A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 51

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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 51
I thrust the mana shock device forward menacingly.
“You don’t know what this is, do you? It’s a personal self-defense tool I developed myself, and it hasn’t been commercialized yet.”
In the darkness, the man who had hastily covered his face widened his eyes. I swung the mana shock device with supreme confidence and continued speaking.
“All I have to do is press this against the nape of your neck, and even someone as frail as me can easily subdue a Sword Master. You’ve felt it yourself, so you know. Do you agree or not?”
He answered my interrogation quickly.
“Y-y-yes, I agree!”
So I raised the mana shock device one last time and shouted loudly.
“Individual purchases are available at the Prelai Ducal Residence!”
“…”
“Several high-ranking nobles already possess them secretly through word of mouth, you know?”
At my booming voice, the man’s mouth fell open. Behind me, Princess Seliet murmured, “…Advertising?”
I lifted my chin and shot back.
“So don’t do this again and get out of here right now. Before I increase the mana output. At maximum output, you’ll lose consciousness immediately!”
The man eventually glanced around and fled without another word. I could understand what he was thinking.
This place was extremely dark—so dark that one couldn’t properly make out faces at first glance. He clearly didn’t want his identity exposed to an outsider like me. I also suspected that Seliet wouldn’t bother revealing her identity to me for the sake of her reputation.
Even if Hitten was backing him, he was still just a servant to the Princess. So Hitten’s plan was probably to announce they’d been in a long-term relationship. But if this situation escalated, it obviously wouldn’t be good. He’d definitely run away first and deny involvement later if problems arose.
Hmph, he’s still in the palm of my hand regardless. Actually, I pretended not to know, but I was well aware of that man’s identity.
Ben Ailid—a servant of the Crown Prince’s Palace. He was the person who attended the Crown Prince most closely and had been part of the last picnic group. Anyway, he probably had nothing to do at the Crown Prince’s Palace now and was just loafing around.
Seliet hadn’t bothered mentioning this servant to me either. So I didn’t ask.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness.”
I turned around to face Seliet and laughed awkwardly. Laughing in this situation felt inappropriate, but I did it anyway to ease the tension…
“Y-yes…?”
Hmm, but my laughter seemed to have made her more nervous instead. Seliet trembled while staring at me quietly.
But goodness, I nearly gasped myself in that moment.
‘Why is she so beautiful?’
Since the Prelai Family possessed such outstanding beauty, I rarely found myself admiring anyone else’s appearance. But unlike Kiana and Melissa, who had rather gentle features, Seliet was a stunning beauty with slightly upturned eyes like a cat’s.
‘She’s truly comparable to Sezare in beauty. If Sezare were a woman, I think she’d look like this.’
A timid servant had caught a glimpse and nearly caused trouble out of covetousness—that was the caliber of her beauty. It was natural that the Third Queen, who was like a mother figure to her, was jealous every single day. That kind of insane beauty.
In truth, Ben’s real backer wasn’t Hitten but the Third Queen. The Third Queen genuinely wished for Seliet to marry Ben, the servant. Hitten was merely following his mother the Third Queen’s wishes.
In any case, despite her timid personality, if she had just a bit of viciousness, she’d be the kind of beauty capable of controlling an entire nation. I admired her for a moment alone, then came to my senses and asked.
“Are you alright?”
“Y-yes… That person is easily frightened, so it’s obvious he won’t make this situation bigger.”
Seliet spoke hurriedly while gripping her dress. I tilted my head and spoke again.
“No, I wasn’t asking about what happens next… I was asking if Your Highness is alright right now. The future is important, but how you feel at this very moment is important too.”
“…”
Seliet listened to my words, and her lips trembled for a moment. Then tears streamed down her face. I quietly handed her a handkerchief.
Seliet’s assessment was correct. According to the original story, after that servant’s words, Seliet truly screamed. Something along the lines of “That damned servant is conspiring with my brother Hitten to harass me!” Princess Seliet was timid, certainly. But she wasn’t so hopeless as to do nothing even when cornered.
Whether that claim that no one would come was mere bluster or not, the servant became frightened and fled. However, Seliet’s scream reached the ears of noble ladies who happened to be getting some air at that moment. After that, naturally, this scandal became a laughingstock rumor.
