I Just Wanted Revenge, But Everyone Loves Me - Chapter 15

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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 15
Blowing up Iztail wasn’t something we were simply barreling forward with recklessly—there was a plan, down to deliberately narrowing the timeline.
‘Since I’m in solitary right now.’
And Rodrigo was in the same solitary cell as me.
Which meant we could move together.
‘Veronica sets off the building to draw attention.’
Then Sis quickly triggers an Emergency Flare, gathering all the guards and security forces in one place.
‘And Rodrigo and I slip right out of Iztail!’
Though certain details seemed to be left out, the plan looked solid enough that if it went according to schedule, we’d escape safely.
‘I’d prefer to stay with Veronica if I could.’
But she said she’s a specialist in this field.
Knowing I’d be no help whatsoever, I decided to follow the plan obediently.
‘She did mention there’s one more thing to handle in the middle of it.’
But she didn’t go into specifics, so I didn’t bother asking.
Back in the solitary cell, I gave Rodrigo a quick goodnight bow and then burrowed into the frigid blankets.
‘Ugh. It’s cold.’
Achoo!
Winter had been over for ages, but tonight the air bit sharp and chill.
Unable to help myself, I coughed and curled my body into a ball—but then I remembered my cellmate and quickly spun around.
“Sir. Sir.”
“What is it, little one.”
“It’s Karin.”
I’d told him that so many times already!
But Rodrigo was stubborn.
“If you’re calling me, then speak your business, little one.”
Tch.
I’d hinted at it subtly, but the name stuck.
Not that it mattered what he called me, really.
‘But of all things—’
Little one! What does that even mean?
I lived for ten years in my past life, for heaven’s sake!
I’m long past the “little” stage.
“I’m not little.”
“You’re definitely little.”
“I’m grown up now.”
“Younger than me means little.”
“How old are you, anyway?”
“Old enough to be older than you.”
“……That’s—”
Well.
I couldn’t argue with that.
“So is Veronica little too?”
“That one’s a hellion.”
“That’s terrible!”
My sister, a hellion?
That I couldn’t accept.
“Veronica’s not a hellion.”
“If I don’t call a hellion a hellion, what should I call her? Ah, a mad dog would be more accurate.”
“That’s not it! She’s incredibly kind to me.”
“She’s just putting on an act for you. She likes you.”
“…….”
“You really are little if you don’t even know that.”
“I’m not!”
Before I knew it, I’d thrown off my blankets and pressed myself against the bars, protesting. Rodrigo looked down at me dismissively and spoke as though tossing the words aside.
“Tell me what you came for, little one. You said you wouldn’t be a bother.”
“……Ugh!”
But that was something I’d said too, so suddenly I had nothing to fire back with.
I wasn’t happy about how that conversation had gone, but it was getting close to bedtime now anyway.
I had the feeling that pushing further would only get stranger.
“Sir, aren’t you cold?”
“……Are you really asking me that right now?”
“Yes.”
Then who else is in this cell besides the dragon?
Of course, Bancadium is supposedly incredibly strong, but—
“You’re the same kind of person as me, sir.”
“…….”
“So you could get sick just the same…….”
Maybe it was meddlesome of me, but it was still quite chilly. Now that we were in the same boat, couldn’t I at least mention that he should cover himself properly with the blanket so he doesn’t catch cold?
“Don’t catch a cold—cover yourself completely when you sleep. Pull it all the way up to your neck! ……Huh?!”
At that moment, my body, which had been cold just a moment before, suddenly grew warm.
‘What is this?’
It was as if I were standing before a roaring fire—my whole body felt toasty.
I looked at Rodrigo in surprise, and he clicked his tongue and turned his head away.
“Mind yourself.”
Don’t waste time worrying about others.
* * *
The child, now warm, fell asleep quickly.
Bundled in blankets with that small body, she really did look like a speck of dust, as Veronica had said.
He kept trying to ignore it, but—
Every time he thought he’d regained focus, his gaze drifted back to that little one.
Disliking himself for it, Rodrigo turned his body sharply away.
But turning away didn’t stop his thoughts from following.
‘A cold.’
Bancadium catching a cold?
Of course it was impossible.
Wasn’t it?
Bancadium, bearing Dragon Blood, was several times stronger than an ordinary human. The Imperial Court had imposed a separate Peace Treaty precisely because it was such a formidable force.
‘Knowing full well who I am.’
That sniffling child should worry about looking after itself instead. It seems it had enough leisure to fuss over his health too.
This was the second time someone had shown concern that made no sense.
The first time was, of course, his wife—Yuris.
‘Even if you inherited Dragon Blood, you’re still the same kind of person as me in the end, aren’t you? Of course you can get sick. You can get hurt.’
‘…….’
‘So don’t let your guard down. I’ve seen what happens when you do—you take a serious hit.’
Concern, yes, but also sharp advice delivered with competence.
He couldn’t hear that voice anymore, but Rodrigo sometimes found himself recalling those conversations with her.
Yet today, he hadn’t expected to be reminded of them in this way.
‘It bothers me, La.’
His bright golden eyes dulled for a moment. A shadow of contemplation crossed his face before he smiled coldly at himself.
‘Fine.’
He’d admit what deserved admitting.
From the way she spoke to her appearance.
There were places where she resembled his wife enough that he sometimes wondered if they might be relatives.
But even so, she was ultimately still a stranger.
A stranger, nothing more.
Moreover, now they were in a transactional relationship, each using the other for their own ends.
Veronica seemed to have genuinely taken to the child, but he stopped at that point.
He had no intention of extending kindness beyond that measure.
The way his gaze kept drifting to her tonight, like when she spoke of things his wife had said—that was simply because of that one similarity, making him act a touch too impulsively.
There was no other reason.
Couldn’t be.
‘Once I’ve achieved my goal, I’ll let her go.’
His duty was to keep her safe until then.
Rodrigo reminded himself of his role once more.
He slowly turned his head, having regathered his scattered thoughts.
There lay the child, breathing softly in sleep.
With no idea how frightening and barren Bancadium truly was.
‘……I hope she doesn’t cry later.’
After coming here and blowing up the building no less.
If later she broke down, saying it was scary and she wanted to go back, it would sour his mood in its own way.
Rodrigo turned his gaze away, hoping only for the trouble-free night he’d requested.
‘I wonder how that one is managing.’
The escape itself wouldn’t be difficult.
The reason he’d stayed quiet until now was to observe how the Emperor would respond to Bancadium while he was imprisoned.
The plan had shifted somewhat when the child arrived, but the escape itself would proceed unchanged.
For that to happen,
‘I need to clean up the remaining remnants.’
Veronica would handle that herself.
She was as good at upending things as the little one was.
Unaware that he’d thought of Karin once again, Rodrigo leaned his back against the wall.
He glanced up absently at the sky beyond the bars and saw a round full moon hanging there.
Tonight the darkness seemed to stretch on forever.

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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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