A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 41

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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 41
* * *
That evening.
My Grandfather had gone to the palace on business, so Prelai Manor was quiet. I had also rested all afternoon, so the alcohol had completely worn off.
‘At this point, there are two things weighing on my mind.’
One was that I had gotten far too drunk in front of Sezare, and the second was what Mayer had said.
‘The Priestess cannot turn back time with her divine power? Then what am I?’
I was the very person who had experienced Melissa unleashing her divine power and returning to a year ago.
‘But now that I think about it, Piyak also said he didn’t know much about divine power either….’
However, in any case, neither of those two things was something I needed to concern myself with right now. It wasn’t something I could change, there was no further investigation to be done, and it wasn’t something I needed immediately. And I was an efficient person who quickly let go of such matters.
Above all….
“After all, even if I arrange one marriage as I wish, it will be difficult to get along well with Prince Hitten.”
Originally, one of my goals was to become an equal conversational partner to my Grandfather and openly inform him that Hitten was targeting our House of Prelai. Then I thought my Grandfather might say, “Is that so? I had no idea. I’ll look into it!” and handle it himself.
But my Grandfather had casually said something to me.
‘He already knows that Hitten views House of Prelai unfavorably. The rift has already widened, and nothing can repair it.’
If that was the case, even if I warned my Grandfather, it wouldn’t change much.
‘…Yes. I was terribly unfilial. I was trying to leave everything to that poor old Grandfather.’
In the end, I had to stop thinking about leaving everything to my Grandfather and do my very best at what I could do.
In any case, with such a clear head, I secretly left Prelai Manor. Instead of the flashy dresses that noble young ladies wore, I was dressed in a plain checkered one-piece dress that commoners wore. I even put on round glasses as my own attempt at disguise.
Now that I had discovered where the sacred relic was, it was time to go retrieve it quickly. The person who had carelessly spilled its location to me was none other than the Grand Cleric. I had no confidence that he would keep its location hidden from others.
“Princess, are you really sure about this….”
The Spy Maid followed along, fidgeting nervously. I smiled brightly and spoke.
“Didn’t we both learn this time that your muscles won’t cut it?”
If there was one thing I had learned in that market alley earlier, it was that I needed stronger protection than I had thought.
“You couldn’t even keep hold of me in a crowd. If I take you along on something secret, you’ll only be a hindrance.”
The Spy Maid’s face fell in shock. Seeing that expression, I felt a bit sorry for her, so I patted her arm.
“Of course, being sturdy isn’t a virtue of a spy, so don’t be too hurt about it.”
“…I will attend Knight Order training at dawn from now on, Princess.”
The Spy Maid clenched her fists sadly.
“Now I understand why Piyak is so eager to stick by your side. To think I’ll miss this rare spectacle….”
At those words, I glared at the Spy Maid with a sinister gaze.
“Did you just call me a spectacle? This is making me quite angry.”
And I ground my teeth and spoke irritably. Then I pouted with dignity.
“To atone for this sin, you must immediately get me some co….”
It was just as I was eagerly about to say the word “coffee.”
“No, Princess! Someone’s coming over there!”
The Spy Maid immediately alerted me to the surroundings, and right then, a soft male voice interjected politely.
“You’ve come out, Princess.”
The man who had appeared at my side was none other than Avian Risineus. Avian, dressed in plain clothes rather than his captain of the guard uniform, smiled somewhat awkwardly.
“What business brings you out in the middle of the night….”
This morning, I had the Spy Maid send a letter to House of Risiniss. The message was simple—I would give him a chance to repay a debt, and I needed him to escort me on a nighttime outing this evening. And Avian arrived right on time in front of Prelai Manor, dressed as plainly as I was.
“Ah, there’s somewhere rather dangerous I need to go. But as you can see, I’m rather frail, aren’t I?”
I explained while waving my thin arms for emphasis.
“Grandfather has been showing signs of favoring me quite a bit lately, so if I entrust my escort to the Prelai Knight Order, things might spiral out of control.”
“Ah, I see.”
“But I can’t go alone either, so I do need an escort, though an ordinary one won’t suffice….”
