Disqualified as a Villainess - Chapter 50

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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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#50.

Count Hertan found himself seized by both fury and dread as he suddenly lost possession of the Gold Mine Land.
The monastery had been obliterated the previous night for reasons unknown, and Marquis Winterford maintained he could divulge nothing about that woman.
‘What manner of person could wield such power?’
Anyone brazen enough to strike at the Night Monastery was no ordinary wielder of influence.
“My dear, did something happen?”
Countess Hertan approached him, her expression grave, as he wrestled with fear and rage.
“What do you mean, my lady?”
“I’ve been barred from the Royal Palace. I cannot even attend the official banquets that all nobles are obligated to grace with their presence.”
“What?”
This couple had thrived by attaching themselves to the powerful at every level, reaping the rewards of such proximity.
The Countess, once a lady-in-waiting to the Queen Regent and a cherished companion to the Princesses, belonged to the upper echelons of high society—yet now her face bore the expression of one who had lost everything.
Her social life had effectively ended.
“What reason did they give?”
“They accused me of openly insulting a member of the Royal Family—a preposterous fabrication. Both that royal and a witness testified against me.”
“Which royal are we discussing?”
“They refused to disclose the name, citing protective measures. I have no recollection of any such incident, and I am always exceptionally careful in my discourse with the nobility.”
Unaware that she had once derided Prince Jeriel—whom she had covered with cloth—as a filthy wretch, she wept with indignation at the injustice.
The bewildered Count pressed further.
“Is there punishment beyond this?”
“My social standing is finished—is this not punishment enough? You purchased the Gold Mine Land recently, did you not? If we leverage that property, we might yet mend our standing with the Royal Family.”
She had been desperately seeking solutions, and had recently obtained valuable intelligence through the Underground Information Guild.
“The Royal Family has apparently set their sights on that location for a major development initiative.”
As the Count absorbed the magnitude of the opportunity he had squandered, his complexion grew increasingly ashen.
“It is gone, my lady. Someone seized it by force yesterday.”
The Countess, who had been dabbing her tears with a handkerchief, widened her eyes in shock.
“What did you say? Who took it?”
“I do not know.”
The Countess’s face flushed crimson with rage.
“Are you telling me we were robbed? How dare you speak such nonsense! Before we were husband and wife, we were partners in enterprise—and now you turn your back on me like this? After all I have done for you!”
“Do you doubt my word? I myself cannot comprehend how such an impossible thing came to pass…”
The Count, who had been directing his anger at his wife, suddenly froze.
‘Could it be…’

“You will pay the price for ignoring my warning.”

The Count trembled with terror, realizing that the mysterious figure’s threat had come to fruition.

“Denounce the Queen Regent’s brother, who cooperated with you.”

If I failed to follow the Mysterious Woman’s directive, there was no telling what would happen next.

