The Villain Who Will Kill Me Is Too Handsome, It's Troublesome - Chapter 58
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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 58.
Kirien and Artiela went straight to the Saint’s office.
There, a noblewoman with pale brown hair and sparkling golden eyes sat beside Blео.
Being the twin sister of Peter, just one year his senior, she bore a striking resemblance to him.
“Your Highness the First Princess, we are honored to receive you.”
Artiela and Kirien bowed in unison, observing the formal protocols of the Holy Knight Order.
“Welcome, Duke of Rupel.”
Did she already know Kirien?
Watching her greet him warmly with her eyes, Artiela felt something stir.
‘Ah, so that’s what this is.’
Jealousy.
The simple fact that another woman existed who could look at Kirien like that—it gnawed at her. Though her irritation faded quickly when she realized Kirien showed no interest in the princess whatsoever.
Now she understood Kirien’s heart perfectly.
‘I’ll need to be careful from now on.’
As Artiela steeled herself, the princess kept her gaze fixed upon her.
“This is my sister and the Knight Commander of the Holy Knight Order here in Edelion, Knight Artiela Soltis, Your Highness,” Blео said, making the introduction as though they were meeting for the first time.
Though in truth, there was no need.
The two had already greeted each other in childhood—in Artiela’s memory, at those tedious social gatherings of young noble ladies.
They had never been particularly close.
While Artiela preferred activity and vigor, the princess favored sentiment and composure; they had clashed from the start.
Not that she had been openly cruel.
When other noble children whispered that Artiela, standing out so distinctly from the Soltis household with her different nature and temperament, must surely be a bastard, the princess had been the one to quiet them—a gracious soul.
Though she appeared to have forgotten it entirely.
“Ah, was the commander of the Holy Knight Order His Majesty’s first love?”
“Well… I’m not certain, Your Highness.”
Artiela tried halfheartedly to deny it, but already the princess’s hands had seized her own.
“Please, save our emperor for me, Knight Artiela.”
Clear tears spilled from her golden eyes. Artiela, caught off guard, glanced toward Blео.
“Alas, His Majesty fell from the 3rd Floor Balcony today,” Blео said heavily.
“How on earth did that happen?” Artiela asked in alarm.
As she turned to look at Blео, he exchanged a glance with Kirien.
“It’s like what your Grace experienced, you see. Just as he brings misfortune wherever he goes, things keep breaking around him, and then there are the injuries. Sir Persell suspects self-harm, but His Majesty insists it was purely accident or coincidence.”
“It must be self-harm.”
The princess drew out a handkerchief and wiped her tears as she spoke.
“The Wound of Unrequited Love cut too deeply. He attempted to console himself by choosing an empress from among other women, but ultimately he could not forget the commander of the Holy Knight Order, and so…”
“I must ask that you refrain from such guilt-inducing remarks, Your Highness,” Ysiel said, unable to hold her tongue.
“I’m sorry, Saint. Sniff. To me, His Majesty is my only blood kin…”
There was a half-sister, though only one.
“My brother is so precious to me. I was worried enough to come here myself, so I do hope you all might understand my heart.”
“Since when,” Blео muttered.
“Since exactly when,” Kirien added quietly.
“Suddenly, Your Highness?” Ysiel asked.
When the three simultaneously spoke their true feelings, the princess suddenly cleared her throat.
“Ahem. To be frank, if His Majesty falls apart, the empire faces chaos, does it not? The bloodshed that occurred when he was crown prince is bound to return—that much is certain.”
That was true enough. He had no adult heir. Moreover, should chaos and slaughter emerge, the Source of Evil would be waiting eagerly in the wings.
Yet the princess before them stood as the current first in line to the throne.
“I have no interest in the throne. I have no desire to die caught up in political intrigue. I wanted only to marry some decent man from a respectable family, enjoy the privileges of imperial blood, and live out my days in peace—but of all things, my one and only brother must be difficult…”
Do people truly change?
The princess in Artiela’s memory bore no resemblance to this woman. Perhaps the Imperial Palace and society were simply not places where one could remain unchanged. That was why people transformed so completely.
