The Villainess is on a Quest - Chapter 65

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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 65
“I’ve pitied that child for a long time. But according to Imperial Law, all rights over a child belong to their parents, so even I couldn’t intervene.”
Emilia had come directly to the Chesher Mansion to speak of what she’d long lamented.
“However, that foolish woman abandoned her own child in front of everyone and left—it amounts to the same as renouncing guardianship.”
More importantly, Odin himself had proven it. He declared that all rights to the child, including guardianship, would be transferred entirely to Aine and Kleid.
He was the master of the empire, the patriarch of the Imperial Household—who would dare contradict words spoken directly from his lips?
“Yet that foolish woman sends me letters every day.”
Reina, however, was desperate to reclaim Sonelopi.
She wrote letter after letter, threatening prosecution if the child wasn’t returned, or appearing before people to appeal that Aine had kidnapped the girl.
Because it was a statement from the Imperial Princess-Consort herself, one might have expected some impact by now—yet everything remained silent.
No matter how much Reina spoke such words, it was already too late. Too many people had witnessed her fleeing from the banquet hall alone, as though running away.
Moreover, everyone at the banquet had realized exactly whom they should align themselves with.
Word came that Reina’s followers, too, had begun severing ties with her and withdrawing from public life.
“That woman always behaved as though she were destined to become Empress.”
“Empress? That’s a ambitious dream indeed. From what I observed, very few regarded those two with favor. Even His Majesty the Emperor himself frowned upon them.”
“Quite so. His Majesty would never hand the Imperial Throne to Philip even if he rose from the dead. That fool is so incompetent he’d surely ruin the empire.”
Though something seemed to trouble Emilia and she let her irritation show, the sight of Wilhelm and Sonelopi playing in the distance soothed her expression.
“Had you not brought that child here, something terrible would have happened. For that, I’m truly grateful.”
She bowed to Aine with genuine sincerity. Aine asked her to raise her head, please.
She hadn’t acted with any expectation of thanks, nor did Emilia have any reason to thank her, she said.
Yet Emilia adamantly rejected Aine’s words.
“You saw it too, didn’t you? The scars on that child’s body.”
“…You already knew.”
“Yes, I knew. But I couldn’t step forward because I didn’t wish to cause unnecessary discord within the Imperial Household.”
Emilia, unwilling to sow discord within the Imperial Household, had kept it all buried inside.
Yet she could not ignore the guilt. She thought of Sonelopi often and prayed every night.
That happiness would find its way to that child.
“Honestly, I’m not sure I have the right to become her godmother.”
At Emilia’s expression, heavy with remorse, Aine smiled bitterly.
It occurred to her that perhaps Emilia resembled Kleid most of all.
“What has already passed cannot be held back. But neither should we abandon the present.”
To turn away even from what unfolds before one’s eyes would be true defeat.
“Instead of dwelling on regret, if you could guide her forward with a heart intent on doing well by her from now on, that would be enough.”
Though the child had already endured much and carried wounds too deep to fathom, it was not too late to navigate forward from this point.
“W-Wilhelm! Don’t run about so! You’ll fall!”
“It’s fine, sister! Come on, hurry!”
Sonelopi was a bright child, and she seemed ready to move forward toward her future.
“Very well then. I shall follow your words.”
Emilia decided to follow Aine’s counsel. As she had said, she would do well by Sonelopi from now on.
“I pledge to do everything I can for her.”
“I trust you will.”
Emilia’s words were not mere flattery. The very next day, she published a statement in the Imperial newspapers.
All rights over Sonelopi had been transferred to Aine, and she herself had decided to become the girl’s godmother.
Upon hearing this, Reina flew into fury, rushed to the imperial palace to confront Odin, and was herself subjected to the humiliation of a ban from entering the palace.
* * *
“If things continue this way, the entire empire will become her playground.”
“I simply cannot fathom it. What exactly do people see in that lowborn woman from the Orion Kingdom that makes them favor her so?”
Retaria was indignant as she watched events unfold. She could not believe it.
The plan to humiliate Aine at the banquet had failed entirely due to Reina’s unexpected actions.
The majority of the empire’s nobility now regarded Aine favorably, saying that her character and deportment were beyond reproach.
Already, some among them had begun to praise her.
“I cannot fathom what His Majesty the Emperor is thinking!”
But the most significant recent event was none other than Sonelopi. The Emperor himself had approved the transfer of the child’s guardianship to Aine.
This meant Philip and Reina could no longer interfere with Sonelopi.
That a girl of pure imperial blood would be raised under a woman from the Orion Kingdom filled Retaria not only with rage but with disgust.
“This cannot be allowed to stand. We must find some way forward.”
Marquess Alex Rodman spoke with fury rising in his throat.
“He too is displeased. We must recover the young Princess Sonelopi into our hands by any means necessary.”
“But how, sir? The Chesher Mansion’s security is notoriously formidable, is it not?”
“It’s grown even tighter since the incident that occurred before—so impenetrable that no advantage can be gained, I’m told.”
Easier said than done—it looked almost impossible to carry out.
Yet Alex spoke with perfect composure.
“A large-scale breach of the Mansion in the dead of night would catch them off guard, wouldn’t it?”
The Retaria soldiers hesitated at first upon hearing this, but before long, faint smiles played across their faces.
If peaceful methods would not work, then blood would have to be spilled to obtain what they sought.
And they were soldiers who stood ready to shed it.
“It’s almost our turn to act.”
* * *
As full darkness fell, a joyful Letter rested in Aine’s hand.
It contained Theo’s gratitude to Duchess Siodor for helping her become his guardian.
He wrote that Lia and he had been quite flustered upon hearing the news, doubting whether it was real or a dream.
Most importantly, he noted that once Duchess Siodor became his guardian, all talk of marriage had vanished entirely.
Lia, too, had written of her gratitude, mentioning a forthcoming visit, and adding that she would repay this debt someday.
“Silly. As your sister, I can do at least this much.”
Where once she had thought nothing of those around her and caused them harm, she now wished to exert a positive influence like Leixi did.
Whatever lay within her capacity to give, she would give freely.
“So you were here.”
Aine, who had been on the terrace, turned at the voice behind her. Kleid stood there, returned from his duties.
Aine welcomed him and showed him the Letter, whereupon Kleid’s lips curved upward as if the joy were his own, and he kissed her.
Before that tender kiss, Aine felt warmth and sweetness and rapture wash over her, and she smiled in return.
“I should hold a party at the Mansion soon.”
“What for?”
“To express gratitude for receiving the Emperor’s blessing.”
Kleid closed the distance and wrapped an arm around Aine’s waist.
“But more than that—I wish to make your virtue known to all.”
“Oh.”
It was a blissful moment. She was even wondering whether their bond might deepen further, when suddenly a System window appeared before her eyes.
[SYSTEM: Retaria forces are gathering in large numbers near the Chesher Mansion.]

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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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