If You Are Suited for the Villain's Secretary - Chapter 73

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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 73
When Aden’s name suddenly came up, I felt caught off guard since I’d been thinking about him.
As I hesitated, Sherwood continued awkwardly.
“I witnessed The Director personally nursing the secretary while she was unconscious. He even went out of his way to procure the Sungsu needed for this antidote. So, even if it doesn’t appear that way….”
‘I wondered why he was suddenly saying this.’
Sherwood seemed unaware that I had come to the Phlibier Estate of my own volition.
He believed The Director had driven me out to work immediately after I regained consciousness from the poison, and Sherwood was defending him in his own way.
It was something Aden would likely do.
Since this was actually a situation where I needed to clarify things, I smiled and opened my mouth.
“That’s not it. The Director tried to stop me, but I came here of my own accord.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes. I’m aware of how much The Director cares for me….”
Sometimes, facts become clearer when spoken aloud than when merely acknowledged in thought.
A man who despises the Temple so much that he endures it with mana suppressants had sought out Sungsu to use for me.
…Because he was worried about me.
For some reason, my ears burned hot at that realization.
As I blinked, I shook my head. …What was I even thinking right now.
‘Aden is naturally a good director. …Aside from the occasional recklessness, he’s actually quite reasonable. It’s only natural that such a person would worry about a secretary who insists on working despite being poisoned.’
I let out a small cough and lowered my head slightly.
“Still, thank you for telling me.”
“Ah, yes, well….”
Sherwood, scratching the back of his neck and looking quite embarrassed, prompted me to quickly change the subject.
“Is there a way to tell if the antidote has taken effect? I haven’t coughed up blood or had a fever since early this morning.”
“Ah, yes, there is. Though it varies by individual, the symptoms persist for about two to three hours after taking the antidote and continue for roughly two days, with areas like the lips and fingernails becoming flushed, as if….”
Sherwood paused mid-sentence as he observed my reddened fingernails.
“…becoming red like this.”
“Two to three hours after? But my fingernails have been this color since around noon earlier. I thought it was from the poison.”
Sherwood, examining my hand closely, murmured softly.
“As I thought.”
“Pardon?”
“Ah, it’s nothing.”
“Why are you like that? Is something wrong? You’re making me anxious.”
“No, you are indeed detoxified. You can rest assured.”
Since I had only heard from him that the antidote was complete and nothing else, I became puzzled.
“Still, if you have time later, would you stop by my Mage Tower once?”
“Um… yes, I will.”
“Yes. Then I’ll contact you as soon as the Count’s test results come back.”
And with that, Sherwood departed.
What was that about.
‘At least that’s a relief. I don’t have to worry about poison anymore.’
As I watched his retreating figure, I slipped Sungsu’s antidote into my pocket and pulled out the communication device. I needed to report today’s events to Aden.
My finger hovered over the button before I paused at the call history.
‘When will Thomas contact me?’
On my way here, I’d reached out to Thomas, the Debt Collector from Fang.
It was to check on Father’s safety and monitor Fang’s movements. I hadn’t gone into detail—I’d simply asked to receive a photograph of Father.
Thomas had agreed, though he’d seemed somewhat reluctant, muttering something about how seeing it would only trouble my mind.
That hesitation might be a sign that nothing was amiss. It was possible Vargas had handed over only a list to Kaileb instead of Father himself.
Still, regardless of Thomas’s affiliation with Fang, he was merely a Debt Collector—he might not know the full situation.
‘…Should I ask Aden?’
Aden’s investigation into my background had occurred early in my employment.
He’d helped me locate Randolph’s forged seal, but that had been somewhat related to La Mare, so it remained uncertain whether Aden had been tracking my Father as well.
‘For now, I’ll wait for Thomas’s contact.’
Norbert had only brought a substitute to our meeting; it was entirely possible that Crimson had taken Father and locked him away somewhere like a Private Prison.
So I needed to finish this. I had to deal with Kaileb Crimson first.
Having reached my conclusion, I pushed aside my anxiety and pressed the button.
-Iliana.
Before the signal even rang once.
Aden’s voice came through.
Before I could even respond, Aden asked.
-Have you taken the antidote?
“Yes, I just received it from Sherwood.”
-How is your condition?
“Ah, um, I’m fine.”
