The Villain Who Will Kill Me Is Too Handsome, It's Troublesome - Chapter 114

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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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Chapter 114.
“What’s the problem, Your Majesty?”
Artiela blinked her wide eyes, feigning utter confusion, and asked with a bold little tilt of her head.
Pieter’s brow furrowed slightly at the sight.
“I heard Lufel Duchy hasn’t been in the Holy Knight Order for very long.”
“Yes, Your Majesty, you heard correctly.”
“Then how can you entrust him with the deputy command? He’ll lack experience both as a knight and as a commander of an army, won’t he?”
At Pieter’s objection, Artiela slowly nodded.
“But among the knights departing for this campaign, he holds the highest rank.”
The Holy Knight Order may treat each other as comrades regardless of status, but that’s not the case here. The Imperial Army is made up almost entirely of nobles, and they hate bowing their heads to a commoner-born man.
That was part of the reason I’d placed Kirien in a high position.
A man whose rank could press down on the Emperor’s knights.
“On top of that, his skill is outstanding.”
The words Pieter had been about to raise as another objection died in his throat.
“His skill is outstanding, you say?”
“Yes. The enemy in this war is Dark Mages and monsters. So naturally, the outcome of this war will hinge on how much Holy Power each of us commands, wouldn’t you agree?”
Pieter’s face said he couldn’t believe it.
“How could the sacrifice the Source of Evil was after…”
I wasn’t sure how much of my memory had returned. But that wretched mindset of linking Kirien to the Source of Evil had come back, at least.
“I’ve heard disasters never stop in Lufel Duchy Territory. Is it really wise to take the duke along on what amounts to a holy crusade?”
Just seeing him openly insult Kirien in front of the other knights was enough.
Yet Artiela did not stop him.
Kirien was no different. He seemed to crave provoking the Emperor, but he held himself back. He had to keep that pretty soul Artiela liked intact.
“If he truly is the sacrifice the Source of Evil seeks, he wouldn’t possess such abundant Holy Power, a blessing granted by the gods, the way I do, would he?”
Matching Artiela’s explanation, Kirien stretched out both hands and displayed his Holy Power.
Red Holy Power, close to pink, gathered beautifully on his palms. The sight was so enchanting it bordered on mystical, and admiring exclamations poured out from the Imperial Army.
The few female knights in the Imperial Army especially loved it.
They said it was like a fairy tale. They made a fuss, saying it was prettier than Aura, and even asked right away how to join the Holy Knight Order.
“…You’ve grown into a fine man, Duke. Your late father would have been proud.”
Defeat was written plainly across Pieter’s face.
And the expression that revealed what was in his heart was…
‘Hateful.’
If Bleo had seen it, he would have clicked his tongue. What an ugly face.
It isn’t only the soul that reflects a person’s character. The Emperor’s eyes, filled with thoughts of harming others, had turned murky, his complexion had dulled, and his lips had twisted askew.
It was truly pitiful.
Why had he become so repulsive?
Pieter, who had come to encourage the expedition force, turned sharply on his heel. Still facing away, he asked the chamberlain.
Is the banquet I ordered to restore the knights’ stamina ready?
“Yes, Your Majesty. We’ve roasted whole pigs and cattle.”
“Have everyone eat once training is finished.”
“We are grateful for Your Majesty’s favor.”
When Artiela bowed her head, the knights bowed in unison.
But the faces staring back were far less moved than the Emperor had hoped.
‘Ugh, I’m already stuffed.’
‘The meat they brought from Lufel Duchy Territory is seriously good. Maybe it’s because they were pastured on the granary plains, but the meat tastes great.’
‘Did you see how fresh the seafood was? I’d never had grilled clams that fresh before.’
It was all thanks to Kirien, who had already won over the Imperial Army’s goodwill.
Supplies were being moved using Transfer Scrolls, backed by his mother’s support.
“Oh, Duke.”
Perhaps sensing the mood, Pieter turned back to Kirien with an uneasy look.
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
“I hope you come through this war unharmed. I hear your birth mother is the legendary Sir Bertia of the Holy Knight Order?”
In that instant, Artiela studied the Imperial Army’s reactions.
And sure enough, she found it.
‘Yes, of course he wouldn’t have left one unplanted.’
Now it’s truly the end.
Artiela could not hide her disappointment.
It was not her feeling alone. The Imperial Army had noticed as well. They had confirmed with their own eyes what they had known all along.
That the reason for this war was not the Southern Kingdom, but Artiela and Kirien.

