A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 56

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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 56
I blinked as if mesmerized, and he added playfully.
“You certainly know how to torment people.”
“Yes… I suppose I have considerable experience in that department.”
I answered honestly, then rolled my eyes as I spoke.
Sezare merely smiled faintly without offering any particular retort. Instead, he examined my right foot and changed the subject.
“How is your foot feeling?”
“Of course it’s not fine. It feels like I’m dying. What if I lose the use of my leg?”
…
I habitually let out a whimper first before belatedly realizing something. Why was he asking about my foot’s condition?
“Wait… why are you asking about my foot? Did I injure it somewhere?”
“Weren’t you stepped on by that Captain of the Guard earlier?”
“Oh my.”
It was something I had forgotten myself. I spoke in surprise.
“Weren’t you not nearby at that time?”
“I saw it from a distance. It’s only natural courtesy to keep one’s eyes on one’s partner as much as possible.”
“You have quite impressive dynamic vision.”
Still, it was unfortunate that he struggled with physical coordination. It felt like watching a graduate student who was good at calculations but couldn’t actually set up equations.
“I noticed at the infirmary earlier that the Captain of the Guard’s right foot seemed completely shattered. So, well, my heart was healed by it.”
Sezare let out a soft laugh at my response. As he looked at me, his gaze seemed terribly distant, and I felt oddly unsettled again. So I tilted my head and asked.
“What is it? What are you looking at?”
“Hmm. Just…”
Sezare murmured languidly while keeping his gaze fixed on me.
“It feels strangely like I’m dreaming. Perhaps it’s because I’ve come to the Imperial Palace. It’s as if I’ve returned to my childhood days.”
He seemed enchanted, a commoner visiting the Imperial Palace. I nodded understandingly.
“If it feels like a dream, dream away. Time will pass and you’ll wake up anyway, won’t you?”
“Perhaps so.”
Sezare smiled softly.
“Then shall I indulge in the dreams of an innocent young man just for today? It seems they don’t wake easily.”
Just as I was about to warn him to moderate his metaphors since the conversation was becoming scattered, Sezare suddenly asked.
“Does the Princess have no desire to marry into the Imperial Family?”
“Pardon?”
“The Imperial Palace is quite magnificent and wonderful. I wonder if you perhaps desire power…”
“Power is nice. I’m so pleased to be the Princess of House of Prelai. People curse me behind my back saying it’s all fake, but if you asked me ‘Would you rather be a cursed princess or a celebrated one?’ I’d still choose to be the cursed princess.”
I answered honestly.
“But this is enough for me. Prince Hitten is not my type.”
“Prince Hitten is not the only member of the Imperial Family, is he? Well, the Crown Prince might still be alive.”
“Ah, the Crown Prince? Then I’d only end up becoming an Empress or something like that.”
“An… Empress? Why?”
Sezare’s brow furrowed slightly. I continued calmly.
“I’m quite jealous, so I don’t think I could bear to see my husband take another queen. Unless… we simply have no feelings for each other, which would allow me to take other husbands as well.”
Though everything was resolved now, during the Emperor’s marriageable years, diplomatic issues had been extraordinarily severe. As a solution, the Emperor took on a great many queens. The Empress herself was a princess of the Kingdom of Sola, and the Third Queen, Dolores, was a grand duchess of the Grand Duchy of Lucia.
The Emperor was the only man in the Empire permitted to have multiple wives. This meant I had no particular need to marry that singular man.
“Yes, I understand perfectly.”
Sezare nodded with a serious expression.
“Is there anything else about the position of Empress that needs correction?”
“…If I speak, will the position of Empress actually listen?”
At my exasperated question, Sezare responded with a sly smile.
“I’ll do my best to convey your thoughts.”
“…”
“It seems the position of Empress has displeased you. Perhaps it has made a mistake.”
What was he saying? I waved my hand dismissively in response.
“Honestly, I’ve never even considered becoming a real Empress. As I said before, the Crown Prince isn’t my type either. Not in appearance, nor in character.”
“What about me?”
“Pardon?”
“Am I to your taste?”
Sezare asked, meeting my eyes. My body stiffened slightly in that moment.
“The Crown Prince and I are… opposite in every way, from appearance to character.”
