A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 4

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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 4
* * *
The journey to the Empire took considerably longer than expected. Though I had equipped the carriage with as many acceleration magical artifacts as possible, the distance between the Riloni Principality and the Empire was simply too vast.
During the journey, Piyak sprawled across my lap and asked me a question.
【Kiana, what exactly are you planning to do once we reach the capital? Are you perhaps thinking of becoming incredibly wealthy through some grand business venture and then pressuring Prince Hitten with money?】
“What are you talking about? I have absolutely no sense of economics, so I can’t do anything like that. I know how to spend money, but I have no idea how to earn it.”
【Then are you planning to involve yourself in imperial politics and pressure Prince Hitten through political maneuvering?】
“What are you talking about? I have no connections in the Empire, so I can’t do that either. I know how to curse at politicians, but I have no idea how to actually do politics.”
My self-awareness was perfect. At that wise and humble response, Piyak’s expression shifted to one of profound doubt.
【Wait a moment, Kiana.】
Piyak asked with obvious anxiety.
【…Y-you’re not actually planning to tell your family the truth, are you?】
“Why not?”
As I blinked and spoke, Piyak’s mouth fell open. It was the expression of someone who had just heard the worst possible answer.
【Kiana, think about this carefully.】
Piyak spoke with utmost seriousness.
【If Kiana suddenly appears at the Prelai Manor after six years and says, “Actually, I’ve regressed in time, and Prince Hitten is going to destroy House Prelai. I don’t know why,” do you really think your family would believe you?】
“Of course they wouldn’t. Who would believe someone like me—a hopeless wreck who’s always locking herself away in her room?”
I answered with complete composure.
“So I’ll just have to work hard to convince them.”
【Hmm…. Y-yes…. Work hard…. Hmm, work hard….】
Piyak shrugged with obvious uncertainty.
Indeed, throughout my childhood spent at the Prelai Ducal Residence, I had been nothing but a source of trouble for my family. I had grown up to be a gloomy villainess who served as a cautionary example to others until I was sixteen years old. Everyone said that House Prelai had an angel named Melissa and a demon named Kiana.
Yet despite all that, cooperating with my family was Plan A. That was why my destination was the Prelai Manor in the first place.
Piyak tilted her head with concern and spoke again.
【But I’m quite worried about your terrible reputation and your wicked past, Kiana.】
“Actually, I’m concerned about that too. That’s why I have Plan B.”
I gazed out the window while resting my chin on my hand.
“I’ll help with the revenge of ‘that man’—Prince Hitten’s greatest enemy—and ride on his coattails. Before Hitten can drag us into treason charges a year from now, I’ll use someone else’s hands to bring about his downfall even faster.”
“In any case, it seems Prince Hitten is in a difficult position these days… It must have seemed like we were going to side with the Crown Prince.”
When Melissa said that to me in prison, I had no idea what was actually happening. But thanks to the ‘original work,’ I now finally understood, in my own way, what “Prince Hitten being in a difficult position” meant.
【Oh, the enemy of my enemy is my ally, after all?】
“Exactly.”
My voice grew quieter as I contemplated what lay ahead.
“I’ll try to get along well with my family, and I’ll also actively help ‘that man.'”
* * *
Raphahn, the capital of the Empire.
“Ah….”
The young man with black hair tilted his head slightly as he received a report in his office.
“Lady Kiana is returning to the Empire? Suddenly?”
“She even applied to cancel all the patents registered under the Academy’s name from the joint research. So apparently the Academy is in complete chaos right now….”
The man reading Kiana’s name in the report narrowed his eyes.
He was a young man with a solid build and tall stature, possessing elongated yet decadent eyes. His impression, somehow refined and sharp, instilled an instinctive sense of intimidation in those who beheld him. His neat attire was impeccably clean, and even a single pen on his desk showed no angle out of place.
“Did something happen at the Academy?”
At the man’s suspicious question, the Large Foreign Subordinate immediately responded.
“Well, it’s such a closed-off place that I can’t say for certain what happened, but at least the Academy side also seems completely unprepared for this situation.”
The intimidating subordinate’s expression was utterly serious, though his pronunciation was somewhat slurred due to unfamiliarity with the Imperial tongue.
“Given that the route leads toward the capital, I suspect she’s heading to the Prelai Ducal Residence. Perhaps she’s finally grown tired of being buried in that rural backwater doing nothing but research?”
Thus the subordinate’s report concluded.
