Don’t Look for the Resurrected Villainess - Chapter 102
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 102
“It was because I was lacking and foolish that precious lives were lost. In the end, it was the result of my own inadequacy. Lost lives cannot return, and even if I spend my lifetime atoning to them, my sins cannot be forgiven.”
“But Lord Heinrih, you were also deceived.”
At that moment, Heinrih gazed intently at Anelli.
“What deceived me was…”
Originally, he had no intention of saying this much. Because speaking of it would only reveal his own foolishness.
However, once he brought up this topic in front of Anelli, he couldn’t resist the urge to confess everything.
“What deceived me was your letter.”
“What?”
“A fake letter crafted to imitate your handwriting. I was played for a fool because my feelings were discovered.”
The Heinrih of that time was younger and more hot-blooded. That was also the driving force that made him harbor unnecessary hope.
“So how shameful a defeat it was. I became a lord who couldn’t even raise his head before his subordinates.”
Everything was humiliating. It was inevitable that it would take time for Heinrih to muster courage toward the throne again.
He had to overcome not just the humiliation of defeat, but also the deep disillusionment and shame contained in that process.
“…I really didn’t know they had used me as well.”
“Of course I know you had nothing to do with it. I don’t resent you.”
Despite Heinrih’s words, Anelli remained silent for a long time. A faint anger was also evident in her coldly hardened expression.
Heinrih became curious. Was the anger Anelli was feeling now due to pity for his situation?
If that were the case, could he expect the beginning of emotions born from sympathy from her?
‘To think I’m still not coming to my senses after losing innocent lives while being intoxicated with emotions.’
As Heinrih gloomily composed himself, Anelli’s quiet murmur reached his ears.
“…He said to get angry when you’re angry.”
“Hm?”
Anelli took a deep breath as if making some resolution. Then she suddenly raised her gaze and spoke to Heinrih.
“Someone defined me as a villainess. But they say they’re the protagonist.”
“Protagonist? Who said that?”
“Can’t you see their sinister aura is extraordinarily vicious? Calling themselves the protagonist – their brain must be underdeveloped.”
“What are you talking about?”
Heinrih looked bewildered at Anelli’s incomprehensible words.
“What if someone intentionally assigned roles to complete a story they decided on, and that’s why you suffered a one-sided defeat in a battle you could have won?”
At Anelli’s words, which seemed to know something, Heinrih furrowed his brow. After pausing for a moment, he slowly answered.
“…Regardless of who intervened, the fact that I was defeated due to my incompetence doesn’t change.”
“Are you saying you’ll submit to the results?”
“Regarding past events, yes. But the future is different. If I find out who it was, I’d like to repay them.”
As if it were the correct answer, Anelli smiled with curved eyes. It was a beautiful and intense smile that momentarily captivated one’s gaze.
“Then that’s fortunate.”
A cold voice flowed from between lips curved more radiantly than ever before.
“Since our intentions align, we can repay them thoroughly.”
* * *
After the Empress’s tea time, the gifts coming to the palace doubled. However, because the gazes of the noble ladies I encountered at the tea time wouldn’t leave my mind for a while, I wasn’t particularly pleased even when looking at the gifts.
There was also the fact that I had already accumulated enough money to not care much about it.
What I wanted more than that was the authority to freely roam the Imperial Palace. But the Emperor laughed and dismissed my proposal to find the sinister aura.
It seemed the Imperial House didn’t take the ‘sinister aura’ I mentioned very seriously.
According to the mice scurrying around the Imperial Palace, Count of Penderon submitted petitions day after day saying ‘we must immediately ask the Reviver to find the sinister aura,’ but it wasn’t working at all.
It was truly regrettable that the Emperor ignored my warning.
It seemed he didn’t feel the seriousness from just the crows increasing significantly above the Imperial Palace and swarms of mice constantly popping out from somewhere. The same with the cat sounds echoing every night.
‘After all the trouble I went through to appease those creatures, there’s no reward.’
I didn’t want to be violent about it.
“Crow.”
The crow, completely absorbed in the joy of receiving all kinds of gems, flew over today as well, volunteering to help me.
When I took out an unusually large sapphire gemstone, it made a fuss as if it would give me its own heart.
“I’d like you to deliver a message to the outside.”
[I have many acquaintances. I can deliver anything!]
“There’s a bird I know. I want to send a message to that bird. It would be even better if you could bring it here. I can tell you where it lives.”
I was worried about what to do if it refused, but the crow, blinded by the sapphire, agreed without a second thought.
‘Well, it’s bold enough to swagger around in front of the caged Dura’han without a care.’
