The Villainess Has Proposed a Contract Marriage

81 – Ember

It was around the time when the atmosphere of the imperial palace’s banquet was reaching its peak.

Evia was chatting with the guests in a formal manner. Meanwhile, Hart was standing at a distance, intently watching over her. Perhaps due to Hart’s solemn aura, most people didn’t dare to approach him.

Occasionally, a curious young noblewoman would try to talk to him, but Hart would skillfully cut off the conversation and hint at his reluctance. He preferred to have a casual chat with Elpisia rather than engaging in an unfamiliar conversation with a woman.

“What is Elpisia doing? I’m worried…”

Recently, Elpisia’s behavior had been strange. She would reveal a mysteriously anxious gaze, and sometimes mutter meaningless words in a paranoid manner. But when Hart asked her about the reason behind her behavior, she would manage her expression and laugh it off, saying it was just her mood.

Hart thought that Elpisia’s behavior was like a fog.

She had a physical presence, but he couldn’t reach her. It was as if she was a rose reflected in a pond, and if he reached out, he would only create ripples and blur her image.

“Evia’s lips are also twitching… If I suggest leaving now, she might pretend to agree.”

Even if they called her a saint, Eubria was ultimately human. Forcing a smile that didn’t suit her, maintaining a facade that was hard to keep, would eventually paralyze her facial muscles. Elphysia and other nobles who could do it with ease were truly remarkable.

It was then that Harthe decided to approach Eubria.

From the distant entrance of the banquet hall, the loud voice of a guard echoed.

“His Excellency, Count Ascalion Rurentisia, has arrived!”

The title of Count Rurentisia was given to Ascalion, who was no longer a prince. Originally, members of the royal family received titles such as duke or at least marquis, but the current emperor, Lupehilt, openly oppressed Ascalion. The count’s title was a result of this situation.

Ascalion’s appearance caused a stir in the banquet hall.

“Did he really come to the banquet?”

“Is it not rude to announce his name so late?”

“It’s as if he thinks he’s the host of the banquet.”

Despite the nobles’ shock and criticism, Ascalion’s demeanor was confident. Harthe couldn’t help but glance at him, drawn to his majestic presence.

“Is that… the former 3rd prince?”

Harthe had a shallow understanding of Ascalion due to Elphysia’s mention. Although he didn’t ask for details, he knew that Ascalion was someone Elphysia was concerned about.

“What a person he was…”

He was a handsome man, and this was Harthe’s first impression of him.

Then, a familiar figure followed Ascalion into the banquet hall. Harthe’s eyes widened in surprise. The woman who had just entered was the same one who had met with Harthe just a few days ago.

“Tina…?”

Harthe muttered unconsciously, but she didn’t seem to hear him. Moreover, her gaze was fixed on something, and she didn’t seem to have the leisure to look around.

“What impertinence, Count!”

Emperor Lupehilt deliberately raised his voice, trying to undermine Ascalion’s authority in front of many people. However, Ascalion didn’t flinch, living up to his reputation for being unyielding.

“Please forgive my impertinence, Your Majesty. I am only here to fulfill my promise to the Empress.”

“What did you say?”

Ascalion took a deep breath, his voice clear and firm.

“I will share the secret agreement I made with the Empress here and now, and demand that the contract be fulfilled.”

“… Impossible.”

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Finally, the Empress, who had been watching the scene unfold behind Lupehilt, spoke up.

Her usually dignified face was distorted, giving Harthe the impression that he was facing a monster.

“I made a proposal to the Empress the other day. I said I would remove the tumor that’s eating away at the Empire, and in return, she would give me half of what ‘that person’ has.”

It was a match made in heaven.

Ascalion lacked a foundation, but had exceptional abilities, while the Empress found the ambitious Ruminel Duke’s family, who sought to surpass the Imperial Family, and Ascalion, who sought revenge, to be a burden.

Most importantly, ‘that person’ was a common enemy to both of them.

So they made a contract.

Ascalion wanted to expand his power.

The Empress wanted to eliminate the exhausted party and take advantage of the situation.

She didn’t expect Ascalion to win. If he did, he would destroy both powers, and if he lost, she could get rid of the troublesome Ascalion. It was a clever plan.

The assumption that he would win was too ridiculous to consider.

“But… the situation is unfolding strangely.”

However, looking at Ascalion now…

He was confidently mentioning their secret agreement.

Harthe knew that Ascalion wasn’t someone who would joke lightly.

Then… it was truly unbelievable…

The possibility that Ascalion had defeated the one who had been unbeatable for Taehu was high. Even if it was said that a miraculous coincidence had intervened in the process.

In an instant, the arch-nemesis in front of her had driven a stake into her heart.

“I will fulfill the contract from this moment on, so you, Taehu, must also keep your promise.”

“What…!”

“Bring him in.”

Ascalion gave the order calmly, ignoring Taehu’s shocked expression. Then, the guards waiting outside brought in a man tightly bound by ropes into the banquet hall.

The atmosphere became tense.

The man, who seemed ordinary at first glance, was behaving unnaturally, as if his actions were restricted. He wasn’t even tied with a rope, but was bound by iron chains.

