The Villainous Lady Doesn't Speak Chapter 112

The Wind Blows from the Imperial Country 4

As the time for the ceremony approached, the three guests from the Yunatian Empire, along with Liliana and her companions, made their way to the waiting room. Riley, Liliana, and Duke Clark entered the room together briefly, but soon departed to make their entrance ahead of the others.

Though Duke Clark was visibly displeased, likely due to Riley introducing Liliana as his fiancée in front of others, he refrained from expressing his disapproval, likely because of the presence of other people. He cast a disgruntled glance at Liliana before quickly heading to the ceremony hall. As Chancellor, Duke Clark would be seated behind the royals, while Liliana’s seat was placed near Riley's. Clyde also had a seat close by, though Liliana's was higher in rank.

It seemed Riley was genuinely treating Liliana as his fiancée. Although Clyde was originally supposed to escort her, the fact that her brother wasn’t beside her suggested that Riley intended to do so himself.

As expected, Liliana found herself grasped by Riley’s arm in a small room adjacent to the hall. The air shimmered slightly—Riley had set up a soundproof barrier. Liliana tilted her head in curiosity.

“Riley-sama?”

“I’ll be busy later, so I wanted to hear your thoughts now.”

“About Prince Roland and Princess Edith, I presume?”

“Yes.”

Telepathy was convenient in moments like this. Although a soundproof barrier could prevent eavesdropping, telepathy reduced the risk of being overheard even further.

Liliana observed Riley’s expression. His face was serious, showing no signs of casual conversation. However, this wasn’t an urgent matter, so she wondered why he was asking just before the ceremony. Nevertheless, she decided to share her honest impressions.

“There was something off. Prince Roland acted with arrogance and disdain, yet his choice of words and responses didn’t make him seem unintelligent.”

“I thought the same. The pre-visit reports described him as a foolish prince.”

Riley let out a wry smile.

Prince Roland had a reputation for being a dullard—a second prince who indulged in pleasures and offered no noteworthy policies. This contrasted sharply with Princess Edith, who was revered as a treasure. Yet, the initial impression from their conversation suggested the opposite. While Princess Edith appeared pure, perhaps due to her youth, she seemed oblivious to subtle cues. Although not exactly spoiled considering her royal status, she didn’t come across as particularly intelligent. She seemed to only care about things that interested her.

“Prince Roland’s behavior might have been a ploy to gauge our reactions.”

“I agree.”

Liliana nodded. Pretending to be dull to catch the other party off guard or extract information was a valid diplomatic strategy. Knowing that Riley had the same impression reassured her.

Liliana had long suspected that the personalities of the characters in this world might differ significantly from those in the otome game of her past life. This suspicion was reinforced by Clyde’s personality, which was different from what she remembered. After all, it wasn’t certain that this world was strictly following the game’s narrative. Considering that people she had already saved were supposed to have died, it made sense that changes in environmental factors could alter characters’ personalities.

However, Prince Roland’s character hadn’t changed much from the game. If anything, the current Prince Roland seemed more straightforward compared to his game counterpart.

With these thoughts in mind, Liliana continued to speak to Riley.

“Regarding Princess Edith, although she was disrespectful in addressing you by name, I didn’t find her to be a bad person. She also refrained from commenting on my inability to speak.”

At this, Riley frowned. Liliana’s observation seemed to have brought up an unpleasant memory for him. As she tilted her head in confusion, Riley forced a smile.

“Well, you’re right—she’s not a bad person, maybe. But she’s too immature. I can’t help but compare her to you.”

Riley sighed in frustration. While Liliana and Princess Edith were only a year apart, with Liliana being nine and the princess eight, it was Liliana who was the unusual one. By normal standards, the princess's behavior could be seen as endearing. However, such behavior would likely only be considered charming by adults, and people generally have less patience with those who are close in age to them. Understanding this, Liliana didn’t scold Riley for his words, but instead offered a gentle response.

“Indeed, her actions were childish for a princess, but she’s still only eight years old.”

“Even so, it’s unusual to tell someone you’ve just met to call you by name. I haven’t even called you by a nickname yet.”

