Chapter 96

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 96

Chapter Title: Villain Lessons for Adrian

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Adrian's question made me hesitate a bit before I answered in a small voice.

"It's Leblain."

"......Leblain."

The boy repeated my name several times, as if savoring it, then broke into a soft smile.

"Pretty name."

"You're such a fool......"

I couldn't stop sighing.

'How's this kid gonna survive being so nice?'

My last shred of conscience was stabbing at me hard enough that I was genuinely worried for him.

His future held even sharper thorns than before.

For some reason, Adrian's fate had changed.

He hadn't been chased out due to his maternal grandfather's rebellion, and he was living in the annex, not the imperial palace.

'The Emperor must have entrusted Adrian to the Grand Lady.'

The palace right now was the world of Empress Ivonne, who had borne the imperial family's firstborn son.

Normally, the Empress Dowager would keep her in check, but the two were from the same Marquis Marsch House. Empress Ivonne was the Empress Dowager's cousin once removed.

In other words, there was no one in the palace to protect Adrian.

Of course, the Emperor couldn't step in for appearances' sake either.

Showing interest in Adrian would make the Marsch Marquis House on high alert, and Adrian's maternal family would start aggressively recruiting nobles.

'His life's as rough as mine— he can't afford to be this foolishly kind!'

Otherwise, he'd end up torn apart from all sides.

"Adrian."

"Yes."

"Come sit here."

I plopped down on the grass and patted the spot beside me. Adrian obediently sat next to me.

"If someone tries to deceive you or crush you underfoot, glare at them like this and say, 'Looks like your life means nothing to you.'"

"......Huh?"

"Repeat after me. 'Looks like your life means nothing to you.'"

"Looks like your...... life means nothing to you."

"Good. Now smile like the world's biggest villain."

I mimicked my dad's expression, and Adrian narrowed his eyes with a smile.

"No, no. That just looks handsome."

I scolded him sternly, and he lifted only the corners of his mouth again.

'Hmm, not quite there yet, but it'll do.'

"Next, say, 'How can you be so sure of the future?'"

"How can you be so sure of the future?"

"Good. No smiling this time. Say, 'If you're unlucky, losing just one limb won't be the end of it.'"

"If you're unlucky, losing just one limb won't be the end of it."

"Perfect! Now string it all together."

"Looks like your life means nothing to you. How can you be so sure of the future? If you're unlucky, losing just one limb won't be the end of it."

"Excellent."

That was when it happened.

"Young Lady?"

The Grand Lady's voice called from afar.

I jumped up and said to Adrian.

"Next time, I'll teach you even scarier threats. Practice this. Got it?"

"......Will you come again?"

"Yeah. Often."

Adrian gave me that signature heart-melting smile.

I waved goodbye to him and hurried over to the Grand Lady.

She was waiting for me near the training hall.

"Did you enjoy your visit?"

"Yes! It was fun!"

"Good. Shall we head inside now?"

"Yes, Grand Lady."

I took her hand and we entered the training hall.

Clink. As I set down my teacup on the saucer, the Grand Lady smiled gently.

"Not a single flaw."

"Thanks to your excellent guidance."

I beamed at her, and she brushed my hair behind my ear, nodding in satisfaction.

'Tea etiquette's a piece of cake!'

This was something even Madame Conpine, who taught etiquette in Duvered, had gawked at on first sight.

No one knew how harshly Duchess Ballua had drilled it into me in my second life.

The position for setting down the cup, the angle of my elbow when sipping, which finger touched the handle first.

She nitpicked the tiniest details, making me hold a teacup all night, or whipping me if the sip size wasn't right.

'Tea drinking's etched into my soul.'

I smirked inwardly and reached for my cup again. The Grand Lady lightly pressed my hand.

"The test's over. Drink freely now."

"But......"

"I teach etiquette because I must, but it's all empty ritual to me. How can you savor the tea's aroma fussing over such things?"

With that, she split a scone in half and handed it to me. I snatched it up with a grin.

Truth be told, the tea smelled amazing, and she'd added plenty of cream so a kid like me could drink it easily. I wanted to gulp it down.

I munched the scone nom nom and slurped the tea noisily. The Grand Lady chuckled.

Just then, a knock came at the door.

She permitted entry, and a butler in tails stepped in.

"A guest has arrived."

A faint crease formed between the Grand Lady's brows.

"Anyone who comes unannounced isn't a guest. Send them away."

"But the visitor's status is such that......"

The butler looked troubled as he continued.

"It's Duchess Ballua."

"......About smuggling antidote manuscripts from the palace."

She meant the incident where the duchess had smuggled palace antidote books to get her son Nils into the prestigious Imperial Academy.

Since I'd publicly humiliated Nils and exposed the smuggling, it couldn't be brushed off easily.

The butler bowed his head.

"Yes. She says she'll wait until you agree to see her."

The Grand Lady let out a thin sigh.

"Bring her to the drawing room."

