The Villainess is on a Quest - Chapter 1

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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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Prologue
Aine was a commander of the Orion Kingdom and the architect of countless victories against the Verona Empire’s forces.
She had not merely pushed them to the brink of crisis—she had driven them to the precipice of annihilation itself.
So when Aine surrendered to the Empire, she expected death, or something worse.
From their perspective, she was an arch-enemy whose bones they could gnaw to dust and never satisfy their hatred.
“Is our treatment not to your liking?”
“No, far from it. You’ve been more than generous.”
“If there is anything you need, please tell me. The Verona Empire’s fortunes have improved greatly because of you.”
Yet something felt wrong. Rather than the coldness and contempt she had anticipated, the Empire treated Aine as a guest of honor.
So much so that Kled himself—the second most powerful man in the realm after the Emperor—attended to her personally.
Aine could not fathom why the Empire treated her this way, and the uncertainty gnawed at her. Still, she chose not to dwell on it.
What she wanted was to move to the heart of the matter. Kled, sensing her impatience, spoke first.
“We shall resolve the poison in your hand and the prince’s toxin, and we shall assist you in reclaiming the throne with every resource at our disposal. However, there is a condition.”
“A condition?”
“Yes.”
Of course there would be a condition. Aine sipped the tea before her and reflected on why she had surrendered.
The king was dead. The queen—her friend—was dead.
All because of that contemptible bastard.
Even the child of her only surviving friend had been poisoned. When Aine learned that the Antidote existed only in the Empire, she brought the child and surrendered immediately.
Aine would do anything to save the child. She had already braced herself for whatever condition Kled might impose.
‘Perhaps he’ll demand the Kingdom’s strategies and tactics. Or maybe he’ll be blunt and ask for our weaknesses.’
Aine waited quietly for his words, already prepared to answer whatever he asked.
“Tell me—did you have a lover in the Kingdom?”
Cough, cough.
His words were nothing she had anticipated.
She stared at him in confusion, and Kled smiled knowingly before continuing.
“We’ve already investigated, of course, but one never knows. They say love blooms even on the battlefield.”
Kled cut a slice of cake before him into a neat piece and speared it with his fork.
“But love doesn’t bloom only between allies, does it? In famous literature, enemies fall in love all the time.”
Then he brought the cake to her lips, as if offering it like a tender lover would.
But Aine did not eat it.
She had learned that sweet and tempting things often concealed a trap.
“What is it you want?”
Kled found her fascinating. Though she was the desperate one, Aine remained composed and shrewd.
“The Verona Empire wishes to end this meaningless war. To do so, we need a complete symbol of peace.”
Kled gazed at her with an amused glint in his eyes, then curved his lips into a smile.
“So the Empire’s condition is this: would you be willing to pretend to be my lover for a time?”
A romance for the ages—between Orion’s hero and the noble blood of the Verona Empire.
Aine had nothing to deliberate. She too longed for this tedious war to end.
Besides, the Empire had already granted all the concessions she had sought.
‘Am I dreaming right now?’
But there was something far more bewildering than his proposal.
[SYSTEM: Century Romance Quest]
[Publicize the romance between Orion’s hero and the Prince of the Verona Empire to all.]
[Success Reward: Status as Empress of the Empire]
[Failure Penalty: Resumption of war between both nations]
[Do you wish to proceed with the quest? Y / N]
Why was a system window floating above his head?

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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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