I smiled gently as I watched Avian’s somewhat flustered expression.
“So I’m giving you a chance to repay your debt, Captain. All you need to do is escort me tonight and keep quiet about it. Simple, right?”
In Melissa’s memories, Avian was a man of considerable discretion and gravity. He repaid his debts with almost rigid punctuality, and he had protected Melissa’s secrets to the very end. Having risen to captain of the guard at such a young age, his martial prowess was beyond question. So he was perfectly suited to accompany me on this dangerous night.
“So where are we going? Just how dangerous is this place you’re heading to….”
“Olford Port.”
“…Pardon?”
“More precisely, the 4th Dock of Olford Port.”
Avian swallowed hard, his expression growing somewhat grave.
Olford was a small port, but its proximity to the Capital meant it handled considerable cargo traffic. Indeed, not long ago, Olford Port had undergone a massive search due to smuggling. Enormous quantities of contraband had been discovered, and the place had already been thoroughly turned upside down.
“Your Highness, surely you’re not thinking of getting involved in smuggling….”
“If I were a smuggler, I wouldn’t be foolish enough to bring the captain of the guard along, would I?”
“Well….”
I easily dispelled Avian’s suspicions and made my request kindly.
“Your logic could use some work. Why don’t you study mathematics more? You said you got stuck on functions, didn’t you? We can discuss where to start together later, but for now, just focus on protecting me.”
“…Yes.”
Avian spoke in a low voice.
“But once this is all over, might you be able to answer some of my questions?”
“Yes. Once we’re done with functions.”
I answered readily and hopped up behind him on his horse. His expression seemed to darken slightly.
‘Goodness, Crown Prince—I can barely remember your face! And yet I’m going to all this trouble for you!’
Here I was, a sickly scholar, actually riding a horse instead of a carriage…. I sighed once and waved goodbye to the Spy Maid before we departed.
The Spy Maid was already doing jumping jacks for physical training. She waved at me with a sorrowful expression as she saw me off.
* * *
The 4th Dock of Olford Port.
“The ships aren’t leaving, they’re not leaving. The guards have their eyes wide open right now. This is a time to be careful.”
The port, once bustling with smugglers and middlemen merchants, was now quiet.
“Don’t you know they cracked down a few days ago? Ships aren’t operating now. But….”
And there were many people approaching loiterers in secretive ways.
“Instead, there’s decent money to be made. Since you’re here, want to take a look?”
It was clearly a low-quality district teeming with all manner of unsavory characters.
Of course, there was one man whom even the multi-level marketers instinctively avoided—Sezare. He moved without hesitation, entering the narrow path in the corner of the dock.
Among all the shabby shops lining the waterfront, a single small Goddess Statue stood. Even though the Temple had been closed, the small statue continued to watch over this corner of the port.
All sailors were superstitious. So no one dared touch the Goddess Statue. Whenever the weather turned foul or they had to transport something truly important, everyone would pray before this statue.
Sezare glanced up at the moon’s position. Then, without hesitation, he pressed down on the smallest scale of the fish carving the Goddess Statue held.
Soon after, a sleek black pebble rolled out from beneath the Goddess Statue. The stone bore the emblem of Tailize etched upon its surface.
The moment he grasped the pebble, it began to emit a brilliant radiance. The sacred relic had responded to the blood of royalty.
“The Grand Cleric showed some wit, after all.”
Sezare chuckled softly before tucking the sacred relic directly into his robes.
The sailors held the Goddess Statue in such reverence that they would never dare treat it carelessly. Since the Temple’s closure, outsiders had ceased offering prayers at the statue. Thus, it was only natural that no one would lay hands upon it. The Grand Cleric, however, remained a man of the Temple and possessed intimate knowledge of the statue’s hidden mechanisms, which is why he had concealed it here.
‘When moonlight falls upon the Goddess Statue at the 4th Dock of Olford Port, pressing the tiny scale of the fish carving will cause it to roll out from beneath.’
In truth, even Sezare himself had not anticipated such a difficult location and method. Without Kiana’s unexpected assistance, it would have been nearly impossible to uncover.

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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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