The Male Lead Has Gone Mad Over the Troublesome Villainess - Chapter 65

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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 65
In addition, we confiscated about ten horses that appeared to belong to the mercenaries. We’d thoroughly emptied Callad’s pockets. There were roughly thirty mercenaries in total, including Callad, and every last one of them was thrown into the dungeon.
I and the other wounded were hauled straight to the quarters where the Healer was staying.
“Seraphine, something like this would heal with just a bit of saliva, wouldn’t it……?”
“His Highness has ordered that I examine it thoroughly. If I disobey Military Law, I’ll be executed. Is that what you wish?”
I clamped my mouth shut. Military Law is frightening, but still……
“His Highness also said that the Princess seems to regard her own body as though it were a Monster’s Armor, so I should watch carefully.”
“Ah, that’s quite an exaggeration.”
“It was said in earnest.”
“So you discuss such things with the Crown Prince.”
“It was an honest and important conversation.”
I followed meekly in Seraphine’s wake. And yet their dynamic did seem subtly different from before, didn’t it? The way they spoke so easily to each other without reservation. True to form for the male and female leads of the Original Story, their connection was progressing little by little. I couldn’t help but smile at the thought.
The Healer greeted us with a tired expression and curt efficiency.
“……Are you injured?”
The Healer asked me.
“Fighting tends to result in that sort of thing, doesn’t it?”
I shrugged. The Healer unwound the bandages to look, then clicked her tongue sharply.
“The wound is deeper than I thought. It’ll need stitching. Since it’s on a delicate part of the skin, it will scar. And the other wounds should be stitched as well. They may heal more slowly, but given the conditions here, infection from dirt getting in is the greater danger.”
“Then do it. I’m fine.”
“You are not fine!”
Seraphine’s voice rose sharply. She widened her eyes and pressed her temples.
“How can you say this is fine? Princess Rosana, you’ll carry these scars for the rest of your life. Why do you always……think that everything is all right?”
“Because it really is.”
I met Seraphine’s gaze. I don’t understand why she’s so sensitive about my wounds when she’s so dismissive of her own. I shrugged.
“I’m not a knight, but I am someone who fights. If this one scar saved someone’s life, then I’m glad for it. So how could it not be all right?”
“……Princess.”
Seraphine heaved a heavy sigh.
“I’ll make sure you get proper treatment and rest well today. I promise. I’ll apply the medicine carefully so it doesn’t get infected.”
Seraphine’s eyes darkened. While the Healer cleaned and stitched the wound, she stood silently at my side.
“Cheer up, Seraphine. I’m really fine……ow, that stings!”
“……You’re not fine.”
Seraphine let out another deep sigh. I laughed awkwardly. Of all moments to say that, why did the needle have to go in just then? When I glared at the Healer, she just shrugged. Ugh, how infuriating.
* * *
Seraphine had taken Rosana back to her quarters and returned. Kael stood before the dungeon where Callad was being held separately. It was still early for sleep. Seraphine bowed her head and reported on Rosana’s condition.
“……The wounds were stitched, you say.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Kael slowly drew a hand across his face.
“What did Rosana say?”
“That she was fine, as always. That if her injuries saved someone’s life, she would accept them gladly.”
Kael ground his teeth. Rosana was always like that. She ached for others’ wounds more than anyone, yet neglected her own. The word “fine” had become a habit on her lips.
Kael rubbed the corner of his eye.
No one was lashing Rosana. And yet she ran ceaselessly as if something were chasing her from behind. She didn’t even realize how her precariousness drew the eyes of others.
Kael drew his sword. He knew this was nothing more than hollow catharsis, and yet he couldn’t stop. He entered the dungeon, his hand closing around Callad’s throat.
“Ghhk!”
Callad dangled from his grip, trembling violently. Kael’s blade cut deep across the man’s neck.
“Aaaaagh!”
“I won’t kill you yet.”
Kael spoke coldly and released his grip. Callad slid to the ground, clutching at his bleeding throat.
Kael knelt to meet him at eye level. His ethereally beautiful face bore a cold smile.
“But I promise you your end will be truly terrible.”
“Cough, cough……if you treat me like this, cooperation will be difficult……!”
“You needn’t worry about that.”
Kael gripped Callad’s wound and tore into it savagely with his thumb.
“Aaaaaaagh!”
“I know hundreds of ways to extract the truth from your mouth.”
No emotion could be found in that voice. Kael whispered low.
“I can make you wish death were preferable. Cooperation is your choice.”
Callad trembled at Kael’s words. Thinking how damnably unlucky he was, he gasped for breath.
“From this moment on, you’d better think carefully about every word you say.”
Callad slowly nodded. Kael turned his head to speak to Seraphine.
“Seraphine.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Use the blade I granted you to execute justice.”
Kael’s voice turned glacial.
“Find the one who inflicted those unjust wounds upon Rosana. Sever his head from his shoulders, carve his limbs into pieces, and feed them to the Monsters.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
Seraphine’s eyes gleamed with dark promise. The scent of blood hung thick in the air—all in the name of justice and wrath.
* * *
When I stepped into the quarters, Vanessa rushed to meet me.
“Rosana! Do you have any idea how long I’ve been waiting?”
Vanessa pulled me into a tight embrace.
“Good heavens, half your face is bandaged! What on earth are these wrappings? How badly are you hurt?”
“No more lectures. My ears are already ringing from them. But honestly, considering what you can see, I’m fine. Really.”
“Ugh!”
Vanessa fixed me with a stern gaze, though her lips curved into a wry smile. I smiled back casually and asked her, “How is Lilia?”
“She’s sleeping. Lately she doesn’t wake much during the night.”
At those words, something heavy settled in my chest. I still couldn’t tell whether it was fortunate that she wasn’t having Premonition Dreams, or if something was wrong.
In the Original Story, Lilia had dreamed with increasing frequency as time passed. And whenever she dreamed, someone died. In one sense, this silence might be a mercy. But the future was bending—ever so slightly, but unmistakably.
Consider, for instance, human trafficking. The Original Story never even mentioned such a thing.
If all these deviations accumulated, if they twisted the path forward enough…
I shook my head. It was a terrible thought.
I checked the room where Lilia and the children slept. Lilia lay at peace, her face serene. I decided to take it as a good sign.
I closed the door carefully.
“The Holy Relic?”
“Fortunately, we found it safely. And we gained quite a few other things as well.”
I told Vanessa everything I’d learned. She burst out laughing and cursed Callad’s name.
“What an idiot! Of all moments to kidnap someone, it had to be you.”
“Exactly. No eye for judging character at all. Thanks to that…… ah, here it is.”
I reached into my pocket and produced what I’d been hiding away.
“What is this?”
“A Ruby Brooch I took from Callad. It’s low-grade, but they say even this is precious here. I brought it for you.”
Vanessa’s eyes widened.
“I thought it would suit you well. You like things like this, don’t you?”
Vanessa nodded, her face trembling with the threat of tears. Watching her struggle between composure and joy, I was glad I’d sneaked it out.
She sniffled and spoke. “I—I’ll keep it as a keepsake. I’m really going to wear it for the rest of my life.”
Vanessa fastened it to her chest.
“I’ll buy you something even nicer next time, Vanessa.”
Just survive. Make it to the end. Survive so we can walk forward together. I swallowed those words down and laughed along with her.

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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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