The Villainous Lady Doesn't Speak Chapter 111

The Wind Blows from the Imperial Country 3

It was quite some time after Riley and Liliana had entered the lounge before Prince Roland and Princess Edith finally arrived. The attendant who came to fetch Riley was visibly surprised when he noticed Liliana’s presence, as it wasn’t part of the original plan. However, since Riley had brought her along, there was little that a mere servant could say.

After opening the doors to the audience chamber and ushering them in, the attendant hurriedly whispered something to a maid, likely instructing her to bring additional refreshments. Liliana felt a pang of guilt, but she reminded herself that she was now in a position where she had to help host Prince Roland and Princess Edith. She stood firmly beside Riley, maintaining a dignified posture.

Before long, the sound of footsteps echoed from the corridor outside, signaling the arrival of the prince and princess. Liliana straightened her back as the doors to the lounge opened, and the Prime Minister entered first. Duke Clark’s eyes momentarily sharpened when he noticed Liliana, who had no business being there. Liliana caught the fleeting irritation in his gaze and deepened her smile, finding it amusing to see her father, usually so composed, display a rare sign of emotion.

However, Duke Clark quickly masked his annoyance, once again exuding the calm authority of a seasoned prime minister as he ushered the guests from the Yunatian Empire into the room.

"Please, make yourselves comfortable here until the ceremony begins."

"This is quite a splendid room."

The compliment, though neutral, was likely from Prince Roland. The young man who appeared before Liliana looked much younger than the version of him she had seen in the game from her previous life. His appearance was striking, with turquoise hair and aquamarine eyes. He was supposed to be sixteen years old, having already reached adulthood. The girl standing beside him, with strawberry-blonde hair and rosy eyes, was equally striking and was likely Princess Edith. Liliana recalled that she should be eight years old, a year younger than herself. The princess blushed bright red the moment she laid eyes on Riley.

Standing behind the two of them was a man dressed entirely in black, with black hair and black eyes. Although he exuded an odd sense of intimidation, his ability to blend into the background suggested he was skilled at concealing his presence.

Prince Roland offered Riley and Liliana a charming smile.

"Thank you for hosting us. I am Roland Dille Unakaytis, the second prince of the Yunitian Empire. This is my younger sister, Edith Darla Unakaytis. The man behind us is Dolmir Butler, my attendant."

His tone was haughty. Although the Yunitian Empire was indeed a great power, Riley’s status as crown prince placed him higher in rank. Such a manner of speech might have been tolerable towards Liliana, but it was inappropriate towards Riley.

Liliana smiled beneath the surface but tilted her head slightly in thought. Dolmir Butler was supposed to be the Assistant Chancellor of the Yunitian Empire. If events in the real world followed the same course as in the game from her past life, he would ascend to the position of Chancellor in four years, thanks to his remarkable talents. But why was such a man accompanying Prince Roland as his attendant? The prior correspondence had indeed described him as an "attendant," but the reason for hiding his true title was unclear.

(Something’s off…)

She pondered this in her mind and suddenly came to a possible realization.

Riley had said he wanted to use this ceremony to make it clear that he considered Liliana his fiancée, with no interference. But now, she wondered if that was the only reason. She was aware that Riley trusted her judgment to a certain extent and that he enjoyed discussing matters with her. As someone who sought the truth through hearing others' perspectives, a valuable trait for a crown prince, he would need to share the same information with those he engaged in discussions.

Riley’s closest confidants were Austin and, to a lesser extent, Clyde, but neither could accompany him in such a setting. However, if Liliana was his fiancée, it would be a different story. She could naturally share the same space, seeing and hearing exactly what Riley did.

(Is he looking for an ally?)

As these thoughts crossed Liliana’s mind, Riley maintained his unchanging smile and gracefully responded to the greeting.

"It is a great honor to welcome you to our country. I am Riley Williams Slibegrad. This is Lady Liliana Alexandra Clark, my fi-an-cée."

It wasn’t only Duke Clark who reacted to Riley’s words. All three guests from the Yunitian Empire showed signs of surprise. Although Duke Clark and Dolmir Butler quickly concealed their astonishment, making it barely noticeable unless one was paying close attention, Prince Roland and Princess Edith visibly widened their eyes.

"Fiancée—I was told she was just a candidate," Princess Edith said, her face still reflecting her shock.

Liliana maintained her smile, fully intending to leave everything to Riley. He chuckled lightly, clearly enjoying the moment, and gestured for them to sit on the sofa before seating himself beside Liliana.

"Yes, that has been the case until now. However, there have been opinions that it is time to make a decision. With my strong desire, I have chosen Lady Liliana."

