The Villain Who Will Kill Me Is Too Handsome, It's Troublesome - Chapter 39

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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 39.
Artiella glanced at her right hand. On the surface, it looked perfectly fine. She flexed each finger in turn, and they moved smoothly without a hitch.
But why?
It felt as though she were grasping at empty air. As if Bardo’s existence were nothing but illusion.
‘Have I lost the qualification?’
Was it because she’d been too harsh with Bleo? If that were the problem, she should have lost Bardo long ago.
Yet she’d never committed any wicked act, never compromised with injustice. There was only one thing that pricked her conscience.
Indecent conduct.
“Dating in the Library is forbidden from now on, sister.”
The unfair rebuke echoed in her mind.
Wasn’t she a Holy Knight rather than a priestess? Didn’t that permit her both love and marriage? If she’d done something truly unseemly enough to warrant censure, she wouldn’t feel wronged.
Reading books together in the Library—wasn’t that wholesome social interaction befitting a Holy Knight’s dignity?
“Artiella.”
Pulled from her tangled thoughts, Artiella looked around the room.
Everyone’s eyes were upon her.
Those with deep faith gleamed with anticipation of witnessing divine power. Those caught off guard, unprepared for the Holy Sword’s appearance, trembled visibly.
There was no way the current situation could be revealed, for any reason.
“Is something wrong?”
It was Peter who spoke then, his eyes narrowing slightly.
“No, sir. I simply thought I should explain to the nobles first. They all seem to believe they’re undergoing Divine Judgment and are frightened.”
At Artiella’s observation, several of them coughed awkwardly.
“That’s true. I felt the same way. Permission granted.”
Artiella explained to the nobles in detail what she saw through Bardo, viewing the Spirit World. Their faces darkened to a more pleasing shade.
“Then—you mean you’d be looking into not just this incident, but sins we committed very long ago?”
It was a voice heard from near the door.
Had she insulted him by implying he’d fled, knowing he’d lose to Kirien? The once-confident nobleman’s face had gone pale as if dusted with flour.
“Yes, you understand correctly. The soul faithfully reflects the life a person has lived and shifts through various forms accordingly.”
“But—is there anyone alive who’s never told a single lie, even in childhood? Surely that could make the testimony you just heard false…….”
“There is one here, actually.”
Artiella gestured with both hands toward Kirien.
“The Duke bears no traces of old lies whatsoever.”
“That—that can’t be.”
The nobles who had been listening quietly clicked their tongues. Some even pointed fingers.
“Does that not mean the Duke’s submitted statement is truthful?”
“Well, the very fact that the Holy Sword’s wielder would involve herself in such a matter…….”
“My daughter told me the young ladies raised such a fuss, yet the Duke simply accepted their insults. In fact, it was the young ladies’ panic that nearly caused an accident—there was nothing at all around the Duke.”
“It was a false accusation.”
The public opinion had already reached its conclusion. There was no further need for the Holy Sword.
Of course, the foolish ones, lacking sound judgment, resisted to the very end.
“We didn’t see it ourselves, so how can we know if the testimony is false? They say the Duke and she have that kind of relationship!”
Then the father, who had been sitting quietly until now, rose from his seat and spoke in a chilling voice.
“Are you insulting the Holy Sword’s wielder right now? Don’t you know that doing such a thing makes one unworthy of becoming the Holy Sword’s wielder?”
“That’s not what I meant…….”
The trembling nobleman prostrated himself toward the Emperor.
“Edelion has never interfered in the Empire’s internal affairs! How dare the Temple manipulate disputes between nobles as it pleases!”
Artiella folded her arms across her chest.
She’d intended to settle this quietly with just the Holy Sword today, but if they were going to push this far, it would be difficult.
“Commander! We’ve finished the background check on those who picked a fight with our youngest.”
The Holy Knight Order was, after all, the true members of the Duke Kirien Sunshine Club. She’d meant to let it rest with a simple apology, but if they were going to keep this up, there was no helping it.
“Your Majesty, there’s something we investigated beforehand regarding Grand Duke Ypeiler’s Divine Judgment matter. Would you happen to be interested? It concerns smuggling.”
At Artiella’s polite question, the noble who had been prostrate on the floor crawled and turned his body.
“I—I apologize, Holy Knight Commander.”
