The Villain Who Will Kill Me Is Too Handsome, It's Troublesome - Chapter 46

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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 46.
“……Well, Yusiel won’t provide financial support, you see.”
Artiela whispered softly into Kirien’s ear.
“We’ll need quite a bit of money for expenses ahead…….”
She rambled on with an explanation no one had asked for, clearly aggrieved about something.
He was the one who’d tracked her down whenever she left his sight, the one who’d shaken her heart with those relentless face attacks—and yet here he was, acting like none of it mattered.
“You needn’t worry about money.”
Kirien strode into the lobby, briskly instructing the inn staff to prepare two deluxe rooms, and paid for them without hesitation.
Ah, that’s right. This man was Duke Rufel.
The master of the Empire’s wealthiest territory.
“I have to admit, I’m a little envious.”
Artiela followed after him with a grumble.
But then—why did the inn seem so empty?
‘Why did they say it was fully booked?’
Perhaps the reserved guests hadn’t arrived yet. Artiela tilted her head curiously as she followed the staff member upstairs to the third floor.
“The gentleman will use this room, and the young lady will use this one.”
The form of address rubbed her the wrong way, but Artiela opened the door without further comment.
“Come down in a bit and we’ll have lunch together.”
“Yes, understood.”
Once Artiela confirmed that Kirien had entered the adjoining room, she simply shrugged off her robe and flopped onto the bed.
“Ugh, exhausting.”
Still lying down, she channeled Aura into her right hand and tried to grip the Bardo.
“Hmm, still nothing.”
Every time Holy Power filled her, she poured it into the curse lodged in her right hand, but it was like pouring water into a bottomless well.
“It’s just draining my Holy Power away.”
She couldn’t afford to squander her already meager reserves on this. Artiela quickly sat up and surveyed the room.
So this was supposed to be a deluxe suite, yet it seemed smaller than the rooms in the Count’s Residence.
“What a ripoff.”
She had no idea how they were charging ten gold for this. And apparently meals were extra.
At least the balcony—which the deluxe rooms on the third floor apparently all had—faced the lakeside behind the inn, so the view might justify the cost.
Artiela opened the balcony door and stepped outside.
“Huh? Kirien?”
Wait, what? Why was he hurrying back inside?
Unless she was mistaken, he’d been avoiding her. Ever since he’d dismounted from his horse, he hadn’t walked beside her at all—in fact, he’d kept his back to her the entire time.
He’d led the way upstairs to the guest rooms, hadn’t he?
Wasn’t he supposed to be the one following her around earlier? Didn’t we agree this morning to get closer, to call each other by name?
Artiela fixed a hard stare at his adjoining balcony.
“What’s going on? What’s he hiding?”
She felt a powerful urge to heighten her Sensing with Aura.
But she wasn’t here investigating a criminal—she couldn’t eavesdrop on someone’s private moments.
Besides, he probably wouldn’t mutter to himself in his room anyway.
“No, wait—maybe it’s just nerves from this being his first trip, from seeing unfamiliar places and unfamiliar people.”
Wasn’t this a crisis situation? If he lost control of his Aura from anxiety and caused an accident, that would be a problem…….
“No, stop making excuses.”
Artiela gave both her cheeks a light tap and turned to admire the view instead. So how was it that such a large inn was already fully booked at lunchtime?
“Wait, is it really actually fully booked?”
No matter how she looked at it, there were barely any guests in the inn. If they weren’t accepting visitors because reserved guests were coming, shouldn’t the staff be preparing to receive them?
Shouldn’t the employees be rushing about, cleaning the rooms……?
‘It’s just like the Duke’s Residence.’
How could such a large inn operate this way?
Artiela’s eyes sharpened with suspicion.
* * *
“Why is your hand like that?”
After the noble assembly concluded, Bleo drew Peter aside for a private word.
“I was pricked by a quill pen.”
“How did that happen?”
“It seems I’ve become your dear friend again, judging by how you worry.”
“Ahem.”
Bleo cleared his throat and offered up the meeting minutes he’d written that day.
