Isn’t Being A Wicked Woman Much Better? - Chapter 143

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 143
“Sigh…”
It seemed I kept finding myself thrust into situations where I had to stand before crowds.
In truth, my direct participation in the battle wasn’t born from any great courage or sense of justice, but rather from the realization that if my hypothesis about my household was correct, Purple’s detection ability could minimize casualties.
‘I never intended to accomplish anything remarkable.’
As someone who grew tense whenever attention turned my way, the Crown Prince’s sudden request had caught me off guard. Yet refusing his plea felt burdensome, and there were other important reasons besides, so I ultimately agreed.
Image rehabilitation.
‘I was planning to expand my business significantly soon, and honestly, the timing isn’t bad.’
If the Crown Prince intended to use me for his event, I should reap the corresponding benefits.
‘And I can’t keep hiding that I operate Armand forever.’
For business to flourish, I needed to improve the deeply entrenched perception of Deborah that had solidified over long years. And now was precisely the moment. I dressed in neat attire befitting a ceremony honoring the goddess’s sacrifice and took a light, steadying breath.
‘All I have to do is stand before the altar with Purple and throw flowers.’
Just as I was steeling myself that it was nothing serious, Rozard appeared at the Annex Reception Room.
“What brings you here?”
As I regarded him with suspicion—this man armed with counterfeit kindness—he cleared his throat and opened his mouth.
‘What is it?’
I had thought him a man so seamless not even a needle could slip through, yet in that moment he resembled an awkward young man of his age.
“…Thank you.”
He spoke in a hushed voice.
“What?”
“If not for you, I would have been in serious trouble for participating in the Yucri Temple search. There surely would have been casualties, and someone would have held me accountable for my negligence.”
“But you’re a war hero—how could anyone dare?”
“That’s precisely why it would be worse. The more successful someone becomes, the more people want to tear them down.”
True enough. When the most successful person makes even a single mistake, everyone rushes in like hyenas to devour the fallen fruit. It was the same principle as when a beloved celebrity stumbles—the scandal becomes all the greater.
“I wanted to settle this matter first before leaving. Especially since the factions dissatisfied with House Simour monopolizing the Magic Tower position have already resented me. I’ve also incurred your debt twice over.”
“Wait, where are you going? Aren’t you participating in the ceremony?”
Now that I thought about it, he wore military dress rather than formal attire befitting the occasion.
“The Barrier is unstable, so the atmosphere remains tense.”
“I see.”
“Orders came down yesterday. The Tower Battle Unit is being deployed as the Capital’s defense force today. It’s a form of showmanship—a gesture to demonstrate that the Imperial Court and nobility are concerned for the people’s safety.”
“I understand.”
As Rozard explained the situation to me, he suddenly wore a peculiar smile.
“Deborah. I never thought I’d find myself discussing politics with you. By the way, who’s your escort? Isidore?”
“Purple.”
In truth, Purple—the hero(?) who had been most active in this battle—was essentially my companion.
“Purple? Ah, so that’s the name of the white turtle guardian beast.”
Suddenly he curved his thin lips upward in a smile.
“Not Beleck, then.”
“What do you mean?”
“Never mind.”
For reasons I couldn’t quite explain, Rozard disappeared with a satisfied expression, as though he had finally resolved his greatest curiosity. I stood there bewildered before returning to my room.
“Purple, you’ve been good, haven’t you? I need to go now.”
After the turtle shamelessly devoured premium mana stones again and fell asleep on an enormous cushion, I prepared to leave.
* * *
The location where the incense ceremony was held was the same as where the peerage conferment had taken place last time.
‘The atmosphere feels heavier than it did then.’
That was likely because this was a gathering to commemorate the goddess who had willingly endured suffering and made sacrifices for all people.
However, the moment Isidore appeared in pristine white ceremonial robes, the surroundings erupted into chaos as though nothing had happened before. Isidore looked like a sculpture of an angel from mythology.
“Is this heaven?”
“Get a grip. That’s not an angel—that’s Duke Visconti.”
“I know. But his face is too unrealistic.”
Even the common people gathered around to witness the ceremony stopped their prayers and whispered that a male deity had appeared.
The other nobles attending as attendants to the Crown Prince wore long robes that dragged on the ground and ceremonial garments with exposed chests, but none were as striking as Isidore. People’s astonished gazes followed his every movement.
“Deborah. A mage is infinitely preferable to a macho knight. Of course, not all mages are acceptable, but….”
While my father sitting beside me muttered darkly, my eyes suddenly met Isidore’s.
“That, that fox…!”
