I Accidentally Kidnapped The Ultimate Villain – Chapter 49

Ch 49

“I greet the little sun of the Empire.”

Aria couldn’t meet Killian’s cold gaze. It seemed like she was seeing that kind of expression on Killian’s face for the first time.

When he was with her, he was sometimes cold, but he was never as frigid as he was now.

Besides, back then, he was someone who often smiled at her.

Now, he was glaring at Aria as if he were a completely different person.

That’s why she kept her gaze on her toes and froze in place.

“When did you two become so close?”

“We’re engaged.”

“What did you say?”

“Didn’t you hear? Ah, right. I heard you returned today?”

Lionell had confirmed Killian’s return through the documents he received from his aide before coming here this morning.

“Suspicious, really.”

“…….”

“There was a terror attack at the temple yesterday, and the fact that you reappeared like this today.”

“…….”

Killian seemed not to hear Lionell’s words and was glaring fiercely at Aria. Then, when he noticed that she wasn’t looking at him, he smiled crookedly and looked at Lionell.

“Your Highness, you’ve become more foolish in the time I haven’t seen you.”

“What?”

“Didn’t His Majesty tell you to watch your words?”

“…….”

Killian had clearly regained all of his memories.

Aria thought so.

But Killian had never lost his memories in the first place.

“Your Highness, you are as you always were.”

“…….”

“I heard that Cardinal Johannes found the place where the orb was hidden, and that it was stolen.”

“How did you know that, Duke…….”

“The rumors are already widespread.”

Killian looked at him with a clear mockery. Aria was so overwhelmed by this atmosphere that she felt like she was suffocating.

“Dolorein Princess, you must be happy that you’ve achieved your dream.”

“……Ah. Yes…….”

At her answer, he bit his lip as if he was even more displeased, and then tried to control his emotions.

“Then, I’ll be going now.”

Killian smiled as if he was happy and walked away, while Lionell was ashamed that he had been humiliated in front of the woman he liked. At the same time, he felt bad that Aria seemed to have been ridiculed because of him.

“I’m sorry, my dear.”

“It’s okay. Let’s go in quickly.”

“Okay.”

Aria turned around without realizing it.

When she turned around, Killian also turned to look at her.

Aria felt strangely that his violet eyes, still as vivid as violets, were looking at her with a hint of regret. She tried to focus again to see him properly, but he was no longer looking at her.

◈◈◈

As they entered the audience chamber, the Emperor got up from his seat and came down the stairs. He patted Aria’s shoulder kindly and smiled.

“The Empire’s…….”

“That’s enough. You’re the daughter of Duke Dolorein, so that formality is enough.”

“Thank you.”

In the original work, even when Aria died, Duke Dolorein continued to side with the Emperor. However, he became bedridden and sickly as if he had given up on everything. There was no further mention of it, so it was impossible to know.

For some reason, Aria thought that Lionell didn’t seem to resemble her father very much.

“Did our Neil pierce it for you?”

“Yes? Ah…… Yes.”

Aria couldn’t lift her head because the Emperor was smiling contentedly as he looked at her ear.

“I was almost going to get one on my ear too, but Aria was too nervous.”

“Hahaha. How lovely.”

“That’s right. She’s someone’s fiancée.”

Lionell, as if he had completely forgotten the embarrassment from before, showed off Aria to his father.

The Emperor cherished his loyal son and the Dolorein family, who blindly obeyed him, the most.

The reason he cherished Lionell was because his mother, the Late Empress, was the Emperor’s only love. The current Empress, who was an Imperial Concubine, was a connection made because of her son.

It was only natural that the Emperor cherished Lionell, who was born from the woman he loved. In the first place, the reason why he made the Imperial Concubine the Empress was because she had promised to pass the throne to Lionell.

“I called you because of the charity party that will be held today.”

“Yes.”

“Did you perhaps hear about it from Neil?”

“Yes……. Is the reason for holding the charity party perhaps to issue a warning?”

“Oh, that’s right.”

Aria was recalling the original story.

The temple had suffered almost no damage. There were some injured people, and there was the problem that the Cardinal was unable to wake up, but there were no casualties.

However, the temple was a place that supported the Crown Prince.

Therefore, it was intended to show off that the Crown Prince was still safe and that they could provide financial support to the temple as much as needed through the charity party.

Invitations with the Imperial Family’s crest were sent out for this party, and no noble could refuse.

So, everyone had to donate to the temple, whether it was a large or small amount. Even the Noble Faction would have been in trouble if the rumors in the capital turned bad.

