Don’t Look for the Resurrected Villainess - Chapter 176
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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 176
In front of all the palace servants attending to the Empress, I recited a plausible blessing prayer.
Those who firmly believed I was God’s reviver were moved to tears and wiped them away. And they prayed earnestly for their master to awaken soon.
They could not see the light of divine power. Only I could see the power that heavily covered the Empress’s two eyes.
It looked exactly like she was wearing a blindfold.
I could tell that if I removed those things right now, the Empress would awaken. However, I did not do so. Instead, I smiled slightly and said to Heinrih.
“I will soon go to the Lindea River to subjugate monsters. If I show God’s blessing, those wicked creatures will not dare to rampage, and Her Majesty the Empress will also open her eyes.”
Now that I knew I could awaken the Empress, it was time to choose the appropriate timing.
For example, a moment when the Crown Prince, who had incurred God’s wrath, happened to be away, something like that.
Until then, I should moderately search for monsters that weren’t even at the Lindea River, offer some prayers, and take visible actions.
“Don’t you need soldiers? We can’t leave everything entirely to Roam, so the Imperial Palace will cooperate as much as possible.”
“It’s fine. I’ve secured everything I need.”
“Everything?”
“Yes.”
The smile on Heinrih’s lips faded slightly. It was probably because I had hinted that I would soon settle matters with Roam and leave.
However, he soon shook off his bitter expression.
“Well, that’s reassuring. I trust that you will also splendidly resolve the Imperial Palace’s crisis soon.”
“I merely go where God leads me.”
While walking and exchanging insincere pleasantries with the surrounding palace servants in mind, I saw someone walking toward us from afar.
“The Duchess of Roam?”
Heinrih raised his eyebrows and muttered as if surprised. I was equally puzzled.
This was the Empress’s Palace, and it was a place that would not allow visits from outsiders unless the Empress awakened. Mother couldn’t have come here without knowing that.
Mother, who had approached closely, looked at me and Heinrih with a stern face. Then she soon greeted Heinrih with elegant gestures.
“I greet Your Highness the First Prince.”
“Duchess of Roam. I didn’t expect to encounter you here.”
“Since my daughter came to this place, I wondered if Her Majesty the Empress might open her eyes through God’s miracle, so I came.”
To my ears, Mother’s words sounded like some distant foreign language that I couldn’t understand from beginning to end. From the moment she started with the word “daughter,” I could tell it was worthless nonsense not worth listening to.
It seemed Mother had wanted to meet me.
When my thoughts reached that point, I couldn’t even laugh.
“Since the Reviver offered a blessing prayer, I think there will be good news soon.”
“I see. I couldn’t overcome my worried heart and spoke hastily. It’s embarrassing.”
“When His Majesty awakens, he will be deeply moved by the Duchess’s loyalty, so there’s no reason to be ashamed.”
Meaningless pleasantries continued. Heinrih, who had been appropriately continuing the conversation with Mother, tactfully opened his mouth.
“Today’s visit has been in vain, so what should we do about this? I would like to offer tea, but I have another appointment soon.”
“Not at all. Returning home peacefully with my daughter is also a joy for a mother.”
Upon hearing those words, I had to bite my lips painfully to suppress the sneer that almost burst out involuntarily.
While I was delayed suppressing that, Mother naturally confirmed my next schedule as going home and bid farewell to Heinrih.
Heinrih hesitated for a moment, seemingly worried about sending me and Mother away together, but since there was no particular reason to stop us, he just nodded.
“Then I’ll take my leave for the mother and daughter’s time.”
Mother and daughter’s time—that was quite an amusing expression.
However, since I couldn’t laugh outright, I managed my expression while clenching my molars tightly.
As soon as Heinrih left, the artificial smile disappeared from Mother’s face. Mother quickly turned around and said.
“Let’s go.”
What could she be angry about?
Looking at Mother’s back, I counted the things she might be angry about. There were too many to confidently pinpoint just one.
Well, there’s no need to guess.
I moved my steps nonchalantly.
Either way, Mother being angry meant things were going as I had hoped, so it was welcome news.
* * *
The conversation in the carriage was unexpectedly beneficial.
Mother tried to probe me as always, and through that, I obtained several pieces of information.
“First, Father has sided with Mother, yet despite that, there’s no justification to restrict my freedom immediately, which makes the situation even more displeasing to her.”
Muttering listlessly, I opened the window. Below the garden spread outside the window, I could see a puppy running around.
And also the figure of someone chasing after that puppy.
“…And the fact that Seiri is very interested in my animal friends.”
The puppy that had been desperately running away almost got caught by Seiri. However, it soon nimbly avoided Seiri’s grasp.
Perhaps annoyed that the puppy wouldn’t be caught easily, Seiri commanded something to her servants.
