The Villain Who Will Kill Me Is Too Handsome, It's Troublesome - Chapter 13

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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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Episode 13.
* * *
While Kirien moved luggage to the second floor with Bailey, Bleo dragged Artiella outside the building.
“Are you all right?”
It was the first time in a while that she’d seen him look so serious.
“What do you mean?”
“Has Yusiel’s vision of the future ever been wrong?”
“Of course not.”
From the minor—gifts for the New Year’s ceremony that their parents had prepared—to the major, the ascension of a new Emperor.
“Yusiel said you’d die at the hands of that handsome fool! So why are you keeping company with the Duke?”
Bleo swept his bangs upward roughly, then fixed his gaze on his youngest sister’s composed face.
Death had been foretold, yet there was no fear in her—only confidence. She looked like someone who had finished her calculations, who knew what to do and what to avoid, and was ready to face it all.
When his sister spoke like this, she always said the same thing.
“You’ll support me, won’t you?”
Yes, he had to support her.
Bleo trusted his sister. If he waited, she would tell him honestly. As he held her gaze, Artiella finally nodded and opened her mouth.
“The Duke isn’t the Root of Evil yet. He has a soul as beautiful and pure as Yusiel’s. That’s why the Root of Evil seems to covet him.”
“Yet? You mean the Duke could actually become the Root of Evil?”
“Yes. And then it would try to kill me first—the Holy Sword’s master.”
After that would come Yusiel, the Saintess. Darkness hates light with a vicious intensity.
“Wait, but then shouldn’t you teach him how to use his Aura? He’d become stronger?”
It seemed like there was a fatal flaw in the plan somewhere.
Question marks and exclamation points bloomed across Bleo’s face. His trust in his sister was beginning to crack.
“Once the Root of Evil awakens, it’s absolute evil—it’ll immediately understand the most effective ways to destroy everything around it and possess power befitting its nature.”
With the strength I have now, there’s no way I could win against that.
……
“And you know it yourself—Yusiel is stronger than me.”
Kirien thinks Artiella could dodge his attacks but chooses to take them from Yusiel, but that isn’t true.
Artiella is second-best in every way that matters.
“Ah, so that’s why His Majesty won’t take you with him?”
Of course—Bleo was quick to catch on too. Artiella nodded readily.
“Exactly. It’s easier to respond when they’re right in front of you. But His Majesty seems suspicious of the Duke anyway. Even after I verified him, he still doesn’t trust him, it seems.”
Suddenly Bleo bit his lip.
Fighting to keep the corners of his mouth from sliding sideways, he reached out and roughly tousled his sister’s hair.
“Stop! I’m not a kid anymore!”
“You’re still my baby, Arti. My cute little sister.”
“What are you saying! I’m drawing my sword again!”
“Ha ha, go ahead.”
Bleo’s bright laughter spread across Edelion.
Artiella narrowed her brow and rolled her eyes carefully, checking if anyone was passing by. She couldn’t let her subordinates see her like this.
It had been hard enough to maintain discipline with them—first because she was a woman, and then because she wielded the Holy Sword while having almost no Holy Power!
Her authority would plummet!
But she didn’t push his hand away. Yusiel was there, yes, but she couldn’t completely suppress the fear that the word “death”—hovering over her with no warning of when it might fall—instilled in her.
She needed her brother’s comfort.
A moment later, Bleo gently straightened his sister’s tangled hair with careful fingers.
“So what do I do?”
“What?”
“Since you didn’t kick me out, it means I’m useful to your and Yusiel’s plan.”
Yes, Bleo understood his sisters far better than their father did.
Artiella broke into a grin.
“Welcome to the Committee to Prevent the Duke’s Fall.”
“I don’t know what that is, but I’ll do my best. After all, we can’t let the Root of Evil be our brother-in-law.”
With a whisper, Bardo revealed himself again.
“Bleo Soltis, by the power of the Divine, I shall…….”
“Wait, hold on!”
There was something Artiella had said when she was little.
“I’m definitely going to find a man more handsome than my brother and marry him.”
Who else could that be but Duke Kirien? To be honest, the Emperor had been disqualified from the start on looks.
“Do you know how hard I’ve worked to protect you all this time, and you’re doing this?”
“What are you talking about? Just accept the judgment!”
