A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 38

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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 38
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What? What on earth?
Everything happened in an instant. Swept along by the crowd, I stumbled and became separated from the Spy Maid.
‘I thought a Spy Maid like her could handle one person like me!’
What terrible luck—why did the crowd suddenly surge at this exact moment? Did the gods grow angry because I poured alcohol down the Grand Cleric’s throat?
‘If that’s the case, I should pour coffee down my own throat in repentance. If I’ve harmed another’s body, I must be prepared to harm my own.’
As I was swept along by the crowd like driftwood, contemplating how to atone for my sins, it happened.
“Pardon me, Princess.”
Someone from nearby suddenly pulled me into an embrace.
“There are far too many people here.”
I carefully rolled my eyes. Though thoroughly intoxicated, my mind hadn’t completely abandoned me. I recognized this handsome voice well. It was Sezare.
“Let’s stay together just until that ten-shilling scarf sells out.”
He lifted me lightly and pressed us both against the wall where the crowd was slightly thinner. Of course, with so many people around, we had no choice but to press ourselves together almost completely.
“Sezare… here… how did you…?”
“I came here briefly on business and happened to see you, Princess.”
“Ah… business…?”
Business in a place like this? What sort of business could it possibly be?
“What kind, perhaps?”
“Business I cannot discuss with you, Princess.”
Ah, business he couldn’t discuss? It seemed like loan sharking or something similar. That was the only business nobles could conduct in places like this. I’d felt uneasy about him frequenting Club Houses when he had plenty of money.
I could only sigh inwardly. Indeed, people of poor character don’t commit just one shameful act—they’re comprehensively corrupt. Though with such perfect appearance and exemplary manners, why would he be alone?
‘His appearance and manner really are my style, and I wanted to make it work somehow, but his character is far worse than I expected…’
That was when it happened.
“Hahahaha! Thanks to your support, we’re extending the special discount by an additional ten minutes!”
How much stock did that cursed scarf have?!
Even more people began flooding in. Sezare held me firmly and led my unsteady form into the deeper alley. My legs had gone weak, so I leaned against him and asked.
“Sir, couldn’t you just carry me and break through instead?”
It seemed better to escape this street as quickly as possible, even if difficult, rather than continue being pushed toward the center of Market Street. But Sezare smiled slightly and replied.
“My apologies, Princess. I’m not particularly athletic, so that would be difficult.”
“Huh…?”
What? His body is this firm, yet he has no athletic ability? I sighed and clicked my tongue. He seemed rather frail after all.
“But you defeated those barbarians…?”
“That was simply because I commanded well.”
So he’s useless in situations like this. I lost further interest in Sezare’s unremarkable muscles. They’re only good to touch.
…Wait, have I lost interest?
“Let’s wait a bit longer. I’ll make your position more… comfortable.”
Sezare spread out his handkerchief in a secluded alley away from the crowd and sat me down. Then he had me rest my head against his shoulder. Just as he said, my position became very comfortable.
“Shall we have a quiet conversation while the event concludes?”
Sezare asked gently. But my eyelids were already growing heavy. I had drunk so much that my mind was becoming hazy.
“Mmm….”
Sezare exuded a pleasant fragrance, and as I felt his warm body heat, drowsiness washed over me in an instant.
“Your Highness?”
His voice, like a whisper against my ear, was sweet. I nestled deeper into his warmth, blinking my eyes slowly.
“Are you perhaps… growing sleepy?”
“Mmm….”
The boundary between dream and reality blurred. My vision darkened, and everything grew distant.
I felt a warm presence gently catching my falling head. Then, faintly, an unrelated voice reached me.
“Is there truly no one I can turn to for even the smallest help….”
“I trusted all those who were at that picnic. I would have even entrusted them with my life. My judgment in those young days was truly pathetic.”
This was a dream. I could tell for certain.
Within my flickering vision, only the man’s voice came through, measured and deliberate.
“I’ve watched for years. Not a single noble house dares stand against the Royal Court now. That’s only natural, isn’t it? Everyone prioritizes their own safety above all. So who would I ask for help?”
The man’s voice seemed calm, yet sorrow lay beneath it.
“After I’ve strangled them all and eliminated them one by one.”
A chilling, ominous low voice that sent shivers down my spine.
