I Just Wanted Revenge, But Everyone Loves Me - Chapter 47

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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 47
‘How adorable.’
Veronica gazed down at the child nestled in her arms and smiled softly.
Unused to such praise, the girl twisted her small frame with embarrassment yet made no move to deny it—a gesture so endearing it made Veronica’s heart clench.
‘I must confess, it’s remarkable.’
She’d always known Karin was sharper than other children, but to see her mind work with such clarity was something else entirely.
Though perhaps it made sense—only someone with such intelligence and nerve would have conceived the plan to enter Bangcadium in the first place.
Still, it was extraordinary.
What manner of machinery turned inside a head so impossibly small?
She found herself wanting to open it up and look inside, just once.
‘When you think about it, there’s so much to wonder about.’
Usually, she didn’t care where a child came from.
‘Even back at the prison.’
But whenever these flashes of cunning appeared, she couldn’t help asking herself: what sort of life had she lived before? Where had all that clever knowledge come from?
Though she suspected that even if she asked, the girl would never tell her.
“Sister.”
“Mm?”
While Veronica sat lost in thought, the little one in her arms called out to her insistently.
“Once you bring Sith here, what happens after that?”
“Hmm.”
Veronica made a thoughtful sound.
“I have a feeling you’ve already thought that far ahead.”
“Even so. Since the Duke and you are the ones directly involved… I thought you might have planned an even better moment than what I was thinking.”
Veronica’s eyes widened, then she let out a soft laugh. Sith too seemed mildly surprised by the girl’s perceptiveness.
“There’s no fooling our Karin, is there?”
“Ah!”
Veronica stroked the fluffy hair affectionately as she spoke.
“The Duke and I are thinking of the Emperor’s Birthday Celebration.”
“The Emperor’s Birthday Celebration?”
“That’s right. A party’s been held every year on that day. I’ve heard from others that with the Crown Prince incident and everything, it’ll be scaled down this year, but there will still be an event.”
It would be foolish to reveal the evidence the moment it came into her hands. A careless move could lead to a counterattack instead.
No, it was far better to expose everything dramatically before a crowd.
Assuming they could safely retrieve Sith first, the Emperor’s Birthday Celebration was the perfect timing.
Even scaled down, the Emperor wouldn’t let a day when he was the focus of all attention go to waste.
He’d invite dozens, perhaps hundreds of nobles to his birthday gala.
If an event normally spread over four days were compressed into a single evening, the likelihood of a massive congregation of nobility on that night was extremely high.
“This sort of thing has the best effect in front of a crowd.”
To reverse the already-tilted situation, she had to move the hearts of the people.
She needed to capture the attention and sympathies of the nobility.
“The nobles have been terribly curious, too. Why does the Emperor leave Bangcadium untouched?”
“…”
“But if we reveal the circumstances behind all this—”
“They’ll start to wonder naturally!”
That gnawing suspicion: could the Imperial Family itself have orchestrated this?
“Exactly. The human heart is a terrible and cunning thing.”
Even the tiniest spark, given a little provocation, would spread into roaring flames all on its own.
“So when were you thinking, Karin?”
“I feel the same way. I was hoping for somewhere with lots of people…”
If the Emperor’s Birthday Celebration was coming up soon, it seemed like the perfect moment to strike, just as Veronica had suggested.
“Would you like to come along with me, Karin?”
“Can I really go?”
“Of course. You were absolutely crucial in clearing Bangcadium’s false accusation.”
Veronica had deliberately kept quiet about it to avoid drawing unwanted attention from the nobility, but if Karin wished to attend, she was more than willing to take her.
After all, she was the architect of this entire affair.
But after a moment’s consideration, Karin shook her head slowly.
“No, thank you. I’ll just stay home and keep watch.”
“Really? You’re not curious?”
“I am curious, but…”
Count Amelot would likely attend the Emperor’s Birthday Celebration.
Once Bangcadium’s false accusation was cleared, Karin would have to reveal herself eventually, but that time wasn’t now.
“All right, then. Do as you feel comfortable.”
Veronica smiled gently and adjusted the child in her arms. She had no intention of forcing anything on this small, precious one.
‘How did such a child ever come to me?’
The more she looked at her, the more she loved her.
At first it had been because the girl reminded her of someone else, but now affection bloomed for Karin herself, wholly and completely.
Remarkably so.
“Karin.”
“Yes?”
“Do you really not want to be my daughter?”
* * *
“Being a daughter means…”
“Sister becomes your mother.”
Sister explained it kindly.
At this, the Duke seated across from us furrowed his brow.
“Don’t talk nonsense, Veronica.”
“Nonsense? If you’re just going to leave things as they are, I want to just go ahead and make her my daughter.”
The Duke exhaled silently at this. I tugged gently at Sister’s sleeve.
‘At other times it seemed like a joke.’
But this time it sounded like she meant it.
“Do you really mean it seriously?”
“Of course. Your sister doesn’t usually joke about things like this.”
Sister smiled, even adding that all the things she’d said before had been sincere as well.
“If you’re willing, you really could become part of Bangcadium. Not right now, but someday.”
Having said this, Sister gestured at the Duke.
“Ignore his reaction. He’s only putting on a show—really, he’s already completely smitten with you.”
“…Who’s smitten?”
The Duke added quietly.
Sister curled one corner of her mouth upward.
“The one who’s been giving you a flood of Fairy Tale Books—who was that again?”
“…Ahem.”
“And the one who had everyone make sure you got snacks and everything else—wasn’t that the Duke as well? So clearly—”
“Veronica.”
The Duke called out to Sister once.
It was a warning to stop.
Sister grumbled while pulling me close.
“You’d get jealous if I took her with me, wouldn’t you?”
“I wouldn’t get jealous.”
“Sure you wouldn’t. And yet you let her use your study.”
“Sister, Sister.”
“Mm?”
“Can I ask you just one thing?”
As I listened to the two of them banter, curiosity suddenly stirred in me. Sister’s eyes softened when I asked.
“You don’t need to be so formal. Just ask me whatever you want.”
“Whose study was it before? Who used it?”
“!”
“!”
At my words, Sister’s eyes widened like lanterns.
Her full lips trembled slightly—a rare sign of genuine shock.
But I wasn’t the only one who was startled.
“…?”
The Duke beside me and Sith as well.
All three of them had the look of people who’d just heard a forbidden secret.
I blinked dumbly, not having expected such a reaction from anyone.
No one offered an answer.
But from this alone, I could tell one thing.
I’d just touched on something very, very significant.
‘Why are they like that?’
Who had used it before?

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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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