The Strange but Effective Villainess Life

Episode 28: Someone Is Back (VI)

Cesare gracefully tapped his feet. 

“I’m not a very good person to get entangled with in this way. I’m telling you because of a minimum conscience.”

“It’s the same for me. Do you have any friends?”

“What.”

‘Oh my gosh, this is such a pleasure.’

I felt a great affinity, and my eyes twinkled in admiration.

“Oh my, that’s just like me! You’re so dark inside, you can’t trust anyone, and you have a bit of a sense of victimization!”

“…….”

The perfect lover in many ways… No, I mean, trading partner.

But the overly satisfied look on Cesare’s face bothered me. I was the one who suggested it first, but I felt strangely trapped… It was uncomfortable.

And for me, if I felt bad about something, I must ask for more.

“Oh, then one more.”

After saying that, I opened the bag of gold coins next to me. Then I took out a gold coin, put it in my pocket, and handed the rest to Cesare.

“Please use this to make a lab here.”

“You mean, a research lab?”

“I was originally going to build it in the Prelai mansion, but my grandfather told me not to let him see any more research.”

Grandpa didn’t exactly say that. Still, banning coffee was like telling me not to do research. Since I already had the habit of pouring coffee and candy to concentrate in a mess.

Of course, eating right would help me live a longer and healthier life. But I didn’t mind dying a few years earlier if it meant I could continue to aggressively pour coffee and candy hard into my stomach.

“I want to be well-equipped here so that I can study comfortably. Is it okay?”

“I’ll take care of that even if you don’t pay…”

I declined Cesare’s favor and kindly thanked him.

“Thank you, but no matter how rich you are, I can’t trust your financial situation. If you go around a clubhouse or something like that, you’ll be quickly ruined. So I’ll just do it with my own money.”

“…You don’t trust me that much?”

“Marquis.”

I smiled lightly and generously gave advice.

“Ordinary honest people don’t believe in the bad guys who go to the clubhouse. As you can see, I went for an undercover investigation. Be aware.”

“…….”

For a few seconds, Cesare had an expression of regret. But he soon sighed lightly and nodded.

“All right, I’ll give you a room. If you write down what you need, I will buy it right away.”

“Very good. I can say openly that I’m going on a date.”

I applauded with a satisfied smile.

Cesare, who was staring at me silently, suddenly asked.

“By the way, aren’t you curious about what magic tool I want?”

‘Oops.’

Immediately, I put my clapping hands together politely and asked,

“What magic tool do you want?”

The answer was fast. And it was very surprising.

“A magical tool that can change eye color.”

Huh?

At once, my body stiffened.

My heart skipped a beat even though I didn’t show it.

“…The, the eye color?”

It was the first magic tool I ever developed, and something I tried not to show to the world forever.

I hurriedly took a sip of coffee and barely managed to compose myself.

“Well, there is something you should know. Magic tools use mana as an energy source, but they cannot cause great miracles.”

“I know.”

“The magic tool you mentioned… well. Even if it was implemented, it would have to be accompanied by great pain… Well, I think it would be very difficult and complicated… Why would you want something like that…”

“Princess.”

Cesare, still smiling, said, 

“When I asked the academy to research magic tools, they didn’t ask why.”

“…….”

That’s right. In the end, this meant ‘You don’t need to know, just do research’.

“As you know, hair can be dyed. Aren’t there permanent hair dyes on the market? However, it is difficult to change the color of the eyes. I wonder if you will be able to make it if you research it.”

“Ha, but I still have to think about the impact it will have on society.”

Definitely, it would have been the case with other magic tools, but it was strangely uncomfortable, so I spoke gibberish like I was reluctant.

“The natural appearance of a person, being able to change it all… a matter of mutual trust between blood relatives…”

“Princess.”

Cesare cut me off in a low voice. 

“I was abandoned by the people I trusted and depended on the most. It was shocking. I became a completely different person than I was when I was so naive.”

He had a gloomy yet cruel expression.

“My bright and narrow world…”

His eyes were far too deep.

