Don’t Look for the Resurrected Villainess - Chapter 99
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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 99
“Have a seat, I just had tea brought out.”
I could see Lilia biting her lips at the sight of the Empress smiling gently.
However, she couldn’t find fault anymore. Her eyes that glanced at the Empress showed undisguised resentment.
Foolishly, Lilia seemed to think the Empress had taken my side.
The Empress was simply giving me some leeway because of my public role as a Reviver.
Perhaps she had received a hint from the Emperor to humor me?
Without such a hint, there would be no reason to overlook my behavior of deliberately arriving last to the tea time.
“By the way, it’s truly refreshing to gather like this!”
Someone opened the conversation lightly, as if trying to refresh the atmosphere. It was the wife of the wealthy Viscountess of Tubel.
“I never dreamed we would face the Princess again like this.”
The Countess of Penderon quickly agreed. At this, the other ladies began to add their words one by one.
“That’s right. The Princess subdued the Imperial Palace’s monster?”
“To think we’d witness the Creator’s miracle before our eyes. What a glorious occasion.”
“For a Reviver to serve the Imperial House so faithfully, this is all thanks to the Empress’s grace.”
Among the noble ladies competing to speak, the Empress smiled quietly. At this rate, it would be concluded that my staying at the Imperial Palace was entirely due to the Imperial House’s mercy.
That would be troublesome. I had deliberately arrived late to show that the Reviver held a superior position to the royals.
“I serve the Creator. That is why I am praised as a Reviver.”
When I quietly joined the conversation, the Duchess of Andrei replied with a smile in her eyes.
“So it’s as if the Creator is looking down upon the Imperial House.”
“The Creator’s love is equal.”
I answered calmly and glanced over the ladies.
“Do you ladies usually distinguish between worker ants and soldier ants individually?”
“What do you mean by that…?”
“You would walk without even knowing there are ants under your feet.”
“Oh my.”
At my words treating the Imperial House like mere ants, the ladies turned to look at the Empress with pale faces.
Their expressions as they closed their mouths without being able to retort were quite pitiful.
Just as a cold silence was about to descend over the table, the Empress, who had quietly set down her cup, gently opened her mouth.
“It’s true that the Imperial Palace avoided great disaster through the Creator’s protection. The Royal Court regards this meaningfully. That’s why His Majesty the Emperor wishes to hold a banquet.”
The Empress’s gaze turned to me.
“I heard the Princess is satisfactorily receiving the Imperial House’s sincerity, but was there any inadequate part?”
Asking very elegantly if I needed more money, the Empress smiled benevolently.
It’s not like I’m having a power struggle just to get a few more coins.
“Where could there be excess in expressing gratitude? I am prepared to gladly accept such sincerity.”
Though I wouldn’t refuse if they offered.
Having answered lightly, I suddenly turned my head to look at the Countess of Penderon.
“Oh. Do my earrings suit me well, Countess of Penderon?”
The ladies’ gazes turned to my ears. The Countess of Penderon, who had just confirmed the earrings I was wearing, smiled brightly and nodded.
“Oh my, I feel rewarded for choosing them with care.”
With a smiling face, I now looked at someone else.
“I was also very pleased with the hair ornament the Duchess of Andrei provided.”
“It goes very well with the dress. I’m relieved.”
The ladies’ eyes lit up as they finally realized I was armed with gifts from head to toe.
Not only not returning the gifts, but actually wearing them was expressing my willingness to gladly accept bribes.
‘Since using the Creator’s sanctity is the Temple’s role, I should use the Creator’s power.’
Rather than packaging the ‘Reviver’ as a sacred and noble being, packaging them as a power holder who could be appeased would be more convenient in the future.
Then at least they wouldn’t demand integrity and incorruptibility from my conduct.
“Who sent that dress?”
Someone asked with sparkling eyes of interest. The one who answered that question had been concentrating only on quietly drinking tea.
“Choosing clothes for one’s daughter is a mother’s joy.”
My mother, sitting diagonally across, smiled gently when our eyes met.
“I was so moved to be able to take care of you again like this.”
I could see the Duchess of Andrei, sitting next to my mother, clicking her tongue.
Pretending not to see that reaction, I naturally turned my gaze toward the Empress.
The Empress was calmly observing this situation. I magnanimously praised the Imperial House.
“But no gift could dare compare with the Imperial House’s generosity in providing an entire palace. Thanks to that, I am getting sufficient rest.”
At my favorable words, the Empress’s expression relaxed a little. The noble ladies also tactfully began praising the Imperial House’s boldness.
It’s been so long since I had to consider all sorts of intentions in every word during conversation that I’m getting a headache.
At least the Dura’han, though noisy, didn’t make every single word feel exhausting.
‘I want to leave this place quickly.’
Even if it meant camping, the wandering life outside was more comfortable for the heart.
Suppressing the deep fatigue, I tried not to let my expression crumble.
