A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 92

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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 92
“That is…”
“Acting under someone’s orders is far worse than mere theft. It’s the kind of crime that can be settled with bail money.”
The Countess of Alcyone looked utterly helpless. She was terrified of mentioning Dolores’s name, yet equally afraid of serving time for the theft charge.
I continued with an almost certain tone.
“It was House Purbis, wasn’t it?”
“Y-yes?”
“I rejected their marriage proposal, and since the onstone trade was cut off, relations between Purbis and Prelai have deteriorated.”
At my words, the Countess of Alcyone’s expression shifted as if she’d grasped something.
“Y-yes, that’s right!”
As expected, it was worth spelling out the answer for her. True to her contemptible character, she was quick to catch on.
“I… I received such a… such a request.”
From the Countess of Alcyone’s perspective, this was the best choice. After all, House Purbis wouldn’t dare speak Dolores’s name either.
They had indeed collaborated on this matter. And the Countess of Alcyone feared that if she went to prison, Dolores might send poison to silence her.
However, Judith and Lord Rodrigo’s situations were different. Even if one of them went to prison, the other family members would remain, so House Purbis would keep quiet. Besides, who else from House Purbis could they possibly catch besides Dolores?
Judith and Lord Rodrigo’s faces turned deathly pale. And between them, Judith’s mind worked faster.
“I beg your forgiveness, Your Majesty!”
Judith immediately bowed her head and cried out.
“Lord Rodrigo… I was just following my brother’s orders…”
“J-Judith?”
Lord Rodrigo stared at Judith with an expression of utter disbelief.
Judith continued speaking.
“Lord Rodrigo was very dissatisfied because his engagement with Lady Kiana didn’t come to pass… That’s why he did this. I apologize for not stopping him.”
And the Countess of Alcyone immediately chimed in as well.
“Yes. I too merely received a request from Lord Rodrigo. I have a son who was unilaterally abandoned at the altar, so it didn’t feel like someone else’s problem…”
As expected, they found the best answer I had guided them toward.
Sacrificing one person the family wouldn’t bother protecting. After all, Duke Purbis had Leon, another capable heir.
‘Capable… really? He’s just a senseless, foolish man who obediently listens only to his father.’
In any case, it was highly likely they would sacrifice one person in this affair and remain silent to protect Dolores for the family’s sake. I was curious whether that person would be Judith or Lord Rodrigo, but Judith seemed to be the slightly smarter one.
“Then…”
Loyte clapped once and summarized the situation.
“By order of the Empress, I shall take the Countess of Alcyone and Lord Rodrigo into custody.”
Lord Rodrigo’s calculations were also quick. He seemed to realize that causing a scene here would only make him look worse. He even had something to fall back on.
‘He’s probably planning to ask Hitten to help him get out of this.’
However, he was glaring at Judith as if he wanted to kill her. Judith merely sobbed, not even looking in Lord Rodrigo’s direction.
“The Countess will likely be released within five days on bail… and Lord Rodrigo will probably receive about three years in prison.”
Sezare whispered.
“Assuming the Princess, the greatest victim, doesn’t file a petition.”
And as if that thought had reached her, Judith slowly lifted her head and looked at me.
“Kiana, could you possibly forgive my brother for old times’ sake?”
Everyone’s eyes were fixed on us.
“You know how it is. Your brother has liked you since childhood, and when you left for the Academy, he had no choice but to become engaged to Melissa.”
Oh my, so she was bringing up old stories now? I crossed my arms with an intrigued expression and played along with Judith’s reminiscence.
“So the nonsense is pouring out of your mouth again just like old times, Judith. People really don’t change, do they?”
“Everyone in the Capital knows you used to say as a child that you’d marry your brother.”
That was true. Everyone, including myself, nodded in agreement. Only Sezare Levin wore an expression of profound displeasure.
Judith glanced at Sezare Levin and continued.
“And now you suddenly reject his proposal, saying you have a low-quality lover? Of course your brother would be furious.”
Sezare Levin, who had suddenly become a low-quality lover, shrugged his shoulders with a bewildered expression. According to Judith’s account, I had somehow become a woman who had betrayed my betrothed’s devotion, enchanted by a thug with nothing but a decent face.
