A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 95

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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 95
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The charity event ended that way. I returned to Prelai Manor with Sezare.
“You can’t take your eyes off that plaque, can you?”
Throughout the journey back, I held the plaque tightly in my arms. Piyak dozed off on top of it, bobbing his head. Watching this, Sezare laughed with amusement.
“Your Highness, when you catch a criminal using that method, others should have realized they could catch criminals the same way.”
“No, I… well…”
Somehow, the words wouldn’t come out. Was it the feeling of being recognized in the Empire’s social circles solely through my own abilities—something I’d always lacked confidence in? But saying it out loud felt so awkward.
“Ahem, ahem! Captain of the Guard, if you could give me a little time, I’ll send you a list of magical artifacts that could help with criminal investigations later.”
I spoke to Loyte while feeling embarrassed, though I tried to slip it in casually.
“Right now I’m quite busy with a commission, and once I’ve finished with my personal matters.”
Once I shifted my perspective, I realized there were actually many magical artifacts that could be used for the public good. It was such a fulfilling case for me. Perhaps that’s why I felt even more embarrassed to mention it.
Sezare asked me playfully, speaking in a whisper.
“Are you perhaps shy?”
“What!”
I felt oddly embarrassed and became more serious.
“It’s just… I was surprised because something unexpected happened.”
Sezare didn’t respond to my words and simply smiled faintly. Then, unable to take his eyes off me, he spoke.
“You look cute when you’re embarrassed.”
At those words, I flared up in anger.
“What are you talking about? This is ridiculous. I’m always cute!”
Regardless, my feelings remained strange. The look in Sezare’s eyes as he applauded me in front of everyone was vivid. His expression was so proud, as if I deserved such treatment. His face radiated genuine admiration. A gaze completely different from the Dean’s. A face that gave all my accomplishments back to me alone.
“I love you, Your Highness. More than anything else in this world.”
Remembering those words from just hours ago, my neck flushed red. It was truly a strange feeling. I tried hard not to meet Sezare’s eyes. Yet I knew.
I had vaguely imagined romance only in my mind. I thought I would find the optimal match by considering various compatible variables and falling in love with someone who fit. In the original work, I had believed that Melissa met countless men but things ended ambiguously because she couldn’t analyze those variables herself.
But romance wasn’t like that.
Sezare clearly had disqualifying factors—he frequented rough places and was knowledgeable about low-quality information, a street thug—yet despite all these mismatched variables, I couldn’t stop my heart from being drawn to him. It was like knowing a problem was so hopelessly tangled that no answer would come even if I tried to solve it, yet unable to put down my pencil. I absolutely couldn’t move on to the next problem, nor did I want to. No matter how much reason screamed that it was impossible, my heart had already made its choice.
Our eyes met inside the carriage. He stared at me and then smiled. My heart felt tight, and my breathing quickened slightly.
Ah, what should I do? This wasn’t because Sezare was wealthy, nor because he was the heir to Levin Domain. It wasn’t even because he was handsome. It was because the moments he gave me were so precious to me.
Arriving at Prelai Manor that way, when I was getting down from the carriage with Sezare’s escort.
“Your Highness!”
The Spy Maid who had been waiting at the gate came running quickly.
Something felt off. The Spy Maid had said she couldn’t attend the charity event and would sadly be doing physical training at the training grounds, so why was she waiting at the gate?
“What? Why are you waiting here?”
Both Sezare and I looked at her in surprise. The Spy Maid furrowed her brow and spoke.
“Actually, we have a visitor. She’s insisting that she absolutely must meet Your Highness.”
“Who is it?”
“This is really, truly ridiculous…”
The Spy Maid’s face showed exasperation.
I suddenly brightened. This seemed to be the visitor I had anticipated.
“A mere attendant from the Imperial Palace, yet he won’t even state his business and just waits.”
As expected, it’s Ben. I knew he’d come looking once I set the trap, and as I narrowed my eyes, the Spy Maid began rattling off words rapidly.
“He insists on meeting the Princess privately and discussing something in secret. I’ve never seen anything like this, but since he came from the Crown Prince’s residence, I couldn’t very well turn him away…”
Hmm. I knew she was timid, but she fell into the trap remarkably fast.
‘I suppose she figured it was her turn next.’
Thinking of Ben, who must have rushed to Prelai Manor upon hearing that Lord Rodrigo had been arrested, was quite amusing. I’d even asked Joshua to create a section like “The Crown Prince has returned!”
For ordinary people, it was mere gossip. But for someone sharp-nerved like Ben, it would have been an enormous shock.
‘Ben’s position is somewhat different from that of the nobleman Lord Rodrigo or King Enoch.’
I wondered how much he was trembling. As I smiled with ease, the Spy Maid grumbled and spoke.
“Anyway, he said to wait. Princess, what should we do? Should we just throw him out, saying he doesn’t know his place, coming from the Crown Prince’s residence or whatever? It looks like he’d run off with just a few strikes to his back.”
The Spy Maid even swung her arms about wildly.
I suddenly felt something was off and looked at the Spy Maid. When I first met her, she was a maid with a subtly toned body, capable and respectful… Now she’d become openly muscular with a rougher tongue, a close aide spy…
“No, wait.”
At my words, the Spy Maid made a very disappointed expression.
“I’ll meet him right now.”
That was when it happened.
“May I go with you?”
Sezare clung to me with a gentle smile.
“If he’s an attendant, he’s a man. As your lover, I’m quite concerned about this.”
…Now, all of a sudden? Where did that noble bearing from before, when he seemed to dominate in front of people, go? His expression was now like that of a seductive concubine. His expression was so coquettish that even the Spy Maid blinked.
“Take me with you, Princess.”
“Pardon?”
“I’ve been helping you well by your side today too.”
No, if he looks at me with that expression like a beloved pet, then everything is forgiven. But that doesn’t mean I’d bring a fake lover entangled with the Crown Prince to official business.
“Fine. Let’s go together, right now.”
That was right. I was the one taking him. So I confidently led Sezare by the hand.
* * *
“Greetings, Princess.”
The moment I slowly entered the Drawing Room, Ben with short brown hair and even wearing glasses stood up abruptly.
‘You’re trying hard too.’
Certainly, on the night of the banquet, his hair was shaggy and he wasn’t wearing glasses?
On the night of the banquet, the Daisy Garden was truly dark. Because of that, if I hadn’t known the truth, I would naturally have thought him a different person. Quite some time had passed as well.
“I am Ben Alicard, an attendant of the Crown Prince’s residence. Um… well… and…”
Ben looked somewhat flustered as he glanced at Sezare beside me. His eyes questioned why I wasn’t alone.
“Sezare Levin.”
Sezare spoke with a languid expression. Even adding a look of disgust as if viewing an insect.
“As you know, I’m the Princess’s lover, and she cherishes me greatly, so I’m always taken along.”
…His self-introduction seems a bit… too lover-centric?
“Ah, yes… hello.”
Of course, Ben greeted him politely, but he didn’t seem to particularly respect him. Sezare was an adopted son and of commoner origin, and Ben even made an expression of “Ah, that bastard…” However, this was all because of the article Joshua had written in Lorelai. Though Sezare himself said it didn’t matter and was fine with it.
In any case, after exchanging such brief pleasantries, we settled into our seats across from one another.

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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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