A World Where You All Are The Villains - Chapter 81

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

81.

I was just rising reluctantly from my seat, unable to resist Serge’s urging, when it happened.
“Ruellin!”
Someone was chasing after Ruellin even faster than I was.
None other than the second male lead.
Vincent Leandro.
The man who had been pacing nervously in front of the staircase all evening seized this moment as his opportunity, pivoting urgently.
Unable to leap over the Imperial Family members, he appeared intent on slipping out through the Ballroom entrance.
I naturally froze.
I had been planning to circle around the Courtyard and pursue Ruellin myself.
‘If he gets there first, all my efforts will be for nothing.’
I hesitated, watching Vincent move with quickening steps.
“Hey there—aren’t you Marquis Leandro?”
Screech—
Suddenly, the sound of a chair scraping back accompanied a smooth voice from behind.
Before I could even widen my eyes in surprise, the fourth male lead was leisurely making his way around the table toward the second male lead.
“…Your Highness, the Grand Duke?”
Vincent froze as this unexpected figure blocked his path.
No matter how arrogant the man was, there was no way around the difference in rank.
That was somewhat amusing.
“I pay my respects to Your Highness, the Grand Duke.”
“Ah, ah. Why so formal? Relax, relax.”
“Yes, well… I trust you have been well?”
“I’ve been splendid. The reason I mention it is that I had quite an interesting business proposal to discuss with your father recently. But…”
“…”
“Where is the Marquis, and why are you wandering about alone?”
Swish, swish!
Serge extended one hand behind him, discreetly gesturing to me.
It was a signal to chase after Ruellin while he kept Vincent occupied.
I slipped away from the table with careful, measured steps, ensuring Vincent wouldn’t notice.
“…My father had an urgent matter arise and was unable to attend today’s ceremony. He should arrive tomorrow afternoon, so perhaps then…”
“Is that so? Well then, faute de mieux, shall I have a word with you instead?”
“I… you mean me? I’m afraid I have an urgent matter at the moment…”
Before I could slip out through the Courtyard entrance.
When I glanced back one last time, Vincent was trapped, forcibly locked in an arm’s embrace by the Grand Duke with no way to escape.
“Hahaha! Why so distant with me? We’re practically family. Relax, relax. Yes?”
Thump, thump!
Serge burst into hearty laughter and clapped Vincent on the shoulder.
“Ugh…!”
His face crumpled like crumpled tissue paper—it must have hurt quite a bit.
‘Serves him right.’
I was stifling a smirk that threatened to escape when Serge suddenly turned to me, winked, and flashed a conspiratorial grin.
Normally I would have groaned in exasperation, but this time I found myself willing to let it slide.
I chuckled softly and gave him a thumbs up.
For some reason, his smile abruptly vanished and his expression went blank.
‘What’s wrong with him?’
I tilted my head in confusion, but quickly realized this wasn’t the time for it and hurried out through the entrance.
“Huff, huff…”
Using the exterior staircase, I climbed the floors in haste, then cut straight across the corridor that connected to the Central Building.
As I opened the side door and stepped inside, I spotted a delicate woman descending the spiral staircase from above.
It was Ruellin.
She must have changed clothes in the meantime—instead of the white dress stained with soup, she now wore a pale pink tea-length dress.
“…Ruellin.”
“Edith?”
She had just reached the first floor when she heard my voice, her large eyes widening in surprise.
I was about to approach her when I suddenly noticed a shadow following behind her and froze.
A deer mask so striking I wondered why I hadn’t recognized it immediately.
The woman in the peculiar white robe I’d found strange earlier was trailing right behind Ruellin.
‘She does seem to be an Imperial Palace attendant… but why is she dressed like that? Is this some kind of secret escort mission?’
The deer horns poking out from beneath the hood looked grotesque.
Unlike me, whose brow furrowed in displeasure, Ruellin seemed already accustomed to the Deer-Masked Attendant’s presence.
I resumed my steps and positioned myself in front of Ruellin.
“Wait—could we talk for a moment, just the two of us?”
“Sure, of course.”
Fortunately, Ruellin readily accepted my request.
I glanced back at the Deer-Masked Attendant, and she tactfully withdrew from sight.
By the time I confirmed the deer horns had completely disappeared beyond the side door,
only Ruellin and I remained in the Lobby.