No one appreciates my effort.
Bleo felt considerably wronged. The family hierarchy had somehow gotten twisted.
* * *
The chaotic day passed quickly.
She changed clothes, handled the backlog of work, moved her things—and had to find time for confession and prayer to atone for yesterday’s and today’s mishaps.
“Though I committed trespassing without permission, I’m grateful that I could uphold justice because of it.”
“So, if I ignore the Saintess’s orders and go outside, will that be alright? Or not?”
Next time, I’m going to confession with a different priest.
“Did Father get home safely?”
“Yes, he was worried. But when I explained you were doing this to save your future son-in-law, he accepted it.”
“Excuse me, Saintess! Aren’t you planning to confess to a paladin? It seems there’s a Saintess here who teases a faithful paladin.”
“Confession can only be heard by a priest in holy orders, sister.”
Tch, how petty.
“So how’s the Duke’s sunny disposition?”
“I found the way to control his Aura. Since his mind is at ease now, his face has brightened.”
“Is that why he follows you around like a puppy?”
Yusiel’s gaze turned toward someone who would be beyond the study door.
“He feels uneasy alone. And this is an Imperial Residence, so he’s anxious about it.”
“So you’re saying he can handle this distance?”
Artiella nodded confidently, puffing out her chest.
“Well done. Once you increase your Holy Power, you’ll be perfect. You know that every master of a Holy Sword who faced the Root of Evil has had Holy Power at the Saintess level?”
The praise would be brief; the nagging was about to be long.
“I’ll do it!”
Artiella fled the study like she was escaping.
Yusiel, who had watched her sister leave for a long moment, unfolded a book that had been tucked away in the corner of her desk.
It was a history text she’d discovered today in a hidden corner of the study—one she’d never seen before.
『”Why do you keep trying to erase me every time?”
“I love brilliant things, but you’re not one of them.”
“That I play the role of evil in this world is God’s will, but that your sword pierced my heart was my choice.”
“That doesn’t make your misdeeds disappear.”』
The Root of Evil that appeared at the end had sealed itself. But why had it come back? Had it planned to return from the start?
“But wait—why didn’t anyone tell me that the Root of Evil was sealed in Bardo?”
If the Saintesses of the past who performed the seal had revealed that fact, Artiella wouldn’t have been able to pull Bardo out.
Or would she?
“Were they waiting for it to be pulled?”
For the Root of Evil to return?
What in the world had happened in the past?
* * *
“Bailey, is everything packed?”
Artiella returned to the lodging with Kirien.
“Yes, the viscount and the paladins were kind enough to help, so we finished quickly.”
Bailey had been chatting with Bleo in the reception room on the first floor, along with a few of the paladins.
Artiella’s eyes narrowed as she saw her subordinates.
What are these people doing here?
“Why are you here instead of helping with the lodging repairs?”
Bleo answered on behalf of the paladins.
“Little sister, that’s already been taken care of. The Duke brought in laborers.”
Artiella glanced at him.
He looked embarrassed, his face flushing slightly, with a small smile playing at his lips.
“I asked Bailey to see to it. I take responsibility for the mess I’ve made.”
She remembered her investigation into the Duke’s reputation. Back then, too, he’d been taking responsibility.
“Your Grace, there were some documents requiring your approval regarding that matter, so I’ve left them in your study.”
“Understood. I’ll handle it right away.”
Kirien climbed the stairs.
Artiella watched him with an approving gaze. A handsome man who doesn’t shirk work and does everything diligently.
Rich benefactor, may God’s grace keep you prosperous.
“You have some tea too, Artiella. You had a hectic day.”
“Thank you, Bleo.”
Artiella quickly took the seat he offered.
“Oh, Bailey, does the Duke like anything in particular?”
“Pardon?”
“Tell me everything about the duke’s preferences. Food, hobbies, favorite flowers — absolutely everything.”
“Oh, of course. I’d be delighted to tell you all of it.”
Bailey’s lips curved into a perfect circle. The corners of her eyes crinkled with genuine delight. Quick-witted as always, Bleo caught on to his sister’s plan and found it rather promising — he nodded his approval.
But not everyone was prepared to accept it.
“What’s with those expressions?”
The Paladins, facing such an unprecedented situation, all stood slack-jawed in disbelief.

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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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