I Just Wanted Revenge, But Everyone Loves Me - Chapter 1

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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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Episode 1
Iztail: the most notorious prison in the entire Broscia Empire.
Here, where only the worst of the worst gathered, demons lived who were beyond all hope of redemption.
A perfect fortress of a prison—the sort of place where even ordinary inmates wouldn’t dare dream of escape.
People called it a hell on earth.
“Oh, revered God of Lagos.”
Ding-ding.
The Priest clasped his hands in prayer as the clear bell chimed, as he did every day.
Peaceful mealtimes.
In this place, no one could eat rations until after a sacred ritual had been performed.
“Almighty One. We give thanks for this daily bread…….”
“Achoo!”
“With grateful hearts…….”
“Kachoo!”
Achoo-achoo!
The Priest’s brow furrowed at the successive sneezes.
The other inmates nearby clamped their mouths shut.
Glance-glance.
They barely suppressed their laughter and shot a sideways look in one direction.
Toward the far end of a long table, as far from the Priest as possible.
The small child sitting there seemed to sense their gazes and turned her head.
Fluffy, cotton-candy pink hair like spring itself, and eyes the blue of sapphires set perfectly in place.
Even down to her doll-like, perfectly proportioned features.
This cute little girl, so out of place in this harsh prison, lowered her head apologetically.
“I’m very sorry.”
“……Ahem. Do be careful.”
Even a prisoner couldn’t quite bring himself to scold a child, so the Priest merely issued a warning and swallowed his irritation.
But just as he was about to resume his prayers—
Bang!
With that sound,
a man strode through the door.
“Now what on earth——!”
The Priest’s patience finally snapped, and he glared toward the entrance.
Though only for a moment.
His eyes widened sharply as he recognized who it was.
The child, who had just turned her head, opened her eyes wide as saucers.
A handsome man with brilliant golden hair and amber eyes.
If sunlight could take human form, it would surely look like this.
“Your Excellency!”
At that cry, everyone in the vicinity stiffened.
Inmate number 666.
Until recently confined to Solitary Confinement as punishment—the worst prisoner in all of recorded history and the leader of Bancadium.
There was no one who could address Rodrigo that way.
“Your Excellency! Over here!”
The child waved fearlessly to this criminal, pointing to the seat beside her.
At her gesture clearly telling him to sit right there and nowhere else, the man raised one eyebrow slightly.
He was a head or two taller than most men, and even a casual glance at him conveyed an air of intimidation.
Yet the child seemed entirely unafraid and gently urged him on.
“Please, sit down. I was stalling with sneezing because I thought you’d be late.”
Ah, wait—is that——!
Understanding the child’s scheme, the Priest clenched his fists.
How dare she disrupt this sacred prayer for such a trivial reason!
Fury surged through him, and he took a step forward. Just one step ahead—
“……Eek!”
The Priest froze in place, sensing an overwhelming bloodlust.
Though it lasted only an instant, it was a murderously chilling aura.
Meanwhile, watching the trembling Priest, Rodrigo shifted his gaze.
“Little one.”
“Karin.”
“Right. Little one.”
Rodrigo looked down at the child with cold, indifferent eyes.
“Don’t do pointless things.”
“…….”
“I have no interest in being around you, so stop with that disgusting nickname.”
The other inmates exchanged nervous glances at his frigid words.
His low, gravelly voice carried an unmistakable warning.
Don’t come any closer. If you value your lives, stay put.
The inmates wished they could tell the child to give it up.
Some criminals could be drawn to your side, and some could not.
It wasn’t their place to say as fellow inmates, but that man was a different breed of madman entirely. Best not to associate with him.
But whether because she was still too young or simply couldn’t read the situation,
the youngest prisoner in the entire prison widened her eyes in defiance.
“I don’t like that.”
“……Cough!”
Someone hastily stifled a cough.
Rodrigo exhaled as though at a loss for words.
“This child is insane.”
“I’m perfectly fine.”
“No, you’re insane. Little one. Completely unhinged.”
“That’s not true. I’m smart just like you.”
“……Damn it. What nonsense.”
Rodrigo clicked his tongue as he continued this meaningless exchange.
