The Villain Who Will Kill Me Is Too Handsome, It's Troublesome - Chapter 77

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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 77.
The red-haired man abandoned Bleo and made straight for Artiela.
“You’re safe. Thank heavens.”
Peter’s eyes glistened with moisture. The once-clouded irises had cleared, no longer swayed by malice.
Though his mind seemed to have become almost troublingly lucid.
“Your Majesty? Please release that.”
Peter reached out and pulled Artiela’s right hand toward him.
He’d always been willful before, but never one to cross such boundaries. He’d been someone who maintained basic courtesy.
That was why she’d let her guard down.
Unfortunately, her right hand—the one without strength—was caught, and wrenching free wouldn’t be easy. If he weren’t the Emperor, she’d simply headbutt him.
She endured it, thinking of the tensions between Edelion and the Empire.
“I’m glad you’re safe. Truly. I can’t tell you how much I suffered thinking you’d died because of me.”
No. She couldn’t bear this.
Peter drew Artiela into his embrace, clinging with all his strength as though he’d never let anyone take her from him.
“I would not perish from such a thing.”
“I never imagined the Empress would use such virulent poison.”
Artiela, who had been trying to push against his chest with her left hand, froze.
So that’s what he meant by his condition being poor?
“I’ve dealt with everyone who meant to harm you, so you can rest easy now. Understand? From now on, I’ll protect you—stay close to my side.”
“Ah, Your Majesty! Please!”
As Bleo clung to him, Peter adopted a stern, solemn expression.
“Your Majesty—that’s dangerous talk.”
“We must return to the Imperial Palace. The First Princess will be worried.”
“Master, my apologies. Just a moment longer—until my heart settles.”
But he didn’t recognize Bleo.
If this were acting, he was genuinely committed.
“What if someone sees? If the nobility notice, the Empire will fall into chaos!”
Bleo pleaded repeatedly. Peter didn’t budge, only tightening his grip on Artiela.
She didn’t want to do this to someone in his condition, but she’d indulged enough.
Artiela threaded a precise, minimal amount of Aura into her left hand. When dealing with someone without Aura, one had to be delicate.
A careless move could cause serious injury.
“I said release me. I’m counting to three. One…….”
He let go immediately.
Not by Peter’s will, but by Kirien’s strength.
“Artiela asked you to let go.”
“Ugh!”
A white Aura shimmered around Kirien’s hands.
‘Oh, Mother! Thank you! You’ve saved your son.’
A novice would struggle to modulate force through Aura alone—but his, possessed of will, seemed to adjust its own strength.
Peter clutched his shoulder in pain, glaring at Kirien.
“You……. Who are you to lay hands on the Crown Prince?”
Kirien closed his mouth and turned his head away, as if composing himself. Perhaps he simply didn’t wish to engage.
Just as well. Kirien couldn’t afford to lose his temper. If he grew agitated and his emotions wavered, it might only feed the Source of Malice—and then Yusiel, who had gone to the Mage Tower, would be in danger.
“Do you have any idea what a grave crime it is to insult the Crown Prince? I’ll…… mmmph.”
Bleo finally clapped a hand over his mouth.
At this rate, the Empire’s top two most beautiful men would end up arrested for assaulting the Emperor. Why on earth couldn’t he just regain his senses and stay calm?
“If someone passes nearby, it’ll be a disaster! Please, just stay quiet!”
Peter struggled and thrashed his limbs.
Soon the lay worshippers’ prayer time would end. Pilgrims would be arriving any moment.
It was better to send the Emperor on his way before then.
“Where are Percell and your guards? You came alone?”
Poor Bleo—when Peter bit his hand like a child, it peeled away like tissue paper.
“If everyone knew about His Majesty’s condition, how could I let him come trailing guards? Only Percell is waiting nearby.”
“Hand.”
Bleo held out his injured hand with a pitiful expression. When she fed the faintest trickle of Holy Power into it, the bite marks mercifully faded.
“Better?”
“Thank you, little brother. It really is only you I can rely on.”
At least he seemed aware of his mistake; Peter withdrew to the side, his face sullen. He might’ve been contemplating biting Kirien instead.
It was time for Artiela to step in.