“In any case, His Majesty’s Illness of the Heart is largely your responsibility as commander of the Holy Knight Order, so shouldn’t you bear some responsibility? Surely a just person wouldn’t turn away from the empire’s peace?”
Blео stood helplessly beside her, unable to stop her, looking more exhausted than when dealing with Peter.
Yet the princess’s words held a certain truth.
“I understand Your Highness’s concerns. However, His Majesty is currently avoiding our aid with great determination.”
At Ysiel’s explanation, the princess’s brow narrowed. Her golden eyes, reminiscent of a chick’s gaze, grew distant and grave. Of course—the root cause lay with her.
“Then, what if you entered the palace under my pretext?”
“But His Majesty would flee if he learned of it.”
“If you invite temple folk, certainly he would.”
The princess turned to look at Kirien.
“So I hear the Commander of the Holy Knight Order is serving as the Rupel Duke’s escort?”
Kirien, suddenly singled out, wore an awkward expression.
He might genuinely not want to help. The Imperial Palace could be tedious. Or was it that the princess looked tired of it all?
“So I’ll tell the Rupel Duke that I requested a tea time with him. And if I pretend to ask him about a marriage proposal, wouldn’t that be convincing even to His Majesty?”
The princess smiled with aristocratic grace, as if she’d never wept at all.
Watching her, Artiela suddenly remembered something she’d overheard while gathering information.
“Even the other princesses have given up. Will you succeed where they failed?”
Artiela fidgeted with the Goddess’s Blessing.
Wouldn’t it actually be better for world peace to wrap Kirien up tight and keep him away?
But she quickly gathered herself. What could she do? The princess hadn’t managed it, but she had.
She had the strange impression that Bardo laughed—or perhaps chimed softly.
* * *
Just past noon, Kirien had dressed in the formal wear Bailey had hastily brought for him. Watching him emerge with a series of sighs, Artiela narrowed her eyes.
“Hmm, for someone who didn’t want to go, you’ve certainly dressed beautifully.”
His hair was neatly arranged, and his cravat was tied with elegant care.
“Bailey thought you and Artiela were going on a date.”
Our head maid. She was mistaken.
Artiela wore a new Knight’s uniform—the dignified standard-issue uniform of the Rupel Duke House, beige with black accents.
Ysiel had also changed into a comfortable traveling dress in blue rather than her usual white. It was Blео who escorted her.
“So what exactly is His Majesty’s condition?”
When Artiela asked Blео, he sighed heavily first.
“Fortunately, he caught on a tree below the balcony, so it wasn’t a wound grave enough to be fatal…….”
“Wasn’t?”
“I’m not sure. There’s no external injury visible, but he wouldn’t regain consciousness.”
It happened to be right after Persell had been instructed to deliver that gift to Artiela. If Persell had been there, he wouldn’t have been hurt.
“Have you confirmed anything, brother?”
Ysiel had been refused entry to the Imperial Palace for various reasons, so she’d been gathering protective measures for the Emperor.
If the Source of Evil had changed its target, that would be troublesome in its own right.
“Everything was fine! See, I even held it in the unconscious Emperor’s hand to check—”
Blео reached into the document bag he carried for work.
“There’s no problem, nothing changed…… wait?”
This time Blео buried his face in the bag. After rummaging for a while, he flipped it over and spilled its contents onto the ground.
“It’s gone.”
“What? But that precious thing…….”
Artiela jumped to her feet. Already sensitive about the unauthorized removal of Sacred Relics, losing one was the last thing they needed.
“Is it still with His Majesty?”
Blео glanced at Ysiel’s expression.
If a relative of the Saintess lost something used for the sake of the imperial court, that would be problematic, wouldn’t it?
“It’s fine, there are plenty of similar ones.”
But Ysiel didn’t seem concerned.
After all, Kirien already had one on his chest. And besides, they’d recovered the Mirror of Truth.
“More importantly, Artiela, how is your right hand?”
At Ysiel’s question, Artiela confidently produced the Mirror of Truth. Showing it directly would put her mind at ease.
“Still the same as before…… or not?”
Why was it suddenly growing again?
Where did the magic she’d cast go?
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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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