A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 203

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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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Commemorating the Webtoon Adaptation
Side Story – Episode 6
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With a visibly pallid complexion, the Emperor swallowed a cough the moment he laid eyes on Edmund, then spoke.
“Edmund.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. What is it?”
“Let me get straight to the point. How would you feel about becoming betrothed soon?”
Edmund was startled.
“I beg your pardon? Betrothed? Your Majesty, I’m only sixteen years old.”
“I’m well aware of my own son’s age. But I bring this up because my health has deteriorated considerably.”
The Emperor finally succumbed to a prolonged fit of coughing. Despite his bewilderment, Edmund rushed to support him.
“Of course, I recognize your exceptional capabilities. However… if something were to happen to me during this time, the noble families would descend into chaos over your marriage prospects. As the person involved, it would be difficult for you to voice your own opinion, and the Empress…”
The Emperor left his words unfinished, but the meaning was abundantly clear to Edmund: the Empress lacked the authority to oversee his marriage arrangements.
“So it would be best to settle this while I still have some strength.”
“…That is… ah, I… well, it’s so sudden…”
Edmund’s mind reeled, and his words came out in stammers. He understood the Emperor’s reasoning was sound, yet accepting it remained difficult.
“I expected as much. That’s why I’m proposing this with ample time for consideration.”
“But… even with ample time…”
“Three years should suffice.”
Three years?
Edmund blinked at the unexpectedly generous timeframe.
The Emperor narrowed his eyes, regarding Edmund’s round cheeks and soft belly before adding, “You’ll need to shed that baby fat to win your betrothed’s affection. Reading books won’t accomplish anything.”
Only then did Edmund realize something, and he bit his lower lip.
It seemed the Emperor had learned about his purchase of romance novels at a commoner’s bookstore yesterday. Now that he thought about it, he had encountered several of the Emperor’s attendants on the way back to the Imperial Palace.
“If you gradually reduce your food intake… three years? That should be manageable, yes?”
Did the Emperor think his son was beginning to take an interest in the opposite sex? Was that why he had suddenly brought up betrothal?
Edmund clamped his mouth shut like a clam.
Even if it appeared he had developed a late interest in romance, he absolutely would not reveal that he harbored feelings for someone.
‘Heavens, if the Princess suffered any harm because of this!’
He would guard this secret even if a blade were held to his throat…
“You should lose weight until you’re only slightly, just slightly fuller than Lord Rodrigo. The Prelai Princess doesn’t seem to favor plump young men.”
Edmund’s jaw dropped. It appeared there was no secret left to keep.
“I’ve noticed how your gaze follows the Princess around. I tried to overlook it, but then you started reading those peculiar books… I simply couldn’t ignore it any longer. Let me provide you with the excuse of betrothal.”
Despite his haggard appearance, the Emperor’s eyes gleamed with brilliance.
“Over these three years, grow as close as you can. Then, gauging the mood, ask her plainly if she’d consider betrothal. Tell her I’m making a fuss about it. Even if she refuses, you can gracefully withdraw by saying it was merely a discussion about a political marriage.”
Edmund swallowed hard.
The Emperor had already discerned everything, and seeing his son’s unrequited affection ran deeper than expected, he had taken the initiative to make it happen.
“G-grow closer? Over three years?”
As Edmund unconsciously murmured this, the Emperor nodded enthusiastically.
As Edmund muttered unconsciously, the Emperor nodded enthusiastically.
“That’s right. Didn’t you resolve last night to try something, anything?”
That was true. If things continued as they were, the Princess would be sent to some smooth-faced nobody who’d rolled in from who knows where.
I recalled the adult Kiana inside the crystal sphere.
One thing was certain—Kiana had never shown Lord Rodrigo such a warm expression. If that was the case, it meant Kiana would eventually forget Lord Rodrigo….
Then, could I make her come to me instead of that black-haired foreigner?
Edmund asked with a desperate expression.
“H-how?”
“I don’t know either. I’m not a girl her age, after all. Even if I wanted to help, there’s no way I could.”
The Emperor let out a deliberate sigh as he spoke.
