterns had become noticeably larger and more frequent in people’s fashion. Last year, they had merely been sprinkled into accessories, but now the hunting attire distinctly featured the characteristic checkered pattern prominently.
I furrowed my brow seriously and muttered.
“It doesn’t seem like these people have instinctively discovered the beauty of right angles, but rather there appears to be a positive correlation between my power and this trend….”
“Let’s go now, Princess. Right now Princess Seliet is managing those who want to approach you, but there will surely be a limit to what she can do.”
The Spy Maid was right. Seliet was currently subtly redirecting those who wanted to come to me toward herself. The problem was that due to her lack of social skills, she would just leave them alone after calling them over….
To make matters worse, Father and Grandfather were now coming toward me from the VIP seating. If I got caught by these two who loved me excessively, I could forget about any freedom.
I quickly told the Spy Maid that I would also hunt and headed into the forest with her.
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The Spirit had been sleeping beneath the pond when it was slightly awakened by the loud cheers.
【Ah…. Has a year already passed?】
The Spirit yawned and muttered.
【It feels like I came back quickly, probably because I went out once in the middle.】
Opening the Forest of Spirits once a year was something that had existed since ancient times. It was natural since it was to celebrate the founding of the Tailize Empire. Though it became a bit noisy like this once a year, it didn’t matter since I would just fall back asleep anyway.
By the Spirit’s standards, living together with humans was an exhaustingly tedious affair. That’s why the majority of my infinite time was spent sleeping like this. Unless something truly fascinating or genuinely curious happened….
【Now that I’ve even seen kissing, I have no more business with humans.】
The Spirit shifted its position once and slowly closed its eyes.
【Well… it was certainly impressive. Hmm. Those two were quite passionate, weren’t they?】
Of course, there had been value in going out into the world last time. That much was certain.
【Since they say kissing is something two people do in private…. What could be different? I’ve seen it once, so it’s probably all the same.】
Just as the Spirit, briefly awakened from sleep, was drifting back into a drowsy state, a faint voice was heard from far away.
【Um, Spirit?】
Huh? It’s not a human voice, but somehow it’s a familiar one.
【Would you come out for a moment?】
The Spirit chuckled and immediately ignored it.
【…Could it be that you’re not coming out? Really?】
A flustered voice called out again, but the Spirit had no intention of coming out.
Just from the voice, it sounds like a youngster—where does this attitude come from? Back in my day, when I wanted to see an entity older than myself, the rule was to kneel for three days and four nights, begging and pleading to see their noble form.
【Um, I’m Piyak?】
…What is this self-awareness?
【I’m cute and adorable Piyak?】
The Spirit was momentarily dumbfounded and opened its eyes slightly, thinking it might as well go out and discipline this youngster. That’s when it happened.
【Sigh…. In the end, I have to do whatever Kiana tells me to do….】
The young voice that had introduced itself as Piyak cleared its throat with a cough and then shouted confidently.
【Don’t you want to see humans kissing in front of many people? Last time you saw them do it when they were alone.】
Piyak spoke in a coaxing, gentle tone.
“If the Spirit would just help us a little—just a tiny bit—we could witness humans kissing amid the most spectacular chaos imaginable. Honestly, it would be quite the sight to behold.”
“Yes! I want to see!”
The Spirit’s eyes widened as it wagged its tail and began rising above the pond.

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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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