A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 94

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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 94
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At that moment, in Duke Prelai’s study.
Scari was handling administrative matters when he received a messenger bird from Alex.
What is it?
Hou, who had recovered considerably by now, rolled around the study floor and asked with curious eyes.
“Ah, a letter from Alex.”
Scari furrowed his brow as he read the message.
“He says he’ll arrive at the Convent soon. He plans to leave Melissa there, have a brief confrontation, and return home immediately.”
Oh.
Hou fluttered his wings in admiration.
At least he managed to keep her alive and bring her that far.
“Indeed. It’s remarkable that Melissa didn’t die from nervous exhaustion.”
Scari let out a shallow sigh, his expression like that of someone who had just unleashed a hunting dog. Then he returned eagerly to searching through ancient texts. These days, after finishing the family’s affairs, Scari was busy researching records about summoned creatures.
After flipping through books for some time, Scari picked up his quill with a solemn expression.
Why? What is it now?
Hou clicked his beak and asked.
“This.”
Scari pointed to a passage in the book and spoke.
“I should send this to Joshua as well. It appears to be a passage about summoned creatures, but since it’s from an ancient document, it’s too cryptic… Joshua might be able to investigate further. Above all, I’m curious whether there’s any way for Kiana to summon Piyak again….”
Wow.
Hou fluttered his two large wings with an astonished expression. Seeing this, Scari furrowed his brow and asked.
“…Why that reaction?”
It’s the first time I’ve seen something like this.
“What?”
You discussing something together with your grandsons?
“….”
Now that he thought about it, that was true.
He had always found the duties of the family head exhausting and burdensome… but sharing the load with his grandsons, whom he had considered troublemakers, didn’t feel quite so heavy anymore.
“It’s all thanks to Kiana.”
Scari smiled faintly as he spoke.
“If she hadn’t returned… nothing in our household would have changed.”
But what is she doing anyway? Why aren’t you giving her any tasks?
“That girl….”
Scari blinked as he spoke.
“…She seems to have secrets. She keeps trying to resolve things on her own without telling the family.”
Secrets?
“Yes. I’ve been observing since she came to the manor, and that’s what it seems like. So I’m leaving her be.”
After muttering like a riddle, Scari began writing a letter to Joshua.
“She must have her reasons for not telling us….”
“Hmm. Now that I think about it, that does seem to be the case? She does such strange things, yet they all work out effectively.”
“So whenever Kiana makes a request, I intend to grant it without hesitation.”
Scari spoke while checking the schedule for the next noble assembly. Not long ago, Kiana had made a request of him.
“I apologize, Kiana. Both Joshua and I have been investigating diligently, but I still cannot uncover the secret of your summoned creature.”
“Grandfather, it’s fine. You didn’t know anything about it for the past seventeen years, so I never expected you to discover anything in such a short time. Just do your best without burdening yourself.”
“Ahem, well… In any case, since it concerns ancient power, the Tailize royal family might know something, but even His Majesty the Emperor is in such a state… Still, I shall do my utmost. Is there anything else you desire?”
“Ah, yes, Grandfather. It’s about the next noble assembly…”
It was strange enough that she suddenly spoke of the noble assembly, something she had shown no interest in before, but Scari said nothing.
“That child must have her own thoughts. We simply do our best to make the path she walks a little easier.”
Hmm…
“So I won’t say a word about her associating with that damned marquis either. Once everything is settled, I’ll use my power to send that bastard marquis back to his own territory.”
Thinking of sending Sezare back down to Levin territory, Scari clenched his fist.
What if he resists?
“Beneath the imperial sky, only the Tailize royal family stands above Duke Prelai’s house. That wretch couldn’t possibly resist.”
But what if he clings stubbornly?
“Well, I hear he’s physically strong but rather weak-willed. We could simply beat him and drive him away.”
* * *
The news that Lord Rodrigo had been arrested spread even to the imperial palace.
One person was startled by this news—Ben, the attendant remaining in the Crown Prince’s residence.
First Orca, then Nix. So the members of the picnic group… The remaining members were Ben the attendant, Lord Rodrigo, and King Enoch, his maternal uncle—three in total.
But now Lord Rodrigo had been thrown into prison. Paradoxically, this meant he was now safe from the Crown Prince. As for the last one, Enoch was no longer in the Empire. He had become the king of the Sola Kingdom.
“…W-what do I do…?”
Ben anxiously gnawed at his nails while muttering nervously.
Recently, “Lorelai” had even prepared a special feature—”Has the Crown Prince truly returned?”—as a regular column. At first it was merely bewildering, but reading “Lorelai” daily made it seem as though the Crown Prince had truly returned for revenge. Being left alone in such circumstances, he had suddenly begun to feel anxious.
“C-could it be my turn next? I’m the only one left?”
He was competent, but ultimately he was just an attendant doing menial work. His situation was different from Orca or Nix, who could wield swords. If the Crown Prince truly had come for revenge, he would be far easier to subdue than them.
“I’m scared… I’m scared…”
He had always been timid and cowardly. Six years ago, when Hiton had demanded a price from him, he had answered, “I’ll simply remain as an attendant in the Crown Prince’s residence.”
The first person this quiet, unobtrusive man had ever requested from Hiton was Princess Seliet. The Third Queen, Hiton’s biological mother who had always looked down on Seliet like an insect, was delighted and conspired with him.
First, all the servants around Seliet were made to obey Ben’s words. In that process, other servants in the imperial palace noticed the Third Queen’s favor toward Ben. And they all began to watch Ben carefully.
He had planned to create a scandal with Seliet during a bustling banquet and marry her…
Now he couldn’t think of Seliet at all. He was only terrified that the Crown Prince might attack him at any moment. Dolores didn’t seem particularly frightened of that mysterious figure. It seemed she didn’t even believe he was the Crown Prince, and even if he truly was, she appeared to have a way to deal with him.
‘But I’m different!’
So he saw no sign of anyone willing to resolve this fear of his.
‘I’m merely an attendant… there’s no way to protect myself.’
Had he succeeded in marrying Seliet, he could at least have used her name for protection, but now he was clearly the weakest target for attack.
‘And I’ve been too afraid of the mana shock device to even approach the Princess again… wait.’
Ben’s eyes widened.
“If I just place this against the nape of the neck, even someone as frail as me can easily subdue a Sword Master. You’ve felt it too, so you know, right?”
A frail person subduing a Sword Master in an instant… It was Lady Kiana’s words that suddenly came to mind. And that was precisely the ability Ben needed right now.
“The fact that you can make individual purchases at Prelai Manor! I’ve heard that several high-ranking nobles already possess them in secret.”
That vicious princess had clearly stated that this magical device hadn’t been commercialized. It must be the kind of item only those in the know possess. If that’s the case, isn’t it quite possible that the Crown Prince, who suddenly returned to the capital, wouldn’t know about it either?
“So don’t you dare do this again and get out of here right now, before I increase the magical output. At maximum output, you’ll lose consciousness instantly!”
Having experienced the impact device firsthand, the effectiveness was certainly guaranteed. And she could increase the output even further?
Ben seemed delighted to have found a single solution.
‘That princess… she didn’t see my face anyway, it was too dark! And there’s no way Princess Seliet would have told such a vicious princess about me!’
Time had already passed considerably. By now, Kiana must have surely forgotten even my silhouette.
Ben suppressed the laughter bubbling up from within. In his imagination, he had already beaten down the Crown Prince with the magical impact device.
‘I should go to Prelai Manor right away and ask them to sell me the magical device!’

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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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