A World Where You All Are The Villains - Chapter 110

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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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110.

***

Without Ethan’s presence, the return journey felt far more pleasant.
The carriage was spacious, quiet, and comfortable—all mine to enjoy alone!
Reclining halfway, the three-hour journey from Tejerone to the Capital didn’t feel nearly as taxing.
By the time we reached the Duke’s Residence, I stirred myself upright.
Suddenly, the carriage slowed, and the commotion outside grew louder.
“What’s going on?”
I drew back the curtain and peered cautiously out the window.
A crowd of people had gathered in front of the outer gate leading into the Duke’s Residence grounds.
To put it kindly, they were commoners; to be blunt, they looked like beggars.
Their arms were laden with bread, cheese, and chunks of meat—the kind distributed as charity.
It was a sight rarely seen in the heart of the Capital, where nobility dwelled.
Beyond the gatekeepers, knights had emerged to control the crowd.
‘What are these beggars doing at the Duke’s Residence…?’
As I tilted my head in confusion, my eyes met those of a few onlookers watching the carriage.
“There! It’s the Princess Blake!”
Someone pointed in my direction.
“Wahhh, Your Highness!”
“Please look this way too!”
“Long live the Purifier!”
At that, the crowd erupted in cheers, waving their hands in unison.
Startled, I hastily shut the curtain and furrowed my brow.
“Has the rumor already spread this far?”
I hadn’t even registered as an Awakener with the Security Bureau yet—who on earth had been running their mouth like this?
‘But what kind of rumor would bring commoners gathering in front of the mansion?’
Meanwhile, the carriage slowly passed through the outer gate.
The commotion finally began to subside.
Screeeech—clang!
At the sound of the massive iron gate closing, I opened the curtain once more to check outside.
That’s when I spotted something strange on the stone wall beside the gate.
A large sheet of paper with writing on it fluttered in the breeze.
It looked like a placard of sorts…

[ Our Daughter Awakens Normally ]

