Don’t Look for the Resurrected Villainess - Chapter 118

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 118

 

“Reviver.”

 

As I approached closer, the maid cautiously bowed her head while glancing around nervously.

 

After I told the Emperor not to call me princess, everyone in the palace abandoned that title.

 

It was unfortunate that they chose “Reviver” instead of princess, but at least it was better in that it didn’t bring back old memories.

 

“What’s the matter?”

 

“A-about the banquet dress you’ll be wearing, people have come to take measurements.”

 

The maid glanced toward the cage where Bak was confined and shrank her shoulders.

 

Seeing that the palace servants’ attitude toward Bak hadn’t changed at all from the beginning until now, it seems Bak really acts ferociously when I’m not around.

 

‘Of course, I did deliberately hint for him to act that way, but Bak is certainly doing better than I expected.’

 

After glancing toward Bak to check, I spoke to the maid.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

“Yes!”

 

When I nodded without dragging things out, the maid brightened and started walking. She must really dislike Bak.

 

[Have a safe trip, Captain!]

 

To me, he just looks cute though.

 

* * *

 

During my palace life, I didn’t keep maids by my side except when their service was needed.

 

In the case of dress fittings, since there were staff from the clothing store, the maids’ service wasn’t essential.

 

“Wait outside.”

 

“Yes.”

 

After confirming the drawing room door closed quietly, I slowly turned around. Among the staff who came from the clothing store, I could see someone standing wearing a veil.

 

She was supposedly a seamstress sent from the clothing store, wearing that veil because she had a large scar on her face.

 

Of course, it was all lies.

 

“I’ve sent everyone out, so you may show your face.”

 

Speaking indifferently, I sat on the sofa first.

 

A banquet dress? I had no intention of getting one fitted from the start. Beautiful dresses already filled two rooms in the pavilion, so what was the point?

 

“Since I sent all the maids away, I’m afraid I can’t offer you tea.”

 

Leaning back comfortably against the backrest, I gazed ahead indifferently.

 

The seamstress.

 

“Mother.”

 

No, my mother who had come to visit the pavilion in the humiliating guise of impersonating a seamstress.

 

“The invitation method was rather… vulgar.”

 

It was easy to leave a note at the Roam Estate telling her to enter disguised as clothing store staff. I had a crow blinded by jewels, after all.

 

Since I hadn’t engaged in any activities after the tea time at the Empress’s palace, if Roam wanted to meet me, they had to follow the method I specified.

 

Of course, I knew this method would hurt Mother’s pride.

 

‘That’s exactly why I used this method.’

 

Hiding my twisted intentions with a faint smile, I made excuses calmly.

 

“His Majesty doesn’t look favorably upon my interactions with outsiders.”

 

“I am your mother, and Roam is your family house, so how could we be considered outsiders?”

 

Mother gracefully lifted her veil and walked daintily to sit across from me. It was truly a flawlessly perfect posture.

 

“If that’s what you’d like to believe.”

 

“I was quite surprised by the note. I thought you were confined, but you seem more free than expected.”

 

“Does this look free to you?”

 

At my words, Mother raised her eyebrows. Rolling only her eyes to survey the drawing room, Mother asked in a gentle voice.

 

“…You mean it’s not your will?”

 

“What power could the Creator’s authority, which can neither be seen nor felt, have before earthly power?”

 

Mother narrowed her eyes as if trying to gauge my thoughts and examined my complexion. Then she opened her mouth as if testing me.

 

“I heard you did great things for the Imperial House.”

 

“I didn’t expect you to believe that, Mother.”

 

Shrugging my shoulders, I muttered nonchalantly.

 

“You were the one who taught me not to waste even a speck of emotion on useless matters.”

 

“His Majesty also… would have needed the Creator’s blessing to change successors while maintaining his dignity.”

 

Mother defended the Emperor for now with a reluctant voice. It wasn’t exactly wrong.

 

Although changing successors wasn’t the Emperor’s will, well. The result was that the Creator’s blessing was indeed needed.

 

“You should have asked to be released after being used appropriately.”

 

“Me? To His Majesty?”

 

“Because you are the Reviver chosen by the Creator.”

 

There was no emotion visible in Mother’s eyes as she stared at me intently.

 

“If we had known you would return like this, we could have prepared for the future in a more productive direction.”

 

“I didn’t know.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Did you expect me to… anticipate that I would be beheaded and then revived?”

 

That even this could be part of my plan, that I might be hiding some scheme.

 

Seeing Mother not even hide that she was thinking this way, my mind went cold. I knew she was this kind of person, but experiencing it again after so long was really…

 

“Yes, it was bewildering for all of us.”

 

These were the kinds of words she gave to a daughter she was meeting for the first time after dying and being revived.

 

“Does reaching out like this mean you’re longing for home?”

 

I struggled not to sneer. Fortunately, the time I’d spent living as Mother’s daughter wasn’t wasted, as I could quickly compose my expression rationally.