He gave me a soft eye smile, and I had to clutch my racing heart.
After a brief commotion, I was summoned by an Imperial Administrator who was checking the roster, and I stepped forward toward the altar. Since I was an attendant hastily added by the Crown Prince the day before the event, the instructions had arrived a bit late.
“I’ve heard much of your accomplishments, Lady Deborah.”
Isidore whispered softly.
“Well, things just turned out that way.”
“I wish only I knew what an admirable person you are, but I’m worried as your popularity keeps growing.”
“Popularity? That’s not something you should be saying.”
While he and I were gossiping secretly in a corner, the Crown Prince appeared.
“Could you please save the romance for after the ceremony is over? Duke.”
“What do you think about a person I considered a friend sending a letter with a difficult request to my beloved without consulting me at all? Your Highness.”
“Hey, come on. If you’ve already warned me this much, shouldn’t we call it even now? Show some respect for my preferences too… Hmm!”
The Crown Prince, who had been grumbling with a blank expression, suddenly closed his mouth, cleared his throat, and spoke to me.
“Lady Deborah. I won’t forget the favor you’ve done me this time. I swear by the honor of the imperial house that I will certainly help you if you need anything in the future.”
‘You better remember that promise.’
The Crown Prince, visibly tense, quickly excused himself saying he needed to prepare, and Isidore clicked his tongue.
“If something like this happens again, I’ll end our friendship.”
Watching the Crown Prince’s retreating figure, I thought they seemed quite close without formality.
‘Ah, perhaps not.’
Since Isidore was secretly posing as the Master and taking advantage of the Crown Prince, they couldn’t be that close.
Not long after, as noon—the sacred hour when the sun reaches its highest point—drew near, the Cardinal and priests began entering one by one.
‘Huh?’
I was startled. Among the priests was a familiar face I had forgotten about for some time.
It was Miya Binoshu.
‘If the female lead is attending this event like in the novel, is the story flowing in a direction similar to the original?’
I came to the conclusion that I was not uncertain about this.
In the original work, Miya Binoshu was essentially the protagonist of this event. She appeared alongside the Pope, who rarely engaged in external activities, and revealed her presence before the masses, prompting them to hail her as the incarnation of a saint. However, in the novel, the ornate ceremonial robes described as magnificent were as plain as those worn by ordinary priests, and she was positioned at the tail end of the procession, hardly standing out.
Still, it seemed her activities thus far had borne fruit. It wasn’t easy to receive an invitation to such an occasion.
I gazed at her with her pink hair braided neatly, then turned my attention toward the center where the grand organ music resonated. The Crown Prince, who was conducting the ceremony, walked out dressed in a brilliant ceremonial robe of pristine white silk embroidered with gold leaf.
‘Ironically, that robe bears a striking resemblance to the outfit described for Miya in the novel.’
The Crown Prince, entrusted with the Emperor’s role for the first time, took one deep breath and recited a passage honoring the spirit of the Goddess.
The ceremony proceeded quite smoothly. Yet as it continued, I felt my hands and feet growing colder from tension.
“Now, we shall conduct the incense ceremony to honor the soul of the holy, sacred, and great Goddess Naila.”
“We shall perform the purification ritual through sacred objects.”
The Cardinal, who had been waiting, carefully brought forward an object wrapped in fine cloth and approached the altar. What the Cardinal produced was a pristine white rosary.
“We shall pray.”
He submerged the rosary in water, and all those participating in the ceremony clasped their hands together and closed their eyes as if in prayer. But I could not tear my gaze from that white object. A strange sense of déjà vu churned within me.
Thump. Thump.
My heart began to race violently, as if I had just awakened from a nightmare. My heartbeat swelled like a drum, pounding painfully against my eardrums.
‘What is this?’
In my vision, a vast desert and a blonde-haired man suddenly appeared like a phantom, then distorted. Simultaneously, the sharp metallic scent of blood brushed against the tip of my nose.
“My Lady. You must depart now.”
At the Imperial Administrator’s call, I belatedly came to my senses.
Purple and I, holding flower branches preserved immaculately by magic, slowly made our way toward the altar. The scent of flowers permeated the air before the burning altar, yet I continued to recall that sharp, crimson smell of blood.
Soon the branch I had thrown burst into brilliant flames. Just as I was about to return to my seat after barely completing my role—
Crack—!
With an ominous thunderous sound, something appeared in the distance. A pitch-black scythe that rent the very space asunder.
In the distance, accompanied by an ominous roar, something appeared. It was a pitch-black scythe tearing through space.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————