If You Are Suited for the Villain's Secretary - Chapter 70

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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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If the Villain’s Secretary Suits Me
Chapter 70
The Butler hesitated for a moment, unable to compose himself, before bowing respectfully.
“It appears you have a visitor, madam. I apologize, but I should step away for a moment.”
“Oh, yes. We’re fine, so please go ahead. I’ll call if we need anything.”
The Butler left, and the door closed behind him.
Scott returned after swiftly scanning the Reception Room with a mana detection device, nodding to indicate it was clean before speaking.
“That Butler doesn’t seem to like Crimson people much, does he?”
I habitually made a gesture of pushing up glasses I wasn’t wearing and answered awkwardly.
“According to staff information, he’s been serving since the previous Count and his wife. He’s apparently the only existing servant Kaileb Crimson didn’t dismiss.”
“It makes sense he dislikes Crimson. And it makes even more sense that he’d welcome us.”
I had anticipated this reaction, which is why I borrowed the name Julius Noel.
A Butler who had served a long-time master would certainly pity Count Plivier, whose leash was held by money.
So when word spread that the recently wealthy “Julius Noel” wanted to invest in Plebiae County, he readily let us in—perhaps hoping some alternative path might emerge besides Kaileb Crimson.
“More importantly, that gift box contained an eavesdropping artifact, right? If we play our cards right, we could overhear conversations between Kaileb Crimson and Odette Crimson. Turn it on quickly.”
Prompted by Scott’s urging, I opened the suit case. The magical artifact came into view.
Of course, no one enters enemy territory empty-handed. There were several magical artifacts that would aid our work, but the first thing I secured was the listening device.
It was because of something Aden had said in the original story.
“Your resolve to escape from your father amounted to merely this? I had hoped your swordsmanship was at least slightly better than your lying skills.”
Those were his words in the scene where he handed Odette Crimson a blade and urged her to stab Kaileb Crimson.
What lie had Odette told?
‘If her lying skills were poor, it means she told a lie that would be exposed quickly.’
In the original story, Odette Crimson’s role was almost nonexistent.
So the information I had about her was extremely limited.
All I knew was that she had extravagant spending habits—purchasing useless Imperial Family dresses and pendants at auctions.
Beyond that, I also knew she was currently pregnant and had entered into a forced political marriage.
‘The marriage was a year ago, and their relationship was described as poor, yet she’s pregnant… Was it forced by her father?’
I had vaguely wondered whether Odette Crimson might be in league with Kaileb Crimson.
After all, she was Kaileb Crimson’s daughter. There was certainly a possibility she had conspired with her father to swallow up the Plebiae family.
I had even considered that Odette might be the one who poisoned her husband, Count Plivier.
Yet the fact that she had recently dismissed the servants her father had assigned to her, combined with the revelation in the original story that she ultimately stabbed her father—something about it nagged at me.
‘It could simply be because of her bad personality, or perhaps she’s an opportunist who cares more about preserving her own life than anything else.’
I turned the word “lie” over in my mind.
I decided I should find an opportunity to meet with the embedded staff member and ask for more information about Odette Crimson.
As I listened intently, a thud echoed.
It seemed the Butler, who disliked the lady of the house, had simply left the gift box at the door.
[Our princess!]
Along with crackling static, I heard Kaileb Crimson’s voice, faint but distinct.
***
“Father? Oh, I was calling for Norbert….”
At the mention of Norbert’s name, a brief furrow crossed Kaileb Crimson’s brow before smoothing away.
“That man is far too occupied at the moment.”
Occupied in a rather different sense, actually. Norbert was currently languishing in the Hospital.
The fool had his tail stepped on while fleeing, and even took a bullet to the shoulder for his troubles.
All the subordinates had been captured, and with Norbert hovering between life and death, I’d stripped away all magical artifacts and communication devices to avoid being traced—leaving me utterly ignorant of how the operation had concluded.
The knights had certainly descended upon them, so it ended badly, but what became of Aden’s secretary?
‘At least the man who played that girl’s father returned early enough for me to hear the story. Apparently she believed he was her father with absolute certainty.’
Kaileb clicked his tongue in thought. In any case, that Iliana girl would have no choice but to bring the documents.
It was inevitable. No employee who’d worked with the Director for merely a month would sacrifice their own life and their father’s life to protect him.
Just as the Director viewed his employees as disposable commodities, so too did they view him as merely the man who signed their paychecks.
‘Just as I use and discard my subordinates without hesitation.’
The captured subordinates would never know, but I’d already laced their meals with magical poison. A one-day toxin—they’d all be dead and collapsed by tonight.
Even if they testified before then, what use was the testimony of the already deceased?
‘Of course… even if the mission had been completed and they’d returned, I never intended to provide them with an antidote.’
I hadn’t even bothered to create one in the first place.
Kaileb thought coldly while smiling pleasantly.
“Where is there a Merchant Guild where the secretary is busier than the Chairman?”
