Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: The Villainess Lady Chloe (2)
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Chloe was taken aback.
"Lord Julian? Did I make some kind of mistake...?"
At those words, Count Julian bellowed.
"How dare a wench like you look down on Her Highness Lillia and me from above! Did you learn the manners befitting a noble in such a sloppy manner?"
Princess Lillia and Count Julian were sitting side by side in their chairs.
Chloe had stood before the two and offered her greetings. Just as the count said, she had been looking down at them.
'Even so, just for that, calling me arrogant?'
She had politely clasped her hands and bowed her head. She had never violated noble etiquette.
His words left her momentarily speechless in sheer absurdity. But Chloe quickly regained her composure.
'For now, I'll do as he wants.'
With that, she lightly dropped to one knee on the ground and addressed the two once more.
"I have been rude. I apologize for the mistake of daring to look down upon Your two Highnesses."
It was a perfect apology, executed with flawless etiquette. By reserve platoon regulations, even for a princess, a simple nod would have sufficed.
Yet here she was, the daughter of a marquis, going this far. Surely even that spoiled brat couldn't nitpick now.
"Tch. I told you to show proper manners, and now what is this nonsense? You really must have nothing in that head of yours."
Chloe barely managed to suppress the grimace threatening to form on her face.
What was it this time? Was kneeling on one knee not enough? Well, Count Julian was a utter wastrel, after all.
She had no idea what had twisted his mood right now, but her previous apology might not have satisfied him.
'He once had a baron's son flogged just for standing in front of his carriage.'
If that was the case, then he might demand even greater deference. Did he expect her to prostrate herself fully before them—five points to the ground?
No matter how angry the count was, such an apology was too much. Even as the unwed daughter of a marquis without a title herself, she was still marquise-born in strict terms.
If she had committed a clear error, that would be one thing, but there was no reason for it here.
'But since my opponent's that wastrel count... what should I do?'
Chloe glanced subtly at Princess Lillia. The famously benevolent princess might intervene and draw a reasonable line here.
But Lillia merely watched Count Julian's stern expression with a placid air. Her eyes even held the glow of a girl utterly smitten.
'Damn it. I'm caught between a rock and a hard place.'
This was precisely where the Golden Wings reserve platoon members had gathered. As the top-ranked cadet in combat, if she prostrated herself, her pride wouldn't survive it.
Yet no clear way to assuage the count's anger came to mind. With no choice, as she began to drop both knees to prostrate...
Count Julian spoke again.
"Who told you to kneel and apologize? You fool. Have you no noble pride?"
"Wh-what do you mean by that?"
"I meant for you to bow your waist and head more deeply in proper greeting. Even that commoner witch Rosette knows how to do a navel bow. Do you not even know that much?"
A navel bow? The unexpected term nearly froze Chloe's mind, but she understood soon enough.
'So the count was nitpicking because I didn't bow my head low enough?'
It was absurd in every way, but she complied with his demand for now. She politely clasped her hands at her navel and bowed her head deeply once more.
"Much better. Rosette's was far more polite and formal-looking."
And why did he keep bringing up that commoner witch? Comparing her—a marquis's daughter—to the count's filthy, lowly mistress was infuriating...
The count spoke again.
"That's enough. The instructor will arrive soon, so get back to your spot. You've gone and soured the mood before this important orientation."
Chloe bowed her head once more and returned to her place. The other noble-born cadets who had fawned over her quickly gathered to console her.
"That wastrel count again! Are you alright, Lady Chloe?"
"The reserve platoon are all comrades. No matter his high status, how can he be so rude...?"
Chloe snapped open her fan with a flick. She used it to completely hide her face. A clear signal that she wanted no more talk.
The gathered cadets quietly dispersed.
Even the usually cool-headed Chloe felt a surge of anger she could scarcely contain.
'He called me arrogant and a fool. And compared me to some lowly commoner witch. That madman!'
But Chloe was the daughter of Marquis Aiterne. From a young age, she had undergone heir training alongside her siblings at the continent's top three trading company, Aiterne Merchants.
