The Villain Who Will Kill Me Is Too Handsome, It's Troublesome - Chapter 32

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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 32.
“All of a sudden like this?”
Lillian was startled too. Even her husband, who belonged to the Emperor’s innermost circle, hadn’t said anything like that.
“Yes, it seems the decision was just made. They’re saying they’ll hold a Noble Council over ten days to decide.”
The priestess regarded Kirien with distant eyes for a moment. But then she cut the thought off sharply.
After all, she was a member of the Rupfel Duke Sunshine Man Club.
“That’s why everyone’s been rushing here to offer prayers. There’s talk that someone’s already been decided on, but you never know, so…”
“I wish you fortune, priestess.”
Artiella answered with a bright smile. At that, the priestesses who had been tying prayer slips all turned to look at her at once.
“Me too…”
“What about you, knight?”
“Bless us all fairly!”
Would the blessing of someone who wasn’t a saint even work? Yet seeing the desperate gleam in the young ladies’ eyes, Artiella traced the sacred symbol first.
“I pray that one of the young ladies here will surely become the Empress.”
She just had to do it like Yusiel did—casually enough.
For reasons she couldn’t fathom, the priestesses each took her hand. Then they offered greetings to Kirien as well.
“Be happy, Duke.”
“We stand with you, Duke. Win this trial against those shameless nobles, no matter what.”
“We even wrote a petition for you.”
Watching the young ladies like this, Artiella grew even more tense. She knew of Kirien’s efforts, had seen the results, yet this was her first real test in front of so many strangers.
And in front of her mother, no less.
If something went wrong here, she’d definitely be found out. That woman was far too sharp-eyed.
“I…”
Kirien drew a deep breath. The way he’d been rubbing his temples and furrowing his brow since just before showed that tension was washing over him.
“Thank you.”
He managed a strained smile.
He’d improved again. His Aura was still hidden so well.
“Oh my, the Duke answered me!”
“He was speaking to all of us, not just you, wasn’t he? Right, Duke?”
Such fawning was over the top.
The group had no choice but to serve the priestesses until the Temple’s doors closed.
* * *
The Hunting Ground, not far from the Imperial Palace.
“Hyah!”
Peter spurred his horse forward roughly. The guards who followed the Emperor tried hard to keep up, but lost him.
“Your Majesty! This is dangerous!”
“Your Majesty! Please return!”
There were few large animals in the forest. But assassins could be lurking. They hadn’t been able to inspect beforehand because of the sudden visit.
Dark Sorcerers in particular. When the Emperor’s hunt was scheduled, mages would set up barriers in advance, and priests would purify the grounds. With those preparations now omitted, if they appeared, the Emperor’s life could be in grave danger.
“Hmm, I don’t see any.”
“Why is His Majesty acting like that? He seemed in good spirits until this morning.”
“Something must have happened at the Temple?”
“Did she reject him?”
The Emperor’s guards brought their horses to a halt.
Then Percell, who rode ahead of them, turned his horse’s head around.
“Don’t speak carelessly.”
“I—I apologize.”
“I’ll pursue His Majesty. You watch the surroundings and stop any intruders that might appear.”
“Yes, understood.”
The guards dispersed. Percell turned his horse’s head again toward the direction Peter had vanished.
The forest was dark and deep. The light from the Magical Tools hastily set up and scattered thinly was woefully inadequate to pierce the darkness.
“Your Majesty! Where are you?”
He called out in a loud voice several times. Only after wandering for a long while could Percell finally see Peter’s back.
A clearing deep in the forest where the sky opened above.
At the edge of a small pond, Peter stood with his kill in hand. A fox with golden fur and green eyes.
The Emperor’s hand, which gripped the wretched fox by the nape of its neck, trembled violently.
“Your Majesty! Are you all right?”
“…”
“Your Majesty, the night has grown very late.”
As Peter slowly raised his head, Percell flinched.
Were His Majesty’s eyes always that red?
The Emperor’s golden gaze had turned crimson for a moment. Peter couldn’t tell if it was a trick of the shadows, or if the blood from the hunt had simply excited him.
