The Abandoned Villainess Decides to Take It All Chapter 57

Chapter 57

The duke’s mouth opened and closed.

Had he really heard correctly?

“M-my grandson…?”

“Was ‘grandson-in-law’ the wrong term, Grandfather?”

The fact that he spoke so politely somehow made it even creepier.

It would almost be better if he were simply a normal kind of strange.

Contrary to Duke Tillard’s thoughts, Ebren Tarandia continued smiling.

“You see, I actually like Lillian very much.”

“Huh…!?”

“If possible, it would be nice to begin our engagement with everyone’s blessing.”

Even Karkin Favil, whom she had only been bound to by an arranged engagement, had received ten years of Lillian’s loyalty.

Still, Ebren doubted that the former fiancé had been completely erased from Lillian’s heart.

She had said she liked him for ten years…

Hmm. That really was a long time.

I’ll have to shorten that.

For now, he simply wanted to get rid of these clingy people as quickly as possible.

Every time Lillian guided him, the desire to be alone with her grew stronger.

“But Grandfather, the more you hear me say this, the more uncomfortable you become, don’t you?”

“Ugh…!”

“Surely not, Grandfather.”

The faces of the Tillard family turned pale.

Their family had far too many business ties with House Favil.

“Please give me your answer, Grandfather.”

Ebren asked the question with a pleasant smile.

The veins at the duke’s temple twitched.

Meanwhile

In a world with ability users, almost anything was possible.

Still, if he was going to erase all sound so suddenly, he could at least give a warning first.

Lillian kept a calm expression while inwardly clicking her tongue.

Air is still moving around my ears.

So it wasn’t a vacuum.

If it had been, that would have been a real disaster.

The pressure alone could have damaged her hearing.

If she could explain the phenomenon rationally, she could remain calm.

Did he erase only the surrounding sound?

Since when had he been able to control his ability so precisely?

More importantly, what is everyone even saying?

The villain was speaking above her head, so she couldn’t see him.

Meanwhile, her grandfather, Kuern, and Iris kept going pale and then flushing red every few seconds.

What on earth had they heard to make them look as though their blood pressure was exploding?

Is he insulting them?

The villain might feel like a warm iced Americano—contradictory and strange—but he usually didn’t curse.

So why now?

Just then—

“—We are leaving at once!”

The sound returned instantly.

Her furious grandfather jumped to his feet.

“Do not ever address me with such a horrifying title again, First Prince!”

What had he heard that made him react with such horror?

“Oh dear.”

The villain clicked his tongue.

“I only suggested that we all get along, and he became so angry.”

Was that really all he had said?

“And Lillian!”

This time the duke turned on her, teeth grinding.

“I now understand the situation perfectly. Do you think everything will go exactly as you wish?”

“Hm?”

“You are disowned!”

He shouted the words as though delivering the gravest punishment imaginable.

“You are no longer a Tillard. From now on, live however you please!”

…Thank you?

Her grandfather left immediately without waiting for dismissal.

Kuern followed after him, his face drained of all color.

The last one to stand was Iris.

She turned back.

Her face was red and twisted with emotion.

What had she heard to react like that?

“Noona, congratulations.”

“What?”

“I mean, being treated like some kind of princess.”

Iris smiled through clenched teeth.

“Enjoy it. How many times do you think a day like this will ever come in your life?”

“…?”

What sort of conversation had taken place for her to jump to that conclusion?

But if someone attacked you, you couldn’t just let it slide.

You had to remember it.

Life was much easier when you lived just a little like a crazy person.

Lillian smiled sweetly and touched one cheek.

“Thank you, Iris! But it will last much longer than the days you’re about to enjoy.”

“…!”

“Do your best preparing the welcome banquet for the Princess of Tenevrin, alright?”

Iris bit her lip and stormed out.

Lillian slowly turned back around.

The villain blinked as though nothing unusual had happened.

“Your Highness.”

“Yes?”

What exactly did you say while you erased the sound?

That was the question she truly wanted to ask.

But Lillian wasn’t stupid.

When a villain was angry, you didn’t complain at him.

In every genre, characters that tactless always got punished first.

Lillian considered herself smarter than that.

Don’t touch dangerous things unless you absolutely have to.

So instead she said—

“Don’t suddenly scare people like that. My heart nearly stopped.”

“I’ll give you a signal next time.”

“Yeees.”

Lillian shook her head.

“Anyway, it worked out well. I saved some energy I would have spent arguing.”

The first issue—the money—had already taken longer than expected.

She had also intended to say the second condition: that the family should formally disown her.

That was actually the part I worried about most.

But if they were willing to throw her away on their own—

That’s even better.

And she knew exactly how they would reason about it next.

If they discard me, they’ll assume it becomes a cross-class marriage—which they’ll think is even better.

Without realizing that it was a trap.

Lillian looked around the now-empty reception room.

Just as death itself was strangely simple after all the drama surrounding it—

So too was the end of her relationship with her blood relatives.

It simply ended like this.

In the Carriage

Inside the carriage, the Tillard family sat in bitter silence.

Iris stared out the window, quietly fuming.

Disgusting.

How could she dare use seduction like that?

How…!

Prince Kyle would never behave like that!

Kyle—Ebren’s younger brother.

Kyle never clung to someone the way the First Prince had earlier.

Ugh… how irritating!

People called the First Prince dangerous.

Yet he had seemed like a winter god—cold and beautiful.

And he had treated Lillian as gently as if she were a fragile glass flower.

Seeing him openly admire her beauty—

It made Iris sick with jealousy.

“Kuern. Iris.”

“…! Yes, Grandfather.”

“Yes…”

“Lillian is disowned, just as I declared earlier.”

The duke sneered.

“That fool must have intended to marry the prince. But now it’s impossible.”

If the family abandoned Lillian—

Then she would become a commoner.

No matter how hard a powerless commoner tried, could she ever become anything more than the prince’s mistress?

Absolutely not.

And adoption into another noble family is impossible.

The Perniès Empire forbade adoption.

Long ago, nobles had abused the system to disguise ability users and Guides as blood relatives.

Now that we cut ties first, at least the Second Empress will save face.

But instead—

“Kuern, you idiot!”

Kuern flinched.

“G-Grandfather…”

“If not for you, would we have needed to agree to that girl’s deal?”

“But—”

“To think we must hand over that enormous sum just to protect your honor. And Ramio is about to be expelled from the Imperial Knights as well!”

Kuern’s face turned red.

He hated being scolded like this in front of Iris.

Not that their grandfather cared in the slightest about preserving the young duke’s dignity.

Then the duke turned to Iris.

“You’re the only one left I can rely on now, Iris.”

“Oh, Grandfather, what are you saying?”

Iris lowered her eyes shyly.

“But since noona caused trouble for our family, I’ll work hard to make up for it…”

I’ll never let her have things her way.

The welcome banquet? I’ll prepare it perfectly.

So perfectly—

That everyone would realize it once again.

Just what a terrible card the First Prince had chosen.