Chapter – 34
Liliane, wearing a veil, kept a close watch over the mountain path alongside the villain.
Soon, the black-haired man appeared, riding a white horse and leading knights, approaching the area where the “ability mines” had been planted.
“…As expected. He brought ‘Dawn’ along with the royal knights, it seems.”
Liliane whispered into the villain’s ear.
The ones in blue uniforms, ‘Dawn,’ were the personal knights of the original story’s male lead.
Some were called “Shadow,” some “Dawn.”
The bias in the original story’s affection was glaring.
“But I’ve already deactivated all the abilities here and put them back.”
The original male lead had distanced himself from the party along with the brown-haired man, fuming and shouting at his subordinates.
‘Wow… they’re fighting.’
Among themselves.
Liliane held her breath and listened intently.
The aide was crying and pleading.
“Your Highness, if this goes wrong… the damage will be severe, like an earthquake—”
“—Then just leave it to Balthazar!”
Liliane clicked her tongue.
Isn’t he saying that far too bluntly?
“Your Highness, who exactly are you fighting?”
“Seems like it’s Cedric Vayne, Kyle’s aide.”
“Ah, Cedric… That man, I have to save him.”
“…….”
“Your Highness?”
“It’s just… strange.”
The villain lowered his head.
“How do you know so much about my brother? It’s like you’re his controller or something.”
“Eh?”
“You even know the aide well. Why do you care so much?”
What a strange personality.
Surely he isn’t suspecting me just because I know so much and am helping, is he? At this point?
“Why would I become the controller of the Second Prince? My head is too full worrying about Your Highness right now.”
Worried he might cause trouble.
“I’m only concerned about Your Highness and the Shadows.”
Also worried that my life, now entangled with theirs, might be buried along with it.
…Of course, it was a relief that no one had been harmed by the mines.
I wanted to live well on my own.
Seeing people I know die… those two things were different.
Perhaps the villain understood that sincerity as well.
He lowered his gaze and smiled in satisfaction.
“Hm… I see.”
“But, Your Highness. You’re not going to actually annihilate them, right?”
The original villain considered “eliminating nuisances” the most efficient approach.
‘There were quite a few places in the original story that got wiped out… but…’
In response to Liliane’s question, the villain replied indifferently.
“Who knows? If they’re trying to mess with me, do they really need to breathe?”
“Punishment should be received alive. And destroying them right away isn’t exactly fun, is it?”
There was no point trying to appeal to his ethics.
The villain chuckled softly.
“Then, what do you consider an interesting approach?”
“With this many spectators present, you have to humiliate them.”
He had arbitrarily drafted the royal knights and brought them along.
‘Not even the Emperor, and yet so bold.’
And first…
Behind the male lead turning his back and leaving, I need to see what that aide is scheming.
‘You’re not even the real aide.’
After that came my entrance.
Some time later,
Cedric Vayne wiped the tears streaming disgracefully from behind his glasses.
“Sniff… sob…”
Kyle outwardly appeared noble.
But as a perfectionist, he couldn’t tolerate the slightest deviation from his plans.
‘This is your chance to prove your loyalty. Go and set up more.’
Cedric looked down at the “opportunity” in his hand.
‘Ah… if I mess this up, it’ll be disastrous.’
What should I do?
‘I have to act like I’m following orders, at least.’
He buried the bombs in the ground with care.
But after finishing, he gasped for air.
“Kuh!”
A dizzying pain stabbed at his temples.
It must have been contaminated with the ability leaking from the bombs during transport…
‘Ugh, this is exactly why I didn’t want to do this.’
Then someone grabbed Cedric’s hand.
The damaged nerves started organizing themselves in an instant.
A pink-haired beauty, veiled… her features looked soft and rounded like marshmallows.
What…?
“Are you all right?”
“Y-Yes? Th-thank yo—”
“Good, I’ve got a witness.”
“……?”
‘Why aren’t the bombs going off yet?’
Kyle grew anxious.
Especially with the knights following him, scrutinizing every move.
“Your Highness, time might be—”
“A monster is appearing. You can solve it with your abilities—”
“Wait a little longer!”
Kyle shouted.
He despised his own abilities.
What good was an S-rank deadly poison?
It wasn’t the crucial “annihilation.”
A petty ability, unworthy of a royal, he didn’t want to use.
And he didn’t want others showing off their abilities before him either. So he chose the efficiency route.
Then…
Kyle suddenly covered his nose with the back of his hand, overwhelmed by the scent filling the air.
‘Why has this been happening?’
Perhaps because it was dark, the scent of lilies was suffocatingly strong.
Who…?
Before he could identify the source, a horrifying monster approached.
“Well, well… didn’t expect to meet you here.”
“…Evren?”
“What’s wrong, little brother?”
Evren smiled.
Kyle’s spine tingled at the artificial nature of that smile.
“Seeing your older brother again isn’t making you happy?”
“…….”
“Such a shame. It hurts the heart.”
Kyle clenched his fist, knuckles straining.
Happy… shame…
…Heart?
So disgustingly skilled at showing what he himself lacks!
“And you’re scared during monster hunting? Bringing along Dawn and the royal knights?”
“…!”
“That’s rather ugly.”
The Shadows surrounding Evren dared to swagger.
“Well, you’ve only stayed in the capital, so I suppose it’s confusing.”
“How old are the Dawn knights?”
“They’re the age that’d cry for their parents if camping out.”
Are these people insane?
Even as Evren’s subordinates, how dare they act so disrespectfully toward the Prince of Tarandia?
Sensing the tension, the Dawn knights sharpened their expressions.
“How dare these filthy things roll in the dirt!”
“Pathetic fools…!”
The atmosphere became even more lethal, like a sheet of ice.
At that moment, Kyle noticed the woman beside Evren for the first time.
Veiled, she appeared blurred as if brushing past in a crowd.
But it wasn’t her appearance that mattered.
‘That woman… in her hand?’
Kyle flinched instinctively.
She was holding the deactivated ability mines.
“What exactly is this, Your Highness? Do they make things like this in the palace?”
“Hm? That looks illegal to me.”
“Oh my, surely not!”
The woman exaggeratedly fretted.
“The Second Prince is famous for his bravery. Surely, you wouldn’t lose to the First Prince… and place illegal weapons, right?”
‘Dawn’ could feel the eyes on his back.
A noble Emperor must appear flawless.
Without “annihilation abilities,” everything else had to be perfect.
He knew how obsessively Kyle imposed his standards on subordinates.
Though everyone whispered in bewilderment, Kyle’s eyes were fixed on one person.
Was she Evren’s subordinate?
Who was this woman, spreading the scent of lilies?
What on earth…!
Kyle instinctively reached out.
But before he could get closer, a commanding voice came from behind.
“Your Highness! What is the meaning of this!?”
Liliane chuckled quietly at the shout.
‘As expected, Boiliver runs wild.’
Even high-ranking elders, who could have stayed out of trivial matters, had mobilized immediately.
