The Villain Who Will Kill Me Is Too Handsome, It's Troublesome - Chapter 72

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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 72.
“Commander of the Holy Knight Order, what’s happening now?”
The 1st Princess, feigning composure, felt her pupils tremble with unease. The Imperial Knights tensed, their eyes scanning the surroundings.
The Holy Knight Order and Priests were no different. They immediately began tracing holy symbols and whispering prayers, instinctively bracing for calamity.
The remaining nobles fell into chaos. Those who remembered what had occurred at the nobles’ council rushed toward the entrance, eager to leave first. Outside remained peaceful, so they peered in, wondering what crisis lurked within.
This needed to be contained quickly.
“Well, I… couldn’t say?”
But Artiela was equally bewildered. Apart from Kirien’s boutonniere changing, she detected no signs of anything amiss anywhere.
In a situation like this, there was only one place trouble could originate.
But if she verified it here by wreathing her blade in Aura, the chaos would only worsen. Already, people crowded the narrow entrance so densely that an accident was imminent.
“Duke, are you alright?”
Ushiel, having reached the same conclusion, asked quietly, her tension undiminished.
Fortunately, Kirien remained composed.
He did not succumb to panic as he once had. Whether that stemmed from the experience he’d accumulated, or from his trust in Artiela and her sister, he could not say.
“I don’t believe anything is wrong with me.”
He withdrew the Mirror of Truth from his breast. His fingertips trembled slightly—not entirely free of tension. His breathing seemed somewhat labored.
Yet soon his breathing steadied, regaining its composure.
He spoke quietly, for the ears of only those nearby.
“No headache has come, and besides…”
Having confirmed his own reflection in the mirror, he handed it to Ushiel and Artiela.
“The mirror shows nothing amiss. So the problem must lie elsewhere, not with me.”
Next came the boutonniere. Wisely, he used the mirror to examine the sacred object’s condition. Then he displayed it to all present.
“This is…”
“Ah…”
A sharp sigh erupted from both Ushiel’s and the Princess’s lips, having whispered softly just before.
Artiela also confirmed the boutonniere reflected in the mirror and heaved a sigh.
“Well, that’s something.”
She couldn’t bring herself to curse—not of the dead.
“Said she didn’t remember, but it was pure lies.”
The pearl, blessed with sacred power, could not have been defiled directly. So instead, the malice had been worked upon the metal setting that held it fast.
What kind of malice, the mirror made perfectly clear.
A Black Heart. It continued to strike at Kirien’s own heart. When Artiela placed her hand upon the boutonniere, it vanished as if to hide itself.
This was unmistakably the work of the 2nd Princess—no need to squint to see it was not born of the Source of Evil.
“Seriously!”
As if to provoke her, the Black Heart extended its malice toward Kirien once more, pestering him.
Artiela severed it from his cloak with swift precision. Immediately, the pearl returned to pink.
As if nothing had happened at all.
Artiela bent low and whispered to Ushiel in hushed tones.
“Is that even possible?”
The dark aura vanished the moment it separated from Kirien’s body.
“It’s an evil force that affects only the Duke, so that makes sense.”
It showed no interest whatsoever in other targets. But the moment it touched Kirien, it responded at once, the tainted Aura coming alive.
After testing it several more times, Ushiel gave Artiela a meaningful glance.
Understanding, Artiela spun her sword dramatically and sheathed it. As if on cue, the prayers of the Priests and Holy Knight Order concluded.
“Thanks to you, my sister can now rest in peace. The Imperial Family will not forget this grace.”
The 1st Princess offered her thanks with a composed expression, announcing that the funeral had been completed in full.
Taking the hint, the Holy Knight Order helped the Imperial Knights usher out every last noble. Even those who lingered out of curiosity were shown no mercy.
Once all had departed, only the 1st Princess, Bleo, and Artiela and her sister remained within.
“That child actually caused trouble, didn’t she?”
“Yes, Your Highness. And she’s skilled too. To target her mark with such precision, she must have practiced Dark Sorcery more than once or twice.”
“Sigh… His Majesty has so thoroughly rejected Black Magic and sorcery, yet the Imperial Family member who should set an example…”
