I Accidentally Kidnapped The Ultimate Villain – Chapter 50

Ch 50

A maid opened a small box and showed it to Aria.

“This… could it be the Late Empress’s…?”

“Yes. It is the Late Empress’s ring.”

“Ah…”

Aria felt like she was going to faint from the pressure. It was a ring that the Crown Princess traditionally wore. And it was worn even after becoming Empress.

However, since the current Empress had not received the ring from the Emperor, it remained in Lionell’s possession.

“If I don’t do this…!”

“You cannot.”

“Ah…”

Aria felt blinded by the luxurious diamond ring.

She had to remind herself that she was attending this party as the prospective Crown Princess.

But that would all end once Melina met Lionell.

Thinking that, Aria unconsciously unclenched her fist.

Her mind was troubled, but she was able to alleviate some of the pressure and anxiety from the touches that were adorning her. The somewhat familiar hands made her quite comfortable. The touch of the Imperial Family’s servants was not that different from that of her own mansion’s servants, so it didn’t seem strange.

She didn’t know that it was because Duke Dolorein even chose the maids and pages he sent to the Emperor himself.

“Young Lady.”

“Hm?”

“I will apply your nail polish.”

“Ah… okay.”

Aria took her arms out of the bathtub. And while her manicure was being applied, she had to close her eyes because of the maid who was giving her a scalp massage. If she opened her eyes, she would see the maid’s nostrils.

“If there is anything uncomfortable, please tell me right away.”

“Okay. It’s great!”

Aria mumbled that and then closed her eyes tightly.

The bath continued for a long time.

Aria was able to get out of the bathroom when she was almost exhausted.

She paused for a moment when she saw the maid bringing a dress that was much more eye-catching than the flashy dresses she often wore.

In the original story, Melina wore a simple dress at this time. And then she would say the right things and help Lionell from behind.

But Aria couldn’t do that.

Melina was outwardly a member of the Noble Faction, so that was possible for her. But Aria was not. She was now in a position to set an example as a member of the Imperial Faction, and she was the one who could show that the Imperial Faction was more moderate than anyone else.

If so, it was better to be flashy and eye-catching than to be simple.

Besides, no matter how she dressed, her beauty would not be diminished by her clothes, as she had such striking features.

“What is this necklace?”

“This is the necklace that the Late Empress wore during her engagement ceremony with His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Ah…”

It was clear that they were trying to show that she was truly one of them.

Aria felt the large, luxurious diamond necklace to be very heavy.

“I will help you put on your dress.”

She had to get dressed and made up for a long time.

◈◈◈

The preparations were finished when Aria was getting tired.

Her appearance in the mirror was very extravagant. But it suited her well and she was beautiful.

The dress she wore was a blue dress that matched her bright red hair. It matched the color of her eyes.

The ring and necklace were also set with diamonds, and because of the way they reflected light, they looked very luxurious. She wore the earrings that Lionell had given her, and after putting her hair up, she wore a jeweled hair ornament with a butterfly design.

Her makeup was heavy, so her original elegant and beautiful face was fully revealed.

She was dazzlingly beautiful, but she had a look that anyone would consider villainous.

“You are beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

Aria still liked how she looked. So, she smiled contentedly and turned halfway around. Her back was coolly exposed, making her pretty backline more prominent.

She smiled again with satisfaction and approached the door.

Just then, the door opened first.

“I’ve come to pick you up.”

She took Lionell’s hand, which he extended familiarly, appearing at the perfect timing, and headed to the banquet hall.

“The heels are high.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll walk slowly.”

“Thank you.”

Aria was relieved that he was really walking slowly and took a step. Lionell had his head turned completely the other way.

For some reason, Lionell couldn’t keep looking at Aria. His heart was pounding and he was sweating, so he felt like he couldn’t make eye contact.

“Your Highness.”

“Huh?”

“You look very handsome today.”

“……Yeah.”

Aria looked at Lionell, who was wearing a white uniform with a blue cape to match her. The effort he had put into his attire showed his will to properly demonstrate the Imperial Family’s strength. The red cuff decorations were quite eye-catching.

“You are much prettier.”

“Huh?”

“It’s nothing. Let’s go quickly.”

“Ah…!”

Because he was unintentionally hasty, Aria almost fell.

“Sorry. Let’s go slowly.”

“Yes.”