So when overwhelming rage like this boiled up, she could instead become even more rational and calm. That was her way of surviving.
'Think. Even that absurd behavior just now must have some meaning.'
If Count Julian was the same wastrel as before, it would just be his whim-driven tyranny.
But the count who once feared her in his first year had changed. Just now, he hadn't avoided her eyes at all. And when she had knelt, he had looked down at her with utterly arrogant eyes.
'After that humiliation in front of his carriage last time, I did a little background check on him.'
Rumor had it the count had officially become Heir to Border Count Wilhelm this winter. Even a worthless man like him might have gained some swagger from the title of future lord.
And if he had even a modicum of noble political sense, then his actions just now were clear.
'He's trying to seize the initiative.'
Chloe's mind raced. She was currently rank one in the Golden Wings. Meanwhile, that worthless count was dead last in his year, per her investigation.
Which meant the two of them would surely be paired today.
'If so, during the mission, he'd just drag me down.'
The count would be no help in capturing magical beasts. In a pair, he'd be the one who'd lose, and he'd have to beg her to go easy on him.
So was he trying to establish dominance now, to avoid owing her one?
But that was impossible. The move was far too sophisticated.
No matter if he'd gained some confidence lately, a person's core didn't change without dying and resurrecting. The worthless man who used to tremble at her red eyes alone.
As long as he knew who Chloe de Aiterne was at Pantheon, he wouldn't dare such an aggressive play.
'Not just me—he'd be making an enemy of Aiterne Merchants too.'
The barren northern border territories were always short on supplies. Aiterne branches dotted those lands plentifully, so any man with sense wouldn't cross her.
Thus, Chloe reached an easy conclusion. A man who resorted to childish terms like "navel bow" was childish through and through.
'He's just trying to get my attention.'
Like a little boy acting mean to a girl he likes. That immature count's view of romance was probably at that level.
There was no doubt he had developed a rational curiosity toward her.
'He never dared covet me before. Only after becoming heir did his confidence grow.'
In that case, there was no harm in playing along. He'd become the official heir to the border count. And if there was more backing him...
The thrill of stealing him from the princess would be immense.
'Then I need to seduce the count. Use the Golden Wings platoon as an excuse and quickly arrange a little party.'
With that, Chloe concluded. Just then, as if on cue, the instructor entered the training grounds.
I felt utterly triumphant.
'That psychopath-like woman even tried to prostrate herself to apologize to me.'
No wonder people get so addicted to power. The superiority of looking down on even a beautiful woman with a nasty personality like her—pure bliss.
But I snapped out of it quickly. I had openly provoked a terrifying villainess like Chloe.
At the very least, in our upcoming paired mission, I needed to prove something. And with me firmly in control of every situation.
'Of course. I have zero intention of being dragged around by Chloe.'
Maybe it was the demon king's blood heating up, but some instinct kept whispering in my ear to dominate women.
As I solidified that resolve, a man entered the training grounds.
"Alright, everyone’s here. Attention!"
He was a cheerful, manly-looking man who appeared to be in his mid-thirties.
"Some of you might not know me, so let me introduce myself. I am Miterus, sacred priest of the god of art, Hesos, and instructor for the capital guard's reserve platoon. I'll be responsible for the training and missions of your Golden Wings platoon. Nice to meet you."
The man, Miterus, said that and glanced around. He spotted me and looked flustered.
"Hm? Isn't that the wastrel Count Yuli? What are you doing here?"
Instructor Miterus acted like he knew me. But the way he openly addressed me was odd.
'Wastrel Count Yuli.'
Miterus was a sacred priest of the art sect. Thus, he had ties to Julian, who frequented the Hesos Hall during his first year. Not as much as Rosette, but still.
Miterus was one of the few who understood Julian.
'No, less "understood" and more both were crazy.'
That he, a priest of the art sect, led the top-tier Golden Wings reserve platoon proved he wasn't just some average fighter.
