The Male Lead Has Gone Mad Over the Troublesome Villainess - Chapter 14

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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 Protagonist Has Gone Mad for the Villainess Episode 14
Even so, Kael pressed forward, believing in the hope that might bloom even amid despair.
It was then that Rosana appeared.
Speaking thus, she was creating hope with her own hands, kindling a flame. Was it not from her that the training of Non-Combat Personnel had begun?
The knights watched their transformation and gradually reclaimed their confidence and hope.
‘Perhaps it truly might succeed. It seems more people could take up arms in battle, Your Highness.’
‘Excluding the young children, most have taken up swords and bows.’
‘More and more are coming forward wanting to learn the blade.’
All this in merely three days. They had witnessed the change Rosana wrought in Vanessa. Now Vanessa ran with fair grace among them, the first to reach for a bow. They had seen Rosana herself—a noblewoman of high station—cast aside all pretense and run alongside them.
Rosana was, after all, the daughter of House of Duke Ardena.
That those inspired by her selfless example multiplied was perhaps inevitable. Rosana was like a queen bee presiding over society itself.
People followed in her wake, drawn along without quite knowing it. Those who had once been dragged about, complaining endlessly, now rose of their own accord at dawn to run drills and join the training.
Did Rosana even know what she had done?
“This is… absurd.”
Kael drew his hand across his face once more. Rosana had said he was hope. That she believed in him. That because he existed, hope existed too. Yet before that radiant smile, he had found no words to answer.
The true hope was blossoming at the tips of Rosana’s fingers.
Kael watched her hair, tied high, shimmer in the light.
He watched the practical, unadorned tunic beneath the loosely draped shirt, and the Short Daggers hung at her waist.
He saw the Mercenary Boots she wore.
Kael blinked slowly.
It was strange.
Compared to before, her appearance was modest and unremarkable. No jewels, no brilliant silks. Yet Rosana alone seemed to shine.
Kael let out a hollow laugh. Captivated by that light, following in her wake, he finally admitted it.
The Rosana he had known might not have been her true self at all. This version before him now—this must be who she truly was.
The veil that had obscured her fell away.
Absurdly enough, he found himself anticipating what else Rosana might reveal.
* * *
The supplies had been secured without incident, and thanks to that, they could enjoy a more peaceful time in Willow. As provisions were organized, weapons began to be distributed to the Non-Combat Personnel.
They would remain here for two more days, training, so I’d heard.
But discontent sprouted everywhere, as it always did.
It was late at night.
“Has everyone gathered?”
“Yes.”
And whenever such things happen, there is always a rat to listen in. Today, that rat was me.
What is this? I’d been unable to sleep and had come out for a walk. I pricked up my ears and hid my body.
By the moonlight, I caught a glimpse of the man’s face.
Ah, that one?
He was the same ignorant fool who, when Seraphine had offered him training, had instead demanded that a knight be assigned to protect him.
Four shadows were gathered in total.
“Count Brennan, are you truly certain this is wise?”
Someone spoke, tension creeping into their voice.
So that wretch is Count Brennan. He came as the head of his own house, so that’s why he carried himself so haughtily. But what is he plotting?
“This is no time to haggle over right and wrong. We’re being led to slaughter as Monster fodder right now—are we just going to accept it? They clearly mean to use us as a shield. There’s no other reason they’d grant us escort troops otherwise.”
“We cannot simply die like this.”
“Which is why tonight is our last chance. Tomorrow we leave Willow, and soon comes Gracestone. Once we arrive there, we’re finished. Do you truly believe this Expedition will succeed?”
“That’s impossible.”
“So we depart tonight.”
Desertion, then? Well, an escape like that was possible enough. If they were useless like that, it was better they left anyway. I was about to think exactly that when they spoke again.
“For us to survive, we must have the Saint. Both the Church and the Imperial Court guard her so carefully that she must possess remarkable power. We need the Saint if we’re to live.”
Wait just a moment.
“We steal the Saint and escape immediately.”
“The guard is extremely tight.”
“Then you must draw their attention. Can you cause a disturbance?”
No, wait. Just wait a moment.
Did they just say the Saint?
Are they insane? Are they seriously planning to kidnap that little girl?
My jaw dropped in sheer disbelief. I knew about the Saint, too.
The only Saint in this novel: Lillia.
Merely ten years old, and yet she had joined the Expedition at the Church’s insistence.
Rumors about Lillia were rife. That she possessed remarkable Healing Power, that she could kill Monsters, that Lillia would save everyone. But whatever power Lillia possessed, she was nothing more than a fearful ten-year-old girl. She hadn’t even wanted to join this Expedition in the first place.
Because many people had their sights set on Lillia, she had been receiving close protection around Kael throughout the entire Expedition. It was because of this that he hadn’t caught so much as a glimpse of her face until now. She’d spent most of her time in the barracks, and her movements were always surrounded by knights.
But now, they wanted to kidnap Lillia?
“She’ll protect us.”
Hiding behind a child—kidnapping her to do it?
The absurdity of it was stifling. He bit back a hollow laugh as the men began to slip away into the shadows.
Could he ignore this? He couldn’t. Not a chance. This involved nothing more than a ten-year-old child.
The problem was that he seemed to be the only one who’d overheard their conversation. If he rushed out and confronted them now, they’d simply deny everything. He might even end up taking the fall himself.
He needed solid proof.
He trailed them at a careful distance, staying in the shadows. The moment to act would come when they brought Lillia out. Then there’d be no room for excuses.
Better to catch them in the act itself, leave them no escape. Get every word out of their mouths.
He gritted his teeth and muffled his footfalls in the darkness.
It was all falling into place.
* * *
Lillia wiped her tears in stifled silence.
Her small frame curled on the cot trembled faintly.
“I’m scared……. Mother, I’m so scared.”
She hadn’t come willingly. Even the howl of wolves echoing through the forest terrified this small child.
If not for the adults at her back, Lillia would never have joined the Church, would never have been forced into this Expedition by them.
She’d long since stopped waiting for her parents, stopped resenting them, stopped despiring at the poverty that had driven them to sell their gifted daughter to the Church.
“But I hate it here. I want to go home. It’s too frightening.”
The Church, at least, had some warmth to offer.
Older sisters at the Church had willingly opened their arms to her. Nestled against them, eyes squeezed shut, she could still fall asleep. But since joining the Expedition, all Lillia had done was weep until her eyes burned raw.

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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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