A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 60

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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 60
“From an outside perspective… it would be easy to see objectively how badly the nation has deteriorated.”
“Your Majesty.”
“I know better than anyone that Hiton lacks the caliber to be Emperor. That’s precisely why I’m holding firm and refusing to grant him the Crown Prince position.”
“…No one knows whether Crown Prince Edmund has returned or not.”
“Duke.”
The Emperor gazed at Scari with desperate eyes and spoke.
“Do you remember the temple’s final oracle from twenty years ago?”
“…”
Scari’s eyes flickered with turmoil for a moment. Then he spoke with a darkened expression.
“It was the final oracle, exactly as stated. It was the oracle the deity bestowed upon departing, and whether it holds credibility is something no one can know.”
The temple had always been said to deliver oracles for the imperial family. The most famous among them was: “In the path received by Tailize shall truth be found.” However, for nearly five hundred years, there had been no oracles. And as the temple’s corruption reached its peak, the Emperor had decided to close it.
Somewhere along the way, the meaning of divine power had faded to merely the strength of devotion. Moreover, the temple—a space purely for the imperial family—and divine power for all people clearly had different origins. In other words, there was no correlation between the temple and divine power. He could find no compelling reason for the temple to remain.
“After all, it was an oracle for the imperial family, wasn’t it? To the imperial family, the people of the Empire are like their own children. No parent wishes for counsel from those who eat and play on their children’s taxes.”
And on the day the temple closed, a single priest trembled as he received the final oracle.
Soon the power of evil shall arrive and bring great calamity. Yet through the strength of House Prelai, which has protected the imperial family, it shall ultimately be overcome, and the Empire shall flourish once more.
And the deity made one final declaration.
To achieve this, I shall expend all my remaining power, and now I truly depart from this temple, so it may be closed.
Thus, though unsettling, with the deity’s final permission, the temple was closed smoothly.
Twenty years passed, and the Emperor had come to believe that the “great calamity” mentioned in the oracle was Crown Prince Edmund’s disappearance. So he could not abandon hope that Edmund would ultimately return through the strength of House Prelai.
“You understand, do you not.”
Scari spoke in a sorrowful voice.
“That Hou and I have failed.”
“I do not abandon hope.”
The Emperor smiled faintly and took Scari’s hand.
“Your granddaughter… Kiana? Has she not also returned? That both events occurred simultaneously cannot be mere coincidence.”
“…Pardon?”
“It is possible they are fated for one another.”
“What… what do you…?”
“The Princess is such a perfect match for my Ed that I have even dreamed of the two of them marrying.”
Scari, who had been downcast, immediately stiffened.
“I dream every day that Kiana will spend her entire life in the Prelai Ducal Residence.”
The thought of Kiana suddenly marrying someone soured his mood entirely. Even if that someone were the Crown Prince…
Scari recalled Edmund from his memories. Edmund had been such an exemplary young man that the Emperor cherished him so dearly.
‘Far too naive! Though if this ruffian truly is the Crown Prince, he would be terribly vicious.’
A face without a shadow, considerate and gentle with a delicate nature, excellence displayed in many fields… Though admittedly, life had treated him so well that he had grown somewhat plump…
‘Far too weak! Though he apparently possesses the makings of a Sword Master.’
Of course, the fact that he had reached the threshold of Sword Master despite that physique was all the more remarkable.
‘Kiana deserves better!’
Having swiftly reached his conclusion, Scari spoke firmly.
“And Kiana has a terrible reputation for being incompetent and selfish. You must know that.”
“Ed is far too kind and trusts people too easily. He needs someone like a princess by his side.”
The Emperor spoke with a glimmer in his eyes despite his weakened state. It seemed he had taken quite a liking to Kiana. Scari felt a sense of foreboding and hastily interjected.
“Kiana has poor judgment of character. She only values external appearance.”
“Our Ed is quite presentable aside from that baby fat. I’ll personally take responsibility for trimming that away. The boy is just too passionate about eating.”
It seemed the Emperor was determined to call it baby fat even if the Crown Prince reached fifty years old.
