Disqualified as a Villainess - Chapter 13

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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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#13.

Baron Ravishi seized his own hair, eyes widening in shock.
This was an entirely different breed of wickedness from the Octavia he had known before—utterly bewildering.
Octavia continued speaking in that same leisurely tone.
“Whether I remain here or leave is entirely up to my whim. The same applies to Cedric, to Camilla working in the Holy Temple Pharmaceutical Department, and to anyone who stands in the way of the family’s future.”
At the phrase “stands in the way,” the Baron’s shoulders trembled, and he ground his teeth with a savage expression.
“If you do such a thing, you won’t escape unscathed either.”
‘Before that, if I dispose of this girl through poison or stage an accident… then…’
Suddenly, color flooded back into Octavia’s cheeks as she stared into empty space. Her next words came with barely concealed excitement.
“Are you planning to dispose of me before that?”
She spoke as though she could see straight through to the depths of his mind.

Favorability Decreased [+500]

‘Just like with Daisy—whenever I sense murderous intent, it rises exponentially like this.’
With this new discovery, Octavia’s expression bloomed with delight.
To the Baron, ignorant of the Favorability system, she appeared nothing more than a psychopath savoring this moment.
‘Undoubtedly a lunatic.’
But her next words completely shattered his resolve.
“Do as you wish. Then I’ll become the true culprit who murdered your wife and nephew. I happen to have your mistress with me, you see. Your attempt to dispose of me failed.”
“What…?”
Had she brought Daisy not as a hostage, but as a witness?
“I’ve never even met a mistress, I’m telling you.”
To rescue Daisy would be to admit to the affair, leaving him unable to rage or protest.
With a smile that seemed almost unstable, she rested one hand against her cheek and asked:
“Have I asked for much? The Ludovisi Family provided considerable support for Cedric’s missions, so strictly speaking, this isn’t even free.”
“…In exchange, remain quiet as death.”
No matter how much he was called a failure, the backing of the Ludovisi Family remained an unchanging fact.
Better to be an eyesore in silence than to be caught up in scandal.
“Whether I live loudly or quietly is entirely my decision, but if you ask politely, I’m willing to oblige.”
Unable to swallow his pride and speak, the Baron fell silent as Octavia smiled and shrugged.
“From now on, do as I say, Uncle.”
Her voice remained gentle, but now it was unmistakably a command.
There was no helping it.
The Baron had already been stripped of his choices.

***

The Temple of the God of Order.
I surveyed the grand and solemn space around me. Beyond the silver corridor stretching wide before me, past the dais, I could see the statue of the God of Order holding scales and a sword in both hands, surrounded in a semicircle by apostle sculptures.
I heard whispers from people making the sign of the faith as they entered, their eyes fixed on me with my white lace veil draped over my head.
“How dare an impure creature who insulted Kimihee come here with such audacity?”
“A man of such integrity would never accept bribes. He must have been paid off by someone higher up.”
They knew well enough.
Thanks to Baron Ravishi, whom I had coerced, begging the upper echelons of the Religious Order and slipping them bribes, I was able to attend this mass.
The condition was that I prove my faith through active religious participation and donations—the donations being the crucial part.
‘This works out perfectly. I need access to both the Temple and the royal palace to prepare for the incidents to come, including Prince Jeriel’s shadow possession syndrome.’
Then, someone’s indignant voice rang out.
“You even spread false scandals about the Admiral! And now you have the nerve to show up at a mass he’s attending? You’ve truly lost your mind.”
The advantage of being a villainess was that people gossiped openly, making it easy to gauge public opinion and gather information.
‘The Admiral is here?’
Still under the delusion that I had come because I harbored feelings for him, Dominic turned away coldly when he saw me.
Regardless, I craned my neck and surveyed my surroundings.
‘Found you, my disdain generator.’
Closest to me, sitting rigidly in refined formal attire, was Kelsedny Admiral.
Like an insincere student perpetually ready to slip away, he occupied the very back row.
His eyes widened slightly upon noticing me, then he turned away with the expression of someone whose sacred moment had been disturbed.
“Hello.”
I approached my target of exploitation with an indifferent demeanor and offered a greedy smile.
As I naturally settled into the seat beside Kelsedny Admiral, he immediately distanced himself and spoke in warning.
“I thought we agreed you wouldn’t pretend to be my lover.”
“Then should we go with a quasi-romantic approach instead?”
I promptly pressed myself against his side again.
I needed to accumulate at least five thousand disdain points during this mass.
I had to gather disdain diligently so I could eat with my family.
Finding my presence unbearable, he looked around for an empty seat. But the popular back row was already fully occupied.
The only remaining seats were in the front, where the Priest was giving obvious eye contact.
“Are you going to leave me alone?”
Where did he think he was going? Regardless of his position, I grabbed the hem of his clothes as he tried to leave.
“Let go.”
“I can’t.”
“Why.”
“Because I get lonely when I’m alone. No one wants to sit with me, you see?”
“I’m one of those people.”
Given his temperament, he could have easily brushed my hand away and more.
‘But we’re in a transaction where we can at least hold hands.’
This time, I seized his large hand firmly.
His arm stiffened rigidly, and the veins in his wrist became prominent beneath his shirt sleeve.