“I shall return alone to the throne drenched in blood.”
His added words were sharp.
“Of course, I’ll need my benefactor in that process. I intend only to use each other plainly. Trust, reliance, affection—such things no longer exist in my life.”
The voice in the dream faded away.
At the hazy boundary of sleep, I tossed and turned. It was my first time dreaming of a situation entirely unrelated to me.
“Mmm….”
Then a distant, low voice pulled me from unconsciousness.
“You may sleep more if you wish.”
“Mmm….”
“You seem to have consumed quite a bit.”
“…That old man… his alcohol was quite strong….”
Somehow, I found myself lying down somewhere. My eyes wouldn’t open easily, but I could still speak. It was a filthy alley filled with dust, but I didn’t really mind. After all, I’d been through graduate school….
Sezare would be fine with it too, I suppose. Honestly, he seems quite particular about cleanliness, but he said he was of commoner origin anyway.
He asked quietly.
“Why did Your Highness come to such a place?”
“Mmm… it’s a secret.”
“If it’s a secret, are you perhaps interested in something dangerous?”
“Mmm… it’s a secret, I said. Don’t you know what secret means?”
Sezare was right—I had indeed been investigating dangerous objects.
The Temple’s final sacred relic. The relic possessed the ability to verify Imperial bloodline. It was once used to distinguish those who came to the Imperial Palace claiming to be illegitimate children of previous Emperors.
Historically, it was often used when hidden Imperial bloodlines plotted treason. Recently, it fell into disuse and faded from people’s memories. When the Temple closed, it quietly disappeared.
Everyone assumed some fleeing cleric had sold it off and thought nothing of it. The Royal Court likely took it seriously, but ordinary people paid no attention. However, I had known the relic’s whereabouts for a very long time.
When I was twelve, Julius, my mother’s godfather and my grandfather’s cousin, came to visit. It was to use the summoning ability of his contracted beast.
“Julius, why have you come to the Capital?”
“The Royal Court summoned me. His Majesty the Emperor was curious about the whereabouts of the sacred relic and asked Scari to look into it—very discreetly, mind you. When the Temple was closed, Daram had just used Insight, so we had no choice but to wait ten years.”
“Ah, I see… But is it really okay to tell me something like that so casually?”
“Of course it’s not! Ahahahahaha!”
“…”
“But I’m leaving for the North soon! What secrets could I possibly keep from my dear Kiki? Ahahahahaha! I can tell you everything! Well, when Daram used Insight on that wretched Grand Cleric, apparently he hid it very well! Ahahahahaha! That Grand Cleric is of common birth, you see! Ahahaha!”
“…I, I wasn’t really that curious about all the details…”
“When Daram used Insight, he said that even though everything else about that man is a mess, he’s the kind of person who would hide the sacred relic better than anyone! So we decided to let the Grand Cleric keep hiding it. Ahahahahaha!”
“…P, please stop talking…”
“The only problem is if that man gets drunk, but now that he’s poor, he can’t even afford to get drunk as he pleases anymore! Ahahahahaha!”
“Th, there’s really no need to mention such things…”
“Satisfying our dear Kiki’s curiosity is far more important than the Royal Court’s secrets! Ahahaha!”
Julius, who was allowed to visit the Capital once every ten years according to the rules, was quite a large man. He had given far too many answers to what was merely a polite question, but…
I sighed and muttered to myself.
“It’s really a secret. I had to drink this much to find out.”
“How did you know that getting someone drunk would make them talk?”
Sezare seemed genuinely eager to have a conversation with me. So I kindly summarized the key points on how to talk well with me and taught him.
“I said it’s a secret, didn’t I? Listen, your body may be decent, but your memory is pathetic. You’re not living up to your face. Duke, if you’re going to talk to me, at least don’t act stupid.”
“…I apologize. Please rest more.”
“Mm.”
Well, my position had somehow become quite comfortable, almost lying down. The pillow was quite firm and nice. Long fingers gently straightened my disheveled hair.
“That feels good… Do more.”
Because it felt so good, I buried my head in the pillow. Suddenly, the gentle touch stopped.
“W, w, Your Highness?”
His voice was clearly flustered.
“P, please… Perhaps you should change your position…”
No. This position is comfortable and nice.
As everything became comfortable again, the boundary between reality and dreams blurred.

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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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