The Villain Who Will Kill Me Is Too Handsome, It's Troublesome - Chapter 16

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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 16.
“Revenge……?”
Kirien looked up at Artiella with bewildered eyes.
“Yes, because of those Young Noble Ladies, your grace’s honor was damaged today.”
They treated him like a monster in front of everyone, simply because he’d rejected their confessions and proposals of marriage.
“And because those Young Noble Ladies have shut themselves away, your grace was even suspected of being behind the kidnapping and illegal slave auctions, wasn’t he?”
“I believe that’s why His Majesty first suspected your grace.”
Blleo acknowledged this as well. Though he was the Imperial Family’s financial advisor, his closeness to the throne meant he had some knowledge of security matters too.
“Moreover, by startling your grace, they triggered an Aura Rampage and caused property damage.”
“But those Young Noble Ladies nearly died because of it…….”
“Can the ones who caused the problem become victims? Besides, this side suffered mental damage from their obsessive stalking. They didn’t grope or grab at your grace trying to ambush him, did they?”
Kirien’s eyes widened.
Blleo quietly shifted his weight away from his younger brother.
‘This, this feels awfully like some unscrupulous loan shark……’
The kind who dragged up every possible interest on debts, real or imagined, to ruin someone. Was this really what the Sacred Sword’s master should be doing?
As he cast a suspicious glance at his sister, Artiella immediately infused her Aura.
“I’m performing justice properly, Bardo.”
“Ha, that Sacred Sword really plays favorites with its owner.”
“The revenge I’m after isn’t much. I just want a proper apology.”
The way they clung to someone who rejected them and tormented him.
How they painted him as a monster in front of everyone today.
Especially the latter. This was something Kirien needed to move past in order to escape from the suffering he’d endured so far.
‘I’ll have to get an apology from His Majesty the Emperor later too.’
While Artiella made her firm resolve, Kirien finished deliberating and nodded.
“Even though I didn’t meet them today, would it be alright to demand apologies from the people who followed me before?”
“Of course.”
“There was even a man who kept following me, offering flowers.”
Here Blleo threw up his hands in surrender. If even other men were enchanted by someone, then he was truly the most handsome man alive.
Artiella closed her mouth, having been about to bite into her bread. There had been male shadows just moments ago, too—and more than one.
‘Insane.’
“First, I’ll send letters to each house, recounting what I remember.”
“Good.”
Just then, Blleo weakly raised his hand.
“Request the Emperor’s mediation.”
That didn’t sound like a good idea. Would an emperor full of prejudice against Kirien actually help?
“Those families have probably already sent protests to His Majesty. Unless they can pin everything on your grace, they won’t be able to marry off their daughters.”
Having lived apart from society, she’d forgotten.
That there were many noble fathers who viewed their daughters as nothing more than commodities on the marriage market.
“Would His Majesty……help?”
“He’s far more just than you’d think.”
Artiella nodded. If evidence was needed, Bardo would have it. This might be an opportunity to clear up the Emperor’s misunderstanding.
“Good. Then, shall we finish eating quickly, write the protest letters, and then start your first training?”
The bread fell from Blleo’s hand.
Artiella moved quickly and caught it before it hit the floor.
“Why?”
“You’re putting me to work on the first day?”
The refined nobleman’s desperate cry came through.
“Do you hate Meditation? Then would you rather start at the Training Grounds?”
“No, sounds perfect.”
Her older brother was easy to handle, that was the thing. He was like a youngest child.
* * *
The protest letters took longer than expected to write.
Protest letters had to be based on facts. Since they were composing it relying on Kirien’s recollections, it took considerable time.
Fortunately, Bailey’s luggage contained the Duke’s diary. Its contents were arranged in the Five W’s and One H method so clearly that they made quick progress.
Blleo, looking drained each time a new name appeared, fled to the bedroom. The moment his head touched the pillow, he fell asleep, and no amount of shaking could wake him.
“I suppose there’s no help for it. I’ll start the Meditation training tomorrow. It’s late, so you should get some rest too. You must be exhausted from today.”
“The sooner your grace masters Aura, the sooner I can prevent any difficult situations from occurring.”
“It’s fine. You’ll pick it up quickly.”
