The Villain Who Will Kill Me Is Too Handsome, It's Troublesome - Chapter 51

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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 51
The Letter bore no trace of time’s passage—its pristine condition owed nothing to an old woman’s gratitude alone.
Sealing wax that held the letter bore a pure white Aura embedded within it.
Artiela held even her breath, stifled by the weight of it, waiting for Kirien to reveal the letter’s contents.
Kirien, hesitant at first, slowly placed his hand upon the seal. In that instant, the power of Bertia that had been woven into it transferred directly to her son.
“This feeling….”
Kirien had sensed it too.
“It seems she hoped only her son would read it.”
“Please, come inside the Inn. I shall light the rooms brightly for you.”
The Old Woman led them deeper into the building. On the first floor of the Inn, the Knights who had departed with Frail were taking their evening meal.
“The Duke has arrived!”
“Congratulations on your formal enrollment!”
“Does that mean we can call you Holy Knight Kirien now?”
They greeted him with particular warmth. Learning that he was the son of the Holy Knight they so revered had much to do with it.
It was also gratitude for the comfortable lodging and meals provided during their duties.
“You lot—and not so much as a greeting for your Commander!”
Artiela seized the nearest Holy Knight’s shoulder with considerable force.
“Ah, the most righteous and kindest Commander in all the world—welcome, welcome, ma’am!”
“Comfortable now that I’m away, are you? How about a night training session for old time’s sake?”
“We shall do it if Holy Knight Kirien will join us!”
Those water sprites. Making Kirien smile like that. She’d let it slide.
Artiela shook her head and settled at an empty table in the corner. Kirien naturally claimed the seat beside her.
“I have prepared the finest room with ample light.”
The Old Woman followed at Kirien’s heels with the suggestion, but he shook his head in refusal.
“I shall read it here.”
“Then allow me to bring more candles.”
As the Old Woman moved several more candles to their table, the brightness became ideal for reading.
Kirien soon opened the envelope and withdrew the letter. Within lay a length of cloth—the deep blue mantle bearing the symbol of the Holy Knight Order, torn away.
As Kirien’s eyes moved across the letter’s words, his face cycled through a spectrum of emotion. The corners of his mouth lifted briefly, then fell. The outer edges of his eyes drooped.
Then, as he neared the end, his pupils trembled sharply.
“Are you all right, Kirien?”
When Artiela gently patted the back of his hand, Kirien tilted his head back slightly, then steadied his breathing.
“I am fine now.”
His voice flat and measured.
Kirien slowly lowered his head, then slid the blue cloth toward Artiela.
“May I look?”
“Yes, I believe you should. Since you are the one who has promised to save me, it is only right that we share all circumstances.”
Salvation was too grand a word for what she’d done.
Yet Artiela assented and turned her attention to the blue cloth.
A letter that began with ‘Hello, Kirien’—filled with countless questions from a mother toward a son she had never once set eyes upon.
How tall had he grown?
Whom did he resemble more—her or his father? Had he inherited her gift and mastered the sword, or did he take after his biological father with a sharp sense for earning?
Had he married? If not, surely he should at least have a lover—a small complaint thrown in for good measure.
‘If these questions hold meaning for you, then perhaps you have found small happiness and hope? Then you would have come to find me.’
This passage was likely the question she most wanted to ask.
The son of Bertia seemed aware of it too, whispering so softly that Artiela could barely hear.
“I am far happier than you might imagine.”
When Artiela looked up from the letter to study him, Kirien smiled.
“At least, for now.”
When had someone brought more candles?
Artiela counted the candles to verify their number hadn’t changed, then lowered her gaze as though nothing had happened.
“You mustn’t be happy only now. You must be happy going forward as well.”
“If that were possible….”
Kirien’s voice grew strained.
“Mother seemed to believe she would find happiness simply if I lived.”
Reading on, Artiela understood why.
‘I’m sorry, my son. It must have been hard all this time? I couldn’t even stand by your side, yet I burdened you with such an enormous weight.
