The Male Lead Has Gone Mad Over the Troublesome Villainess - Chapter 31

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

The Male Lead Has Gone Mad for the Villainess — Episode 031
The old man’s eyes widened at the sight of it.
“Customer.”
“But I need one more favor.”
“What would that be?”
“I need someone I can entrust with a transaction like this. Someone who can keep my name out of it.”
The old man’s expression shifted.
Now it truly felt like she’d stepped into the Information Guild.
“That changes the terms considerably.”
“I can pay more.”
The old man gazed down at the gold coins, then let a thin smile cross his lips.
“There’s a market being held tonight on the cliff above Salt Gorge. Mercenaries from Greystone will gather there too.”
“The Black Market?”
“Some call it that.”
Ah.
This was information she couldn’t have known—she’d already deviated from the original story by coming to this town at all.
Perhaps she should bring Vanessa.
“Will I be able to find someone there?”
“If you pay well enough.”
The old man ended the conversation there, drawing the lamp closer and beginning to transcribe entries from his ledger.
“What are you doing now?”
“Investing. When the world falls apart, land is the first thing to lose value. And the first thing to gain it back is… oh!”
He’d answered out of habit when suddenly his face jerked away—it was none other than Kael. His silver hair brushed against her cheek, tickling her skin. Kael rubbed his ear and straightened.
“I didn’t expect to see the duchess here.”
She pressed a hand to her chest and swallowed hard.
“I… I didn’t know either.”
She took the paper the old man offered and quickly concealed it. Surely he hadn’t seen? He wasn’t trying to snatch it from her, was he?
Before heading to Greystone, she’d meant to stop by the Black Market and hire a proxy to act in her stead—some suitable mercenary among the dozens swarming there, someone who could buy land on her behalf without her name being attached.
“You’re thinking of buying land?”
He’d seen.
“It’s just…”
“Mines in the Northern Region, no less?”
“Yes.”
“For what reason? I don’t understand why anyone would buy land in a world like this.”
Kael’s gaze settled on her lazily, a glimmer of amusement dancing in his eyes.
“What brings you here, Your Highness?”
“I came to gather local intelligence before entering Greystone.”
Ah.
A perfectly reasonable answer from a commanding officer.
Kael gestured with his chin toward the paper in her hands.
“So, why does the duchess want to buy mines in the Northern Region when they’re on the verge of collapse?”
She said nothing.
Because Mithril will appear.
As if she could say that aloud.
“Hmm…”
Kael regarded her with evident amusement before asking, “Who were you planning to entrust with this? From what I can tell, it’s all local land here.”
“That’s…”
“Do you need someone?”
Her eyes went wide.
“Truly?”
“If you can give me a reasonable explanation, I can help.”
Kael’s eyes gleamed with interest.
Of course it wasn’t free.
She swallowed.
In truth, Rosana was nothing but a social outcast in this world—a burdensome woman who wallowed in her trauma and threw endless tantrums. That was Rosana’s position.
But Kael was different. He was the crown prince leading an expedition, which made using his people a hundred times safer than pressing gold coins into the hands of some nameless mercenary and entrusting a deed to them.
“I… I do need help.”
She answered quickly, and Kael’s laughter spilled out.
“We should change locations. This isn’t a conversation for here.”
“All right.”
“There’s a cafeteria just outside.”
“P-please, I really want to buy you a coffee!”
She raised her hand with a little flourish. Kael laughed at her eagerness, his silver hair catching the light as it swayed. In that moment, he truly looked like a guardian angel sent from heaven.
* * *
Kael and I sat across from each other with two cups of coffee between us. Through the window, I could see Vanessa pacing outside, but I chose to ignore her for now.
“I’d like to know why you were gathering information about mines.”
I swallowed hard. There were two properties I had my eye on: a ruby mine and an iron ore mine.
The mines in the Northern Region had become worthless because Monsters inhabited them, making extraction impossible. The crucial detail was that these creatures were Amber Bat Monsters. When their bodily fluids coated minerals, they transformed.
Iron ore became Mithril, and rubies became Red Diamonds.
And one day, those transformed minerals would sell for astronomical sums. Should I reveal this premium information? No—would anyone even believe me if I did? There’s no verified proof. And what would I say if they asked how I knew?
Fine. I’d appeal to emotion.
“Hic.”
I covered my mouth and lowered my head. To be honest, there wasn’t much reason to cry, so it was quite an effort. I sniffled, squeezing out tears through sheer willpower. Think sad thoughts, think sad thoughts. Remember when my father lost the deposit money to gambling debts and I ended up on the street.
Remember those days when I couldn’t even afford a hot dog.
Finally, a single tear rolled down my cheek.
“…Rosana? Your Grace?”
“I don’t want to go home.”
My voice came out thin and trembling. This was anger.
“I don’t want to be locked in the Attic anymore, Your Highness. That’s why I thought I needed my own assets.”
“…The Attic? What do you mean by that?”
Kael’s face twisted. Though Rosana had been little more than the Duke’s slave all this time, she had never spoken of such things to anyone. I steadied my breathing and continued slowly, recounting the abuse Rosana had suffered at the Duke’s hands.
“That’s why I hated chickens. Though I’ve overcome it now.”
It wasn’t that I couldn’t eat—I just didn’t have access. So I emphasized the second part.
“I hated dark places too. I couldn’t bear insects and rats. But I’ve overcome those as well.”
When I slept just fine on the street now, it made no sense to still call these traumas. I stressed the word “overcome.”
“I was truly sorry before. The situation forced me to be that way, I suppose…?”
I watched Kael’s expression carefully. Rosana hadn’t done anything wrong—no, no. I redirected all blame toward the Duke. Kael’s face had grown cold and hard. He seemed to have understood.
“…So you need land?”
“When I return, I want to be independent, Your Highness. Once the Monsters disappear, the mines will return to their original state.”
Kael clicked his tongue briefly, his expression icy. He looked genuinely displeased.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner? During the time we were nominally engaged, for instance.”
I blinked. Let me think back to those days.
“Well…”
Of course.
“Because you hated me, Your Highness. How could I ask for help from someone who despised me?”
I was being sincere. Even if I had become Rosana much earlier, I wouldn’t have asked Kael for help. And the memories of Rosana that had seeped into me felt the same way.
‘No one helps me. A fiancé? He hates me too. Everyone hates me.’
That’s why she had grown sensitive and sharp.
Kael’s lips pressed into a firm line at my words. His gaze wavered. Was he feeling guilty? He really did seem like a virtuous man.
“I’m truly fine. But if you were to offer me help, I would never refuse.”
Kael exhaled softly.
“…Do you want revenge against the Duke?”
“Hmm. No.”
Honestly, it wasn’t even what happened to me.
“I don’t want to waste my life on that, Your Highness. I have far too much I want to do, and far too much I’m capable of doing.”
I was going to become the wealthiest person in this world. Right now, I was like someone who’d found a lottery ticket lying in the street.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————