For the Young Villain’s Happy Ending - Chapter 38

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 38

Approximately thirty minutes had passed since then.
Raina Hart’s magic had healed all of the Emperor’s internal injuries.

“It is done.”
“Is it finished?”

The Emperor, who had remained silent until now, finally rose to his feet as though returning to life.
He appeared reborn anew. Satisfaction bloomed across his face as he felt the comfort and vitality spreading through his entire body.
Indeed, this was Raina Hart.

“My body feels wonderfully refreshed. Thanks to you, my life has been extended.”
“That would be the case. I not only removed the organs that were already failing before the injury, but recreated them entirely through magic.”

Such shameless candor, even in the presence of the Emperor, acknowledging her own accomplishment.
The Archmage I had not seen in so long remained unchanged. Her ageless appearance and that inscrutable, expressionless face.

“However, you must receive regular infusions of magical power.”
“By magical infusions, you mean you shall become my personal physician?”
“…You may receive them from the Imperial Palace mages instead.”

Raina Hart cut off the Emperor’s nonsense immediately and fixed her gaze upon him.
There was something she needed to ask.

“Your Majesty, do you remember the potion bottle from eight years ago?”
“A potion bottle, a vial…”

The Emperor searched through his memories of the past.
But his mind, already dulled by eight years of peace, took time to locate the existence of that vial within the haze of recollection.
Raina Hart provided further explanation.

“I speak of the vial that cast dark magic upon Your Majesty.”
“Ah, yes.”

The Emperor nodded.
He had grasped what Raina Hart was asking.

“That’s the one. We handed it over to the Imperial Special Investigation Bureau. They’re still investigating it.”
“They haven’t found the culprit, then.”
“Not just the culprit. There hasn’t been any progress whatsoever.”

Eight years ago.
An investigation began to trace the origin of the poison bottle.
It was by the Emperor’s command. All personnel from the Imperial Special Investigation Bureau were mobilized, yet they couldn’t find even a single clue.

“There’s nothing left besides the entry records for Jenia. The identification used in those records was forged as well.”
“The wood used as the bottle’s material is common throughout the Betuzhenia Empire, so we couldn’t pinpoint a specific region.”

The Old Woman who had handed the poison bottle to the Emperor and the Traveling Troupe vanished as if they’d evaporated.
The bottle alone yielded no information whatsoever.

“What good does it do to fret over a dead end? Your antidote cleansed my toxin completely. I ordered the investigation scaled back. But why bring that up all of a sudden?”

He seemed displeased at having an unglamorous chapter of the past dredged up.
Raina Hart observed the Emperor’s furrowed brow and pondered.

‘He doesn’t seem to know at all that the deceased First Empress Consort was afflicted by dark magic.’

The Empress Consort’s toxin had been ancient. Anyone paying close attention would have noticed it.
The original work did describe the Emperor as disinterested in family matters, but this seemed excessive.
Still, he was a husband before he was an Emperor.

“The Empress Consort has passed away.”

At Raina Hart’s words, the Emperor clicked his tongue.

“I received a report through the communication channel before you arrived. She started a rebellion and lived? How foolish, yet fortunate. At least her early death spared her from worse suffering….”
“The cause was poisoning by dark magic toxin.”

The Emperor’s words caught in his throat at Raina Hart’s statement.
Dark magic toxin?

“Are you saying the Empress Consort used dark magic?”
“Someone deliberately approached Her Majesty the Empress Consort, it seems. It’s possible they’re the same person who gave you the poison bottle.”

The Old Woman from the Traveling Troupe was the one who had given the Emperor the vial laced with dark magic.
Though the First Empress Consort had referred to the woman who taught her the incantation simply as a “woman,” suggesting she was not elderly.

‘If one knows how to wield dark magic, one can alter their appearance however they wish.’

Then, a vague hypothesis suddenly surfaced in Raina’s mind.
Perhaps there was another factor besides the Grimoire of Magic behind Kevenriak’s consumption of the Imperial Palace in the original story.

‘Did Keri’s absence from the Imperial Palace become the catalyst that set this other factor in motion?’

So the Imperial Palace became a sea of blood in spring rather than winter.
And the Empress Consort’s corruption by dark magic’s toxins, the Third Prince’s rebellion—all stemmed from this factor?

‘Someone deliberately exposed the imperial family to dark magic. I need to find out who that person is.’

I began to feel anxious, but worry alone wouldn’t solve anything.
I thought of my disciple, who must be somewhere in this same building.

“Master, you are my precious person.”

