The Abandoned Villainess Takes Everything This Time - Chapter 65
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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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65.
Engagement ceremony.
Despite being a contract that establishes alliances between nobles, the Perniers nobility preferred to hold modest ceremonies.
Because making it too extravagant could lead to embarrassing incidents.
‘The high mortality rate also plays a part.’
It couldn’t be helped in a world where demons roamed about.
Perniers, this terrifying empire.
‘Actually, I’ve talked about this story with the Villain before.’
Wasn’t there time spent dining with this man, holding hands, and taking controlled walks together?
Back then, it felt awkward to keep my mouth shut.
‘Your Highness. Do you have many friends?’
‘No. What about you?’
‘I don’t have any either.’
Sadly, there was a commonality between Lillian and the Villain.
Namely, these two had no one to invite to their engagement ceremony.
Except for the Shadows and those from Baltazar’s side.
But the situation had changed considerably.
“We’re receiving many invitations, but for something like this, we need to know the relationships of all the attendees one by one.”
Which salon is good.
Which family’s hunting party is entertaining.
Who’s having an affair with whom there, so we need to be careful when speaking…
‘But I’m not confident the Villain can endure all of that!’
In that case, it would be better to…
Rather than going through the trouble of sorting things out, it would be better to gather everyone in one place.
‘Let’s do it at a reasonable scale.’
And so Lillian picked up her pen.
This was the beginning of those engagement ceremony invitations that would become the target of fierce competition in the capital, fought over with the intensity of killing someone.
War had broken out even within the castle.
* * *
A shadowed meeting room.
“There must not be a single mistake.”
Duke Baltazar began solemnly.
In the same room with him were Elias, the Shadows, and retainers belonging to the ducal house.
“Approach this engagement ceremony more seriously than any battle or demon subjugation we’ve ever undertaken. Make it so splendid that Lillian, that child, can completely captivate everyone!”
Actually, this was something the castle’s administrators should handle.
However, since the Duke was so eager to interfere, there was no one who could stop him.
That interference also came with a generous budget.
He soon lifted his chin toward Elias, whom he would make a minor duke, and asked.
“Lillian. How much should we give that child as a dowry?”
“…You’re giving rather than receiving?”
“Of course we should give. What would we receive from that child?”
“Hmm… That’s true.”
Come to think of it, why would we give money to a prince?
The Duke casually pulled out a list of trending items he had researched on his own.
“And tell her to try everything that young ladies do at engagement ceremonies these days.”
Miss doesn’t seem to have considered items like these…”
“Oh, really!”
Duke Baltazar looked disgusted as if someone had coughed right in his face.
“That child is the granddaughter-in-law of this Enoch Baltazar.”
“It’s not quite a wedding yet.”
“Such a child shouldn’t lack anything at her engagement! It should be better than what daughters of other families get!”
He had already decided to make it more splendid than her engagement ceremony with that Pavil fellow.
Your Highness Evren, you’ve been blessed to be engaged to Lillian, so that should be enough.
However.
“So what is His Highness doing for Lillian, that child?”
“…Um, he hasn’t mentioned anything specific.”
“Oh, really!”
The Duke clicked his tongue.
It wasn’t like the old days when he only harbored hatred.
He had already confirmed sufficiently that Evren considered Lillian important.
But still, how could he trust those ‘heartless Tarandians’…
Indeed, might they lack not only hearts but also courtship instincts…
“Sigh. Always keep in mind that His Highness could be late and prepare accordingly.”
“…Yes.”
* * *
Lillian was on her way to the Imperial Palace with the Villain, walking there of her own accord.
This was for very practical reasons.
“The person who created the custom of personally delivering engagement invitations must have had nothing better to do…”
Lillian agreed with the Villain’s words.
This was precisely… a gathering to give out engagement ceremony invitations.
Lillian now casually patted the hand that had become familiar in her grasp.
Be good, just bear with it a little longer.
“With something like this, if we give them any excuse to find fault, there’s no end to it.”
“Sigh…”
No matter how small an excuse is, it swells up surprisingly quickly.
It’s more comfortable to handle it preemptively…
‘Plus, I need to use this opportunity to access the innermost part of the Imperial Palace.’
That place was nobly named the ‘Sanctuary.’
Unless you were the Emperor or Empress, you couldn’t get permission to approach that place.
Today, since it was a gathering of the Empress and noble ladies, they were scheduled to meet at the place closest to the ‘Sanctuary.’
But the reason we had to go there specifically was…
‘Because the materials needed to break the bond with the Villain are right there.’
The third incident in the original story.
It was the location related to the ‘Crown Prince’s rampage and confinement.’
Though many things had happened so far.
Lillian hadn’t forgotten the conversation she had with the Villain.
‘Your Highness. Have you ever heard of a mineral called Nightfall?’
‘Are you trying to sell me something, Miss?’
‘They say you can sever bonds with an artifact that combines that mineral with control stones.’
She also hadn’t forgotten the fact that she would need to break the bond with this man holding her hand in a few months.
…But first, let’s deal with those people with gleaming eyes in this beautiful garden.
* * *
The noble ladies gathered today were from various influential families.
Since it was an occasion to call out a young couple and tease them.
There was also a bit of malice mixed in.
It was natural since they had rolled into the heart of the Empress’s territory.
“Congratulations on your engagement, Your Highness. Miss Lillian.”
For example, Countess Edmund, who flaunted her fastidious attitude.
“I hear you two have already announced your engagement and are living together.”
“Yes, that’s correct, Madam.”
“Oh my! Goodness, isn’t this a bit unseemly? No matter how much you’ve awakened as a Controller.”
And surprisingly, Iris was also present at this gathering.
Even after ruining the welcome banquet like that, it was because the power held by the title of S-class Controller was too overwhelming.
Lillian watched with indifference as the lady and Iris exchanged subtle eye signals.
‘Since they can’t diminish me for awakening, they’re going to come at me with morality.’
But then….
“Oh my, madam? Why is this unseemly?”
Lillian tilted her head as if she didn’t know.
“His Highness and I just hold hands and take walks every day… Duke Baltazar knows all about it too….”
“What? No, even the Duke-.”
“Why would our relationship be unseemly, Your Highness? What could the madam be imagining?”
She didn’t particularly expect an answer from the Villain.
He wouldn’t even bother with someone he had no interest in from the start.
Instead, he picked up a small sandwich with his fork and brought it to her lips.
“Lillian, ah. You didn’t eat properly today.”
“Ah-.”
Lillian endured the embarrassment and ate it in front of everyone, acting very familiar.
The people who saw this scene looked like they wanted to vomit.
It was quite satisfying.
But then the Empress finally opened her mouth.
“Hoho, you two look truly wonderful together.”
How well you speak with eyes that look like you want to vomit.
“Who would have thought you two would suit each other so well. I overlooked it because I didn’t realize.”
As if pairing her with Karkin had been a mistake.
And also as if Robelia reigned supreme even over the First Empress’s offspring.
“How about holding the wedding ceremony right away, Lillian.”
“Pardon?”
“To let you get engaged twice… I’m sorry about my nephew’s matter too.”
The Empress smiled very affectionately.
“How about opening the Central Hall of the Imperial Palace and holding it very grandly.”
“….”
“Since me, no one in Perniers has ever used that beautiful place. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you became the protagonist there?”
Lillian smiled brightly and thought.
Empress, you’re digging that jade grave quite diligently. But I’m not buying it.
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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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