A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 80

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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 80
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In an instant, the entire family gathered in the office. Joshua rushed back immediately and quickly received the memories from Lea.
“Ah… surely not… I really didn’t think it would be…”
Hou also immediately transferred the memories from the tower to Grandfather. Grandfather closed his eyes and let out a heavy sigh.
In truth, Kailon had concealed my dreams, and when he mentioned that one of those dreams concerned Piyak’s ownership, both Grandfather and Joshua had been half-suspicious.
However, dreams could not serve as evidence. Kailon himself had said “that dream has a different quality to it,” and since stealing a summoned creature was something no one could have imagined, they simply hadn’t been able to confront Melissa directly.
“I didn’t want to trouble Grandfather until everything was certain.”
I spoke with an embarrassed expression.
“That’s why I didn’t tell Grandfather that I was orchestrating this. After all, Melissa is also Grandfather’s granddaughter.”
“…”
Grandfather seemed to have complicated feelings. So I kindly conveyed my heart to him.
“It was a decision I made out of deep consideration for you. Honestly, it was a bit lonely, but I still exercised thoughtfulness and patience.”
Watching me, Hou shook his head back and forth.
【Certainly, when it comes to taking credit, Scari resembles Kiana.】
Melissa, who had come down from the tower, stood with her head hung low, her face one of complete resignation. Since the summoned creature had testified, she couldn’t even argue that it was unfair or fabricated.
“You.”
I looked at Melissa and spoke.
“Tell me. What exactly happened?”
“I, I, I don’t know either!”
Melissa finally collapsed and fell to her knees.
“I really don’t know… What would I have known? I just… I just…”
Tears dripped from her reddened eyes.
“Father said… he was sick of this sordid life, so he told me to go to the Prelai Ducal Residence…”
Melissa’s father was Grandfather’s second son, Roki.
Roki had originally been engaged to a long-time fiancée, but he caught the eye of a maid and ran away the night before the wedding.
The House of Prelai publicly declared to the fiancée’s family that “we will never search for Roki Prelai, and even if he returns, we will not treat him as a son.” This was understandable, as there had been several opportunities to break the engagement, yet he showed no sign of hesitation until the night before the wedding—a complete lack of basic courtesy.
Thus, Grandfather regarded Roki as a non-existent son and did not search for him for a long time. And Roki passed away when Melissa was seven years old. Her commoner mother died when she was thirteen, which was how Melissa came to the Prelai Ducal Residence.
“But he said that to avoid being treated like an outcast there, I absolutely had to have a summoned creature…”
Melissa spoke through her sobs.
“He said that with mixed commoner blood from a cadet branch, without a summoned creature I’d be completely ignored and isolated. But when I came here, it really seemed to be true, so what do I do…”
“Wait a moment.”
Joshua interjected.
“So you never had a summoned creature from the start? You knew that beforehand?”
Many from cadet branches had failed to summon creatures. But that was something you could only know with time. Usually, once you passed ten years old, you’d accept “Ah, I’m a cadet branch member who can’t summon” and move on.
“I don’t know… Father just handled everything. Before I even summoned Piyak, he did it all long ago!”
Melissa shook her head and wept like a tragic heroine.
“When I was five, Father was diagnosed with a serious illness, and he was so worried about me that he did this… I don’t really know. What would I have known?”
I regarded her expressionlessly and silently. Melissa continued speaking.
“He just said he’d make it so I could summon a creature no matter what… and he mentioned there was a direct-line family member my age at the Prelai Ducal Residence, so all I remember is that when I was five, he went to the Arun Region.”
Everyone in the room was shocked at the mention of the Arun Region. It was where my father was right now. My father had gone to the Arun Region when I was five years old and never returned! Could this be a coincidence?
Grandfather jolted to his feet in shock, but Alex grabbed his arm and quietly shook his head. It meant we shouldn’t interrupt my conversation with Melissa. Joshua was also fidgeting, desperate to interject, but Lea was desperately using her tail to seal his mouth shut.
【Let’s just leave her be for now… After all, Kiana is the biggest victim here, so let her speak without interruption…】
Melissa wept, gasping for breath.
