The Villain Who Will Kill Me Is Too Handsome, It's Troublesome - Chapter 27

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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 27.
“…….”
Kirien’s face had turned completely crimson.
“Huh? Ugh! What on earth did I just say!”
Artiela clapped a hand over her mouth in mortification. Her own cheeks burned just as fiercely.
I’ve finally lost it.
Harboring such sinful thoughts — any Sacred Power I possessed would flee at once.
“Please pretend you didn’t hear that.”
“No, I don’t mind at all…….”
“Pardon?”
“I’m saying that even a date would be welcome.”
“I beg your pardon?”
Artiela felt as though someone had thrust a blazing hearth directly into her skull.
Could anything possibly be this warm?
As Artiela stumbled over her words, unable to form a coherent sentence, Kirien seized a fresh piece of bread, his lips pressed tight, still unable to meet her eyes.
“It’s just that you mentioned……how much you enjoy making pleasant memories…….”
“Ah, Yusiel said that, did she? Though I’m not sure the Temple Archives would be ideal — it’s not quiet at all with both priests and researchers coming and going……”
Artiela’s eyes darted nervously.
“I apologize. There will surely be many watching. I shouldn’t have suggested it so thoughtlessly. If it would make you uncomfortable, please forget I said anything.”
“Not at all! If it helps you, then I should do whatever I can. If anyone becomes difficult, I’ll handle them myself.”
Just then, Bailey arrived carrying freshly cooked bacon.
“A library date, you say? Oh my, I’ll need to pack a larger lunch.”
“No, that’s not——”
“Hehe, it seems it will be warmer than yesterday. Once you’ve chosen your books, you should make a proper picnic of it. Let me prepare everything for you, hehe.”
Bailey seemed far more excited about this than Kirien.
Just then, Kirien prepared a fresh sandwich.
“Have some more of this.”
The duke still hadn’t eaten anything.
Artiela worked quickly, spreading butter and jam with practiced ease. She added ham and cheese as well.
‘Ugh, why does this look less appetizing than his……?’
She’d made it in exactly the same order.
As she stood holding it, unable to hand it over, Kirien’s eyes fixed intently on her hands. It seemed like he was urging her to give it to him, but……
“Your Grace……”
She squeezed her eyes shut and extended the poorly-made sandwich to him.
“Haah, I’m dying! Argh! I’m starving! Thanks, little sister.”
Bleo appeared looking like the undead and snatched away the sandwich she’d labored over.
“…….”
“Good grief, looks like it crawled out of hell, but it tastes fine. Bailey really does bake wonderful bread…….”
“……I could kill him.”
Artiela’s eyes narrowed to slits.
But Bleo, whether he heard or not, shoveled it down hastily while shoving a document at Kirien.
“Tch, hardly finished one task and another drops in my lap. My precious vacation is burning away like this……. You owe me for all of it later, little sister.”
“What is it?”
“His Majesty sent papers at dawn, asking me to review them before you arrived.”
He handed the documents he’d been carrying to Kirien.
Kirien’s complexion didn’t look particularly bright. Seeing Artiela’s puzzled expression, he exhaled heavily before speaking.
“A noble house has sent a formal complaint to the Crown, and His Majesty is asking me to verify the facts in their grievance. He’s offering to mediate directly.”
That sudden kindness does seem rather suspicious.
Kirien passed the documents he’d already read so Artiela could see them, though he didn’t seem particularly keen on doing so.
In the meantime, Bleo rubbed his sleepy eyes while sipping the strong coffee Bailey had brought down.
“Your Grace was only demanding an apology, but they’re pushing for monetary compensation.”
“Why would they demand that from him?”
“They claim grave emotional distress, and that his daughters were injured in the incident.”
“Hm…….”
A sigh escaped Kirien’s lips.
“Once His Majesty made it known that the accidents around you might stem from dormant Aura, they became even more eager to sink their teeth in.”
Now it was clear.
Reading the document made it clearer still.
『Testimony 1. The Duke threatened to kill them if they came again. At the same time, a statue beside him collapsed and buried the young lady Galio. The unconscious young lady regained consciousness at the gates of the Duke’s Estate.
Though she sustained no serious injuries, emotional trauma has prevented her from leaving the house.
Medical bills and consolation money: 50 million Gold.
