The Villainess Who Accidentally Stole Their Hearts - Chapter 6
Chapter 3.2
Viscount Barento, sensing success, asked with a cheerful smile,
“Is there something you wish for? Jewelry? A dress? Furs? Or maybe a new villa?”
Nikaearsha had never shown interest in family affairs and had always indulged in luxury. Naturally, he assumed she’d want something like that.
But instead—
“Authority over personnel.”
“….?!”
Nikaearsha’s calm words were completely unexpected.
At that moment, Akain, who had remained silent, frowned.
“You, who know nothing about family matters, want authority over personnel?”
She spoke directly to Zerno, not even glancing in Akain’s direction.
“Of course, I’m not asking for control over everyone. I simply want the authority to choose my own people.”
Zerno stared at Nikaearsha in silence. Even that alone carried an overwhelming pressure, yet she stood firm, quietly meeting his gaze.
Finally, his lips parted.
“I grant it.”
“Thank you!”
A faint smile played on Nikaearsha’s lips. For a moment, everyone in the room had their eyes widen in surprise.
“Then, I’ll be on my way.”
Nikaearsha bowed her head without hesitation and left the room.
“That girl…”
Akain followed her out with a frown.
Once he was left alone with Zerno, Viscount Barento finally spoke up.
“This is the first time I’ve seen the Young Lady act this way.”
“….”
“Failing the first manifestation ceremony must have been quite a shock to her. It seems the Young Lady has finally learned some humility.”
“Are you saying she’s humble?”
“Why are you being so harsh when you’re in a good mood? The Young Lady has reflected on her actions and even came out to greet you. It’s a lovely thing.”
“It looks like you’ve lost your sharpness too.”
“Pardon?”
Zerno leaned back comfortably in his chair as he spoke again.
“Do you really think she just calmed Bear that easily?”
Bear was the king of the snowy mountains that no one had been able to tame. Naturally, there was no way it would be soothed by mere hugs and gentle words.
“Still, thanks to Your Excellency, it’s become much tamer. It doesn’t attack anyone without the master’s orders anymore…”
“But wasn’t it a situation where it was about to attack me, its master?”
“….!”
“I caught the scent of Palon on Nikaearsha.”
“The Palon scent?!”
“Yes, it’s the antidote that neutralizes the effects of the Arake scent.”
Viscount Barento’s mouth dropped open.
“So, calming Bear was all part of her plan…?”
“Even Mikarin bringing the Arake scent could’ve been orchestrated by that child.”
A faint smile tugged at the corners of Zerno’s mouth.
Nikaearsha, who had always ignored family responsibilities, disregarded her reputation and lived as she pleased, completely unconcerned about the consequences… that Nikaearsha had finally shown her claws for the first time.
“They say a lion cub eventually grows into a lion… She truly is your sister, Your Excellency.”
“Why make a fuss over just one thing? She couldn’t even see the spy right under her nose.”
“But she did request authority over personnel, didn’t she? It seems she’s already aware.”
“That’s still uncertain.”
Zerno let out a derisive scoff. However, the corners of his mouth were subtly raised.
̊ · : * ✧ * : · ̊
“Nike.”
I frowned at the voice calling out from behind me.
‘Why did he follow me?’
I hurried my steps, but Akain was quicker. In an instant, my body was spun around.
“What on earth are you thinking?”
“About what?”
“Why did you suddenly ask for authority over personnel?”
“So what if you know?”
I looked up at Akain with a defiant expression and persisted.
“Are you going to take care of it for me if you know?”
Akain paused, which was unlike him.
It must have been shocking for him to see me, someone who couldn’t even properly respond in front of him before, talking back. But I had no intention of caring about that.
“Stop acting like you care about me. Don’t suddenly try to play the big brother role now.”
“….”
“It’s not like you’re asking because you’re actually worried about me. You’re just worried I might bring disgrace to the family, aren’t you?”
“….”
“Why don’t you spend your time comforting Mikarin instead?”
I finished what I had to say and turned away.
Fortunately, Akain didn’t follow me.
‘That felt liberating.’
I wondered why I ever walked on eggshells around Akain, never saying what I wanted.
…It was because I didn’t want to be hated by my family more than I already was.
‘Now I finally understand that no matter how hard I try, I’ll never be loved.’
Not by my family, not by friends, not even by a husband…
No one ever truly loved me.
I wouldn’t waste any more energy on things that didn’t matter.
̊ · : * ✧ * : · ̊
After Nikaearsha had left, the head butler, who was on his way to the study, noticed Akain and tilted his head.
“Young Master? Is something the matter? You don’t look well…”
Akain’s face was ashen as if he were in shock.
“…Is it possible that Nike is suffering from a terminal illness?”
“Pardon?”
“How much time does she have left to live?”
“As far as I know, the Young Lady is perfectly healthy… But why do you ask? Has something happened to her?”
The butler’s face grew serious.
Could there be a health issue he wasn’t aware of…?
“It’s a huge problem.”
“Please tell me.”
“That girl….”
“….?”
“Well, she said to me…”
“To you, Young Master?”
“Never mind.”
He couldn’t bring himself to say it.
Akain shook his head and kept walking.
‘She asked me to worry about her…’
Technically, she had only said, ‘You’re not asking because you’re worried about me, are you?’ but for Akain, who hadn’t talked with Nikaearsha in a long time, it all felt like the same thing.
‘That’s impossible. I must’ve misheard.’
As he denied it, he took a few more hurried steps before coming to a halt.
‘…Or maybe she really is seriously ill.’
His statuesque face turned serious.
̊ · : * ✧ * : · ̊
‘Alright. I’ve obtained authority over personnel.’
I returned to my room, feeling quite satisfied.
In the process of giving those cheaters what they deserved, I also managed to get what I needed most.
‘This ability is more useful than I thought.’
It would be a good idea to figure out how I can use it. Since I’ve been given a free trial, there must be a specific way to use it.
‘I shouldn’t overthink it. It’s my ability, so I should make the best of it.’
As if responding to my thoughts, a message appeared before my eyes.
‘…The name doesn’t matter. Who cares what it’s called?’
“Uurk…!”
I almost threw up reflexively. But then again, anyone would react this way if they received a heart ♥ from a brother they had a bad relationship with.
“Why would you give me something like this?!”
I don’t want it! Take it back!
and it’s the currency used in the 〈 ♥♡ Forbidden Love Detective Agency 〉 ฅ՞•ﻌ•՞ฅ
Why on earth would they shorten it like that? Couldn’t they have just called it ‘points’ instead?
Moreover, ‘Heart-Pounding Thrill Point’?
‘It’s literally just dopamine points!’
What kind of ability is this, anyway?!
Please use ♥ to access the Detective Agency! Here’s what you can currently do with ♥:
❤ Make a Request to the Agency
❤ Upgrade the Agency
“….”
“…Fine, give it to me.”
D*mn it.
¹ [ The author used the sentence 〈두근두근 아찔아찔 포인트♥〉, which literally means ‘Thump-Thump Dizzying/Thrilling Point,’ but it doesn’t translate to English well, so I’m sticking with this version! ] ↩
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