The Villainous Lady Doesn't Speak chapter 251
Chapter 251: Intertwining Intentions 12
After returning to her estate on the outskirts of the royal capital, Liliana changed her clothes and took a breath in her room before dismissing Marianne. Now, there was no worry of Marianne interrupting her. Since Marianne was the only one who usually visited her room, she wouldn't be disturbed.
Liliana stood before her closet and took a small, deep breath. Then, she slowly opened the closet doors and reached deep inside.
Hidden in the back of the closet were various items she didn't want anyone else to see. Since Marianne used the closet as well, it would be meaningless if she noticed them. Liliana had used magic to ensure that only she could perceive these hidden objects.
From among them, she pulled out the piece of jewelry that the heroine, Emilia, had found in the palace courtyard on the day of the Investiture.
"—It’s still here."
Liliana whispered, stunned.
If the Demon King had been truly resealed, this piece of jewelry should have vanished without a trace. And yet, the physical object remained firmly in Liliana’s hand.
"Which means... either the Demon King hasn't been sealed, or the otome game’s interpretation—my past life's knowledge—is wrong."
In the game, this jewelry was said to be a crystallization of the Demon King's magic. It was proof that the seal, while not completely broken, was gradually dissolving. And if the Demon King was either fully sealed or fully resurrected, the jewelry would vanish. Since it was a crystallization of his magic, it naturally belonged with him. If he were sealed, it would be sealed with him; if he were resurrected, it would return to his body as magical power.
If that interpretation was correct, then the Demon King’s seal was still on the verge of breaking. But Liliana had seen Ben and Petra repair it with her own eyes. Unless her eyes were deceived or Ben and Petra were faking it, the Demon King should have been resealed.
"Does this mean the game's interpretation was wrong?"
That can't be, Liliana thought, standing there in a daze. Up until now, she had acted under the assumption that everything she saw in the otome game was the truth. Because stories and reality were different, there might be differences in people's lives and the paths they chose, but she never doubted that the factual events depicted in the game were entirely correct in this world.
"But... that’s right. The otome game always progressed from the heroine's perspective. The 'facts' they uncovered were only what the heroine and the love interests believed to be true."
Liliana cursed her own oversight. In the game, while the heroines solved mysteries, there were scenes where enemies would confess. Based on those confessions, Emilia and the love interests would choose their actions. But even those confessions were only the facts as believed by the ones confessing.
"I assumed that what was written in the setting materials was at least a meta-perspective that transcended everything."
But it seemed she was wrong. And if so, more questions began to surface.
In the otome game, everything was supposedly the work of the villainess, Liliana. But the real Liliana hadn't done anything yet. Despite her inaction, the Demon King was stirring, and the jewelry that was touted as a crystal of his magic had yet to disappear.
Wait— Liliana thought, a new possibility occurring to her.
That researcher.
The hidden room near her estate. The research materials left there flashed through her mind.
Does this mean there was another mastermind behind everything the game attributed to the villainess?
If so, then the Liliana in the game wasn't a true villain, but merely a played villain. A poor soul assigned the role of the antagonist. She was simply used by someone else, committed crimes, and was executed. And in the game, neither the heroine nor the love interests ever knew there was a mastermind.
"Could it be—?"
Then Liliana thought of yet another possibility. In the otome game, there was a so-called "Second Playthrough Character." A hidden character who wouldn't appear until after all the love interests had been cleared.
Liliana had always excluded that character from her considerations. Since he only appeared in the second playthrough, she figured he wouldn't be involved in this reality where she couldn't repeat time. That was what she had thought.
But if the reason he only appeared in the second playthrough had already been removed at this point... then even if this wasn't a second playthrough, it wouldn't be strange for the hidden character to have appeared.
And even if he hadn't appeared yet, there was no guarantee he wouldn't in the near future.
If my theory is correct, then that character is definitely involved.
The entire premise had just been flipped on its head. If that character was truly going to appear, Liliana couldn't just focus on domestic affairs. One wrong step, and not just Liliana, but this entire world would be destroyed. That was an undeniable fact.
Because that character hates this world. He loathes humanity. He wishes to destroy everything. In the otome game, he learns to love the world by meeting the heroine and falling in love. If he doesn't meet her, he will act only to bring about the world's destruction. His power is immense, and he cannot be countered by half-hearted measures.
"How... how could this happen?"
Rarely for her, Liliana pressed her palm to her forehead in shock. She sank into the backrest of her chair, drained.
"I have to think—"
What was the right path? What choices could she make to protect herself, this country—and save the world?
A single mistake would mean losing everything. That was why the villainess Liliana who had appeared in her dreams at age six had lamented so bitterly while being consumed by the flames.
'—Never again will I be able to protect this country, its people, or even the one I love.'
'I thought it would come true if I died, but I feel like I've made a terrible mistake...'
