The Strange but Effective Villainess Life

Episode 35: Someone Is Back (XIII)

“I don’t know who your lover is, but don’t rush into marriage, Princess. A better partner might appear.”

“…Yes?”

When I asked back, the emperor laughed and said,

“Isn’t your middle name ‘Eli’? I know your father named it after the most valuable jewel in the world.”

I blinked, surprised. I had never heard of the origin of my middle name.

“If Ed returns, it will be thanks to the Elistone given today, so I think he will be a very good match for you.”

That was not at all logical?

However, it was the power of authority that could not be said to be wrong.

Having been a professor as well as a graduate student, I knew the truth very well.

After saying so, the emperor handed me a golden envelope.

“This is my little reward.”

“Thank you.”

I swiftly accepted the envelope.

I was brimming with curiosity as to what in the world it contained, but I couldn’t be rude and open it right away.

As if the emperor knew what I was thinking, he smiled benevolently and said, 

“There is nothing more foolish than giving wealth to a princess of Prelai in return. It’s the access card of the imperial family.”

“If it’s the imperial family’s…”

“Isn’t the imperial palace controlling outsiders now? But with this, you will always be able to come and see me.”

No matter how direct I could be, I couldn’t say, ‘But Your Majesty is always bedridden.’

Perhaps the emperor calculated that far, for he added in a low tone.

“If I am unable to receive guests, the empress will greet you instead.”

This was how I obtained the ‘permission to meet the empress at any time’.

All in all, it was something that money couldn’t buy, so it was worth keeping.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

The emperor smiled mischievously and greeted.

“Then, Princess, I’ll see you with your summon later.”

Thereafter, he immediately turned around and disappeared into the palace.

I stared at the emperor’s back for a while.

My heart contained a little bit of guilt. It was because I thought he would have been happy if I told him that I met someone who I believed to be the crown prince six years ago. And that he sounded vengeful…

But I couldn’t tell information that wasn’t even certain. Additionally, we were inside the palace. I didn’t know if there were any peering eyes and ears. 

After the emperor completely disappeared, I also left the palace. Then, I fell silent in thought.

‘Perhaps the reason why the crown prince hasn’t come back yet is because he hasn’t revealed who’s behind the incident?’

‘Even if he returns and kills all the people who participated in the picnic, Heaton will still remain.’

Heaton did not participate in the picnic.

‘Psychologically, what he is doing is more dramatic in driving the culprit.’

But no matter how much I thought about it, wouldn’t it be more efficient to return as the crown prince and investigate with that power?

‘Still… There’s a reason why he can’t show his face openly. It must be beyond my wildest imagination.’

Anyway, the emperor’s response earlier indicated he knew why.

‘Anyway, if the crown prince is grinding his teeth to kill Heaton, I must help him unconditionally.’

Engraving the truth in my heart once again that the enemy of my enemy was on my side, I clenched my fists.

‘Anyway, since I announced my return, I’ll have to pave the flower road myself to make things go even a little faster.’

The original work ended at the point where the revenge of the crown prince had just begun, but hasn’t the development already accelerated a ton?

‘But it’s great that it’s going fast? I love being fast.’

Heaton has yet to exert a decisive hand on the Duchy of Prelai.

Since water came in, I had to swim, so I decided to get things done for the crown prince as quickly as possible.

I immediately ordered the spy maid waiting in the carriage.

“Spy.”

“Yes?”

“I will go out tomorrow morning. Be aware, I have someone I need to meet.”

“Yes! Then, let’s decide on the dress tonight…”

“No.”

I lowered my voice to a hush and ordered the spy maid.

“Prepare a kerchief and maid’s uniform that fits me. I have to move behind the scenes,”

At the enigmatic order, the spy maid sent me an absurd stare.

“The escort…”

I scanned the spy maid from the top of her head to her toes.

Strong muscles and large build… Carried loads well… 

‘It’s a little dubious, but I think the spy maid will be fine.’

“Do you think you’re enough? It’s not a very dangerous place.”

“Yes!”

The spy maid answered excitedly, like she thought she had been recognized.

“I was originally a talent coveted by all kinds of knights and assassin guilds. So trust me!”

─➽⊰

“Hahahaha. It’s comfortable to come back, right?”

After parting with Kiana, the emperor laughed and glanced at his escorts.

“Thanks to all of you, I didn’t have to listen to the terrible lecture when I left the tree.”

The escorts sighed and nodded.

“Then… Your Majesty…”

“Oh, I’d rather sell my child and look pitiful than listen to those terrible formulas.”

The escort knights looked at each other and smiled shyly.

“Anyway, I like her very much as Ed’s partner. Ed was also good at science and math, so wouldn’t he be okay with listening to her?”

The emperor laughed before murmuring.

“Our Ed is naive and kind… so his partner can’t act like a fox.”

“…….”

The escort knights swallowed the words they couldn’t say.

If the man who hacked up his old teacher was really the crown prince, wouldn’t he have already become far from being naive and kind?

─➽⊰

That night.

Heaton secretly stood in front of the Tales Tree.

He heard that the emperor, accompanied by Princess Kiana, prayed to the Takes Tree.

Heaton did not believe in such superstitions. But he had a bad feeling.

He tossed a 12-pellot Elistone. The Elistone, which landed at a moderately high place, was absorbed while shining.

He prayed softly with his hands on the tree.

“I hope the crown prince is dead, and if he is alive, he will never come back.”

In any case, the Tales Tree that had absorbed the Elistone happily shook its branches. And at the same time, something fell on Heaton’s head.

“…A note?”

Heaton’s heart was pounding.

There was an oracle passed down to the Tales family from long ago.

—There will be a way in the note Tales receives.

There were various interpretations of the word ‘note’, but anyway, the descendants of Tales were sensitive to things similar to notes.

Among the many interpretations, there was one that said, ‘God conveys meaning through notes.’

And the Tales Tree was the most sacred thing in the imperial palace.

Heaton unfolded the note as if unconsciously bewitched.

But I’m also on the side of the crown prince.

It was a note Kiana had scribbled on the carriage earlier, and it was the paper she used to secure the Elistone. Of course, no one knew about it.

Heaton looked at the Tales Tree in disbelief and tore up the note in a fit of rage.

“Damn it, are you ignoring mine because the more expensive one is placed higher? This awful tree, I will cut it down as soon as I become emperor!”

With great anger, he kicked the base of the Tales Tree and went back to his palace.

—

3. Who Is Back?

The next morning, a shopping street inside the capital’s commoner district.

It was a special day for street discount events.

“Hey, get out of the way!”

“Let me pass!”

Maybe that’s why the streets were packed tightly with people. And in a remote alley on that crowded street, there was a tent with a barely-hanging worn-out sign.

Retired Priest Meyer Els
—Blessings

The temple had been closed for a long time, and the effect of the blessing was unknown. So, in these back alleys, all those who were doing blessing-related business were treated as scammers.

For that reason, Meyer’s little stall tent was not popular.

Old Meyer was leisurely dozing off amidst the noise outside.

‘How can I…’

And in an isolated alley, behind Meyer’s tent, Cesare hid his presence and watched him.

‘…move that senile man…’

Ame: Dea, do you see ‘kind and naive’ anywhere? 

Dea: *puts glasses on and leans closer* if you close one eye…and then close the other as well you might be able to imagine a kind and naive Ed hahaha