And shortly after, several servants drove the puppy toward Seiri like a rabbit hunt. Seiri instantly caught the puppy that ran into her arms.
[It’s in pain.]
Following the dejected voice, I turned my gaze to see Mori poking her head out of my pocket.
Mori was looking down at the puppy outside the window.
[That puppy is too young. That human doesn’t consider that at all.]
I recalled Mori from before, when the puppy had run into my room, not knowing what to do because she wanted to comfort the puppy.
[If she treats it like that every day, the puppy definitely won’t last long.]
“Every day?”
[Yes. She chases the puppy like that every day.]
Ah, so that’s how Seiri had seen Minte and Jigol going in and out of my room.
Because they were playing in the garden near the room where I stayed.
I looked down at the garden with subtle eyes. I could see Seiri releasing the puppy she had held in her arms again.
Then, when some distance had opened up, she began chasing it like before.
Was I mistaken? The puppy was moving more sluggishly than before.
[Why is she doing such a thing?]
“Because she’s cowardly.”
At my indifferent answer, Mori looked up at me with puzzled eyes.
“She’s too timid to go to hunting grounds with kids her age. But she’d still want to vent her feelings, so she’s probably imitating it in that way.”
My guess was probably correct. Seiri had done this before too.
Lilia used to clap her hands while watching Seiri, saying she “plays well with small animals.” I had memories of sneering when I heard that stupid sentiment.
The reason Seiri carefully observed the animals going in and out of my room was probably also connected to that bizarre play.
Since young animals can’t endure that kind of play for long. She was probably keeping an eye on the next animal in advance.
Mori asked.
[Then is that hunting?]
“Yes. She picks animals that are weak and small enough for her to catch, releases them, and catches them.”
She doesn’t have the courage to kill them either, so she does it with her hands like that.
I don’t know if something like that provides enough satisfaction to substitute for real hunting. Is it even fun to chase beasts around while sweating like that in the first place?
While sneering and looking down at Seiri, she suddenly raised her head and looked in my direction.
Did she sense my gaze?
‘No, maybe she’s trying to look at the animals going in and out of my room.’
Perhaps not thinking that I would be watching her, I could see Seiri greatly startled and trembling.
Since she had apparently told Mother various things about the animals in my room, how flustered she must have been.
Whoosh.
Seiri, who had gotten scared on her own, turned around as if fleeing. Even so, she didn’t forget to have her servants take care of the puppy.
Mori couldn’t take her eyes off the puppy being lifted by a servant and carried away.
‘Even after being betrayed by Lusaka just recently…’
Perhaps because of being betrayed after rashly acting sympathetic, Mori rarely tried to show the emotions she felt in front of me afterward.
However, since one’s nature couldn’t change overnight, she was probably worried sick about the puppy and didn’t know what to do.
“Should I free that puppy?”
[Huh?]
“If you’re worried about it.”
My words must have been unexpected. Mori just looked up at me with wide eyes and didn’t answer anything.
I glanced down at such Mori and quickly turned my body around.
“Minte.”
[Yes, Captain.]
“Do you know which room the puppy is in?”
For a while, Minte had been roaming around the mansion recording conversations of employees who spoke ill of me. Since Minte had navigated the Imperial Palace so well, she would have quickly figured out the layout of a mansion like this.
[Yes, I know.]
Indeed, the answer came immediately. I smiled with satisfaction and said.
“Lead the way.”
[I-It’s fine!]
Mori urgently tried to stop me, but instead of answering, I gently pressed Mori’s head and sent her into my pocket.
Actually, I couldn’t say I was moving purely for Mori’s sake right now. I was quite displeased with Seiri’s behavior of spouting nonsense to Mother.
In the midst of this, being able to comfort a soft-hearted Dura’han as well – there was no reason to pass up such a win-win situation.
The place Minte led me to was near Seiri’s room.
When I suddenly appeared in an area I normally had no reason to pass through, the employees startled and watched me nervously.
Regardless of their reaction, I followed Minte who was running quickly ahead.
Minte stopped in front of a small door and licked her front paw. I smiled slightly at her innocent cat-like behavior before pushing the door wide open and entering.
“Who… huh?”
The first thing I saw was Seiri standing awkwardly. As soon as Seiri saw me, she stepped back with a pale face.
Thanks to her moving aside before I even spoke, I could see the iron cage behind Seiri.
The cage gleamed like new, as if it was polished daily.
[Oh my.]
I heard Minte, who was peering into the room at my feet, let out a low sigh.
She must have also seen the puppy that was exhausted and just panting heavily.
“S-Sister, how did you get here…”
Seiri, who had timidly begun to speak, made a strange cry and hunched her shoulders when our eyes met.
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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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