The Villainess is on a Quest - Chapter 67

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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 66
Late into the evening, Odin remained in his study.
His duties for the day had long since been completed, yet one matter still weighed on him.
The Wedding of the Century.
He longed to prepare for it, but the political situation remained turbulent and uncertain.
Odin was particularly wary of exposing the two of them to danger, given how unpredictably Retaria might respond.
“Perhaps it must be held quietly here within the Imperial Palace.”
A swift succession of events—the marriage itself coupled with the Successor’s formal investiture ceremony.
If he arranged it thus, one of his gravest anxieties would vanish entirely.
‘Should Kleid become Emperor, the realm would know a century of untroubled peace, at the very least.’
Odin yearned to bring this war to an end and turn his focus to reconstruction.
Countless lives lay in ruins, and the empire had suffered damage across every front.
According to reports from the spies he had placed in the Orion Kingdom, the common people, having learned of Aine’s departure, now desperately wished for the war to end.
When even she—who had devoted her entire life to the kingdom—had grown weary of this endless conflict and abandoned it for love, how much longer could he possibly drag this out?
Yet it seemed the Orion Kingdom’s leadership harbored no desire for peace.
They questioned why they should sit at the negotiating table while holding the advantage of superior positioning—that was their first objection. Their second was that their king happened to be Binet, the very architect of this war.
“The Orion Kingdom will weaken before long.”
A foolish and incompetent monarch now held the crown.
Though Odin had never met him, and despite how long it had been since Aine crossed over, the fact that hostilities had not intensified made it abundantly clear the king lacked the sense to employ capable men.
He exhaled slowly, clinging to the thought that he need only endure this a little longer.
“Your Majesty! An urgent matter!”
Chamberlain Rotein burst suddenly into the study. Odin’s eyes widened; this was no ordinary report. He said nothing, merely waited to hear what Rotein had to say.
“The Chesher Estate is under attack!”
“What?”
Odin’s eyes went wide, and he questioned whether his ears had deceived him.
The Chesher Estate—under attack.
* * *
The number of Retaria forces proved far greater than anticipated.
“Do they mean to occupy the entire estate? They’ve swarmed in like insects!”
“Insects and these creatures are hardly different, so the comparison fits well enough.”
“Damn them! These madmen—what exactly do they think the Chesher Estate is!”
The Chesher Estate was a place steeped in honor and tradition.
It was the birthplace of Emperor Ragnia Hartz, the first Emperor, and every designated Successor had lived within these walls.
It stood as the most sacred ground in the history of both the Imperial House and the realm—second only to the Imperial Palace itself—yet they did not hesitate to scale the walls or set fires to its ancient halls.
As Kleid and his men faced the daunting numbers before them, a moment of alarm seized him before he cried out.
“Our duty is to hold the line! We need not rout every last one of them!”
There was no need to engage them recklessly. Their role was nothing more than to buy time.
Soon enough, reinforcements would arrive and encircle them completely.
“What if we barricade the main house and mount a defense from within?”
“They know what this place is and still pressed the assault. The moment we choose to hole up inside, they’ll set the whole thing ablaze.”
He wanted to object—surely they wouldn’t go that far—but no one spoke against Kleid’s assessment.
The moment they had launched an offensive despite knowing precisely what they were attacking, it was clear these were not men bound by conventional wisdom.
“At least we know what they’re after.”
No doubt everyone understood the same thing: word had spread that Aine, Wilhelm, and Sonelopy were currently staying here.
It became clear to all of them that these three were the targets, and that they must defend the estate at any cost.
“We cannot let them take what they seek.”
“Prince! They’re attempting to breach the main residence!”
“We’re doing all we can to stop them, but we’re outnumbered.”
As enemies crept steadily toward the main house, Kleid’s brow furrowed.
Having sworn to protect Aine and the children, he had resolved to lay down his life if need be.
“Hold this position by any means! Deploy everything we have to defend it!”
The moment Kleid’s words left his lips, his soldiers sprang into motion.
They felt no fear of death—these were the soldiers who had fought through countless hardships alongside Kleid on the Frontline of the Orion Kingdom.
They were prepared to do anything for him.
‘Aine. Please be safe.’
Meanwhile, Kleid’s thoughts turned to Aine’s face. Perhaps there was one small mercy—they had shared a kiss before all this.
A faint smile crossed his lips as he drew his sword.
“Let’s show these fools what this place truly is!”
* * *
“How did you even figure it out!?”
“Is it possible there’s a spy in our own ranks?”
“Damn it, everything’s falling apart!”
Retaria, who had infiltrated the Chesher Estate, was thrown into panic.
She had launched a surprise attack they couldn’t possibly have anticipated, yet they were responding as though they’d known of their presence all along.
The swift, decisive strategy they’d mapped out from the start had crumbled in the opening moments.
The plan was to neutralize the soldiers guarding the estate entirely, then depart with Aine, Wilhelm, and Sonelopy all in tow.
“Damn it, break through faster! If we don’t hurry, reinforcements will arrive!”
Pressed by urgency, they began pushing forward with ruthless determination. Their opponents fought back desperately, but the intruders still held the numerical advantage.
Using that edge, they were advancing rapidly toward the main house of the Chesher Estate.
The resistance was fierce, yet they continued making steady progress inward.
“You insolent fools—do you have any idea whose threshold you’re crossing?”
But when they reached the main house, everything changed.
“Not a single one of you will set foot inside this building!”
Kleid Hartz—the man called the Empire’s hero. He stood at the forefront, rallying the remaining soldiers and declaring his intention to make a stand.
“Can we possibly defeat him?”
“Drawing swords against him might be a mistake to begin with.”
“Perhaps he shouldn’t have been here at all.”
The sight of him crushed the Retaria operatives under a wave of dread.
Could they truly stand against the man before them? Against someone called a hero, no less?
“You bastards! What are you doing! Come this far and you’re going to give up now?!”
Sensing the shift in morale, the Retaria leaders spoke urgently, reminding them of their true objective.
That exhortation quelled some of the panic, and the Retaria operatives surged forward toward Kleid.
‘Time is not on our side. We have to get inside, now!’
But the leaders felt the pressure too. Was it even possible for them to breach that interior? Too much time had already passed.
If they fell further behind, the Imperial Guard—or worse—would arrive to stop them.
Their numbers were decent, but not nearly enough to face the Imperial Guard. And to fight them would be nothing short of open treason.
“Break through, now!”
They dreaded nothing more than having their noble purpose branded as rebellion. So they committed greater casualties, driving their soldiers forward with renewed force.
“If we kill the prince, wouldn’t things proceed far more smoothly?”
“Have you lost your mind? Kill the prince?”
“Ha! We’ve come this far—what are you hesitating for?”
In the mounting frenzy, some began openly suggesting they simply kill Kleid.
They were convinced that his death would overturn the entire situation, that their plan would then unfold without a hitch.
“Just do it! As long as it looks like a stray arrow and no one knows who fired it, that’s all that matters!”
“Wait—stop! Don’t!”
They had already shed the last vestiges of reason. The drawn bowstring was unmistakably trained on Kleid.
Kleid himself remained unaware of what was unfolding.
“Farewell, Your Highness! This is what happens to anyone who blocks Retaria’s path!”
And so the arrow of fate, aimed at Kleid’s life, flew through the air. Had there been no variable, it would have struck true.
“Hah—hah!”
“…Aine?”
But there was a variable.

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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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