The Villain Who Will Kill Me Is Too Handsome, It's Troublesome - Chapter 12

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

Episode 12.
When Artiella read out his name one syllable at a time, Bleo raised both his hands.
Please, spare me.
“Arti, calm down. If you keep making that terrifying face, won’t the Duke get tense again and cause real trouble?”
“It seems to be fine.”
“Why are you choosing when to be nervous? This is when you should feel far more threatened for your life!”
Artiella laughed as though it were nothing.
Of course it was.
The master of the Holy Sword had refined a new Aura Skill today—it was just a shame it only worked on the Duke.
‘Seeing as it doesn’t affect the servants who pass by, there must be a specific wavelength of Aura for it.’
How to put it? Kirien’s Aura had become a wagging puppy in Artiella’s presence—eager to please and obedient. Like it wanted to look good in her eyes.
She had no intention of telling Bleo about it yet. This kind of thing needed to stay as a trump card.
“Doesn’t Killing Intent usually only affect the person it’s directed at?”
This woman.
With her fingers interlaced, Artiella stretched both arms wide. At the same moment, she shook her head left and right, about to threaten her brother—
“Your Grace, oh my, the young lady was here too.”
Bleo’s savior had arrived from the Lufel Duchy House.
“My, did you come in person, madam?”
Artiella released her Killing Intent and trotted over to the middle-aged woman.
“Young lady, you are someone special to our Duke, so you may simply call me Bailey.”
Bailey smiled warmly, but Kirien looked troubled.
“Bailey, forgive me, but this woman is the master of the Holy Sword who leads Edelion’s Holy Knight Order.”
Artiella had chosen the path of a knight on her own, rather than accept the peaceful, comfortable life her parents had given her. It was presumptuous to address such a person with the title of a mere noble’s daughter.
“Oh my, I’ve committed a grave discourtesy. My sincerest apologies, Knight.”
But Artiella was the first to wave her hand dismissively.
“No, it’s all right. Call me however you like, Bailey.”
It was amusing to be treated like a young lady again after so long. It brought back memories of her childhood governess, and there was nothing unpleasant about it.
“You’re so gracious.”
Artiella’s mood lifted at the warm smile on Bailey’s lips.
“But why have you come alone?”
“Everyone else is waiting at the entrance of the Temple. Will you be staying here for a while?”
Bailey’s eyes swept over the clean, tidy building.
“Yes, His Majesty was considerate enough to arrange it.”
“Do you have anyone to attend to your needs?”
This question required Artiella to step in.
“If necessary, we’ll need to bring someone from the manor. The priests cannot attend to every nobleman’s personal needs.”
The Temple provides only lodging and meals. Everything else must be self-sufficient.
“Then, would it be all right if I stayed here?”
“Of course it would.”
“What a relief. I was worried thinking the Duke would have to stay alone.”
In Bailey’s eyes as she looked at Kirien, affection and concern overflowed.
Artiella felt slightly uneasy about leaving Bleo and him alone, but this worked out well. The Duke would feel much more at ease being with someone who cared for him.
“Then, you and the madam should use the second floor. I’ll take the first floor.”
Then Bleo interjected again.
“And this gentleman is…….”
“I am Bleo of the Soltis Count House, madam. I plan to stay here with the Duke for the time being.”
“Is that so? Do you have an acquaintance with our Duke?”
“We only exchanged greetings today, but surely we shall become friends soon, shall we not?”
Bleo looked at Kirien with wide eyes. Then Bailey began to sniffle.
“Thanks to you, young lady—sniff—it was right to come to Edelion.”
“Yes, so you can stop worrying about me now.”
Kirien patted his governess’s back to soothe her as she grew tearful. Bleo produced a handkerchief and offered it as well.
In that warm moment, Artiella understood why Kirien had endured thus far. A person who believed in you and offered comfort—that must be an light that never went out.
“The curse clinging to the Duke—it’s probably the key to him becoming the Source of Evil.”
“Why would they target the Duke specifically?”
“Because a soul pure and unblemished falls without end into the abyss. I don’t know how he’s managed until now, but he must be in a precarious state.”
In the future Usiciel had seen, whoever would strangle Artiella’s throat would not be Kirien.
