Disqualified as a Villainess - Chapter 62

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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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#62.

Kelsedny Admiral could not bring himself to tell the Ludovisi Representative outright: “The place where your daughter is headed will soon become a catastrophe capable of destroying the nation.”
Emperor Arseno’s voice echoed through his mind.

“Keldi, do not involve yourself in this matter. It is dangerous for you in your current state with a damaged Core.”

On the surface, it resembled the concerned words of an older brother using a pet name for his younger sibling. Yet every word that fell from the Emperor’s lips carried the weight of imperial decree and the binding force of military law.

“Without you, things become troublesome. I cannot afford to divide my attention between the Great Empire and the Sea Territory.”

In another light, the reasoning was utterly self-serving.
The Admiral returned to his Quarters and gazed out the window overlooking the Garden, lost in thought.
The vibrant Garden, the image of her crouching beside Prince Jeriel to peer at mushrooms or speaking to trees—it was etched into his memory.

“You’re going to the Empire? Then I’ll need a recharge.”

She would appear without warning and pester him by taking his hand.
Yet despite her initial crude remarks about a “sleeping partner arrangement,” everything she had done since was nothing but innocent contact.
She did not seem to be particularly aggressive by nature.
At some point, he had simply allowed her to do as she wished.
The state of their touching neither displeased nor pleased him.

“What if.”

She had spoken those ominous words, her platinum hair flowing like melted sunlight.

“Would it become difficult for you, Admiral, if I disappeared?”

The Admiral rose from his seat, turning over the distinction between difficulty and inconvenience in his mind.
‘Had she known she would be sent to a dangerous place?’
Since the Western Border lay outside the jurisdiction, there was a high probability she would encounter Chaos Entities before the gate even opened, or die in some unforeseen accident.
The personnel Prince Dominic had deployed would hardly protect her. It was possible he had deliberately sent her to her doom.
‘I am her official lover and contractual partner.’
He had sufficient justification to go there.

