The Villain Who Will Kill Me Is Too Handsome, It's Troublesome - Chapter 24

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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 24.
Artiella stared at the will.
Logically, anyone who saw something like this would assume Kirien was the culprit.
“Are you certain of Grand Duke Ypeiler’s handwriting?”
She asked the knight beside her in a cold voice.
“It is. I know it well.”
Peter, who had followed them down moments later, answered in his stead.
“The Grand Duke had a wound on his index finger.”
But that hardly proved Ypeiler had written it himself. Someone could have forced his arm and written it for him.
Yet who? The Source of Malice?
‘That vile creature. That was the whole point, wasn’t it?’
To drag Kirien down from Edelion.
They could prove his innocence with the Holy Sword’s Judgment, but given the death of a royal had been implicated, an investigation would be unavoidable.
That’s why it had deliberately appeared in Kirien’s face.
A chill crept down her spine.
Peter and Percell had only seen the attacker’s face before losing consciousness. They knew nothing of what happened afterward. Naturally, they hadn’t seen its true form.
So they might very well misunderstand Kirien again.
“You conduct the examination.”
At that, Peter issued the order in a low voice.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor’s personal physician who had come down with them trembled as he examined the bodies of the dead. Though this was his first autopsy and his movements were clumsy, he nevertheless reached his conclusion without hesitation, befitting the most skilled physician present.
“It is murder. All of them have their cervical vertebrae broken by external force.”
“The work of the thing outside?”
Percell nodded at Peter’s murmur.
“It appears to have used Dark Magic. The fact that something that couldn’t even wield an Aura dealt me such a blow, and that it received the Judgment—it must have been a truly vicious creature.”
What was that?
Artiella watched their exchange with a blank expression.
‘I was the only one who saw it?’
The two of them seemed to have no idea that the attacker’s face had transformed into Kirien’s.
“But why would the Grand Duke leave such a will?”
“Based on the blood patterns and the wounds, it was written after death.”
“I see…. Artiella.”
“Whether it was the Duke’s doing or not, we can verify it with the Holy Sword. If he orchestrated it, traces will remain.”
Artiella answered flatly. Her eyes held no wavering whatsoever.
She trusted Kirien’s clean and noble soul.
“Very well. But now that his name has been mentioned, an investigation is necessary.”
It was the answer she’d anticipated.
“Yes, understood. However, as for the timing….”
“After he completes the Holy Knight Ordeal or whatever it is.”
“As you wish.”
By then the Priesthood Council’s meeting would be finished, and she would have found a way to protect him from the Source of Malice.
Even better if she could track down and eliminate the Source of Malice beforehand.
‘Where did it disappear to?’
Artiella stared intently at the Cloth Fragment with Dark Magic Runes that she had taken from the fallen knight’s pocket.
“That is….”
“I will ask the Priestess to determine what Dark Magic this is and to track it. And….”
Should she speak of the Source of Malice?
It seemed she needed to be more cautious about that. She should discuss it with Yusiel first.
The Source of Malice had likely taken damage from Artiella’s strike, so she could rest easy for now.
“What is it?”
“Will you come to Edelion tomorrow? There is something we need to discuss.”
Peter’s eyebrows rose and fell upon hearing her request. He could not hide his delight.
“Understood. I will make time.”
“Then I shall take my leave.”
* * *
She couldn’t quite remember how she’d returned to Edelion. Her mind was too complicated.
“Commander!”
The moment she reached the entrance, she saw them—Holy Knights in blue cloaks.
As always, their faces were serene.
“Has your business with the Emperor been settled satisfactorily?”
“Did the Imperial Knight Order give you any trouble?”
“We should have followed after them.”
From the way they were chattering loudly at the entrance, it seemed there had been no major incidents in Edelion.
Besides, no matter how capable that man was, he wouldn’t be able to breach Edelion itself.
“Where are the Saint and the Duke?”
“Ah, there’s been an incident.”
What?
Artiella nearly stumbled as she dismounted, and the rest of the words didn’t quite reach her ears clearly.
“The Duke has…….”
Something had happened to Kirien. Here, in this sacred ground. In the place that should be safest under God’s protection.
She had lingered too long in the Imperial Palace.