A Fallen Angel who had lost himself and been consumed by darkness.
“Then what do we do?”
“I already told you. Paint him with brightness and make him shine of his own light. Darkness won’t dare come near him.”
The task Usiciel had given her: make Kirien into someone who could stand in the sunlight.
Fortunately, things had unfolded well. It was thanks to Kirien finding his courage.
Going forward, with Bailey at Kirien’s side, he would find emotional stability. And Bleo, being naturally positive and sociable, would prove helpful as well.
Just as planned—befriend more spirited knights to circle around him.
‘Then there won’t be room for negative feelings to take hold.’
That way, he wouldn’t lose himself, wouldn’t be seized by the Source of Evil, and certainly wouldn’t covet the Holy Sword’s master.
A flawless survival plan.
“Well then, I should attend to the pile of duties waiting for me.”
At Artiella’s farewell, Kirien offered no response. His lips parted and closed several times, as though he were struggling with the words.
“Is something the matter, my lord?”
“Will you return to your quarters later?”
“Wouldn’t it be too taxing for you today?”
They were still under repair.
“Then… would it not be acceptable for you to remain here as well?”
His neck flushed crimson again. His red eyes gleamed with a hazy longing.
“Since the Temple will have many people, it would ease my mind if you could stay close by.”
When he spoke like that, with a face like that—
“Yes, I will.”
She was enchanted once more.
* * *
“Bailey, stop crying now.”
Having heard the full account of what had transpired in Edelion from Kirien, Bailey continued to sniffle even as she organized her belongings.
The servants from the Duke’s household who had come to transport the luggage were in much the same state.
“Our lord is such a good person—it seems a miracle has finally come to us.”
Kirien, who had been comforting Bailey’s shoulders, merely lifted the corners of his mouth in silence.
The divine was a paradox. All this time, the gods had heaped misfortune upon him, stealing away everything he held dear, one precious thing after another. Wouldn’t it have been better never to impose such trials in the first place?
Then he would never have spent all these years hating and resenting the gods.
“To think that a beautiful young lady is the Holy Sword’s master—the divine has truly sent us a radiant savior.”
“Indeed. At least they sent her before I gave up entirely.”
Bailey’s shoulders trembled. Her gaze fell upon Kirien’s neck, hidden beneath his collar. Slowly, her eyes drifted lower, settling on his wrists.
The weeping began anew.
“Don’t cry, nursemaid. From now on, I will try to live.”
The divine was cruel, and yet kind.
The single ray of light they had sent was so warm, so sweet. Perhaps this final hope might not be empty after all.
His gaze lingered on a woman beyond the window.
Kirien began to covet the warmth that lingered in his palm. For now, it was only the palest of desires.
* * *
“Your Majesty, the royal family’s private quarters have been cleared.”
Percell had returned to the Emperor’s carriage at the entrance of Edelion.
“Who was staying there?”
In response to Peter’s question, Percell handed over a document—the management log written by the building’s custodian.
“He began using it yesterday, it seems.”
Peter gazed upon his cousin’s name without emotion.
The imperial garbage, the shame of the royal line, the worst of humanity—if not for Kirien, Peter would have deemed this man an enemy of Artiella, the very Source of Evil itself.
He tapped slowly upon his cousin’s name.
“He couldn’t enter the palace after falling from his horse, yet here he was?”
“According to the custodian, he was in perfect health. It appears he fled upon learning that Your Majesty had visited the Temple.”
“Damn it, what trouble has he stirred up now…?”
Suddenly, Peter’s eyes flashed with keen awareness.
There might yet be another witness to expose Kirien’s crimes.
“Bring him in at once.”
If only the Duke of Lufel’s guilt came to light, he could protect Artiella with his own hands.
He had cherished and safeguarded her all these years—she could never be taken from him.
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Peter watched through the window as Percell departed, then closed it. As the carriage began to move, he found himself thinking that the spring sunlight pouring through the small glass pane resembled Artiella’s golden hair.
Behind him, the shadow that had gathered deepened.

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