The Abandoned Villainess Takes Everything This Time - Chapter 177

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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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177.
The world that had returned knew no more violent roar.
The monsters had vanished, and peace had come.
‘Thank goodness the deal with the Creator God wrapped up well.’
But even Lillian hadn’t anticipated this.
“Everyone saw it,” they said.
“Yes!”
“Everyone… saw it…?”
“Yes!”
Marguerite and the Shadows answered with enthusiasm, but Lillian alone stood slack-jawed in bewilderment.
The World Tree had shown everyone what she’d been doing a thousand years ago?
“We all watched from the Imperial Palace as you magnificently incinerated the villains of a thousand years past!”
“Ah….”
“Not only the Imperial Palace—the Temple saw it too!”
The Temple spread news far more swiftly than the Palace or nobility.
That made sense, given they could contact temples across not just the Empire but other lands as well.
Marguerite shyly held up a newspaper article with illustrations.
“Look here—they’ve printed a portrait of you based on our testimony, with wings sprouting from your back…!”
“Ah….”
Infinite Wings, Illuminating the Sky of a Thousand Years Ago!
The one who directly fashioned the First Law of our world.
Truly an impossible miracle—by all rights, she ought to be called the “Daughter of God.”
Moreover, when Lillian bloomed the World Tree in the Sacred Place, it became proof of that day’s miracle.
‘Daughter of God.’ It was impossibly grand.
‘Why won’t anyone even meet my eyes?’
Everywhere she walked, people hastily thrust flowers at her—not even a festival—and some threw them frantically in her direction.
‘Lady Lillian! Lady Lillian, please take these flowers!’
‘Please bestow your blessings upon our home!’
She was treated like a living, walking talisman of fortune.
Jeanne added her thoughts.
“They say everyone’s collecting the soil from the path where you tread.”
“….”
“They say it brings blessed luck when kept at home.”
Perniers…. This superstitious country. Was this really all right?
But Marguerite, neatly cutting out the newspaper article, asked with concern:
“Miss, are you truly certain it’s all right to heal Kail—the Second Prince?”
“I made a promise.”
A bargain sealed by the Patriarch’s Oath must be honored, or one pays the price.
So the moment she returned, she healed Kail, who had fallen into a coma from the Annihilation Ability.
‘Staying alive would only bring him more suffering anyway.’
The Crown Prince position was already lost, and without his Destined One, Iris, there was no path forward.
Besides, His Majesty the Emperor had returned.
“There’s no need for us to concern ourselves further.”
They’d disappear one by one on their own now.
“But….”
Lillian stared at Ramio Tillard intently.
“…Why are you here?”
Why did this man keep slipping into the Crown Prince’s Castle?
“I’ve come to assist the new Count!”
“….”
“Ahem, well, traditionally the cadet branch’s most important duty is to support the Count.”
The shamelessness of it.
Were all younger brothers like this, or only Ramio?
Still, Lillian didn’t drive him out, merely folding her arms.
‘I was planning to reorganize the Tillard Family anyway.’
Lillian keeping her distance from her grandfather was different from dangling a few carrots and then having someone brazenly strike their master from behind.
And Kuern….
‘Demoted to commoner!? What does that even mean!’
The vassals, eager to curry favor with Lillian, quietly scattered bribes to pile heavier penalties upon Kuern.
Starting with the artifact monster-summoning incident from before, and the crime of backing the Second Prince.
Kuern was cast out from the Main Residence.
It was obvious how difficult his future would be—a man who couldn’t do anything alone.
Even with his former position as sub-patriarch, she felt not a trace of sympathy.
‘…Though completely dismantling the Tillard Family would be inconvenient.’
Young, fresh cadet-branch Tillards and vassals needed someone clever to wrangle them, and Ramio fit the bill perfectly.
…But admitting that fact was more than a little galling.
Ramio watched his cousin’s expression with quick glances and poured on the charm.
“Soon you’ll receive the formal investiture as Count, and won’t you also receive the highest Medal of Honor for saving the Empire? So you’ll need more staff, yes, heh!”
“Hmph.”
The returned Emperor and her grandfather the Grand Cleric, though meeting for the first time, found an unusual common ground.
Namely, in awarding Lillian honors….
‘You’ve saved the world—it’s only natural. The measure of merit must be recognized when appropriate, so people understand its true worth.’
A fair point.
‘But they’re holding Ren’s Crown Prince inauguration on the same day, aren’t they…?’
People seemed to be lavishing even more attention on her side.
The problem was that the one becoming Crown Prince was in a similar state.
“Miss, here are the wardrobe confirmations and itinerary projections sent by His Highness.”
“….”
“He says you must sign all of them by today.”
