The Villainess Who Accidentally Stole Their Hearts - Chapter 24
Chapter 12.2
“We should leave Nikaearsha out. She doesn’t match their level anymore, does she? She’s just an empty husk, not even an Awakener.”
“But wasn’t she the key figure in the ‘Akitane Deal’ this time?”
“Hah, that’s just Delosif pulling strings to control public perception. They did it to protect the family’s reputation.”
“…Yeah, it’s hard to believe Nikaearsha was able to pull off such a huge deal.”
Mikarin smirked quietly to herself.
‘No matter how much my sister changes now, that infamous reputation of hers isn’t going to disappear.’
Nikaearsha’s infamous reputation was a towering, solid structure that she had painstakingly and methodically built over time. Even today, she worked hard to add another brick to that tower.
“Sister, you’re as beautiful as always! I think this party has become brighter just by your presence!”
Nikaearsha looked at her with an annoyed expression. It was only natural. How could she treat Mikarin the same as before, after what had happened with Emma?
And that was exactly how Mikarin wanted it.
“Oh… Are you still angry with me?”
Mikarin lowered her head with a pitiful expression, her eyes drooping sorrowfully.
“I-I’ll even get down on my knees if I have to. I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. I won’t even try to make excuses.”
“….”
“Whatever you think, you’re completely right. It’s absolutely all my fault, so blame me and punish me.”
“….”
“If that’s what it takes to ease your heart, I’ll do anything.”
Tears welled up in Mikarin’s large eyes.
The crowd around them began to whisper as they watched her tremble, on the verge of tears.
“What’s going on? What happened?”
“Whatever it is, Nikaearsha must’ve done something mean again.”
“Isn’t this just like last time, when Mikarin tried to stop her from whipping the maid and got scolded for it?”
Hearing the murmurs, Mikarin smiled to herself. In the past, no matter what misunderstandings arose, Nikaearsha had always defended her. Unlike Nikaearsha, who would become the greatest Awakener and the Delosif princess, rumors could be fatal for Mikarin.
But now, she knew Nikaearsha would no longer protect her.
‘So go ahead and say it, sister. Tell everyone that Mikarin planted a spy on you. It’s unfair, isn’t it?’
Because that would be the dumbest move she could make.
The fact that Mikarin had planted a spy was a secret the family had decided to keep quiet. So, what if Nikaearsha revealed it now?
‘It would mean directly opposing the brothers’ wishes.’
In addition, it would drag the family’s reputation through the mud. All the effort she had put into earning points with the Bear and Akitane deals would go up in smoke. It wouldn’t matter even if Nikaearsha had truly learned to think things through.
‘If she doesn’t say anything, the rumors will become the truth.’
A lose-lose situation.
If she spoke up, she’d become even more estranged from her family.
If she stayed silent, her reputation would worsen, and Mikarin would come out looking like the victim.
‘I’m fine with whichever choice you make, Sister.’
After all, there was no way she could beat her.
Sure enough, Nikaearsha opened her mouth with a troubled expression.
“Ah… Mikarin.”
“Yes, Sister?”
Mikarin lifted her head, tears shimmering in her eyes like drops of dew.
“Is this about you and Cleas meeting alone?”
“…Yes?”
The words completely caught Mikarin off guard.
Her lips froze into a stiff line.
Nikaearsha spoke, her face showing confusion.
“Uh… I thought the two of you were meeting for my sake… to cheer me up since I haven’t been feeling well lately.”
“W-What are you even saying…?”
“Every time you two met, you said it was for me. But now you’re apologizing like this. Does that mean—”
Nikaearsha tilted her head slightly.
“Did you do something that needs an apology?”
“….!”
Mikarin froze, her body stiffening as gasps rippled through the crowd.
“What’s going on? What did they do that she needs to apologize for?!”
“Eek! Isn’t it her cousin and her fiancé?!”
Nikaearsha’s eyes narrowed.
“Could it be… the two of you…”
“No way that’s true.”
Cleas opened his mouth as he wrapped his arm around Nikaearsha’s shoulder.
“Something to apologize for? I’ve always been proud of my love.”
“…Really?”
“From the moment I first saw you, you’ve been the only one in my eyes.”
“….”
“Nike, there’s never been anyone but you.”