In the end, nothing changed except that Seliet’s reputation was damaged. The very fact that the sole Princess was entangled with a servant seemed to symbolize Seliet’s terrible treatment. Of course, the person spreading this rumor most viciously was the Third Queen herself.
However, I intervened in this matter despite knowing that ultimately nothing serious would happen to Seliet.
‘Such rumors spreading isn’t good either, and honestly, how terrified she must have been.’
Thinking about it, I regretted not striking her once more out of sheer irritation.
After crying for a while, Seliet hiccupped and asked, eyeing the mana shock device in my hand.
“Um, Princess, but what is this?”
I answered while smoothing out the wrinkles in my dress.
“As I mentioned, this is a self-defense item that can inject mana instantaneously. I developed it myself.”
“Mana… can it really be used that way?”
Seliet’s eyes sparkled. I answered with some pride.
“If you set up the formula correctly and process it into an item, yes. Though truthfully, very high output is impossible. It’s just rather painful.”
“But, but just now… you said it could knock out a Sword Master….”
“Of course that was a lie.”
At my composed words, Seliet’s jaw dropped. I shrugged and continued.
“Why would I tell the truth to that bastard? What you saw just now was the maximum output.”
“Ah….”
“Like most magical artifacts, it doesn’t produce particularly impressive effects. Of course, it’s perfect for someone clever like me to deceive with.”
I placed the mana shock device in Seliet’s hands.
“I’m giving this to you as a gift. It probably won’t happen, but if that bastard ever tries to get fresh with you again, just quietly shove this into him.”
“…Th, thank you. But is it really okay for me to accept this? I don’t even have a connection with Lady Kiana….”
“It’s fine. I don’t have connections with anyone anyway.”
“….”
Seliet blinked slowly while holding the mana shock device. Then, looking at me with an moved expression, she spoke.
“…I, I heard you’ve been confined since childhood… I thought you’d be similar to me in temperament, just incompetent… but you’re really so confident. That’s amazing.”
“I am clumsy and incompetent at interpersonal relationships, but I simply happen to possess both power and ability.”
I answered awkwardly.
“Actually, I was in a similar position to you, Princess—someone who had no choice but to shrink back within my family originally.”
Seliet maintained a quiet silence, perhaps understanding my circumstances.
“Then, Princess.”
Since I had finished my business, I bowed politely.
“I must take my leave now—I have an irritating prior engagement with a wretched human. Please rest comfortably.”
Seliet gripped her skirt tightly and nodded. Then, hesitating, she murmured reluctantly.
“Yes…. But, is there anything I could repay you with….”
At those words, I hesitated slightly.
I had originally wanted something from Seliet. But after witnessing what she nearly suffered at the hands of someone like Ben, I felt little inclination to demand anything. It simply seemed too natural to rescue her from that situation.
“There’s… something I’d like to do for you….”
But if Seliet is offering this much, there’s no reason not to speak up. I said quickly.
“Then could I ask for two things?”
“Yes, yes!”
“First, could you promise me one thing? Please don’t tell anyone about this mana shock device.”
The very fact of selling the mana shock device was a trap I was setting for Ben.
In truth, I had never sold a magical artifact to anyone. My real purpose in coming here was to orchestrate a scheme within the Imperial Palace itself. Unlike other places, the Imperial Palace was somewhere I couldn’t freely enter and exit. Ever since the Emperor fell ill, not just I, but other guests found it difficult to come and go as they pleased. Only Hitten could manage to meet with a handful of his closest confidants.
I spoke while fidgeting with my fingers, watching Seliet.
“I… I don’t even have anyone I can talk to about this…”
“Yes. That’s why I’ve involuntarily become someone who keeps secrets, but regardless, I did mention it to someone. And the second reason is…”
I took a deep breath and continued.
“In a situation like this… wouldn’t you want a recording magical artifact, Your Highness?”
“What?”
“You know, the kind of magical artifact that records without the other person knowing and can play it back.”
Seliet’s eyes widened. Then she nodded enthusiastically. Indeed, Ben had just mentioned Hitten’s name without anyone listening. It truly was evidence too valuable to waste.
“To make that, we need Espra flower petals. Espra flowers bloom in autumn, and also…”
I smiled slightly, looking at Seliet.
“Right now, they only exist in the Fifth Imperial Consort’s Greenhouse.”

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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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