“That’s why I called someone who could actually help.”
“Yes?”
At that moment, the door opened, and a beautiful young woman with long silver hair walked in. It was Seliet, his half-sister, two years younger than Edmund.
The Emperor explained with a gentle smile.
“The Imperial Family doesn’t have only one young woman, does it?”
“Y-Your Majesty and Y-Your Highness the Crown Prince, I greet you.”
Seliet trembled as she bowed. That made sense, as she always stayed quietly confined to her own palace.
Still, Edmund had always been kind to Seliet. Perhaps because of that, she gave him a favorable smile.
“If I can be of any help at all….”
“Yes, Seliet.”
The Emperor, already exhausted, got straight to the point.
“If a man you had no interest in wanted to catch your attention, what would he need to do?”
“That… well.”
Seliet answered with an expression of utmost sincerity.
“When he reveals some sordid secret about someone I didn’t know about? That’s interesting.”
“….”
The Emperor had no idea his youngest daughter, whom he was seeing for the first time in a while due to his illness, possessed such peculiar tastes.
After taking a careful breath, he asked cautiously.
“Seliet, are you perhaps… keeping company with bad friends these days?”
“No! Absolutely not!”
Seliet shook her head vigorously.
“I don’t have a single friend!”
That excuse did nothing to ease the Emperor’s concerns. He sensed another worry had emerged and sighed.
“B-but I’m like that… um. O-other children won’t be that way.”
“Yes, Seliet.”
Edmund spoke with mature composure.
“Don’t listen to gossip about others whose facts haven’t been verified. It won’t benefit you.”
“E-Ed, you certainly do dislike such things, don’t you? Yes….”
Seliet, immediately regretting her honest words, desperately rolled her eyes and changed the subject.
“Anyway, m-most children my age apparently want to receive flowers or heartfelt letters, things like that.”
“Is that so?”
Edmund swallowed hard and asked.
“What if I sent something delicious? Would gifts of tasty things work?”
“You would give them to her yourself?”
“Well… She doesn’t seem to enjoy eating much, and she’s so thin it breaks my heart…”
“That’s where your answer lies. If you keep pushing something she dislikes, what happens? Would you enjoy it if someone kept suggesting to you, ‘Your Highness the Crown Prince, would you like to hear some unverified gossip about others?’ over and over?”
Rarely did Edmund find himself at a loss for words. He had finally realized why he kept hearing nothing but “No, then I’ll take my leave” in response to things like “Would you like to eat this, Princess?”
“You’re right. Stop recommending food from now on.”
The Emperor also came to his senses and resumed meddling in his son’s romantic affairs.
“And… don’t suggest eating together either. If you keep this up, you’re just forcing your interests on her. Most importantly, let’s set aside the baby fat for now, shall we?”
Edmund nodded dejectedly.
As he did, he committed flowers and letters to memory. He wasn’t sure if Kiana would like the letters, but at least they’d be better than the food she kept rejecting.
“Your Highness’s birthday is coming up soon, isn’t it?”
Seliet’s eyes sparkled as she made her suggestion.
“Why not convey your feelings with a sincere letter on that day?”
“Should I… do that?”
Truth be told, he desperately wanted Kiana to come that day, so he had already purchased a generous supply of fireworks from the Riloni Principality that she had taken a fancy to.
“Yes, I should do that.”
“And send flowers too. Oh, what if you sent the flowers anonymously? Then she could discover who the sender is while reading the letter!”
“That’s perfect!”
Edmund clenched his fist and nodded firmly.
But writing a sincere letter proved far more difficult than he expected, and he tore up page after page. Agonizing over it day and night, he unilaterally canceled the picnic that his closest friends had prepared for him.
It was an event arranged by his most trusted circle—his closest friend Lord Rodrigo, his attendant Ben, and his uncle Enoch—but he had no mind to attend.
Moreover, following Seliet’s advice, he made sure not to forget sending anonymous flowers to the Prelai Estate every single day.
After spending all that time holed up in the Crown Prince’s Palace, tearing up letter after letter in endless repetition.
His birthday banquet finally arrived.

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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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