Isn’t Being A Wicked Woman Much Better? - Chapter 44

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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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Chapter 44
“What is that contract?”
Beleck Simour muttered anxiously.
“You know how my older brother is conducting experiments to convert mana into kinetic energy.”
I needed his genius-level artifact crafting abilities. This contract was designed to harness his talents.
“Wait, Deborah—how do you know the core details of my thesis? I haven’t announced it publicly yet.”
He asked in bewilderment.
‘That’s because of the novel’s content.’
Beleck Simour was a character who consistently ranked high in popularity polls. With his silver hair, long locks, and glasses, there was solid demand for this male lead, and the scenes featuring him had… well, distinctive qualities that set him apart from other male characters.
I hadn’t called him a sadistic deviant for nothing.
‘This guy is the real deal.’
Beleck Simour possessed an abundance of peculiar adult devices with various functions—rotation, vibration, and more.
“Beneath the black slate in Annex Basement Level 2 where my older brother resides. There are adult implements modified to run on mana instead of… mmph!”
Beleck Simour suddenly clamped his hand over my mouth.
“Deborah. I’ve painfully learned that your information network is extraordinary. Please, stop now. I’m truly sorry for everything.”
He stammered incoherently. His pale face had turned crimson, threatening to burst, and blood seemed ready to seep from his earlobes.
‘Is this really something to be this shocked about?’
In the novel, he used such devices so shamelessly that I thought he had no sense of shame whatsoever.
‘Wait! Could it be because I’m his younger sister?’
When I mentally switched perspectives to imagine having my private life exposed to family, the situation became truly pathetic and solemn.
Someone once said that when their mother suddenly burst through the door while they were watching adult content, time seemed to freeze, and they desperately wished to vanish like a speck of dust in the vast cosmos.
“Where should I sign?”
Seeing Beleck Simour’s flushed face glistening with tears, I felt as though I’d committed some grave transgression.
‘I never intended to push him this far…’
Feeling oddly apologetic, I quietly offered the parchment. Beleck Simour was so flustered that he didn’t even properly read the contract terms.
“I just sign here, right?”
“Yes. Pour your sincerity and mana into it.”
Beleck Simour.
His silver signature, infused with magical power, gleamed brilliantly in the darkness.
After signing, he departed with a melancholic air, and I unexpectedly found myself in possession of one of the Empire’s finest artifact craftsmen—and the most powerful slave capable of even operating ancient weapons.
Though it’s a later development that Beleck Simour would later activate the dormant ancient golem through his experiments converting mana into kinetic energy, in any case…
* * *
‘Oh no, it’s Lady Deborah Simour.’
‘Quickly, look down. Why are you staring like that?’
Ever since Louis Gazel appeared at the Academy with an enormous bouquet, Lady Deborah Simour’s notorious reputation among the young nobles had unintentionally grown. Rumors spread that she had made a young noble who came to confess his feelings flee in tears.
‘I heard a provincial lord’s son trembled like he’d seen a ghost and ran away.’
‘What on earth did she do to make him flee like that?’
‘Exactly what I’m saying.’
‘Good heavens! Now she’s even dueling with young nobles who bring bouquets!’
Those too frightened to approach Lady Deborah Simour, yet overflowing with idle curiosity, secretly spread rumors as they observed from a distance.
‘It’s not just this time that Deborah Simour made Young-sik cry. William Lemong also wept through the night after returning home once the fact-finding committee concluded. Recently, he’s said to have seizures whenever he sees the color purple.’
‘Remarkable, really. She enjoys Duke Simour’s favor, so no one dares touch her. Even the arrogant mages themselves acknowledge her genius.’
‘She’s evolving. If she was merely a viper before, now she’s a pit viper.’
‘Who on earth will escort Deborah Simour at the Spring Flower Festival this year?’
‘I need to secure a festival partner quickly. The lady might forcibly conscript one otherwise.’
‘If I’m unlucky enough to be chosen, I’m afraid I’ll fall gravely ill. I couldn’t possibly expose the lady to my contagion, *cough*!’
‘As for me, I may have urgent matters arise in my territory soon….’
