The S-Class Hunter Doesn't Want To Be A Villainous Princess - Chapter 16

That's how she came up to the Capital through the tiger's den.

To the Villa prepared in the Capital by the Duke of Marchius. In fact, when she heard the word 'Villa', she just thought of a two-story house.

Isn't it literally a 'Villa'? But that thought shattered as soon as she arrived in front of the 'Villa'.

'It's terribly grand. How can a Villa be this big?'

The Villa in the Capital was a bit smaller than the Duke's residence, but it was definitely not small enough to be called a 'Villa'.

Above all, her room was as big as the one in the Duke's residence.

"Miss, your luggage has already been brought up, so you can rest."

The butler in the Capital is much kinder than the one in the territory. Maybe it's because she doesn't see him often.

The butler at the Duke's residence openly ignored her. Of course, his words and actions were kind, but the underlying contempt was evident.

'I can see how annoyed he must have been, being so proud.'

"Where's my father?"

"His Grace the Duke is currently attending a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He should be back by evening."

"I see. Let me know as soon as he arrives."

"Understood, Miss."

As soon as the butler left, Renee locked the door. The reason was-

[The <Queen of Waves and Healing> gives you what she found!]

It was because of this. The item she asked her Constellation for.

'Renee's Diary.'

Why didn't she think of this sooner?

No. She just couldn't imagine that she would keep a diary.

But after hearing Cyril's words, she suddenly thought that Renee might have kept a diary. People who have a lot of grievances always need a place to vent.

'She didn't seem to have anyone to confide in, so she must have confided here.'

She could empathize with that. Even in her previous life, she cared for and liked her guild members, but she didn't trust them.

"Where did she hide this?"

[The <Queen of Waves and Healing> testifies that it was inside the mattress of the bed!]

"Just there? Why can't she be more meticulous?"

It's a relief that it hasn't been discovered so far. She opened the diary and read the most recent entry.

'...Why doesn't anyone believe me?

I really didn't lay a hand on Lianne. Even my father says he believes me, but I can see he doesn't.

Where on earth did Lianne disappear to?'

She was lonely.

The writing was all shaky.

The ink was smeared and dried in places. She continued to turn the pages.

'I shouldn't have done that then. I shouldn't have said that I sent poison to the Saint. But then Talia kept touching my pride, so I couldn't help it.'

...Talia? She needs to check her out too.

'Lianne is really annoying.

She always pretends to be nice.

Yesterday, she asked me to have tea with her, so I just had one cup.

I ate it because I saw Ishir's face, but it was really annoying.'

'Lianne keeps making cakes to test the new oven she bought.

She said she knew that I was not the one who sent the assassin.

What does she know?

I didn't send it because I didn't have time, and when I said I was thinking of sending it, she laughed.

Why does Ishir really like her?

She's a fool.'

What? Lianne also... knew that Renee wasn't the one who attempted the assassination.

'They seem to get along better than I thought.'

Although she wrote that she didn't like it, it seemed that Lianne was Renee's only friend when looking at Renee's diary. She met Lianne once a week without fail.

'In the end, I couldn't refuse Lianne's request to meet today. But I was embarrassed, so we agreed to meet secretly. I made sure Lianne kept her mouth shut. No one saw us, right?'

'The Archbishop is definitely suspicious.

It was completely strange when he tried to touch my body last time, I think it's not just me.'

'I lost my temper at Lianne. I shouldn't have.

She kept insisting on staying there, and I got emotional.

Why am I such a mess?'

'I suggested to Ishir that we should confide in him, but Lianne refused.

Ishir doesn't love her.

Ishir doesn't love anyone.'

The content is getting more and more...

Renee closed the diary and quietly looked down at its cover. If this diary is true, the content changes completely. Lianne and Renee weren't on bad terms. Rather, they were the only friends.

'If this had been known earlier, Renee wouldn't have been framed as the culprit.'

She was just a young girl with a little less maturity. She wasn't a villainess. People just wanted to believe she was a villainess.

'And clearly, Lianne's disappearance wasn't a coincidence.'

Someone killed her. There's no way it could have been a suicide.

If it was suicide, she wouldn't have said in her will that her death was due to Ishir and Renee.

It seems like Ishir just didn't know anything, and Renee seemed to be trying to help Lianne.

'The real culprit is really nasty.'

[The <Lord of Vicious Blood> confirms the whole story and spews blood.]

[The <Queen of Waves and Healing>'s mood drops and a typhoon is coming.]

[The <Emperor of Temptation> claims that the devils are not us, but them.]

Iyoung was never a particularly good person. She didn't believe in the goodness of people.

She was suspicious of anyone who was human.

But her long life of regression made her sink deeper into the swamp of distrust. Distrust gradually turned into hatred. And then that hatred seemed to numb, but-

'It's happening again.'

