The Villain Who Will Kill Me Is Too Handsome, It's Troublesome - Chapter 68
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Episode 68.
Just then, Bleo happened to pass in front of the Council Chamber. The moment he spotted his sister, he scurried over to her side.
“Oh? Artiela? Were you waiting here?”
“Shh.”
Artiela clapped her hand over his mouth. This was the most interesting part.
Why? Why?
He kept groaning beneath her palm, desperate to make a sound.
“Curious?”
Bleo nodded eagerly.
“Then should we go in?”
Artiela’s smile turned decidedly wicked.
Sensing something sinister in that expression, Bleo tried to back away, but Artiela simply dragged him forward and positioned him at the chamber door.
Unfortunately, the moment to burst through and eavesdrop had already passed.
“But shouldn’t you be inside the chamber? Why are you wandering around?”
“Acting Duke Rupel is barred from entering the Council Chamber. And on top of that, the Second Princess threw a fit demanding to attend the meeting as well.”
Ah, so she’d fled.
“On what grounds?”
“She said that with His Majesty absent, as a member of the imperial family she has every right to oversee whether the council is conducting itself properly.”
“She hasn’t given up on your father yet, has she?”
“What? No, that’s ridiculous. There’s no way.”
When Artiela smiled meaningfully, Bleo’s pupils trembled. He leaned slightly toward his sister and whispered, “Did you hear what happened in there?”
Yes, exactly. Artiela nodded briskly, then announced to the knight guarding the entrance:
“The Royal Chief Advisor has arrived.”
“Understood.”
The knight called out loudly and pulled the door open.
“Sir Bleo Solthis, Royal Chief Advisor, entering.”
The moment the door swung wide, everyone in the chamber froze and stared toward the entrance.
There were some who’d been gesturing rudely to mock their father, and the youngest who’d been bristling at her older sister.
Not a shred of the dignity or propriety expected in a noble council chamber existed in that room.
“My apologies for the lateness, ahem.”
“Excuse me. I’ve come as well.”
The moment Artiela popped out from behind Bleo and gave a cheerful wave, every hand that had been pointed dismissively at House Solthis instantly vanished.
“My name was mentioned, so I thought I’d see what was being discussed. And I’ve brought one of the parties involved.”
Artiela pulled Bleo forward.
Bleo looked utterly bewildered.
“Me?”
For the benefit of her brother, still struggling to grasp the situation, Artiela helpfully summarized what she’d overheard.
“So, for the sake of imperial stability, who among you proposed that I—a knight of Edelion—become Empress? Would someone be kind enough to raise their hand?”
Naturally, no one moved.
They had dreams of leveraging imperial authority to pressure Edelion, but apparently lacked the spine to own it directly.
The devout believers present took it upon themselves to identify the culprit with meaningful glances.
“Then, is it perhaps someone who wished to strengthen Edelion’s protection by uniting the imperial household with the Saint’s family?”
The First Princess quietly raised her hand.
“I did. I know that the Saint and the Holy Knight Order Captain cherish their family above all else. I thought it would be good for the imperial house to become family with them—it would be beneficial for His Majesty in his current condition as well.”
“And what of you, Duke Solthis?”
Artiela turned to her father.
“I have always said that I would not forbid my children’s marriages if that is what they wish, Holy Knight Order Captain. I will not force a political marriage undertaken for means and purposes.”
Truly, Father.
“Then, Count Solthis, how do you feel about this?”
“I would be willing to—ugh.”
Artiela firmly stomped on the oblivious young man’s foot.
How did he inherit none of his mother’s and father’s romantic sensibility?
Then again, that’s precisely why even the youngest manages romance while this handsome fool remains alone.
“If Her Highness truly harbored affection for me when she said such things, then I too would consider courting her in earnest!”
What was meant to be a whisper came out as a shout.
“I have admired her for over five years.”
Oh, so it ran that deep?
“Truly? Is that so?”
Even Bleo seemed surprised by his own declaration. It appeared he had not resigned himself to a loveless marriage for the sake of the family’s restoration.
Your ears are bright red.
‘I’ve found something to tease her about for ages.’
“You’ve all heard, then? So the marriage alliance between the Imperial House and House Solthis will be between myself and Bleo Solthis. And Commander of the Holy Knight Order.”