“That much is uncertain, though….”
After a brief silence, the man—sharp as a blade—slowly rose to his feet. Contrary to his languid movements, his gaze grew piercing, resembling a predator accustomed to dominion.
“In any case, I’ll finally be able to meet her.”
A clear sense of anticipation rippled across his face as he murmured with a faint smile.
“After such a long time.”
* * *
We rode without rest for days on end. By the time we arrived at Raphahn, the capital of the Tailize Empire, it was the dead of night.
【Wow, we’ll arrive at the Ducal Residence soon!】
I grabbed Piyak with my hand as she peered out the window, wiggling her fluffy bottom.
“Wait a moment.”
【Yes?】
I pulled a small slip of paper from my pocket and placed it in Piyak’s beak.
“I have a separate task for you. There’s a place this needs to be delivered.”
【What? Right now… a task… you say?】
At my words, Piyak immediately protested, fluttering her small wings.
【A summoned creature should be thought of as a friend, not a servant! Piyak doesn’t want to work! We just arrived in the capital and I haven’t seen anything yet, and now a task! Waaaah!】
“Piyak.”
I gently pressed her chubby cheeks and kindly explained the reality to her.
“You do as I say. I’m your master now, not Melissa, aren’t I?”
【Ugh, ugh?】
And I kindly advised her once more about life under my command.
“If you try to slack off like this under me, that won’t do.”
The moment Piyak met my gaze, she flinched and protested tearfully.
【Kiana is such a cruel master!】
“I know. Anyway, deliver this secretly to mailbox 1135.”
【Secretly? That’ll take a whole week!】
“I know that too.”
Each summoned creature possesses their own unique ability. Piyak’s ability was “secret delivery”—she could transport small objects to desired locations without anyone noticing, though long distances were impossible and it required time. According to Melissa’s memories, it took about a week.
【Poor Piyak, already being overworked!】
Piyak displayed a disgruntled expression.
【My soul has been so deeply bruised from receiving so much hurt from my new master!】
“Piyak.”
I spoke with a stern expression.
“Spirits don’t have capillaries, so they can’t bruise.”
【….】
Piyak flew weakly out the window, muttering under his breath.
【I hope magical engineering collapses.】
It was certainly an impudent thing to mutter, but it didn’t matter. No amount of cursing from Piyak would ever bring down magical engineering.
After Piyak left, I sat alone in the carriage and took a deep breath.
‘The Empire… the Capital Raphahn… and the Prelai Ducal Residence.’
It was my homeland—or rather, not quite my homeland—that I was returning to for the first time since I left on my own two feet at sixteen.
My heart pounded. There were no good memories here. Or more precisely, there were no memories I could face with a clear conscience. Especially when I thought of the splendid and stately Prelai Ducal Residence, cold sweat seemed to pour down my back.
‘It’s fine… it’s fine. I can do this if I try. It’s fine. Let me try. I can try now.’
As I struggled to calm my churning stomach, the carriage arrived at the gates of the Ducal Residence.
Though it was the dead of night, the Ducal Residence was in great turmoil. An assassination attempt had occurred that very evening—my grandfather’s maidservant had tried to kill him with a poisoned dagger. Of course, the House of Prelai was no easy target, so the assassination attempt failed. In any case, the important thing was that when I arrived, the Ducal Residence was in complete chaos.
The moment I appeared in the garden, the servants of the Ducal Residence gasped in shock.
“M-My Lady? Lady Kiana, is it really you?”
“My Lady… without any notice, so suddenly…!”
“We apologize, My Lady! An assassination attempt has just occurred, and the Ducal Residence is in disarray. If you could wait a moment, I’ll inform the Duke….”
Well, it was only natural, appearing suddenly after six years.
“You all look busy, so don’t make a fuss over me. I’m tired from the journey anyway, so I’ll retire immediately. I’ll pay my respects to Grandfather tomorrow, so please let him know.”
I spoke briskly and passed by them. I was even grateful that the Ducal Residence’s turmoil gave me an excuse to postpone greeting my grandfather.
But I couldn’t put off meeting my grandfather forever.
‘I can’t keep avoiding Grandfather just because things feel awkward and uncomfortable like they used to.’
I took another deep breath.
‘Grandfather is the only head of House Prelai I can trust… I need to grow closer to him, somehow warn him of the crisis, and prepare together.’
I slowly made my way into the grand Prelai Ducal Residence—my uncomfortable home, which I never thought I would return to of my own accord.

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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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