***

The Ludovisi Family had received notification from Marquis Winterford of an impending price increase for special alloys supplied to the Acedia Kingdom.
This was a blow that extended beyond the family itself—it would strike at the very heart of the kingdom’s economy, built upon magitech industry.
Rising material costs would drive inflation across the entire realm.
“At least they managed to preserve their pride.”
Whether retaliation or something else, I murmured the words without much concern etched across my face.
I had entered the Royal Palace following my father, who was attending the State Council.
“Lady Octavia.”
A voice called out to stop me as I headed toward the Main Hall.
It was Ethan, who had happened upon me on his way to the Inspection Bureau.
Ethan was looking at me with an expression of barely contained smugness.
“I heard some unfortunate news. Word has it that this situation arose because you offended Marquis Winterford.”
“Correct.”
Believing he had seized the upper hand, he stood before me with unwarranted confidence.
“I’m quite close with him, so I could help you.”
The formidable backing Ethan claimed was none other than Marquis Winterford himself.
Of course, they weren’t directly acquainted.
The Marquis, with the shrewd judgment of a businessman who couldn’t predict which Saint would rise to prominence, had cultivated connections by sponsoring all the Saint candidates—save for Chloe alone, whom he deliberately refused. Thus, he had Count Hertan arrange contact with Ethan, her brother.
Regardless of the circumstances, he could boast of knowing the man, couldn’t he?
With such pride, he shrugged his shoulders.
“That’s enough.”
I shook my head and attempted to leave, but Ethan seized my shoulder and held me in place, his tone shifting to crude familiarity.
“You don’t think this happened because you framed me? You saw it yourself, didn’t you? Nothing came of it in the end.”
“Weren’t you on your way to be summoned by the Inspection Bureau just now?”
“To apologize for the audacity of suspecting me. Since that’s caused the economy to collapse.”
He spoke with the arrogance of a powerful man living above the law, his expression brimming with self-satisfaction.
I stared at him for a moment, then burst into laughter.
“Are you under the delusion that you’re some kind of state-level power capable of moving the nation’s economy? That’s genuinely hilarious.”
“Well, perhaps someone befitting such company?”
He puffed out his chest with arrogance, lifting his chin smugly.
“A wealthy commoner house—I can sway them and more.”
Then, with a sly smile, he placed his hand on my shoulder.
“Depending on what you do, I could even ask him to give the Ludovisi Family a special discount.”
Crack—!
“Aaaahhh!”
A scream tore from Ethan’s throat as his body convulsed and he collapsed to the floor.
Octavia gazed at the electric stun device clutched in her hand. Crackling sparks danced between the electrodes.
“Hmm, decent performance.”
Octavia, who had been admiring it alone, smiled wickedly as she watched Ethan writhe and groan.
“You know, I think you really are quite significant—a lifelong obstacle that will ruin your sister’s future.”
“Still haven’t grasped the situation? I could destroy your entire family through Marquis Winterford.”
Octavia, still wearing that angelic smile, pressed her heel firmly against his chest.
“I don’t usually bother conversing with idiots, but I’ll make an exception this time and explain the situation to you.”
She brandished the electric stun device—a magitech weapon capable of neutralizing ability users like him.
“If this were retaliation as you claim, why didn’t the Marquis simply cut off supplies to just the Ludovisi Family? Why announce a price increase across the entire Kingdom?”
“That’s… because I spoke well of you to him…”
Octavia laughed at his continued bluffing.
“A businessman will trade with anyone if there’s profit in it. The fact that such a man deals with you at all is because fools like you generate wealth for him.”
Indeed, several merchants had begun hoarding special alloys before the price increase.
Ethan’s expression remained bewildered.
“What, did they discover a massive deposit of special alloy in your estate courtyard? I don’t understand why you seem so confident…”
“You’ve really hit upon the crux of it.”
Why would one pay exorbitant prices for water when there’s a well in the courtyard?
The vast quantities of mana-iron sand buried in the land seized from Count Hertan were not merely components for modern civilization’s cutting-edge technology—they were the essential material for crafting special alloys.
Thus, Octavia had leaked information to Marquis Winterford’s faction about discovering alternative resources, and the Marquis had responded swiftly.
In essence, she had seized hegemony over a critical strategic resource, second only to Marquis Winterford himself.
“Ha, I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re talking about.”
Octavia, regarding Ethan with contempt, shouted toward a distant point.
“Over here! I’ve apprehended the one attempting to flee!”
Only then did Ethan notice the priests in black cloaks, his expression turning to confusion.
One priest approached and scrutinized him with cold eyes, sweeping from head to toe. He had been waiting for this moment to settle accounts with the arrogant Ethan.
“Ethan Arces, testimony has emerged that you attempted to embezzle the clergy of the condemned Saint Uriana and sell them to the Chaos Faith.”
“What are you saying?”
The Inspection Bureau priests seized him and began forcibly dragging him away.
Ethan thrashed and screamed.
“Do you have any regrets? Do you know who I have backing me? Marquis Hugo Winterford of the Empire! Count Hertan won’t stand idle either!”
“It was Count Hertan who reported you. Marquis Winterford didn’t even know who you were—you’re quite the liar, aren’t you?”
At the priest’s words, Ethan’s face drained of all color.
“Matters like dereliction of duty, assault on fellow knights, and negligence in your post are hardly worth mentioning.”
The priest, whose expression seemed to say ‘you’re caught red-handed,’ continued.
“There’s also testimony that you conveyed false instructions to a priest during the ceremony, placing Prince Jeriel in danger.”
When the account emerged of how he had caused the cloth to be lifted to obstruct Saint Uriana’s ceremony, Ethan’s face transformed from shock into sheer terror.
“That was an order from Prince Dominic and Chloe!”
For Chloe, this was the moment when a heavy iron ball was added to the shackles of her brother.

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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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