The subsequent conversation was tedious and boring. It was a tea time after a long while, but nothing had changed from the old days. Things like appropriate boasting, subtle appeasement, and laughing power struggles.
I smiled appropriately and responded. It wasn’t difficult. Moreover, without me having to guide it, someone brought up the topic I wanted.
“Um, if it’s not rude, I’m asking because I’m so curious.”
The Duchess of Andrei quietly opened her mouth.
“I heard the Princess came out of the Black Tower.”
“That’s correct.”
“Is there a warp gate installed inside?”
“How could that be? There are no unauthorized warp gates within the Imperial Palace. Isn’t that right, Your Majesty the Empress?”
At my question, the Empress nodded.
“Of course that’s so. That’s why I wanted to ask about it too. I didn’t expect to bring up this topic in such a setting.”
Since this would also be a security matter for the Imperial Palace, she seemed reluctant to discuss it at such a public tea time.
However, the Duchess of Andrei persistently asked her question.
“Then how did the Princess appear? What about the monster?”
“Wouldn’t it be the Creator’s will, Duchess of Andrei.”
The Empress subtly offered a word of warning. I looked at them and smiled sweetly.
“The Empress is correct. However, there is a reason for the monster that appeared in the Imperial Palace.”
“A reason?”
“Someone drew in evil energy.”
“Evil energy?”
“Yes, that’s why the Creator guided me to this place.”
Lilia, who had been sitting quietly, glanced at me. With accusation in her eyes, she looked like she wanted to shout not to lie right away, but seemed unable to open her mouth recklessly given the setting.
Sneering at her, I continued speaking nonchalantly.
“Of course, I must leave soon to guide the captured monster to the Creator’s path.”
It meant that unless that evil energy was eliminated, the same problem could occur again.
Fortunately, everyone present seemed to understand, as the atmosphere became strangely subdued.
“Evil energy, that sounds like a fairy tale.”
The Duchess of Andrei said with a laugh, as if trying to salvage the situation belatedly. She seemed to hope we’d just laugh and move on, but unfortunately, I had no such intention.
“It would be fortunate if it were a fairy tale. But regrettably, this is strictly reality.”
“Could you explain more specifically?”
The Countess of Penderon asked actively with sparkling eyes.
It was the same in the old days. The House of Penderon was renowned as one of the families that donated heavily to the Temple.
That was a bit different from religious devotion. They would actively spend money on all sorts of superstitions that the Temple defined as heretical.
In short, it was a household that would immediately set up expensive altars if you just blew a little hot air their way.
“To put it simply, it means bringing the wrong person into the household and facing ruin soon.”
The noble ladies’ expressions froze. The Countess of Penderon openly looked at Lilia.
Just as Lilia, with an incredulous expression, was about to say something, I quickly smiled and shrugged my shoulders.
“Well, that’s an extreme example though.”
“Ah, yes!”
The noble ladies quickly salvaged my statement as an excessive joke, reading the atmosphere. It was a tearful effort.
“It’s true that there are ominous energies in the Imperial House. Fortunately, I stopped Dura’han, but even I can’t stay in the Imperial Palace forever…”
“Isn’t life in the Imperial Palace comfortable?”
“As you all know, I am the Creator’s Reviver. I’m destined to depart for wherever the Creator guides me. I’m simply looking for a place to return to after I leave.”
“Are you saying the Imperial Palace isn’t that place?”
“Well. Even I find it difficult to endure long in a place that won’t accept the Creator’s warnings.”
“Then what about other places?”
“If I search well, there should be a place where the Creator’s grace can take root. The Creator is always fair, after all.”
The noble ladies were increasingly listening to my words as if entranced. Especially Countess of Penderon looked like she would sell her mansion to raise money if I told her to bring her purse for the Creator’s blessing.
…That won’t happen, but if I ever run short on money later, should I try selling mountain water?
While I was pondering inwardly, perhaps unable to watch any longer, the Empress stepped forward to mediate the overheated atmosphere.
“The Princess’s words are quite an interesting story.”
The Empress, who had murmured quietly, spoke with a faint smile.
“If you had told us in advance, we could have had this conversation much earlier.”
Her words carried emotions that could have been reproach or resentment. Either way, it wasn’t my concern.
“I was a grave criminal who had been beheaded for injuring His Highness the Crown Prince’s fiancée—how could I dare speak carelessly?”
“Ahem.”
Someone’s cough, unable to hide their bewilderment, could be heard. However, I continued speaking clearly with a smiling face.
“Having experienced firsthand how one’s position in the Imperial Palace can be overturned overnight, I simply tried not to speak rashly. Having barely kept my head attached through the Creator’s grace, if I were to be beheaded again, who knows what might happen this time.”
This time everyone truly stiffened. They apparently hadn’t expected me to openly mention my beheading.
“Even now, wouldn’t someone misunderstand whether I’m trying to frame innocent people out of revenge?”
Actually, that’s correct. It is, but what are you going to do about it?
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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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