Translator: Nox

Chapter 14

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"That villainess is finally dead! She must not have known when she was rampaging so fiercely. That her life would end at just 20 years old!"

"I'm glad the villainess is dead, but no matter how I think about it, she went too easily. She should have suffered at least as much as what she did to us."

"Right. She needed to taste the bitterness of the world. She died too painlessly."

In my hazy consciousness.

All sorts of curses rained down above my head on the floor.

'Gasp!'

I snapped my eyes open in shock.

A pure white ceiling with golden vine patterns came into view. Sunlight pouring in through the wall-spanning window dazzlingly shattered on my eyelashes.

'Where did those maids go just now?'

I sat up disheveled and cracked the door open.

A few maids holding dusters were quietly cleaning.

The ones who seemed to have finished first were huddled in one corner, chattering softly.

'Mine's bigger and prettier!' and such—they seemed to be comparing the pearls I had given them.

Seeing this peaceful scene finally put me at ease.

'Phew, it was a dream.'

I leaned my head back with a thud.

That caused the door to creak open. The maids all looked my way at once.

"……!"

Realizing I was awake, they all startled like mice before a snake and froze. What a paradoxical situation.

'I'm the one who's scared of you.'

I can't live like this forever.

Now that I've returned to my residence, it was time to slowly improve relations with the maids.

"Everyone, calm down and listen to me."

I opened my mouth calmly.

"While I was confined, I did a lot of reflecting. I can't bring myself to ask forgiveness for all the atrocities I've committed so far, but there's one thing I really want you to know. That I regret my past actions and swear never to torment you again."

Pouring my whole heart into it with earnest emotion, my feelings welled up. Even I felt my chest ache.

What a touching declaration.

'The young miss has changed!'

Now they'd all understand my heart and shout that, eyes glistening with emotion.

Looking on with subtle anticipation…….

"……!"

The maids' faces turned deathly pale.

"Miss! If we've done wrong, please point it out! We're too dull to understand if you speak like that!"

They all slammed their heads to the floor in unison, begging forgiveness.

Did my words come across as sarcasm?

The young miss suddenly doing a complete 180 seemed to instill fear instead. What a backfire.

'I couldn't even break even!'

Sorry. I'll just leave now.

As I tried to vanish at the speed of light before the maids' eyes.

A hot gaze came from one corner. Looking that way, I spotted it.

A butler from downstairs was stamping his feet anxiously, watching me. He seemed too afraid of offending my mood to speak up.

"What is it?"

"Ah, well…… His Grace the Duke said he wishes to have breakfast with you, Miss."

What?

Sleepiness vanished instantly.

Why the duke all of a sudden? Having meals with his daughter was a rare annual event. Especially breakfast.

No one wants to start their day with indigestion.

'What's going on? What's this?'

I dawdled my way to the dining room.

At the far end of the long table, Duke Karnel sat reading the newspaper.

Unlike the family members, his pale blond hair was tied back in one, and his red eyes stayed fixed on the paper without moving.

His chiseled face with thin lips pressed tight resembled a sharp ice blade.

"……."

I tensed up.

Currently, his patience for his daughter was at rock bottom.

It was true that I, who possessed her by chance, had performed a great service for the Rosen Ducal House…….

But the duke had no way of knowing that. And he shouldn't.

So there was no reason for him to show me mercy.

'The first time we met, he immediately exuded killing intent. I'd believe he killed his daughter with his own hands.'

Still, he had an alibi from the meeting with aides in the main building, and he didn't seem mad enough to kill his daughter himself yet…… so he was a step removed from prime suspect status.

'But he's still the most dangerous person in the duke's mansion to watch out for. Who knows when he'll pull the annex exile card again…….'

Going against his mood would plummet my survival odds.

"Why so silent?"

The duke finally raised his eyes to look at me.

I had neatly styled my hair and dress to avoid any faults. Enough to pass a major corporation interview on the spot.

Still, I tensed under the duke's cold gaze.

"……Hmph."

As expected, Duke Karnel sharply turned his head away.

"Seems you're already arrogant from escaping the crisis unscathed, excited to splurge on shopping first thing. That's not what you should be doing first."

At his chin gesture, the chief aide walked over and placed a white envelope on the table before me.

Not a tea salon free pass…….

"It's a personal letter from His Highness the Crown Prince. He wishes to meet our father and daughter to resolve the discomfort between the imperial family and ducal house from this incident."

What?

Only then did I notice the Crown Prince's symbol, the golden dragon crest, looming large in my eyes.

My mind sharpened instantly.

'It's come, just as expected.'

The list I had compiled late into last night flashed clearly before my eyes.

Due to the karma piled up from past misdeeds, countless murder suspects swarmed around me.

They were all suspicious, but among them, particularly prime candidates stood out.

Special-grade suspects capable of perfect crimes without a shred of evidence.

In my view, there were five in total.

First was Ruelian Rackroitz, leader of the Holy Church, whom I met this time.

And another special-grade suspect was the Crown Prince and Second Prince brothers.

As inheritors of dragon blood, they possessed special abilities, enough to commit logically impossible perfect crimes.

They also had more than sufficient motive for murder.

Information I knew and memories stored in my brain mixed chaotically. I trembled.

'They could kill me and have plenty left over.'

Aristina's unrequited love for the Crown Prince was the root of all troubles.

It may have caused her first death and could lead to more murders ahead.

I needed to sort this out cleanly now.

'Yes.'

I raised my head.

Had I been silent too long? Duke Karnel was glaring at me with extreme displeasure.

He must think I was dazed from excitement over meeting the Crown Prince.

"No."

I hurriedly waved my hands.

"It's not for the reason Father thinks that I was dazed. Father can take me to the audience without worry. Because……."

"'I've given up on His Highness. I won't chase him anymore.' That's what you were about to say?"

I was startled.

"How did you know? Does my cooled heart show that much? This simplifies things."

The moment I spoke in relief.

Red anger quietly flickered behind the duke's back.

"Your heart cooled?"

"Yes. Cold as a glacier."

"Aristina."

Father spat coldly at his bewildered daughter.

"Recycling the exact same ploy after just three months—isn't that too lazy?"

"Recycling?"

"I thought you'd gained some realization from this ordeal, but you're scheming again! Planning to make His Highness unable to show his face once we let our guard down believing you've sorted your feelings? As family head, I command you: say nothing at the audience with His Highness except what's permitted to you!"

"……."

I was speechless.

I see. She already had a history of pulling that trap card on her father multiple times.

Of course. She resorted to every trick to get involved with the Crown Prince.

Claiming to have graduated from unrequited love, only to smack the believers on the back of the head.

She must have used that ploy long ago.

'That's why he won't even let me speak.'

It was natural for everyone in the dining room, including Duke Karnel, to eye me with distrust.

I understood their feelings.

After getting smacked ten times in a row from turning your back once, would you turn it an eleventh time? Even I wouldn't.

I was even stricter. I'd block after one smack.

These people were amazing for turning it ten times.

No helping it.

"Yes. Don't believe me. It's true I've given up, but just don't believe me."

I just said what I needed to.

"Do as you please."

You do you. I'll do me. I'll just go my own way.

However, I'll make it crystal clear that I'm no longer the foolish villainess pining after the Crown Prince.

'If they won't believe words, actions will show it!'