For once, Liliana was at a loss for words. It was true that she and Riley had begun addressing each other by name, though Liliana, unable to speak, called him “Riley-sama” in her mind. In public, when writing notes, she always referred to him as “Your Highness.”

Whether Riley noticed her surprise and chose to ignore it or genuinely didn’t see it, he suddenly brightened.

“Clyde calls you Lily, right? Could I call you Sasha?”

“Sasha?”

“Yes. Many people call you Liliana, but I’d like to use a nickname for Alexandra, your middle name. It’s a bit exotic, but I think it suits you.”

Liliana couldn’t help but internally question how their relationship had grown so close. She had been trying to distance herself as a potential fiancée, yet here they were, and Riley seemed to be closing in on all sides.

“If you don’t like it, I won’t call you that, but if you don’t mind, I’d like to.”

Seeing Riley’s uncertainty as he spoke, Liliana suppressed a sigh and smiled.

—How had she grown so close to him, to the point that he was now all but sealing her fate as his fiancée?

It was true that she hadn't made any bold moves. But with a lack of information and the uncertainty surrounding her father's intentions, she couldn’t afford to act recklessly. If she ended up dead before managing to remove herself from the list of fiancée candidates, it would all be for nothing. Liliana’s ultimate goal was to avoid her own ruin, not necessarily to stop being Riley’s fiancée.

Unable to bear Riley’s expectant gaze any longer, Liliana finally nodded. Riley broke into a wide, joyous smile and thanked her with unmistakable happiness.

“Sasha. It’s such a cute nickname. I’m glad it’s just for me.”

In other words, no one else was allowed to use it. Liliana felt like sighing at the sky, but Riley wasn’t finished yet.

“Since we’re at it, why don’t you call me Will?”

Riley Williams Slibegrad—his middle name was Williams, and Will was its nickname. Seeing Liliana’s wide-eyed surprise, Riley’s smile softened into something almost meltingly sweet.

“Just for you.”

He was clearly determined that no one else would call him that. Despite his gentle demeanor, Riley had a stubborn side, and it seemed he had no intention of budging on this. Meanwhile, the hall outside had grown noisier as the start time of the ceremony approached.

Liliana resigned herself. Sometimes, there was no use fighting the inevitable.

“Then I shall call you Will, when it’s just the two of us.”

Simply calling his name caused Riley to smile with pure happiness. He gently wrapped an arm around her shoulders and whispered, “Well then—”

“Shall we enter the hall together?”

Liliana placed her hand on his offered left arm. The soundproof barrier dissolved like a bursting bubble. As the light flooded in, Liliana straightened her back and stood proudly beside Riley. As they took their first step into the hall, she could feel the gazes of surprise converging on them.

Dressed in what seemed like matching outfits, their contrasting hair—gold and silver—only served to accentuate the harmony between them. Few even glanced toward the Grand Duke entering from the opposite side.

Despite the eyes on her, Liliana walked confidently, escorted by Riley, and took her seat. As Riley and the Grand Duke took their positions, the sound of a bell rang out.

—The ceremony was about to begin.

*****

In the waiting room, Prince Roland sat deep in the sofa with an air of arrogance, arms crossed.

“Kingdom of Slibegrad, huh...” 

The words slipped out almost unintentionally, prompting a reaction from Princess Edith, who was seated next to him. She quickly lifted her head and turned her whole body toward the prince.

“Brother, Lord Riley was absolutely splendid, wasn't he?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah, I suppose so.”

Prince Roland nodded vaguely, muttering under his breath, “He seemed rather soft though…” However, the princess, with her cheeks flushed, didn't seem to notice. Her eyes sparkling, she continued to speak excitedly.

“I want to be Lord Riley’s bride. I just know I could be happy by his side.”

Prince Roland looked down at his sister with a complicated expression but didn’t argue. He gently agreed, saying, “Yes, that’s true.” The princess, as if floating on air, sighed in delight.

“While we were talking, I couldn’t take my eyes off him. He’s truly wonderful... but…”

Princess Edith’s brow suddenly furrowed.

