Disqualified as a Villainess - Chapter 33

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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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#33.

After finishing our conversation, I walked through the corridor with autumn flowers of muted hues and falling leaves as my only companions, when I heard someone calling my name. I turned around.
“Bia.”
It was my older brothers, Samuel and Vittore.
“You’re leaving without even having a meal with us? How cold.”
They were already aware of my positive changes, but they didn’t quite know how to treat their youngest sister, who had always bickered with them.
“Yes.”
My eldest brother Samuel awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck as he looked at me.
After all, his sister—who spoke her mind freely regardless of who she was talking to or their station—was backing away with an uncomfortable expression.
Samuel carefully broached the subject.
“Why don’t you… come back home now?”
“I’m fine.”
Seeing Samuel’s embarrassed face at the immediate rejection, Vittore stepped forward.
Unlike his brother, he approached the matter rationally and logically.
“Based on my analysis, I’ve determined that our nagging and criticism cause you more stress than staying at Uncle’s House. I promise to correct this issue and prevent it from happening again.”
I stared blankly into empty space for a moment, then suddenly bolted away.
The two brothers watched their younger sister flee rapidly, then exchanged glances with each other.
“She must really hate us if she’s running away like that.”
“Yes. I think she dislikes you a bit more.”
“Me? Why?”
“Your expression and tone of voice are harsh, like a crime boss. You should have spoken as gently as I do.”
At Vittore’s words, Samuel touched his face with an exaggerated expression of hurt.

“No matter what happens, always take your sister’s side.”

Samuel was recalling his mother’s final words.

“Show favoritism, you say? Understood.”

I’m not sure why the young Vittore’s abnormal response suddenly came to mind again.
“Vittore, does Octavia still believe her mother’s death was her fault?”
“No.”
Vittore shook his head.
“It seems she’s already forgotten such emotions. Like someone who has lived a completely different life for a long time.”
To his eyes, trained in observing human behavior, Octavia’s gestures, gait, and expressions had clearly changed from before.
Samuel shared the same doubts.
“Octavia was good at her studies during her Academy days, but was she really that competent? Academic ability and practical skill are different things, after all.”
“Whether incompetent or competent, she remains my favored younger sister regardless. My attitude toward her might shift slightly, but that’s all.”
Vittore added with a slight smile.
“Even if my younger sister destroys the family, I’d scold her but still take her side. That’s what an older brother does.”

***

Kelsedny Admiral maintained his usual schedule.
As both commander and imperial prince of the ruling nation, since arriving in the Kingdom, he had been reviewing matters related to the Empire and reporting to the imperial court.
‘It’s essentially a vacation.’
Unless a formidable force of nature like Octavia appeared, it was simply the same day repeating endlessly.
He did not tire of repetition. Rather, he found stability in orderliness and pursued perfection that was neither jagged nor misaligned.
He had sometimes wondered if his nature suited administrative work better than military service, but in terms of sinking warships and vessels to create a clean horizon, warfare held slightly more appeal.
As he savored the whiskey in his teacup while reading a confidential entry application report, he tilted his head.

「Approval Proposal for Imperial Order Society Personnel Entry」

The documents were a request for approval for a large contingent of Priests from the Empire to enter the Kingdom.
It appeared that a high-ranking official was moving about in secret.
Setting aside the close relationship as the mother country’s Religious Order, it was a request that deviated from protocol.
Considering that Prince Jeriel, who ranked high in the succession order, was in critical condition, and given the position of the Kingdom’s Holy Temple Society and Royal Family—who would have no reason to seek aid from the Empire—conflict could easily arise.
Though the grounds for refusal were sound, my hand refused to move the pen for some reason when an ominous knock suddenly echoed at the door.
Knock, knock, knock.
The Admiral’s narrow eyes narrowed further upon hearing the sound alone, then returned to their usual state as I discerned who stood beyond the door.
Without fail, disaster arrived in various forms, always catching me unaware.
“Hello?”
Octavia, who had come bearing dessert for her lover with a picnic basket in hand, smiled with her violet eyes gleaming.
Since the entire world already recognized her and the Admiral as lovers, she could enter so brazenly without permission.
“I’ve made sandwiches for the Admiral. Have you heard of the ‘ex-boyfriend sandwich’ and ‘ex-girlfriend sandwich’? They’re quite famous.”
I had never heard of such a thing.
Making sandwiches from dead ex-lovers—what perverse meaning could the sandwich she had brought possibly hold?
“I’m on duty. Come back later.”
The Admiral spoke coldly and tried to send her away, but such tactics were ineffective against her.
“I’ve come regarding the Admiral’s work.”
“What is your business?”
“The Order Society, the Imperial Church, must have sent an entry request. I’m asking for your approval.”
“Entry is possible, but confidentiality of identity cannot be granted.”
“Knowing that the Admiral is essentially a military field manual incarnate, I’ve prepared something.”
“Why do you compare me to such a thing?”
If it was a comparison to a guidebook containing military doctrine, it wasn’t an unfavorable one, so I said nothing more.
Suddenly, she opened the picnic basket and turned it upside down.
Thud, thud, thud—!
Sandwiches and fruit tumbled out, and as the basket’s bottom opened, thick documents fell from the hidden compartment within.
Though entry was unrestricted, basic body searches and luggage inspections were conducted, so she had hidden them under the guise of a lover’s thoughtfulness.
“The documents contain classified materials that cannot yet be leaked externally. Please don’t scold the guard who conducted my search too harshly.”
Octavia smiled gracefully with her eyes and placed her hand over mine.
“If you like the sandwich I made, please approve the secret entry.”
After Octavia left, I picked up one of the sandwiches scattered across the desk and took a bite.
“…Is this an assassination attempt?”
It tasted absolutely dreadful.
I picked up the thick documents and examined them, then let out a sigh.

