I Bought the Villains With Money - Chapter 77

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

Episode 77.
“A disturbance.”
Cho spoke without hesitation.
“What makes you think that?”
“Looking back on it, there was nowhere to plant the bombs. Even if we had planted them, the administrative officials would have found them.”
It was a reasonable point. I nodded in agreement.
“Jennis, could you hand me the pouch?”
Jennis rummaged through my belongings bag and withdrew a deep brown Magic Pouch, passing it to me.
I plunged my arm inside and fumbled around.
“This Magic Pouch—it’s so tedious searching for things every time.”
I pulled out a long, slender cord, though it wasn’t what I was looking for. Grumbling, I thrust both the item and my hand back into the pouch.
“I wish there were a Magic Pouch that could find things automatically just by saying their name.”
“Oh! That’s a brilliant idea—Diana, if you make one, give me one too.”
Aunt Cho didn’t bother asking her niece to make one for her.
“Miss, I think it’s about to begin.”
Jennis hurried me along, mentioning that the musicians had taken the stage.
“Just a moment—I need to find something… Found it!”
A silver, delicate chain bracelet. It was one of the things I’d bought from a street vendor at the magic festival last time. I wrapped the bracelet around my wrist.
The flowing Dress came down far enough to conceal the back of my hand, so the silver bracelet was completely hidden.
“What is that?”
“A magical artifact to protect me.”
“I should pray everything goes smoothly.”
Cho flicked my forehead with her finger and swept aside the gauzy lace fabric.
“I’ll head out first. Congratulations, Diana.”
Cho waved and stepped outside.
“Your Highness is awake!”
Clinging to the curtain, Jennis relayed every detail of what was happening outside.
“I know he’ll be awake, Jennis.”
I reluctantly set down the Magic Pouch.
There might have been something more useful in there.
Unable to tear my eyes from the pouch, Jennis asked with concern.
“Miss, aren’t you nervous? I’m about to shake myself to pieces.”
I’d been fine until just now, but the moment the musical instruments started playing, my heart began pounding furiously.
I took a deep breath.
Pah, pah, pah-pah-pah, pah-pah, pah-uu—
As the long fanfare rang out, the curtain opened.
The sight before me was utterly romantic.
Flower petals danced through the air, and a rainbow created by the fountains hung suspended in space.
Breathing in the rich Liprician fragrance, I stepped forward.
Casion approached me from across the way, his gaze fixed steadily upon mine. We met in the center.
‘At last.’
‘So this day has come.’
We exchanged greetings with our eyes. Casion extended his hand to me. As I placed my hand upon his, the musicians’ playing grew louder.
“Cheeeers!”
The crowd around us erupted in cheers and applause.
Before us stretched a white path. About ten meters ahead, on a raised platform, stood a Priest wearing a tall, rectangular hat. To the Priest’s left sat Julia, and to his right, Karman.
The three of them were witnesses to our Engagement. All three wore expressions so inscrutable it was impossible to read their thoughts.
“Shall we go, Your Highness?”
I gripped Casion’s hand firmly.
“Don’t be nervous, Diana.”
It wasn’t me who was trembling—it was Casion. His voice shook like a goat’s bleat.
“Yes.”
I walked along, pretending not to notice his bravado.
As I walked the long, straight path, memories came flooding back—from the first time he’d hurled curses at me, to slipping in and out of doggy doors, to staying up all night nursing him.
One step, one memory.
In a short span of time, we’d built quite a collection of them. From now on, we’d build many more.
Before I knew it, we stood before the Priest. As I bowed to him, he sprinkled Holy Water over our heads. He raised a Gold Plaque. The broad golden plaque undoubtedly bore a tedious blessing I’d find dull to hear.
“…and bless this union. I hereby declare your Engagement solemnized.”
The blessing was as monotonous as I’d expected, so I spent the time reminiscing about my memories with Casion.
When the formal words concluded, another round of applause swept through. Karman brought forward the Engagement Rings we’d arranged beforehand. Casion and I exchanged rings. His hand trembled so much as he slipped the ring onto my finger that it took quite some time.
‘I slipped it on in one go.’
Then we shared the Divine Drink. It had a bland, nondescript flavor—neither sweet nor bitter nor salty—the kind of taste I would never seek out if not for the Engagement Ceremony itself.
At last, all the formalities had concluded.
Because of the age difference between Casion and me, the customary mischievous cry of “Kiss her!” that typically erupted at engagements never came.
‘Who would shout such things at a royal marriage, anyway.’
“May your days ahead be filled with light.”
With the Priest’s blessing, we retraced our steps back down the aisle.
Those holding Celebratory Cannon Fire simultaneously raised the barrels skyward.
‘Is it really ending like this? Julia wouldn’t let it be.’
I sharpened my senses and surveyed the surroundings. Before long, I spotted something suspicious—one of the Knights holding the cannons had an unusually pallid complexion.
One method of ruining an Engagement Ceremony: a Disturbance.
“Your Highness, look at that person.”
I jabbed Casion sharply in the ribs.
“Who?”
“The person at the very end of the cannon line. On the left. That person looks suspicious.”
Casion also narrowed his eyes, studying the man. As if by silent agreement, we slowed our pace and leaned close, whispering.
