Don’t Look for the Resurrected Villainess - Chapter 134

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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 134

Palides jumped up and waved his hands dismissively. Then he scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

“In the past, I didn’t even dare cry in front of the Captain…”

[Back then, there were too many beings that needed the Captain’s attention.]

Minte, who had been quietly listening nearby, supplemented Palides’ explanation.

[We couldn’t burden the Captain with our concerns as well.]

“That’s right. But now it’s a bit more… honestly, I’m happy that we seem to have the Captain to ourselves. Unlike the past, it feels like the Captain now thinks of us as special.”

I felt somewhat bewildered. Since the Dura’han always praised the Captain of the past, I hadn’t expected at all that there might be aspects where I was better than her.

To be more honest, I was actually jealous of that Captain.

Of her, who received such loyalty from these knights. Of the master of these noble knights who maintained their loyalty even after losing their heads.

It was even more so because I couldn’t identify myself with her.

“I’m really glad we got to meet the Captain.”

Hearing Palides’ bright words, I quietly lowered my gaze. Somehow my stomach felt queasy.

I was truly happy that she didn’t express it as being glad to meet me ‘again’.

The words that lingered on the tip of my tongue could never be spoken.

* * *

That the Empress might collapse in 5 days.

When Heinrih received Anelli’s message, he couldn’t believe it at first.

Because in regular checkups, the Empress’s personal physician always gave opinions that she was healthy with no abnormalities.

‘Does it mean she’ll be attacked by someone?’

In times like these?

Heinrih calmly went through in his mind those who had motives to attack the Empress. In the recent political situation, the part that had changed significantly was undoubtedly Heinrih’s rapid rise.

Unlike the Emperor who showed lukewarm reactions regarding Maxel, the Empress seemed to subtly support Heinrih, so if someone harbored dissatisfaction, it was likely to be a supporter of Maxel.

Even so…

‘Someone so loyal to Maxel that they would harm Mother for his sake?’

Was there anyone who showed such fanatical loyalty to Maxel?

Heinrih hurried to the Empress’s Palace with doubts in mind.

Fortunately, the Empress seemed to have no particular schedule and welcomed Heinrih warmly. Then she gladly prepared refreshments in the garden.

“You don’t forget this mother and come to visit me, I’m so grateful to my prince.”

“How could I forget to visit Mother? It’s a duty I should naturally fulfill.”

“This mother already knows that people’s hearts are not constant.”

Heinrih knew it had been long since Maxel had set foot in the Empress’s Palace. Maxel considered that the Empress wouldn’t be of great help to him. It was because of the Emperor’s nature of being wary of maternal relatives.

Throughout their lives, the Empress’s family had lived humbly before the Imperial House. However, even after all these years, the Emperor had not tried to give them great power.

Even though the reason he chose the current Empress in the first place was because of her humble family background.

Naturally, Maxel would have learned from watching this as well.

“Not everyone is like that.”

“Like your heart toward the second daughter of Roam?”

“Mother…”

Heinrih coughed awkwardly with an embarrassed face. The Empress, who had been looking at him kindly, turned her gaze to the flowers blooming in the garden.

“I thought you would be a bit more stubborn.”

“Stubborn?”

“Do you know how happy you looked when your gaze was directed toward her?”

A faint blush appeared on Heinrih’s cheeks. He had never heard from another person’s mouth what he looked like when looking at Anelli.

That he looked happy – it was surprising that he couldn’t hide it so much.

“As a mother, she was… honestly, more worrisome than delightful as a young lady. But if you wanted her, I would have earnestly tried to win her over. The two of you seemed to get along quite well too.”

“Just your words are enough, thank you.”

“I heard she disappeared.”

“Yes.”

“She wanted it, and you granted her wish.”

Heinrih said nothing. However, the Empress smiled faintly as if she knew everything.

At her reaction, Heinrih asked casually.

“Are you not angry?”

“Why would I be?”

“…His Majesty said that if she left of her own will, it would be mocking the Imperial House.”

Of course, it was Heinrih who had calmed the angry Emperor. Saying that if it had been her own intention, would she have disappeared so suddenly like this? Weren’t the gifts piled up in that palace still there as they were?

Since there seemed to be some strange circumstances, he would quietly investigate for now.

But the Empress, who asserted that she had left of her own will, showed no anger at all.

“Well, isn’t that such a natural choice?”

The Empress quietly gazed at the fully bloomed flowers. They were bright yellow flowers shaped like overlapping stars.

With countless of them gathered together, they looked like a sky full of starlight.

“How suffocating this place must be.”

“…Mother.”

“I understand. The feeling of hating such a cold palace.”

It was the first time the Empress had so directly revealed hostility toward the Imperial House and the Emperor.

Heinrih lost his words and stared blankly at his mother. The Empress was still looking at the garden.

“I wanted pure love. Not this palace full of turmoil, but just one person’s constant love was what I dreamed of.”

