The Villainess is on a Quest - Chapter 59

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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 58
Odin’s appearance itself was not surprising. Since this was a banquet he had arranged, it was only natural that he would attend as its host.
But what truly startled Aine and everyone else was something else entirely.
‘Wilhelm?’
It was the figures who appeared alongside Odin. Wilhelm emerged hand in hand with a young girl.
Since Aine had never seen the child before, doubt flickered across her mind—but Kleid, standing beside her, recognized who she was and explained.
“She is my brother’s daughter. Sonelopi Hartz. My niece.”
To Odin, she would be his granddaughter.
Yet Aine remained puzzled. Had Kleid orchestrated such a scene, he surely would have given her advance notice.
Though taken aback by the sudden turn of events, Aine’s gaze drifted toward Wilhelm’s face.
‘If he’s smiling so brightly, then nothing is truly amiss.’
Children’s faces were honest. When happy, they shone with happiness; when joyful, joy radiated from them. Hurt, disappointment, sorrow—all of it laid bare.
Even when they wished to hide, children were still too inexperienced to conceal such things.
“Dearest, His Majesty has arrived with Sonelopi!”
“Finally, finally he’s acknowledged our child! Though I must say, that dimwitted-looking boy standing next to her does rather grate on me.”
Aine felt relief wash over her, only to have her brow furrow at the unpleasant voice beside her.
Both the man and woman bore faint resemblance to Odin.
Judging by the fact that they had called her “child,” these must be Philip and Reina, just as Kleid had explained.
“That person appears to be your younger sibling.”
“You recognized it at once.”
“There is a slight resemblance, though he seems to have inherited none of your intellectual acuity.”
“What makes you think that?”
Kleid regarded her with a look of genuine intrigue.
She did not strike him as the type to cast idle aspersions on others.
That was why he asked.
“If he possessed even basic judgment, people from Retaria would have no place at his side, wouldn’t they?”
A short laugh escaped him.
Scanning those gathered near Philip, Aine observed a concentration of Retarian nobility, led by Marquis Alex Rodman.
As though they were people of great importance to him. Though Aine had never spoken directly with this man called Philip, one thing was abundantly clear.
Had he possessed any real judgment, had he known—as Emilia did—that he belonged to the imperial house and understood Retaria’s true nature, he would never keep such people close.
Yet this man held Retaria near. Very near indeed.
“You are correct. My younger brother is rather a foolish fellow.”
There was no familial affection between them. Their mothers had been different, and they’d had scarcely any opportunity for meaningful conversation. Moreover, Philip had always viewed him with suspicion.
Still, Kleid paid him little mind. Philip did not strike him as a threat.
Watching Philip now, ignorant that he was being used by Retaria and content in his ignorance, Kleid smiled bitterly.
“And what of the child?”
“If you mean Sonelopi…”
Kleid turned his head to observe Sonelopi, who stood with Wilhelm, their hands clasped.
Though he was her great-uncle, he had never once spoken with her. Just as his father had prevented his own children from conversing with him, Kleid had not encouraged dialogue with his niece.
“I do not know her well. But if I were to rely on His Majesty’s words, she is far more intelligent than both her parents, yet quite pitiable, or so he has said.”
“Pitiable.”
Aine’s gaze shifted to Sonelopi. Though she appeared older than Wilhelm, her body was slight and gaunt, as though she had been poorly nourished.
Her fragile frame—as if a single push might shatter her—spoke volumes about how she was treated within her own household.
“The child bears no fault. All her actions carry the responsibility of her parents.”
Children differed markedly depending on how their parents raised them. In that sense, Wilhelm and Sonelopi, standing so close beside each other, seemed vastly different.
As a faint discomfort settled over her, Emperor Odin rose from his seat. All the nobles present offered him their respect.
Aine and Kleid would need to do the same.
“My beloved son Kleid Hartz and his bride-to-be, Aine Kleine, lift your heads.”
Yet as Odin continued, all eyes turned toward the two of them.
“The true master of this gathering today is not I, but these two. Especially you, Aine Kleine.”
Odin’s gaze fixed upon Aine. She met his eyes in kind.
With their eyes locked, a smile played at the corner of Odin’s lips.
“I formally welcome your arrival in our empire and, as the master of the imperial house, approve your acceptance as one of us.”
This, then, was the true purpose of the banquet—to acknowledge her existence before all.
“I am profoundly grateful for Your Majesty’s gracious reception.”
Aine bowed her head in gratitude, and with the swell of music, the banquet officially began.
At the same moment, a system window materialized before her eyes.
[SYSTEM: Imperial Banquet]
[Number acknowledging Aine: 172/300]
[Increase the count before the banquet ends]
One hundred seventy-two nobles in this hall had acknowledged him—a majority, no less.
Yet there was no room for relief. At minimum, one hundred twenty-eight aristocrats either refused to recognize him or stood in active opposition.
* * *
“Your Highness. I’ve only heard of your return from the Battlefield, but we haven’t had the pleasure of meeting until now.”
“Forgive me for not paying my respects sooner—matters have been demanding since my return.”
“Ah, but there’s no need to apologize. Everyone knows how occupied Your Highness has been. If you don’t mind, might you introduce us to the Crown Princess?”
The moment the Emperor publicly acknowledged him, there was no need for him to wander any further—the crowds came to him.
“I am Aine Hartz. I set foot in the Empire following His Highness.”
He’d hesitated between introducing her as Klaine or Hartz, but since Aine had already been recognized as Crown Princess, he chose Hartz.
Of course, no one raised objection.
To object would have been equivalent to refusing to formally recognize her as Crown Princess—the same as challenging what Odin had just proclaimed.
“It was an honor to be introduced.”
“The honor was mine. I shall remember the words we shared today.”
Those who came to pay their respects were of every sort.
Some offered only courtesy; others came probing, curious to assess her character. Still others sought to curry favor, while a few wore suspicion or thinly veiled displeasure.
Having anticipated much of this, Aine remained unshaken. She found herself thinking that, at this rate, the evening might pass without incident.
“According to the rumors circulating, the two of you have fallen in love—is that true?”
The question came before the night could end peacefully—somewhat rude and pointedly direct. Aine fixed her gaze on the man before her.
“I’ve only read in novels of love blooming amidst war, never imagining it could be real. But it does puzzle me—how did two people so occupied with the chaos of battle find time to fall in love?”
The man who’d approached was Alex Rodman, known to rank third in Retaria’s hierarchy.
He was goading her openly, provocatively. Aine knew she had no obligation to answer him.
But she felt the weight of every eye in the room. Many pretended indifference while leaning in to listen.
They were hungry to know how this romantic tale had begun and unfolded. There was unmistakable amusement in Alex’s gaze as he studied her.
‘I know your lie.’
As if that very message burned in his eyes.
“She and I encountered each other often on the Battlefield.”
“Kleid?”
Before Aine could formulate a reply, Kleid stepped forward. His eyes held warmth as they found hers, but when he turned to regard Alex, they turned cold as winter stone.
“Forgive me, Aine, but I thought it might spare a lady some embarrassment if the gentleman offered this account—it seems the more courteous approach.”
A soft laugh escaped her even as she nodded in gratitude, stepping back a pace.

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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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