Who would harm such young kids? One was framed as a suicide, the other as a murder suspect.

'The strange thing is, Lianne was actually seen. And she was alone.'

Was she actually with someone else? Did someone intimidate her?

'At first, they probably didn't intend to disguise it as a suicide. They thought they could just report her missing and pin it on Renee.'

Then, after she took over, the situation changed, and they must have been surprised.

So they might have used such an extreme method.

If they caused Ishir to fall as well, the impact would be so great that they would be buried.

'So, is that body really Lianne's?'

Just because that ring was found, it doesn't mean that the body was Lianne's.

There was magic in it, but... that could be manipulated too.

'I have a feeling that the case isn't over yet.'

If they catch the culprit, all the clues will be unraveled. Where the real Lianne is, why do they try to bring down Renee and Ishir together?

And the real culprit is probably...

'Someone who knows their relationship.'

They framed Renee, who is the only one who knows the truth, for murder. If that's the case, everything makes sense.

'So that's why you called me here.'

Out of all these people, the only one who could help was her.

She remembered the last line of the diary.

'Please, someone help us.'

***

Talia Cyprus was the eldest daughter of the Count of Cyprus. She didn't consider herself inherently evil.

...Or so she thought.

'I'm just a bit mischievous.'

Not many people around her agreed, but that's how it was.

She was cute and had a lovely appearance.

And she used it well. She was quite clever and the Cyprus family was wealthy, so there was nothing she couldn't have.

Fame, wealth. Lovers, friends, and even parents who cherished her greatly!

But gradually, she became bored.

The blatantly obvious social circle, her predetermined future, the pathetic people who flattered her.

'Is my life going to end this boring?'

Then Talia discovered something.

Renee Marchius, the only daughter of the Duke of Marchius.

The first thing Talia thought when she saw her was, 'She's beautiful.'

Renee was truly beautiful and seemed to have everything even more than Talia. A family that seemed sculpted and the untouchable reputation of a Duke's family!

But what she liked the most was that Renee was famous for being a tremendous villain.

She would easily send assassins to people she didn't like, and she didn't even hide that fact!

'Finally, I've met someone like me!'

Talia was immediately excited by this fact. And she had expectations.

She must be someone like Talia. So she would understand Talia,

'Renee, please wait for a moment.'

Renee didn't come out of her territory, so to meet her, Talia had to wait for a party to be held in the Marchius territory.

After waiting for several months, a party was held to celebrate the entry of a Duke's sword expert into the mastery level, and Talia was barely able to meet Renee.

But Talia didn't approach her hastily from the beginning.

She waited for Renee to be alone. And she planned to open up.

She wanted to be friends.

She admired her. She wanted to have the courage to reveal her true nature like her.

'...What, Lianne? Move aside.'

However, the person she waited for was not a villainess.

'I know you didn't send the poisoned tea. Renee.'

Talia, who followed Renee, happened to overhear Renee and Lianne's conversation.

And she learned all the hidden truths.

'I said I sent it.'

'Renee, you don't even care about tea types, so you don't know well. Then how would you know to drink the tea I like, which is poisoned?'

'I drank it!'

'Then what's the name of that tea?'

Talia desperately hoped. For the name of the tea to come out of Renee's mouth.

But Renee couldn't answer and just shook off Lianne's hand.

'Renee. I know you're feeling pressured right now. The expectations your family has for you-'

'Shut up, Lianne. What do you know.'

'Let me help you.'

'I hate your hypocrisy. Leave me alone!'

'Renee....'

Soon after, a sobbing sound was heard.

Talia was shocked to realize that the crying was not from Lianne but from Renee.

But that shock gradually turned into contempt.

She was not a villainess, but just a weak child.

Not someone to admire, but just a prey pretending to be strong.

'I can't stand to see such a weak thing strutting around as if it's something.'

For a while, Talia couldn't control her feelings of betrayal.

Then, at some point, she changed her mind. If Renee Marchius was not a villainess, someone else could be.

Not someone else, but Talia Cyprus could be the villainess.

So she sent assassins to Lianne instead of Renee, released monsters wherever Lianne went, and sabotaged everything Lianne did.

And she blamed all of it on Renee.

It wasn't that hard.

All she had to do was go to the Marchius party and provoke Renee's temper a few times.

Talia was satisfied. She felt good as if she had become the mastermind.

She liked that Lianne, who only pretended to be good, died, and she liked that weak Renee completely fell.

But nothing could be as good as this sight now.

"Bow your head."

Nothing could be better than Renee Marchius, who she thought was weak, becoming a real villainess and stepping on Talia's head with her high heels!

"Know that if you move, one of your arms or legs will fly off."

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