A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 196

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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 35
Side Story 7. Happiness in Progress
A princess was born to the Empire. She was a lovely princess with soft pink hair and the blue eyes that symbolized Tailizes.
“Oh…”
The Emperor gazed at his granddaughter with wonder as she giggled, murmuring softly.
“Truly, she looks just like Edmund when he was young.”
Kiana secretly hoped the child resembled Edmund. Or more precisely, she hoped the baby wouldn’t be like herself—one who neither ate nor slept. She remembered how difficult it had been for Enes when she traveled back in time and saw young Kiana, who neither ate nor slept.
Fortunately, the baby resembled Edmund. She ate very well, slept soundly, and had a remarkably gentle temperament. Yet her bright blue eyes constantly scanned her surroundings, sparkling with curiosity.
Of course… when Edmund actually held the child, father and daughter didn’t look particularly alike… but still, there were many similarities to Edmund in his childhood.
And the baby princess was named Antesiani. In ancient language, it meant “the symbol of overcoming.” The Emperor himself had given her this name, carrying the meaning that the Tailizes imperial line had nearly faced great calamity but overcame it thanks to Kiana and Edmund, bearing fruit from their efforts.
The moment Kiana heard the name, she thought, “Doesn’t that remind me of anthocyanin?” but she didn’t object. After all, since anthocyanins played an important role in creating various colors in plant tissues, it was fitting to give meaning to the princess as one who would represent the diverse nature of the Empire.
“Anto… no, Antesiani.”
Kiana held her lovely daughter close and rubbed her cheek against hers.
“I’m so happy to watch you grow.”
Since Kiana had almost no memories with her own mother, there were so many things she wanted to do with her daughter.
“When you’re old enough to distinguish the stars, let’s go to the observatory together and look at them. I’ll teach you each and every one.”
When she made these various promises about the future to her giggling daughter, she felt overwhelmed with happiness.
“When you reach the age where you love beautiful things, let’s go to the mines together. I’ll show you various gemstones.”
She had found someone she genuinely wanted to give all good things to. Kiana whispered with an overflowing heart.
“When you reach the age where you love what is beautiful, let’s go to the library with me. I’ll teach you the beauty of perfect numbers and equations.”
Piyak muttered beside her, “Usually, doesn’t the Empress buy all the jewels and dresses of this Empire for the princess…” but was ignored. Besides, even without Kiana, there were plenty of people who would buy jewels and dresses for Antesiani.
“Ahahahahaha! She’s so pretty! This is so pretty! Ahahahahaha!”
Hyde had begun bringing offerings of baby clothes from all sorts of luxury brands.
“When my Kiki was little, I hadn’t developed such taste back then… so I only dressed her in plain clothes made of high-quality materials! After all, clothes absolutely must have brand logos stamped right on them!”
Of course, there was someone competing with him. It was the Emperor himself.
“Come now, Antesiani. I shall fill your room with jewels. I am the Emperor of this nation. Do you understand?”
Everyone hung over Antesiani’s baby crib, going wild over her every gesture. If the smiling Antesiani so much as made a sound, they would eagerly record it and listen to it all day long.
Edmund also cherished his daughter dearly, never putting her down on the ground. He carried her all day long, saying it was lovely, and always walked around with a gentle smile. Later, Scari told him that Hyde had carried young Kiana in exactly the same way.
“Do you know this, Kiana?”
Every night, Edmund kissed Kiana’s forehead and whispered.
“I never imagined I could be this happy…”
His voice always carried the same consistent emotion.
“Each day is so happy, and I’m even afraid because it seems like I’ll continue to be happy in the future.”
“Whatever it is, don’t be afraid, Ed.”
Kiana smiled brightly and brushed Edmund’s hair.
“Because we’re together.”
Edmund nodded. Indeed, as long as Kiana and Antesiani were by his side, he felt like nothing could frighten him.
In the deep night when Antesiani slept.
Edmund would entrust Antesiani to Piyak and the wet nurse, then often take evening walks with Kiana. They would wander through various places in the Imperial Palace where he had once followed her, talking about this and that.
“Kiana.”
Edmund held Kiana’s hand, tucking it into his own pocket to shield her from the cold as he spoke his final words.
“You say you wish Antesiani would grow up quickly, but… I think I’ll miss these moments dearly. In truth, I already do.”
“Yes. I understand.”
Kiana nodded in agreement.
Watching her nephew Isaac grow, she felt the poignancy of how each passing year erased the memory of his infancy. Seliet had mentioned the same sentiment had inspired her desire for a second child.
So Kiana answered without hesitation.
“If you’ll miss watching Antesiani grow, then we should have a second child.”
Unlike Enes once had, Kiana hadn’t sworn to bear ten children, yet she found herself already considering the possibility of a few more.
“After all, the combinations possible from our genetics are endless… each child will be wonderfully different. Aren’t you curious?”
At Kiana’s question, Edmund let out a low chuckle. He gripped her hand tightly and whispered with affection in his eyes.
“Kiana.”
The large diamond brooch that young Edmund had cherished for so long gleamed brilliantly on the shawl draped across Kiana’s shoulders.
“That young Edmund’s dream has come true… sometimes it truly feels like nothing but a dream to me.”
Starlight twinkled across the night sky.
“We’ve come such a long way, but now we truly live as happy as young Edmund’s dream—cherishing each other.”
Kiana broke into a radiant smile and nodded. She was grateful that a man like Edmund would become the master of this Empire, happy that he was her husband, and delighted that he was her child’s father.
“Ed.”
And only after becoming a mother did Kiana finally confess a truth she had long kept hidden from him.
“Actually, there’s something I’ve never told you.”
Once, her pride had prevented her from speaking it, but now she could say it without hesitation.
“When I avoided you in childhood… it wasn’t because I disliked you or anything like that. It certainly wasn’t because I thought you were too plump.”
Long ago, Edmund had accused her of deliberately avoiding him whenever he tried to be friendly, claiming it was because he was too plump. But that was never the truth.
“I… I was always ashamed in front of you.”
“Hmm?”
“I thought you were my complete opposite. Certain bloodline, excellent character, overflowing virtue, perfect social grace… As you know, I possessed none of those things.”
“I see…”
“You were like the sun itself, and whenever I stood beside you, my shadow only seemed to deepen. That felt so pathetic that I always ran away.”
Kiana continued with a faint smile.
“Normally, when someone like you approaches, one should feel honored and treasure it in their heart. But I was a child with such terrible inferiority and pride that… it’s all my fault.”
Kiana kissed Edmund’s cheek as he stared at her with somewhat surprised eyes, and she laughed softly.
“I love you, Ed.”
And she quietly confessed her true heart.
“You shine brighter now than you did then, but I’ll stand confidently by your side nonetheless.”
This was the sincerity Kiana hadn’t spoken even during the proposal—that she could now set aside all her pride and inferiority, standing beside him with a pure heart. She added with all her soul.
“Even if you really did become plump again.”
“…Hmm.”
Edmund pulled Kiana into a tight embrace and whispered.
“You didn’t need to add that last part… Anyway, thank you for healing the wounds of my childhood crush, Kiana.”
In truth, after hearing those words, Edmund’s heart felt strangely warm. It was as if the boy from his childhood, who had grown despondent thinking it was because he was too plump, was finally being healed.
“I love you so very much, Kiana.”
Two shadows stretched long in the moonlight, overlapping into one.
“Thank you for coming to me. From now on, I swear Kiana will never have reason to regret….”
Edmund whispered to Kiana again and again.
“I promise to treat you and our child with all my heart.”
Kiana nodded without hesitation. She knew Edmund was a man who always kept his promises.

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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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