Apparently concluding there was no point in arguing further, he turned his back sharply.
“Hey, wait——!”
Karin jumped to her feet in surprise. In that instant, the visibly irritated Duke left the dining hall.
The child vaulted from her chair, and naturally snatched up her Baguette from lunch on the way out.
“But you still need to eat something——!”
Pitter-patter-patter!
The child chased after him on her short legs, calling out at the top of her voice.
Bang!
Soon after, the dining hall door closed.
In the ensuing silence,
the Priest, who had been watching the Duke and child in a daze, let out a long breath.
“What on earth were those two? Exactly what?”
* * *
‘Tsk.’
I thought this would work for sure.
Maybe I need to think of a different approach.
Having missed the Duke right in front of me, I, Karin, returned to my cell with nothing to show for it.
“Karin. Don’t you think it’s about time you gave up?”
“Hmm?”
After returning from the dining hall, I was chewing on leftover bread when I tilted my head. At that, Veronica, the beautiful inmate who shared my cell, let out a long sigh.
Then she gently stroked my head repeatedly.
“As you know, I’ve been through quite a bit in the noble families. So I know a thing or two about various matters.”
“…….”
“But whatever else, you mustn’t touch a Dragon, dear.”
Veronica tapped my nose gently with her index finger.
“I’m telling you because your sister worries about you. Without our little sweetheart in this damn——I mean, in this bleak prison, how am I supposed to survive? Hmm?”
Though her words carried some crude language in the middle, well, that was hardly worth noting.
I didn’t dwell on such trivial matters.
A precocious child——or rather, an adult in a child’s body——sometimes needs to let things slide!
A month ago. From the moment I recalled my memories of my previous life, I was no longer just an ordinary child. My body might be only four years old, but my mind is a full-grown ten!
I’m smart enough to do everything on my own.
But Veronica, who knew nothing of this secret, was especially careful with her words, insisting that children should only see and hear pretty things.
“Karin. Who did I say were the most dangerous people to be cautious of in Broscia?”
“Dragons and the Royal Family!”
“That’s right. Good girl.”
Veronica narrowed her eyes with a knowing expression.
“Dragons are known for their cruel temperament. And the one we just met is their leader and a mass murderer. Even your sister, who goes crazy for a pretty face, is starting to avoid him.”
“Mm-hmm.”
That much was true.
I was only approaching him because I needed to make him mine.
Just as Veronica said, Bancadium was famous both now and in the past for being cruel and ruthless.
And beyond that,
‘He’s incredibly handsome, but…….’
His manner of speech was far too rough. His personality was terribly twisted. And his temperament was nothing short of capricious!
As I nodded in agreement with Veronica’s words, she laughed brightly and pulled me into a tight embrace.
“Goodness, you precious thing.”
“Oof!”
“How on earth did such a sweet baby end up rolling into this damn——I mean, this harsh place?”
“Nnn.”
“Won’t you even tell your sister why you came here?”
“No. Knowing would be dangerous, sister.”
“My, how scary.”
Veronica accepted my words lightly and rubbed her cheek against mine.
But I was deadly serious.
Explaining how I ended up here would be far too complicated.
‘……Really, you’re going in there?’
‘Once you go in, escape is impossible, dear. Are you truly going?’
‘Then……there is one way, isn’t there?’
Iztail was the empire’s worst prison.
Getting inside would be impossible with an ordinary crime.
So I needed an extraordinarily severe crime.
Even if I had to fabricate one!
‘We can manipulate the trial records. We have people inside Iztail, so document forgery is child’s play to cover up.’
‘What crime should we charge our baby with?’
‘Make it as heinous as possible.’
Such a thing would never happen again in the world,
‘Make her out to be incredibly wicked.’
‘……All right, dear. But this is going into official records, so don’t come to regret it when you grow up.’
Regret? Fat chance.
For the sake of vengeance, I’d do anything.
‘I’ve already prepared everything perfectly!’
[Karin]
– Lèse-Majesté: 9,999,999 counts
– Assassination Solicitation: 388,112 counts
– Blackmail & Extortion: 4,829 counts
– Cake Theft: 3,291,931,694 counts
Perfect.
With this much,
I could definitely get into prison, right?!

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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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