‘…Is he really just a thug with a decent face?’
That was when it happened.
【Kiana!】
A chirping voice came along with the flutter of delicate wings.
【I’ve arrived! I came rushing here because I wanted to see Kiana and her misdeeds… no, because I wanted to see Kiana!】
“Piyak!”
Right on cue, Piyak came chirping through the air.
Everyone present knew Piyak. Melissa had been carrying him around this whole time. And this was the first time Piyak and I had appeared together at such an official gathering.
I exchanged a confident glance with Piyak. I had hidden the fact that Piyak had truly become my summoned creature precisely because I sensed something like this might happen.
“Well.”
I explained the situation confidently.
“Piyak has become my summoned creature now. Melissa handed him over to me when she went to the Convent.”
Everyone began murmuring and whispering things like “She took him after all, she really did.”
I didn’t bother denying it. If I revealed Melissa’s circumstances now, I’d be informing some unknown force behind the scenes that we knew more than they thought.
My reputation was already poor anyway. It wouldn’t hurt if it got worse. And Judith’s eyes, upon spotting Piyak, also gleamed with interest.
“Piyak!”
Judith looked at Piyak and spoke earnestly.
“Tell your new owner what you think. If you give Kiana some advice, maybe she’ll come to her senses. Right?”
It seemed Judith remembered how Piyak had endlessly chanted “be good, be good, be nice, be nice” while at Melissa’s side.
In the memories of Melissa that I possessed, Piyak had always been much the same. Whenever Judith tormented Melissa, he would spout irresponsible things like “Melissa, be patient. Patience is victory in the end.” So it was natural that Judith would place her hopes on Piyak.
“Don’t you think Kiana should show mercy this time out of consideration for her past with Lord Rodrigo?”
At that moment, Piyak tilted his head while perched on my head. Then he let out a snort and replied in a reckless tone.
【What kind of nonsense is this? Even Alex would whine about that? Piyak is quite bewildered.】
Everyone who remembered the old Piyak gasped in shock, their mouths falling open. Piyak continued, exasperated.
【Lord Rodrigo begged in front of Melissa every single day, saying “I only used Kiana, I came to the Prelai Ducal Residence to see you.” Clever Piyak remembers that pathetic sight vividly.】
I closed my mouth with a satisfied expression. There was no need for me to step in. Piyak grinned crookedly and looked at Judith.
【And he said quite a lot about you too. “My sister is a bit crazy, right? But she’ll change after marriage. Once I become the head of the family, I’ll discipline her thoroughly.” He even sold out his own family.】
Judith’s expression hardened completely. Thus the public opinion battle came to an end.
【What are you doing?】
When Judith looked at Piyak with disbelieving eyes, Piyak spread his wings threateningly.
【When you look at Piyak with such sharp eyes, he gets scared. So he just wants to peck them right out with his beak. Just like, whoosh!】
* * *
That day, the charity gala ended far more quickly than anticipated due to several unexpected incidents. And it spread along with the rumor: “Ever since Kiana arrived, Piyak’s language has deteriorated at an alarming rate.”
And then there was one more thing….
“I shall now announce the star of this evening’s charity gala.”
Everyone had forgotten about it in their shock over the theft, but Loyte had not neglected his duty.
“It is Princess Kiana Prelai.”
Wait, hold on. I hadn’t anticipated this either. Loyte chuckled as he spoke.
“For having granted me the thrill of apprehending a criminal after so long, would it not be only natural that I should call her the star who illuminated this charity gala?”
Wow. Even while facing the Third Queen’s terrifying expression, he bestows the title of star upon me. I couldn’t help but think that his early retirement wasn’t without reason—it certainly wasn’t because he lost out to someone like Nix.
That was when Sezare glided forward and picked up the transparent ink bottle that Loyte had placed on the table. Then, in a voice low yet unmistakably clear, he spoke.
“We cannot catch all criminals the way we did today with merely this transparent ink.”
All eyes turned toward Sezare.
“However, there are surely many crimes that could be prevented in special circumstances such as today’s.”
Huh? I blinked, watching him in confusion. This was not something we had discussed beforehand.
Had Sezare not come today merely to assist me like a shadow? What on earth was he doing stepping forward like this?

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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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