The Abandoned Villainess Takes Everything This Time - Chapter 25
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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25.
Chapter 8. Leash, Lifeline
Evren hadn’t intended to go this far.
Some count from some kingdom, was it?
This kind of thing was something he could toy with moderately.
No human puts their heart and soul into playing with ants crawling on the ground.
But when blood appeared on Lillian’s face.
‘Ugh…?’
When he saw her groan in surprise, something snapped in his head.
Should he play with the ‘thing’ that made blood appear on that face to the limit…?
Just thinking about it was very enjoyable.
He had been enjoying this moment so much until just now.
Pink butterfly rain fell, and as Lillian’s voice reached him, anger rose.
“Your Highness. Please stop now.”
“…”
“Your Highness? Are you coming to your senses?”
Evren slowly looked down at Lillian.
Staring intently without blinking even once.
‘Imprinting’ is the act of handing over one’s leash to another person.
He had known it intellectually and spoken it aloud too.
But he never knew it would be this kind of sensation. He had never experienced it before.
This much…?
‘She can toy with me now…?’
It felt like everything about him was being mortgaged.
He momentarily couldn’t do anything at the words that woman spoke.
His vision turned red with anger.
Lillian Tillard was interesting.
She was useful. Competent.
Her outward expressions and inner emotions were different.
When they held hands together in the workshop, the emotions flowing from this woman were fascinating.
It was an experience worth enjoying for about a year.
‘But she’s this much above my head?’
Ah, that won’t do.
That really won’t do.
A fierce impulse he had forgotten arose.
He could hear the sound of his annihilation ability urging him on.
“You…”
Evren grabbed Lillian’s chin and lifted it.
Her golden-green eyes widened greatly.
If he shattered the imprint now, he would take damage too.
If it was this kind of leash, he had to take it into account.
No need to fill a year or anything…
“Your Highness, your hands aren’t working, are they?”
But then Lillian cupped his cheeks with both hands.
“I understand, I’ll try it on your face for a moment.”
“…!”
And Evren froze just like that.
A shock occurred as if sticky, sweet concentrate had been injected directly into his brain.
It took less than a second for that sensation to spread from the crown of his head to his toes.
It ravaged his entire body with sweetness and made his heart beat.
“Ugh.”
Ridiculously, for a ‘heartless Tarandia’ at that.
“…”
Evren dry-washed his face several times and muttered.
“This is driving me crazy.”
“…? You seem fine though.”
“Then I must be going mad.”
His lungs were completely filled with sweet breath.
At the same time, the anger that had surged toward Lillian earlier dropped to the floor.
Lillian emphasized firmly.
“No, you’re fine.”
“How would you know…”
“You’ve calmed down now, haven’t you?”
Evren didn’t know, but Lillian did because that terrifying spider web pattern had disappeared.
Lillian’s face was calm.
However, Evren slowly wrapped his hand around her right hand that was touching his face.
This time, an emotion he knew very well flowed in.
“…Are you scared?”
“Yes, you’re a bit frightening…”
“You’re honest.”
Good that she doesn’t put on airs.
Evren examined Lillian with a slightly clearer mind.
From her temple to her eyelids, she was torn and blood droplets had formed.
Ah, that bleeding is really bothersome…
“Let’s go back for now. We need to call a priest too.”
“Yes, sounds good.”
Lillian quickly turned her steps toward the group.
Following behind her, Evren bit the inside of his mouth.
One year of imprinting…
‘This is maddening.’
He really needed to release this quickly.
This sweetness seemed more dangerous than he thought.
Evren walked on, kicking the fallen vermin once.
* * *
There was one convenient thing about a world where ability users existed.
Even when accidents happened, saying ‘rampage’ explained many things.
A building was half-destroyed? Someone went on a rampage.
Why was the bridge cut? Because someone rampaged.
Thus, the priests of Aetherna Temple were shocked by this incident, but they understood.
This was the ordinary daily life of Perniers.
Perniers, this terrifying Empire.
The count who fainted from pain.
And after confining all the servants who had revealed the princess’s whereabouts to the count.
In her quarters within the temple, the princess expressed her gratitude to Lillian countless times.
“Lady Lillian, thank you so much…!”
“What are you saying, Your Highness.”
“But I lived thanks to you. Both my ability and my future life.”
They decided to give the evidence captured in the image stone to the princess.
Monster cores were Class 1 dangerous materials in the Empire, but the Kingdom wasn’t so strict about them.
‘It’s already processed, so it’s fine too.’
The princess was bitter about the betrayal, but her tone was rather calm.
“Since I’ve trusted this person for so long, if it weren’t for you, young lady… I would have actually been dragged along.”
“…”
“And truly, you really did make all the artifacts that Iris Tillard produced.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
There, Lillian quickly answered.
She also took out the sketchbook she had brought and showed the preliminary designs.
“Really amazing… If you’ve awakened as a Controller, will you be making these from now on?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“…!”
The princess’s eyes sparkled.
At that moment, Lillian was certain.
With this, she had successfully cut off the path for the 2nd Prince and Iris to borrow Tenebrin’s power in the future.
‘And if things go well…!’
It would be a great help when she immigrates to Tenebrin later, right?
While Lillian was dreaming of a happy future.
The princess glanced anxiously behind Lillian with sidelong looks.
It was the kind of look one gives when seeing a living ominous talisman.
“What is the relationship between the 1st Prince and Lady Lillian…?”
It must be difficult since they attempted to travel incognito without informing the Empire’s royal family…
Moreover, Lillian had never once introduced him.
‘That I’m on the same side as the villain.’
It seemed like they mistook the Shadows, including Sir Jeanne, for Tillard’s escorts.
The villain answered indifferently.
“We’re in a relationship where we’ll be engaged.”
“…!”
The troubled expression completely disappeared from the princess’s face.
Instead, she showed the serious demeanor befitting royalty.
“Then this should be seen as an alliance between the Tarandia Imperial House and the Tillard Family.”
What about Pavil then.
“Well, figure it out yourself. Just remember who saved you.”
Since we’re the ones who helped you, if you side with Pavil, we won’t let it slide.
“…The memory of Tenebrin’s royal family is not shameful. We never forget a favor once received.”
Such unnecessary worries?
There’s no need for them.
“Then since we’ve overlooked the kingdom’s mistake, we hope you’ll keep your mouth shut.”
“Very well.”
We’ll properly maintain the give and take, that’s what this means.
Lillian nodded her head with satisfaction at the conversation between the two.
For ability users, this was sufficiently civilized conversation.
Very satisfying.
‘With this, I’ve laid the groundwork ahead of the original story’s beginning.’
However, a shadow fell over Lillian, who was nodding her head contentedly.
And before she could react in any way, her body floated up into the air.
“Well then, we’ll be going.”
“…!”
“Since my lifeline was injured, we need to be alone together for now.”
Lillian was carried like luggage by the villain and bid farewell to the princess.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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