“Maybe he just couldn’t get to the restroom.”
“Then his face would be pale. That’s the expression of someone who’s afraid.”
“Or just nervous.”
“The only ones who should be nervous here are Your Highness and me, not him.”
“You think something’s about to happen?”
It’s hard to believe Julia hasn’t done anything. And there’s no harm in being careful.”
We’d drawn close to the Knight. Just two more paces and we’d be right in front of him. Then, a fragment of memory suddenly surfaced in my mind.
“The household of Violetta, the former Queen, must have had plenty of problems. There’s still someone protesting, saying his father died living like a slave in the former Queen Violetta’s family.”
Some time ago, when I went into the City with Dayson, I saw a man holding a picket sign and protesting. The crimson words on the picket burned vividly in my memory.
[The Serent Family must apologize immediately and provide compensation.]
Serent is the family of former Queen Violetta. Beyond the picket he held, I saw more pickets lined up beside him in a row.
Judging from that alone, the Serent Family seemed like absolute scoundrels.
“Wait a moment. The Knight there is working hard in this heat—let’s offer him some encouragement.”
Dayson, who usually cursed at protesters saying they were just lazy and full-bellied, had even stopped the carriage to meet with the Knight, so I remembered it clearly.
Now I could see it—the man holding the cannon was the same Knight who had been protesting alone!
In the meantime, the cannons were fired at regular intervals.
“Should we just continue back?”
Casion glanced over his shoulder.
The Priest had left his position, and Julia and Karman were watching our final moments.
Julia, who had worn a stern expression all along, was smiling. The instant I saw that smile, I no longer wanted to turn back and retrace our steps.
‘Did Julia buy off that Knight?’
If so, we couldn’t retreat now.
“Hold my hand tightly. Don’t be startled.”
Casion entrusted himself to me. Though uneasy, it was plain he was following my lead.
We drew closer to the tense Knight. The angle of his cannon was wrong. Normally, cannons should fire toward the sky, but this angle—no matter how I looked at it—was aimed straight at my head.
Bang.
Before I could finish the thought, the cannon fired. No—this wasn’t a cannon. It was a Bomb. A Bomb aimed at Casion and me had just detonated.
***
A Bomb had detonated at the Prince’s Engagement Ceremony. No one had anticipated this sudden crisis, and everyone could only stand stunned in silence.
This is it, then—I’m dying, Casion thought. Yet strangely, he felt no pain.
As he tentatively opened his eyes, he saw Diana’s nape, her arms wrapped tightly around him.
And behind that, he could see something transparent and soft-looking—a transparent Shield. The Shield was protecting them both. From the flames!
Magic!
For a moment, Casion believed he had cast the Magic himself. He’d read about it in books before, hadn’t he—mysterious powers that manifested in sudden crises.
Casion felt a swell of pride. But that pride didn’t last long.
A transparent Tube connected to Diana’s arm was emitting the Shield.
Casion laughed despite the enormity of the situation.
How far ahead did Diana think? How thoroughly did she prepare? How precisely did she act?
It had been only moments ago that Diana had told him she’d protect him, and he’d heard from her the plea to protect her in turn—he’d been so moved he could barely speak.
‘Can’t I even keep pace with her heels? Do I need to raise a Wyvern army just to stand beside Diana?’
Casion’s thoughts grew foolish. Meanwhile, the flames subsided.
“Casion!”
“Diana!”
Only then did people come running toward Diana and Casion. The Knights moved with perfect unity, surrounding the Engagement Ceremony and forcing the Knight who had fired the Bomb to his knees.
“Diana, are you all right?”
Rumdracks and Cho and Jennis came rushing over. Behind them, Guardian arrived without bothering to hide his irritation, and Karman brought up the rear.
“I’m fine. Your Highness, are you all right?”
Diana released Casion from her arms. His expression was troubled. Diana tried to smile brightly to reassure him.
“Your Highness, relax. Yes, the bomb went off, but we’re unhurt. And I think this could work to our advantage.”
Diana leaned close to Casion’s ear, her lips brushing against it as she whispered so only he could hear.
Casion swallowed. He himself was unscathed. First, the Shield had protected him, and second, Diana had wrapped herself around him.
So he was relieved that Diana was also unhurt.
“Are there no physicians in the Royal Palace? Summon a doctor at once!”
Rumdracks raised his voice.
“Don’t make a fuss, Master. We need to finish the Engagement Ceremony. After that, I’ll see a physician…”
Thud!
But Diana lost consciousness and collapsed to the floor.
I Bought the Villains with Money (Serialized)
Author | Lee In-hye
Publisher | Kim Ju-hyung
Published by | J Plus Media Co., Ltd. – Tiramisu
Marketing | Han Jae-hyuk
Address | 11th Floor, Ace Tech Tower 8, 11 Digital-ro 33-gil, Guro-gu, Seoul (Guro-dong)
Email | [email protected]
Website | http://blog.naver.com/jayplemedia1
© Lee In-hye 2021
※ This work is published by J Plus Media Co., Ltd. under contract with the copyright holder,
and may not be used in any form or by any means without permission from the publisher and author.
Violation of this may result in criminal and civil legal liability.

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