If You Are Suited for the Villain's Secretary - Chapter 84

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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 84
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Only after ending the call did Kaileb Crimson realize what mistake he had made.
‘Should I have denied it? Or should I have ranted and raved, insisting that Aden was spouting nonsense and that she absolutely shouldn’t believe him….’
Kaileb swallowed dryly and slowly turned his head to peer deeper into the room.
Yet Odette’s profile, visible through the gap in the door, remained composed. She simply sat quietly on the sofa.
Could it be?
“Odette?”
As I carefully opened the door and stepped inside, Odette lifted her head to look at me.
The moment I saw her calm expression, the calculating machinery in my mind—which had been momentarily stalled—began spinning rapidly once more.
Perhaps the shock of being kidnapped had shattered her composure, leaving her dazed and hollow.
The question that had spilled from my lips was merely parroting what Aden had said; I wasn’t truly grasping the weight of the matter. As far as I was concerned, this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Or perhaps.
‘I didn’t ask if it was a lie. I asked if it was true.’
…If she had already accepted it?
Surely Aden hadn’t only spoken about Count Plivier and his wife. He must have spread other vicious rumors about me as well.
Yet Odette hadn’t tried to flee. She had come docilely into my arms, all the way to this room.
‘If she’s realized that the only place she can trust is Crimson, that the only place she can run to is Crimson!’
My eyes gleamed with calculation.
Who would have thought that fool Aden could be useful in this way!
There was no need to pile on excuses or cling to lies.
Rather, this was an opportunity to properly imprint upon Odette exactly what kind of mire this father had wallowed through for the glory of Crimson—and that might make her far easier to control in the future.
“Our princess.”
Having finished my deliberation, I knelt on one knee at Odette’s feet.
“You must have been quite shocked, haven’t you? Hearing of your father’s shortcomings. You know as well as I do that he’s a liar. How could I trust the man who kidnapped you? But… as with all things, there is truth hidden between the lies.”
Odette gazed at me intently.
I took her cold hands in mine and spoke in a voice so chillingly tender it raised goosebumps.
“My daughter, I believe you alone will understand my sincerity.”
“….”
“It was all for you.”
Odette flinched.
Seizing the moment, I continued.
“Haven’t I always told you, my dear? That for your sake, I could walk through hell itself. That I could even sell my soul to the devil. And so… I did exactly that. I wanted to lay nothing but flower petals at the feet of our princess.”
I explained gently.
The plan to make Odette Crimson a countess rather than merely a countess’s wife.
Of course, I didn’t reveal all the details. Some parts diverged from the truth.
For instance, the plan to ‘dispose of’ the child between Basil and her at the hospital I had acquired,
“Just as that fool Aden held you hostage, I reached out to Basil as well. I called for doctors and mages, but… the prospects aren’t favorable. You’ve heard the rumors about the poison from Marquis Vito’s Residence, so you understand how terrifying such things can be.”
Or how I would pin the poison Basil drank entirely on La Mare.
“But if Basil dies like this, all your efforts enduring such a wretch as a husband will come to nothing. What a waste, hmm? So I’ve been thinking about it….”
Kaileb Crimson, who had explained his plan to forge a will with such tenderness, smiled and stroked Odette’s hair.
“So where is the Plebiae Family seal, our good princess?”
Odette, who had been silent for a moment, opened her mouth.
“…It’s in my vault.”
“Is that so? Why was it in your vault? …Well, in any case, this works out perfectly. The vault key?”
“I’ll open it for you, Father.”
Good.
Kaileb Crimson, who had kissed Odette’s forehead, followed her toward the Vault Room with a smile spreading across his face.
Click, click. As Odette opened the vault door, she suddenly spoke.
“Father.”
“Hmm?”
“Do you love me?”
Kaileb Crimson burst into hearty laughter.
“The thing I love most in this world is our daughter. Didn’t I tell you? I can do anything for our princess?”
In a somewhat cheerful mood, Kaileb Crimson casually threw out his words.
