A World Where You All Are The Villains - Chapter 30

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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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30.

My brow furrowed involuntarily at those words.
‘Is he a pervert? Why does he keep wanting to see someone angry like this?’
Of course, I could tell well enough that Vincent had a twisted nature.
It seemed he’d been filling his ego by watching Edith Blake suffer from his words, crying and throwing tantrums all this time.
‘How unfortunate.’
I was far too withered a person to even perform such theatrics for him.
‘Well, if even a single tear falls, I could pretend to be hurt.’
Honestly, after being tormented since the crack of dawn, this vapid conversation was simply exhausting.
I spoke with a hint of disdain.
“…Vincent, isn’t it you who has amnesia, not me?”
“…What are you talking about?”
“How can you not remember what you said just moments ago? You said you weren’t angry.”
The smile playing at his lips gradually faded at my words.
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“You must have understood that I plan to use you today to provoke Ruellin, Edith Blake. Did I explain it too complicatedly?”
“Go ahead.”
“…What?”
“Use me. I won’t interfere.”
“Wha…what.”
He stared at me in disbelief at my indifferent response.
He apparently expected me to be upset.
But.
‘What’s wrong with being used?’
It wasn’t as though he meant to harm me.
Wasn’t it common for a man to appear intimate with another woman to provoke jealousy in the one he loved?
This was, after all, a ‘romance’ novel of sorts.
What bothered me most was the situation itself—that he’d shown up unannounced and now we were sitting face to face.
‘If he knew this, he might show up at any time without warning.’
I absolutely must not tell him.
Having resolved this, I then set a condition.
“However, only until we enter the Ballroom and face The Purifier.”
“…”
“If you ask for anything else—dancing together, mingling with others—you won’t like what happens.”
For some reason, he fell silent.
I glanced at the still-rigid Vincent and added,
“As you well know, I lack the intelligence to comprehend speech properly. And with my memory gone, I haven’t the faintest notion of basic common sense.”
“….”
“You understand what I’m saying, don’t you?”
It was my way of issuing a warning—that if things went awry, I’d overturn the bait and everything else without hesitation.
Within the Imperial Palace, the use of abilities is restricted to prevent accidents.
Non-threatening abilities like healing and purification are permitted, but the use of offensive abilities that leave visible traces is strictly forbidden.
To enforce this, the Imperial Palace is equipped with magical stones that detect ability wavelengths and awakened individuals stationed throughout.
In other words, Vincent cannot harm me even if I act as I please.
I fixed him with a stare, as if to say: what are you going to do about it?
“Ha….”
“…?”
“Ha ha, aha ha ha―!”
He let out a deflated sound before suddenly bursting into raucous laughter.
‘What’s wrong with him?’
I stared at him as though he were mad.
He clutched his belly, wheezing with laughter, and after a long moment, he wiped away tears and spoke.
“Heh heh, Edith Blake. Did you know you’ve actually become more entertaining since losing your memory?”
“….”
“It’s just like what Ethan said—you’re like a completely different person!”
He wasn’t wrong, and I flinched reflexively.
Fortunately, he didn’t seem to be serious, as he chuckled.
“Don’t worry.”
His playful smile had transformed into a cold smirk.
Vincent, lounging against a cushion with his back reclined, spoke in a languid tone.
“I’ll never ask you to dance with me again, not ever.”
“….”
“Did I ever tell you this?”
“….”
“You dance abominably.”
He insulted me outright, and when I offered no retort whatsoever, he glared at me irritably.
Then he suddenly turned his head away.
Finally! He’d lost all interest in continuing our conversation!
‘At last… it’s finally quiet.’
I was genuinely delighted by the silence that had finally arrived.
To be honest, I found it rather frightening when he laughed. It was as though a ghost had possessed him.
Vincent had likely insulted me deliberately to provoke my anger, but I felt only unsettled.
‘…How did he know?’
That I was hopelessly uncoordinated…!