Aria thought it was strange that he was walking fast and then suddenly walking slowly, but she let it go. Maybe he didn’t want to go quickly, she thought. Still, she felt a little uncomfortable with the fact that he had released her arm and was now holding her hand.

“Your Highness.”

“Yeah.”

“I think my hand will get sweaty if you hold it.”

“I don’t mind if it gets sweaty.”

“Ah…”

“Let’s just hold hands.”

Lionell had deliberately not worn gloves. He liked the feeling of his bare skin touching hers. And he also liked it when Aria leaned on him every time she stumbled a little while walking.

“His Highness the Crown Prince is entering!”

The two entered the door while holding hands. The chandeliers in the magnificent banquet hall reflected the light, illuminating the inside of the hall.

Lionell gestured to the nobles who were bowing their heads, and then led Aria to the place where the Emperor would be.

Lionell helped Aria stand properly and tucked a strand of her stray hair behind her ear.

“An updo really suits you.”

“Your Highness looks great with your hair swept back too.”

“Really? Should I sweep it back like this every day?”

“You don’t have to. You should do it sometimes so that they like it more.”

Melina will!

Aria trailed off, thinking that.

“Hahaha.”

Lionell pulled her waist closer as if he was happy. And he kissed Aria’s nape. She flinched in surprise at his action, but she couldn’t refuse.

Because most of the people in the banquet hall were watching them.

Almost all the nobles were in the banquet hall. And even the priests.

There was no better way to show that the temple was safe than to have the priests participate directly.

So, Aria, who knew the reason for today’s banquet, couldn’t easily push Lionell away.

“We greet the Empire’s little sun.”

“Holy Knight Commander Alcard.”

A man named Alcard stood next to Lionell and smiled.

“Your Highness. You seem to have grown taller since the last time I saw you.”

“Yeah. I’ve grown a bit. It’s only natural since it’s been five years since you returned from the border, isn’t it?”

“Your personality has gotten worse since the last time I saw you.”

“You’re still impertinent.”

Lionell didn’t scold the Holy Knight Commander who spoke to him so familiarly. It was an un-Imperial-like behavior, but the Holy Knight Commander was the second-highest-ranking person in the temple after the High Priest. He had also rushed straight from the border to support Lionell’s position after the temple had been destroyed.

The fact that he spoke to Lionell so familiarly was just a way of showing off their close relationship.

Besides, the story of the Holy Knight Commander swearing to the goddess that he would dedicate his life to Lionell was already a famous anecdote.

“By the way, did you come straight here? You look very messy.”

“Yes. My whole body aches from riding a horse. Isn’t that right, Luten?”

“Yes, don’t even mention it.”

Luten chimed in from the side and immediately paid his respects.

“We greet the Empire’s little sun.”

“It’s the Vice Captain.”

“It’s been a while, Your Highness.”

“You’ve aged a lot.”

“It’s because I’ve been through a lot. Please stop our Commander. I’m going to die before my time if this keeps up.”

Lionell laughed loudly at Luten’s whining. And he hugged Aria, who was by his side, even tighter and held her affectionately.

“My fiancée. Say hello.”

“It’s nice to see you again, Princess Dolorein.”

“You are as beautiful as ever.”

“Hahaha… Nice to meet you.”

Aria didn’t know what she had done wrong, but she could see that they were a little nervous, so she was nervous too.

“Come to think of it, Princess Dolorein.”

“Yes?”

“I heard that you bought and released illegal slaves.”

“Huh? Ah…”

Aria had never heard of such a thing. So, she looked at Lionell as if she was in trouble, and he noticed her confusion and looked at Luten.

“That was presumptuous.”

“Yeah.”

“I just wanted to let you know that some of the people who were released from slavery thanks to Princess Dolorein are in my knight order.”

“I see. That’s a relief.”

Aria was completely ignorant of this matter. She had only heard that Princess Aria kidnapped people she liked, played with them, and then killed them.

She had never thought that there might be another meaning behind it.

But even if there was one good deed, she was already a person who had done many bad things. The crazy behavior she had shown in society could not be explained away.

“Aria.”

“Yes?”

“Let’s just show your face to Father when he comes and then go to the balcony. You look too tired.”

“I’m fine! I’m perfectly fine!”

Aria was startled and waved her hands, and Lionell, who found her appearance cute, laughed again without realizing it.

It was at that moment.

“Duke Loenbert is entering!”