“And… just so you don’t misunderstand, it wasn’t I who harmed the previous Count Plivier and his wife.”
“….”
“Because of Marquis Vito’s coercion, Crimson had no choice but to merely clean up afterward. Truly.”
Odette said nothing.
She opened her mouth again only when she had retrieved the seal from the vault and handed it over.
Odette smiled with the expression Kaileb had seen many times before and spoke.
“You must keep your promise that you can do anything for me. Understood?”
Kaileb Crimson, who had taken the seal, smiled broadly.
“Of course.”
For a moment, a cold light flickered across Odette’s eyes.
But Kaileb, occupied with examining the seal, did not see those eyes.
***
“I heard Count Plivier is on death’s door.”
“They say he’s coughing up blood.”
“Good heavens, so the Count drank poison like Marquis Vito’s attempted poisoning? …It must be the work of those 【La Mare】 bastards, right?”
“Who knows, but I’m curious why he didn’t cancel the invitation.”
The gossiping nobles understood when they saw Kaileb Crimson, dressed solemnly and greeting guests.
“He’s going to announce his will early.”
It wasn’t particularly rare in the world of nobility.
It was common sense for someone with a title to arrange the line of succession before death if they fell ill.
However, in Count Basil Plivier’s case, the baby hadn’t been born yet, so there was room for dispute over the “successor.”
So it seemed he was trying to nail things down in advance through his will.
The fact that a young count—and one who had suddenly suffered a poisoning accident—had a will designating an unborn baby as his heir was somewhat strange, but….
“It appears the Count wrote it in haste before his condition worsened. Out of concern for his daughter, who would be left alone, and the baby….”
No one present was bold enough to openly refute Kaileb’s words, spoken with tears streaming down his face.
Most of the nobles invited to today’s “banquet” had filled their pockets with bribes from 【Crimson】 to varying degrees.
“But I don’t see any Holy Knights. Shouldn’t they investigate if the poisoning is confirmed?”
“We reported it this morning, though they seem to be running late. I hear there was a prison escape, so their forces are concentrated on that….”
A lie.
Kaileb had reported the poisoning incident to the Holy Knight Order only moments before.
Because….
“I’m here now.”
Willie, the Tower Master of Siphron’s Mage Tower, muttered.
He had only just arrived, having been delayed traveling from the Northern Region.
‘I hear they’ve been keeping the Count alive by feeding him a common Delphinea flower antidote.’
Now that I’m here, there’s no need for that.
Was it because I could make a magical poison antidote? No.
He had been shouting to keep Basil alive at all costs, but then Kaileb changed his orders.
-Kill him.
“Pardon?”
-Time it so he dies around when the will is being read. There’s no need to keep Basil alive anymore. And get out before the Holy Knights arrive. It’d be troublesome if you got caught, wouldn’t it?
The damned crackling interference made it hard to understand. I wasn’t even sure why he suddenly changed his mind.
But the money’s coming from him, so what.
Willie slipped quietly into Basil’s bedroom. The Attendant flinched in surprise.
“My apologies for the delay.”
“W-who are you?”
“A Doctor sent on Kaileb’s orders. You’re free to leave—you must be busy.”
“Ah… yes.”
The Attendant gave up his place far more easily than expected.
To think he’d be fooled so easily just because I wore a coat instead of robes.
Willie let out a hollow laugh and opened his bag. Inside was a mana suppressant he’d made during the carriage ride.
“Sherwood developed this. I wondered what to use it for, but here’s the perfect opportunity.”
The fool had grown soft-hearted over nothing, whining that he couldn’t conduct human experiments, and eventually submitted his resignation.
Willie had memorized the prototype recipe discovered on his desk and decided to put it to use.
However, he had no intention of administering the mana suppressant immediately.
“I need to figure out why the poison worked so quickly on the Count. That way, I can create an even better toxin.”
There should be enough time to collect a blood sample, Willie thought as he picked up the syringe.
As he approached the Count, who had pulled the blanket over his head, he paused for a moment.
…Strangely enough, he sensed a faint aura of holy power emanating from the Count.

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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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