I Am The Villainess With A Maxed-Out Luck Stat - Chapter 158



Only Noblemtl

158. The crime of reading and ignoring Ikart’s letter

“That won’t happen. I will continue to devote myself to the Crown Prince.”

The Empress’s expression did not change even in the face of Perwin’s self-deprecating accusations.

I was prepared for my son’s criticism.

I could endure minor humiliations to achieve my goals.

but-

“I heard that you asked Princess Roselia to break off the engagement.”

“So?”

“Don’t hate that kid too much. Didn’t you say that it was all my fault?”

He was happy to be abandoned at any time.

Even if he is abandoned again and again, he will not turn away from Perwin.

But it wasn’t Roselia.

Perwin hoped to somehow keep Roselia by his side and use her affections to his advantage.

Because blind affection is sometimes more loyal than any oath.

But Perwin laughed.

“Huh. A woman who betrayed me once can’t do it twice?”

Even if it was done on the Empress’ orders, it doesn’t change the fact that Roselia deceived and cheated herself.

‘More than anything, the princess and that guy… … .’

Roselia may have been conspiring with Cayenne over me.

Even though I knew in my head that it wasn’t true, I kept having those thoughts in my heart.

It was more of a feeling of anxiety than a suspicion.

The existence of the emperor’s illegitimate child filled him with an unknown fear.

The one and only son of the emperor, the one and only crown prince.

His very identity was shaken to its core by Cayenne’s appearance.

Power, the crown, even his fiancée. Cayenne was invading his life and taking what was his.

Ferwin didn’t know exactly what he was afraid of, but whenever he thought of Cayenne, a feeling of anxiety built up in his chest.

“You are still soft, Your Highness.”

The empress looked at her son with pity.

“Don’t be swayed by momentary emotions, but look far ahead. The princess and her family will surely be of help to the crown prince.”

“… … .”

“Didn’t this mother say that what a good ruler needs is cool judgment, not irrational emotions?”

The cold advice stabbed Perwin like a knife.

I thought it would have been better when my mother was lying in bed. At that time, I was so overwhelmed with pity that even my hatred was clouded.

The face he saw again was colder than he remembered.

“… … If I don’t become the emperor, will my mother abandon me too?”

“The prince will definitely become the emperor. I will make it so.”

* * *

“Brother, it’s been a while. How have you been?”

It had not even been a day since I received the urgent news that Ikart was returning.

The next day dawned and I was facing Ikart in the reception room of the duke’s residence.

‘If you really do it, you’ll do it.’

Didn’t you say you were busy with your studies? Was the news of my broken engagement so shocking that you put everything else aside?

Ikart’s driving force was surprising, but seeing his bug-bitten face made me feel a new sense of appreciation.

“It seems like you’re not doing well.”

“… … .”

“haha.”

As always, my brother, who boasted perfect beauty, glared at me with an air of coldness.

Was Ikart originally this cold?

The eyes that were fresh and upturned, the silver hair that gave off a mysterious vibe, today, they were as cool as a well-sharpened blade.

‘It’s cold, it’s cold.’

I tried to cover it up with a laugh, but the tense atmosphere just wouldn’t let up.

‘Making someone sit and practicing silence? Isn’t this a new form of torture?’

I feel like I’m suffocating.

He, who had been silent for so long, finally opened his mouth.

“How can my little sister be so indifferent? She hasn’t replied to me in so long.”

“that…….”

I think it would have been better to practice silence.

“If it weren’t for the butler’s regular reports, I would have never known whether he was alive or dead.”

Ikart twisted one corner of his mouth upward. The discontented smile created an eerie atmosphere.

‘No, I had my own reasons.’

I’ve been so out of my mind lately because of all the big incidents that have been happening. People are going to die right now, so how could I possibly have time to worry about anything else?

As a result, Ikart’s letter was pushed down in priority. I kept putting it off, thinking that I should reply someday, and eventually missed the timing.

… … But the opponent’s momentum was too fierce to make such excuses.

“We haven’t been in touch much lately, but didn’t we contact each other regularly before?”

I mustered up the courage to protest, but was immediately met with a sharp rebuttal.

“Regularly?”

When he winked at Philip, Philip approached him timidly.

On the tray Philip brought were the letters I had sent, arranged in chronological order.

One, two, three.

There were three in total.

