Failed To Abandon the Villain

Chapter 77

****

“Are you saying that this is connected to Valletta?”

Milord asked in a strange voice, staring down at the red bead in his hand. The bead that rolled in his hand had strange letters stuck inside it, but it didn’t look special.

‘Yes, it hasn’t been announced, but I’m sure there will be a bounty arrangement soon. It had destroyed the building again, along with a new magic tower pillar.

“It’s outrageous. No matter how much Valletta has changed from before…..”

“That’s not all. We have received reports of numerous deaths this morning.”

The Emperor said, shaking his head with a worried look on his face.

Milord, who opened his eyes wide, made his face firm as if he had something to guess.

“Again…Was it the destruction of the village caused by that magic tower lord?”

No, this time it’s the servants of the Duke of Delphine.”

“You mean the people who were trapped under the building. I heard that their condition was serious. However, Valletta distributed the potion, and there are quite a few people who have improved thanks to it…”

Milord’s brows furrowed. His respected father, the Emperor’s expression was not good, so Milord’s expression darkened along with it. Milord clenched his fists.

“…… You don’t think she had anything to do with this?”

“There was a problem with whoever took the potion. Moreover..”

“What? No way. It’s probably just a worsening of the condition.”

“On the other hand, the people who didn’t take the potion to save money had no problem.”

Milord’s face went blank and he shook his head as if he couldn’t believe it. It couldn’t be. Valletta wasn’t such a terrible person. She looked a little different, but that didn’t mean she was someone who would indiscriminately slaughter people.

“Are you saying that she deliberately poisoned people?”

“No poison was found. Gillian told me that there are two possible explanations.”

“Two?”

“It could have been a catastrophe created by the inexperience of an incompetent alchemist, or it could have been an experiment of some kind…..”

Milord fell silent. Gillian was the best alchemist in the imperial family. His knowledge of alchemy was unrivaled.

‘Her ability was outstanding.’

He actually heard Gillian approve and praise other alchemists many times. It was said to be a potion with a very superior level of perfection. It was hard to believe that she had failed to do so. But if he eliminates it…..what’s left? It was only the reality that Milord didn’t want to believe in the most.

Milord squeezed the bead he was holding.

“So, what is this…?”

“She’s an excellent asset. We can’t just let her roam around, but that doesn’t mean we can lock her up and treat her inhumanely.”

The emperor tapped his fingers lightly on the desk. It didn’t matter what methods he had to use, as long as he could get his hands on her.

“When the suspicions are confirmed, she will be captured by the imperial family, but she won’t sit still, so don’t let her out of your sight.”

“What?”

“Keep her close to you and you’ll own her. You are my only heir, aren’t you? Don’t lose the child to the Tower Lord.”

“…… I don’t really want Valletta that much.”

Milord’s lips moved for quite a while before he finally spoke up.

The emperor chuckled softly as he looked contentedly at his son’s hand, which was grasping the bead with all his might. His son, who knew nothing, was adorable. He wouldn’t even know what it was he was holding to calm his emotions.

“Milord, tie her close to you and one day she will give you her heart. Maybe when you have children they can feel the love for you.”

“But…..”

“And if you really mean to get it after that, you can choose any means or method you like. Because you are the one who will be Emperor.”

The emperor said as he stood up and squeezed Milord’s shoulder.

Milord slowly bowed his head. His good and glaring blue eyes became slightly cloudy.

“Milord, it’s impossible for you to have that child with your position now.”

Milord’s shoulders shook with fright. His mouth dropped open in disbelief as if he had just heard something incredible.

“Does Your Highness want me?”

“Shouldn’t I …… do that? She’s your fiancée.”

“If you want her, you can’t have her right then and there.”

The conversation with her came to mind. The conversation that stuck in his mind and never left. Hearing the same words from his father, his heart quickly became heavy.

“Why? Father! Why? Why me? …….”

‘Why is it that every person I meet tells me I’ll never get her? Has loving someone become such a problem?’

He liked her because she didn’t think of himself as the Crown Prince. Because she seemed to see only the essence of Milord as a person. He was glad she didn’t flatter herself to win his favor.

“That’s where she is, in the mud of that deep bottom. To get the pearls in the mud… …Shouldn’t you dip your feet in that mud too?”

“Can you get it then?”