* * *
‘Hmm. This situation has grown rather complicated.’
I’d succeeded in eliminating Louis Gazel and reducing Beleck to my second slave, but the Academy’s circumstances were developing in an unsettling direction.
‘Now I’ve become a villain who makes not just the young lady cry, but Young-sik as well.’
As I listened to the account Arin Oslot had picked up, I rubbed the bridge of my nose. While I took pride in thriving as a villainess without character collapse, the immediate problem brought a headache crashing down upon me.
‘Will there actually be a man willing to be my ball partner?’
Father and Beleck had to be ruled out as candidates. The Spring Flower Festival, being a youthful and indulgent affair, differed from Thanksgiving in that direct family members didn’t typically serve as escorts.
Before my troubled expression, Arin Oslot’s eyes sparkled.
“I was moved by Deborah Simour’s decisiveness, firmness, and charisma. It was absolutely right to coldly cast aside Young-sik—ugly, lacking fashion sense, and tacky to boot. So he wouldn’t even harbor delusions! How dare he presume!”
That’s not the problem right now.
As I glanced up at Arin, who was saying strange things, her large eyes suddenly glistened with tears and her limbs began trembling.
“A-anyway, Deborah Simour! Please call on me anytime.”
Her ears flushed crimson as she bowed repeatedly, then scurried away toward the Magic Tower. I gazed blankly at her diminishing figure.
‘It feels like I’m tormenting her again today.’
Yet there she was, trembling like a squirrel while subtly flattering me, saying everything she had to say.
Since Master said she was sincere and kind, that must be true. Whatever.
After a covert meeting with Arin, I emerged from behind the Magic Tower and walked toward the footpath connecting to the Academy’s East Gate. It turned out Miya’s Theology Hall was on the west side, and I’d been unlucky enough to avoid that direction ever since.
‘I need to survey the commercial district near the East Gate too.’
I’d neglected the café business progress while absorbed in the patent.
Finding good locations proved unexpectedly difficult. For a franchise operation, I needed the flagship store to succeed spectacularly, and location was the most critical factor—I couldn’t decide hastily.
‘In business, location is half the battle, after all.’
Regrettably, I’d eliminated Yones District—where I’d conducted market research—from the café’s potential locations. Master’s Maison de had already established itself firmly there with a luxury strategy.
My target was a café emphasizing mass appeal while maintaining a youthful, trendy concept.
‘Horun District would be better.’
When passing through in the carriage, I’d observed through the window that major facilities—the Imperial Palace, Academy, Magic Tower, Knight Order, Temple—were all situated there, and the foot traffic appeared substantial.
There would certainly be many promising commercial areas.
‘Just earn money. Since when was I ever sociable anyway? A ball, of all things….’
Walking half-detached toward the footpath by the East Gate, I heard a cat’s cry from somewhere and stopped.
‘Was this a cat-infested area?’
As I glanced around at the densely wooded surroundings, I spotted something glimmering brilliantly in the distance and narrowed my eyes.
‘That’s Isidore.’
He knelt while stroking a golden-furred cat. In the verdant forest path, Isidore deftly petting the small creature looked like an elf straight from mythology.
“Want some more?”
He pulled a small snack from his pocket, and the cat eagerly accepted it, purring contentedly.
“Good girl.”
Isidore whispered kindly, his smile radiant.
With her healthy 20/20 vision in both eyes, Deborah could see his affectionate eye smile clearly even from a distance.
‘He’s so devastatingly handsome I might stop breathing.’
Strangely, Isidore’s movements often overlapped with mine, so I’d had plenty of opportunities to see his beautiful face around the Academy.
‘I foolishly convinced myself I’d grown accustomed to that face.’
It was a naive thought. And now there was an even more lethal element.
A beautiful man and an adorable cat. This was crossing the line.
Lost in the grace of a sight I couldn’t possibly ignore, I stood mesmerized until Isidore turned his head toward me.
“Oh…”
His perfectly shaped lips parted slightly.
‘I was too obvious about staring.’
Cold sweat trickled down my spine.
“Lady Deborah Simour?”
Isidore rose to his feet and approached, acknowledging me first.

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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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