The Abandoned Villainess Takes Everything This Time - Chapter 148

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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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148.
Love.
Love?
“Yes, come on.”
Ren purred like an enormous cat.
“I’ve never heard you say you like me.”
“Oh. Did I not…?”
“No. We’re still getting to know each other, but I want to hear it from your own lips.”
What was he doing, saying such things in the middle of a sprawling arena where everyone could see?
Lillian was startled by her own stammering.
How could I be bothered by something like this?
‘Giving in so easily?’
She’d scarcely ever heard the word love spoken aloud.
And to have experienced it herself—it felt foreign, strange in a way that rivaled the genuine kindness of the Second Empress.
Without realizing it, Lillian began shaking her head from side to side.
Everything is hard the first time, strange and difficult the first time—that’s just how it is!
“I, y-you. No. I.”
Damn it, her tongue was twisted.
— Miss, the Crown Prince must return!
On top of everything, voices calling for them from the arena grew louder and louder.
This wouldn’t do. Her courage had evaporated.
Smack.
Instead, Lillian grasped Ren’s cheek and pressed her lips firmly against his first.
She hadn’t attempted anything beyond that, but simply having done it made her heart pound with tremendous force.
“There. That’s enough, isn’t it?”
“Hmm.”
Ren opened his eyes narrowly like a dissatisfied cat.
“That was far too brief.”
“Mind the time and place.”
— Miss, the Saintess, the Crown Prince—
Good heavens, the announcer’s voice was about to shatter.
Even as she hurried, Lillian interlaced her fingers with Ren’s.
‘I don’t want to do this hastily like a chore when everything’s in such chaos.’
If I’m to speak of such things, it should be somewhere prettier.
Since I’ve never said such words to anyone before.
‘Ren will wrap this up quickly—’
I’ll just pretend to use Control Power through an Artifact.
Tillard’s acting ability is world-class, after all.
But then.
‘Hmm?’
The knights of the Pavil Family.
Why did they so clearly not wish to fight her?
* * *
— The Second Prince’s Sir Glure and Sir Dearth are eliminated!
“Everyone, get your heads straight!”
Kail barked.
“We trained for this! So what in the hell is this state of affairs!”
After Evren and Lillian took the field last.
The knights’ formation crumbled at a speed far swifter than the previous Controllers!
But the morale that had been broken showed no sign of recovery.
‘Damn it…!’
Kail clenched his jaw so hard it ached.
Unbeknown to him, the karma he’d accumulated was coming due.
Never once offering aid to the branch family in their troubles.
Casting aside those who had sacrificed for him and his mother.
And being robbed of his role encouraging the knights by Lillian in the Land of the Heretics!
‘If she had been our lord, would things have been different?’
‘At least there would be honor in serving her.’
Many did not dislike Lillian, even if they disliked the Crown Prince.
‘What am I to do?’
This was not something that could be solved by deploying Iris.
‘What should I do? I…’
Lose to Evren like this?
In the depths of despair, at that moment.
Perfect timing, then.
Sometimes that fool comes in handy.
A voice from somewhere…
A familiar voice reached his ears.
‘Impossible.’
The owner of that voice was nowhere near the opposite side…?
“Gack—cough!?”
Kail hurriedly clapped his hand over his mouth.
He felt dizzy, as if he’d inhaled acrid, choking fumes.
“Your Highness…! Ugh!”
The attendant who came to support Kail collapsed forward moments later.
And in an instant, the Barrier transformed into hell itself.
* * *
The moment she joined the contest, honestly, such an arrogant thought crossed her mind.
‘What is this, we’ll be done incredibly fast?’
While Ren erased the knights’ escape routes with Annihilation, she merely pretended to support him with an Artifact containing Control Power.
‘They flinch the moment they make eye contact with me?’
What have I even done.
I distributed the Heretics’ gold coins fairly among them.
But as black smoke began pouring from behind Kail, the situation changed.
‘What is this?’
At first she thought it was a trap Kail had prepared.