Testimony 2. When caught following the Duke, he cursed her with abusive language, telling her to expect only misfortune. The grief-stricken young Lady Hadel was about to depart in her carriage when the ground gave way and the carriage plunged into a canal.
Carriage repair costs – 5 million Gold.
Medical bills and consolation money – 30 million Gold.
Land compensation in lieu is also acceptable.
Testimony 3. Assassination threats……(omitted)…….
Medical bills and consolation money – 100 million Gold.
Testimony 4. Kidnapping threats……(omitted)…….
No compensation necessary; marriage proposal is requested for the sake of our daughter’s honor.』
A hollow laugh escaped Artiela’s lips. Every single compensation claim was outrageous.
More than that—they had no shame. Were they trying to profit by selling off their daughters?
Besides, she was beginning to understand what the Duke had supposedly said.
“This—isn’t that what you said to me too?”
Kirien couldn’t bring himself to answer, glancing instead at Bleo’s expression.
“Why? What did he say?”
“Just… a warning? He told me to be careful because getting close would be dangerous. But why distort it like this?”
“Hmm…….”
“And doesn’t this feel like they colluded with each other?”
“It’s possible. When multiple people give similar testimonies, credibility naturally increases. There probably isn’t any other evidence.”
Bleo spoke in an exhausted voice.
But Artiela laughed softly.
“What do you mean there’s no evidence? Do you know what happens to the soul when people speak lies like the ones written here, brother?”
“What happens to it?”
“Well, boils or thorns sprout on the tongue? It means they suffer pain every time their mouth closes. And liars—their mouths split wide open.”
At Kirien’s side stood the master of the Holy Sword. How could they dare?
Artiela raised the Bardo she always carried with her.
“But can you use that privately like this? Wasn’t it only supposed to be used against those wicked enough to face judgment?”
Yes, that’s what they’d agreed.
Because witnessing the ugly souls of ordinary humans was too heavy, too painful to bear.
But now things were different.
To protect what was precious, she could endure that much inconvenience. It was better than watching her own person slandered and suffering.
“Well, I’m just going to use it freely now.”
Artiela answered with a threatening air, twirling a butter knife as she devoted herself to making sandwiches again.
* * *
The Training Grounds bathed in the warm sunlight of spring.
Bleo was dragged away by Yusiel, who still hadn’t fully uncovered the nature of Black Magic. So today’s training was for Kirien alone.
“I’m not sure watching will help, but please observe carefully.”
Artiela drew out the Bardo before Kirien and infused it with her Aura.
“The Aura obeys the wielder’s will more faithfully than anything else.”
The pale green Aura wrapped around the blade like a whirlwind, then spread evenly once more.
“And like this!”
As she lightly brushed her arm, the Aura formed into a blade-shape and flew directly toward the dummies. The necks of the lined-up wooden dummies were severed in sequence, falling to the ground.
“Wow, truly worthy of the Captain.”
Exclamations burst from the Holy Knights watching.
Projecting Aura like that was the pinnacle of mastery. It was a goal they aspired toward.
“Your Grace’s aim for now is to control the Aura he already possesses, so it’s enough just to channel it in and out.”
Even that would prevent it from running wild regardless of will.
“A wooden sword isn’t ideally suited to holding Aura, though…….”
Generally it couldn’t withstand it and would shatter. Artiela would infuse it so delicately the wood wouldn’t break, but…….
“If practice swords also absorbed Aura, they’d become dangerous weapons…….”
That was the greater risk after all.
“Shall we practice transferring Aura with this?”
“Yes, understood.”
Kirien gripped the wooden sword in both hands. Thanks to the Holy Knights’ collective effort, his stance was already quite good even in this short time.
How to put it—he absorbs what he learns as he learns it?
He might truly possess an innate talent.
‘I heard the previous Duke had no talent for swordwork whatsoever.’
Then—could this talent come from his mother’s line?
Since the Aura protecting him was more sincere about that than anything else…….
Artiela watched his pure white Aura, which behaved more like Mana than Aura itself.
“Slowly. Concentrate.”
The Aura that had been moving erratically steadied the moment Artiela’s voice reached it, beginning to flow calmly toward the wooden sword.
And then.
“Ahhh…….”
An exclamation escaped from Artiela’s lips.

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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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