 

“Honestly, I don’t like being manipulated by the Imperial Palace. I don’t want to rely on the Temple when I have no faith either.”

 

“Yes, I guessed Roam would be most comfortable for you.”

 

As if. Roam was the place I found most disgusting.

 

“A child raised with Roam’s teachings couldn’t find anywhere more comfortable than Roam.”

 

“I expected there would be no place for me to return. But Prisian Sister said something interesting.”

 

I faithfully managed my expression according to Mother’s teachings.

 

Appealing to emotions when dealing with Roam was the most foolish and stupid thing to do.

 

Longing family, betrayal, love-hate relationships. All such sentimental words had to be put aside, and I had to weigh my current objective position and value for Roam not to be suspicious.

 

Thanks to those teachings, I could now easily draw Roam in like this.

 

“She said Lilia was acting strange?”

 

“…She’s just making a few mistakes.”

 

“That child took everything from me, but the Creator chose me. Unlike her who lost her foresight, I carry the world’s reputation.”

 

Moistening my parched lips with my tongue, I continued calmly.

 

“My price for being revived is expensive, Mother.”

 

“Could Roam not handle even that much?”

 

“I’m in a situation where I’m not free enough to have to invite Mother like this.”

 

At my words, an expression appeared on Mother’s face for the first time. It was mockery.

 

“Neither Maxel nor Heinrih can refuse Roam’s hand. Putting whoever you desire on the throne should be sufficient payment.”

 

Mother was speaking under the assumption that I would take the Empress position.

 

‘Well, without committing treason, the Empress position would be the highest position a noble could attain.’

 

I could understand why Heinrih struggled so hard to employ talented commoners. Such arrogant nobles making loyalty oaths. How could one feel any trust in that?

 

“I don’t wish to become the Imperial Palace’s flower. Perhaps because I died once and came back to life, I’ve lost interest in such positions.”

 

“Then?”

 

“Roam cannot pay the price.”

 

“Don’t make me ask twice.”

 

Looking intently at Mother’s face as she frowned in displeasure, I slowly curved my lips upward.

 

“The head of Roam.”

 

A faint crack appeared in Mother’s previously composed expression.

 

“That seems somewhat interesting, Mother.”

 

“You…”

 

“If the Reviver becomes the head of Roam, wouldn’t that mean the Creator’s blessing surrounds Roam?”

 

“So you desire Prisian’s position?”

 

“One flower is enough to offer to the Imperial Palace. But isn’t the reputation of being a Reviver too precious to waste on just being stuck in a vase for admiration?”

 

If they thought they could escape this situation by cutting off Lilia, that would be a grave miscalculation.

 

I wanted Roam to collapse completely. And to achieve that, I had to strike down the heir who loved Roam more than anyone else first.

 

Tilting my head curiously, I spoke.

 

“Sister’s ransom… isn’t even worth discussing.”

 

In the gentle, soft voice I learned from Mother.

 

* * *

 

Mother sent me a dress as a gift.

 

Since Roam would have kept my measurements on file, it wouldn’t have been difficult to tailor the dress. It was slightly loose, but not unwearable.

 

Of course, there were several other places besides Roam that sent dress gifts. However, I deliberately chose Roam’s because it was the most suitable one for me.

 

Before Lilia appeared, it was Mother’s role to guide me as I aimed to become Empress. Not just all my habits and studies, but my appearance as well.

 

So it wasn’t strange that she sent me a dress that suited me.

 

“A Roam dress with a Prince’s escort.”

 

High society, which assigns all sorts of meanings to a single outfit, is tiresome. But I can’t deny that it’s convenient to be able to create misunderstandings with one dress instead of a hundred words.

 

Where the Reviver stays, who her partner is, what dress she wears and how long she remains at the party.

 

Thinking of the people who would add interpretations to each and every one of these trivial details made me laugh involuntarily.

 

“Reviver, it’s time.”

 

I unconsciously turned my head at the voice from outside the door. In the mirror placed nearby, I saw my lavishly adorned appearance.

 

It was the appearance of Anelli Roam that I hadn’t seen in a very long time.

 

The malicious second daughter of Roam, drawing a graceful curve with bright red lips.

 

“His Highness the Prince has arrived.”

 

The door opened, and Heinrih appeared, adorned as lavishly as I was.

 

“You put a lot of effort into this.”

 

“For a special occasion.”

 

I could feel the rustling texture of the dress with each step I took.

 

As I walked toward the banquet hall holding Heinrih’s hand, I felt strangely nostalgic.

 

“You must feel like you’ve returned to the old days.”

 

“Sadly, yes.”

 

My hair, elaborately pinned up after so long, was unbearably heavy with all sorts of dangling accessories attached.

 

Moreover, the dress was also heavy with its voluminous layered skirts and jeweled embellishments. Walking in new shoes on top of all this, it was remarkable that I didn’t fall.

 

Without Heinrih’s escort, I might have swayed ungracefully.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————