The Villainess is on a Quest - Chapter 64

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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 64
The Duchess of Siodor was, without question, among the most celebrated names in High Society.
Vast wealth, enterprises sprawled across the land—as many people had connections to House Siodor as to the oldest noble families.
That she, who wielded influence rivaling that of the Emperor’s own consorts, should vanish from High Society so abruptly and without explanation was nothing short of shocking.
Countless rumors swirled and mingled, and the most plausible reason most people conceived was that her husband, the Duke of Siodor, had fallen on the battlefield.
Of course, the true reason was a matter only she could know.
“Madam. A letter has arrived from the Imperial Crown Princess.”
A letter reached her as she spent her days idle at the Bedia Residence.
At the mention of the Imperial Crown Princess, the Duchess found her mind turning to Reina, and her brow furrowed.
“Did I not command that you refuse any letters coming from the Crown Princess?”
Arrogant and haughty as she was, Reina had always envied and resented the Duchess, constantly scheming against her.
Given her habit of belittling everyone around her, there was scarcely a soul in House Siodor who harbored any fondness for her.
The Duchess nearly snatched the letter from her maid’s hand and hurled it into the fireplace.
“Madam. This is a letter from the First Crown Princess, not the Second.”
Yet the moment she heard that the sender was Aine rather than Reina, her hand froze.
Only then did the Duchess notice that the seal pressed into the envelope bore not the Imperial crest, but that of the Chester Residence.
“What an old woman I am, to feel such dread at the thought of what this might contain.”
“I confess my curiosity mirrors your own, madam. I too wonder what manner of person she truly is.”
“When I saw her with my own eyes, she showed neither greed nor foolishness.”
Gazing at the seal—two refined and noble eagles etched upon it—she hesitated only briefly before taking the Paper Knife her maid offered and slitting the envelope open.
Her hand trembled with tension. Yet she had spoken truly—how many people in the world conceal their inner thoughts beneath a pleasing exterior?
Aine could easily be among them.
With that thought, she opened the letter, half-expecting her perception to be upended entirely by what she found.
“Truly, a fascinating woman.”
“To have piqued your interest, madam, suggests she must be quite exceptional.”
“No amount of flattery will change what is genuine, child.”
“I speak only what is plainly true.”
Dismissing her maid’s words, the Duchess smiled.
Who could have imagined such boldness—making this request not to anyone, but to herself, the very mistress of House Siodor?
The Duchess read the contents of the letter once more.
—I have never seen anyone as graceful and beautiful as you, madam. And so, I believe only you could grant what I am about to ask. I humbly beseech you: might you not become a steadfast patron to my sister-in-law, who has no one else in the world to rely upon?—
The handwriting was exquisite, yet the words themselves were spare and unpretentious.
They resembled those of soldiers who moved between battlefields, always pressed for time to send word.
Even her own late husband had altered his manner of writing once he took to the field.
The Duchess smiled wistfully, feeling a longing she had not known in some time, and spoke quietly to herself.
“A patron, then.”
In truth, she was not entirely ignorant of the currents flowing through the world.
High Society was now ablaze with talk centered upon Aine, and among the matters drawing attention was the sudden appearance of her brother, Theo Kline, who was capturing people’s fascination.
‘And when I learned that his wife is of common birth, I foresaw well enough what would come to pass.’
Yet there was something curious about it all. Why choose her, of all people? True, given the standing of House Siodor, there was no finer choice.
But when she had seen them at the Banquet Hall before, Emilia Andre, the Emperor’s own sister, had willingly taken her place at the girl’s side.
Though she had wondered why the girl would choose her over someone of Imperial blood—a connection no other house could rival—the offer struck her as far from unwelcome.
It was, after all, a precious opportunity to forge ties with the Imperial House.
Though taking on a commoner as a patron’s charge was no trivial matter, the fact that Emilia was to become the girl’s sister-in-law and that even Aine herself held her in regard left no room for hesitation.
“Send this letter to the Chester Residence.”
The Duchess of Siodor at once drafted a reply and sent it to the Chester Residence.
—You honor me beyond measure by granting such an opportunity—one both weighty and joyful. I should be most grateful to meet your sister-in-law, the future Crown Princess, at the earliest occasion, and I would count it a singular privilege to oversee her debut into High Society.—
As the letter made its way, a handful of troublemakers appeared.
“It must surely be bound for the Chester Residence.”
“Seize it and bring it here.”
“You there—who are you to trespass upon the private lands of a noble house?”
“Agh!”
But the letter reached the Chester Residence without incident.
“Suspicious ruffians, the lot of them. Apprehend them and turn them over to the guard!”
* * *
Aine beamed as she read the arriving letters.
Had the Duchess refused, she would have needed to think of another patron, but fortunately the woman had accepted her request to become Lia’s patron with willing grace.
“What are these letters?”
Kleid, having noticed the seal of House Siodor, grew impatient waiting for Aine’s explanation and finally could not help but speak.
As she watched him eager to know what she was doing, she considered teasing him for a moment, but then decided against it—he had been nothing but kind to her, and he did not deserve to be made sport of, so she opened her mouth to speak.
“I wanted to find a patron for my sister-in-law, Lia.”
“A patron, you say?”
“Yes. She’ll be entering High Society now, and I wanted to introduce her to someone who could teach her the proper etiquette and customs.”
“And you chose the Duchess of Siodor for this role.”
Kleid found this somewhat surprising. His first meeting with the Duchess of Siodor had been at the recent banquet.
Of course, knowing what sort of woman the Duchess was, he couldn’t fault the choice—but for someone Aine had met only once, wasn’t it rather bold?
“When I first saw her at the Banquet Hall, she had such grace. And she seemed to value refinement and propriety so much that I didn’t think she’d look down on Lia for being a commoner.”
“You have a gift for observing people closely and discerning their true nature.”
Kleid could not but agree. Her words rang true.
The Duchess of Siodor excelled in every way Aine had described. Even Emilia Andre seemed pleased to stand at her side.
“Then what assessment have you made of me?”
Kleid was curious what she had perceived in him.
So he posed the question gently. Aine’s lips curved upward as she turned to him and spoke.
“From when we first met on the battlefield? Or from when we encountered each other at the Fortress?”
“Hmm, is there a difference between the two?”
Aine shook her head.
“No. You were the same from the moment I first met you. You value principle and integrity, and you never treat people as mere tools or judged by station. And you didn’t seem the type to commit any wickedness.”
“That’s generous praise, considering I was your enemy commander.”
“What matters is that my assessment was correct, wouldn’t you say?”
Hearing her words, Kleid burst into laughter despite himself.
He’d worried she might seem frivolous, but seeing his laughter, Aine was delighted.
“The other letter came from the Marchioness Emilia Andre.”
“From my aunt, you mean?” “Yes. The Second Imperial Consort keeps pestering me. Demanding I hand over my daughter Sonelopi, saying someone from Orion like me has no right whatsoever.”
At those words, Kleid’s mood darkened considerably.
He felt the urge to storm over to where those wretches lived and challenge them to a duel, as though he himself had been insulted.
But Aine took hold of his wrist and continued.
“So I asked the Marchioness if she would be willing to serve as this child’s godmother, as she seems to need one.”
Kleid smiled warmly again.
“You are truly a good person. If the world were filled with someone like you, there would be no wars, no conflicts.”
“You’re giving me far too much credit.”
Before she could finish, Kleid pressed his lips to hers.
Ever since that first kiss with her, he’d been like a youth enchanted—seeking out the right moment to kiss Aine again and again.
Though she found his behavior amusing, Aine accepted his soft lips willingly.

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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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