After sending the crow away, I left the pavilion.
My destination was the Black Tower. I wondered if there was something I had missed.
Thanks to Heinrih, who accompanied me, dismissing the palace servants, I could search the inside of the tower without restraint.
However, despite my enthusiastic departure, all I gained was being covered in white dust.
‘There’s nothing here…’
The impression I felt when I first arrived here remained the same. The interior was just old and full of dust from being abandoned for a long time, with no particularly useful clues visible.
This tower was closed 40 years ago.
If the interior items were cleared out 40 years ago, there’s a possibility the key isn’t in the Imperial Palace… Is there no way to know the situation from that time?
Having finished searching the tower interior without any significant results, I stood in front of the entrance looking up at the shabby exterior.
As I stood with my arms crossed, lost in thought, Heinrih beside me casually started a conversation.
“Wouldn’t it be better to formally present yourself as the Creator’s Reviver and operate that way?”
“Why should I?”
“All the talented people in the world would gather to help the Reviver. If there’s an organization with enemies, it would be convenient to have people to command. You could find whatever you’re looking for quickly.”
Looking at Heinrih with puzzlement, I tilted my head sideways.
“For whose benefit?”
I asked out of genuine curiosity, but Heinrih seemed to think there was a barb in my words. After stopping mid-sentence in confusion, he soon lowered his voice seriously.
“Of course you wouldn’t like the current Royal Court, but I will definitely reclaim it. I’ll make sure the Royal Court doesn’t exploit the Reviver’s prestige.”
Ah, does he think I’m not gathering followers because of the issue of staying in the Imperial Palace?
“I think you’re misunderstanding – I don’t just dislike the Royal Court, I also dislike the Royal Court.”
“Also?”
“I dislike people. If I didn’t have something I needed, I wouldn’t have stayed here.”
As strength entered my arms, my body naturally hunched up.
Especially here, there are too many people. People who fear me, people who killed me.
I wanted to quickly finish what I had to do and leave.
“I prefer being a guest who can leave anytime, rather than being the leader of some group.”
“But wouldn’t it be good to make a few trustworthy people?”
When I stared at Heinrih without answering, he smiled awkwardly and averted his gaze.
“I won’t deny that I have some hope of becoming such a person myself.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t trust people.”
The answer came without deep consideration.
“That’s why relationships where we don’t need to exchange such things are the best.”
Heinrih fell silent for a moment at my words. Then he suddenly asked back in a dark voice.
“Do you really not trust, or is that right?”
“What do you mean?”
I looked at him with puzzlement, but he didn’t add any particular explanation.
Is it because I asked Heinrih for help? But what I agreed to – lending power to his political authority – is more like a transaction.
“Of course I trust transactions based on reasonable mutual interests. I think the transaction between Lord Heinrih and myself is the same. What I’m saying is…”
“No, I understand.”
Heinrih, who had been looking at me with ambiguous eyes, cut off my words quite decisively. His momentarily dark expression returned to his usual gentle and calm look.
“If that judgment is fair to everyone, I’m fine with it.”
It was an answer that left some uneasiness, and just as I was about to probe further, something black suddenly poked its head out from the bushes right next to the Black Tower.
[Captain?]
Along with the now all-too-familiar title.
[Is that you, Captain?]
“…Good heavens.”
[It’s the Captain.]
“What’s wrong?”
Seeing me frozen stiff, Heinrih looked puzzled. After moving my lips soundlessly, I took a shallow breath and calmly turned to look at Heinrih.
“Could you, perhaps, take a look around the area for a moment?”
“Around the area?”
He still seemed bewildered by my sudden request, but upon discovering the animal that had suddenly appeared, he let out a low exclamation as if he understood.
“Ah, of course.”
While I watched Heinrih’s retreating figure, the animal completely emerged from the bushes and stood before me.
[Captain, I’m relieved to meet you like this.]
The animal was a cat with jet-black fur and a slender build. The cat with its long tail raised looked up at me with yellow eyes.
“No, where on earth did you pop out from…? You’re a Dura’han, right?”
[I greet you. I am Minte, the fourth Knight wandering in search of my lost head.]
Minte—that was the very Dura’han Bak had told me about.
To think there were only two Dura’han sleeping in the Imperial Palace. Good heavens, wasn’t the Empire’s Royal Court actually destined for ruin? Am I really the savior of the Royal Court?
“Where exactly were you sleeping before you appeared? And how did you transform and get in here? Didn’t any other humans catch you?”
[I awakened in the forest outside this capital. I came looking for you after hearing that you were here, Captain.]
He heard that I was in the Imperial Palace?
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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