A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 63

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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 63
“Ed… if by some miracle we were reborn at the same time, I would give everything for you. I would repay all that I received in this life.”
The woman spoke with resolve, but the man kneeling before her simply laughed and shook his head.
“No, Eli. There’s no need for that. Just…”
The man brought her hand to his lips and spoke.
“Then, be my lover for real. That’s all I need.”
My goodness. So history books had failed to record such tender feelings between these two. They harbored romantic affection for each other in abundance, yet never became lovers in the end.
Well, Elika Prelai had died in her early twenties. And the lineage of House Prelai would be continued by Elika’s younger brother.
‘Then… was that why the First Emperor remained unmarried his entire life and passed the throne to his nephew?’
If so, that was truly a profound love. Even as I marveled at this, the two continued their wistful conversation.
“Ed, promise me.”
The woman smiled softly and spoke to the man.
“Live well, even after I’m gone.”
“…I want to promise, but I don’t know how. I can’t even imagine living without you…”
“Then I’ll teach you.”
The woman whispered gently.
“Start collecting jewels in my place. You know how much I love jewels, right? And name the finest jewel after me.”
“…Yes.”
“Don’t live with your back bent in sorrow. Look to the sky and live knowing that I will always be watching over you from above.”
“…I understand. But I… I don’t think I can ever keep beasts close. Seeing you command your summoned creatures…”
What? So Elysek, the most precious jewel we know of, was named after Elika Prelai’s pet name?
The Tailyze Tree suddenly came to mind. How he loved jewels because he was materialistic, preferred high places because he disliked bowing, and hated beasts. Back then I had laughed thinking, ‘The First Emperor is quite honest,’ but there was this story behind it all.
The two figures grew distant and hazy.
And when I woke in the morning, my pillow was soaked with tears.
【Ugh, so wet.】
Piyak jolted awake in alarm and shook his head.
【This is so uncomfortable. Wait, Kiana! Did you have a bad dream?】
“Ah… no.”
I blinked blankly and muttered. The tears that had been clinging to my eyes fell in drops, but once I came to my senses, that was all.
“That’s not it…”
Judging objectively, it wasn’t particularly a bad dream for me. At least it was better than dreams where Piyak cried claiming I was his, or where my mother appeared screaming about injustice.
“Really, now I’m even dreaming about history as a subject.”
I clicked my tongue and sat up.
In the dream, everything had felt so real. But now that I was awake, it all seemed like nonsense and mere fantasy.
“Your Highness, dreams are not reality. Dreams are merely empty things and cannot serve as evidence. Please don’t tell others. They will think you strange.”
My physician Kailon had given me this advice since childhood whenever I spoke of dreams. And it was undeniably sound counsel. That Elika Prelai and Edmund Tailyze were lovers who never came to be—it was like some historical romance novel.
【Anyway, Kiana, isn’t it amazing?】
Piyak puffed out a breath and preened.
【This time it took much less time than when I was with Melissa! It would have normally taken a month, but it was so much faster than expected!】
“That’s true. You did well. Impressive.”
I gazed at Piyak with admiration.
“See? Hard work pays off, doesn’t it?”
【…Kiana?】
At the word “hard work,” Piyak looked at me with an anxious expression.
“Now, let me propose a hypothesis we can test here.”
【…Yes?】
“The more deliveries you make, the faster the transit time might become. And faster transit time means becoming more useful.”
【U, useful? Kiana? A summoned creature isn’t an object—I’m Prelai’s eternal friend…】
“So if you keep making deliveries without rest, couldn’t you move even faster?”
Sensing my ominous intent, Piyak trembled. I smiled kindly and clapped my hands once.
“Well, now that we’ve established our hypothesis, it’s time to conduct an experiment.”
【A, but couldn’t it be different?】
“We can test that over a lifetime. Let’s accumulate data. We need to figure out how the time shortens, separate transmission and reception, establish proportions, and find the pattern. I’ll work hard too, Piyak.”
It had been so long since I’d conducted an experiment with data that I was thrilled.
【H, hard work…】
Piyak noticed the madness flickering in my eyes and began backing away slowly.
“Of course, I could have fun playing with you too.”
I spoke to Piyak.
“But I’ve always been the villainess coveting you from Melissa, haven’t I? My conscience won’t allow me to do that.”
【What do you mean…】
“It means I don’t know how to treat you, so I just work you to death.”
【So in the end, you’re just going to exploit me either way!】
“That’s true.”
I quickly wrote a letter.
I actually wanted to use harsher language but barely restrained myself. Normally I should have used formal speech with the Crown Prince, but… I haven’t directly heard from him that he’s the Crown Prince, have I? Besides, since he didn’t object to my casual and comfortable manner of speaking, I figured pushing it a bit further should be fine.
“Now, if you work hard, you’ll be able to arrive even faster next time. You’ll be able to carry heavier things too. Fighting.”
I gently patted Piyak’s head as I spoke.
“Go and come back safely.”
Piyak looked at me with sorrowful eyes and muttered.
【Kiana is such an effort-oriented owner. How can I change Kiana’s state?】
“Ah. You want to change the state of matter?”
Since I was a considerate owner, I seriously explained the method to satisfy Piyak’s curiosity.
“Then you just need to apply heat or pressure.”
【…I hope magical engineering collapses.】
Piyak grumbled with his beak jutting out, then fluttered away with a whooshing sound.
After sending Piyak off, I called for the Spy Maid.
“Spy Maid, has Julius awakened?”
I couldn’t see him yesterday because he was sleeping, but it was still our first meeting in ten years. Of course I wanted to see Julius first. He was someone who had always shown me considerable affection on the surface, whether it was warm stones or hand warmers made of pebbles.
In the old days, I even thought that no matter how cold it was, I wanted to go north and live with Julius. Of course, I abandoned that idea too. I was worried that if I went north without being able to summon creatures, I’d just be treated as baggage. That’s how much I lacked confidence within House Prelai.
“Yes, I heard he just woke up and is having breakfast now.”
The Spy Maid answered quickly.
“She’s staying at the Annex. Shall I escort you there?”
“Yes. Let’s go right now.”
To reach the Annex, I had to pass through the Garden. I’d eaten a hearty breakfast, and a stroll seemed perfectly timed.
As it happened, the Spy Maid had prepared this morning’s edition of the Lorelai for me, and it featured a major exposé on the tax evasion of House of Purbis.
‘Oh? There was something like this?’
I walked toward the Annex while reading the Lorelai.
‘This will really leave them desperate for money, won’t it?’
No matter how capable Hiton was, he couldn’t cover up tax evasion on this scale.
‘Just making them poor isn’t enough for me.’
I smiled wickedly at the thought.
‘They should face the same fate that befell House of Prelai.’
The image of them falling into their own trap filled me with immense satisfaction.

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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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