I Accidentally Kidnapped The Ultimate Villain – Chapter 42

Ch 42

People who could use Divine Power were extremely rare. Therefore, all those who could use Divine Power gathered in the Holy Nation, and in places that had established friendly relations, like the Empire, they built temples to open a place for exchange.

Especially in this Kalendia Empire, because Lionell’s mother, the Late Empress, was someone who had been under the protection of the temple.

“I suppose so.”

“Do you have any leads?”

“……Yeah.”

“Could Imperial Prince Berthin be the culprit?”

He didn’t answer. But it was as if she had already heard an affirmative answer.

As she remembered, Killian wasn’t so vicious at this time. So, no one even thought that Killian was the mastermind behind the terror attack.

Only Lionell knew that the current Empress and Duke Loenbert were manipulating Imperial Prince Berthin. Because their public images were all good.

“Perhaps the missing Duke Loenbert might be involved.”

She trembled as she remembered that Killian was in her room. She was afraid because she didn’t know whether she should tell the truth, and she was also afraid of the situation if she did tell the truth.

Then Lionell wrapped his arm around her shoulder and patted her gently.

“Are you really sure it’s okay for you to come with me?”

“Yes…….”

“We must hurry.”

“Yes, that way they won’t be able to destroy the evidence.”

He sighed deeply and then continued.

“What about the manpower we sent ahead?”

“Everyone except Your Highness has already gone there.”

“Good job.”

“Thank you.”

Duke Dolorein was looking at his daughter with concern. His expression was dark.

He was truly worried about whether it was okay for her to go. Unlike his strong daughter from before, Aria these days had become as fragile as before, perhaps because of the heartbreak.

“I will do what I must, Your Highness. Please, take care of my daughter…….”

“Don’t worry.”

Aria was confident that she would be quite useful. She had already read the original work, and she knew roughly how this incident had occurred.

However, she didn’t know how much the original work had changed.

She needed to be careful.

◈◈◈

In the end, Aria and Lionell went out to ride horses.

Aria hoped that she could be of help, but her body kept trembling, perhaps because of her fear. She tried to calm her mind by tightly closing her eyes, but that wasn’t easy either. Because of that, her breathing continued to become rapid, and her thoughts were becoming distant.

Lionell, who couldn’t have been unaware of her condition, gently called out to Aria.

“Aria.”

“Ah…… Your Highness.”

“Give me your hand.”

It was her first time riding a horse, both in her past life and in this one. However, thanks to him easily lifting her up, she was able to get on easily. The saddle was very hard, and all parts of the horse were also hard, so Aria couldn’t make herself comfortable.

“Did you forget how to ride a horse?”

“I, I’m nervous…….”

“I see. That can happen. I’ll hold you tight, so don’t worry.”

He patted her shoulder, saying it was okay, and then took hold of the reins.

“Hold the area below where I’m holding. You can do that, right?”

“Yes…….”

Aria felt Lionell’s large body behind her tense waist. When she slowly closed and then opened her eyes again, she calmed down a little, and her breathing was better than before.

“The people…… must have been hurt a lot, right?”

“I don’t know. I hope they weren’t.”

When she flinched at Lionell’s chin touching her shoulder, he whispered in her ear.

“Relax. No matter what happens, I’ll take care of everything.”

“……Yes.”

“Still, I’m happy that you’re coming because you’re worried about me.”

“Huh?”

“Giddy up!”

“Kyaa!”

At the timing when she should have said no, he pulled the horse’s reins and kicked its side with his foot. Because of that, the horse started running, making a clip-clop sound.

Aria felt like she was getting motion sickness. Her waist hurt, and her buttocks hurt as if they were being beaten, and she was also out of her mind.

“You shouldn’t straighten your back like that. Think of it as sitting up and down to match the horse’s movement.”

Being considerate of Aria, Lionell slowed down the horse’s pace so she could adjust, but the others who had started with them had already gone far away.

The people from the Duke’s family were following behind. They were people her father had sent along, just in case.

“Ugh.”

The voice she heard in her ear seemed to be telling her that someone was close by, and Aria was gradually calming down. As she started moving her body as Lionell had told her, the horse also seemed to have gradually adjusted and started running steadily.

“You’re doing well. Just stay like that.”

At his gentle voice, her fear completely disappeared.

“Your Highness.”

“Yeah.”

“I hope I can be of help.”

“Just coming with me is a help. I need you.”

She suddenly thought of Killian. Perhaps it was because she hoped that he wouldn’t be involved in this incident. She just hoped that when she returned, he would have taken the trolley that was in front of her door, taken his dinner, and be asleep already.