I fiddled with my teacup, raising an eyebrow slightly.

'She must be desperate.'

The one person terrified of bad rumors in society was acting this rudely.

"I'll teach you chess next time."

"Yes, Grand Lady."

"I'll have the butler prepare some books for you to read. Wait outside the drawing room."

I bowed my head.

Then I followed her out of the training hall.

She greeted me and entered the drawing room. I sat on the small sofa nearby, pretending to wait for the books the butler would bring...... while eavesdropping on the leaking conversation.

"The Grand Lady must help us."

"What power does an old woman cast out from the palace have?"

At her weary tone, the duchess's voice grew more urgent.

"Even His Majesty yields a step to you."

"Watch your words. As if His Majesty is swayed by a mere old crone."

"N-no, that's not what I...... Grand Lady, this is also for the order of high society. It's not just me or my son suffering from this. Empress Ivonne is in great distress too."

"......"

"If you resolve this, imagine how grateful the Empress would be."

"......"

"Only the Empress can rein in those disrupting society's order under the Empress Dowager's influence. So this is your chance to......"

She meant it was a chance to pull Empress Ivonne, allied with the Empress Dowager, to the Grand Lady's side.

"I need time to think. You should go."

"I'll trust you'll give a positive answer."

The duchess replied pleadingly as she stood.

'But will it go as she plans?'

The talk ending before the butler even arrived meant the Grand Lady had no intention of entertaining her.

'In the end, Duke Ballua will have to step in.'

If the duke intervened, things could be salvaged—he had that much power. But the duchess's face would hit rock bottom.

Right on cue, the butler arrived with books and a chessboard.

"This is the chess set the Grand Lady used."

The antique board bore the marks of time beautifully. The ivory pieces inside were lavishly adorned with black pearls and rubies.

"Wow, it's gorgeous! I'll wait here, say goodbye to the Grand Lady, and go."

"Yes."

The butler smiled and withdrew.

At that moment, the door flew open, and Duchess Ballua stormed out of the drawing room alone.

Spotting me as she closed the door, she scowled fiercely.

"A crow cawed this morning."

It was society slang for running into someone unlucky.

I smiled brightly and greeted her.

"Hello, Duchess Ballua."

"You know me?"

"I saw you at the party with Young Master Ballua!"

You know, fleeing in embarrassment.

Understanding my jab, her face flushed red. But unaware I'd said it on purpose as a child, she just gritted her teeth.

Grind. Forcing a smile, she said.

"I see. I know you too."

The duchess scanned me up and down with haughty eyes.

"Such a pity your divine mark hasn't manifested yet."

"......"

"Do you know? Those who overreach beyond their station meet horrific ends."

Meaning a fake like me, lording it as Duvered's lady by luck, would soon have my limbs torn off once the truth came out.

She smiled thinly and turned away.

I called out innocently.

"Don't worry too much!"

"......What?"

"Dad said even though Young Master Ballua nearly got into the Imperial Academy with a lie about deciphering scriptures, which was beyond him, he won't die horribly."

"Wh-what did you say?!"

"His reputation will hit the dirt and he'll be buried in shame, but he won't die. So, um......!"

I put on a comforting face, and the duchess bit her lip, her face crimson.

"You......!"

Just as she was about to yell, the Grand Lady emerged from the drawing room.

"What is it?"

I took the Grand Lady's hand lightly and tilted my head. The duchess clenched her fists.

"......Nothing. Just said hello to the young lady."

Did she think I was still the pitiful Leblain who got hurt by every word from adults?

I waved innocently at her retreating back.

"Bye-bye!"

Ballua Mansion.

The duchess stared at her pale, furious husband.

Bam!!

He slammed the table, making her shoulders flinch and shrink.

"D-dear, don't worry. If the Grand Lady steps in......!"

"You got chased out without even a cup of tea, and you think that old bat will help us?!"

"Th-then what about me and Nils......"

She covered her mouth with trembling hands and rushed to her husband.

"What do we do? Is there no way? Dear!"

The duke scowled viciously.

'Damn it, damn it......!'

Last month, he'd issued a statement trying to stop Priest Adolf's execution. But he failed, falling out of the Emperor's favor.

Now his family had caused a massive scandal— no small fix would do.

He raked back his hair roughly and tugged the bell cord. An administrator entered, and the duke ordered.

"Prepare 'that.' I'll present it to the Emperor soon."

His wife gasped.

"'That'? You mean the thing you developed with the temple?"

"Yes."

"Will the Emperor change his mind if we give him that?"

"He'll have no choice."

What was 'that'? A device developed by sharing all ancestral data with the temple.

Even the Emperor's eyes would light up at it.

Duke Ballua pulled a small card from his drawer, fiddling with it as he smirked.

It could cover his family's disgrace and strengthen ties with the Emperor.

'Even the thorn in my side, Duvered, will beg me to sell them one.'

This mid-range teleportation circle could transport over three kilometers—far beyond anything on the market.