The Villainess is on a Quest - Chapter 70

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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 70
“This is absurd. Has your heart truly not changed?”
They were hateful beyond measure—those who had so brutally murdered the child she had sent down to them. She longed to exact retribution upon them as they deserved.
That child should never have suffered such a terrible end. She was meant to live a happy life, to bring peace and fortune to those around her in her stead.
Her descendants would have flourished for generations, remaining virtuous people so long as they committed no sin.
Yet they had killed her. She was not ignorant of their desires, ugly and twisted as they were, but even so, her disappointment was difficult to conceal.
Just as those who ate from the Tree of Knowledge were punished, she had once erased an entire generation to destroy their nature—for they showed no remorse despite their defiance of her will. She meant to do the same now.
“I do not resent them.”
But Leixi was blocking her decision.
The goddess regarded Leixi.
“I cannot comprehend why. You once even forgave that foolish woman, and came to regard her as close to you.”
Leixi, knowing whom the goddess meant by that foolish woman, smiled bitterly.
She was a presence that ached to be seen, that was desperately missed—yet now they could never meet again.
But Leixi did not turn away from her circumstances. Though it grieved her, she knew they would meet again someday, so she resolved neither to mourn nor to long for her.
It was only a very brief parting.
“I want to watch over what kind of life she will live.”
Aine had, after all, preserved the fruit of her sublime love. There was not, in fact, any lack of hope at all.
Seeing her so, Leixi wished to watch over what life she would lead, what people she would meet, what expressions would cross her face, what happiness she would know.
“You seem more suited to divinity than I am. Seeing how much more merciful you are than me.”
The goddess beside Leixi gazed down upon the world with a displeased expression.
She seemed as though nothing pleased her.
“If you had not asked me to watch over her, I would never have protected that child.”
The memory of that day was still vivid. When Leixi had died and appeared at her side, the goddess had worried for Aine, who knew nothing—not even as much as a child—and went seeking the Royal Palace.
Though Leixi could have chosen vengeance, she had pleaded desperately. To protect her, she begged. To let her live.
“Aine possesses a good heart. Though she was once different, that was because someone had covered her eyes and ears.”
Upon hearing Leixi’s words, the goddess let out a hollow laugh. Yet she did not deny it.
The woman named Aine had shown herself to be devotion incarnate, moving and tender—and though she could have been savage in her adherence to instinct, she was not.
Though her past deeds could never be erased, she remained, as far as the goddess could see, the sole person in that world worthy of close regard.
“Please watch over Aine. That is all I can ask of you.”
* * *
Cleaning up the ruined Chesher Estate demanded considerable time.
“Your Highness, Crown Princess. Please, allow us to handle such matters. Do go and rest.”
“You have already given more than enough aid.”
“As the lady of this house, how could I remain idle within, turning a blind eye to what unfolds here? And considering the courage and devotion you showed that day, it is you who should rest, not I.”
The gardens had lost their beauty; the lake lay choked with silt and blood; crumbling walls lay scattered throughout.
Needless to say, everything save the main residence was damaged almost beyond recognition, reduced to something approaching ruin.
Kleid could not spare his attention for the estate’s troubles. He was busy enough as it was, and this matter too demanded his attention.
‘Then I must step forward and see to it myself.’
By receiving the ring, she had now become, completely and perfectly, the mistress of this estate.
While he devoted himself to external matters, Aine meant to handle the internal affairs.
“Mane. You sent Wilhelm and Sonelopi to Duke Andre’s Residence, yes?”
“Yes. Emilia received them very warmly.”
Bodies lay scattered in various places. Should the children happen to play and encounter any of the corpses not yet removed, it would leave them emotionally scarred.
With that in mind, Aine had asked Emilia a favor: to care for the imperial grandchildren at Duke Andre’s Residence, even if only for a few days.
Emilia had gladly agreed, saying she would be more than happy to look after them.
“Hamlet. Please compile a list of those who were regrettably wounded or fallen in battle in this incident.”
Those who had been injured would receive free treatment, continued wages while recovering, and compensation.
The fallen would receive the same. Aine meant not only to provide their families with substantial compensation but to visit them personally to offer her condolences.
“Your Highness, there is no need for you to act directly in this.”
This time even Hamlet spoke up, saying it was too much, that there was no need for her to do such a thing. But Aine was a woman who, once she had made a decision, would not bend.
“They did not serve the Crown Prince for money alone, did they? This is merely my attempt to repay their loyalty and devotion—do not hinder me in anything save recklessness itself.”
Hamlet and the others began to admire this side of Aine.
People like Philip and his wife, arrogant and haughty as they were, would have taken such sacrifice for granted, even asking why money should be wasted at all.
They would say that dying for the nation and being wounded for the royal family should be a matter of pride—why would anyone seek compensation?
But Aine placed reality above honor.
“Without your sacrifice, we would all have met a terrible end that day. I beg you, please accept my gratitude.”
“Your—Your Highness, Crown Princess. Did my husband Hugh die fighting with honor?”
Dressed in a gown of pure black, with no ornament at all, she bowed her head to the bereaved and offered words of comfort.
“I can say with certainty he was the bravest of men. He never turned to flee, and fell in glorious battle to the very end.”
Though of royal blood, she displayed no air of authority. When the bereaved embraced her, she did not restrain them; she waited until their tears were spent.
It took less than four days for images of her in this state to spread throughout the empire via the press.
* * *
“What on earth is this woman thinking about the Imperial Dignity?”
Yet not everyone had been moved to admiration by Aine’s actions.
Philip, having finished reading the newspaper, voiced his displeasure with his face flushed crimson.
“A member of the Imperial family, bowing her head as she walks about!”
He had been taught that royalty must never lower their head under any circumstances.
Reyna, who before her marriage had been the young lady of a venerable noble house, found Aine’s conduct equally distasteful.
“Perhaps the Imperial Palace will step in to stop this?”
“Of course they will! His Imperial Majesty would never sit idle about this!”
It was entirely possible that, believing she had ruined the Imperial Dignity, he would finally see her as unworthy and cast her out.
Philip’s lips curled upward as he imagined the scene unfolding in his mind.
“But why won’t the journalists print any story about me? I don’t understand it.”
Yet that satisfaction did not last long. Certainly, he had summoned the journalists and made an official statement.
He had declared himself entirely uninvolved in the Chesher Estate attack.
He had warned them not to report any speculative articles and even mentioned he would sue if they did, yet not a single such article appeared in print.
The sting of being ignored rose within him. As fresh irritation washed over him, the butler approached in haste.
“Your Highness. A proclamation from the Imperial Palace.” “So the Imperial Palace has already responded!”
Anticipating the moment when that foolish woman would come crashing down, he waited for what the butler would say next.
“Moved by the exemplary conduct of Aine Hartz, I, Odin Hartz, hereby bestow upon her the Cross Medal….”
The butler could not finish his words. Philip had let out a shriek.
Seeing his eyes go completely wild, the butler quickly turned toward Reyna.
At times like this, it was best to stay out of the way. Reyna, having been struck by objects Philip had thrown before and been injured, readily obliged.

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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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