A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 64

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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 64
The second page of Lorelai featured an article titled “Joshua Prelai Attends the Imperial Palace Banquet for the First Time! A Detailed Analysis of His Banquet Look.”
‘He said he’d never attend the banquet, yet here he is, eagerly sharing his review with everyone. Sigh, whatever.’
I was flipping through the pages quickly, irritated by the designer names and prices listed, when—
“I’m absolutely furious… Ow! Grandfather!”
So absorbed in Lorelai, I collided directly with my Grandfather as he approached me.
“Kiana.”
Grandfather gently grasped my arm.
“Don’t read while walking. It ruins your eyesight.”
“Yes…”
I’m sorry, Grandfather. My eyes are already ruined from staring at magical artifacts in the darkness during my growth years.
“Are you heading to see Julius?”
“Ah, yes.”
“They won’t be finished with dinner for a while yet.”
Grandfather spoke solemnly.
“Won’t you sit and talk with me for a moment?”
“Of course!”
I quickly folded Lorelai and handed it to the Spy Maid, answering cheerfully. I was curious about how Grandfather had retaliated against Duke Purbis yesterday.
And so Grandfather sat with me in the chairs by the Garden.
‘I need to listen carefully to every detail.’
As I was making that resolution, Grandfather quietly opened his mouth.
“Kiana.”
But his voice was so grave that my lips, which had been curving upward, drooped slightly.
“…I’m sorry.”
“Pardon?”
“Those damned fools… I had no idea they were spouting such nonsense to a child like you.”
“Ah.”
So that’s what this is about.
There was a prescribed answer for this moment. Something like “It’s fine,” or “You’ve already made them pay,” or “Let’s crush those bastards!” Dwelling on the past wouldn’t solve anything, and it would only make things awkward. Besides, if it were Melissa, she’d probably say something like “It’s natural you didn’t know, Grandfather. I never told you. Please don’t worry yourself.” But the answer that slipped out of me was different.
The words came out before I could stop them.
“…Maybe it wasn’t nonsense after all.”
The moment I said it, I knew it was wrong.
“I really can’t summon a Summon Beast on my own, and… it’s true that my appearance is different too…”
But once my mouth opened, it kept moving of its own accord.
‘There’s absolutely no reason for me to bring up this uncomfortable topic myself.’
Revealing my own weaknesses would only make the conversation awkward. It wouldn’t help my relationship with Grandfather at all, yet I couldn’t understand why my mouth was moving on its own.
‘What am I doing? I’ve been doing everything right, so why now…?’
So I immediately regretted it.
‘What answer do I even want? Am I being childish right now? Why would I expose my weaknesses to someone I need to look good in front of?’
This was a topic I shouldn’t have brought up—the superior strategy was to avoid it. I’d known that since childhood, so why now of all times…?
My grandfather fell silent for a moment.
‘Hmm, perhaps he finds this troublesome and will take his leave.’
It was then that I merely parted my lips.
“To be honest, I don’t know, Kiana.”
My grandfather spoke in a voice as solemn as a great mountain.
“…What?”
Only after a moment passed did I realize that “I don’t know” was his answer to my question of “Am I truly of Prelai blood?”
“But surely no one in this world would be uncertain.”
I maintained my silence quietly. My grandfather’s words continued.
“To speak plainly, my son Hyde has long been my pride, and I could not help but cherish Enes, who married him.”
“…”
“When those two gave birth to three lovely children and those days were filled with happiness and warmth—those were the most beautiful and tender moments of my life. That time seemed so naturally like spring that…”
My grandfather exhaled softly and gazed up at the sky.
“When winter suddenly arrived one day, I failed to prepare for it for far too long. Even though nothing in this world is certain.”
I felt my grandfather’s sorrow and sincerity directly.
“As you said, you could not summon a Summon Beast, and your appearance differs from the rest of the family. But it is equally uncertain that you are not of Prelai blood.”
“…”
“So why should we attach meaning to something we all remain uncertain about?”
It was strange. I found it more trustworthy than if he had simply said, “You are naturally of Prelai bloodline.” My grandfather gazed at me gently and smiled faintly.
