The Abandoned Villainess Decides to Take It All Chapter 60

Chapter 60. The Beginning of the Original Story

The Princess of the Kingdom of Tenevrin, Meliora von Albrecht, had arrived.

There was a simple reason she could not be received at the Imperial Palace.

The mad emperor was living there.

If a distinguished guest were brought in and he suddenly killed them, it would create endless trouble.

Thus, the nobles of the Perniès Empire did not find it strange that the welcome banquet was being held at the grand Tillard Estate instead.

Guests mingled busily, exchanging greetings while discreetly checking who else important had arrived.

“It’s been a long time since all the Five Sacred Houses gathered together.”

“General Zeroth and his wife even came in person!”

“The Mage Tower representatives are here as well.”

“Well, no matter what, it’s still House Tillard.”

One of the Five Sacred Houses.

A great family even mentioned in the scriptures.

The recent scandal involving Ramio Tillard seemed almost forgotten as people flocked around the Tillard family like chirping birds.

And when Empress Lovellia herself appeared, the atmosphere grew even more heated.

“What excellent taste, Iris.”

“Your Majesty, you honor me.”

Iris Tillard greeted her with the prettiest smile she could manage.

Even the terrifying head of House Favil—the Empress herself—was being this gentle with her!

Wasn’t it the most satisfying thing when someone everyone feared showed affection toward you?

Enjoying the jealous looks directed at her, Iris beamed brightly.

“Your Highness, welcome! I’m so happy you came today!”

“…The pleasure is mine, Lady Iris.”

Prince Kyle, the Second Prince, nodded solemnly.

He spoke to Iris only as much as etiquette required.

In the end, I’m the only one suitable to marry a prince.

Once Iris secured the Saintess title, everything would fall into place.

Just then, the herald called out from the estate entrance.

“The Princess Meliora von Albrecht of the Kingdom of Tenevrin has arrived!”

Before greeting her, the guests whispered quietly among themselves.

“She’s currently first in line for succession in the kingdom, right?”

“I heard she finally defeated the prince in the succession struggle.”

“She’s extremely popular even within Tenevrin—”

The whispers stopped the moment the doors opened.

A young woman with green hair and silver-gray eyes stepped inside.

The malachite necklace around her neck gleamed with a smooth luster.

“Lady Meliora!”

Iris ran forward excitedly.

Though Meliora was a foreign princess, Iris always treated her casually.

Because the princess was her regular client.

What would she do without me?

Without that artifact, the disgusting blue snake-like veins on her body would never disappear.

But Princess Meliora looked at Iris coldly.

“Have I been away from the empire for that long?”

“Your Highness? What do you mean—”

“How dare a mere collateral noble lady address me so rudely!”

“…!”

Iris’s face froze.

Everyone believed the princess and Iris were close friends.

How could she insult her like this?

Meliora turned toward Empress Lovellia.

“Your Majesty. I do not see my dear friend, Lady Lillian, here.”

The Empress remained calmer than Iris.

But her eyes narrowed slightly.

This princess was currently fighting for the succession of her kingdom.

Which meant she was not someone who spoke carelessly.

Nor someone who would suddenly change her stance without reason.

Unless something significant had happened to replace Iris with Lillian.

“Princess. Your friend Lillian? The one close to you was—”

Wasn’t it Iris?

But Meliora shook her head.

“Really? Even among friends, isn’t there a difference between someone sincere and someone who only sees the other as a source of money?”

The Empress frowned.

And not just her.

The nobles waiting for a friendly greeting between the princess and Iris felt as though cold water had been poured over them.

“What is this?”

“Wasn’t the Princess of Tenevrin very close with Lady Iris?”

“Did she just say someone treated her like a wallet?”

Meliora deliberately looked around the room.

“Lillian repaired my artifact perfectly and even saved me. And she’s not here? Isn’t Lillian the direct daughter of House Tillard?”