“You’ve apologized to the wrong party.”
“I—I also apologize to Duke Kirien. I will provide compensation for damaging his honor!”
At Artiella’s gesture, the remaining people hurriedly apologized to Kirien as well.
But the result was the same.
Artiella smiled as she handed Peter a thick stack of documents. The conference hall fell silent at once.
* * *
The meeting regarding the death of Grand Duke Ypeiler ended quickly.
Kirien’s presence in Edelion at that time was conclusively proven, and there was no evidence of any exchange between them. Rather, more people had heard the Grand Duke speak ill of Kirien out of jealousy and inferiority.
“How unseemly to the very end. Stirring up scandal on your way out—tsk tsk.”
“So Divine Judgment does frighten you. Choosing death rather than face the pressure, it seems. I’ve heard the pain from a Holy Sword’s blade is extraordinary?”
“Hell opens before death takes you.”
“Ah, well—you’ve experienced this yourself?”
“Naturally it’s hearsay. The Holy Sword’s master spoke so freely about it beforehand—honestly, let’s all conduct ourselves properly.”
Once those seeking to profit from the earlier dispute had vanished, the air in the Conference Hall grew merely pleasant.
‘His Majesty won’t press the matter of the Duke any further, I think.’
During a brief recess, Artiella rose from her seat only to find the Emperor’s eyes meeting hers again. It had been the same throughout the entire meeting—as though he’d been watching only her all along.
“Ati.”
Just then, her father moved to block the Emperor’s gaze.
“Oh, yes, Father.”
“Are you heading back now?”
“No, I’ll return with the Duke. I’ll wait outside for him.”
Artiella turned her attention to Kirien. Several nobles had gathered around him.
“The Duke seems at ease now.”
“He was a bit nervous, but I don’t think anything will go wrong.”
Perhaps because the danger that had once dogged his every step had lessened? He was awkwardly but naturally blending in among the crowd.
Watching him, her heart felt oddly peculiar.
He’d followed only her for days now. There was something almost lonely in it.
“By the way, Ati.”
Her father suddenly lowered his voice.
“Is something troubling you?”
“Troubling me? No, nothing like that. Why?”
“Given your nature, you’d usually be brandishing that Holy Sword of yours, threatening first and talking second. But just now you sat quietly—that’s not like you.”
Why does he read her so perfectly?
Artiella ignored the sweat trickling down her spine and laughed brightly.
“Come now, if I acted like that in the Imperial Palace, Ushiel would scold me.”
“True enough. But His Majesty said something before the meeting began that’s been on my mind.”
Her father had been about to say more when an attendant’s announcement stopped him short.
“His Majesty wishes to begin discussion of the final agenda.”
Artiella gave her father a brief embrace, then kissed his cheek.
“I’m fine, so don’t worry.”
Then she sent a meaningful look toward Kirien. Do well until the end, it said. I’ll be waiting outside—rest assured.
His shoulders rose, wanting to follow. But that couldn’t happen. If he was to live an ordinary life going forward, he’d need to grow accustomed to conversations like these.
When Artiella traced an X with her finger, Kirien’s disappointed shoulders fell. Adorable, really.
“Phew.”
The moment the door shut behind her, Artiella exhaled sharply.
The sigh had been so loud that the knights guarding the Conference Hall and the attendants moving nearby all turned to stare.
“Ahem.”
She dropped into the chair opposite the Conference Hall’s entrance and moved her right hand experimentally. She tried gripping the hilt, tried gripping the sheath.
‘Still nothing.’
Artiella examined the back of her right hand.
When the source of malice had wounded her palm, what had she done? There’d been no problem when she’d first tried to fasten the sword at her waist.
“Was it not my right hand?”
She held both palms open side by side. To all appearances they were identical, but one could never be certain.
Just then, an attendant who’d been serving tea to the nobles emerged from the Conference Hall. In that moment, Peter’s dry voice drifted through the gap in the doors.
“I have a question for all of you.”
Artiella, about to channel Aura into both hands, snapped her head up. Her eyes met Peter’s, seated in the place of honor at the chamber’s center.
He looked at her and smiled. Cold. Contemptible.
“What becomes of one who refuses the Emperor’s proposal?”
Oh no. Surely it wouldn’t be something so predictable?

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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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