The Villainess is on a Quest - Chapter 32

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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 31
“Dancing, you say?”
“Yes.”
Klede too had let it slip from his mind for a moment, though he didn’t consider it a matter of grave concern.
He had attended High Society gatherings without interruption since birth.
Though five years of absence might have left certain movements rusty and forgotten, he was confident his body would remember with a few practice sessions.
But Klede studied Aine’s expression. Seeing how tense she appeared for no clear reason, he fell silent for a moment before answering.
“Now that I think on it, I too haven’t danced in some time and the steps elude me.”
He thought it best to suggest they couldn’t do it here—that way the burden on her would feel lighter.
“I’m not particularly skilled at dancing, you see.”
“I see.”
“So would it not be well to learn together, perhaps as soon as tomorrow?”
Starting tomorrow itself. Klede admired Aine’s decisiveness.
Perhaps her back was against the wall, but considering her position, the weight on her shoulders must be considerable.
To perform a dance before countless nobles of the Enemy Kingdom, after all.
“Very well. In any case, we ought to synchronize our movements beforehand.”
And so Klede agreed. If she were not to be shamed, he too would have to brush the rust from his own skill.
“Might there be a dancing instructor somewhere within this mansion?”
As the matter turned to finding a teacher, Klede paused to consider. Was there anyone nearby who danced well? Many would likely volunteer to serve at Chesher Mansion if word were sent out.
But there was no time for such recruitment, and security concerns meant he couldn’t simply bring in anyone off the street.
Searching his mind for someone discreet and reliable enough to answer his call, Klede thought of exactly one person.
“There is someone.”
Klede had recalled this person, but he hesitated—was it truly wise to summon them here?
He could have told Odin and asked him to send someone, but Klede wanted to handle this as quietly as possible.
The fewer who knew of Aine’s shortcomings, the better.
‘I suppose there’s no helping it.’
Sighing inwardly, Klede fixed his gaze on Aine.
“However, if you dislike this person or wish to change your mind, you need only say so at any time.”
Aine didn’t understand what he meant. Change her mind? Yet the meaning behind his words didn’t take long to dawn on her.
“Klede! Oh, my dear child! Where are you!”
“Lady Andre. Please, compose yourself.”
“Compose myself?! I need to see with my own two eyes that my nephew is unharmed!”
The answer came in the form of a visitor who arrived at Chesher Mansion early that same morning.
‘Who on earth is this person?’
* * *
“Aunt, I assure you I am well.”
“When the press was trumpeting that you’d returned wounded, my heart was torn to shreds!”
The person Klede had invited was none other than Odin’s younger sister and Klede’s own aunt, Emilia.
Though she now held the position of wife to the Duke of House Andre, she maintained close ties with her brother the Emperor, and their correspondence continued.
In particular, among Odin’s children, she held Klede especially dear.
“The press spreads nothing but gossip. I returned from the Battlefield unscathed, so please think nothing of it.”
“Unscathed or not, I’m hurt. Why neither you nor the Emperor bothered to contact me, I cannot fathom!”
“I apologize for that. Circumstances required swift action.”
Still displeased, Emilia nonetheless turned her gaze to Aine, who stood at a distance, and pointed at her.
“That must be the reason you’ve returned, then.”
“Aunt.”
“Madam. Please forgive my belated introduction.”
Klede had meant to remind Aine to mind her courtesy, but she moved first.
Closing the distance in an instant, Aine greeted her with the careful composure one shows to royalty.
“I am Aine. You may call me by whatever name feels most natural to you.”
She spoke with the sincere hope of making a favorable first impression on Emilia.
But Emilia did not return the greeting at once. She regarded Aine with a hard stare.
A stare that asked why the woman who had set the Empire ablaze with scandal should be standing in her cherished nephew’s mansion.
And the conclusion she reached was surely that this was the will of both Odin and Klede.
“I cannot fathom what either of you is thinking. The enemy commander—here in this house.”
“It is a means to end the war.”
“Not if it demands your sacrifice. I will not have it.”
Realizing her first impression had clearly gone awry, Aine was considering what to do when Klede stepped forward.
“Aunt. It is no sacrifice. Rather, I find myself grateful to this woman.”
“Grateful?”
“Yes. Thanks to Aine’s defection to us, I too was able to escape from that living hell, so you might say she’s actually my benefactor.”
Emilia studied Klede’s expression.
Finding not a trace of deception in those jewel-like blue eyes of his, she let out a heavy sigh and reluctantly nodded her assent.
Though discontent still simmered beneath the surface, she decided that could wait—right now was the time to help Klede.
“I am Emilia Andre. I’ve heard much about you and know your reputation well, Commander.”
* * *
“So you called me here to teach you the dances of High Society?”
“There’s no one more accomplished than you, Aunt.”
The real conversation began once they’d moved to the drawing room.
According to Klede, Emilia was an exceptional educator.
Every young lady who’d passed through her instruction had made a flawless debut in High Society, and Klede himself had learned a considerable portion of Etiquette from her as well.
Her skill was beyond question, and her discretion was equally certain—there was no fear of information leaking. That was precisely why he’d chosen her.
“How many days do we have left?”
“Three days from now.”
“I haven’t the faintest idea what you expect to teach in that time, Commander. Since you were a great noble of the Kingdom, perhaps it’s best you simply go as you are.”
But there was one problem: Emilia was merciless with everyone except Klede.
Her criteria for taking on young ladies had nothing to do with a family’s standing and everything to do with her personal whim.
People went so far as to say that being selected by her was like receiving a royal appointment.
And at this moment, Emilia was regarding Aine with unmistakable disdain.
‘She’s put his life in jeopardy more than once—of course she resents her.’
Ordinarily, nations trumpeted victories for morale and buried defeats as thoroughly as possible.
But the Empire was different. The Nobility Faction, desperate to diminish the imperial family’s authority, had wielded their controlled press to broadcast news of each defeat far and wide.
Especially the humiliating losses Klede had suffered at Aine’s hands, and every peril he’d faced.
Each time Emilia heard such reports from the Nobility Faction, her hatred for Aine burned hotter—that vile woman who dared attempt to murder her beloved nephew.
“If I were to meet her, I’d planned to slap her across the face. But I’m restraining myself for your sake, so I do hope you understand the magnanimity of your aunt.”
With that, Emilia rose from her seat, adding that they should meet alone next time.
When one’s opponent refused so pointedly, Klede saw there was nothing to be done. No matter how he put it, he couldn’t sway her.
But Aine was cut from different cloth. She set down her teacup and smiled, her lips curving upward as she spoke.
“Are you quite certain about this, ma’am?”

Emilia’s footsteps halted. She turned to regard Aine directly.
“If you leave now, not only I, but your dear nephew will become the object of ridicule.”
Aine had learned the art of choice and focus on the Battlefield.
What to defend and what to seize. Wanting both was mere greed.
The key was concentrating on reality and securing the practical advantage she needed.
While it seemed wise to cultivate as good a relationship as possible with Klede’s aunt, she couldn’t afford to cling to the impossible and lose the present opportunity.
So Aine fixed on a single objective.
“Please grant me the chance to learn your dances, ma’am. In exchange, I swear to you that His Highness will never suffer humiliation.”
For now, it was time to focus solely on the Main Quest.

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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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