That night, a small commotion broke out in the tents where the Imperial Army and the Holy Knight Order were stationed.
“Hey, grab him!”
“Is this the one?”
“The Knight Commander said it was him, so it must be, right?”
The Holy Knights closed in around a single Imperial knight.
“Come on, quick now. Why don’t you just confess and get it over with?”
“C-confess what?”
The Imperial knight trembled as he glanced around. But no one from the Imperial Army stepped forward.
Everyone stood at a distance, eyeing the situation warily.
The Holy Knights were radiating such a menacing aura.
“Why do you keep trailing after our youngest, I mean, the Deputy Commander?”
“When did I do that?”
“You were sitting at the table right behind him during meals, you followed him to the restroom, and when he wasn’t around, you stuck to our Knight Commander’s side instead. Don’t deny it.”
“…”
The Holy Knights channeled their Holy Power in a threatening manner as they pressed him.
“Bardo isn’t here, but we can still tell if someone’s lying with Holy Power, you know?”
It was a complete bluff.
Nonsense they had picked up from Artiela.
But the knight, who knew nothing of the power of Holy Power, trembled and spoke up without hesitation.
“Well, His Majesty…”
“Yes, what did His Majesty say?”
“He ordered me to keep watch on Lufel Duke. If he ever did something improper with the Holy Knight Commander, I was to step in and stop it.”
“Something improper?”
“Like kissing, or any other unnecessary contact, you know.”
Sighs erupted from all around.
The Holy Knights, who had originally intended to subdue the Imperial Army by force, no longer needed to.
It was nothing more than confirming what they already knew.
“Honestly, how sticky can clergymen get when they’re in love? Why would they bother assigning someone to watch them?”
“Yeah, the most they’d do is a chaste little kiss, right?”
“Us, the Knight Commander, and even the Duke are all Holy Knights of Edelion.”
Artiela, who had been listening quietly from a good distance away, twitched and scratched her ear.
“Anyway, if you tail him one more time, you’ll be thrown out. Even the Imperial Army must have military law!”
Under the Holy Knights’ threat, the knight fled in a hurry. The Holy Knights calmly withdrew as well.
Leaving behind a taunt: if you’re unhappy with their control, try beating them in a duel, or with Holy Power.
Afterward, Artiela listened to the grumbling of the remaining Imperial soldiers.
“Do you remember? The day His Majesty lost his mind and went on a rampage?”
“Yeah. He stomped on the head of the most loyal knight after Sir Purcell, over and over.”
“And the Knight Commander saved us when he saw that.”
They weren’t people who forgot a debt of gratitude.
And they were already halfway won over.
“Still, aren’t the Holy Knights a bit arrogant? Just commoners, after all.”
Of course, unlike how they had come over to Artiela, they hadn’t really meshed with the Holy Knight Order.
“Aura users are weaker than me, yet those guys got higher ranks than us just because they have a bit more Holy Power…”
“Just wait until the war is over.”
Figures, I suppose. Just as she was thinking they might team up for this one occasion and then go back to being strangers, it happened.
“Aaargh! Assassin!”
A great commotion rang out from one of the tents.
The uproar came from the area where Kirien’s tent stood. It seemed the assassin the Emperor had planted was on the move.
Artiela also began preparing to move, climbing up onto a tree branch.
But then.
“Dark Mage!”
A strange energy was felt.
“Magical Taint?”
What on earth is this, and why now?
Of all times, something that would lend strength to the war had appeared.
And it was someone with tremendous power. Which made it perfect for dealing a blow to Kirien’s reputation…
“The area around the Deputy Commander’s tent is being sucked in!”
“Sir Kirien! Be careful!”
Making it look like a calamity, that is.
Still, she wasn’t sure. Was this the work of the Source of Evil, or of Pieter?
Artiela didn’t hesitate. She snatched up her sword and bolted forward.

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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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