The Villain Who Will Kill Me Is Too Handsome, It's Troublesome - Chapter 8

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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 8.
As the sacred tree withdrew its branches, the bright spring sunlight streamed through the glass roof and poured directly onto the Duke.
On the far side of the light, the shadow cast there deepened—darker than night itself. Even the sacred tree that embraced all things trembled, as though it could not bring itself to embrace that shadow alone.
Artiella drew the Bardo with utmost care, making no sound.
‘Will the response be different this time?’
After hearing the Duke’s account, she had examined his soul several more times. The shadow within it was the most suspicious thing of all.
Each time, she had tried touching the shadow with her Aura poured to its fullest, but could not dispel it. Had Artiella possessed abundant Holy Power, the outcome might have been different.
‘But this place is saturated with Holy Power.’
It would likely work.
Evil entities are far more susceptible to Holy Power than to Aura.
Moreover, at her side was Usiell, the greatest Saint in history. Together, the two of them were stronger.
Artiella infused the Holy Sword with her Aura.
At once, the power enveloping the sacred tree flowed partly into the Bardo. The moment a verdant Aura braided with azure Holy Power, Usiell opened her eyes.
The sisters’ eyes met. Usiell nodded at once.
A piercing shriek—the shadow caught by Usiell’s Holy Power tried to flee with an otherworldly cry.
‘You dare?’
Artiella seized the moment and drove the Bardo down with perfect precision, Holy Power crackling along its length.
A sound like fingernails scraping metal—the shadow vanished with that terrible shriek. In its place, ashen smoke rose.
“Ugh.”
Kirien suddenly stumbled, losing his footing.
“Your Grace, are you well?”
“Ah, yes. My body felt suddenly light, and I lost my balance.”
Kirien flexed his hands and feet experimentally.
“It was as if something had been holding me, and then let go.”
“The shadow’s doing. It was the mark of a curse—a vicious and ancient one. A seed of Curse that had not yet manifested.”
Usiell withdrew her hand from the tree. She appeared exhausted from the quantity of Holy Power she had expended in such a short time.
“Then all of my misfortune was because of this Curse?”
“It’s a bit complicated. The malevolent force was fixed only on Your Grace; it didn’t extend outward.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Usiell’s gaze upon the Duke turned cold for an instant. But she soon released the tension from her eyes.
“Have you ever experienced gaps in your memory, or waking to find yourself in a different place?”
“No, nothing of that sort has occurred.”
Why ask that? Why does it seem like Usiell has discovered something?
“Who placed the Curse?”
“It clung to him before he was even born, so I couldn’t see who cast it.”
Artiella pressed her temples firmly.
In her experience, the older the Curse, the more troublesome it became. Finding out the Curse’s true nature and breaking it—that became an enormous annoyance.
If they could just catch whoever placed it, the matter would be resolved quickly.
“The shadow we caught doesn’t seem to be the true body of the Curse, does it?”
“I’m thinking the same thing.”
Artiella scratched her nose. This was bad. Of all things, she’d gone and made bold claims about taking responsibility for this.
Kirien had caught every word of the sisters’ exchange and seemed to understand fully.
“You mean the Curse hasn’t been lifted?”
“Right. We’ve only knocked it away temporarily. That’s only possible because we’re on sacred ground.”
“So the moment I step outside this place, the ominous shadow will cling to me again.”
Usiell did not deny it.
“Is there no solution?”
Kirien was surprisingly composed, as if he had already anticipated this would not be easy.
“Well, there are Holy Relics infused with Holy Power that can purify evil things. But to give one to an outsider, we’d need to hold a council with the Priest Council first.”
Artiella’s lips twitched with displeasure as she listened.
“That requires a full Priest Council meeting, doesn’t it?”
“It does. Even with an emergency summons, it won’t convene for at least a fortnight.”
“Those stubborn old fossils would never show up any faster anyway.”
Artiella’s lips curved downward in frustration. They were the sort who questioned every decision the young Saint made.
A noblewoman of the Empire, raised in proper fashion, turned out to be a Saint.
How dared a woman wield a sword.
Those were the voices spouted by such men—the methods they’d used to train the docile Saints of common birth.
