The Villain Who Will Kill Me Is Too Handsome, It's Troublesome - Chapter 60

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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 60.
“I’m sorry—she has no sense of propriety.”
The First Princess pressed her palm to her forehead. It seemed the girl had shown up uninvited.
“My, and here I thought only the Princess would be bold enough to host a tea time while His Majesty lies stricken.”
The First Princess had at least managed to feign familial affection in front of others, but this one made no pretense of hiding the Imperial House’s discord.
“Don’t tell me you’re using Father’s collapse as cover to gather supporters and seize the throne, sister?”
“That sounds more like something your mother would do.”
Sparks flew between the two half-sisters.
Artiela recalled the Imperial genealogy she’d glimpsed long ago.
The Second Princess was the firstborn daughter of the second Empress. A year younger than Artiela, she had fallen out of favor after her mother bore a prince, yet survived through charm and political acumen.
But she and the First Princess were all but enemies.
Was it because the Second Princess got on well enough with Peter that the First Princess despised her all the more?
“If you value your life, you’ll withdraw quietly. And if your meddling prevents His Majesty from recovering, I’ll have your head the moment I take the throne.”
Brutal.
The Imperial Palace truly was no place to linger.
Artiela resolved to rescue Peter as quickly as possible and never set foot in the palace again, and extended her hand to Kirien.
“It’s all right, Kirien Rufel, Duke.”
When she’d meant to address him by his given name alone, Artiela found herself using his full title instead—aware of the lethal gaze she felt at her back.
“Your guardian certainly has an odd way of addressing her lord.”
At that moment, the Second Princess interjected without any sense of timing. Perhaps because they hadn’t interacted, she didn’t immediately recognize Artiela.
The moment Kirien noticed the Second Princess again, his breath caught.
“My, you’re still glowing, aren’t you? Duke, have you reconsidered becoming mine?”
Everyone in the carriage turned to ice.
Artiela’s jaw clenched tight.
Jealousy. Envy. Rage. She had to cast away all such base emotions.
I am a Saint. A Holy Sword wielder cannot indulge the Source of Evil over something so trivial.
“But you said there wouldn’t be any more accidents, right? So there’s no reason to push me away—is there?”
“Second Princess, how dare you be so rude to my guest!”
The First Princess’s voice cracked like thunder. But the Second Princess showed no sign of backing down.
“Why not? There’s plenty of room. I should stay too. But why is this carriage so large? Are there more guests besides the Duke?”
The Second Princess was about to squeeze her way in. If not Artiela, then Ushiel’s presence could not afford to be discovered.
Not before seeing the Emperor.
“By the way, Duke, do you have a woman serving as your guard knight? I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere…….”
Unable to contain herself any longer, Artiela sharpened her eyes and jabbed Bleo sharply in the ribs.
‘Go!’
“Oof.”
At her signal, Bleo moved with swift precision.
“Ah, Second Princess, it’s been far too long.”
“Goodness, you were here too? What sort of combination is this?”
The Second Princess tilted her head, glancing back at Kirien once more.
“The Empire’s finest assembly of handsome men, I’d say.”
“Well, the palace does seem to shine brighter now.”
“Wouldn’t you care to take a stroll with me? Surely you’d enjoy my company more than letting the First Princess monopolize two such gentlemen.”
“Well, it’s not disagreeable, but I was rather inclined toward…….”
But the Second Princess was already being swept along by Bleo. The young princess had fallen completely under the spell of his silver tongue.
Sigh.
Artiela slumped against the carriage for a moment.
“I’ve created an awkward situation.”
“Not at all. We should move quickly before the Second Princess returns.”
Artiela escorted Kirien and Ushiel in turn, helping them down from the carriage.
“Must all three of us go together?”
As they confirmed the path toward the Main Palace, the First Princess barred their way.
“The Second Princess will probably come back soon. If the Duke isn’t here when she does, after opening tea time, won’t that raise suspicion?”
Artiela’s brow furrowed.
She couldn’t leave Kirien alone, yet sending Ushiel to the Emperor unaccompanied was equally risky.
Though she’d been in discreet contact with Percell……
If they were mistaken for assassins, it would be catastrophic.
“I will remain here. Please go quickly.”