Naturally, Riley didn’t mention that only he and his two closest advisors knew of his decision. Nor did he admit that he had yet to obtain the approval of Liliana’s father, Duke Clark. The duke was well aware that Dolmir Butler was the Assistant Chancellor of the Yunitian Empire and favored by the emperor. With Butler present, Duke Clark couldn’t openly challenge Riley’s statement as a lie. Riley had calculated this, and his bold move was unassailable.

Riley then gazed lovingly at Liliana with a look far more mature than his years, gently drawing her close by the shoulders. Liliana responded by slightly lowering her gaze.

Having little experience with romantic interactions, Liliana was entirely unprepared for such a situation. She felt completely at a loss as to how she should behave. However, she assumed that in such circumstances, blushing would be the expected reaction, so she mustered all the meager knowledge she had on the subject. It seemed to have been effective, as those around them appeared to accept Riley’s words as truth. She could hear Riley’s amused breath by her ear, causing her to almost frown. But she knew that would be inappropriate, so instead, she maintained her serene smile.

"—Your Highness.”

Duke Clark spoke to Riley in a slightly reproachful tone. Riley smiled wryly and shrugged before letting go of Liliana's shoulder. He then turned his attention back to Prince Roland and Princess Edith.

Once everyone had been served tea and sweets, Riley began the conversation.

"Did the long journey tire you?"

"Eh—ah. I was a bit fatigued, but..."

Prince Roland, still somewhat shaken, hesitated before nodding. However, he soon smiled.

"Still, as we got closer to the Kingdom of Slibegrad, the scenery and culture began to change, which was fascinating. We usually reside in the imperial capital, Tutelary, so the difference was quite surprising."

"Is it really that different? From what I've read, Tutelary does indeed seem to have a different ambiance compared to our kingdom."

"Oh, it's entirely different. The imperial capital of Tutelary is meticulously organized in every aspect. The roads are well-maintained, making it easy for carriages to travel. In contrast, here—well, it might be closer to one of our imperial villas."

Riley tilted his head at Roland's words.

"An imperial villa, you say?"

"Yes, indeed. The imperial family of the Yunitian Empire has villas scattered throughout the empire, all located in secluded areas. These buildings are rich in historical charm, though somewhat inconvenient, but they're surrounded by nature, making them perfect for relaxing and easing the mind."

Liliana, maintaining her smile, subtly hid her mouth with her fan. Noticing this, Riley gently reached out and touched her right hand, as if to say, "Stay calm." Liliana responded through telepathy using her bracelet, "I’m just exasperated."

Though not explicit, Roland's words danced on the edge of disrespect. He was essentially saying that, unlike the Yunitian Empire, the Kingdom of Slibegrad was rural. Considering the history and norms of this world, this was nothing short of implying that Slibegrad was inferior to the Yunitian Empire.

—In other words, he was suggesting that the roads here were poorly maintained, the towns were unorganized, and the lands were sparsely developed, overrun by nature.

In contrast, the Yunitian Empire, as he implied, possessed all these attributes as a grand nation.

However, Riley did not show any signs of anger. He responded calmly.

"I see. Does this mean Prince Roland often visits these villas?"

Yet, depending on how one interprets it, Riley's words could be a sharp barb. Prince Roland was already sixteen and had reached adulthood. If he frequently visited the villas rather than staying in the capital, Riley’s question could be interpreted as, "Are you not involved in governmental affairs—or are you simply not allowed to be?"

The room's temperature seemed to drop, and Liliana exhaled softly. There was no need to search for the source of the chill. Both Duke Clark, who had heard Prince Roland's remarks, and Butler, who had reacted to Riley's retort, were visibly displeased.

However, it was Prince Roland who had initiated this exchange. Backing down without a response would indeed lead them to be underestimated as a weak nation. They needed to at least ensure they were seen as equals.

"I used to visit often, but not so much lately."

Prince Roland, seemingly unaware of the sarcasm, laughed heartily. It was then that Princess Edith, who had been silent until now, raised her head.

"Well, I still visit quite frequently. There's a particular villa I’m fond of. If you're interested, I'd be happy to show you around, Riley-sama."

The room fell silent. The fact that Princess Edith was unaware of the ongoing exchange of barbs was concerning, but more problematic was that she had addressed Riley by name without permission. A princess of one nation calling the crown prince of another by name without proper decorum was a breach of etiquette, and Butler, who had been standing behind, showed a slight hint of panic. However, he couldn’t stop her. Riley responded with a calm smile.

"Thank you, Princess Edith. Perhaps another time."

It was a clear social nicety, but it seemed Princess Edith took it literally. Her adorable face lit up, only to soon pout slightly in dissatisfaction.

"Oh, please don’t be so formal. I’d be delighted if you called me 'Edy,' just like my brother does."