The Temple had made a show of it, unsure whether the wielder of the Holy Sword might appear again.
“Your Holiness, this won’t do. It’s the nobility who funds the Temple, not commoners.”
“Ah, really, now that I think about it. You priests—should we test whether your counsel is sincere using the Holy Sword?”
Cowards who swore to dedicate their lives to her bidding at a single word from Artiella. Yet they still had plenty to say. The moment anyone tried to change something unreasonable, they hid behind tradition and refused.
Would they cooperate because this involved a high-ranking noble?
“For that reason, I believe it would be best if you remained within Edelion. For your own sake, and for those around you.”
“Oh, I agree!”
At Artiella’s exclamation, Usiell laughed.
Like warm iced tea.
“I’ll find a way to lift the curse as quickly as possible, working with the Holy Knight Order Commander.”
Dangerous. That was the expression someone wore when about to corner you.
Mainly, when cornering her sister.
“Artiella, come with me for a moment—”
“Your Grace! We should send word to Bailey, shouldn’t we? We need to ask her to prepare the necessary supplies.”
First priority: escape.
“Stop moving.”
Naturally, the divine’s representative could not be evaded.
* * *
After being dealt with by her sister, Artiella guided Kirien to the Holy Knight Order’s quarters.
“I’m sorry, but the private suites for nobles are fully booked at the moment.”
The faithful often visited Edelion for prayer or recuperation. Usually such full occupancy was rare, but lately demand had surged.
Rumors were spreading that the Empress would be chosen in the autumn.
“You’re troubling yourself again on my account. I can stay anywhere.”
Yet she couldn’t very well put him in the grimy, chaotic quarters of the common knights.
That would be, well, truly unfortunate.
Those radiant cheekbones had nothing in common with the stench of unwashed soldiers. The subordinates trained daily, and their quarters—musty caverns no amount of ventilation could overcome—risked leaving the nobleman with terrible memories.
But her own room was different; she could say so with confidence. The Duke had already agreed.
“A lovely fragrance carries on the wind…”
“A lovely fragrance carries on the…”
“A lovely fragrance…”
“A lovely…”
The echoes lingering in the air like phantom voices made Artiella shake her head violently.
“What’s the matter, ma’am?”
“Well, my room is fairly spacious and quite serviceable.”
“And yourself?”
“I’ll be staying in the Holy Maiden’s quarters. It’s been so long since the two of us could return to our childhood together. Maybe have a pillow fight or two.”
Artiella explained without hesitation, her cheeks flushing faintly red. Genuinely flustered, it seemed.
“So please, don’t worry. I’m sure Bailey would be delighted—with you away, she can finally repair the manor as much as she likes.”
At Artiella’s observation, Kirien let out a quiet laugh.
“Yes, that’s likely. When I’m at home, something breaks again right after repairs. It’s better for me to stay away.”
“I’ll make sure my room stays unbroken, I promise.”
“Understood.”
Perhaps because he’d finally learned something of the cause of his misfortune, Kirien’s step seemed lighter than ever.
The tension had vanished too, and with it, the Aura that had been hovering around his face.
That was a shame, somehow.
‘It was so pretty and shimmering.’
Before long, the two arrived at the entrance to the Holy Knights’ quarters.
But then.
“Artiella, how have you been?”
“I came too.”
Two strikingly handsome men stood before the entrance side by side.
The silver-haired culprits who had made Artiella immune to the charms of ordinary men—Count Pelid Soltis and his son, Bleo Soltis.
“Father! Brother! What brings you here?”
The moment Artiella ran toward them happily, a red-haired uninvited guest emerged from behind them.
“I came along too.”
Artiella faltered, her eyes instinctively drifting toward Kirien.
“I didn’t know you were with the Duke.”
Peter made no attempt to hide his hostility.
Did Kirien sense that gaze? His Aura reflexively began to swirl around him in protection, glimmering more noticeably than usual.
Brighter and more sparkling than before.
Pursel, Peter’s escort, noticed too, his eyes narrowing.
“I pay my respects to His Majesty.”
The instant Kirien bowed stiffly.
“Watch out! Father, brother—it’s dangerous!”
She had thought Edelion was safe. But cracks were spreading across the eaves above the entrance to their quarters.

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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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