The Male Lead Has Gone Mad Over the Troublesome Villainess - Chapter 11

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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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The Male Lead Has Gone Mad Over the Villain 011
That black Longsword, which emitted a faint blue aura, was purchased by Kael from the Black Market in Rainford and bestowed upon Seraphine—it formed a matching pair with his own blade.
Yes, just as I thought, it went to Seraphine.
It suits her perfectly.
The gleaming short-haired heroine—she looked magnificent carrying that Longsword, the weapon adding even more dignity to her presence. Look at that sharp blue aura. If only I could wield a Longsword… even now, I regret it. I clicked my tongue wistfully.
In the end, it’s far more practical that Seraphine and Kael have them. Besides, I already have ten Short swords to my name anyway.
“Do not forget why we have gathered here. Everyone assembled in this place has enlisted in an army, nothing less. Remember—in wartime, those who disobey the Commander-in-Chief face immediate execution.”
I nearly clapped without thinking.
The nobles who had been crying out for Seraphine’s protection quietly withdrew, shuffling backward.
I devoured this novel precisely because of Seraphine’s commanding presence. Even amid the repetitive, irksome situations—like peeling a sweet potato—the sparkling chemistry between Kael and Seraphine and their Tiki-taka romance were absolutely authentic.
And now I could witness it firsthand.
Assuming, of course, that I survived.
If I could learn swordplay from Seraphine, my chances of survival would increase considerably.
I cheered silently for her, warmth blooming in my chest.
Come on, you’ve got this! Go crush them all!
* * *
Most members of the Expedition Party participated without complaint in the training sessions that Seraphine and several knights arranged.
Yet some still refused training or quietly slipped away. Resentment accumulated with each passing day, and taking it out on those around them became increasingly frequent.
Of course, there were always dead weight like that.
There’s a law about crazy people—if there’s no lunatic in the group, suspect yourself.
Since their goals differed from mine anyway, there was no reason to worry about them. Vanessa, thanks to all the ribbing I’d given her, was adapting far better than expected.
Soon we would arrive at Willow.
Willow was the last gateway to the north. We’d probably resupply here. I wondered if there was anything worth buying for myself. Hmm.
I rubbed my chin thoughtfully.
It might be a good idea to wander through the market while Kael was purchasing supplies and look into real estate opportunities. Since this was an apocalyptic-regression novel, detailed real estate information hadn’t been mentioned much. Just sparse tidbits here and there, like beans falling in a drought.
If I hadn’t studied that novel like I was cramming for an exam, I wouldn’t have remembered even that much.
All right. I’d pulled off this escape once—surely I could do it again!
I just had to seize the moment while everyone was busy. All I needed was to put Vanessa to sleep!
* * *
It was precisely when Rosana was laying out these hopeful plans.
Kael, his aide Millers, and Masca were the first to enter Willow.
Though a small town, it was in far better condition than Greystone, which had been nearly overrun by Monsters, making it a suitable place for the Expedition Party to replenish supplies.
Or so they had thought.
“What did you say? Five gold coins for a single sack of flour?”
Masca’s gruff voice rang out through the marketplace. Register, the supply officer, scratched his chin with a troubled expression and continued.
“All prices have risen to five times their normal rate. It appears the merchants learned of the Expedition Party’s arrival and are intent on making a tidy profit.”
Even in this Age of Chaos, money was necessary. It wasn’t strange that business struggled, and merchants were seizing this opportunity—the logic was sound.
“Bandits.”
Masca ground his teeth. Register spoke again.
“Your Highness, given the current state of affairs, the merchants seem concerned only with their own interests. They show no willingness to negotiate whatsoever.”
Profiteering under the guise of national crisis was a crime, but in this place, there was no one to punish such crimes. The lord of Willow had fled long ago.
As the distance from the capital grew, Lawless Zones emerged one after another, their order utterly collapsed. If even Willow, which had relatively better conditions, was like this, one could imagine the state of other places.
“As if the merchants had conspired, all the prices are identical. They insist absolutely that they won’t sell at any other rate.”
Kael’s brow furrowed.
Unfortunately, the Expedition Party did not possess sufficient funds. This expedition was tangled with profit, power, and political intrigue. It was a world where people sought salvation while refusing sacrifice.
The Emperor sought to embezzle relief funds he had received, and his ministers and officials drooled over that same money. When more was needed than could be spared, only those trying to steal were abundant.
Under such circumstances, Kael had to do his utmost to secure supplies.
It was uncertain whether additional provisions and funds would arrive later. If possible, it was best to conserve money. That was why Register looked so troubled.
“Sigh. What should we do, Your Highness?”
Both goods and people were scarce in these times. Going to another town offered no guarantee of better circumstances.
Kael ran a rough hand through his hair. It seemed that beyond every obstacle, another awaited him.
Then, suddenly, someone came to mind.
Rosana—the woman who had shown a different side of herself at the Black Market in Rainford. Rosana had succeeded in protecting herself and her purse against the brutally aggressive Black Market merchants.
Kael’s eyes narrowed.
The hair falling across his forehead trembled slightly.
“Bring Lady Rosana here.”
“Lady Rosana, sir?”
At Millers’ question, Kael nodded. For now, no one else came to mind. Rosana appeared rather skilled at negotiation, and above all, she did not back down easily even in a rough Black Market.
“Yes, Lady Rosana.”
It was the first time.
Kael would search for Rosana first, and waiting for her was…
He swallowed a hollow laugh. Who could have predicted this would come to pass?
That he would one day seek help from the fiancée he so thoroughly despised.
And yet Kael found himself anticipating it—her exceptional negotiating prowess, and the vivid spark that danced in her eyes.
Everything she radiated.
* * *
I fed Vanessa a calming draught and put her to sleep in our shared tent. Once she was out, no one would notice my absence.
I was just thinking it might be time to venture into Willow when Millers, one of the Crown Prince’s attendants, sought me out.
“Lady Rosana.”
Why was he looking for me? The unexpected encounter left me wary, and I regarded him with barely concealed suspicion.
Could he have discovered my plan to slip away to Willow? Was he here to mark me a deserter and cast me out of the Expedition Party? How on earth did he find out?
Tension made me swallow hard.
“What is it?”
“His Highness the Crown Prince wishes to see you.”
“Me?”
“Yes. He mentioned he requires assistance with procurement of supplies.”
Procurement of supplies? Assistance?
It was entirely outside my expectations. What could Kael possibly trust me with? We’d never been close to begin with, and wasn’t he supposed to despise Rosana?
In the original story, Rosana had left Kael with nothing but the worst impression. Because of it, he’d scorned not just her, but the entire Ardena Duchy for raising her so poorly. Yet now he was asking for my help?
Something felt off.
Was this a trap?
“…Why do you look at me like that?”
“It’s nothing. Where is he?”
Of course, as a member of the Expedition Party, I had no grounds to refuse an order from Kael, the Commander-in-Chief. Besides, lingering with this uneasy feeling would only torment me—it was far better to go directly and hear what this was about.
I followed Millers toward the Willow marketplace, where Kael awaited.

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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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