“The next step depends on what you do. If you don’t want to miss it, just hold it in your hand properly. Just make sure you hold onto that bead well.”

The emperor’s words made Milord’s expression crumple even more. He wanted to believe that she hadn’t done it, but there was too much evidence pointing to her as the culprit. Everything was a mess.

“I understand. What will happen to Valletta?”

“They’ll bring her to the Imperial Castle and lock her up. And we’ll have to educate her.”

He must make sure that no one disobeys his words. The emperor was fortunately confident in such things, and there were many talented people around him. He tapped the Crown Prince lightly on the shoulder.

“You should go home now. If anything happens again, you will have to launch an investigation.”

“Leave it to me, father.”

“Yes, father is glad to have a reliable son like you. Go now.”

“Yes, father.”

Milord bowed with his hand on his chest. The emperor stroked his chin as he watched Milord turn his body and walk away. It was getting quite interesting.

“Jin.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The fifth is the Espel village.”

“…….”

The village of Espel was a fairly large village near the capital. Not a small village of only twenty people, but a place inhabited by well over a hundred people.

“Do you have an answer for me?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Take that useless thing in the basement with you, it’s useful in times like this. And you don’t have to come back.”

“Yes? That means….”

“If you succeed this time, you don’t have to come back.”

Jin’s eyes widened. She nodded quickly as she had no answer. She was speechless.

“I understand! Your Majesty.”

The person who had been kneeling in the darkness disappeared immediately with the reply. The emperor slowly sat down and leaned back in his chair. Licking his lips lightly with his tongue, he held his chin leisurely and blinked slowly.

“I’ll finally take care of everything.”

Disposal of garbage was a very simple task.

****

“You heard the rumors?”

“Rumors about what?”

“Why! Do you remember the Count’s daughter who opened a potion store a few days ago?”

The man who was carrying the crate into the store turned away, wiping sweat from his face with the back of his hand. A skinny man with his arms crossed on one side approached him, looking terribly excited.

“Ah, the rumors have spread, haven’t they? Isn’t it outrageous? I’m very curious to know which potion the giant nobles use. Have you heard any announcements as to when it will open?”

The man who was carrying the crate leaned against the box for a moment, interested in what the skinny man had to say.

“Not at all! They said that all the servants of the Duke of Delphine who drank the potion at that time died!”

“What? I took the potion. Why?”

“Oh, you really don’t know anything. Didn’t you see the wanted notice on the bulletin board today? According to the notice, she’s inexperienced in alchemy skills.….”

The man couldn’t believe there was a wanted notice for her. It was very rare for a bounty to be placed on a nobleman’s child. It was also rare unless it was a case of blatant murder. It could be a big blow to the aristocracy, but putting a person on the wanted list was literally a decision to end the life of a nobleman.

“But I’m sure there were rumors that she had excellent skills.”

“That’s why! There’s a rumor going around that they may have been testing an unfinished product.”

“What…No way. How much has Duke  Delphine given us?”

The man shook his head and chuckled in vain. Most of the people in the capital knew how good Duke Delphine was. Whenever a problem arose, it was Duke Delphine and Duke Leon who were always willing to step up and solve it.

“So! The Count’s daughter who destroyed that family line must have cheated our Duke as well! My best friend’s daughter also died after drinking that potion!”

The skinny man, who raised his voice, stomped his foot, unable to bear his anger. The man, who had broken out in a certain amount of sweat, silently looked at the person in front of him.

“I understand.…. you’re getting overexcited.”

“Anyway, just now the Imperial Knights went to Duke Leon’s residence. Only Duke Leon and Duke Delphine will feel sorry for her.”

“Hmm, I see. Anyway, I have to work until the end of the day, so why don’t you get yourself together and go in.”

The man said as he lifted the crate again and scurried toward the back. But the skinny man stood, drank all the liquor from the tin can that he couldn’t resist clinging to his waist, and turned away, sniffing and snorting.

“Ah, the aristocracy of them… …It clears my chest!”

What a joy! A laugh naturally escaped his mouth as he thought about the fact that someone who had lived a noble life would never be able to live it again.

The skinny man walked with a smile and shoved his hands in his pockets. He looked very pleasant as he headed for the damp alley. The man, who was leaning still in the alley holding a box, narrowed his forehead.

‘I guess it’s time to move.’

It seemed it was time to get ready.