“Our Kiana shows little interest in food. She views it merely as fuel to keep her body functioning. How unfortunate—your interests are so different.”
“Nonsense. If our Ed introduces the princess to the world of fine cuisine, she’ll become healthier too. It’s perfectly complementary from every angle.”
Finally, Scari took a deep breath and spoke with grim determination.
“Well, Kiana already has a lover.”
I disliked having to say this myself, but there was no choice. The Crown Prince was troublesome in every way. A reckless marquis who could disappear without a trace at any moment made for a convenient excuse.
“Heh heh, young people fall in love and break up—such things happen. Take your time thinking about it, take your time.”
“Our Kiana is….”
“Cough, cough. It hurts, it hurts… truly hurts…. Duke, you may go now.”
Scari had no choice but to withdraw from the palace. He resolved to vent his inexplicable frustration on House of Purbis instead.
5. Julius Returns
When I arrived, Kailon, the Prelai Ducal Residence’s physician, was in the middle of reporting on Julius and Daram.
“I administered a sedative injection to Julius, and after seeing him fall asleep, Daram said the long journey had exhausted him and immediately retired to bed.”
Hmm. The treatment seemed oddly reversed between human and beast, but… in any case. Kailon continued his report.
“Normally, his body wouldn’t be aged to such a degree….”
He spoke with his head bowed low as he examined his notes.
“He rode without rest for such an extended period that his muscles were in terrible condition.”
And the person listening to this report was Joshua. For some reason, Grandfather still hadn’t returned to the capital, so Joshua was the only one representing Prelai in this household.
“Then I shall go check on him.”
Kailon offered me the minimum courtesy upon my arrival, then turned to leave. The physician’s back, bent from years of service to the ducal house, was now quite stooped.
Joshua sighed deeply and collapsed onto the drawing room sofa.
“This wretched mess of a household….”
He cried out like a tragic protagonist, rubbing his tired eyes.
“Nothing runs without me! Nothing!”
I sat before him and asked with genuine curiosity.
“What exactly did you do, brother?”
“I called Kailon to look after Julius!”
“Wow, what an amazing accomplishment. Truly extraordinary. I’m genuinely impressed.”
I applauded and praised Joshua’s contribution.
“Your youngest sister faced her long-standing trauma, suffered deep wounds to her heart, and yet still managed to secure a Pebble ore contract with such spirit.”
“….”
Lea, coiled around Joshua’s arm, made a chirping sound as if amused.
【Wow, she’s really good at getting under people’s skin.】
“Thank you for the praise.”
I answered sincerely, then yawned and spoke to Joshua.
“Anyway, you should go now. You must be tired.”
“…Are you telling me to leave right now?”
“Then is this your brother’s house?”
“Ha! You were so concerned about me that you chased me all the way to a banquet hall you’d never attended before, and now you’re telling me to leave immediately? What? Why are you being so cold-hearted?”
“Brother.”
I looked directly at Joshua and spoke.
“So what should you do right now for your poor sister?”
“…I need to prepare knights for tomorrow.”
Joshua spoke through gritted teeth as if he’d just realized something.
“I was trying not to go this far because of Leon… but I’ll have to destroy House of Purbis.”
Leon was the eldest son of House of Purbis. He was also the target that Lord Rodrigo so desperately wanted to bring down.
Contrary to what one would expect from House of Purbis, Leon was quite diligent. Of course, he was only diligent, and his social skills and intelligence were somewhat lacking, so even with that Achievement, he was outmatched by Lord Rodrigo.
“Were you and Leon close?”
“No. Why would I be with that diligent idiot?”
Joshua answered immediately.
“But he once gave me a limited edition belt.”
“Ah, I see.”
Suddenly, emotion washed over me and I clasped my hands tightly together. To destroy the household of someone who had shown me such kindness for my sake.
“Brother, now… you really do love me.”
At my words, Joshua furrowed his brow.
“What are you talking about?”
“Oh, never mind.”
“You can’t just go around thinking that everyone around you loves you like that. Understand?”
Joshua spoke excitedly, huffing and puffing.
“Soon everyone in the entire Empire will love you!”
“….”

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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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