“We are bound together as family, and that is all. You children do not know how brightly the ducal manor gleamed with joy on the day you were born… In that moment, through that memory of joy, I am able to love all my children eternally. You, of course, and even Joshua.”
“…Grandfather.”
“Looking exactly like Hyde and prancing about in those chaotic clothes of his is terribly irritating, and everything he does is utterly pathetic.”
“…”
“You are just like my other grandchildren. Of course, these days I do acknowledge you more than the others—your achievements have been quite remarkable. But I cherish you all equally.”
My heart pounded. So whether I was of Prelai blood or not, such things did not matter.
“Otherwise, would I pour so much money into all of you and exhaust myself for the family’s sake? It is all for you, all for you!”
Of course, there seemed to be considerable self-importance woven throughout…
“It may sound strange, but I still do not hate Enes.”
My grandfather spoke in a voice tinged with regret.
“Perhaps, like Hyde, I too have yet to accept reality.”
“…”
“In any case, even if that were true, it would be more accurate to say I feel disappointed rather than resentful. And disappointment is something you can only feel toward those who are precious to you.”
“…”
“The fact that you resemble her does not bother me in the slightest. So Duke Purbis’s words are complete nonsense.”
Thus, my grandfather drove home a wedge against my own words suggesting that Duke Purbis’s remarks might not be nonsense. They were simply nonsense, he insisted. Whether I summoned a Summon Beast my entire life or not, whether I was of Prelai blood or not.
For some reason, being acknowledged as myself made my heart feel strangely fluffy and light. Though we had caused each other pain throughout, this was the first genuine conversation we had ever shared.
“Kiana.”
My grandfather gently stroked my head as he spoke.
“And I will personally annihilate the family of those bastards who dared speak nonsense to my granddaughter since childhood.”
To annihilate an entire family meant that the opposing force would likewise endure tremendous casualties. In a full-scale confrontation between evenly matched powers, neither side escapes without loss. Thus, my grandfather’s words carried tremendous weight.
“Yes, Grandfather.”
I nodded with firm resolve.
“Wipe them out completely.”
Normally, whenever the subject of annihilation came up, I would respond with something like “No, I couldn’t possibly ask you to go that far because of me.” So Grandfather seemed somewhat taken aback by my passionate reaction.
“Huh? Ah, yes….”
I recalled the contents of the letter where I had asked him to spare Ben, and spoke again.
“Let’s bury their entire house so thoroughly they can never even speak their name again.”
But we’ll use others’ hands to do it. We don’t need to wage open war ourselves. Before my regression, the trap that destroyed Prelai—let’s make them fall into it of their own accord.
“Thank you, Grandfather.”
I smiled brightly at him.
“I’m glad we think alike. It makes me happy.”
“Well, yes.”
Grandfather answered awkwardly, then narrowed his eyes and spoke.
“In any case, from now on, if you want to attend a gathering with family, call me.”
“…What?”
“Why do you have to call Uncle Julius? We’ve had misunderstandings piling up between us, but I’m actually much closer to you than he is.”
“Ah…. But Grandfather, you don’t attend gatherings very often….”
“That old man just swings his axe around and causes accidents. In the end, it was I who reduced Duke Purbis to a rag. Me. That man was just noisy the whole time.”
“Yes….”
I answered somewhat reluctantly to what amounted to him taking credit for everything. And I realized quite a bit of time had passed. By now, Julius should have finished his breakfast.
“Well then, I should go see Julius now.”
“Let’s go together!”
As I stood up politely, Grandfather rose as well.
Grandfather snorted and led the way.
“That old man’s been spouting riddles since yesterday, so I should go shut his mouth if he starts talking nonsense again.”
“What? Riddles?”
“Something about strange things happening to you, or something like that. He was rambling without explaining properly. I didn’t hear the details because of the gathering.”
Strange things? What could that possibly be?
‘Is something unusual happening to me? Has anything like that occurred?’
I tilted my head in confusion as I walked toward the Annex with Grandfather.

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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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