There was no way that man could be defeated by merely a thread’s worth of Holy Power. But then again, if he knew he could withstand it, he wouldn’t have accepted Artiella’s attack in the first place.
While she was bound in place, he must have found what he truly needed.
“Damn it!”
Before her subordinate could even finish speaking, Artiella was already running without hesitation.
“……they’re at a standstill because of differing opinions, eh? Commander! Not that way—left!”
They had trusted me.
I wanted to protect that radiant, beautiful soul.
What if it’s already been stained completely black? I still don’t know how to drive him out alone and preserve the one who’s been infiltrated.
‘Why am I so weak and foolish?’
She shouldn’t have drawn the Bardo in the first place.
Gritting her teeth, she ran on.
All the shortcuts through the temple led to the Central Garden. Artiella sprinted toward the place where the trees came into view.
The people she loved were already there.
“That’s not it, Saint. I know Arti well.”
“Brother, don’t you understand why twins are twins? I’m more like her than you are.”
And sitting between them with a vacant expression was Kirien.
“Duke, no. You need to listen to me.”
“You’ll understand soon enough how much nonsense brother talks if you stick around for a few days.”
“Really, is there something wrong with Edelion’s foundations? Or why are the Saint and the Holy Sword’s Knight both slandering me!”
What—he’s unharmed.
What a relief.
Artiella came to a stop and caught her breath. Then one of the three turned to look at her first.
“You’ve arrived?”
It was Kirien.
He greeted Artiella first and rose with a bright smile.
He approached her with the quickest stride of the three, his face radiant like sunlight—nothing like that contemptible smile she had glimpsed before.
Her heart eased, yet fear crept in at the same time.
Could she protect that smile? That happy, ordinary day?
When he had already appeared?
Artiella’s legs gave way and she sank to the floor. Such weakness unbefitting the title of Holy Knight Commander.
“Artiella!”
“Arti!”
“My goodness, what’s wrong?”
All three rushed toward her in alarm. The sight of them moved her so deeply that Artiella found herself smiling through her tears.
“What happened?”
“Nothing—it’s just that the people at the entrance said there was an incident, so I was startled…….”
“That would be because of me. I apologize.”
Kirien offered his apology in a calm voice. A faint white Aura was visible at his side.
“I suddenly had a severe headache and stumbled, causing an accident.”
“A headache?”
“Yes, such an intense one I couldn’t see straight. I was looking for something to steady myself when I caused the damage.”
Looking more closely, Kirien’s hand was wrapped in bandages. There were also slight scratches on his cheek.
“The Duke broke one of the vases the Saint treasured.”
Bleo offered the explanation from beside them.
“He got cut by the fragments when they fell together.”
“Ah…….”
Artiella blinked. She felt embarrassed.
She really should have listened to what people were saying until the end.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
“But how deep is that wound!”
Artiella sprang from her seat.
“A wound so severe that Holy Power can’t heal it? Let me see! What if it scars!”
As Artiella rushed forward as if to tear away the bandage, Kirien stepped backward and glanced at Bleo and Yusiel.
Bleo thumped his chest confidently.
But Kirien waved his hands and lowered his head. Then he answered in a meek, almost inaudible voice.
“There is no wound. It has already healed.”
“Why didn’t you say that right away!”
“Tsk, tsk, didn’t I tell you not to do this, brother? His soul doesn’t know how to lie, does it?”
Artiella caught on immediately. Her anger turned straight toward Bleo.
“Stop teaching him weird things.”
“Save me!”
Artiella attempted a furious kick at Bleo, but he ducked behind Kirien, leaving Bleo’s shin unscathed.
“But Artiella, what’s wrong with you?”
Yusiel recognized the disarray of her younger sibling.
It wasn’t merely the appearance of someone startled. Her cloak and hair were a mess from rushing here so hastily.
“I… I couldn’t carry out the judgment.”
“Why? Did the Emperor refuse because he’s still blood kin after all?”
“No, it’s not that…”
Artiella stared intently at Kirien.
Should I tell them?
But he’s the one involved, so I have to, don’t I?
“The Source of Malice appeared. In the Duke’s face.”
It was unexpected.
That Kirien remained so unmoved, more so than Yusiel and Bleo.

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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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