At that moment, Kirien answered first.
“That would be more efficient. From here I can see the Main Palace, and if anything happens, I’ll rush in as I’ve been trained.”
Wrapping Aura around one’s legs.
“And as for meeting His Majesty, I think it’s better I refrain—the danger would be too great.”
Kirien understood his own heart well.
Separate from his certainty about Artiela, he knew the Emperor’s heart too well to purge the hostility he bore toward him.
That was because he had learned what love meant.
The desire to possess, jealousy, inferiority toward the person at one’s side—in the moment those emotions exploded, what had been beautiful became ugly.
He was still an unstable man, not yet master of such things entirely.
But when it came to Artiela’s heart, he had certainty.
Even without him, she would not waver before the Emperor—that belief gave him the strength to let her go alone.
It was better this way for the safety of the one he loved.
“All right then, let’s do it that way.”
Everyone agreed.
Before they set out according to plan, Artiela fussed over Kirien, making sure he had everything.
She gave him Goddess’s Breath and entrusted him with the Mirror of Truth.
“If you sense anything suspicious or feel something off, use this to illuminate every corner. Understand?”
“Yes.”
“You know how to use this, right?”
“Of course.”
Whether they’d manage to leave at this rate, he couldn’t say—but soon Bleo’s voice drifted over from nearby.
“If we don’t return within an hour, Kirien, you go straight back to the Temple with Bleo. Understood?”
The Temple seemed to be the safest place for Kirien, after all.
“Yes, I’ll do that.”
When all preparations were complete, Artiela turned back to Ushiel.
“I’m going to run incredibly fast, so I’ll just carry you.”
“Fine, let’s go.”
The sisters, their trust in each other unshakeable, vanished before Kirien’s eyes.
A long breath escaped him.
He’d spoken with confidence, but separation anxiety didn’t fade so easily.
He knew they would return, so he could wait—yet even so, he already missed them, and there was nothing to be done about that.
“You seem quite fond of the Holy Sword wielder, Duke.”
It was then that the First Princess spoke from beside him.
“That’s how it’s become.”
“How disappointing.”
The First Princess cast a look at Kirien—a signal to take a seat and display his manners. Kirien drew out her chair as requested.
Yet somehow, an unease settled over him.
The light in the Princess’s eyes as she regarded him had shifted in some indefinable way.
“But Duke, about the Cravat and the Boutonniere you have—could you lend them to me?”
The First Princess’s eyes gleamed with an unrelenting intensity.
* * *
“Stop looking back and pay attention to the road ahead.”
Cradled in Artiela’s arms, Ushiel lectured her gently.
“No, something feels off.”
“What does?”
“That Princess. She’s going to give Kirien trouble.”
“Which one—the First Princess? Or the Second?”
Artiela fell silent, wrestling with which of the two seemed stranger.
“Both.”
“But I’m the Second Princess.”
“Huh?”
“Her eyes were different from when I saw her before.”
“Were they?”
“Let me see the Second Princess one more time before we go.”
“All right.”
Skirting the eyes of servants, the sisters moved swiftly toward the Emperor’s Main Palace.
“That must be it—the open window.”
Percell had promised to leave a window open.
He’d done so while pleading desperately that they restore his lord to his former self.
“Can you climb it? It’s three stories up.”
Perched on a tree near the fountain in front of the Main Palace, Ushiel eyed the still-greater height with skepticism as she looked at her older sister.
“What do you take me for?”
Artiela glanced around once more before pulling Ushiel toward the empty side and leaping down.
She had been wearing the Stamina Enhancement Holy Item all along.
Which meant she could reach the third floor with minimal effort.
Artiela gathered strength in her legs, stepped across the railings of each floor’s balcony in sequence, and landed safely inside the third floor.
“Success!”
Artiela lifted her head with a grin, amused at the thought of teasing Ushiel, who clung so tightly to her arm.
But Ushiel’s fear wasn’t from the jump.
“Your Highness?”
She had been startled by the sinister presence spreading through the room. Alarmed, Artiela turned her head toward it.
“No, this can’t be….”
Peter’s golden eyes had lost all reason, stained red with corruption.
So he had sold himself.
His very soul to the Source of Evil.

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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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