A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 71

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————

Chapter 71
Just then, the main gate opened and Joshua entered. He had arrived at the Ducal Residence at the crack of dawn.
Joshua looked at me, Melissa, and Piyak standing in a tense standoff, and his expression immediately turned troubled. I glanced at Joshua, then smiled wickedly as I spoke to Piyak.
“Piyak. Welcome.”
【Yes? Yes…】
“So now you should get to work, right?”
【…Yes? In this situation…?】
“Yes.”
I pulled Piyak, who was floating in mid-air, toward me and gave the order as if it were obvious.
“There’s a letter on my desk addressed to a scholar named Dennis Icallan at the Academy. He’s competent and kind-hearted, but he’s been stuck as a perpetual scholar due to political maneuvering. Anyway, take that and deliver it to Dennis.”
【Yes?】
At the mention of the Academy, Joshua’s expression hardened. He glared and shouted.
“The Academy? Why! What’s going on again? Are you… Did something happen again? What’s in that letter? I need to see it!”
He clearly didn’t trust me contacting the Academy behind the family’s back. Well, I understood why Joshua was panicking—after all, I had communicated with the Academy unilaterally without involving the family, and look where that had gotten us.
So I answered Joshua honestly in a whisper. I didn’t want Melissa to know about this.
“…It’s a method to save Father at the right time. Now is the perfect timing, so I absolutely must get this to the Academy.”
Joshua’s eyes widened for a moment, then settled.
Actually, I hadn’t thought of this recently—I’d been thinking about it since before my regression, and I’d even sent a letter with the method to my family. But the Academy professors had intercepted that letter. When my family didn’t respond, I simply thought, ‘They must be ignoring me,’ and let it go. I didn’t even know Father would pass away soon after.
But this time, Father was alive, so I could save him. However, the timing wasn’t right yet, so I had to wait a little longer.
‘Once Father returns after receiving proper successor training, Grandfather won’t experience such a sudden decline in health like before.’
I knew that for certain because Kailon had told me. Of course, Joshua had thrown a fit saying, ‘Father abandoned us too!’ so he wouldn’t fully agree with me…
Anyway, after finishing that one-sided whisper with Joshua, I moved away from him and gave Piyak another order.
“And after you deliver that, stop by my post box on the way back and check if a reply has arrived. If it has, bring it to me.”
I was asking him to bring the Crown Prince’s reply while he was at it. And it was Melissa who began to protest at those words.
“Kiana! Wait a moment. Piyak just arrived!”
Melissa looked at me with disbelieving eyes. She was breathing heavily and suddenly burst into anger.
“How exhausted must Piyak be? You should give him time to catch his breath before making him work. Goodness, have you just been overworking him like this ever since I sent him to you?”
【N-no, I haven’t just been overworking him, and he’s actually seen quite a few, quite interesting things…】
“I summoned Piyak with such earnest feelings! It’s fine if you treat me roughly, but I can’t stand you treating Piyak roughly, Kiana!”
Melissa seemed excessively angry. So I quickly tried to calm her down.
“How amusing. What will you do if you can’t stand it?”
And I spoke to Piyak again.
“What are you doing? Why aren’t you going? You do what you’re told, don’t you, Piyak? Should I explain once more about the proper attitude toward life when serving your owner?”
At my words, Piyak hesitated for a moment, then answered quickly.
【…Then I’ll be back soon, Kiana.】
And with that, Piyak fluttered his wings and flew back the way he had come.
Joshua, watching this, let out a deep sigh and wedged himself between us.
“Kiana, why are you really such a terrible person?”
And he wrapped his arm around Melissa’s shoulders while glaring at me.
“Not only did you steal Melissa’s summoned creature, but now you’re sending her away far to avoid losing her again?”
Joshua dramatically flicked his shimmering golden hair through the air with a flourish.
“Fine, let’s say she was thoughtless as a child. But what’s your excuse now that she’s grown?”
As Joshua raised his voice in exasperation, tears welled up in Melissa’s large eyes. She leaned her body weakly against him and murmured.
“No, Joshua… I was a bit disrespectful to the direct line, wasn’t I? But everything else is fine… Piyak is just so precious to me…”
It was truly ridiculous. Just as I was about to laugh and say something, unable to believe what I was hearing.
“You shouldn’t hand over a summon beast so precious to you to someone else so easily, Melissa. And you shouldn’t ask it to return just because it’s adapting well.”
A solemn, low voice echoed through the garden. It was Grandfather, walking out with his hands clasped behind his back.
“A summon beast is not an object. It’s not something to be lent out and taken back without any thought.”
Grandfather’s crimson eyes fixed on Melissa with a steady gaze. It was a clear reprimand.
“Didn’t you see how confused Piyak was? When Kiana sent it away, it even wore an expression of relief. It seems that as an owner, Kiana understood Piyak’s heart far better than you did.”
“G-Grandfather…”
Melissa trembled and gripped the hem of her dress tightly. Then she bowed her head deeply.
“I’m sorry… Grandfather, you have no choice but to take the side of the direct line, Kiana… and here I am, having rolled in one day, and with maid’s blood mixed in my veins, speaking about summon beasts without knowing my place. I’m sorry, Grandfather.”
“When Kiana wronged you, I scolded her equally. That’s not the issue. You are also my granddaughter.”
Grandfather cut off Melissa’s words sharply and continued.
“But your attitude toward the summon beast right now was truly abysmal.”
“Ah, Grandfather!”
Joshua furrowed his brow and interjected.
“After all, it was Melissa who summoned Piyak in the first place, right? If Kiana’s treating it badly, she might want to take it back! Melissa, let’s go. I bought you a hairpin to celebrate your return.”
Joshua grabbed Melissa’s shoulder and turned her body toward the estate.
“Now that the difficult Kiana has returned, I realize how kind a younger sister you were. I’m sorry for being so indifferent all this time.”
“…Why is he like that?”
Grandfather clicked his tongue in annoyance, and Hou, who had followed him, shrugged and replied.
He’s always been that way. Wasn’t he always your creative headache?
And I watched the retreating figures of Joshua and Melissa as they entered the estate.
“Princess.”
The Spy Maid, who had approached my side at some point, spoke carefully.
“Would you like to go out for a change of mood? I’ve found a lovely hat shop that makes checkered patterns beautifully…”
“Ah, no.”
I smiled warmly at the Spy Maid’s kind effort and spoke.
“Send a letter to Levin Manor. Tell them I’ll visit this morning.”
“Yes?”
“I have a promise to keep. They’ll understand when they receive it.”
I had already promised to conduct research at Levin Manor starting today. Grandfather snorted disapprovingly at the thought of me going there, but Hou stopped him from behind.
Think about it carefully, Scari. First, it’s important to keep them apart. Isn’t it?
“Ah, that’s right.”
I nodded vigorously in strong agreement with Hou’s words.
“So I’m planning to spend the whole day there.”
Grandfather clutched the back of his neck and trembled, but Hou quickly shouted.
Yes! Come back late! Come back around when Melissa’s asleep, understood?
Hou also remembered from six years ago just how much of a commotion I had caused while living under the same roof as Melissa.
【Honestly, I want to take your side since you saved me, but I can’t just torment people without reason, so… well…】
Even as he said this, Hou kept glancing at me nervously and muttering. So I genuinely reassured him that everything was fine.
“It won’t change anything whether you take my side or not, so just keep quiet.”
That morning, I headed straight to Levin Manor. Since there were new magical artifacts to create due to Melissa’s return, I was planning to commute to Levin Manor all day for the foreseeable future.

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————