The Abandoned Villainess Takes Everything This Time - Chapter 147

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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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147.
The Count had already finished his calculations in his mind.
‘I cannot let slip the fortune that Lillian has brought of her own accord.’
He needed to show grandfather humbling himself for her sake.
Before all the citizens of the Empire.
“I shall express my regret for all that has passed.”
…….
“Come back now and find your rightful place, Lillian.”
The excessive courtesy made Lillian hesitate.
“……My rightful place?”
“All that you ought to enjoy as a direct princess of House Tillard.”
Everything once given to Iris.
The faint sound of Iris grieving and lamenting her loss drifted through.
“Count.”
Lillian’s voice was honeyed and soft.
For a moment, the Count thought her heart had melted.
“But I already have something far better, so why would I seek out a position that only brings trouble?”
He had let his guard down.
So her courteous reply cut straight through to his heart.
“And you expressed your regret, Count, yet why did the Second Prince choose to attack my betrothed?”
“What… do you mean by that?”
Lillian turned her head toward Kuern.
Following that motion, Jeanne Baltazar immediately rushed at him.
“What are you—! Stop—!”
Crack!
It was a small brooch made of green jade.
The Count and the whole of House Tillard drew in their breath.
“This is also an Amplification Artifact.”
“Ah…….”
“It appears it helped amplify exactly where Prince Kail designated.”
This way, even if they searched Kail’s side, they’d find no evidence.
Lillian let out a soft, scornful laugh.
The Count’s glare hardened.
‘Kuern!’
This grandson of his often played the weakling, yet regularly caused trouble for his own gain.
Of all times, it had to be now!
“You were still weighing your bets between the Crown Prince and the Second Prince. Using the word ‘regret’ to deceive me, no less.”
Those watching could not bring themselves to speak.
Nobles never expose their shame before others.
Not unless the relationship has truly reached its end.
“……Why not simply say you’re sorry, just once, instead of deceiving me?”
All expression drained from Lillian’s face.
Seeing that expression, the Count’s chest tightened for the first time.
It was as if he glimpsed the true heart of his granddaughter beneath her gentle mockery.
“If you’d done that, I might have forgiven you for announcing my abandonment in the papers like an advertisement.”
“……!”
“Among all the many things, that one thing I could have overlooked.”
The Count clenched his fist.
Had he known what a treasure this granddaughter would become, he would never have committed such a foolish act…….
“So farewell, Count.”
“Lillian.”
“The Second Prince should seek someone else.”
He had done this during the contest between princes.
As Lillian turned to leave, Kuern rushed frantically after the Count.
“Grandfather, please listen. This wasn’t me defying your orders—!”
“Making you Second Prince is something I regret every single day.”
Bang! Bang!
The Count struck the stair railing with his fist.
“That child should have been the heir! That child was——!”
That child was the true masterpiece of House Tillard.
If only I had waited a little longer.
‘Grandfather, I’m going to check my Grade!’
That child, who had shyly offered him a flower before leaving, could have brought honor to this house.
‘And I’ll get an A, just like Kuern…….’
But now both past and future had lost all meaning.
Just as he had once discarded her, long ago, before that flower could even wither.
* * *
House Tillard boasts two thousand years of history, even if it’s turned to garbage.
‘Did only I and Iris make the Artifact for the family?’
The family possessed several hidden treasures.
‘Of those, there’s only one suitable for large outdoor grounds.’
I saw grandfather’s face twist with regret for a moment—.
‘But I never had any intention of returning as ‘family’.’
‘Rather, I’d behave like Ramio does. All of them would.’
‘Sister, I’m truly sorry.’
If only some sign of remorse had appeared…….
Then I could have offered a measure of help.
‘Calculating life is something I leave to calculating precious metal costs at the Workshop.’
The path down the Building Stairs was more turbulent than expected, and the man who followed made it worse.
“Lillian!”
It was Kuern, his glasses missing somewhere, his pale face now flushed crimson.
Wasn’t it about time for this man to bid farewell to his Second Prince position?
“You’ve made a mockery of me in front of everyone just because I’ve been lenient with you—!”
“Right, that reminds me.”
While I’m at it, I might as well ask this.
Lillian tapped the hairpin on her left once or twice.
“This hairpin. Why was there something similar in our parents’ belongings?”
“Ha! Why are you asking me that?”
Kuern shot back indignantly.
“You brought it when you were young, didn’t you?”
“……What? Me?”
The same hairpin that Ren had given me—I’d already had it back then?
“Yes! You gave it to Mother and Father.”
“……?”
“You said it was an Artifact you’d made, so they kept it!”
What kind of nonsense was this?
Lillian squinted her eyes.
But it was too early in her childhood—she had no memory of it.
Kuern bounced about frantically.
“Aren’t you happy that you’ve ruined your brother’s future like this? You—!”
“Are you finished saying what you wanted to say?”
Those were not Lillian’s words.
Silently, casually approaching from behind, Ren pressed Kuern against the wall without effort.
Lillian looked at Ren and suddenly understood.
Ah, that was meant for me.
“Yeah. I didn’t actually have anything that grand to say.”
A sound like “Ugh” drifted across like lonely background noise.
But not long after, Kuern simply collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Frightening man, that one.
Lillian soon took Ren’s hand and returned to the Spectator Stands.
‘Now all the other Controllers on our side have finished their turns.’
It was finally Lillian’s turn to step forward.
But before crossing the boundary between shadow and light, Ren suddenly stopped.
“Lillie.”
“Hmm? What is it?”
“I love you.”
Lillian blinked, too startled to say anything.
What? Now?
We’re about to go crush your brother, aren’t we?
He gestured with his chin toward the opposite Spectator Stands, where cheers were rising.
“Honestly, I still don’t really understand it.”
“Why? Does it still seem inefficient?”
“I think it’s the height of inefficiency.”
“You’re really too much, you know.”
“But I want to do it with you.”
Lillian had started to protest, but swallowed her words instead.
The look in Ren’s eyes as he gazed at her was heavy and weary.
‘What’s with him?’
He’d already said he’d stay with me even without a Bond.
Was there any way to reassure this man any further?
“I want to do all the most inefficient things with you.”
…….
“Even if it means restraining myself for the rest of my life.”
…….
Lillian lowered her eyes.
She had kept forgetting because he made it seem so easy.
That Ren doesn’t like crowds, humanity itself, or this kind of activity at all.
‘Normally, it would be easier to erase everything with Annihilation and destroy.’
Even if those things were human lives.
It was an unchangeable nature, fundamental to what he was.
Yet he had followed along this entire time, in whatever direction Lillian insisted.
Ren laughed, his face twisting slightly.
“So maybe you could say it once too?”

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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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