***

Mercifully, he did not open his mouth again until we arrived at the Imperial Palace.
The carriage slowed as it passed through the Castle Gate, leaving behind the glittering nocturnal city.
Creak!
Before the carriage had even come to a complete stop, Vincent bolted from his seat.
As if I cared.
I waited until the carriage came to a full halt, then descended slowly.
“Welcome, my lady.”
Even without that insufferable partner, the guards rushed over to offer their hands.
Vincent had already reached the entrance to the Ballroom and was presenting his invitation.
‘Honestly, his temperament is insufferable… I can’t even tell who the villain is supposed to be.’
I clicked my tongue and carefully gathered my skirts as I climbed the Staircase.
I had just reached the top.
“Take it.”
A hand suddenly thrust itself before my eyes.
I looked up to find Vincent gazing down at me, his brow furrowed.
“You said to use you, didn’t you? We need to keep up appearances.”
“I thought you’d abandoned the whole thing since you rushed ahead.”
“How could I possibly do that?”
He laughed irritably, waving his hand to hurry me along.
I released my skirts and placed my hand over his.
Or rather, I was about to.
Snap!
Before I could even make contact, he swiftly seized my left hand.
“Ah…!”
And before I could even react, he pulled me forcefully into his embrace!
His strong arm tightened firmly around my waist.
“If we’re going to do this, let’s do it properly.”
He smirked at my bewilderment.
Until now, whatever he said had barely registered with me.
But if he dared to lay hands on me directly, that was another matter entirely.
“Give some warning before you act, would you?”
“I can’t afford to give you an opening. You’re always scheming uselessly.”
“Whether something is useful or not is not for you to decide.”
With that, I lifted my heel hidden beneath my dress and brought it down hard on Vincent’s foot.
Crack!
“Ow!”
He let out a sharp cry, doubling over and clutching his foot.
“Damn it, Edith Blake!”
He bellowed in fury.
Regardless, I turned and approached the attendant guarding the entrance.
“Here.”
“Lady Edith Blake, confirmed.”
After the invitation verification process, I turned back to find Vincent limping toward me.
He glared at me with bloodshot eyes as though he wanted to kill me, his voice dripping with menace.
“Are you completely insane?!”
“Control yourself. People are watching.”
I offered my hand with a gentle smile, much as he had done moments before.
“…Damn it!”
Still conscious of the onlookers’ gazes, he bit out a curse and straightened himself.
Then he seized my hand roughly.
Crack—
His grip was so fierce, as though his fingers might shatter mine, a testament to his seething rage.
My fingertips had gone pale from the loss of circulation, tingling with numbness.
Yet the immediate pain paled in comparison to the exhilarating thrill of having landed a blow.
I leaned against him gently and whispered in low, measured tones.
“I told you. If you demand anything else, you won’t like what happens.”
“You….”
“From now on, don’t lay a hand on me without permission, Vincent.”
Unless you want to be humiliated in front of Ruellin.
As his golden eyes slowly widened, I withdrew from him without hesitation.
At that very moment, the attendant’s voice rang out loudly, announcing our arrival.
“Presenting Marquis Vincent Leandro and Lady Edith Blake!”
The timing was absolutely perfect.

As I stepped into the Ballroom, gazes poured down upon me as though everyone had been waiting for this very moment.
“Good heavens, look there!”
“Isn’t that Lady Blake? The one who had a funeral not long ago…?”
“So it’s really true that she died and came back to life!”
“And isn’t that Marquis Leandro beside her? Why is he with the lady instead of The Purifier…?”
Naturally, I was the main topic of conversation.
‘Well, when you’ve kicked your way out of a coffin and risen from the dead, there’s no helping it.’
I was glad I’d heeded the Butler’s counsel after all.
Had I arrived without a partner, I would surely have drawn even more attention.
I cast an ambiguous glance at my companion, who continued to wear that murderous expression even as we entered the Ballroom.
‘You get what you pay for… though it seems the losses far outweigh the gains.’
Vincent and I moved toward a sufficiently secluded corner to avoid the crowd’s attention.
It was to wait until the heroine appeared.
Despite our struggle from the carriage all the way to the Ballroom entrance, Ruellin was nowhere to be found in the hall.
“Let go now.”
Once I confirmed that my body was hidden behind a pillar, I tried to release the hand he still held.
But he wouldn’t budge.
He didn’t even glance at me as I whimpered, simply muttering away.
“Stay still. Ruellin hasn’t arrived yet.”
“Your grip is going to break my fingers.”
“…!”
At my words, he looked down at our joined hands with a startled expression.
Between his large fingers, my own had turned from pale white to a sickly blue, protruding like small twigs.
It felt as though they were being crushed.
Pah—!
Upon seeing this, he flung my hand away as though casting off something filthy, his movements frantic.
“Are you an idiot? If it hurts, you should say so!”
It was like watching someone who’d broken wind suddenly grow indignant. A perfect match.
Finding it not worth a response, I let out a scoff and rubbed my left hand, which had lost all circulation, muttering as though to myself.
“It’s strange. Whenever I’m with you, it seems like only painful things happen.”
It wasn’t an exaggeration—it was the truth.
From Edith Blake’s death, to the pollen allergy, and now this.
Every time we crossed paths, my assessment of Vincent only reached new lows.
“…So do I really need to keep knowing you?”
When I glanced up at him, for some reason his complexion had turned ashen.
As though my words had dealt him a shock.
“And you stepped on my foot…”
Just as he was about to respond through gritted teeth, it happened.
“All bow! His Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince, has arrived—!”

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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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