「Purpose: To resume development of enhanced alchemy forbidden by Kingdom law and to conduct national interest projects in coordination with the Imperial Church.」
It was a statement in which the paramount condition of “the interests of the Lucifer Empire” was established.
The sandwich was a disaster terrible enough to warrant the name, but there were sufficient reasons to grant approval.

***

Prince Jeriel’s ceremony day had arrived at last.
Chloe had purified herself and completed her preparations for the consecration ritual.
“Saint Uriana’s ceremonial effects have been stalling, haven’t they? I believe that with your consecration involved, things will surely be different.”
Those flattering Chloe, a second-rank consecration priest, had begun to multiply.
Just yesterday, she had purified a vast contaminated zone with a single second-rank pure consecration and received universal acclaim.
With her previous abilities, such a feat would have taken years.
Fearing the Holy Temple Society would lose talent to the Imperial Church, they had given her the finest treatment.
Within recognition rather than contempt, Chloe finally felt she had found her place.
Consecration was known to be the most effective treatment for shadow encroachment syndrome.
Moreover, all the rare high-rank consecration users had already departed, tempted by the conditions the Order Society—the Central Church of the Empire—had presented.
With Saint Uriana’s divine power weakened and third-rank priests having conducted the consecrations thus far, merely halting the encroachment would have been the best they could manage.
‘This ceremony must encounter failure midway.’
Mere assertions held no power.
She would demonstrate that Saint Uriana’s divine power had corrupted, have her expelled from the ceremony, then lead the ritual entirely herself and produce results.
That was Chloe’s objective.
Before the Temple Main Hall, many had gathered.
“Lady Chloe, might you grant me a single word of blessing!”
“You who possess the power of sacred language, would you please pray for my health?”
Though the ceremony was meant to be private, people had assembled not only to receive Chloe’s consecration—which had risen seven ranks overnight—but also….
“Lady Chloe, might you tell us about Prince Jeriel’s condition?”
The information that Prince Jeriel suffered from shadow encroachment syndrome, which had been concealed all this time, had spread.
“By now, hardly anyone doesn’t know. This older brother has been useful in his own way, hasn’t he?”
Ethan, who had become her guard knight on the condition of secretly assisting her, chuckled softly.
For her accomplishments to be recognized, more people needed to know, so Chloe had instructed him accordingly.
Of course, she had also dramatically increased the number of observers permitted to witness the ceremony.
Chloe stopped in her tracks upon spotting Octavia standing before the ceremony hall entrance.
Octavia, denied entry, was engaged in a dispute with the Temple priests.
“Even though observation permission has already been granted, you’re still refusing me entry?”
The priest’s expression turned sour as he scrutinized Octavia from head to toe. Everything she wore was from renowned luxury brands—exquisitely crafted jeweled silk shoes, an expensive silk charmeuse dress, and a cashmere coat.
“We cannot admit those who indulge in vanity and extravagance. Who comes to a sacred ceremony dressed in such luxurious attire? From your head to your feet, you must be wearing at least a hundred million gibs worth.”
“I have a body that cannot wear just anything. And aren’t you the one stained by worldly concerns, calculating prices so carefully?”
Eventually, another priest stepped forward and told her the truth.
“It is Prince Dominic’s order, out of concern for spiritual contamination.”
“As far as I know, the contributions our family provides are quite substantial to the Church’s operational funds. Has the Temple’s order deteriorated to the point of prioritizing royal commands over faith, or is it simply a matter of your own lack of discernment?”
At Octavia’s smile, the priest let out an awkward cough.
“No matter how much the Ludovisi Family pours into donations, the fact that your mother passed away from shadow encroachment syndrome does not disappear. This decision was made to prevent accidents that might occur during the ceremony, so we ask for your understanding.”
Chloe had stopped walking and stood watching the farce unfold.
Octavia tilted her head, her arms crossed.
“Yet someone of even higher standing has granted observation permission to someone as extravagant and spiritually contaminated as me. What shall we do about that?”
“Are you referring to the Admiral? How long do you intend to exploit the name of such a distinguished person and act as you please? Show some restraint.”
At that moment, a voice as soft as silk wrapped around the ears of those present.
“The Kingdom folk certainly brim with vitality, don’t they?”
The surroundings fell silent in an instant. Time seemed to flow more slowly than usual.
The man who had commanded the atmosphere with mere words possessed hair of pale blue-tinged silver and eyes as clear as a pristine lake—a beautiful figure of uncommon grace.
Behind him stood attendant Priests clad in white cloaks.
The man of extraordinary presence slowly turned his gaze, surveying the space around him.
A delicate silver chain earring, stretching from his ear to his lobe, glimmered with subtle light.
Chloe’s face had gone deathly pale as she stared at the ‘☿’ symbol adorning the earring.
‘I never heard that the Saint of the Empire was coming?’
He was the Saint bearing the title of “Saint of Mercury” from the Central Church of the Empire, and one of Emperor Arseno’s retinue—Matteo Kiyev.
His gentle gaze came to rest upon someone.
“Greetings, Special Devotee. Shall we enter together?”
The one being directly escorted by the Saint and the Emperor’s retinue was none other than Octavia Ludovisi.

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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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