…His own Crown Prince inauguration…?
‘At this rate, a proposal will come much later.’
That was a relief….
Lillian had things she wanted to show Ren eventually anyway….
With a sigh, Lillian took the documents.
Even saving the world couldn’t spare one from paperwork.
* * *
The Main Palace Banquet Hall, opening to the outdoors.
This place was in a frenzy preparing for the coming celebration.
Not only would the long-delayed Crown Prince inauguration proceed—
“Lady Lillian is receiving the highest Medal of Honor?”
“I heard they’re creating an entirely new honor just for the Saint?”
Had Lillian not been a Count already, three generations of her family would have lived off the wealth that was about to pour in.
It was truly an auspicious occasion.
The Crown Prince, who had shown no interest whatsoever in his own investiture….
“These flowers don’t seem fitting for Lillie somehow.”
“Y-Your Highness the Crown Prince….”
“I’d prefer if we started from the beginning.”
The official in charge of Imperial Court protocol looked thoroughly bewildered.
Right… unprecedented… but surely he could spare a little less attention….
Wait, his own inauguration?
But then.
“You vile wretch…!”
Robellia’s furious voice erupted from behind, shaking with rage.
And naturally, her fury was aimed at Ren.
“Monster! How dare you, to my son—!”
“Lillie already healed Kail as promised. What is the problem?”
“Creature! You stripped my son of his five senses with your Annihilation! How could you do such a thing!”
Lillian had indeed rescued Kail from unconsciousness.
But.
‘I can’t move my body…! My body…!’
‘Kail, you must calm yourself—!’
The senses that had been completely Annihilated could not be restored, even by Lillian’s power.
They had truly ceased to exist.
Even if priests came and poured Holy Power into Healing, it made no difference.
So what good was rescuing him from a coma?
Kail’s eyes opened and his mind stirred, but he frequently lost his grip on sanity—and an Ability User who loses reason often spirals into rampage.
And the rampage of virulent poison began eating away at him from within, terrifyingly.
Ren regarded the raging Robellia with utter indifference.
His mind was lightly calculating her life away.
But before he could reach out, the Emperor appeared, assisted by his attendants.
“…Robellia.”
“Your Majesty! How can you do this to me?”
The Empress’s face twisted with rage.
“Every time you left the capital, Your Majesty! It was I who handled all matters of state, who deliberated with the noble houses!”
“….”
“Are only Baltazar’s blood your sons? Evren, because he resembles you? Was Kail meaningless from the start?”
Just as the onlookers were about to cast sympathetic glances at the Empress, the Emperor opened his mouth.
“…You forged my edicts, Robellia.”
“…!”
“I will not erase the very House of Pavil that you hold dear—”
The five clans most beloved by God cannot be stripped of their place by mortal hands.
“But Robellia… I can confiscate Pavil Castle from you.”
“Your Majesty…!”
“Leave with Kail.”
Robellia collapsed where she stood.
To be stripped of her castle by imperial decree was a dishonor beyond hearing or seeing. Being deposed as Empress was a matter to ponder afterward.
The Emperor turned and walked slowly away.
The Empress, watching his retreating figure, murmured:
“…Lillian.”
If only she could see that child again!
‘I must persuade her!’
‘Your Majesty. We fashioned a new artifact for Karkin this time, and for Your Majesty as well….’
Such a gracious child she was.
There was no other like her, yet the foolish Tillard Family had blinded her from the very start.
She could have cherished Lillian. If only the girl would become her daughter-in-law.
But…!
Robellia realized that even harboring such thoughts was foolish.
She had lost from the beginning of this fight.
Slowly, Robellia turned her gaze.
“…Evren. Do you truly think Lillian will forgive your coldness for a lifetime?”
“It’s best not to speak carelessly of Lillie….
Robellia’s eyes blazed one final time with bitterness.
“For now, you manage to seem human, so she’s been deceived. But one day—”
“….”
“—you’ll come to your senses, and when you realize your true nature hasn’t changed, you’ll despair and die just like your mother.”
“Haha.”
Ren laughed softly.
“Lillie already knows it all, so there’s no need to worry.”
“What?”
“She knows all of it, and still she’s glad I came.”
Robellia’s eyes widened in horror.
“But Empress, for Lillie’s sake, I’ll do well by her.”
“Hah…!”
If only Lillie stays by his side, he’ll gladly accomplish even ‘inefficient’ things with his utmost effort.
Robellia shuddered at the sight of him.
A mad dog had found its master, only to become something far more terrible.
Supported by attendants gripping her arms, Robellia was half-dragged from the Main Palace that instant.
That night, Kail, unable to move and keening in despair, and Robellia quietly departed the capital.

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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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