“Yes, Your Highness. I am the master of the Holy Sword. Even if we are not family, I will protect both the Imperial House and Your Majesty for the peace and security of this land.”
“Thank you. Then, once the proposal arrives from House Solthis, we shall proceed with the formalities, and let us conclude matters here for today.”
The First Princess smiled with satisfaction. But the Second Princess sitting beside her suddenly shot to her feet.
“No, I cannot consent to this.”
The Second Princess frowned, looking toward several of the nobles.
“His Majesty the Emperor has come to this state because the Holy Knight Commander refused his affections. And because of that, my brother, who was always wise and virtuous, has become this… this wreck.”
Her trembling looked genuinely furious.
“Do you think His Majesty will consent to this marriage when he awakens?”
“That is… precisely right. I believe the Marriage Prohibition Edict and Imperial Consort Selection that His Majesty issued must be settled after he awakens. His Majesty’s wishes were unmistakably to take the Holy Knight Commander as Empress.”
Artiela recalled Bleo’s complaints on his way home from work.
He wished that either Peter would die or wake up—whichever came faster.
No matter how hard the First Princess tried, nothing progressed. Those whose appetites were not satisfied by her actions blocked her with talk of authority or the Emperor’s will.
‘Did they all commune with the Source of Evil?’
She had instructed them to formulate countermeasures against the chaos the Source of Evil would cause, yet all they did was sow discord.
It was certain that those who saw no path to send their own daughters to the throne, now wanting to take a more manageable princess as a daughter-in-law and rule the empire, had inserted themselves into this game.
Either believing the Emperor would never wake, or knowing that even if he did, he would be unable to function.
Artiela bit back the harsh words she wanted to spit out when she caught sight of her father’s face.
“How about we have everyone who speaks verified by the Holy Sword? If they lie, their tongues will be severed, but their lives should remain intact.”
She had phrased it quite diplomatically.
* * *
After the observation of the chaotic noble council came to an end, Artiela quickly caught up with the Second Princess, who was heading directly to the Princess Palace.
“Your Highness, the Second Princess.”
But the Second Princess walked on without turning to look at Artiela.
“You must return the Holy Relic from the Holy Temple.”
“Why should I? If you brought the Source of Evil upon the Imperial House, shouldn’t you bear that responsibility?”
“But the Holy Relic cannot be used by anyone outside Edelion without proper procedure.”
“But Duke Rupel used it, didn’t he?”
“That is because he is a member of the Holy Knight Order.”
She did not mention that he was a sacrifice the Source of Evil coveted.
Seeing the nobles and the Second Princess today, she had no sense of what they might do the moment they learned this truth.
“A man like a duke, serving as a Holy Knight?”
“Yes. Is that a problem?”
“I really don’t understand it. His Majesty, the Duke—what’s so good about someone like you that everyone’s making such a fuss? A crude, barbaric woman who just swings a sword and resorts to threats.”
Artiela’s eyebrows rose.
“Fine. Then I shall search as crudely as needed to find the Holy Relic.”
Artiela seized the Second Princess’s wrist.
The maidservant had said she wasn’t carrying it, but the way she was making excuses about the Source of Evil made it clear she was lying.
“You haven’t done anything strange to the Holy Relic, have you? If something’s happened to it, even a princess must answer for it properly.”
The princess, who had been resisting, flinched visibly at Artiela’s warning.
Certainly, she had done something.
“Let go, let go of this! Where is everyone? Subdue this woman who defames the royal family!”
The princess called out desperately for the knights.
But none of those following at a distance came forward for the Second Princess. To them, Artiela was their benefactor.
“Nothing?”
Artiela quickly searched the Second Princess’s dress, but found nothing. This was unexpected.
“Where did you leave it?”
The princess rubbed her wrist, which had been held by Artiela, with a bitter expression.
“Shall we check with the Holy Sword?”
The moment Artiela gripped Bardo, the princess began to tremble convulsively.
“Ah, I’ll tell you!”
At this point, Artiela was curious.
What state was the Second Princess’s soul in, exactly?
“It wasn’t pretty enough, so I commissioned a new engraving. It’s supposed to arrive today.”
Mad. No matter how thoughtless she was, this crossed the line.
Artiela unknowingly infused her Aura into her blade, and thanks to that, she caught sight of something she almost missed.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————