The Villainess is on a Quest - Chapter 44

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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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Chapter 44
“I shouldn’t say this, but you seem like a kind grandfather.”
“Ha. I shouldn’t agree, but you’re right.”
Aine and Cled watched from a step away.
“Grandfather! Over here, over here!”
“Little thing, you’re quick. Haha.”
At first, I thought I’d misheard—grandfather?
But now Odin was acting as though Wilhelm truly were his grandson.
On the surface, it was a touching scene, yet Aine remained wary deep down.
‘He’s not a man who lets emotion drive his actions.’
Had Odin accepted Wilhelm as his grandson simply because the boy was endearing, pitiable, or convenient?
Or was it a powerful declaration that he meant to bind this child within the Empire’s walls?
She was the one who needed to ask for help now, and yet she could never afford to lower her guard.
If she made a single mistake and disappeared, Wilhelm would have no protector left in the world.
“That’s surprising.”
Lost in thought, Cled spoke suddenly.
Surprising? Aine turned to him, asking what he meant, and Cled smiled wryly before answering.
“I thought His Majesty disliked children.”
“His Majesty, you mean?”
From what she could see right now, Odin seemed to have a genuine fondness for the boy, so his words made little sense to her.
As if reading Aine’s thoughts, Cled continued with an explanation.
“In fact, His Majesty has grandchildren.”
“Ah.”
She’d completely forgotten.
Odin had other children besides Cled.
“No matter how many times they’ve visited, His Majesty has always shown a lukewarm response.”
Now his reaction made sense.
It would be strange indeed, by that measure.
“How many grandchildren does His Majesty have?”
“If I recall correctly, precisely three.”
Politics were complicated, but even so, she could understand why Odin hadn’t cherished his grandchildren.
It was likely because he wished to avoid unfounded rumors.
‘If Odin were made Crown Prince while showing affection for his other children, talk would spread unnecessarily.’
Had Cled possessed children of his own, there would have been no harm in doting on them, but unfortunately Cled remained unmarried.
And such circumstances likely fostered suspicions that he might never produce an heir.
But now things were different.
“I wonder if His Majesty might truly adopt Wilhelm as his grandson.”
“Aine?”
Three. Now, Wilhelm would undoubtedly become the grandson he cherished most.
“He could erase every weakness you possess.”
That flaw—the inability to produce an heir—would disappear.
True, no small number of people had seen them in Brantfort, but they were in a state of war now.
If their mouths were sealed, nothing troublesome would come to pass.
“If His Majesty truly harbors such intentions, what will you do about it?”
Cled asked carefully, watching her.
If Odin meant to make Wilhelm his son—
then what action would she take?
“You’ve already made a deal with me. To protect Wilhelm and myself.”
Aine made the terms clear.
That they were bound by an agreement.
Hearing this, Cled nodded.
“No matter what happens, I will protect you and Wilhelm.”
Even should the moment of his own death arrive.
“No.”
But that was not the answer Aine wanted.
“If the moment comes when I die, then I ask that you take custody of the Crown Prince.”
There was no one in the Empire she could trust.
No one, except him—the sole person with whom she’d shared her secrets.
She would do whatever it took to survive for Wilhelm’s sake, yet even so, she needed to prepare for the worst.
For the moment when she vanished from Wilhelm’s side.
“That will never happen.”
After that, they fell silent for a while.
Not until Wilhelm finally mentioned he wanted to go home.
* * *
“Mother, when can we visit the Imperial Palace next?”
Aine smiled as she watched Wilhelm speak with barely contained excitement.
Odin had clearly made quite an impression on him.
‘Better than being uncomfortable, at least.’
With that thought, Aine answered the pestering boy.
“Did you enjoy yourself so much with the Emperor?”
“Yes, very much! He played with me so wonderfully!”
He’d lifted Wilhelm onto his shoulders, played with him using a wooden sword made for children, and shown him around the Imperial Palace.
Watching Wilhelm’s delighted face, Aine nodded in agreement.
Odin certainly had known how to entertain a child.
“How about we visit him once in a while, whenever His Majesty isn’t too busy?”
“I’d like that, Mother.”
Aine stepped outside, watching her cheerful son.
Their presence here hadn’t been revealed yet. It was safer to return to the Chesher Mansion rather than linger too long in the Imperial Palace.
With that in mind, she turned toward the carriage waiting outside the Palace gates.

[ALERT] Letaria has gathered near the Imperial Palace.
Target: Aniel Windelov
Evade them and proceed safely to the Chesher Mansion.
A System window had appeared without warning.
“Aine. What’s the matter?”
The System window.
“Cled. From now on, walk quietly, keep your eyes ahead, and listen carefully to what I say.”
“Mother?”
Watching Aine’s hardened expression, Cled knew this was no ordinary situation.
He nodded and waited for her to continue.
Meanwhile, Aine hesitated about how to explain this.
It felt awkward to reveal how she’d found out.
‘But safety comes first right now.’
Wilhelm had to be protected.
There was no time to delay.
“Letaria is gathered outside.”
…….
Cled’s footsteps stopped abruptly.
He narrowed his eyes, studying Aine’s expression.
There was no hint of doubt in his gaze.
He was only asking whether her words were true.
* * *
‘Letaria outside. How could that be possible?’
Their very arrival at the Imperial Palace had been conducted in complete secrecy.
Which meant the number of people who knew about it was minimal.
There was only one conclusion to draw.
‘Letaria must have infiltrated the Palace itself.’
They had managed to penetrate even this place, with its formidable security.
Cled recalled the corpse from the interrogation—the one that had been left deliberately marked with the message “Found.”
He still didn’t know how Aine had discovered this threat, but a far more pressing situation now demanded his attention.
“The two of you should take one of the contingency carriages stationed elsewhere in the Palace.”
“Cled.”
“Tell Lotein I sent you, and he’ll guide you without question.”
The Imperial Palace had contingency vehicles prepared and waiting for every conceivable scenario.
First, he would get the two of them to safety.
Then Cled intended to handle the situation himself.
“You’re coming with us too.”
Reading his thoughts, Aine grabbed hold of his sleeve.

There was no need to deliberately walk toward danger.
She could have fled to safety and reconsidered the matter afterward.
But Cled smiled faintly and took Aine’s hand, bringing it to his lips.
“You said it yourself. We are bound by an agreement.”
So he would do everything in his power to ensure her safety.
To keep Aine secure here in the Empire, destroying Letaria was the most pressing matter of all.
“Do not worry for me. Like you, I am someone who has clawed her way through battlefields and lived to tell it.”
With that, Cled turned and walked away.
There was no time to hold him back. His words were true enough.
They were both survivors of the battlefield, tempered by brutality and will.
They were far from weak or foolish enough to die easily here.
Yet why did her gaze keep following him as he departed?
“Mother?”
Wilhelm’s voice beside her finally drew her from her thoughts.
‘I need to get Wilhelm somewhere safe first.’
There was no way to predict where Letaria might emerge next.
She had to put as much distance between them as possible.
Aine gripped Wilhelm’s hand firmly and made her way to Lotein.
“So such a thing has happened.”
After hearing the account, Lotein was momentarily taken aback, but soon grasped Cled’s intent and began guiding Aine.
“There is an Evacuation Carriage reserved for members of the imperial family. If you will follow me, I shall take you to where it is kept.”

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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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