Favorability Decreased [+1,000]

Instead of pushing me away roughly as before, he quietly withdrew his hand.
Whether or not he made a face at the sticky sauce clinging to the hand that had touched mine, I said what I needed to say.
“Admiral. As someone who specializes in mischief and is a faith-deficient believer, I must tell you—this is the most auspicious spot. It’s an angle where we absolutely won’t be discovered.”
The Admiral stared at me with an expressionless face as I chattered away, then countered.
“Yet your sacrilege was discovered.”
“Ah, that was because I ended up insulting that popular priest… The fact that you know even that means you weren’t entirely uninterested in me, were you?”
My iron wall defense doesn’t work on him.
Given his iron wall and uncooperative attitude, it seemed he was sulking about something regarding me.
“If you keep changing seats, it’ll look like you’re embarrassed to be beside me.”
I offered him some important advice.
If you don’t want to become a shy boy, just stay quietly beside me.

Favorability Decreased [+100]

He, who had been watching me cling to him like a magnet even when keeping distance, pulled the corners of his mouth taut and leaned his back against the backrest. He seemed to have resigned himself.
“What will you do after the service?”
He began to completely ignore my words.
“What will the Admiral do after the service? I’m really curious. So much so that I’d want to find you wherever you happen to be.”
Then I’ll just have to keep asking until he answers.
The Admiral, who had been stubbornly staring straight ahead, looked at me with dull eyes.
“Birthday banquet.”
A man who seemed like he would never attend someone else’s birthday party said this.
This evening, a grand birthday banquet for Princess May, the Second Princess, was scheduled.
I had attended the service specifically to lobby for an invitation to that event.
Perhaps he suddenly decided to go because he was worried I might actually find my way to his quarters.
In any case, this worked out well.
“I didn’t receive an invitation so I can’t go, but I’d appreciate it if the Admiral would take me as your partner. Then no one could object.”
“I don’t want to.”
“It’s fine even if you don’t want to. I don’t mind that sort of thing.”
“Do you not understand the concept of refusal?”
“Then would you like to teach me the concept of acceptance first?”
Realizing that words weren’t getting through, he fell silent for a moment, then lowered his eyes and let out a sigh.
Just then, a voice interrupted my intimate exploitation time.
“Octavia, how far do you intend to be disrespectful to the Empire’s Prince?”
It was Dominic, regarding me with eyes full of disdain.

***

“Not only did you embarrass the Admiral with your lies, but now you’re pestering him too. Will you stop at nothing to gain attention?”
At Prince Dominic’s sharp rebuke, Octavia rested her chin on her hand and smiled faintly.
“The Admiral hasn’t said anything, so why are you so angry, Your Highness?”
The Admiral, who had already spoken much, regarded her in silence.
Seeing the Admiral’s stern expression, Prince Dominic muttered inwardly.
‘This is what happens when you stir up such petty jealousy.’
From his perspective, it would be troublesome if Octavia—still useful to him—provoked the Admiral into doing something irreversible.
Prince Dominic opened his mouth, his brow still furrowed.
“He’s simply too composed to voice his displeasure, but by now he must be thoroughly displeased….”
“You said he’s an assassin who kills people indiscriminately, with a merciless nature, so I should watch my life.”
At Octavia’s rebuttal, Prince Dominic’s expression turned bewildered.
Feeling the Admiral’s icy gaze, the Prince seized Octavia’s left wrist.
“Leave this place at once, before I summon the knights to cast you out.”
As the Prince gripped Octavia’s slender wrist as though to snap it, gold flashed suddenly in the Admiral’s dark eyes.
Crack—!
With the sound of bone shattering, Prince Dominic’s face went pale.
‘Again….’
Beneath the Sacred Statue, Kelcedni Admiral blinked, his expression dazed, having just broken the Prince’s arm.
Once more, against his will, he had moved like a conditioned reflex.
‘Disappear from my sight before I kill you both.’
“Touch her again and I’ll kill you.”
The words spilled out of their own accord.
As though someone else inside him had spoken them.

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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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