Disqualified as a Villainess - Chapter 20

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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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#20.

His breathing grew increasingly ragged.
In the silence, his chest rose and fell visibly as he released a low groan, his hand pressed against it.
An unbearable thirst consumed him entirely.
He warred with irreconcilable impulses—the desire to gently caress the delicate white column of her neck, where platinum strands of hair fell across it, and the urge to grip it hard enough to shatter. Both desires burned within him simultaneously.
He could not discern whether this was human desire or the primal instinct of a predator.
Her pale, rosy lips moved softly.
“Are you alright?”
Her voice was gentle yet emotionally detached—the perspective of a pure observer.
His gaze, precarious as the boundary between day and night, remained fixed on Octavia’s lilac eyes.
His eyes blinked twice, the golden light within them rapidly narrowing before returning to their natural color.
“How strange.”
A faint self-mockery leaked through his expression as military discipline barely restrained his impulses.
Unlike his past, when he had remained unmoved by countless brazen seductions since adolescence, his current state of being swayed by this calamitous woman struck him as absurdly incomprehensible.
“This is inconvenient right now. I only came to see the Admiral’s handsome face for a moment.”
Octavia shook her head slowly. What troubled him most was that she had glimpsed his vulnerability.
The Admiral tilted his chin, his gaze lowering.
“I should want to kill you.”
And more besides.
His voice carried bewilderment far more than murderous intent.
Of course, Octavia was not unaware of this fact either.

Favorability Decreased [+2,000]

Based on the data I’ve accumulated so far, that’s a number I genuinely want to erase from existence.
Moreover, in the original story, while not directly responsible, he was the one who drove her to her death.
“Then, would you like to try killing me?”
Rather than fear, she gazed at him with curious eyes and took his hand, placing it around her own neck.
His fingers tensed for a moment before going slack. The weakened hand traced her delicate skin before falling away.
“Perhaps… you no longer wish to live?”
The Admiral asked in a resigned tone. His eyes remained sharp and narrowed, as though he were looking at someone he wanted dead.
“No, I knew you couldn’t kill me.”
Octavia had long since discerned his true state.
Whenever he dealt with her, he often behaved as though bound by some constraint.
The Admiral’s brow furrowed slightly as he observed Octavia’s expression—one mingled with greed and exhilaration.
‘Why does she enjoy such things?’
It was one of the Admiral’s persistent questions.
She, who seemed anything but normal, asked:
“Could it be that I resemble an unforgettable first love from your dreams, perhaps…?”
“That’s not it, so you’d better disappear from my sight immediately.”
The Admiral promptly denied Octavia’s hypothesis and added:
“Unless you want to suffer something unpleasant before tomorrow morning.”
By his words alone, he sounded like a tyrannical male lead incarnate.

***

“I have a tea party scheduled today. If you’d like to arrange a separate appointment, I’ll be prepared to endure whatever unpleasantness awaits until morning…”
“Get out.”