Artiella sent Kirien up to the second floor. All the way up the stairs, he looked back to confirm Artiella was still there with each step.
Artiella waved and said goodnight, keeping her gesture going until he was out of sight.
‘Nothing to worry about while she sleeps.’
Now it was her turn to attend to her duties. She’d managed some of the work during the day, but plenty remained. An ordinary knight might have had little to do, but as an officer, she had reports to review, reports to file, and documents to approve.
‘At least that wicked shadow hasn’t returned.’
She’d used Blleo as a pretext to examine Bardo’s Aura. It was Yushiel’s instruction—he wasn’t the type to vanish easily, and she needed to watch him carefully.
Artiella glanced up toward the second floor, then quietly moved forward.
But then—
“Where are you going, my lady?”
Not separation anxiety, surely. Who checks the balcony the instant a door opens?
“A routine inspection. As commander of the Holy Knight Order, I have considerable work to attend to.”
“May I… accompany you?”
“There’s no objection, but aren’t you tired?”
“I’ve never needed much sleep, actually.”
Unable to refuse, Artiella found herself leading Kirien through Edelion’s corridors and courtyards despite the late hour. Still, there were people awake everywhere.
Some maintaining midnight vigils in prayer. Others taking evening walks.
Young noble ladies searching for wherever Kirien might be lingering.
Weaving through the crowd to avoid them should have exhausted her, but Kirien showed no sign of fatigue.
‘Is it the power of Aura?’
Finally, Artiella led him to the Central Garden. At this hour, priests and paladins gathered near the sacred trees, conducting meditative practice to increase their Holy Power.
“I think we should head back now, Duke.”
Her voice came out flat, lacking its usual vigor.
Kirien gave her a questioning look, but Artiella pressed her lips firmly closed.
‘I don’t want him to know my Holy Power is pathetically weak.’
It was her only real weakness. Less than even a novice knight—and how harshly those pompous priests had condemned her for it in the beginning.
Everyone in Edelion knew the truth, but she had no desire to burden someone who depended on her so deeply with such a vulnerability.
“Yet your eyes are still quite bright.”
So she changed the subject.
“And so are yours, Commander.”
“Those with more Aura than most sleep less without feeling the exhaustion.”
“Aura has such an effect? Is that why I’m not tired either?”
Artiella shook her head.
That effect only manifested when you could command your body through Aura—and this household’s Aura control still amounted to nothing more than facial attacks.
“Perhaps you have insomnia, Duke?”
“That’s possible.”
“You walked so much more than usual tonight—you’ll fall asleep easily, I’m sure.”
“I hope so.”
“You will. And you’ll have pleasant dreams too.”
They drifted through their conversation and exited the Central Garden. But someone was there.
“Hmm? Who on earth—”
A man with a body like a dried sardine? And three burly guards flanking him?
Hair as red as Piter’s, but eyes like a frozen fish—empty of any vitality—
‘Ypeiler the Grand Duke?’
She’d heard plenty of rumors.
The Imperial Family’s disgrace. The Imperial Family’s shame. The Imperial Family’s refuse.
Naturally, he’d never visited Edelion before. So why was he lurking through the temple at this ungodly hour? It wasn’t even the time for receiving pilgrims.
“How dare Piter throw me out?”
Ypeiler began cursing bitterly at his subordinates.
“He hasn’t figured out what I did, has he?”
“I doubt it, Your Grace.”
“Damn it. They say the unconscious ones are heading back to their lodgings. Go find them quickly.”
Hmm, this didn’t look like a pious visit at all.
Report him now, or hold back?
“Yes, Your Grace.”
While Artiella weighed the choice, one of the guards turned back down the corridor. The sardine duke then kicked irritably at the flower bushes along the path.
“Ouch!”
Idiot. Use your eyes poorly, and you can’t see the rocks hidden in the flowers. The malice radiating from that jumping sardine duke was almost palpable.
‘Report or ignore—either way, I should act now.’
But the sardine was sharp-eyed after all.
“Wait, nobody comes through here at night, right? Hold on—isn’t that the Sacred Sword’s wielder?”
He ducked behind the guards.
Villains really are stupid.
It’s all visible through the cracks, isn’t it?

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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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