“…What is it, Edith?” Ruellin asked, her large eyes fixed on me.
Ruellin asked, her large eyes fixed on me.
“You…”
I was about to demand a full explanation when my words suddenly caught in my throat.
Her face, as she gazed at me, was far too serene.
In fact, she didn’t look like someone who had just been kidnapped and returned at all.
‘Is this right?’
For a moment, doubt flickered through my mind, but I deliberately shook my head.
This was a place Serge had taken the trouble to arrange for me.
With Vincent and the other male leads potentially closing in at any moment, I couldn’t afford to waste this opportunity.
I had to make every second count.
“…What on earth is going on?”
“What do you mean?”
“You were kidnapped, weren’t you? Where have you been all this time?”
“Kidnapped?”
At my question, Ruellin suddenly tilted her head in confusion.
“Are you talking about when I dragged you to Tollen?”
“No, that’s not what I meant….”
Faced with her evasive response, I narrowed my brows slightly.
‘Is she trying to play dumb?’
Yet Ruellin’s reaction seemed distinctly odd.
Rather than showing surprise at how I’d learned of it, she didn’t even bat an eyelash.
No matter how brazenly one feigns indifference, anyone should display some defensive reaction when confronted about their secrets….
I decided to probe her more carefully.
“I visited your room at the Imperial Palace during the ball not long ago. I had something to tell you.”
“You did?”
“But you weren’t there, and your room was in complete disarray—as if it had been ransacked. Later, I heard rumors that you’d been kidnapped, so I grew concerned….”
“I see.”
Her robotic, lifeless responses finally made me frown and fall silent.
“What is it? You don’t remember?”
“I don’t understand why you’re suddenly saying such things, Edith.”
Ruellin stared at me with incomprehension, then abruptly blurted out:
“Don’t you like me?”
“…What?”
“I thought we could become close friends….”
Faced with this utterly nonsensical remark that had nothing to do with the conversation, I instinctively glanced around.
Fortunately, the Lobby was still empty except for the two of us.
Had I become so absorbed in this insane novel’s melodramatic developments?
‘I thought she was deliberately trying to provoke me….’
So the story was that I’d intentionally antagonized her with inflammatory remarks to make Edith the villain?
Wasn’t that far too clichéd?
But if that were the case, I couldn’t understand why Ruellin was spouting such nonsense.
“….”
After staring blankly at the heroine for a moment, I forced a smile to my lips.
“…Of course we’re friends, Ruellin. I was only asking because I was concerned about your wellbeing.”
“How could you say something so cruel….”
She suddenly began to tremble as if wounded.
“You’re too much, Edith. Why do you always say such terrible things?”
“Ruellin, what are you talking about? What terrible thing did I say? Please, calm down.”
I took a step back from her, bracing myself for any potential crisis.
‘Ah. This is bad.’
If someone witnessed this and misunderstood that I was pressuring her, it would be a disaster.
But what on earth had happened to her after being kidnapped? Had she been subjected to electrical torture?
Ruellin continued spouting absolute nonsense.
“I understand you’re upset because of me. But it’s not my fault that you haven’t awakened….”
“I never blamed you for anything. So why are you bringing that up now? Are we actually having a conversation right now?”
“Is it because of Vincent? Or did Ethan say something to you again? Please try to understand.”
“Of course I understand. And neither of them said anything to me.”
As I patiently responded to her words with composure, I suddenly felt a strange sense of discord.
It wasn’t merely because she kept spouting incoherent drivel.
‘This… why does it sound so familiar?’
The words Ruellin was directing at me felt oddly recognizable.
“Edith Blake. Since you’re a non-Awakener, you wouldn’t understand, but both of them nearly went berserk in this battle. Their nerves must have been on edge.”
“….”
“Vincent and Ethan both care for you deep down. Instead of always condemning and pressuring them like this, if you could smile and welcome them this time….”
“Wait.”
In that moment.
A memory flashed through my mind, and I raised my hand to stop Ruellin’s rambling.
That eerie sense of déjà vu I’d been feeling all along.
Those words of hers that sounded so familiar.
“Ruellin, you….”
“….”
“Why are you repeating what you said before?”
That was it.
Everything Ruellin was spouting now.
They were all lines she had spoken to Edith Blake in the past—in the novel!

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————