The Villainess Who Accidentally Stole Their Hearts - Chapter 4
Chapter 2.2
“Mikarin is here in your place because you’re always causing trouble—”
“Brother.”
Mikarin lowered her gaze and wrapped her arms around Akain’s tightly before she slowly shook her head.
“It’s a special day with our eldest brother coming home. He’ll be happier to see his siblings getting along.”
“Honestly, after all the trouble you’ve gone through because of Nike, you’re still too kind…”
“How could doing something for my sister ever be considered a hardship? I’m fine.”
Then, Mikarin peeked her head out toward me.
“I’m happy to be able to welcome our eldest brother together with you, sister.”
Anyone would think she was the real younger sister. In the past, I used to believe those words genuinely meant she was happy to be with me.
“The Young Lord arrives—!”
With a booming voice, the grand doors swung open. In walked a tall man draped in a robe made from the pelt of a black lion, looking every bit as majestic as a portrait. His slow stride alone seemed to fill the vast foyer with an overwhelming presence.
Beside him stood an enormous silver wolf.
It wasn’t an ordinary wolf.
‘It’s a formidable monster known as the King of the Snowy Mountains.’
The monster’s name was Bear.
People often referred to Zerno as ‘Master of Bear’ out of reverence for taming Bear, the King of the Snowy Mountains, who never yielded to human hands.
“Welcome back, Brother.”
“Greetings, Eldest Brother.”
“I’ve missed you, Eldest Brother!”
Zerno nodded at our greetings.
“Has anything unusual happened?”
“There’s always something going on.”
Akain cast a quick glance in my direction as he spoke. It was a clear hint that I’d caused more trouble again.
“Oh, Brother Akain, please don’t be like that. Ah, Brother Zerno, I have a gift for you upon your return… If it’s all right, would you accept it?”
Akain let out a slight chuckle at her sweet words.
“It’s our brother who just returned, yet you’re the one giving a gift?”
“Don’t tease me…”
Akain tousled Mikarin’s hair with a gentle expression, entirely different from the way he looked at me.
“Accept it, Brother. She’s been restless since noon, saying she wanted to give you a gift.”
At his words, Mikarin’s cheeks flushed as she handed over a small pouch.
“It’s incense… Well, the fragrance itself isn’t very expensive, but I thought the meaning was beautiful. It represents ‘protection’.”
“You wish for Delosif to be protected? How like you, Mikarin.”
As Zerno accepted the incense pouch, Mikarin continued with her explanation.
“Yes, and the late Duchess also—”
It was then.
Grrrrrr—!!
Bear, who was usually calm, suddenly bared its sharp fangs and fiercely shook its head.
“Bear, you!”
Akain hurriedly tried to calm him down, but it was no use. With saliva dripping from its mouth, Bear lunged toward the nearest person, Zerno.
“Bear! D*mn it! Bring me a sword!”
As Akain shouted, I stepped forward and quickly snatched the incense pouch from Zerno’s hand. Then, using my elbow, I shattered the window and threw the pouch far away into an area with no people.
“Grrrrrr—!!”
“Bear, calm down.”
I wrapped my arms around Bear’s neck and whispered soothingly as if singing a lullaby.
“Yeah, you were startled, weren’t you?”
“Grrr….”
“No one was trying to harm you. It’s all right now, Bear.”
Only then did Bear finally calm down.
Still holding Bear in my arms, I shot a glance at Mikarin.
“What was your intention?”
“I-Intention? I just….”
“You mentioned it means ‘protection,’ so I’m guessing you put Arake incense in that pouch?”
“Yes. Why does that matter?”
I let out a mirthless laugh at her words, while Akain sighed and rubbed his forehead. Needless to say, Zerno’s brows furrowed, and even the knights accompanying him wore incredulous expressions.
I stood up and explained.
“Arake incense is a monster stimulant. That’s why its meaning is ‘protection.’ When used correctly, it causes monsters to fight among themselves, thereby protecting humans.”
“…Yes?”
“Bear is a monster that my eldest brother tamed after being commanded to subjugate it by imperial order. Do you realize what you’ve just done?”
Mikarin’s face turned as white as a sheet.
At a loss for what to do, she stammered, “I-I…,” fidgeting anxiously.
However, Zerno didn’t look back at her and walked inside. Even Akain shook his head.
“You’ve made a big mistake today. Go back.”
“B-But, Brother…”
“Go back, Mikarin.”
“….”
One by one, Akain, along with the knights and vassals, followed Zerno inside. However, Mikarin was the only one who couldn’t pass through the courtyard.
As I watched her pitiful figure from behind, a satisfied smile spread across my face.
“Got you, you sneaky thing.”
Before I returned, Mikarin had never given Zerno Arake incense as a gift. Arake incense wasn’t commonly used by nobles; it was primarily used by the minority tribes on the outskirts of the border to deal with monsters.
‘And yet, the moment I mentioned it to Emma, she beat me to it and gave it as a gift?’
Even an idiot would realize that Emma was Mikarin’s spy.
Which means…
‘All that information is true.’
As if answering my thoughts, a message appeared before my eyes.
As crazy as the ability called 〈 Forbidden Love Agency 〉 might be, its effects were undeniable. It was an ability that allowed me to uncover someone’s personal details without anyone else ever realizing it.
‘What if I used this on a high-ranking noble instead of a maid like Emma?’
Not just nobles.
I could use it on the imperial family, priests, and even…
‘…I could use it on you too.’
As I slowly approached Mikarin, she lifted her head and looked up at me with a pitiful expression. After all, it wasn’t just my brothers who were soft on her in this household.
“Sister…”
Tears began to form in her large eyes.
“I…I must’ve made such a huge mistake. What should I do?”
“….”
“I just wanted to lighten the mood after Brother Akain got so mad at you earlier… I thought that if they were in a better mood, they wouldn’t stay angry at you.”
“….”
“But instead, I just made them even more upset… I’m such an idiot. I was trying to help you, but I ended up just getting in your way.”
So, she’s saying that she prepared the Arake incense for my sake.
‘I used to believe that kindness was real.’
But in reality, she was hoping I would forcefully drag her back into the house.
‘And if that means I end up fighting with Akain or fall out of Zerno’s favor, that’s even better for her.’
I let out a small laugh.
“Oh my, bringing a monster stimulant for me? How thoughtful.”
“S-Sister….”
As I walked past Mikarin, I suddenly turned around as if I’d just remembered something.
“Oh, and I’m glad, too, being able to greet our eldest brother together with you.”
“….!”
“Well then, take care, alright?”
Without a hint of hesitation, I walked away, leaving Mikarin standing alone in the vast lobby.
‘Playing the fool was something I only did when I didn’t realize the train of cheating that was happening behind my back.’
But now, I know everything.
‘You cheating choo-choo train1.’
¹ [ The phrase ‘바람 칙칙폭폭아’ combines ‘바람’ (meaning affair or cheating) with ‘칙칙폭폭’ (an onomatopoeic sound of a train, similar to ‘choo-choo’ in English). It’s an expression that metaphorically compares someone to a ‘train of cheating,’ implying they’ve had multiple affairs, moving from one to another like a train. ] ↩
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