The Abandoned Villainess Decides to Take It All Chapter 40

Chapter 40

The newspaper offices were in complete chaos.

“This is guaranteed to sell!”
“Steal it if you have to and bring it back!”

In places with lax security, the prototypes were outright stolen.

Among people in the same industry, those who believed “good things are meant to be shared” began exchanging information.

If even Madam Rochette had seen it and gone berserk, then it was undeniably an extraordinary product…!

This entire chain of events unfolded far beyond what Lillian herself was aware of.

The imperial palace’s grand council chamber.

It was the regular meeting day where the heads of the Five Great Houses, their closest aides, and senior ministers gathered.

As usual, neither Duke Balthazar nor the Emperor were present.

“Did you read that article?”
“Of course. The one about Mariposa, right?”
“My daughter’s been making such a fuss about it!”

Most of the ministers were espers.

And when every newspaper they picked up mentioned Mariposa—

It was impossible not to remember the name, regardless of age or gender.

“My girl keeps begging me to buy it, but I don’t even know where to get one…”
“Right? No idea where it’s sold.”
“How long are they planning to keep it so secretive—”

“Shh!”

The moment House Tillard entered, everyone abruptly shut their mouths.

Just look at Duke Tillard and Young Duke Kuern’s faces.

Yikes. Those butterflies turned into poisonous moths.
They must be seriously irritated.

House Tillard had monopolized control-type artifacts for generations.

So of course, hearing someone else praised like this was unbearable.

But when Crown Prince Ebren entered with Elias, the room stirred in surprise.

Wait—those two came together?

The First Prince was famous for roaming the frontier.

And due to his ability, he was notorious for having… personality defects.

But doesn’t he look oddly cheerful?

Queen Consort Lovelia, representing House Favil, narrowed her eyes.

“It’s been a while, First Prince.”
“It has, Your Majesty.”
“You seem to be in an especially good mood lately.”
“I’ve had many enjoyable things happen recently. And since today’s discussion will involve Kyle, I’m even more pleased.”

“….”

The corner of the Queen’s lips twitched faintly.

Kyle, seated beside her, was stiff with humiliation as well.

Having the Dawn force crushed was already disgraceful enough…!

At that moment, General Boliver spoke up.

With his personality, restraint was never an option.

“Your Majesty. The Second Prince’s private troops are a serious problem!”

He didn’t bother to soften his words.

“He even mobilized part of the Imperial Knights without my authorization. That is a clear abuse of power!”

“Hoo… General. If necessity demands it, even a prince’s orders—”
“Orders involving prohibited weapons for monster extermination?!”

Lovelia bit down behind her black fan.

That rampaging Boliver…

They called themselves neutral, but their support was often the deciding factor.

She had to placate them carefully.

“General. I fully agree with you.”

Lovelia continued gracefully. Kyle remained rigid, pretending calm.

“I am not attempting to shield Kyle. As both Queen and head of House Favil, I cannot condone blind favoritism.”

She smiled faintly.

“However, I believe a fair punishment is required. Don’t you agree?”

“…? If it’s fair, who exactly is being punished?”

“Didn’t Kyle make his mistake in the Black Forest of Rousen?”

It had since been revealed that Boliver’s secret training grounds were there as well, but—

“In truth, that area borders the private land of the absent Duke Balthazar.”

Lovelia shifted her gaze coolly toward the real prey.

Not Ebren directly—but Elias, standing beside him.

“There should have been prior notice to prevent knight deployments in that area. But with someone absent, we nearly suffered a catastrophe.”

“…!”

“If the Duke was unavailable, then Sir Elias should have handled it.”

Elias’s body grew steadily more rigid.

The Queen smiled.

“It is regrettable that the First Prince bears such burdens, but mistakes like this—”

“It’s quite interesting, having to relearn the history of land ownership after such a long absence.”

Ebren finally spoke, wearing a crooked smile.

“Rousen did belong to Balthazar territory. Up until thirty years ago, correct?”

“…!”

“Hmm, who bought it afterward? Ah—wasn’t it an old friend of House Favil?”

The man seated to Lovelia’s right flinched.

Marquis Somnis.

A longtime ally of House Favil.

For once, the Queen failed to hide her displeasure.

“…Marquis Somnis.”

“T-that is…”

It was land he’d purchased at great expense.

He just hadn’t expected the Queen to bring it up.

Ebren only smiled.

Lovelia raised her fan to her nose to conceal her anger.

“I also fully agree with Your Majesty—on this ‘fair punishment.’”

“Hah.”

“And one more thing. Lately, it seems there’s been a form of entertainment in the capital—summoning monsters.”

The moment Ebren said that—

Kuern’s heart pounded.

No. Surely not. Surely—

“Anyone caught on-site will be punished under my authority.”

Ordinarily, Kyle oversaw capital security—but his hands were currently tied.

Kuern blurted out without thinking.

“N-no, you mustn’t!”

“Kuern?”

Duke Tillard frowned in surprise.

Kuern had interrupted a prince without realizing it.

“N-no, I mean—it’s too… excessive…”

Ebren scanned Kuern up and down and smirked.

“What’s this? Does the young duke want to enjoy it too?”

“…!”

Kuern flinched.

At the word monster, every esper’s face betrayed instinctive disgust.

Ebren stood.

“Well then. I’ll be on my way.”

Not a word was exchanged on the way back to the castle.

Ebren wasn’t thinking much; Elias was thinking far too much.

“…Would it be wise to seek out the Duke, Your Highness?”
“Why?”
“His absence at council is… significant.”
“Work harder so his absence doesn’t matter.”
“But I am not acting head. We must bring him back—”
“He’s old. The Creator God will summon him soon enough. Live efficiently, Elias.”

In other words: wait until he dies and inherit.

Elias briefly wanted to smack his own forehead—but restrained himself.

“…Do you resent him, Your Highness?”
“…? Why would I?”

Ebren didn’t resent Duke Balthazar.

A needle pricking your hand is annoying—but who resents an object?

“By the way, my castle’s walls are going to burst from all the frames.”

The Shadows had plastered every empty wall with newspaper clippings.

As if they’d been waiting their whole lives for this moment.

It was… strange.

Seeing people so genuinely happy over someone else’s success.

Ebren quickened his steps to find Lillian.

Not seeing my marked human makes me irrationally anxious.

Being in the palace without her had felt wrong.

In the Pearl Room, Lillian was gazing at an enormous framed newspaper.

“Your Highness, you’re back?”
“Who reads something this big? Is it for giants?”
“It’s the Salon Rochette article—enlarged.”
“Hah.”

Ebren stared down at her.

She’d smiled so brightly when he handed her the torch.

Now she looked calm, unreadable.

“Hold my hand, my lady.”
“…? Are you about to go berserk?”
“Not berserk—but if you’re holding my leash, try being a little less stingy.”

From their joined hands, emotions spilled over.

She really is ridiculous.

She must be happy about the articles.

He toyed with her small hand. The more he touched it, the stranger the sensation became.

…He really didn’t want Lillian to meet the Duke.

From this hand flowed fear and revulsion—

It bothered him. Why?

Why?