“Since Duke Rufel’s proxy is here, there’s no need for you to go through all this trouble.”
“It’s a habit.”
“Well, at least what you’ve written is easy to read.”
Peter took the documents and turned the first page. The way he examined them slowly seemed both leisurely and utterly bored.
Today’s council meeting had been much the same.
He’d declared he would choose an Empress, summoned the aristocratic assembly in all that fuss, and then sat listening without so much as a word of approval or disapproval to the candidates the nobles proposed.
As a result, all manner of vulgar outcries had passed between the aristocrats.
Peter showed no sign of stopping it. His eyes held the look of one who hoped the quarrel would grow fiercer—the face of a man indifferent if the original deadline came and went as things stood.
“Are you truly going to issue the Marriage Ban?”
“It’s at most ten days, isn’t it? My future consort can’t go running off with someone else if they’ve caught each other’s eye, can she?”
So His Majesty intends to punish lovers spending a single night together for Treason?
Bleo cursed his friend inwardly.
If he were not the Emperor, Bleo would have severed their friendship long ago.
“If my sister refuses, you mean to take me and my father as hostages?”
“…Your sister belongs to Edelion—what are you worried about?”
“You haven’t truly sold your soul to that Source of Evil, have you?”
Peter’s bandaged hand flinched.
“I’m not that far gone yet.”
“I hope to Heaven that’s true.”
Bleo scattered Holy Leaves throughout Peter’s office. He was careful to check the surrounding area at intervals with stones he’d received from Yusiel—the same function that Kirien carried.
Though Yusiel had said they might not react properly to Corrupted Holy Power.
“I sense nothing unusual.”
“I told you—I’m not that far gone. If I were, my reason would have already abandoned me.”
“That’s what Yusiel said. The Source of Evil stirs human desire with cunning words. Even those with strong will are deceived by it.”
Only then did Bleo’s mind ease somewhat, and he tucked the Edelion stone into his breast.
“When will you go to Edelion? Yusiel is worried.”
“Once the pressing matters here are settled, I’ll depart at once.”
Peter closed the meeting record and handed Bleo another document.
“More importantly, Black Mages attacked my cursed cousin’s residence.”
“What? The Grand Duke Uphailer’s house—the one who’s dead?”
“Yes. They seem to have stolen something, but nobody knows what.”
Wasn’t it the Source of Evil who killed Grand Duke Uphailer? And the Black Mages follow the Source of Evil, revering it like a god.
Information that should be told to his sister?
“Shouldn’t this be reported to Artiela?”
Peter seemed to share the thought. And he must already know—that Artiela had left with Kirien.
Was this a trap, then? Or bait?
In any case, the Emperor before him was no longer the friend he once knew. Whether by choice or circumstance, it was heartbreaking.
“I’ll consult with Yusiel. Oh, and never discard the Holy Leaves—they carry a purifying essence.”
Bleo whispered a prayer.
That his old friend might yet find his way back to himself.
* * *
“Kirien, let’s go eat.”
Artiela knocked on the adjacent door. Kirien emerged as if he’d been waiting.
Perhaps it was because Bailey wasn’t there—Kirien, usually so neat, was slightly disheveled. His cheeks held a faint flush.
Yet he seemed more at ease. Walking had seemed difficult before, but now he didn’t avoid it.
“Mm.”
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“No reason. Are you feeling alright?”
“Hmm?”
The Inn seemed suspicious, so I heightened my Sensing, and I thought I heard you in pain.”
“Cough, cough.”
“Did you catch a cold?”
“Ah, no, nothing like that.”
Kirien couldn’t look Artiela in the eye. He averted his gaze downward instead, then suddenly narrowed his eyes.
“You’re right, there is something odd about this Inn.”
“You noticed?”
“Yes. It feels rather… like my home.”
The impressions were the same.
“Exactly. We’ve found good fortune from the very first day of travel.”
Doing good deeds yields Holy Power.
For someone who needed to cultivate Holy Power, it was an invaluable opportunity.

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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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