Don’t Look for the Resurrected Villainess - Chapter 41

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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 41

I still don’t understand why he regards me with such tender affection. I have no idea how his feelings ignited, or what process they went through to grow.

Heinrih’s confession brought more surprise than excitement, more bewilderment than joy.

「You would find it more beneficial to desire power instead.」

Heinrih didn’t seem surprised, as if he had already anticipated my answer. Instead, he shook his head bitterly and ended the conversation.

The fact that he so easily anticipated my response was also surprising to me. Each such gesture proved his claim of having great interest in me.

In the end, he failed to persuade me. However, he clearly expressed that he didn’t want me to be caught.

So I decided to accept his help while staying in this city. At least it was certain that he knew Maxel’s official schedule and several of the Imperial Palace’s measures regarding me.

I sat blankly with my chin propped up. If not for Tristan’s frantic wing beats, I would have fallen endlessly into contemplation.

[It seems they’ll continue guarding the farm tonight. They said they’d spend the night in the farm building.]

Tristan, in the form of a bumblebee, came to me in the evening to report the situation.

Jigol was hiding well with the Dura’han, but it wasn’t easy to move quietly because of the knights standing guard around the farm.

From the atmosphere, it seemed like they intended to put on some kind of show while they were here.

It was probably a plan for the crown prince to personally step forward and show a reliable image to calm the ominous atmosphere and win the people’s hearts.

This meant that if I took away the crying Dura’han, all the credit would go to Maxel.

Rumors would surely spread that after the wise and excellent crown prince visited, the sinister thing—whether monster or ghost—got scared and ran away.

What should I do? I don’t want to see that happen.

“Jigol. Are you still friends with the queen bee?”

[Pardon?]

“It’s a flower farm, so they must have prepared to get stung by bees.”

[…Pardon?]

“They’re staying there because they’re brave enough not to be startled even by a headless woman.”

[I’m sorry, Captain. I don’t understand what you’re saying…]

“That Dura’han, is she calm now?”

[Yes? Yes. Jigol barely managed to soothe her.]

“I feel so sorry for Jigol.”

Tristan gave up on responding to my incomprehensible rambling.

Well, he’ll find out soon enough, so there’s no need to explain.

“I need to go there again.”

Won’t she cry and run away again if she sees me? If she doesn’t run away, I can just order her to rampage.

I glanced outside and saw the sky had turned pitch black.

“A perfect night for ghosts to appear.”

* * *

‘Attacking’ wouldn’t do.

Maxel is the crown prince, and those guarding him are nobles and knights.

But no one would interpret being stung by ordinary bees as someone’s assassination attempt.

Besides, bumblebee stings won’t kill you. And if they run away in fright after seeing a ghost, could there be a more disgraceful sight?

However…

“You absolutely must not reveal yourself. Even if it means sending out all your subordinates!”

“If necessary, just burn down the entire farm. If we say divine punishment has descended, the resentment toward Maxel will pierce the heavens.”

“After all the trouble we’ve gone through trying to escape quietly, how can you say such things without knowing the situation?”

“Our journey so far hardly seems like a quiet escape.”

I’m not sure if it’s right to leave these two together.

[Don’t worry. If necessary, I’ll bite that uninvited guest to death.]

No, Nesi. That would cause even bigger trouble.

I looked at Nesi with troubled eyes and then turned away.

The two of them agreed to divert the attention of the knights surrounding the farm. They had important roles to play, but if they were thinking adults, they wouldn’t cause internal strife.

“Never take off this magical device. With this, even the knights won’t recognize Lady Anelli.”

Jeon firmly tied the ribbon around my neck. It was the same type that Nadab wore, but when I tried to tie it in my hair, he insisted on tying it around my neck, saying it might come loose.

As I reluctantly accepted his touch, I saw Heinrih frowning as he looked this way.

He seemed to have a lot to say, but soon pressed his lips into a straight line and held back. Instead, he brought up what he’d been emphasizing earlier.

“If the situation becomes even slightly strange, be sure to send a signal. I’ll set fire near the farm entrance.”

Seeing him constantly trying to burn down a perfectly good farm, Heinrih must have accumulated quite a lot of stress.

I understood his feelings, but what I wanted to give Maxel was shameful memories and rumors.

I hoped he would stay holed up in the Imperial Palace for a while after this. So that such pointless coincidences would never happen again.

After confirming that the two had left to lure away the knights, I mounted Nadab and started off slowly. Tristan was following me, making a loud noise.

“Tristan.”

[Yes, Captain.]