“State your identity.”

“Ggggh…”

The man spat out a curse, his eyes filled with despair.

“…Vampire. A servant who was active in the human realm.”

A commotion erupted.

Although he looked like an ordinary young man, people couldn’t help but doubt him. But when they forced open his mouth to reveal his strange fangs, people’s heads instinctively turned away.

“From now on, you must not lie.”

“Is there anything else to investigate?”

“Of course. Guards!”

Ascalion signaled to the guards, and another prisoner was brought in. The vampire also showed curiosity, looking at the criminal being led in.

The prisoner led by the guards was a man who gave off a strange, eerie aura. At first, it was unclear who he was, but as the distance closed, the eerie aura grew stronger, and eventually, his eyes widened in shock.

“State your identity again.”

Ascalion interrogated him in a cold voice.

“You should know who this man is.”

“Ah…!”

He knew.

He couldn’t help but know.

A human with black hair and black eyes was rare. It meant that although they existed, they were extremely rare.

But…

The probability that an unrelated human with black hair and black eyes would have the exact same appearance as ‘that person’ was close to zero.

“It can’t be… To meet someone like this…”

The king’s companion and the traitor of humanity, Letisha Baskhill.

The young man in front of him looked so similar to the deceased Letisha that it was as if he was her reincarnation. No, it was as if he was her blood relative, shouting it out loud.

“It’s clear that Your Majesty and Letisha’s bloodline are connected… There’s no way to deceive. Then, Your Majesty must have…”

How angry he must have been.

Risking danger, he had infiltrated the human realm, only to find a target for his revenge.

His anger, which had been simmering, was about to boil over.

But the cold reality cooled down his anger.

“State your identity.”

Kuung!

His body felt heavy, as if every drop of his blood was weighed down. It was the unmistakable ability of the Bloody Dragon.

Silence… was not allowed.

“Say it with your own mouth, what is the name of this person?”

“Ah… uh…”

He forced out a low, trembling voice. However, it soon reached its limit. As a low-ranking vampire, he was no match for the Bloody Dragon’s powers and eventually succumbed.

“Glen…”

“What’s his surname?”

The vampire, whose eyes were about to pop out, finally revealed the truth.

“Glen… Baskerville.”

“What did you say?”

It was Harthe’s voice.

Harthe, who had fought in the holy war in the kingdom of Baskerville in the past, was shocked to hear the name. As a direct participant in that historical event, it was a name that held significant meaning to him.

“Let me ask again. Whose bloodline is he from?”

“He is…”

But the truth that came out next was even more shocking.

“He is the descendant of Lady Letitia… the last direct bloodline of the Baskerville royal family, who was thought to be extinct – the only descendant of the traitor of humanity.”

It was a stunning revelation.

Just then, the empress, still reeling from the shock, calmly asked a question.

“You’ve done something incredible, Count. It’s astonishing to see a traitor of humanity right before our eyes… but what connection does this have to the ‘contract’?”

“It’s simple.”

This time, Ascalion took a step forward, revealing his true identity without being forced to.

“Glen Baskerville. This man… was a close aide to Elpisia Ruminel.”

“What…?”

Glen’s confession was unnecessary. The truth would soon come to light if they interrogated the staff of the ducal mansion.

“Everyone here, listen carefully!”

Ascalion began his grand speech.

“Elpisia Ruminel not only harbored a traitor of humanity but also employed them as a close aide. Considering the Ruminel ducal family’s immense power in the empire, you can imagine the severity of their crime! This is a direct challenge to the ＜Humanity Protection Treaty﹥.”

The Humanity Protection Treaty.

This was an international agreement ratified by all human nations.

Breaking this treaty would render even the most powerful family meaningless. It was unthinkable for a single ducal family to defy humanity as a whole.

For example, the kingdom of Baskerville, which had betrayed the treaty, had ultimately fallen.

“You cannot make excuses for not knowing. It’s irrational to keep someone with suspicious intentions by your side, even with the Ruminel ducal family’s vast information network. It means they knew his true identity and still harbored him.”

Finally, Ascalion declared.

“We will immediately request that the imperial family impose the nation’s punishment on Elpisia Ruminel, the traitor of humanity!”

The heavy atmosphere weighed down the banquet hall. The festive mood had sunk, evoking a dark, deep abyss.

The silence that followed was palpable.

The bound vampire let out a futile laugh.

“Heh, haha…”

“What’s so funny, vampire?”

“No… if it were a conspiracy, I wish they had done it faster. This is just too ridiculous to bear.”

“… What are you talking about?”

“It’s already too late.”

He let out a mocking laugh.

“My lord, who has taken that human in.”

Vampires have many unique abilities. One of them is the mental connection with the contractor through blood.

Luckily, the demon who served the Demon King was Chepesu, a vampire count, and was his lord.

The vampire conveyed the situation to Chepesu and induced the kidnapping of Elpisia.

This was the whole story of the incident that occurred behind the scenes of the festival.

“… Harute?”

Ivria carefully called out the name of the guardian knight.

The response was another name.

“Elpisia…”

Harute immediately turned around and took a step back.

To fulfill the eternal promise.