“Our daughter has awakened normally…?”
Upon reading the text, my face contorted in displeasure.
Insane—it wasn’t even shaped like a placard; it literally was a placard!
Only one person could have orchestrated such a thing.
Shortly after, the carriage came to a halt before the entrance of the Estate.
And I found myself witnessing yet another peculiar scene.
Every servant of the Estate, including the Butler, had stepped outside and lined up to greet me.
“Young Lady, you have returned!”
As I descended from the carriage with a bewildered expression, the servants arranged in rows on either side bellowed in unison and bowed at a ninety-degree angle.
It was a sight I had never witnessed even during the Duke’s official departures, making me deeply uncomfortable.
As I swept my astonished gaze across them, the Butler approached with a self-satisfied expression.
“Young Lady, welcome home. Was your journey pleasant?”
“Butler. Why are all of you out here like this…?”
“Why, to welcome your return, of course.”
With that, the Butler suddenly produced something he had been concealing behind his back.
“Congratulations on your awakening, Young Lady! It is modest, but we servants have prepared this for you.”
“This is….”
It was a floral wreath necklace and a bouquet woven together.
But they were not fresh flowers.
The flowers in the bouquet were crafted from paper roses, and the plants in the wreath necklace were….
I recognized them.
‘Was it called Charbloom?’
The flowering plant with budlike fruits that Dylan had sent through his Aide.
Distinctly different from the Capital, the heart-shaped fruits that had only been pink now displayed a variety of colors.
At first glance, it was truly splendid and beautiful, as if real flowers had been woven together.
Seeing my wide-eyed expression, the Butler spoke with a contented smile.
“This is an auspicious occasion—surely you should accept a bouquet?”
Well, that’s true enough….
I had not expected to be welcomed with such warmth.
And all this consideration, taking into account my pollen allergies.
Perhaps because this was a scene I had once dreamed of.
All of this felt both absurd and somehow heavy in my chest…
An indescribable emotion swept through me.
‘If I were truly Edith Blake, would I have been able to rejoice fully in this moment?’
I do not know.
My mind had already grown too weary, and I could not feel pure joy.
Everything that had transpired since revealing myself as the Purifier felt artificial, like a scene from a farce.
Why only now.
And what was this awakening, anyway.
Had they shown this much interest from the beginning, she would never have become twisted, nor would she have been hated and died such a miserable death.
I wouldn’t have had any reason to come to this wretched place.
Suddenly, a wave of resentment surged up—though I couldn’t tell toward whom.
Was it toward the Duke, who couldn’t wait a bit longer for his true daughter and hastily brought in an adopted son instead?
Or toward the former mistress, who exploited Edith’s awakened abilities as she pleased before dying?
Or perhaps toward those fools who, not knowing they’d been purified by the woman they despised, coldly turned away and let her die.
“…Miss?”
The Butler called out to me, puzzled by my silence.
“Why does your expression…?”
Only then did I realize my face had twisted into something grotesque.
Hardly befitting someone who’d just been celebrated with flowers.
I quickly composed myself and spoke flatly.
“…Thank you, everyone.”
Though I tried to hide it, I couldn’t suppress the reluctance in my tone.
The Servants exchanged glances and rolled their eyes, clearly sensing this wasn’t the reaction they’d expected.
“Well…! You haven’t eaten yet, have you?”
The Butler quickly changed the subject to break the awkward silence.
“Please, come inside! Today we’ve specially arranged for even the Imperial Palace’s sous chef to prepare a full course of your favorite dishes!”
I followed the Butler into the Entrance Hall, wearing the flower garland around my neck and holding the oversized paper bouquet—a ridiculous sight.
It was only then that I realized the Duke wasn’t here.
“Where’s Father?”
“He hasn’t returned from the Imperial Palace yet, but he’s sent word that he’ll return home before evening if possible.”
There was no need for him to do that.
I nodded and headed toward the central staircase.
The Butler continued speaking.
“As for Ethan…”
“Wait, what’s that outside?”
I abruptly cut him off with a question about something I didn’t particularly want to hear about.
The Butler answered with a proud expression.
“Ah, you’ve noticed! Upon hearing of your awakening, the Duke was so delighted that he ordered food to be distributed to the unfortunate.”
“What?”
So that’s why there were all those ragged-looking people gathered outside…
“What does my awakening have to do with distributing food?”
“Surely it’s to spread word of your reputation through acts of charity?”
“Ha.”
I let out a hollow laugh.
So it was the Duke who’d been spreading rumors about me.
It was utterly absurd.
‘What if my grade comes back as D-rank after all this?’
Then it would be a complete disaster, but I couldn’t fathom why he was doing this.
And what was that massive banner plastered on the front gate supposed to say?
“Why did you write the letters on the paper so large and post them like that?”
“Well, the Duke said that even the nobility passing through the streets should be able to see it clearly….”
“Take it down immediately. How embarrassing is that?”
“That’s… because the Duke wrote it himself….”
Which meant I couldn’t touch it without his permission.
I voiced my displeasure.
“Why not just say I’ve awakened? What kind of wording is that? It’s not like announcing a restaurant is back in normal business.”
“Perhaps it’s because His Grace has been under considerable stress. It seems he’s been interacting frequently with other heads of household who have children who’ve awakened….”
So he was doing this on purpose to show off to those who had been pointing fingers at my failure to awaken all this time?
I let out a silent scoff at the Duke’s utterly childish behavior.
No matter how much stress he was under, only the person involved would care.
At my lukewarm response, the Butler glanced around and whispered quietly.
“I barely managed to talk him out of posting it in the Central Square.”
“Ha….”
A sigh escaped me involuntarily.
I had prepared myself to some extent when revealing my ability, but I hadn’t anticipated the Duke would make such a fuss about it.
The Butler, gauging my mood, asked carefully.
“Aren’t you pleased about awakening, Miss?”
“No.”
“Why is that….”
“The path ahead is clear with hardship, yet Father is delighted? I might even have to purify people I dislike. What is there for me to be pleased about?”
I shrugged and added casually.
“And he won’t make me his successor now, so what reason would I have to be happy?”
Just as I said that and was about to step onto the landing.
Suddenly, a tall man emerged from the opposite corridor.
Silver hair glimmering in the chandelier light.
It was Ethan.
“…You’re only just arriving.”
Upon spotting me, he faltered and slowed his pace.
‘I heard he left early last night….’
Whether he hadn’t slept properly, his complexion looked noticeably worse than usual.

87%

I responded somewhat belatedly, my gaze fixed on the top of his head, which had risen slightly in that brief moment.
“Yes.”
“Have you eaten?”
“I’ve already had my meal.”
Fearing he might suggest we dine together, I lied without hesitation, keeping my tone casual.
Fortunately, as if his perceptiveness had abandoned him entirely, the Butler said nothing in response.
After a brief silence, he parted his lips once more.
“I brought you something from the subjugation spoils….”
“Butler.”
I deliberately called out to him as if our words had overlapped.
“I’m exhausted and need to rest, so don’t let anyone into the second floor.”
In truth, the words were directed not at the Butler, but at Ethan.
A silent plea for him to keep his distance, since I had no desire to exchange words with him.
‘What could he have brought from the subjugation spoils? Does he think a gift will mend things between us?’
I hadn’t yet seen what he’d brought, but regardless of what it was, I had no intention of returning to how things were before—no effort to reconcile with him.
I gave him a perfunctory nod, barely acknowledging his presence, then immediately ascended the staircase.
His persistent gaze clung to my back, but I never once looked behind.

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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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