A World Where You All Are The Villains - Chapter 87

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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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87.

He sipped his wine with leisurely indifference, his words tumbling out carelessly.
His tone was so serene, as if he were announcing some surprise event.
That’s why I didn’t grasp his meaning immediately.
“…!”
A beat too late, my eyes widened.
I turned to face him slowly, my expression startled.
“How… how did you know that?”
“Because I’ve experienced it.”
Serge replied with cool indifference, then cast a sidelong glance at me.
“But how did you know?”
Because I’ve experienced it too.
I bit back the words hovering on my tongue and managed to deny it.
“…I didn’t know.”
“Is that so?”
Though he didn’t seem to believe me, Serge didn’t press further.
“Judging by the wavelength, it’s not a particularly large-scale occurrence.”
“You can sense such things?”
“You can’t?”
“…”
I mentally inscribed the character for patience three times over.
“…Still, isn’t it dangerous? This island is rather small, after all.”
“Well, whoever’s in charge will handle it.”
Serge let out a derisive snort, as if it were none of his concern.
Then he sipped his wine again, so I rose abruptly from my seat.
“Then I’ll take my leave now.”
As I bowed respectfully, he raised one eyebrow.
“Where to?”
“To flee.”
“Flee from this pebble of an island? Where would you even go?”
“There’s a ship the orphans came in.”
I spoke the truth without much thought.
Even if he were a psychopath with a rotten personality, surely he wouldn’t stop someone desperate to escape with their life.
But then I realized I’d been far too casual about it.
“Thank you for the warning. I won’t forget this kindness.”
I was about to turn and hurry away after offering a perfunctory farewell.
Tap.
Suddenly, he set down the wine glass he’d been holding onto the table, then brushed off his clothes and rose to his feet.
I stared at him blankly before asking with a bewildered expression.
“Why… are you getting up?”
“I need to escape too.”
“Escape where?”
“Away from here.”
His casual answer left me momentarily stunned.
“Your Majesty… why would you do that?”
“Why? Am I not allowed to escape? Should I just sit here twiddling my thumbs until I die?”
“That’s not what I meant… You need to participate in the subjugation operation!”
“A Gate is rupturing, and you’re talking about subjugation?”
At my outburst, he let out a sharp, incredulous laugh.
Then he looked me up and down before speaking.
“You’re the only one who’ll survive? I didn’t think so… You’re quite ruthless and selfish. Truly worthy of being the Empire’s greatest villainess.”
How dare you judge me like that, you bastard!
If I were to count all the times he’d called me cruel and selfish, I wouldn’t have enough fingers on both hands!
My fists clenched, trembling with rage.
He simply walked past me without hesitation.
I hurriedly blocked his path.
“No, you can’t!”
“Why not?”
“That’s… that is…!”
Because you need to buy us time until we escape!
As I floundered in confusion at his inexplicable behavior, uncertain whether he was joking or serious.
Kuuuuuuuung――!
Without warning, the ground began to shake again.
As expected, the tremor was far more violent this time.
Unlike before when only a few glasses shattered, people who had been standing staggered and finally collapsed to the ground.
Those seated clung to the tables as they shifted, screaming in terror.
I was no exception.
“Ah, ah…!”
As I stumbled helplessly, my left ankle gave way beneath me.
Just as I was about to fall.
Thud―!
“Be careful.”
A low voice accompanied thick arms that wrapped around my back.
Before I could react, I was pulled into a firm embrace.
“Ow!”
My forehead collided directly with his chest like stone, and I reflexively cried out.
Tears welled up from the sharp pain.
Even so, the ground beneath my feet trembled relentlessly, leaving me utterly disoriented.
“Stop squirming and stay still, Princess. Do you realize how rare an honor this is?”
I reached up to touch my forehead, wondering if I was bleeding, but a sharp, irritated rebuke fell from above.
‘Please, if you’re going to say such nonsense, just let me go….’
He was catching me to prevent a fall and serving as an unwavering support, yet I felt not a shred of gratitude.
At this point, it might have been better to simply collapse and stick to the floor….
But that thought didn’t last long.
The tremor continued for a full five minutes.
Whether Serge had anchored his feet to the ground with telekinesis or not, he stood perfectly still and unyielding.
I clung to his collar, nearly hanging from him entirely.
Had he not supported my waist with his arm, I would have already been rolling across the floor as ungracefully as everyone else.
“Ha….”
By the time the tremor finally ceased, I was half-delirious.
Of course, I wasn’t alone—everyone was in the same state.
Several large pieces of furniture, including tables, lay precariously overturned.
“Gasp, huff… Is it over now?”
“Ahhh! H-help! My leg is trapped under the table…!”
“Your Majesty! Shouldn’t we evacuate the island immediately?”
People cried out in panic from all directions.
The ballroom, which had been filled with soft music moments before, transformed into complete chaos.
That was when it happened.
“Everyone, evacuate!”
A small figure suddenly burst forth from somewhere.
“This is a sign that a Gate is opening! If you stay here any longer, you’ll all be sucked into the Gate!”
Ruellin, having returned at some point, stood in the center of the ballroom and shouted.
“Isn’t that The Purifier?”
“A, a Gate?! But there’s the Gate Wave, so how….”
“A Gate has never once appeared on Equinox Island, has it?!”
At her cry, the Nobility murmured in confusion.
The news was so unbelievable that everyone seemed bewildered.
Yet something about Ruellin’s appearance sent chills down my spine.
‘Her eyes… why does her expression look like that.’
Despite her urgent, frantic voice, her face was utterly expressionless.
Her large green eyes were equally lifeless, as if artificial eyes had been implanted.
At first glance, she appeared stiffened by the emergency, but having already experienced her once before, I could see through it immediately.
That was an expression devoid of any regret or concern.
Just like when she repeated the same words to me earlier.
“Even… an old crow would speak with more sincerity than that.”
Fortunately, I wasn’t the only one who noticed.
When I glanced up slightly at the breath tickling my forehead, I saw the male lead frowning in disbelief.
At the sight of the man’s refined features so close before me, my body stiffened involuntarily.
Was this the first time I’d seen him from such proximity?
Or perhaps my mind had simply ceased functioning because I couldn’t fathom being cradled in his embrace like this.
I should push him away and flee immediately.
Yet strangely, my body refused to obey.
“I’ll do everything in my power to purify the Magi and minimize the damage! Everyone, please evacuate to safety!”
At that moment, Ruellin, who had been rushing through the Ballroom shouting evacuation orders, suddenly bolted toward the Observation Deck.
“Ruellin!”
“It’s dangerous!”
Those who had been evacuating scrambled after her in desperation.
The second and third male leads.
Vincent and Dylan.
Everything unfolded so rapidly that my thoughts couldn’t keep pace.
I should have recognized them the moment I saw them.
“Edith Blake.”
There was one more follower of the female lead remaining.
“What are you doing right now?”
A chillingly cold voice pierced through my ears, sending shivers down my spine.
I turned my head stiffly in that direction.
Pupils dilated like torn sky-blue glass, a face twisted with savage fury.
Ethan stood not far away, his gaze fixed upon me.

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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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