That was certainly true. The Crown Prince was an exceptionally virtuous young man, the sort who would never commit any wrongdoing.
So I answered honestly.
“If I were to divide the two of you into roughly ninety-two variables and blend them in different proportions, I believe I’d arrive at the optimal value of my preferences.”
“Ah, I see.”
As if that were sufficient, he smiled, baring his teeth. He resembled a predator leisurely observing a loosened leash. That satisfied smile was somehow insubstantial yet mysteriously thrilling, so I gradually changed the subject.
“Oh, and Marquis.”
“Yes?”
“Would you be interested in one more transaction?”
At my words, Sezare regarded me quietly, then answered with evident pleasure.
“Any transaction with you would always be welcome.”
“You know the Pebble ore mines in the Levin Domain? How about we establish an exclusive contract with our House of Prelai? We’ll offer you excellent prices.”
“An exclusive contract with House of Prelai, you say?”
Sezare laughed with leisurely ease, as if it were nothing.
“I’ll consider it.”
But he gave no definite answer. This wasn’t easy, was it?
Then, for the first time in a while, my old professor days came to mind, and I felt the urge to offer unsolicited advice about someone else’s life. So I regarded him with benevolent eyes and spoke.
“It would be a far more stable source of income than getting involved in strange loan-sharking schemes.”
“Cough!”
Sezare blinked, momentarily flustered.
“That is… well…”
“Don’t even think about exploiting struggling people in the slums. Let’s cooperate well among those who have means.”
“Well, in conclusion, Princess… I’ve decided not to engage in such business ventures.”
“Of course. You’ve admitted yourself that you lack the ability to be anything more than garbage, haven’t you?”
“….”
Sezare rubbed his eyes with an expression of profound bewilderment. He seemed reluctant to continue discussing what had transpired in that alley. I felt the same way—the memory of my embarrassing drunken behavior in front of him was mortifying.
“In any case, my urgent matters are settled now, so I’ll head to the Marquis’s estate and conduct some research. I’ll develop other magical artifacts I need, and while I’m at it, I’ll also study the magical artifact the Marquis mentioned.”
At my words, Sezare nodded with satisfaction.
“Excellent.”
Truth be told, I had already developed it, but I wanted to wait for the right timing. First, I wanted to see how the Crown Prince’s post box connection develops… and besides, I could develop other magical artifacts in the meantime…
“Even if I complete the development, I’ll give more thought to when to make the official announcement.”
I spoke calmly.
“If the Crown Prince’s son were to return later, that magical artifact could cause complications for you…”
“Wait a moment.”
Sezare hastily cut off my words.
“The Crown Prince has no son. Why would you think such a thing?”
“How would you know that?”
“Well… um… I’ve obtained information from behind the scenes that most people don’t know. In any case, there’s absolutely no way he has a son.”
“Ah.”
I accepted it readily. If it was a rumor circulating secretly about his childlessness, it was predictable enough.
“So he’s impotent? That’s certainly possible. I’ll keep it confidential too.”
“Cough! Cough cough!”
Sezare suddenly began coughing violently. He waved his hand frantically.
“N-No, that’s not it. Really, it’s not. I assure you. He’s in perfect health in that regard.”
“Ah… and how do you know he’s healthy in that regard?”
“W-Well, that’s also information that most people don’t know, but it’s reliable.”
I regarded Sezare with a suspicious expression. Then I nodded readily again.
“Well, if I piece it all together, the conclusion becomes clear. For now, I’ll keep it confidential.”
“…No, I’d prefer you didn’t piece it together. This feels ominous.”
Sezare narrowed his eyes and sighed. As I watched him, I blinked and suddenly asked.
“If the Crown Prince truly wanted revenge, why hasn’t he appeared? He could just come and have all those picnic members hanged.”
“Hmm.”
Sezare fell into thought for a moment. Then he spoke carefully.
“Your Highness, it seems you have little talent for politics.”
“Of course. If I had talent for politics, I would’ve been known as a villainess in the Capital’s social circles, wouldn’t I?”
At my confident answer, Sezare laughed softly. Then, leaning slightly toward me, he spoke gently.
“What if all those picnic members claimed together that ‘the Crown Prince has gone mad and is making absurd accusations’?”
“…What?”

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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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