The 1st Princess pressed her forehead. Ashamed at the misdeeds of her sister revealed through the Mirror of Truth, she even muttered a soft curse while gazing at the coffin.
Having steadied herself, she looked upon Ushiel with a face full of responsibility.
“The sacred object has been damaged. I will make reparations. What would be best?”
“The sacred object itself is fine, so don’t worry. We need only to Purify it or re-cut it. Please set your mind at ease.”
Ushiel laughed brightly.
“Indeed, Holy Maiden, your compassion knows no bounds. His Majesty has caused our Holy Temple much suffering, and I’ve been troubled by how to repay these debts.”
The 1st Princess’s expression softened slightly.
“No, you must accept responsibility. Not only has the Imperial Emperor long tormented our Holy Knight Order Commander, but now a novice Holy Knight has been put in a difficult position as well.”
“Pardon?”
The 1st Princess found herself looking at Bleo without quite meaning to.
“You, Holy Maiden? I mean, surely our 1st Princess hasn’t committed any sin…….”
Bleo tried to interject without reading the room, but was stopped.
“So why not take responsibility and become Emperor?”
Edelion cannot participate in imperial politics.
Could they really break an Oath like this?
The moment everyone froze at this unexpected proposal, an attendant came rushing in urgently.
“Your Highness, His Majesty has awakened.”
How could he possibly wake up at a moment like this?
Artiela’s lips had gone dry.
* * *
Peter was propped against the headboard of the bed, his gaze somewhat vacant and his bearing listless.
Purcel stood watch nearby, as always.
“Your Majesty, are you with us?”
The 1st Princess scurried to his side and settled onto the edge of the bed.
It took a moment before Peter’s eyes found hers.
“Seltnia, then.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. It’s me. How are you feeling? Is there anywhere that hurts?”
“I’m fine.”
Conversation was still possible.
Though he’d grown gaunt from days of eating little and sleeping much, there seemed to be nothing seriously amiss.
“And Artiela?”
So he still wasn’t over it?
“Is that child recovered?”
“Artiela has no injuries, Your Majesty,” Bleo answered in her stead.
Bleo answered in her stead.
At that, Peter slowly turned his gaze toward Bleo.
“That can’t be right. She ate a Poisoned Cookie laced with such potent toxin.”
Surely not?
Bleo’s eyes widened. The 1st Princess’s eyes, too, grew round at the mention of something that had happened long ago.
“I owe an apology…….”
“Your Majesty?”
“I should have eaten it. I couldn’t bring myself to stop her.”
Peter buried his face in his hands. Then he began to weep like a child.
“I didn’t know it would cause her such pain. I should have just eaten it myself. If I’d collapsed, I was afraid the Empress would find some way to escape, and that terrified me so much…….”
“Your Ma—Your Majesty, the Empress? Who on earth are you talking about…….”
The 1st Princess turned to look at Bleo.
“Surely not…….”
Then Peter took hold of Bleo’s hand.
“Master, I’m so sorry. Because of me, Artiela, oh no, what should I do?”
…….
Peter alone returned to the past.
* * *
“Do you think the Holy Maiden will be all right?” Kirien asked from the opposite seat of the carriage as they rode away.
“If His Majesty has opened his eyes once more, together with the Source of Evil…….”
Isn’t that dangerous, even for a Holy Maiden?
Kirien’s eyes were full of worry.
“Since Bleo and the 1st Princess went to check on His Majesty’s condition first and then called for her, nothing should be wrong,” Ushiel said.
“Both of their expressions seemed far from reassuring, though.”
That was true enough. They’d looked flustered and bewildered, which was certainly suspicious.
Besides, the three of them had whispered among themselves so Artiela couldn’t hear. It seemed certain that Artiela was somehow involved in Peter’s condition.
“We’ll find out once Ushiel returns later.”
The carriage soon arrived in Edelion. The main gates were crowded with members of the Holy Knight Order and Priests who had arrived earlier.
“Commander of the Holy Knight Order!”
Just then, a man pushed through the crowd and approached Artiela.
“Oh? Hello there!”
“Goodness, I’ve finally found you!”
He was the Young Master they had met on Craftsman Street.
“My father came to the workshop for the first time in ages.”

“Ah! Yes!”
“The moment you mentioned the Jewelry Box, she came to her senses! She remembers—that Holy Knight and the Jewelry Box from back then.”
For now, this was the more pressing matter.

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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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