The Male Lead Has Gone Mad Over the Troublesome Villainess - Chapter 36

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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 Villainess — Episode 36
When Mirel pushed through the doors of Lord’s Castle, her hands were trembling.
She tore a coat from the hall rack and hurled it to the floor. A glass vase that had been sitting on a corridor table caught on the garment and tumbled, shattering into fragments. An elderly maidservant who came running at the sound froze before the shards.
“Miss…….”
“Clean it up.”
“Pardon?”
“I said clean it up!”
The maidservant fumbled to her knees and began gathering the glass. Mirel passed by her toward the stairs, then stopped and whirled back, her voice rising again.
“Why is there nothing in this house? Nothing? No jewels, no gowns, no balls! Is this even Lord’s Castle?”
Her shout bounced off the stone walls and echoed back.
“Mirel.”
A voice came from the top of the stairs. The Lord stood there, holding a single lantern, his face rendered far older by its flickering light than it truly was.
“Come up.”
The Study was cold.
The fire had gone out long ago. The Lord waited for his daughter, standing motionless.
Mirel spoke first.
“This Lady Ardena — who is she, exactly? Why is she following the Expedition around? What exactly is her connection to the Crown Prince?”
She had learned these details long ago, having pestered the servants for answers about the woman who so irritated her.
She saw her father’s shoulders stiffen, ever so slightly.
“Why did you follow them out there, Mirel? What were you doing?”
“Is that what matters right now?”
Her voice cracked.
“This morning, when I asked you, what did you say? That I couldn’t follow the Expedition? But her — why can she?”
“Mirel!”
“What have I done wrong?”
At those words, the Lord turned slowly toward her. His face had fallen into an expression of profound desolation.
“Last night, from your bedroom window, you would have seen the hillside too.”
Mirel’s mouth closed.
“What were you doing then?”
“I was simply frightened!”
“Fear is not a sin. But this morning, the first thing you said when you opened that door — what was it?”
The Study fell silent.
“……Father.”
“Today was the first time I felt shame for my own daughter.”
The lantern swung once, violently.
“You have never once thought of the Territory Inhabitants. Only of yourself. Do you truly have the right to rule this land? Are you fit to be an Heir? And yet you dare speak of joining the Expedition? How much more disgrace would you heap upon my name?”
“You’ve never.”
Her voice emerged very small.
“You’ve never taken my side.”
“Mirel!”
“You give everything to the villagers, but you’ve never given me anything. Not a single jewel.”
“I know what you’re chasing after. It’s the Crown Prince alone, isn’t it? But Mirel, you have no idea what burden rests on his shoulders now.”
“…….”
“The Expedition goes in search of the Holy Relics.”
“But I still…….”
“Mirel!”
“I don’t want to grow old and die here!”
The cry was almost a shriek.
Mirel bowed her head. Then, with perfect propriety — exactly as she had been taught in polite society — she gathered her skirts and lowered herself in a courtesy.
“Sleep well, Father. I shall manage my own life.”
Before retiring that night, Mirel confirmed one thing: whether the stable key still hung on its hook behind the kitchen.
She had known about it since she was ten.
* * *
Millus raised a practical concern.
“We’ll run short on time. Butchering and curing the meat takes two days, smoking takes four or five more. With the actual Hunting…….”
“So four days won’t be enough.”
“We’ll need ten days.”
At that, Register’s breath caught. Ten days of being held in place meant their already meager provisions would dwindle that much further.
Kael was studying the ledger.
“Millus.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“We’ll remain here for ten days.”
At those words, the air in the tent shifted.
“But I didn’t drag everyone here for leisure. Divide the combat personnel and form Hunting Squads. We’ll secure as much game as possible while daylight holds.”
“Understood.”
Kael paused, then added, “The squad that brings back the most game will receive a reward from my personal funds.”
Millus looked up.
“You’ll offer rewards, Your Highness?”
“Ten days of provisions we consume should at least be matched by what we catch, shouldn’t it?”
A faint smile tugged at Kael’s lips.
“If we’re going to do this anyway, competition will make it faster.”
Kael closed the ledger.
“Register. I’ve found something to discuss with the Lord again. Look into purchasing salt and spices, and see if we can arrange to trade for grain and jerky.”
“Will they be looking for meat, Your Highness?”
Kael answered curtly.
“Most of them haven’t eaten properly in a long time. There’s no reason they wouldn’t want meat.”
Kael grinned, his mouth widening as he turned to look at me.
“Young lady. How many do you expect to catch?”
I measured my current abilities first, and considered the possibility of teaming with Seraphine as well.
“I think I could catch at least three deer.”
At that, Kael’s eyes narrowed.
“Excellent. Care to wager with me? While you’re catching three deer, I’ll bring down a bear. Whoever reaches their target first wins.”
I swallowed hard.
“That sword you coveted at the black market before. I’ll stake it as the wager prize.”
Before I could stop myself, my gaze fixed on the scabbard hanging at Kael’s waist. It seemed to gleam with an inner light. A treasure so captivating I couldn’t refuse lay waiting there.
Please, take me with you!
* * *
This was truly a brief amusement found in the midst of misfortune, and such entertainment had a way of breathing life into people.
The Expedition bustled with excitement, everyone discussing who would team with whom. It was officially announced that those who caught the most game would receive a sum of money and fine weapons and armor.
The rule was that pairs would form together—a precaution against encountering monsters or dangerous beasts in the forest. I naturally sought out Seraphine to propose a partnership.
“You wish to team with me, young lady?”
“Haven’t you already partnered with someone else?”
“No, but…….”
Seraphine chose her words carefully.
“I have never hunted before.”
“What?”
“Hunting is new to me, young lady.”
It was an honest answer, and decidedly not the one I’d hoped for.
I studied Seraphine carefully. Was it a matter of experience versus raw strength? Should I find another partner instead? No, no—Seraphine is the heroine, after all. Heroines get a buff in these situations, don’t they?
“It’s fine, Seraphine. I trust your reflexes, your strength, and those sturdy muscles of yours.”
I grinned.
Seraphine extended her hand to me with reverence.
“I look forward to working with you.”
“Me too!”
A rule was added: any weapon could be used.
* * *
The hunt began. From the start, the Expedition was preoccupied with keeping each other in check. The sudden event seemed to have lifted everyone’s spirits.
The first thing I did upon entering the mountain was check the wind.
I wetted the back of my hand with saliva and held it up—there was a faint current flowing from west to east. So we needed to climb from east to west, to avoid the beasts’ noses.
“What are you doing?”
“Beasts will catch our scent and flee.”
Following the valley as we climbed, I found the ground churned with tracks. Wet prints covered the dried ones—it looked like they’d passed through here this morning too. We began to track them in earnest.
We caught our first deer about two hours into the hunt. For the second, I drove it toward Seraphine, who struck it down with her sword. The third was already caught in a snare we’d set earlier by the lake.
Three deer. I rubbed the bridge of my nose. It looked like I was going to win this bet.

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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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