“You’re not claiming that you’ve been in touch with me every day even though you only sent me three letters of inquiry, are you?”

“… … .”

“Even that hasn’t been heard from recently. I didn’t hear from him at all, and then out of nowhere, he sent me a notice of breakup. Do you know how surprised I am?”

“sorry.”

I felt ashamed and lowered my head.

Yeah, it’s surprising.

The engagement was a contract between families.

The strong bond between the royal family and the dukedom was shattered overnight, so it was only natural for Ikart to be upset…

“Well, that was one good thing.”

“yes?”

“It’s not a good thing that I didn’t contact you.”

I raised my head in surprise and Ikart became serious.

“It would be better to break off the engagement with such a worthless guy. Why would you date such a guy?”

No matter what, the opponent is the crown prince.

But Ickart continued to attack Perwin without any breaks.

Perhaps because he had a lot going on, he finally gave me a light pat on the shoulder.

“Getting involved with that guy is a waste of life. You made a good decision.”

What the heck, I just got a one-sided breakup, but I’m getting a ton of compliments.

Anyway, it’s better to be praised than to be cursed. I also felt relieved since Ikart was cheering me on.

He continued his chain of bad words and glanced at me.

“But… …are you okay?”

“What is it?”

“I’m talking about the broken engagement.”

It was a very cautious tone, quite different from when he cursed Perwin.

He seemed worried that I might be hurt by this.

You were worried about me on the inside.

“Of course it’s okay. I feel relieved too. It wasn’t a place that suited me in the first place.”

When I opened up about it, it suddenly felt real.

I really broke off the engagement.

It was something I absolutely had to do someday, but somehow I felt a little empty inside.

I guess I need time to adapt to change too.

“I’m glad you’re okay, but… … .”

Ikart let out a shallow sigh.

“Brother, I actually have something to tell you.”

I felt like I could tell him everything that had happened if it was Ikart, who cared about my work as if it were his own.

The fact that Cayenne, who was taken in as a servant, was actually the emperor’s illegitimate child.

That he caused such a big accident that I almost got accused of treason.

This incident was the trigger that ultimately led to the breakup of the engagement.

I kept an eye on Ikart’s expression as I told him the whole story.

“How could that happen―”

Philip, who was listening from the side, couldn’t close his gaping mouth.

Ikart’s face also became quite serious.

“If something like that happened, you should have told me first. I didn’t even know that… … .”

“But it’s okay now. Her Majesty the Empress also stepped in to take care of things.”

“Are you sure you’ve been trained? Roselia, it’s suspicious that the Empress has dragged you into a political fight. There must be some other intention behind it.”

He put his hand on his temple as if his head was aching.

‘You have a really good eye for detail.’

As he said, the Empress did help me with impure intentions. She wanted to use me in some way.

“Don’t worry too much, brother.”

“How can you not be worried? Roselia, you really are… … .”

I tried to reassure Ikart somehow.

It was already in the past and I was really okay.

There was something more important to me than anything else.

‘I wonder how Cayenne is doing now.’

As I talked to Ikart, the note I had received the night before kept coming to mind.

It was the first piece of information that arrived after requesting background investigation from the Dark Lord.

That bothered him so much that Ikart’s concerns didn’t even come across as serious.

Finally, I couldn’t stand it any longer and asked him.

“But Brother, can I ask you one favor?”

* * *

“Your Majesty, are you leaving right away? Really?”

“okay.”

Ikart, who had received Roselia’s request, immediately prepared a carriage.

Roselia asked him to find someone.

Surprisingly, the man was a former headmaster of the Imperial Academy, and Roselia begged to know about his time reversion magic.

[I managed to find his whereabouts with great difficulty, but I don’t know if I can contact him. I really need to meet him… … Can you help me, Uncle?]

[If it’s urgent, I’ll go and see for myself.]

[Right now?]

[okay.]

Ikart, who decided that the fastest way would be to go and ask for permission to visit in person, immediately got up from his seat.

Roselia was taken aback when he prepared to leave without asking any more questions.

Soon a carriage was ready, and Philip followed behind it.

“Why are you in such a hurry? Can’t you move a little slower? I haven’t even unpacked my luggage yet.”

Instead of answering Philip, who was grumbling, he just snorted.

Why are you in such a hurry?

There was no need to ask why. When it came to his sister, he had no choice but to step forward regardless of the consequences.