“I apologize, but by the Saint’s orders, private audiences between myself and Your Majesty are forbidden. Please return to the Palace.”
It was unfortunate, but there was no room for pity to shake her resolve.
If Kirien couldn’t endure this and succumbed to Corruption, the world’s peace would be the first casualty.
“I’ll come back later to apologize properly.”
Goodness, young Peter really was stubborn.
“It’s quite all right. Please don’t concern yourself……”
“I’ll get permission from Mother and prepare a gift for you. So no one will ever be able to touch you…… It’ll be a great gift for the Soltis Earldom, too.”
“That’s not necessary…”
“Let’s go, Master.”
He paid no attention to anyone else’s words, insisted on his own, and turned to leave. When Bleo tried to drape a robe over him, he refused, complaining it would mess up his hair—which was rather amusing.
Was he always this stubborn as a child, constantly harassed by assassination threats?
“Sigh. Headstrong as ever.”
Artiela sighed and then whistled.
“Yes, Commander.”
Frail materialized before them.
“We need to clear the path where my brother and His Majesty are headed. The Emperor can’t be seen by others.”
“Well, this is an Empire matter. Are we overstepping if we intervene?”
“We have our share of responsibility in this situation, so it’s fine.”
“Understood. I’ll handle it cleanly.”
Frail immediately vanished, moving ahead of the Emperor’s path.
Left alone, Artiela exhaled a long breath. Then she turned to look at Kirien—at a man on the verge of spiraling into jealousy and rage.
“Kirien, are you all right?”
He was staring at the Mirror of Truth he’d just retrieved, tilting his head with curiosity. But he wasn’t examining Peter.
He was studying himself intently, his eyes widened with fascination.
“Kirien? Is something wrong?”
At Artiela’s call, Kirien slowly shifted his gaze to her. In that instant, a chill ran down her spine—an inexplicable coldness.
Surely, even within Edelion, she couldn’t let her guard down?
“Kirien?”
His mouth slowly curved upward.
His eyes crinkled warmly at the corners, yet somehow his smile felt suffused with darkness.
‘Is it because he has no Aura?’
Yes, that must be it. This was merely a doll’s smile—beautiful, but hollow.
“You…… who are you?”
The only being capable of targeting Kirien’s body was the Source of Malice itself.
Yet she sensed nothing besides his Aura withdrawing deep into his body. Not that characteristic gloom, not the abyssal black power she knew.
Artiela drew Bardo, waiting for an answer.
Then Kirien spoke, a smile lingering only at his lips.
“Who, you ask.”
That tone. He’d used it once before.
Artiela’s guard shot to its highest. Right—he’d been agitated over Peter, so there was no way this would pass without incident.
To assess his condition, she needed the Mirror of Truth.
Artiela lunged at Kirien. His eyes widened completely.
“I am Kirien Rufel, Artiela Soltis’s one and only lover.”
He opened his arms to the charging Artiela, laughing cheerfully.
“What—what is this?”
This man. He could jest like this?
Just as Artiela tried to push him away with her shoulder, she found herself nestled snugly against his chest.
“Yusiel told me to stop.”
“But if I can’t hold you longer than that person did, my heart won’t settle.”
“Then…… I suppose there’s no helping it.”
“Ha ha ha ha.”
Kirien laughed clearly, and suddenly she felt presences around them. Quite a few of them.
“Sister, and Kirien.”
Oh! That’s the Librarian Priest from the Library!
“Within Edelion, romantic displays are……”
“I-I’m so sorry! We were just leaving!”
Artiela hastily grabbed Kirien’s hand and ran. She could have sworn she heard the priest sigh.
“No, that’s not what I meant to—!”
The Librarian Priest found himself receiving reproachful looks from the other priests.
* * *
At that very moment, a visitor appeared in a small village not far from the Mage Tower—a visitor after a long time.
“Ugh, why is the village so eerie? It wasn’t like this before.”
“You remember those days, Mother?”
A middle-aged woman organizing Transport Scrolls and a young woman with a composed face. And their companions.
‘Did they come from Edelion?’
The one who served darkness, watching from the shadows, went straight to find his master.
“Lord, it appears people have arrived from the temple.”
But darkness did not answer the Dark Mage’s call.
As if he had stepped out somewhere.

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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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