Right. Nothing steadies the heart quite like a disciple.
As for the dark magic, I should visit the investigating officer in charge of examining the vial soon.
For now, this unresolved matter takes priority.
I turned to the Emperor, who had fallen silent moments ago.

“What do you intend to do now, Your Majesty?”
“Intend to do? What do you mean?”

I was at a loss at the Emperor’s serene response.
It was his palace that lay in ruins from the Third Prince’s rebellion, not mine.
And had I not just kindly explained to him how a dark sorcerer had approached the Empress Consort?
Where had his sense of urgency gone?

“Your Majesty, the rebellion is still ongoing.”
“I’m aware. And I have you by my side.”

I understood why the Emperor was so composed.
He was planning to ride on the Grand Mage’s coattails.
I had indeed intended to save the Emperor and quell the crisis from the start.

‘I dislike this kind of free ride. I never offered to carry you.’

The Grand Mage’s typically impassive face contorted as though he’d bitten into a worm. The Emperor, observing this, spoke with feigned innocence.

“Didn’t you promise to save my life twelve years hence?”
“I have saved you. You’re alive and well, are you not?”
“My life is the Imperial Palace. The Betuzhenia Empire is my soul…?!”

Nonsense.
Raina Hart silenced the Emperor’s mouth with magic.

“…!!(What are you doing!!)”

To the indignant Emperor, Raina Hart replied without expression.

“It would be wise to refrain from speaking after treatment.”

***

In this rebellion of the Third Prince, I had two objectives.

First, to ensure no one died by Kevenriak’s hand.
Second, to ensure a member of the Imperial Family survived to ascend the throne.

If I achieved only these two things, my disciple would never awaken as a villain.

‘The Emperor lives. My work here is done.’
“Please rest and recover. I shall search for the Third Prince’s whereabouts.”

I rose to my feet and walked toward the closed door, turning the handle.

“Raina Hart.”

The Emperor, freed from the spell, called out to me. I turned my head slightly backward at his words.

“I wish to speak with my son alone.”
“This Imperial Prince is still asleep, Your Majesty.”

I recalled the Third Prince lying on the living room sofa as I answered.
The Third Prince, who had drawn his sword and attempted to strike me down, still hadn’t recovered from the shock of the blow he’d received.

“I’m not talking about that boy—”
“Master.”

Just then, Kevenriak’s voice reached me from beyond the door, where he’d been waiting for his master.
Concerned that the door wouldn’t open despite the knob turning, he’d called out to me.
As I cracked the door open, Kevenriak gazed at me with a delighted expression.

“Are you finished?”

His quiet question carried warmth within it.
I smiled faintly and nodded. Just as I was about to answer my disciple affirmatively.
A dignified voice resonated through the room from behind me.

“Kevenriak Heteroven.”

It was the Emperor.
Both Kevenriak and I froze in speech and motion.
And no wonder—this was the Emperor who had neglected the Fourth Prince all this time.
It was the first time he had called Kevenriak by name, the first time he had acknowledged his existence.
The Emperor opened his mouth toward his silent son.

“Can you not hear my words?”
“…No, Your Majesty.”
“Ungrateful wretch. Your father is suffering, yet only your master captures your eyes.”
‘Father…’

It was I who bristled at the Emperor’s words.

‘Only when it suits him.’

Now, regretting his neglect, he sought to play the role of father.
A tool. No different from twelve years ago. Kevenriak remained nothing more than an instrument for the Emperor to exploit for his own gain.
I clenched my lips tightly.
A fury that the Emperor could not witness kindled behind a face he could not see.

“Master.”

Kevenriak caressed Raina Hart’s lips, and under his disciple’s gentle touch, the bitten lip slipped free from between her teeth. The delicate flesh had split, and blood pooled at the corner of her mouth, staining his fingertips.

‘Do you despise the Emperor?’

A cold gleam flickered across his blue eyes as he gazed at the blood on his hand, then vanished.
Kevenriak could not fathom why Raina Hart burned with such fury.
Yet.
Kevenriak turned his gaze to his father, Cheinols Heteroven, seated upon the bed.

“Your Majesty, are you feeling well?”

At the Fourth Prince’s solicitous manner, Cheinols smiled with satisfaction. The boy now understood whose favor he must cultivate.

“Yes, your father wishes to speak with his son alone.”

If the Emperor is your enemy, I will protect you.

“Understood.”

Kevenriak ushered Raina Hart toward the door and grasped the handle.

“Keri, let me stay with you—”
“It’s all right, Master.”

Raina Hart called after him belatedly, but Kevenriak left only a serene smile in his wake before disappearing beyond the closed door.

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