It was gossip from long ago. The woman the Emperor desired. But the woman who didn’t want the Emperor.

A fairy tale-like story whose truth was unknowable, floating on the air of some tavern.

“It was a futile old dream.”

The Empress, who sighed quietly, withdrew her gaze from the garden. She looked at Heinrih with a calm face after drinking her tea.

“I’m glad at least one child who resembles me remains.”

It was a smile I had always thought was purely affectionate. But at this moment, Heinrih realized that the Empress’s smile was not affectionate.

“I’m glad you’re a child who can respect the freedom of the one you love.”

That it was a smile born not of peace, but of resignation.

“I’m glad that I… resemble Mother.”

At Heinrih’s answer, the Empress’s smile became even brighter. This time, her voice truly contained pure joy and happiness.

“I’m thinking of visiting my maternal home soon. Since it’s been a long time, I was planning to move quietly, but would you like to come with me if it’s alright?”

“Your maternal home?”

“Yes. The date will probably be…”

The Empress paused briefly to search her memory. After frowning and pondering, she finally remembered the date and spoke in a bright voice.

“In 5 days.”

Heinrih’s eyes widened slightly.

He stared quietly at the Empress, who had an excited expression like a young girl, saying it was a visit after a long time. Then he lowered his gaze slightly and answered calmly.

“Yes, I would like to accompany you.”

Through the gently rippling tea, Heinrih saw his own tense expression.

In 5 days. Those words made his heart sink.

* * *

Lilia stayed only at the mansion the entire time, just as she had boasted.

Furthermore, she treated everyone with a consistently kind and gentle attitude, as if she didn’t want to offend anyone.

The employees seemed to easily open their hearts to this behavior, and according to the Dura’han’s surveillance, she was mainly gaining sympathy.

And once again, I was the villainess standing at the opposite end. It seemed my past image remained among the employees.

‘Since I had so openly bullied Lilia.’

In their eyes, I was clearly still the ‘second young lady who used to act wickedly.’

Meanwhile, an atmosphere of avoiding me formed among the employees. Surprisingly, this wasn’t created by Lilia.

“For Sister to do such things. She must be quite desperate.”

If it weren’t for Mother keeping the employees quiet about my existence, she would have been ready to instruct them to spread bad rumors outside.

Of course, Sister’s such petty scheming was the kind that both Mother and Father despised. Especially since it was too much like street ruffian behavior for a Young Duke to commit, Father’s disappointment was considerable.

However, Father didn’t call Sister separately to scold her. Instead, he only told me to ‘endure it since she’s acting this way because she lost what she desperately wanted.’

“Endure it.”

To endure it since she’s acting this way because she lost what she desperately wanted.

How could I not smile upon hearing those words?

I smiled so brightly and answered that I would, so very easily.

Perhaps sensing some ducal bearing in my response, Father gave me a small task as a test. It was the job of reviewing Roam’s collateral bloodlines.

Since Roam has such noble blood, there are cases where collateral relatives are cast out according to strict standards, and he entrusted me with that selection.

Since Father would check once more whatever I selected anyway, it simply meant he wanted to test how accurate my judgment was.

The work itself wasn’t particularly significant, so I wasn’t surprised since I had long expected this task would be given to me.

‘Actually, I was waiting for it.’

This was also work I needed. Because these documents were…

“Anelli!”

Documents that Prisian Sister absolutely had to see.

I glanced at Prisian Sister, who had once again entered without knocking today, then turned my attention back to the documents.

Sister, who must have come after hearing I’d received work from Father, rudely strode right up to my desk.

“So he gave you work, and it was just this kind of menial task?”

“Even without Sister monitoring me, I plan to work hard at it in my own way. So don’t worry and go polish your outer beauty instead. You’re going to be a bride soon.”

Sister frowned at my words. However, instead of getting angry, she glanced at the documents on the desk.

Her gaze landed exactly on the document I had wanted to show her.

“What are these documents?”

“As you can see, families to exclude from the collateral lines.”

“…Is that so?”

“Why? Don’t they seem worthy of exclusion? From what I can see, these people probably don’t have a trace of Roam blood left.”

“Right, there wouldn’t be a trace of Roam blood.”

The Kendale Baron Family written in the documents were people who had grown too distant to be called the same bloodline, so Father would definitely filter them out this time.

But these people have wealth and connections built up over many years by flaunting their status as Roam’s collateral branch.

Moreover, they’re living it up as influential figures in their region. It meant their power was surprisingly substantial.

“Ah, come to think of it, Baron Kendale seemed to have attended this banquet, so he’s probably still in the Capital. I should process this quickly and deliver the news before he leaves.”

As I muttered as if to myself, Prisian Sister’s eyes flashed.

“…Should I help?”

At her eager reaction, I struggled to suppress my laughter.

Of course, naturally you should help. That’s why I showed it to you.

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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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