The Admiral, who looked as though he might display crude and violent behavior, quietly ushered Octavia out. As she left the Annex, her face was utterly satisfied.
A man who wished to kill me, yet lacked the courage to do so—how fascinating.
What a perfectly exploitable slave he had become.
If I could only resolve the original’s death risk, I wouldn’t mind spending a lifetime with him.
‘Is he simply unable to kill me, and thus forced to abide by his marriage convictions?’
Octavia suddenly gazed down at the violet bracelet wrapped around her wrist.
‘But why does the mana stone bracelet gleam with golden light?’
Had it resonated with the Admiral’s power? It made sense—it was acting as a catalyst.
Lost in thought, Octavia adjusted her platinum hair and walked out of the Annex with haughty grace.
She had certainly recharged her Favorability deficit generously—all to attend the scheduled tea party.
‘There’s a specific reason I had to come to this tea party.’
She gazed at Chloe, standing alone beyond the Garden where the tea party was being held.
Not all who received divine selection were special.
There was a fundamental difference between choosing carelessly with eyes closed and carefully deliberating for days.
Chloe was a ninth-rank divine ability user with only lower-tier blessing magic—unfortunately, she was the type the god had chosen carelessly.
According to the original story, Chloe would demonstrate protagonist-like achievements, win the Royal Family’s favor, and then gain recognition for her true abilities by participating in the healing ritual for Prince Jeriel, who suffered from shadow erosion syndrome.
This tea party I’m attending today is precisely the ‘stage where the overlooked protagonist shines.’
My role as the villain Octavia should be to openly antagonize Chloe and belittle her, drawing everyone’s attention to myself—but.
‘Why should I?’
I should be the protagonist of this tea party.
Octavia smiled sweetly and approached May and April, greeting them first.
“Thank you so much for the invitation. I hope you’ve both been well?”
Octavia knew of Prince Jeriel’s condition but pretended ignorance.
It was an unspoken rule within the Royal Family that internal troubles remained unspoken until officially announced.
The very act of holding a party and maintaining the usual atmosphere served that purpose.
“Thanks to you, I’ve been having wonderful days. Everyone envied the gift you gave me.”
May, who had fashioned a necklace from luminous stone and wore it, responded warmly and seated Octavia at her table.
Perhaps worried about her nephew Prince Jeriel’s shadow erosion syndrome, she also wore the blessing brooch she had received from Chloe.
“Come, sit. The cookies turned out especially well today.”
April displayed an enthusiastic attitude—the Royal Family’s way of saying ‘stay longer.’
The two sisters were a faction supporting Crown Princess Dekima, the successor.
Building connections with the Ludovisi Family, which supported the Crown Princess, was naturally advantageous for April as well.
“Miss Octavia, I haven’t seen you in ages.”
Countess Hertan, Dominic’s cousin and a collateral member of the Royal Family, inquired warmly about her well-being.
‘We saw each other at the banquet recently. She just pretended not to notice then.’
“My, didn’t the Countess attend the victory banquet? You must have missed seeing the nobles who received the Admiral’s sake shower. It was truly entertaining.”
Octavia, who brought up the topic of Count Hertan, her husband, wore an equally ceremonial smile.
The Countess’s expression stiffened slightly before she smiled as if nothing were amiss.
“Unfortunately, I missed it. What have you been doing lately? I heard you stepped back from managing the family affairs.”
It was a question thrown with knowledge of how her incompetence had cost her management rights.
“That’s right. I’ve become a full-time dependent.”
Of course, Octavia was no easy opponent either.
Rather than showing displeasure or firing back, she answered with a bright smile.
“I’m joking. I’m preparing for a business restructuring.”
At that, April, Princess burst into laughter.
“So you’re such a delightful person. How did I not notice this before?”

Favorability increased [+5]

Countess Hertan, displeased by her composed demeanor, deliberately broached the main topic.
“Setting that aside, are you truly in a romantic relationship with the Admiral?”
A tea party, unlike the Holy Temple or birthday banquets, was a place where private matters could be discussed.
It would have been the perfect opportunity to probe into the scandal.
When Octavia smiled while delaying her answer, the Countess let out a knowing laugh.
“Just as I thought. These days, young people engage in one-night romances all the time, don’t they? It’s the age of free love, after all. If your partner is of the Royal Family, becoming their mistress would be quite the honor.”
“I would appreciate your discretion, Countess Hertan.”
At Octavia’s measured words, even those seated beyond the other princesses at the table, who had been eavesdropping, fell silent.
It was as good as a directive to hold one’s tongue regarding the affairs of the esteemed Royal Family.
‘Surely… even if the scandal were true, this wouldn’t develop into a serious relationship…’
Just as the Countess was turning this over in her mind, her attendant, the Baron’s Daughter, bristled and rose to her feet.
“How dare a commoner presume to command the Countess—”
Then she caught sight of Octavia’s gentle yet chilling smile and fell silent. She had belatedly sensed the peculiarity in the hushed atmosphere.
The princesses were exchanging glances with one another.
Octavia, contrary to her notorious reputation, possessed a virtuous and innocent appearance that was beyond reproach.
The Admiral’s recent conduct and the fact that Octavia remained unharmed thus far served as evidence.
Even those who had been uncertain until now became completely convinced.
‘Men, really…’
In truth, this alone was sufficient explanation.
“What were we discussing?”
Octavia, glancing at her wristwatch, smoothly changed the subject.
“Ah, we were talking about gifts, weren’t we? Luminous Stone has the effect of blocking Chaos-realm attacks. The higher the grade, the stronger the resistance.”
May nodded and fingered her necklace.
“I’ve been anxious lately, so I’m truly grateful.”
Then Chloe approached and bowed respectfully to the princesses.
“Thank you for inviting me to such a pleasant gathering. I see you’re wearing the brooch I gave you. It’s truly an honor.”
Tick.
Octavia’s violet eyes turned toward the second hand of her wristwatch.
‘Now.’
“It’s now.”
Clang—!
A teacup shattered with a sudden flash of brilliant light.
May held the handle of the cup, her face drained of all color.
The radiance from the luminous stone hanging around her neck gradually dimmed.
‘There was a reason I went to such lengths to seize the luminous stone.’
Stripping away every opportunity and coincidence granted to the protagonists—that was only the beginning.

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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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