“I’m hardly idle myself, but I came to see our princess’s face. And the little one too. Surely you’re beginning to feel the movements by now? I wonder if the baby will remember grandfather’s voice….”
Kaileb casually reached out toward Odette Crimson’s noticeably rounded belly.
Odette cried out sharply.
“Don’t touch!”
Whether she’d cried out without thinking, Odette hesitated before continuing.
“I’m not some toddler, and even if you are my father, you don’t just touch a pregnant woman’s belly without permission! You startled me.”
Kaileb Crimson’s expression hardened abruptly, and he slowly withdrew his hand.
He forced his lips upward into a smile.
“Ah… yes. I’m sorry, our princess. …But why were you looking for Norbert? Is there something you need?”
“Not particularly. I just had something I wanted to ask.”
“How curious. What could my swan possibly wish to know? Father will answer for you.”
“It’s nothing much.”
“You wouldn’t have called for Norbert over something trivial, would you?”
Odette Crimson gripped the hem of her dress tightly.
“It really is nothing. I was just wondering if father’s guests would be attending the reception. Things have been rather tumultuous lately with Marquis Vito and all….”
“I see.”
“Since father’s guests are mostly nobility, it needs to be prepared lavishly and elegantly. But this mansion is small, the garden is small, and there’s little appeal in decorating. The cemetery is also far too close to the estate.”
“Mm, yes.”
“This is a family affair commemorating the heir of the Plebiae Family, so I was thinking of keeping it small. Just family. …Can’t I ask them not to come?”
Kaileb Crimson laughed as though his daughter’s complaint was endearing, tilting his head.
“Even so, that won’t do. This is an official ceremony to announce that my grandson possesses the qualifications to inherit the title of Count. I cannot turn away guests who’ve traveled far to offer their congratulations, can I?”
“Father, but….”
“Odette Crimson.”
The smile vanished from Kaileb’s face.
Odette flinched.
“Do you have any idea how long your father has waited for this moment? I can’t believe you’d say something like that.”
“….”
“Why do you think I paid off that worthless count’s debts and sent you to this remote corner of the Central Region? You’re beautiful and wealthy—a member of Crimson—and countless marriage proposals came your way. So why did you choose Plebiae of all people? If you understood that, you couldn’t possibly say such things.”
Kaileb’s tone turned savage in an instant.
“Did Basil Plebiae put you up to saying this?”
Odette shook her head frantically.
“No! It’s not, it’s not like that!”
“It’s not?”
“I barely exchange a word or two with him in a day. Besides, if he had something to say, he’d tell Father directly—not send me to say it!”
Kaileb, who had been studying Odette intently, pressed his palm to his forehead.
“Ah, that’s right. I spoke foolishly.”
“….”
“My princess, my daughter—there’s no way you’d be swayed by the words of such a man. Isn’t that so?”
Kaileb laughed heartily, as though he’d just told an amusing joke.
Odette bit the soft flesh inside her mouth.
“The banquet will proceed as planned, my daughter.”
Kaileb smiled broadly and whispered with utmost gentleness.
“However, if that’s your wish, I’ll reduce the number of guests somewhat. After all, the true star of the banquet is the young master, so we must arrange everything as you desire—you who carry that precious child.”
“…As I desire?”
“Yes. As you desire. Well then, I must contact the guests, so I’ll take my leave now.”
Odette murmured the words “as I desire” and looked up at Kaileb as he rose to his feet.
“Father. Have you never thought about it? What if… what if, you know.”
“Hmm?”
Odette’s lips trembled.
“You never know what might happen. The baby could miscarry… or maybe it’s born but sickly, so something could go wrong. Then….”
Whoosh—
A gust of wind sounded before she could even finish her sentence.
Odette squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them to see Kaileb’s large hand hovering just beside her cheek.
“My princess.”
Kaileb whispered and began to slowly caress his daughter’s cheek.
“Why would you think such things? Of course, carrying a child means you’ll sometimes feel afraid and anxious. Such dark thoughts can arise. But it’s alright—you’re my daughter, after all.”
His tone seemed almost tender, as though soothing a daughter’s worries.
“Even if the child were sickly, even if something went wrong. Or even if… the child in your womb weren’t Plebiae’s at all.”
Yet the expression on Kaileb’s face as he looked down at Odette’s ashen features was utterly cruel.
“You need not worry about anything. You need not think about anything. All you must do is trust your father, just as you always have. No matter what happens, you will become the Countess.”
“…F-Father.”
“So I’ll see you on the day of the banquet. Yes?”
Kaileb Crimson gently brushed away the tears from his daughter’s cheek before leaving the room.
Left alone, Odette Crimson sat in a daze for a long while.
Struggling to breathe, she pressed her fists against her chest before forcing herself to stand. With trembling hands, she pushed open the door to leave—only to stumble over something on the floor.
It was an exquisite gift box.
[Julius Noel]
She stared at the tag hanging from the present, her lips trembling as she wrapped her arms around her abdomen.
Her stomach caved inward under the pressure of her own grip.

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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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