***

Western Border, Central Base.
Lower-ranked members returning from their gathering mission complained incessantly.
“This is all pointless labor, isn’t it? What use are these scraps of grass?”
“If you’re going to make us work like herbalists, at least pay us.”
Though their assigned zones were divided, their quarters were centralized, so they couldn’t help but notice that members of other squadrons were drinking or enjoying their leisure time.
Naturally, they had no reason to work hard, and they slacked off midway, failing to meet their quotas.
After the day’s duties ended and during the evening activity report, I tilted my head slightly upon seeing gathering materials far fewer than the quantities I had instructed.
“Why so little? I even kindly provided you with the coordinates.”
At this, one of the lower-ranked members stepped forward brazenly.
“There simply wasn’t enough material to meet the quota.”
“I confirmed the gathering quantities through an extensive ecological network and gave you those instructions.”
I examined the baskets each person had brought back.
“So this is the problem with group assignments.”
Only an eighth-rank member who received a Ludovisi Family scholarship and a timid-looking ninth-rank member had made efforts to exceed their assigned amounts and compensate for others’ shortfalls.
Eventually, another agitated member voiced their grievance.
“You assigned this work because you hated seeing us comfortable anyway, didn’t you? We have no reason to cater to your moods!”
“How dare you speak insubordinately to your Adjutant? The true authority here is the Adjutant.”
Crack—!
Julia, the unit commander, struck the member’s head with a stern voice.
However, these members, having become outcasts within the Dominic Division for their outspoken remarks, had no intention of listening to Julia, who was similarly disliked.
“If you were assigning actual missions, that would be one thing, but this is essentially treating us lower-ranked members with contempt, isn’t it?”
I sat with my arms crossed, my expression blank as I surveyed the members, then spoke calmly.
“Raise your hand if you believe you’re too important for trivial work and wish to be exempted from gathering duties.”
Convinced of the unfairness, the members who had united among themselves raised their hands immediately.
“I’ll do as ordered.”
“So will I.”
Only the two who had faithfully completed their assigned tasks refrained from raising their hands.
My violet eyes turned toward the footsteps of the patrol unit returning from their duties.
“Then how about joining the second patrol unit heading to the Chaos Entity Outbreak Zone?”
The lower-ranked members’ gazes shifted toward the senior members entering, their expressions turning to shock.
“Adjutant Octavia, intermediate-level Chaos Entities have appeared in the outbreak zone. According to the existing Border Guard, this has never happened before—it’s quite strange.”
Behind Ewain, who was reporting, the patrol unit members including Febrien were covered in blood, their appearances grim and savage.
One of the lower-ranked members voiced another complaint.
“Sending us to a place like that is essentially ordering us to die, isn’t it?”
“What about the Shift Post?”
“Isn’t that the same? They say man-eating bears appear there too, so unless we go with at least a second-rank member….”
Faced with their excuses to avoid doing anything at all, deep contempt flashed across my face.
“Since the strong will handle everything anyway, you lot who don’t want to do work befitting your level are planning to just play around and leave?”
“Look at the members of other squadrons who are playing! Why must only we be so busy?”
Perhaps out of fear of Holy Knight Commander Ewain, they didn’t speak informally as they had before.
“I understand what you all think.”
Octavia rose from her seat with a smile.
“You’ve all worked hard. There’s a fine meal prepared, so wash up, change your clothes, and gather in the dining room.”
After Octavia and the others left.
The lower-ranking soldiers who had gotten their way through obstinacy snorted derisively.
“What a disrespectful woman. We’ll have to train her to listen to us properly from now on.”
“Even if she put on airs at first, she won’t be able to act carelessly toward us, who belong to the Prince’s Division. Besides, if even one of us dies, who knows how the Prince will react.”
The optimistic soldiers began to berate the two who had cooperated with Octavia, treating them as traitors.
“Why are you listening to that woman? Don’t you know we’re a team? We need to speak with one voice to avoid being treated unfairly.”
“She’s just pretending to be nice, hoping to get something to eat. We’re the ones bearing the burden.”
The soldiers who had been complaining headed toward the dining room.
Soon they widened their eyes at the sight of a lavish upper-class meal spread before them—food rarely seen before.
“I guess this is what it’s like where a wealthy young lady lives. It’s certainly different.”
“We should eat our fill while we’re here.”
Logan, who had arrived early and was sitting with a newspaper spread open, glanced at those taking their seats.
Soon he frowned upon seeing them pile food high on their plates.
“Are you eating to stage an economic boycott?”
“Duke, we’ve had a very difficult day today.”
“What did you do? Judging by the fact that you came straight here without even washing, it couldn’t have been that difficult.”
Just as they were about to exaggerate and elaborate on their day—which had consisted of little more than plucking a few weeds and lying around—Lothear entered in formal attire and stopped upon seeing them.
“Everyone except the Duke, stop eating and stand up.”
Those who knew he was Octavia’s attendant or secretary held back their sneers.
“Do we need the Ludovisi commoner princess to arrive before we can pick up a spoon? Acting like royalty even in a place like this….”
Crash—!
Lothear, who had forcefully slammed the mocking soldier’s face into a plate, lifted his glasses with one hand.
“I don’t repeat myself.”
The lower-ranking soldiers scrambled to their feet upon seeing the table crack.
“Alma and Silas are excepted. All other members of the Dominic Division can no longer use any Ludovisi Family resources, facilities, or warps.”
“What did you…say?”
“As was the case with your original mission, you can only receive basic support.”
Without Ludovisi Family support, they would have only the barracks and emergency rations—essentially a harsh level of self-sufficiency.
“This decision was made because you declared yourselves freeloaders. You cannot enjoy rights while neglecting your duties.”
At Lothear’s firm voice, the soldiers’ faces went pale.
But they didn’t want to grovel and say they would work hard from now on.
“Hmph. It’s disgusting. Let’s go.”
“Whatever grand compensation they offered, we who were just pulling grass wouldn’t have received even a pittance anyway.”
“Right, we can just go to another squadron’s quarters instead.”
Logan, who had been listening quietly, slowly shook his head.
“Of course you’ll be camping at the Northeast Outpost Barracks. This entire Central Base was built with Ludovisi Family funds.”
“No matter what, we’re members of the Royal Unit. How can we accept such treatment from a commoner woman?”
Watching these men whine incessantly, Logan’s patience finally snapped. His lips twisted savagely as he spat out curses—a habit he’d been restraining lately.
“I despise every last one of them. These worthless bastards who can’t even pull their own weight dare to demand everything good.”
“Well, given our limitations, there are naturally constraints on what we can accomplish….”
They wielded their own weakness as a weapon until the very end, but Lothear, who had drawn out his notebook, remained coldly unmoved.
“According to regulations, any personnel under Royal Authority Direct Operation who commits insubordination or mutiny against their superior is subject to immediate execution.”
“What regulations? I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
Secretary Lothear snapped his notebook shut with an audible crack.
The green eyes behind his glasses gleamed with sinister intent.
“This is a matter warranting immediate execution. Will you follow our Young Lady’s orders and leave now, or will you continue your insolence and die by national law?”
At the lethal aura emanating from him—far different from an ordinary secretary—the team members’ faces drained of all color.

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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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