The Abandoned Villainess Takes Everything This Time - Chapter 152

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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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152.
Chapter 34. A Leash
Kail didn’t know that Ambassador Ruenda and his party had been rescued.
They’d been saved before Kail and Iris’s group even encountered them.
‘I don’t know how to repay this kindness.’
Fortunately, the ambassador and his subordinates hadn’t volunteered for the Revenant research.
Though their Abilities had been damaged, the mere fact of their release left them genuinely grateful to Lillian.
‘When the day comes that our side faces a disadvantage, please step forward before us all and help. I swear by the Creator God’s name.’
‘……!’
‘We need no repayment in gold or jewels—I’ll accept the ambassador’s precious words instead.’
Of course, she hadn’t said this expecting such a situation to arise—
‘But an ambassador’s words are worth far more than his coin anyway.’
And now, Ambassador Ruenda bowed to Lillian once more.
Even managing a slight wink.
It wasn’t as though she’d had time to explain properly in the urgency.
‘To be a diplomat, you really do need eyes in the back of your head.’
But……
Lillian turned her gaze toward the VIP seating.
“Your Majesty!”
“The Empress has fainted!”
“Fetch the Physician—!”
The handmaidens surrounding Second Empress Robellia were still in chaos.
Original Male Lead, you truly have no eye for people, nor any sense of judgment.
‘In times like this, you should have let your mother step forward and handle it instead.’
Even if the Empress had forged the Emperor’s decree, most of the Empire’s people still didn’t know of such internal affairs.
To them, the Second Empress remained ‘a noble mother of sacred Pavil lineage.’
And given the Empire’s reverence for motherhood—
‘If she steps forward here, then I’m pushed back.’
And for ages to come, rumors of the Crown Prince would circulate throughout the Empire. There was no infrastructure to correct such stories as quickly as the modern age allowed.
‘But Kail has already shattered the Empress’s heart.’
With his own hands.
And now……
Lillian looked up at the two men holding her.
Two identically-faced humans looking down with identically concerned eyes.
‘You think worry fixes everything, don’t you?’
No.
Now it’s time you Crown Princes truly understood.
* * *
After the Crown Prince Trial ended.
“What a truly magnificent match!”
Everywhere, that day’s events were on everyone’s lips.
Noblewomen bloomed in conversation about it.
“Tsk, House Pavil has lost its shine.”
“Hush, watch your tongue!”
“When everyone already knows, what good does silence do?”
The Second Prince was forcibly escorted out under the guise of Imperial Knights’ ‘protection’—really an arrest.
What ignominy!
“I must confess, I was quite shocked. His maternal family showed so little zeal in securing his release.”
“Indeed.”
Now everyone understood.
Prince Kail, who’d enjoyed such a good reputation until now, had simply never had occasion to show his depths.
“By contrast, the Crown Prince showed such splendid skill in combat.”
“And the Saint handled it all most admirably.”
“Quite right.”
“Had she not mediated, the royal brothers would have painted the castle in blood.”
All of them shuddered simultaneously.
Ability Users clashing—the Empire feared it deeply.
Maps could be redrawn entirely. It was entirely possible.
Then one who’d been silent opened her mouth.
“……But then, the succession—would both Crown Princes……? Ascend……?”
“…….”
Those who’d been chattering fell silent.
The words sounded quite strange.
But the situation truly was that way.
The Crown Prince remained in that doubled state!
“If they can’t break the Dark Magic Curse, they’ll stay that way.”
“Then how is the Saint managing with them?”
Another awkward silence descended.
“Well……. The Saint was originally the Crown Prince’s betrothed.”
“…….”
“If she’s to become Crown Princess, then they’d need to hold a wedding, and then the spouse would be……. One wife, multiple husbands……?”
All of them cried out desperately at once.
“Let’s not have that kind of dangerous conversation!”
“No, let’s not!”
They’d all witnessed the fight.
They’d seen the power of Annihilation up close, felt both respect and terror simultaneously.
Truly, a tyrant’s ability.
But.
‘With the Saint present……!’
‘She’ll surely keep them in check.’
‘Lillian could manage it, I think.’
‘But then, are the three of them really living together now?’
That last assumption proved precisely correct.
The three were living together.
Just in a formidable cold war.
* * *
The Crown Prince’s Castle was in a state of extreme tension.
As though at any moment, either of them might explode.
And Ren, one of the causes, glared at the uninvited guest who’d entered his castle.
“Audacious, sitting in another man’s seat.”
That dog of a man was actually here, planted in this place.
Evren replied coldly.
“It was my castle as well.”
He’d been away for centuries, yet the layout remained crystal clear in his mind.
Though he hadn’t expected Lillian’s traces to be so thoroughly woven through every corner.
Ren sneered at this detestable foreign object.
“Is that so? From a time you abandoned, I’d wager.”
But after that jab, the two men sank into bitter silence.
Days had passed since the trial ended.
Lillian lay fevered from the aftereffects of casting the Seal Marking.
‘Lillian, just hold on a little longer. All right?’
‘Lillian, stay with me!’
They’d managed to bring her to the castle, barely.
Then she’d locked the door and wouldn’t let anyone in.
The blood was draining from both their faces.
Just then Marguerite, finished with Lillian’s care, appeared.
Marguerite and the other Shadows had grown accustomed to the strange spectacle of having two masters now.
In a world where Ability Users existed, you adapted quickly or you died.
Ren approached Marguerite immediately.
He harbored jealousy bordering on killing intent toward any being who could see Lillian, but now wasn’t the time to indulge it.
“How is Lillian? What’s her condition now?”
“Her fever has subsided considerably, and she can now sit up in bed.”
“Good.”
A sigh of relief escaped him unbidden.
So he could see her face now?
But Marguerite, perfectly timed, respectfully held up a notebook with both hands.
“Your Highness. The young lady asked that you read this.”
Right now, neither of you needs to see the other.
“……That’s it?”
Marguerite quietly turned the page.
They must have quarreled again while I was away.
“…….”
“…….”
Lillian understood their situation perfectly.
But could she just smooth this over with a white lie this time?
Marguerite turned the page again.
“And should you entertain any strange thoughts, she says to read this.”
If either of you so much as hurt Marguerite or anyone else out of anger, you’re both jointly liable, and I won’t hear it.
If you try to lie to me, that’s joint liability too.
I’m confident I can stumble into divine punishment again.
If you want to gamble on whether I’ll be lucky enough to survive next time, then by all means, keep being troublesome.
And why didn’t you talk to me first? Why resort only to these extreme measures?
What would you have done if someone died in all this?
You didn’t trust me.
“……Yes.”
Ren let out a short, bitter laugh, and Evren lightly covered his face with his hand.
Both men understood.
No matter which timeline they’d lived through, neither had ever seen Lillian truly angry.
And now their hearts were firmly held by her rage.

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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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