“And then Piyak really came to me… But when I came to the Ducal Residence, I received education with my brothers and our summoned creature, and everyone naturally acknowledged me, so I thought that’s what Father was talking about… *sob*….”
Melissa cried so bitterly. I comforted her, telling her not to cry.
“Why are you crying like that? I’m the victim here.”
“*sob*, *sob*….”
“According to what you’re saying, your father is the perpetrator, and you’re an accomplice?”
That was when Piyak flew through the window with a flutter of wings, carrying a letter in his beak.
I looked at Piyak, who was already anxious, and naturally accepted the letter. Piyak looked bewildered and asked, observing the atmosphere of the office.
【Hmm… Did I arrive faster than expected again?】
“Well, it seems like something went wrong and I arrived late….”
I smiled while stroking Piyak’s round head. Strangely, my heart felt full and ached. It felt like the childish part of me that had stubbornly insisted Piyak was mine had finally been acknowledged.
“Anyway, as long as you come to me, that’s all that matters.”
【…What?】
“The situation is settled. You don’t need to be troubled anymore.”
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After hearing the entire situation, Piyak blinked, dumbfounded.
The innocent face of the girl who had first summoned Piyak overlapped with the weeping Melissa.
Piyak remembered the moment of summoning. He had existed in another realm and naturally sensed his master’s birth, and after eight years, he was pulled out. Since it could take up to nine years after the master’s birth, he had waited leisurely, but he was pleased to be summoned faster than expected.
The one who appeared before him was Prelai’s lovely eight-year-old girl. The summoned creature’s instinct clearly reacted to Prelai blood. So he never doubted it.
But he was originally Kiana’s summoned creature?
“Wow, you’re my summoned creature! Nice to meet you! I actually thought I might not be able to summon you since I’m from a branch family….”
Back then, though the clothes were shabby and the house was humble, it was fine. After all, the summoned creature had also desperately waited for the summoning party.
Now that he thought about it, he had spent several years with Melissa, but somehow those times had already become distant. Piyak was surprised at how blurry the bond from that time had become.
He wondered if the connection between a summoned creature and summoner was supposed to fade this easily… Was it all because Melissa wasn’t originally his master? Even though it had only been a short time since Melissa sent Piyak to Kiana….
“Go to Kiana. Take this letter with you. She’ll be so happy. She’s been coveting you all along.”
In truth, at that time, Piyak had come to Kiana without even being able to voice his own opinion.
【Sigh, that poor thing… How confusing this must be for her.】
Joshua whispered in bewilderment.
“Why, Lea?”
Lea looked at Piyak with a pitying expression.
【After all, your master was switched once. If you had sent me to someone else, I think… honestly, the emotional wound would be too great.】
Piyak swallowed dryly for a moment.
Emotional wound… There must have been one. Of course there was. But it didn’t feel quite as devastating as Lea was describing.
【I probably would have cried my eyes out. Honestly, I can’t even imagine it. It would feel like my existence was being denied.】
Hmm?
Piyak tilted his head inwardly. It wasn’t quite that bad. Should it have been?
【But that master turned out to be fake. She was the perpetrator!】
Surprisingly, Piyak felt nothing special toward Melissa.
‘…So am I half-baked then? Not forming a proper summoning bond with anyone….’
Piyak’s expression grew vacant without realizing it.
‘A direct summoned creature, yet possessing such mediocre abilities? Half-baked?’
Lea hissed sympathetically and spoke with concern.
【Young one, don’t be confused. Hurry on out now. It’s alright.】
That was when Piyak’s body lifted lightly into the air.
“Why would you chase her away when she loves watching so much?”
【Kiana?】
“Calling Piyak ‘young one’ just by appearance? That’s way too hasty a judgment.”
Kiana, casually lifting Piyak and placing her atop her own head, spoke with indifference.
“She loves chaos the more extreme it gets, and her mental fortitude is no joke, so don’t worry.”
【But still…】
“I’m telling you it’s fine, so don’t make me repeat myself, Lea. She needs to understand her own situation clearly.”
Kiana answered with utmost seriousness, not blinking once. Then she turned to Scari and spoke respectfully.
“You’ve waited long enough, Grandfather. Go ahead and scold Melissa now.”
Joshua clenched his fists with determination, his expression saying ‘my turn next.’

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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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