A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 46

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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 46
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At that very moment.
“Bah, what a fool! Utterly pathetic!”
An elderly man rode a massive horse toward the Capital at breakneck speed, cursing as he went.
“How blind must one be to harbor an assassin at their side? Bah, incompetent wretch! I must hurry and set things right!”
The old man with snow-white hair and crimson eyes cut an imposing figure—his muscular frame was enormous and commanding. Across his back, he carried two massive axes.
The old man’s name was Julius Prelai.
Most nobles remained in their territories, visiting their townhouses in the Capital only when necessary.
The Purbis Manor held lands near the Capital, so its lord dwelled on the border between the Capital and County of Purbis. The House of Risiniss similarly spent most of their time in the eastern Duchy of Risiniss, leaving only Avian, who belonged to the guard corps, at their townhouse in the Capital.
However, the House of Prelai was somewhat unique. According to the ancient covenant, they were obligated to summon beasts for the Emperor, so the head of House Prelai and his household remained perpetually in the Capital. A cadet branch appointed by the head guarded the Duchy in the far north. After the “Final Battle of the North,” where Elica Prelai and Edmund Taylies faced the dark mage Ortson, House Prelai was additionally burdened with the duty to protect that land.
Julius was currently responsible for guarding that Duchy. He had recently received a letter from the Prelai Ducal Residence.
Upon receiving it, Julius immediately rode his horse toward the Capital at full speed. He traveled relentlessly and swiftly. Consequently, he never received the follow-up letter that arrived shortly after: “The maid has taken her own life. There is no need for you to come.”
Yet despite his frantic pace, the Capital remained distant. The northern border he guarded was simply too far away.
【You’re in quite a state. Either curse or worry—pick one, not both.】
Nestled in his breast pocket was a tiny squirrel.
The squirrel was Julius’s summoned beast, and its ability was Insight—once every ten years, it could designate a single person and uncover all their hidden secrets. It was a remarkable ability, though the summoned beast itself wasn’t particularly powerful. The conditions were simply too stringent.
Julius was Scari’s cousin, but from a cadet branch, not the main line. He guarded the most treacherous region of the Duchy in the far north.
【It’s been ages since I’ve seen the Capital. Exactly ten years.】
Daram, the squirrel deity, spoke solemnly.
“To be precise, I can only visit once every ten years.”
Julius sighed and ground his teeth.
“So I couldn’t even attend Enes’s funeral…”
Guarding the treacherous lands of the north was a covenant between the Imperial Household and House Prelai. According to that covenant, Julius could not visit the Capital and had to perpetually guard the most dangerous territory.
The only exception was if the Imperial Household or House Prelai specifically requested his summoned beast’s ability. But Julius’s summoned beast could only use its power once every ten years, meaning he could visit only once per decade.
Cadet branches typically could not summon beasts. Even if they did, summoned beasts were usually heavily restricted by time constraints, making their abilities weaker than those of the main line. Furthermore, Insight couldn’t be used on just anyone—it could only be used on commoners with no noble blood.
“Enes wasn’t the type to do such a thing. I raised her myself. The last time I saw her, nothing had changed about her. What denial are they talking about…”
Sorrow rippled across Julius’s crimson eyes.
Enes had been the daughter of a northern noble family but became an orphan due to monsters. She was raised by her godfather, Julius. Later, she married Hyde, the eldest son of Scari who visited the north. Julius genuinely believed that welcoming such a beautiful and kind person as Enes was a blessing for House Prelai.
Exactly twenty years ago, when they visited the Prelai Ducal Residence, they had formed an ideal household. Afterward, word came that Enes had fled in the dead of night and died, while Hyde had departed on a monster expedition.
Julius still believed in Enes. He agreed with Hyde’s conviction that something must have happened. So when he last visited the Prelai Ducal Residence ten years ago, he showed no awkwardness toward Kiana.
“So you’re Enes’s daughter! Gahahaha, how adorable! That pouty expression suits you perfectly! Gahahahahaha!”
Twelve-year-old Kiana looked exactly like Enes in her childhood, and Julius found her utterly charming. Since he was stressed about being unable to summon a beast, he even comforted her by saying, “I summoned my beast when I was twelve.” It was the latest summoning in Prelai history, but Julius himself had indeed summoned his beast at that age.
Yet afterward, only tragic rumors reached him. Hyde’s reckless expedition and disappearance, Kiana ultimately unable to summon a beast and departing for the Riloni Principality…
Julius spoke stubbornly.
“Even if our Kiki really isn’t Hyde’s daughter, she’s definitely Enes’s daughter, right? Eh?”
【…That’s your perspective. How have you remained so foolish since you were twelve? Would Kiana even want to hear such things?】
Though Daram spoke wisely, Julius paid no heed.
“Anyway, I’m eager to see our Kiki. She must have grown up just like Enes. She went to that Academy in the rural countryside of the duchy, didn’t she? I’ll pressure Scari if I must to bring Kiki here.”
Julius snorted as he spoke. Daram nodded solemnly in agreement.
“Well, I was wanting to meet that child anyway.”
Despite its small frame, it was an exceedingly solemn summoned beast.
“There was something bothering me during my last visit.”
“What was it?”
“I sensed a faint aura similar to your old self back then.”
Daram crossed his arms and muttered to himself.
“It was too faint at the time, so I dismissed it, but the fact that he still hasn’t been able to summon a beast means something must be wrong. I need to examine it carefully this time.”
“Wrong? What could be wrong?”
“It means the Prelai power that has nowhere to go might be manifesting in unexpected ways.”
“Oh no…”
As Julius fell silent, the squirrel deity spoke with an earnest voice, brimming with anticipation.
“Could it be? Did he finally understand my words? Has he finally become smarter? Is my decades of waiting being rewarded like this?”
“No. But that means something bad is happening to Kiki. We need to go right now!”
Julius rushed forward, breathing heavily as he urged his horse faster.

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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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