“But, Brother... are Lord Riley and Lady Liliana already engaged? And that chancellor—he was terrifying. Isn’t he Lady Liliana’s father?”

“Hmm, I don’t recall hearing that he had a fiancée...” 

Prince Roland nodded thoughtfully at Princess Edith’s words. He had recently heard that the Crown Prince of Slibegrad didn’t have a fiancée yet, only a few candidates. If an engagement had been decided, it must have been within the last few days, he reasoned.

However, if the engagement hadn’t been officially finalized, there was still room to maneuver. After all, the Yunatian Empire was a great power, and no matter how much Slibegrad Kingdom might try, it could never truly be their equal.

“That Duke was indeed rumored to be quite capable, wasn’t he? What do you think, Butler?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Dolmir Butler, who was standing behind the two, nodded deeply. His expression was gloomy, but his eyes shone sharply, like a hawk's. Prince Roland gently stroked his anxious sister’s head, speaking in a reassuring tone.

“There’s no need to worry. You should do whatever makes you happy. Oh, and since we're here, I'll make sure you get more time to spend with the Crown Prince. Then, he’ll see just how adorable you are.”

“Oh my, really!? Brother, thank you! I’m so happy!”

“You’re a good girl,” Prince Roland said with a smile. The princess blushed shyly, and her slightly upturned eyes softened. But soon, those eyes were clouded with concern again.

“But what about you, Brother? Are you going to be all right? There won't be any danger, will there?”

“Don’t worry. Your brother will be just fine. You know how strong I am, don’t you?”

“Of course, Brother. You’re so strong, you’d defeat any villain in no time.”

Prince Roland’s smile deepened at his sister’s childish words, filled with affection, though he quickly straightened his face.

“However, that Duke’s daughter was unexpected... Butler.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The man who had been addressed in a low voice answered briefly. He was a man of few words, which Princess Edith had once secretly told Prince Roland she found frightening. Indeed, Butler had a sharpness akin to a drawn sword. Although he rarely spoke of his past, Prince Roland suspected that he had a long history as the Emperor’s shadow, filled with dark experiences.

But to the prince, that past was of little concern. What mattered were Butler’s abilities and the results they could produce.

“Can you investigate?”

“As you command.”

Butler nodded. Prince Roland felt satisfied, confident that the necessary information would be gathered while they attended the ceremony.

Emperor Calvin Gain Unacitis of the Yunatian Empire is a tyrant. His only love is power and a world that bends to his will. He shows no mercy, even to his own flesh and blood, if it furthers his ambitions. In fact, many of his children and grandchildren have lost their lives due to falling out of his favor. Prince Roland knows of more than he can count on both hands, which likely means there are even more.

Even a vassal who was in favor just a few hours ago would disappear instantly if the Emperor deemed them unnecessary.

To survive in that country, one must become the Emperor's hands and feet, delivering the results he desires. It’s exactly like being a loyal dog—kill when ordered to kill, take your own life when commanded to do so. Without that level of resolve, survival in that country is impossible.

This also means that those with abilities that threaten the Emperor's position are inevitably purged.

However, Emperor Calvin is also an excellent ruler. Thanks to his policies, the vast lands of the empire have been developed, roads have been constructed, and sanitation has improved, leading to a reduction in the impact of epidemics. Trade with foreign nations has become more active, and the nation is far wealthier than it was during the previous emperor's reign. Law and order, enforced through strict punishments, have notably improved. 

The imperial capital, Tuterarii, is particularly clean and well-maintained, earning the Emperor deep reverence from the people.

And yet, Prince Roland's nerves were always on edge. Even in a neighboring country, he could feel the watchful eyes and couldn’t afford to relax. Emperor Calvin never tolerates failure, not even from a child who has just learned to walk. No matter how much he dotes on someone, if they fall out of his favor, they are mercilessly discarded.

Roland glanced at his sister, who sat beside him sipping tea. He barely managed to suppress the sigh that threatened to escape.

—-

ToC

Chapter 113