“Your Majesty.”
Percell dismounted hastily and approached him. Up close, Peter’s eyes were perfectly normal.
“There seem to be remnants of Dark Sorcerers about.”
“What? Were you attacked, Sire?”
“This vixen nearly transformed into a Monster.”
“Good heavens, that was a close call! We should return to the palace at once—”
“I’ll need to inform Edelion. We’ll require the Holy Knight Order’s assistance if we’re to suppress the Dark Sorcerers and Monsters.”
Peter’s voice had grown peculiarly hollow, his gaze sharp and cold.
“Yes, understood.”
“Let’s head back.”
“At once, Your Majesty.”
“Oh, and this—have the pelt made into a fur collar. I’ll send it along with the Proposal Letter as a gift. Do it within the day.”
Yes, that matter of the Empress Selection as well.
He’d said he would wait, yet now he was acting so impulsively—
‘Wait, hold on. He’s giving a vixen that nearly became a Monster as a gift to the woman who will be Empress?’
Was that truly all right?
Percell accepted the fox, his expression troubled as he examined its condition.
Behind him, a dark shadow crept across the ground.
* * *
“Youngest, did you hear?”
After seeing her mother off, Artiella returned to the Lodging only to be greeted by Bleo’s fuss.
“Yeah, I heard. Father must have a lot on his plate.”
“Huh? Father? Why?”
“Isn’t it about the Empress Selection? They’re choosing by Noble Council vote in ten days, aren’t they?”
“What?”
Bleo gaped skyward, looking bewildered. But there was no new message hawk.
“Wow, our Emperor… You didn’t say something to him, did you?”
“…”
“You did, you did. My dear friend must be taking the heartbreak quite hard, hmm?”
“Stop it, would you?”
Artiella glanced at Kirien. His expression was anything but bright.
“So what’s the news you heard, brother?”
“You know Mother came and went, don’t you, sister?”
“Yes, I saw her.”
Artiella answered wearily.
“Mother gave the Holy Woman a very considerable gift at her request.”
He was certainly taking his time with the suspense.
As Artiella crossed her arms, Bleo quickly grabbed Kirien’s hand and raised it in triumph.
“We’ll likely be able to leave Edelion soon, my lord.”
“What?”
“We should be able to hold the Priest Order meeting by tomorrow evening.”
“But I heard we had to wait another ten days—”
Kirien’s arm hung briefly before he quietly withdrew his hand and lowered it.
Bleo, however, continued chattering excitedly.
“Mother’s a sorceress, you see. She left us with plenty of Teleportation Scrolls, so I’ve identified the positions of the slower-moving Priests and sent word.”
Artiella’s mouth fell open.
Those were incredibly expensive. And she’d just handed them out freely.
“With a Holy Artifact in hand, there’s little to worry about. Your Aura is nearly complete anyway, is it not?”
That was true. From what she’d seen today, the chances of an accident caused by Aura seemed almost nonexistent going forward.
“I suppose, but—”
Kirien fell into thought for a moment.
It seemed he’d forgotten about the promise the Temple had made to protect him.
“But does Mother know why the entire Priest Order meeting is being held?”
“No, she doesn’t know the details.”
It would remain secret forever. The connection between the Origin of Evil and Kirien.
Mother despised those who struck from behind, after all.
“Well then, how did your date go, sister?”
He should never have let her live. He should have killed her long ago.
Artiella had drawn Bardo. This time, she wouldn’t let him off so easily.
“How would you feel about cutting out that loose tongue of yours so you learn to watch your words?”
“Wait, hold on! I’m an administrator—I earn my living with words.”
“I’ll leave you your arms so you can still fill out forms nicely.”
The moment Artiella turned Bardo around.
“Um…….”
Kirien raised his hand and cut in.
“Would you happen to know the formal procedures for joining the Holy Knight Order?”
“I’m sorry?”
“I’ve heard that members are given rooms in the Holy Knight Order’s Lodging.”
Talented recruits were always welcome, of course…….
But sir, you’re a duke, no less?

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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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