But a poison that could affect an S-Rank Ability User?
‘No such thing exists!’
The fact that Kail was afflicted meant it wasn’t a toxic substance attacking the body.
Which made it, in every way, far worse.
Everyone had collapsed or lay writhing, uttering words beyond comprehension.
‘Mental Corruption…!?’
And of the most severe grade at that?
Shadow whispered from behind her.
“Could this be a mistake on the Second Prince’s part?”
“…”
Lillian silently shook her head.
Kail might be blinded by greed, his thinking short-sighted.
But he would never sacrifice his own survival for anything.
‘Then what is it? Monsters can’t breach the Barrier…’
The Holy Knights cooperated in this affair, after all. But there was no time to identify the source now.
“Ren, can you handle that with Annihilation?”
“Yeah.”
Ren extended his hand toward the spreading fog.
Part of the black mist vanished as if torn asunder.
But the fog they thought had been completely annihilated—
“Ugh!”
“Ah…!”
Suddenly swept down upon the Shadows’ backs.
The Shadows gasped as though they couldn’t breathe and crumpled to the ground. Some even began fighting each other.
“Lillian. Don’t come out from behind my back.”
“…!”
Lillian froze upon seeing Ren’s complexion.
His voice was calm, but color was draining from his face.
‘Ren’s inhaled the smoke too.’
He was barely maintaining his reason, but it wouldn’t hold for long.
The best course here would be for him to use Annihilation all at once.
But then people would die.
‘And if I open this Barrier—?’
Could the people outside even handle this bizarre corruption that even S-Rank Ability Users couldn’t counter?
Could they manage it?
‘…Please.’
Lillian pressed her palms together and prayed.
‘Please, even a miracle would do!’
Even if I have to endure another impossible Awakening Trial, just once more—!
‘Please!’
Warmth began to circulate through her clasped hands.
As rosy particles scattered brilliantly…
“…!”
Lillian heard the sound of someone laughing softly, as if in affection.
* * *
Outside the Barrier, everything fell silent as if drawing a breath.
Then a thunderous roar erupted.
“Uwaaaaaa!”
“Did you see!?”
“That’s the Saintess’s Butterfly!”
“To witness it with our own eyes—!”
Everyone had thought them overcome by Mental Corruption!
Radiant rose-colored butterflies poured from within the Barrier like a wave.
As the wave of butterflies swept across, those who had been lying crumpled or writhing gradually came to their senses.
But those inside knew this was an emergency.
Moments later the Barrier dissolved.
The Priests and Physicians who had been waiting rushed out in a flurry.
“Miss, are you unharmed? Let us examine—”
“I’m fine, I wasn’t injured.”
Rather, it was others who needed to be examined…!
The moment she opened her mouth, Ren slowly waved his hand dismissively.
“No need to make a fuss.”
“Ren!”
“I need some time to rest.”
Ren smiled faintly. To anyone watching, it seemed entirely genuine.
“I’ll recover in the Resting Room for a bit.”
“Understood, we’ll have the Priests—”
“No. Since this concerns my Ability, I’ll manage it with my fiancée alone.”
Lillian nodded in agreement.
Even the physician had nothing to say against such an arrangement.
“Yes, understood.”
“Then let’s go. Lillian.”
“Yes. Take my hand and let’s go, Ren.”
As Lillian took Ren’s hand and helped him along, delighted laughter and applause erupted from all sides.
They seemed to think the betrothed couple was being quite affectionate and cozy.
Lillian held her head high as they walked. She couldn’t let anyone in the Corridor discover his true condition.
Stay composed to the end.
“Ren.”
“…Haah.”
“Hold on just a little longer. Understood?”
Veins stood out along the back of his hand gripping hers.
It was all he could do to keep from crushing her hand.
He was struggling desperately to maintain his reason—how much longer could he endure?
‘Ren’s been afflicted.’
Struck down by Mental Corruption.
And her own power had blossomed freely once more.
There was only one reason.
‘That person has come.’
Somewhere in this place…!

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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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