"Your Highness, I am afraid I must insist on maintaining proper respect towards an esteemed guest from a neighboring nation. I ask for your understanding."

To the young princess asking him to address her as her family does, Riley maintained his smile but firmly and smoothly declined. On the surface, it seemed like his usual demeanor, but Liliana, sitting beside him, could sense that he was irritated. It was rare for him to be in such a mood, she noted with some detachment. And then, she narrowed her eyes slightly. The name "Edy" rang a bell.

Princess Edith still seemed unsatisfied, but she must have sensed something in Riley's tone because she didn't press further. She closed her mouth and glanced at Prince Roland beside her, her gaze almost searching for reassurance. Liliana couldn't suppress her surprise at the sight.

(It seems Princess Edith has considerable faith in Prince Roland.)

The prince also looked at Princess Edith with gentle eyes. It seemed that their sibling relationship was not strained. Perhaps the age difference between them prevented any feelings of rebellion.

Riley, seemingly having regained his composure, adjusted his tone slightly and briefly explained the upcoming schedule.

"First, you will be staying in the royal capital, where we have arranged for you to attend the ceremony, the martial arts tournament, the exhibition, and finally, the patent grant ceremony. After that, there will be inspections of various locations, but we'll discuss those closer to the time."

"Today is the ceremony, right? Who will be attending?"

"Only high-ranking nobles will be present. Additionally, a few mages will be in attendance."

Prince Roland nodded thoughtfully. However, his interest seemed to lie more in the martial arts tournament, as he quickly shifted the topic.

"What kind of events will the martial arts tournament involve?"

Liliana suppressed a sigh. The flow of events, including an overview of the martial arts tournament, should have already been conveyed in advance. Had he not read the letter, or had he read it but failed to remember, or perhaps was he intentionally testing them? If it was the former two, it would simply mean he was a fool, but if it was the latter, it would suggest he was a prince with a keen mind. However, it was too early to judge.

"There are four divisions: general swordsmanship, magical swordsmanship, magic, and martial arts. The Royal Knights will participate, as well as knights from the provinces and mercenaries. I think it will be quite a spectacle."

"That sounds like fun."

"I'm terrified of bloodshed. I'm more interested in the exhibition. Will there be lovely dresses and jewelry?"

Princess Edith chimed in. Riley, his expression unchanged, replied, "The main items on display will be beer, wine, and perfumes." The princess clapped her hands in delight.

"Oh, perfumes! How wonderful! Brother, if I find a perfume I like, may I take it home with me?"

"Of course, Edy. Choose whatever you like."

The brother's gentle response made the sister blush. It was a heartwarming exchange between siblings, but Liliana couldn’t let her guard down. While the prince and princess from the Yunitian Empire were staying at the palace, Liliana had her own responsibilities.

Princess Edith’s name never appeared in the game from her previous life. However, there was a moment when Prince Roland reflected on the past and mentioned “the sister he loved.” This unnamed sister had passed away at a young age. The cause of her death was unclear. But in the game, Prince Roland had said, "I sent her far away to protect her, but in the end, I couldn’t protect her at all." Whether that sister was Princess Edith or someone else, Liliana wasn’t sure. But from the way they interacted, it seemed likely. And if this “sister” was indeed Princess Edith, and she were to die while on this visit to the Kingdom of Slibegrad...

(Didn't Prince Roland mention something like this in the game? I think... it was Edy.)

Unfortunately, her memory was hazy.

But even if it wasn't an assassination, if the princess were to lose her life during this trip, the Empire would undoubtedly place the blame on them. It could very well lead to war. Even if it didn't, there was a significant risk that they would be forced into an unfavorable treaty. Unfortunately, since this was a time before the game began, she had no way of knowing what had transpired between the nations.

Since learning of Princess Edith's visit, Liliana had focused on gathering information about her security and exploring what she could do. However, there was still a significant lack of information about the princess. That was why the real challenge would begin after meeting her in person.

(The imperial treasure, Princess Edith, even Obsidian couldn’t track her...)

She had lived her life away from the public eye, with few people involved with her, and since she hadn't reached adulthood, she hadn't debuted in high society. Although she claimed to have often visited the imperial villas, her security must have been impeccable.

There must be a reason why she was called a treasure. It was rumored that Princess Edith was the emperor's favorite. Obsidian believed this was likely true. Moreover, the Yunatian Empire's succession rights were equal between men and women, and the crown prince was chosen solely at the emperor’s discretion. That’s why no crown prince had been decided yet.

—And now, that treasure had finally been brought out into the world.

(There's no way she wouldn't be a target.)

Liliana narrowed her eyes as she observed the prince and princess from the Yunatian Empire.

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ToC

Chapter 112

(T/N: sorry for updating this after a long break, but now onwards updates will be constant. Look forward to them)