Instead of the stunned Iris, Kuern Tillard stepped forward.

“Your Highness. Forgive me, but Lillian is not present in this estate.”

“How unfortunate.”

Meliora shook her head.

“I came all this way because I heard Lillian would be here. How disappointing.”

“W-Well…”

“If I traveled this far longing to see my friend, how could I not feel disappointed?”

If Kuern had been more skilled socially, he might have handled the conversation smoothly.

But Kuern had always been weak in emergencies.

And the recent scandals had shaken him even further.

As he struggled to respond, uncomfortable murmurs spread among the guests.

We cannot be humiliated in front of them.

But embarrassing a foreign princess was equally impossible.

At that moment, Iris clenched her fists.

“Unfortunately, my sister is now a commoner, and therefore no longer worthy of meeting Your Highness.”

“Lillian is a commoner?”

“Oh! Your Highness, you didn’t know!”

Iris covered her mouth with an expression of what a terrible mistake I’ve made.

“My sister abandoned our family and even demanded money from our grandfather for what she contributed to the household.”

“Is that so…?”

The murmuring shifted direction.

People had heard rumors through newspapers and gossip.

But the exact reason for Lillian’s expulsion had never been widely known.

So she threatened her grandfather for money?

“How vulgar.”

“Even though she was treated as a member of one of the Five Sacred Houses despite being powerless.”

“If the Duke of Tillard expelled her for that, they were very generous.”

Princess Meliora smiled faintly.

Inside, she clicked her tongue.

They have no idea what’s about to happen.

Just then the herald rushed inside in a panic.

The moment she saw his pale face, the princess suppressed a laugh.

Meanwhile

The original story was finally beginning.

“This is a very important event.”

“Alright.”

“You must not loosen your cravat halfway through.”

Lillian had repeated the warning several times.

She glanced sideways at the villain beside her.

After seeing how he behaved at the castle, she simply couldn’t trust him.

If anything felt tight or uncomfortable, that man would casually throw it off.

Still—

He does look good when properly dressed.

His long silver hair, like strands of moonlight, was neatly tied at the nape of his neck.

A black uniform with gold trim.

A perfectly arranged blue cravat.

In short, Lillian had worked very hard to remove the lazy rogue aura from him.

He needs to look like a legitimate candidate for the throne.

Hopefully he would just endure it.

Meanwhile, the herald at the Tillard estate looked ready to faint.

Even if the First Prince was a mad dog, he was still royalty—so invitations had to be sent.

We just assumed he wouldn’t actually come…

But they couldn’t refuse him entry.

And then—

“P-Prince Ebren Tarandia Perniès! And Lady Lillian are arriving!”

The moment those words rang out—

As expected, every head in the hall turned toward the entrance.

Lillian ignored the surrounding noise.

Instead, she looked straight ahead.

Her former family sat at the place of honor.

Her grandfather, rage carved into every wrinkle of his face.

Her brother, his glasses trembling with shock.

Ramio must still be under house arrest.

He had only just been released from prison.

And Iris.

Iris hid her true feelings and stepped forward to greet them.

“May the Creator’s blessing be upon Your Highness. Sister, welcome!”

“Oh my. Thank you for the welcome, Lady Iris.”

“Of course! But even if you wanted to come so badly!”

Iris scolded her with a bright smile, pretending ignorance.

“You’re no longer a Tillard… you’re a commoner! How could you force His Highness to bring you here?”

“Hm? Don’t you know that a Guide assigned to a royal may attend banquets regardless of social rank?”

“…What? A Guide…?”

“It’s written in the etiquette manual for the safety of the person they serve.”

In reality, that rule was rarely used.

Because the Guides of House Tarandia were usually nobles anyway.

Still—

There was a huge difference between speaking loudly while knowing the rules and speaking loudly while ignorant of them.

“You really do make it obvious how thoroughly you slept through etiquette classes, Lady Iris.”