The temple had been doing a lot of volunteer work for the poor and orphanages in the capital. Even the commoners of the capital would donate to the temple.

If rumors spread that the Noble Faction hadn’t donated a single penny for such a temple, public sentiment would turn against them.

“The new daughter-in-law is indeed clever.”

“That’s an overstatement.”

Aria was so nervous that she grabbed Lionell’s arm tightly without realizing it. In response, he smiled at her as if to reassure her.

“I hope you will become the Crown Princess who will bring glory to the Imperial Family.”

“……Th, thank you.”

Aria couldn’t refuse to the Emperor’s face, so she answered while sweating profusely.

Lionell was somehow happy that he seemed to have learned a little about how to handle her. Since she was going to be his wife anyway, it would be good to know what she was weak to and what she was strong in.

He didn’t know at that time how lovingly he was looking at Aria.

Only the Emperor knew.

◈◈◈

The evening was naturally busy. Aria knew that all she had to do was go to the charity party with Lionell.

The Emperor had his aides prepare everything for the party, and she just had to wait for a while in her residence prepared in the Imperial Palace.

“Spirit Beast.”

“Yes!”

Aria was alone in the room, so she called for the Spirit Beast.

“You couldn’t appear yesterday because of His Highness, right?”

“Yes.”

The Spirit Beast curled up on Aria’s thigh and rubbed its head against her. Aria brushed its fluffy fur with her hand and touched its ears.

“What happened yesterday?”

“Yesterday, that human went back immediately after seeing you.”

“Killian?”

“Yes.”

Aria felt strange for some reason, as if the reason he went back was because of Lionell.

“Did Killian perhaps regain his memories?”

“I don’t know about that. You are too weak.”

The Spirit Beast was frustrated that it couldn’t tell Aria everything. Even if it wanted to, it couldn’t because of the restrictions placed on it by Killian. It couldn’t tell the other party a story that one contracting party didn’t want to be told.

“I see…….”

Aria vaguely knew that her weakness wasn’t physical.

The last time she was said to have become stronger was when she overcame her fear.

Perhaps the Spirit Beast becoming stronger was related to Aria’s mental growth.

As if it had read her thoughts, the Spirit Beast nodded its head.

“You’ve become a little smarter.”

“Hehe.”

It felt like a compliment, but somehow, Aria felt strange, so she only smiled a little.

“I have to go somewhere periodically.”

“Where?”

“There is. A person with energy.”

“Didn’t you say you didn’t like people?”

“I only like the Doloreins. But I need that guy’s energy.”

“Who is that guy?”

“That’s a secret.”

He shook his fur like a drill, and white fur flew everywhere. Aria held back her sneeze, as if she was about to sneeze.

“When will you tell me?”

“Much later.”

The Spirit Beast said that and then curled up again while looking at Aria.

“Dolorein.”

“Yes.”

“I like you the most out of all the Doloreins.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re the prettiest.”

Aria felt strange for some reason, as if the Spirit Beast wasn’t such a divine animal. The Spirit Beast had read it, but it just didn’t bother to pick at it.

―Knock knock

“I’ll see you later. ……Ah!”

“What’s wrong?”

“My energy is too low……. Be careful!”

As soon as the Spirit Beast disappeared, Aria looked at the door and said.

“Come in.”

At Aria’s words, the Imperial Palace ladies-in-waiting and maids came in.

“I am Ebuiseu, here to help the Young Lady with her preparations for today’s party.”

“Nice to meet you.”

Ebuiseu seemed to be the head lady-in-waiting, as she was wearing a blue scarf around her neck.

“Then, we will attend to the Young Lady.”

“Yes.”

Aria looked at them nervously and then said, wondering where Bell Rosia was.

“By any chance, Bell Rosia.”

“If it’s that child, she’s in the Crown Prince’s Palace.”

“Then, after the party ends…….”

“Yes, of course. I will have her called so she can attend to the Young Lady.”

“Thank you.”

Ebuiseu smiled and guided Aria.

The first place she guided her to was the bathroom.

Aria was amazed to see the luxurious bathtub in the bathroom filled with water and rose petals floating on top.

“It’s a cleanser made with the finest rose water.”

“The scent is amazing.”

Aria looked around in surprise and then made eye contact with a maid. The maid gave Aria a forced smile.

Ebuiseu thought that she had changed a little. The crazy look she had shown before because of Lionell was nowhere to be seen.

―Knock knock

At that moment, the bathroom door rattled.

“What’s the matter?”

“His Highness asked me to deliver this.”

Aria was surprised when she saw the maid receiving and bringing it over.

“Oh my goodness.”