“It got very, very dark…”

And formidable, as if harboring a cold venom.

With those intense eyes, he added in a whisper.

“I couldn’t trust anyone after that.”

“…….”

“Even the one with whom I share the closest blood.”

“…….”

“There won’t be just one or two people like this. One doesn’t have to unconditionally believe in blood ties. So don’t worry about social chaos.”

Related by blood…

Unreliable blood ties… 

Momentarily depressed, I kept my mouth shut. I also had a mother who hurt everyone.

“…Then…”

I swallowed dry saliva and looked at him. And quickly changed the subject.

“The Marquis may not believe me either.”

At my words, Cesare paused slightly. Then he answered dryly.

“Yes. I don’t believe it.”

“Hmm.”

“It’s easy to lie about believing, but I don’t want to lie. I hope you are not disappointed. As I’ve said, I now have no family, no friends, and…”

Cesare pondered for a fleeting moment.

“I don’t even believe in first love.”

It was as if he was talking to himself.

As I stared at him, he smiled perfectly like he had measured it with a ruler.

“But we will be able to use each other plainly and appropriately. I believe in the ability of the Princess. That’s what the number of papers tells me.”

At those words, I immediately felt better.

“That’s right. It’s a number that can only be achieved when all three elements, effort, passion, and talent, are present.”

At my answer, Cesare said meaningfully.

“Well, as for social impact… The culture of inferring lineage from eye color will disappear. I think it’s pretty good.”

It couldn’t be helped that I didn’t respond to Cesare’s words. As that was exactly what I thought when I was a child.

That’s how I erased the face of my mother floating in my head.

At times like this, I had to think objectively without being bound by the past.

It was actually a profitable deal for me, being asked to research a magic tool I knew I could make.

I wouldn’t need to do a lot of research. I just had to pretend moderately, so there was no pressure to be honest. It would be enough to say that it was developed after casually wasting time.

So I took a deep breath and said,

“It’s good anyway.”

Our gazes met again.

“I’ll do some research. But there are conditions.”

“What is it?”

“I’ll think about formally announcing the development of this magic tool, that is, having a thesis presentation. Give me some time.”

What bothered me was the boy I had met while on the way to Liloney, who I presumed to be the missing crown prince. I was afraid that if I released this magic tool, he would get into trouble.

So it was like buying time. Time could be put off forever.

“Great. Let’s discuss that later together.”

Unaware of my intentions, Cesare chuckled.

“Then, please take good care of me in the future, Princess. I’ll say it again…”

He leaned over towards me and added.

“…No matter what happens, there’s no take backs. You know, right?”

It was a sweet voice, as if tempting me to do bad things together.

“Of course.”

Barely taking another breath, I asked.

“There is an imperial banquet next week to celebrate Prince Heaton’s birthday. Can I spread some rumors that you are my lover?”

Cesare, Joshua had said, did not attend social events.

Naturally, I thought he would not attend the banquet next week, which was why I said this. After all, all I had to do was say ‘I have a boyfriend!’ there.

“No, I don’t think you need to.”

However, the words that came out of Cesare’s mouth were very unexpected.

“I’m going to attend that banquet too, so we just have to show it in front of people.”

“Uh… Um, you will be attending?”

“Yes. It was already planned.”

He laughed softly.

“I never imagined I would have someone to escort.”

This meant that regardless of me, he had intended to go to the imperial banquet in the first place.

‘I thought he didn’t go to any events and only stayed in dark places like the clubhouse…’

Anyway, this would be his first official social debut, but his image would be ruined because of me. Of course, it was his own problem, so I wasn’t too sorry.

“Well, then let’s do that.”

I answered a little shyly. I believed we had said everything there was to say.

I was about to stand up when Cesare reached out his hand.

“And this…”

He untied Avian’s handkerchief from my wrist.

The handkerchief he unwrapped fluttered and fell to the ground.

When I glanced at him in surprise, he smiled mischievously.

“I cannot send my lover away with another man’s handkerchief.”

Then, he took out a handkerchief from his coat and tied it tightly around my right wrist.