“Did you attach the bumblebees properly?”

[Yes. I attached them to both sides. None of them noticed at all.]

Both Jeon and Heinrih worried about me, and yet they stepped forward to help with this nighttime mischief.

And I secretly attached watchers to those two. They were bumblebees that Tristan had gained cooperation from.

Both of them knew I could communicate with animals, but they didn’t know that insects fell into that category too.

As soon as I heard their answers about helping me, I thought about it. I should attach watchers just in case.

If problems arose, I should be able to abandon both of them and flee. That’s why I stubbornly insisted on entering the farm alone.

“…Right.”

In the past, I would have considered such behavior natural and moved on. But now it kept bothering me.

I felt that my behavior was too abnormal.

[Captain, are you alright?]

“I’m fine. Let’s hurry.”

I tightened my grip on the reins.

It’s not strange.

Constantly suspecting and being wary of people’s true intentions is a more natural process for me than breathing.

* * *

The Dura’han was nowhere to be seen.

The farm was only the most recent place where it was spotted, so it might have moved somewhere else. Or perhaps there was no such monster from the beginning.

Maxel couldn’t fall asleep until late. While others rejoiced and felt relieved upon determining there was no Dura’han here, Maxel felt deep disappointment in that moment. And only then did he recognize the expectation that had been hiding within him.

Maxel, who had washed his face dry, finally got up.

“Your Highness, you must take an escort with you.”

“It’s fine. Didn’t you all search the entire interior of the farm? I’m just going to get some fresh air, so I’ll walk alone.”

Along with the night air came a rich floral fragrance rolling in like waves. The moon was bright in the sky, making the surroundings clear without needing to light any fires.

There were traces of something having intruded near the greenhouse, so the knights were standing even more vigilant guard there.

So Maxel headed toward the flower garden. Since all that was visible around were flowers anyway, it was comfortable no matter where he looked.

The decision to spend the night here had been an impulsive choice. He could have just looked around appropriately and returned without any problems, yet he insisted on staying.

He was well aware that those who had followed to assist him had suffered preparing a temporary lodging in an unprepared place.

Nevertheless, Maxel did not retract his decision.

‘A quiet countryside farm…’

He walked slowly, thinking it was good that his mind felt calmly organized.

“Anelli.”

The name that suddenly popped out seeped into the quiet night air.

Honestly, when Maxel took charge of the Imperial Palace search party to capture Anelli Roam, he had some inner conceit.

It was a baseless feeling that even if Roam or the Temple let Anelli slip away, he would not, that she would not run away from him.

In that sense, if she had really been kidnapped by a Dura’han, and if the Dura’han appearing here was the very monster that kidnapped her…

‘I thought I might be able to meet Anelli.’

Maxel had imagined on the way here.

Imagining himself rescuing the kidnapped Anelli. And thus witnessing that cold love of Anelli’s once again.

Such imagination wasn’t too bad. If Anelli clung to him, if she desired love again, he felt he could respond to her wishes a little this time.

Since she had died and come back to life, surely this time she would abandon excessive greed.

Wouldn’t she just ask him to look at her, to just stay by her side? If so, he was even prepared to pretend to be unable to resist and accept her.

How should he define this feeling?

“Ha.”

If only she had been a little warmer and more compassionate, how much better it would have been. Then he wouldn’t have fallen for Lilia’s smile.

If only she had been a little kinder, if only she had leaned on him with a vulnerable appearance, things wouldn’t have gone this wrong.

If only she had melted his heart properly, he would have tried to prevent at least the beheading at the final moment.

Rustle.

The sound of grass being stepped on came from somewhere. Maxel quickly turned his head. Without realizing it, he was standing alone in the center of the flower garden, quite far from the buildings.

The cool, gentle breeze carried the rich scent of flowers.

Suddenly he remembered the rumor that what appeared on this farm might not be a monster but a ghost. It was something he had naturally dismissed as nonsense.

Rustle.

The sound came again.

Maxel looked around with a coldly hardened expression. At just the right timing, the moon was half-hidden by clouds.

In a dark corner of the flower garden, he saw a black shadow he hadn’t noticed before. The distance was considerable, making it difficult to identify immediately, but it seemed to be a person.

Maxel narrowed his eyes and slowly approached the shadow. With one hand, he gripped the handle of the sword at his waist.

“Who’s there…!”

His sharp voice suddenly stopped. It was because he saw silver hair glinting in the faint moonlight filtering through the dim clouds.

Maxel, who had frozen with wide eyes, spoke in a trembling voice.

“…Anelli?”

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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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