The Villainess is on a Quest - Chapter 34

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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 34
His large hands gripped her arms firmly to keep her from falling, but Aine’s gaze remained fixed on his face.
‘I’ve never seen him this close before.’
Come to think of it, she’d never truly studied his face properly. She’d been too preoccupied with worries about the future.
The Verona Imperial Family was renowned for their beauty—Odin and Emilia alike possessed a loveliness and nobility that time seemed unable to diminish.
‘Hair like a golden wheat field.’
His hair was maintained so meticulously that it seemed doubtful it had ever crossed a battlefield the same way hers had.
His eyes, beautiful as sapphires, overflowed with the kind of grace that seemed to have been carved by a master craftsman’s meticulous hand.
‘If I’ve earned my subordinates’ trust through ability, then you must have bought it simply through your existence.’
There were people whose very presence radiated charisma and leadership—and Cleid was precisely that sort of person.
Even for Aine, the moment he ceased to be an enemy, his mere presence at her side brought reassurance and comfort.
“Aine?”
When she remained still in his arms, Cleid asked with apparent confusion. Yet Aine kept her gaze fixed on his eyes as she spoke.
“Your eyes resemble your mother’s, I think.”
Aine felt a sudden flush of embarrassment.
She’d made the observation because Odin had dark eyes, but she hadn’t expected those words to slip past her lips.
Yet Cleid didn’t seem particularly troubled by it.
“My mother had the same blue eyes as I do.”
The mood didn’t darken. In childhood, mention of his mother had been forbidden, and he’d longed for it all the more because of that prohibition. But now, things were different—he’d grown indifferent to it. He couldn’t even recall his mother’s face without looking at her portrait.
That was why Cleid felt nothing now.
“She must have been very beautiful.”
But now it was different. Cleid laughed, bemused.
“Why would you think such a thing?”
“Because you have beautiful eyes.”
Beautiful. He’d never thought of himself that way before, so he felt slightly taken aback—yet somehow, inexplicably, pleased.
He’d received pity for his mother’s death, concern and worry, but never praise of this kind.
“I hear my aunt taught you quite rigorously.”
Cleid’s expectations fell wide of the mark. He’d assumed Emilia would leave immediately after the practical test if there was no hope of improvement.
So he’d prepared to seek out a new instructor—but unexpectedly, Emilia had continued teaching Aine.
‘What a strange whim.’
Cleid knew Emilia was not the sort to torment others mercilessly, even when she was cold and distant. The situation was incomprehensible to him.
He wondered if perhaps her nature had changed during his absence on campaign.
In any case, Cleid wanted to ask Aine directly this time. He would tell her that if the training felt too arduous or if she thought they were poorly matched, he would arrange for someone else immediately.
What mattered most was her own will.
“I don’t think it’s rigorous at all.”
“Aine.”
“Your Highness. We have less than four days remaining. And my skills are deplorable.”
They were far too poor even to call deplorable. If they brought in an instructor of merely average ability now, even a month would not be enough to show improvement.
“She’s teaching me thoroughly so I can enter the Empire’s high society with confidence.”
High society would be filled with dazzling beauties from the start. To stand confidently before them, she would need to be composed and carry herself with grace.
Emilia was an excellent teacher. If Aine studied properly under her for the next three days, it seemed unlikely that any situation would arise to embarrass Cleid.
Aine thought he would probably view this positively as well.
“Still, don’t overexert yourself. If you’re injured, everything becomes meaningless.”
But Cleid regarded Aine with worried eyes.
She should have felt apologetic for causing concern to another, yet instead, a strange tickle bloomed in one corner of her heart.
Aine’s lips curved upward naturally.
“Thank you for worrying about me. I’ll be careful not to overdo it, as you say.”
Cleid’s eyes reflected his complete lack of trust in that promise, but Aine extended her hand to him nonetheless.
When she asked silently with her eyes what the gesture meant, Aine replied.
“Since you’re here anyway, shall we try dancing together? I’m curious about your skill as well.”
He had mentioned he couldn’t dance well either. But Emilia had to concentrate entirely on her own instruction, so she’d had no time to devote to Cleid.
That was why she was suggesting they practice together now.
Cleid, receiving the proposal, remained still for a moment before nodding.
“As you say, there’s no harm in matching our steps beforehand.”
While the two danced to the rhythm, holding hands and focusing on their steps, there was something they failed to notice.
“Marquis Andre’s wife.”
“Hush. Be quiet, Hamilton.”
That a gaze was observing them.
‘I’m beginning to understand why His Majesty went through with such a frivolous gesture.’
Emilia watched Cleid’s face—not stiff and cold as usual, but softened and relaxed into an expression of warmth and gentleness.
‘If this is the best choice, then so be it.’
The moment Cleid’s gaze shifted to Aine, Emilia’s brow furrowed.
‘Still, I don’t approve of you.’
* * *
“Whose craftsmanship is this?”
“The Marquis Andre’s wife, madam.”
Shortly after coordinating with Cleid, the news Hamilton brought was that Emilia had suddenly been called away by urgent business and departed in haste.
It was somewhat disappointing, but since she had pressing matters to attend to, there was nothing to be done but accept it.
And indeed, it seemed the exertion had been too much—the moment Aine sat on the bed, she fell asleep.
When she woke, the sun hung high in the sky. She had meant to go straight to Cleid, but before that, Hamilton asked her to examine the dress.
“The Marquis’s wife said it is still incomplete, but she said it would be fine to show it to you first.”
Aine gazed at the dress before her and marveled.
When she had examined the one the Imperial Family had sent before, she had thought the quality differed from the dresses she had worn—but only by degree.
What lay before her now, however, was something else entirely. So much had been altered that it seemed to have been crafted specifically for her.
“The Marquis’s wife possesses such remarkable design sensibility that she even personally creates ceremonial robes for the Emperor himself.”
Countless people sought her out begging her to design dresses or formal wear, yet Emilia designed only for the Emperor—for him alone.
Hamilton explained that it was said to be impossible for anyone but the Empire’s Emperor to receive a custom garment from her, but the words barely registered in Aine’s ears.
Her gaze remained fixed entirely on the dress before her.
“Had the salon madams of the Kingdom been present, they would all have wept.”
Even Aine, who had no interest in luxuries like dresses and possessed only theoretical knowledge, found it truly beautiful.
What, then, must others think?
She regarded it as a work of art, so much so that she wondered whether she herself had any right to wear it.
Observing Aine’s reaction, Hamilton smiled softly.
“Emilia will arrive soon—perhaps you might tell her what you think then.”
Her gaze still fixed on the dress, Aine nodded at Hamilton’s words.
* * *
‘Truly, I cannot fathom why I must go there again and teach her what she was attempting to do to my niece.’
Emilia wavered about whether to leave Marquis Andre’s Residence, but having already cancelled her scheduled appointments, she resigned herself to boarding the carriage.
From her perspective, yesterday’s coordination between Aine and Cleid had been nothing short of sloppy.
‘Of course, it has improved vastly since the beginning.’

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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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