-Let me ask again. On a scale of one to ten, with ten being your healthiest, what would you rate yourself now?
“…Seven, perhaps?”
A faint sound of breathing scattered across the communication device.
-That’s fortunate.
The way he accepted the answer when given in numerical form struck me as very much like Aden.
So I smiled slightly.
-Why are you smiling?
“My apologies.”
-I didn’t ask you to apologize.
“Yes, I know. I meant I was sorry for causing you worry.”
-That is also not something you should apologize for, but if you understood that much… why didn’t you give some thought to heading toward Plibie County Estate?
Aden’s guarded voice reached my ear.
After a moment of silence, I spoke with forced brightness.
“I’ll be more careful next time. Besides, there were some results from it.”
-…Tell me.
As I made my way toward the deserted Northern Garden, I explained what had transpired at the Estate.
By the time I finished my report—from obtaining the blood sample to what I’d heard from Lena, and even the snippets I’d overheard from Odette Crimson and Kaileb Crimson’s conversation—Aden, who hadn’t interrupted me once, finally spoke.
-Iliana, you told me you were going to Phlibier Estate to persuade Basil Plebiae. Yet aside from the blood sample, it seems you’ve been focusing primarily on Odette Crimson all along.
Iliana, you told me that your reason for going to the Plibie County Estate was to persuade Basil Plebiae. But it seems that aside from the blood sample, you’ve been focusing on Odette Crimson all along.
He was right.
Of course, speaking with the Count would only be possible after the blood test results came back.
Still, Odette Crimson weighed heavily on my mind. There was much that felt unresolved, but more than that—the notion of her being “disposed of” sat poorly with me.
-It seems you believe Odette Crimson’s thoughts diverge from her father’s. Is there a reason for this?
It wasn’t merely the thought of the child in Odette Crimson’s womb never seeing the light of day that troubled me.
As Aden had mentioned in the original story, a daughter who tried to escape yet still bore her father’s sins.
A daughter who died alongside her father, only to remain imprisoned even in death.
I realized I’d been overlaying her situation with my own.
‘I wasn’t neutral about this, was I?’
I couldn’t discuss the original story, and my mistake was valid. I decided to answer honestly.
“I apologize. Without realizing it, I was projecting my own situation onto hers. I’ll reconsider this more carefully.”
-…Are you speaking of your relationship with your father?
“Yes.”
Aden remained silent for quite some time.
By the time his silence began to feel heavy, he spoke.
-If that’s what you felt, then there must be a reason.
I needed a moment to process whether I’d heard him correctly.
“…I’m sorry?”
-People often append the phrase “objective judgment” to lend credibility to their opinions, but truthfully, that’s illogical. There is only judgment that appears more objective. Everyone thinks based on their own experiences.
“….”
-So I’m saying that wasn’t wrong. Reflect on it, yes—but focus on why your situation overlapped with hers, why your subjectivity intruded at that particular moment, and what caused it. That’s how I know you work.
There must be a reason behind my judgment.
‘It almost sounds like… you trust me.’
An odd warmth bloomed in my chest.
“Yes, I understand. I’ll think it through carefully.”
-I know you will.
Aden let out a low laugh, then composed himself and continued.
-Iliana.
“Yes?”
-I know this isn’t an appropriate moment. But there’s something I need to tell you.
“Now?”
-Yes. …Even now.
I stiffened, about to question him reflexively.
It was because I’d just remembered—we’d been discussing my father before Aden fell silent.
His voice came through the communicator, distant and hollow.
-Iliana, your father….
Iliana, your father…
That was when it happened.
A sharp beep sounded from the communicator just as light flooded into the dark cemetery.
‘Two beeps mean voice has been detected on the listening device I gave to Odette.’
I gasped in surprise and looked up toward the source of the light.
The illuminated room was the so-called “Vault Room” that Lena had mentioned—the one overlooking the cemetery.
The moment I spotted Odette moving inside, I froze completely.
-Iliana?
“….”
-Iliana, what’s wrong? Answer me.
“I’ll contact you again, Director.”
-Ilia….
I ended the call and bolted toward the room where the listening device’s main unit was located.
My eyesight is excellent. Unless I was mistaken, in Odette’s hand as she gazed blankly out the window, there was unmistakably.
‘…That’s a cigarette.’
Smoke curled gently from the cigarette she held.

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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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