As Cleas gazed at Nikaearsha with an unwavering look, his large hand reverently cradled her cheek.
“You will always be the master of my soul.”
At those words, the surrounding young ladies let out soft sighs of admiration. A handsome man’s grand confession of love definitely made the noblewomen’s hearts flutter.
As for Nikaearsha, however…
♥♡ Love Delivery ˚₊·-̳͟͞͞♡
You’ve received a ♥ from 〈 Party Guests 〉!
She was fixated on the message, completely ignoring Cleas.
‘Everyone’s enjoying this, huh?’
From the moment she asked, “Did you do something worth apologizing for?” gasps rippled through the crowd. This was probably the moment when everyone’s dopamine levels peaked.
Nikaearsha shifted her gaze toward Mikarin.
Mikarin was staring at Cleas, her fists clenched tightly.
‘Why… I’m Cleas’ true love.’
Even though their love was forbidden and fraught with danger, their desire for each other was so deep that they couldn’t stop. Yet, she was forced to watch her lover declare his love for another woman right before her eyes.
It was such a tragic, pitiful love.
‘Why does our love have to face so many obstacles?’
Tears began to well up in Mikarin’s eyes.
Seeing this, Nikaearsha thought to herself.
‘I can read her mind like an open book. This is truly ridiculous.’
Feeling magnanimous, she decided to give the seething Mikarin a little gift.
“I trust you, Cleas.”
When she gently clasped the hand resting against her cheek, Cleas flinched. It seemed he was disgusted, as even the touch of a woman he found revolting made him uncomfortable.
‘The misery of cheaters is my happiness.’
Nikaearsha smiled and turned to Mikarin.
“So, Mikarin, why did you suddenly apologize?”
“Yes? I just…”
She would never be able to say it.
For the same reason Nikaearsha kept quiet about the spy.
“Cleas, do you know?”
“…Mikarin has always had a tendency to overreact. She probably stressed out over something small and ended up worrying about it alone.”
“Oh, so Mikarin just made a fuss over nothing?”
“Exactly.”
To hear such words, not from just anyone, but from the lover she cherished so dearly, Mikarin trembled, clearly overwhelmed by Nikaearsha’s ‘gift.’
“There, there. It’s okay. These things happen.”
Ulysses patted Mikarin on the shoulder. Lucvan, however, frowned and grumbled at Nikaearsha.
“Nike, was it really necessary to make her cry on such a nice day?”
“She was already crying before I even said anything.”
“How much have you been hounding her for this to happen?”
Just a month ago, Lucvan wouldn’t have spoken to her with such sharpness.
‘It all started after I failed the Awakening Ceremony.’
Even so, it felt strange for him to pick a fight just because Mikarin cried.
Ulysses stepped in to stop Lucvan.
“Lucvan, that’s enough. Nikaearsha, don’t pay attention to what he says.”
“I-I’m sorry for causing trouble during Lord Ulysses’s birthday celebration…”
“It’s okay, Mikarin.”
Ulysses smiled gently at Mikarin. His warm and kind demeanor made him popular with everyone.
“Nike, cheer up for me, alright?”
Saying so, he handed something to Nikaearsha.
“Here, have some mint chocolate. You like this, don’t you? I prepared it just for you.”
Nikaearsha ignored the mint chocolate Ulysses offered and thought to herself.
‘Could it be… Is Lucvan already having an affair with Mikarin?’
̊ · : * ✧ * : · ̊
Love Hunt Target: Lucvan
‘Just as I thought. It didn’t work.’
Lucvan, Cleas, Ulysses, and even Mikarin—
All of them were failures.
It was exactly as I had expected.
‘Investigating them was just a side task anyway.’
Now, it was time to focus on my real objective.
‘Lady Bethril, daughter of the Marquis.’
There was something I needed from her to begin negotiations with the real Grand Duke Akelos.
The investigation of target 〈 Selena Bethril 〉 is completed instantly due to her significantly low status!
I was completely startled as I read through the personal information that kept popping up.
‘She’s Ulysses’s girlfriend?!’
I had no idea.
But why was there an asterisk next to the word ‘lover’?
When I tapped on it, a new message appeared.
* Ulysses’s third lover
Third… lover?
‘That bas*ard Ulysses! He’s not just two-timing… he’s three-timing?!’
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