◈◈◈

“You’re late, brother.”

When Lionell and Aria arrived, the Second Imperial Prince, wearing a gentle smile, greeted them. Just like in the original work, he had the same silver hair and red eyes as Lionell. However, while Lionell was as beautiful as a masterpiece, the Second Imperial Prince was ordinary, perhaps because he was a half-brother.

In the story as well, the reason why the Second Imperial Prince hated Lionell, the Crown Prince, was because of his inferiority complex.

Lionell was superior to the Second Imperial Prince in every way, not just in appearance.

“What’s the situation?”

“Our magicians have restored the building. However…….”

“However, what?”

“The priests in the temple were badly injured.”

Priests cannot use Divine Power on themselves. That’s because it’s not a power they were given to use for themselves.

“What about Cardinal Johannes?”

“He’s in critical condition.”

It was going according to the original work.

Cardinal Johannes was a person who actively supported Lionell. He was also the brother of the Late Empress, who was Lionell’s biological mother.

“The place where the terror attack happened was, of all places, the lodgings where the high-ranking priests were staying. The explosions didn’t happen in just one place.”

“But the priests’ lodgings are all separated. And I heard that they draw lots every day to decide who sleeps where in preparation for such incidents.”

She was afraid of all this, but fortunately, her voice didn’t tremble.

“Aria Dolorein Princess. It’s been a while. It’s a pity that we have to meet in this situation.”

“Watch your words, Berthin.”

“I have been rude to Your Highness’s fiancée.”

Lionell’s expression was not good. It was only natural, since his maternal uncle, Cardinal Johannes, was injured. Moreover, he was a person who supported him wholeheartedly.

“Your Highness, to the Cardinal…….”

“No. I’m going to take care of the injured people.”

“Then I’ll go see Cardinal Johannes.”

“Would you do that?”

Aria realized that Lionell, who was holding her hand tightly, was feeling anxious. Seeing his eyes trembling as if he was anxious, it was clear that he wanted to go himself.

“Don’t worry.”

In the original work she had read, Cardinal Johannes did not die. He would wake up after a very long time after the terror attack. He would endure as if he were asleep, and later, when Lionell was able to fully control Divine Power, he would wake up with that power.

There was no specific mention of why the Divine Power of people other than Lionell didn’t work.

“However, I heard that His Excellency used Divine Power before the explosion.”

She was a little relieved, knowing that this was also the same as the original work. It seemed like there was something she could help with.

“Your Highness.”

Don’t tremble, Aria. You mustn’t tremble.

She said to herself as if casting a spell, and then, taking Lionell’s hand, she went to a place where Berthin couldn’t see them.

“Aria?”

“Your Highness.”

She looked around and then whispered in his ear.

“It wasn’t just His Excellency who was targeted. The Orb inside the temple must have also disappeared. That, you know, the transparent, round orb.”

“How do you know that? That’s something that only Cardinals or higher can know even within the temple.”

Aria was flustered at his words, but she continued to speak. That wasn’t important right now.

“I just happened to find out. So, you have to find it quickly! If that’s not there, His Excellency won’t be able to wake up. As Your Highness knows, he stored Divine Power in it every day.”

She was in no position to be picky right now. Besides, if Lionell trusted her and forced the engagement, she could make amends later.

The only good thing was that there were no casualties. If that was the case, even if there was a time to explain things to Lionell later, it would be better not to hide that she knew this part.

He was a perceptive person, and if Aria was in trouble, he wasn’t the type to ask questions. The only area where he didn’t consider her feelings was about marriage.

“Do you happen to know where it is…….”

“I think the Second Imperial Prince’s forces are behind it. Your Highness, you wouldn’t want to suspect your brother, but…….”

In the original work, Lionell cherished his half-brother a lot. So, even though he knew that the Second Imperial Prince was tormenting him with all sorts of schemes, he just endured it. It was only thanks to Killian killing Berthin that he didn’t, otherwise, Lionell would have continued to roll on the gravel road because of Berthin.

Because of the affection from their childhood.

Even though he knew that he was trying to harm him, he endured it.

“I trust you.”

“Yes……?”

“I said I trust you.”

Aria was rather flustered at his words. Originally, in the original work, if he said this, he would say, ‘How can you suspect my brother?’ and would have a misunderstanding with Melina.

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Wh, why?”

“You’re the only one who will remain as family to me, Aria.”

“Ah…… that…….”

He grabbed her chin, and Aria became afraid, knowing what kind of action that would lead to. She hadn’t trembled in front of Berthin earlier, but she still couldn’t get used to Lionell approaching her in this way.

“Aria Linasis Kalendia. I hope that becomes your name soon.”