That was the very moment the villainess Liliana—no, not just her. It was the moment this country was defeated by the mastermind.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
No matter how much she thought, no good ideas came to her. Nursing a growing headache, Liliana sat on her sofa and picked up a book she had been reading. It was a rare volume she had recently acquired, documenting the geography and culture of the northern nations.
Originally, there wasn't much information about the northern countries in the Slibegrad Kingdom or the neighboring Yunatian Empire. To the north of both lay steep, rugged mountains, and diplomatic relations had been severed. It was only natural that isolated nations wouldn't seek to know about one another. They vaguely recognized that there were countries beyond the mountains, but everyone looked down on the northern people as barbarians and ignored them.
But in reality, "Northern Immigrants" had been coming to Slibegrad and the Yunatian Empire for a long time. Whether they all truly came from northern nations was questionable, but it was certain that Gild and his kind all originated from the north.
And it was also certain that these "Descendants of Alvaldi" possessed special abilities, and that the warmongering faction of the neighboring empire was plotting to bring them under their wing.
"We know far too little about them," Liliana murmured.
She could hear stories from Gild, who worked as her guard, but that was strictly his subjective view. While incredibly useful, relying on that alone would carry too high a risk of failure when trying to incorporate the Descendants of Alvaldi into a large-scale plan.
For that reason, Liliana had been searching for books on the northern countries for a long time. The book she held now was the fruit of that search. The content was thin and unreliable, but it contained information she was seeing for the first time. It might be somewhat useful.
After reading a few pages, Liliana sighed. She just couldn't concentrate. Before she knew it, her thoughts drifted back to her past-life memories of the otome game and the Demon King’s seal. If she could come up with some kind of plan, she wouldn't be so troubled, but for now, she remained without a single breakthrough.
However, she couldn't consult anyone. The fact that she had memories of a past life was reason enough to drive people away. And if she wanted to reveal the full extent of her concerns, she would have to talk about her late father's crimes and the forbidden research hidden on the grounds. Ruining herself to save the world would be putting the cart before the horse. Besides, even if she did reveal everything, including her father's sins, most people would likely suspect her words were a fabrication.
Liliana’s words being doubted, her being punished, and the world collapsing anyway without any solution being found—that was the worst-case scenario. And Liliana could clearly envision that future. It was surely the very same path the villainess Liliana in the otome game had trodden.
"The disadvantages are far too great."
She groaned low and furrowed her brow.
Closing the book whose words refused to sink in, Liliana placed it on the table. Staring blankly out the window, she whispered.
"If only the heroine could clear the hidden character's route..."
But for that to happen, she had to enter Prince Roland’s route first. The hidden character's branch occurred in Prince Roland’s route during the second playthrough. The problem was, she didn't know when the conditions for the hidden character's appearance would be met.
If the timing for the branch from Prince Roland’s route was missed and the hidden character appeared anyway, Emilia wouldn't be able to clear him. Besides, as of now, she didn't even know whose route Emilia was on.
It was one thing to manage herself, but controlling others was incredibly difficult. She knew that, but she couldn't think of any other way.
"I must uncover his appearance conditions immediately."
And if the hidden character hadn't appeared yet, she had to clear the appearance conditions as soon as possible. At the same time, she needed to make arrangements so Emilia could move from Prince Roland’s route to the hidden character’s.
Liliana let a small smile touch her lips. It wasn't a gentle expression, but one laced with something dangerous.
"In that light, it was a stroke of luck that I was allowed to accompany the inspection this time."
To guide Emilia effectively, she first had to get to know her. She wouldn't be able to do as she pleased with those nuisances Clyde and Riley around, but it was a perfect excuse to meet Emilia.
At that moment, Liliana felt a shift in the air. As she watched the window, a black beast appeared.
"Azulite."
Liliana called the beast's name. The black lion sauntered into the room, showing a hint of its fangs. It had taken Liliana a long time to realize that this was his version of a smile. Just as she was thinking how their acquaintance had grown quite long, she noticed an unbelievable fact.
For once, she was struck speechless with shock. Sensing her reaction, Azulite tilted his head curiously and looked up at her.
'What is it?'
"No—it’s nothing."
Liliana immediately regained her composure. She hid her agitation and managed a smile. Then she asked him.
"Is something the matter?"
'I went to see that shack. Were you able to break the curse while I was gone?'
"Yes, I managed somehow. Would you like to see?"
Liliana asked, feigning nonchalance. Azulite thought for a moment but shook his head slightly.
'No. It’s enough if you tell me what happened.'
"—Understood."
Liliana nodded. But inside, she was being tossed about like a small boat in a storm.
Agitation, confusion, suspicion—and a tiny sliver of despair.
Why—does Azulite...
Possess magic so similar to the power leaking from the Demon King’s seal?
She realized clearly now that the magic he wore on the surface was a disguise. Hidden deep within his body—the magic that was likely his true essence—was that magic.
—-
Mr Lion is the demon king?
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