However, Miterus's artistic world was as unique as Julian's. He harbored intense grudges against magical beasts. He viewed slicing them up spectacularly as his personal performance art—a peculiar fellow.
I answered for now.
"I've been assigned to Golden Wings this time. Nice to meet you, Instructor Miterus."
"Hah. Speak casually like always, Count Yuli. This is awkward."
"No, I can't be informal with the instructor. Treat me comfortably."
Instructor Miterus wore an indescribable expression. The closest was like he'd eaten something bad.
Chloe, seeing my polite demeanor, looked like she'd bitten into something bitter. The complete opposite of how I'd treated her moments ago. She hurriedly fanned her face to hide her aggrieved look.
Miterus continued.
"Well... since this tone is comfortable for me now, I'll stick to it. Do as you like, Count Yuli."
Then he assembled all the cadets on the training grounds.
"Oh my. We even have Her Highness the princess this term. But these are orders, so I'll speak casually."
"Do as you please, Instructor Miterus."
"Yes, Your Highness. Thank you. Now, I'll relay to you all. Those in the know will know—the area around the old capital has gone seriously bad lately. That's why the reserve platoon was formed this exceptionally early."
Miterus explained. The current capital, Teria. Not far from there lay the empire's former capital, Cassia—now just called the Old Capital.
The Old Capital housed the fifth Chaotic Gate.
"Thanks to that damned Demon King summoning that Chaotic Gate, we've been through hell, but anyway—lately, small gates appearing on the Old Capital's outskirts have spiked way beyond normal."
If gates proliferated around the Old Capital, the current capital was at risk too. The Old Capital was close by. In pre-possession real-world terms, like Suwon from Seoul.
"So the guard command has ordered even you reserve cadets into missions sooner than usual."
Just as Miterus said. Julian's father, Demon King Lucifer. In the Great War's final stages, Lucifer had used demon king power to open a Chaotic Gate at the Old Capital.
It was the same type as those at the continent's north eternal tundra and the east, west, and south ends.
Fortunately, smaller scale than the worst one, the Eternal Tundra.
But summoned right in the heart of the old capital, the damage was astronomical. The Old Capital became uninhabitable. The capital had no choice but to relocate to current Teria.
'Saintess Agnes threw her life to seal that gate.'
Julian's parents shared such a tragic connection. Miterus added,
"But you're all still green. You've been ordained as sacred priests and trained in combat during first year, but you lack real battle experience. So we won't throw you into anything too extreme at first—don't worry too much."
Thus, the reserve platoon's deployment this time was the current capital's outskirts. Compared to the Old Capital's dangers, the gates and dungeons found there were Golden Wings-tier manageable.
'Usually 4th or 5th class scale.'
Instructor Miterus relayed a few more matters to the cadets. Especially regarding pairs.
"You're not used to joint missions yet. So initially, you'll pair up in twos for light missions. Pairs will be called out now—got it?"
As I expected, I was paired with Chloe.
"Oh my. I wish I could pair with Lord Julian..."
Lillia looked terribly disappointed. I whispered to her.
"No need to be too sad. We can be together during pre-marital sex training anyway."
At my words, Lillia's face flushed bright red.
"That's true. Pre-marital sex training... I'm looking forward to it too. But the next available slot is two weeks from now?"
Even royals had their own busy schedules, it seemed. Well, Princess Lillia couldn't exactly visit my mansion whenever she pleased.
Miterus finished relaying everything to the cadets. As he bid farewell to Lillia and prepared to leave the training grounds...
Suddenly, Chloe blocked my path.
"What is it? How rude to block me like this."
"My apologies, Count. I have something to say to make up for my earlier mistake."
"Ho. Speak. But I'm a busy man—keep it brief."
Of course, I had nothing pressing.
For a moment, Chloe seemed to fail at controlling her expression. She hurriedly hid her face with her fan, then lowered it after a pause.
Then she said,
"I would like to hold a small banquet for you, Count Julian. I sincerely hope you will attend."