Even if you blame me for being an irresponsible mother, I will accept that reproach gladly.
But I do not regret the decision to bind you with the Source of Evil. Had I not made that choice then, I would have lost you. I wanted to save you, even if it meant doing that.
So if you have come seeking the Tears of the Goddess, I cannot tell you. Purging the Curse with them is indeed the easiest way to defeat the evil, but in doing so, you and the Source of Evil will be destroyed together.
So endure just a little longer, my son, the son I saved by giving my own life.
Just a bit more, until he thinks he has won everything. Then, I’m certain, the light of salvation will reach you too.
I believe the day will come when you’ll experience the freshness of spring breeze, the warmth of summer sunlight, the abundance of autumn fields and the rest of winter—all of it with someone precious to you.
I love you, Kirien. I hope you find true happiness.’
The Curse that had been placed upon Kirien before he was even born came from his own mother. Perhaps she had also attached the Source of Evil to him…….
It might have been a tragedy born from the desperate greed of a woman who would sacrifice herself to save her child.
“We must find the Tears of the Goddess quickly.”
At his flat tone, Artiela’s eyes widened and she turned sharply to look at him. Her brows and the outer corners of her eyes shot upward with all her strength.
“Are you insane?”
Her eyes burned with heat.
The moment she pushed away from the table and stood, the Holy Knights set down their forks and turned to look at her in unison.
They all wore expressions of bewilderment.
Among them, Kirien’s eyes were wider than anyone else’s.
“Ati?”
His gaze held no understanding of why she was angry.
The sight of it only kindled fiercer rage within her.
He’d just read his mother’s warning. And now he spoke of seeking the Tears of the Goddess—as if to say he simply wanted to die, sacrificing himself.
“How could you say that right in front of me…….”
“C-Commander?”
To Artiela’s trembling ear came Frail’s voice.
In that moment, reason returned to Artiela. She couldn’t dispute the contents of Bertia’s letter here, in front of everyone.
Artiela spun around and rushed out of the building.
“Ati!”
Kirien followed, but she had already vanished.
* * *
How many hours had passed?
“Sigh, why hasn’t she come back?”
It had been quite some time since Artiela left, yet she still hadn’t returned.
“I wonder if something happened…….”
“Well, shouldn’t we be worried about the villains rather than the Commander?”
She was likely composing herself while dealing with the wicked.
Even with such comfort, Kirien’s expression did not brighten.
“But why did the Commander suddenly grow angry?”
“I think there was a misunderstanding. She thought I meant to sacrifice my own life…….”
“She had good reason to be upset.”
They all nodded in agreement.
Then Kirien lowered his head. The Holy Knights took turns patting his shoulder.
“Doesn’t that just mean the Commander treasures Lord Kirien that much?”
“Take heart.”
“If you smile brightly and explain it was a misunderstanding, it will clear up in no time.”
They soon returned to their own rooms to pray and rest.
But Kirien found he could not easily sleep. He couldn’t wander about alone either. Without Artiela, he felt nothing but unease.
He’d never been left alone for so long before.
After sitting in the same spot for a long while, he suddenly rose to his feet.
Staying still would only breed dark thoughts; it was better to resolve his anxiety himself than to give strength to the Source of Evil.
“My Lord, where are you going?”
The Old Woman, who had been drowsing while watching the lobby, woke and stood.
“I’m sorry it’s late, but could I ask you to prepare warm stew for the Holy Knight Commander when she returns?”
“Of course.”
“Thank you.”
Kirien opened the door and stepped outside.
He had faith that she would be somewhere nearby, even if unseen.
“If I sharpen my Five Senses through Aura, even small sounds become clear.”
She was angry precisely because she cared for him so much.
“Artiela, I’m not trying to find the holy relic quickly in order to die alongside the Source of Evil.”
So he spoke with sincerity.
“I want to heal your arm as soon as possible.”
Could she not hear him? Was the misunderstanding still not fully resolved?
“Only then can I send the Proposal Letter I wrote when we first met without a troubled heart.”
A small stone fell onto his head.

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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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