Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Utilizing the Villainess Image
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I never imagined the villainess image I'd worked so hard to erase would end up being used like this...
'The image of a villainess who has to take what she wants to feel satisfied—if I'm not going to use it now, then when?'
Eaton bit his lip tightly at my words. He seemed to be weighing whether my claim of having nothing to do with Darsi was truth or closer to a lie.
My conscience stung a little, but I kept up a confident front while observing his reaction.
He couldn't easily find words to say, looking caught in deep conflict. This was where I needed to land the decisive blow.
He seemed to know all the rumors about me, so it would be best to poke at that.
"You seem pretty well-versed in the gossip... Have you heard the talk about me being connected to playwright Pitol's latest ambitious work?"
...
"That secret ties into my current business, too."
How many people were dying to know about 'that thing' Pitol mentioned? He knew without me saying.
Even though I'd practically tossed him the answer, Eaton still couldn't speak up. Of course, it was too big a matter for him to decide alone.
"Naturally, you can't make that call by yourself. But if I swing by to pick you up on my way to meet the mages, I figured it'd make talking contracts with them a lot smoother."
I laid out the reasoning behind my actions in detail.
"If you can't decide, then at least set up a chance for me to talk with the villagers."
I drove the point home in a calm, measured voice. At the same time, it was a way to lighten his load of responsibility.
I couldn't dump the full burden of choice on him, after all.
At last, Eaton nodded. But he came with a condition.
"Don't bring that guy along."
It was painfully obvious he meant Darsi.
"We'll settle that later."
Of course, I had no intention of agreeing unconditionally.
No matter how they felt about Darsi, they needed to learn what situation he'd been in and why he'd had no choice.
This entire mess wasn't just his doing—he was nothing more than a piece on the chessboard. Fair's fair, right?
For the sake of the life he was supposed to have lost pointlessly, too.
Eaton scowled, clearly unhappy with my words. But he couldn't bring himself to refuse.
'He knows full well what a golden opportunity this is.'
I gave a small smile as Eaton worked his mouth soundlessly.
"Then I guess that's a yes for now."
I turned around. Darsi was leaning against the wall, waiting for our talk to wrap up. I beckoned him over.
"Darsi, let's go."
"Sure."
Even though Darsi and Eaton were facing the same direction, Darsi kept his eyes locked on me as he stepped right up.
Then he pulled out a key.
...Huh? Where'd that key come from?
I had no memory of us bringing one.
"Snagged it while you two were chatting."
Darsi answered breezily. Was lifting a key really that simple?
Eaton shot Darsi the same glare as before.
To defuse the instantly frosty air, I piped up.
"Darsi is pretty handsome, huh?"
"Wha..."
Eaton started to sputter but clamped his mouth shut after meeting my eyes. Darsi blinked innocently beside him and stifled a laugh.
No signs of life could be felt. It was chillingly empty, like no one else existed.
Even a total dimwit would pick up on that much.
'Darsi must've used his power.'
I didn't know exactly when, but he'd tidied up the situation before we even arrived here. Wrapping things up before anyone could fret—that was just like him.
'Eaton's a mage too, right?'
We'd struck a sort of deal, so I figured he'd tag along, but who knew for sure. I knew better than anyone how risky it was to view things too optimistically.
I held out my hand to Eaton.
"...What?"
"Take it. You might pull something unexpected. You don't fully trust me either, so... this means we don't screw each other over."
If we held hands, it'd be harder for either of us to try anything funny.
Eaton scowled but grudgingly took my hand.
A persistent stare bored into the back of my head. When I turned, there was Darsi—arms crossed, glaring daggers at our joined hands.
Darsi sidled up beside me and whispered just low enough that Eaton couldn't hear.
"My hand's free too, you know."
"I trust you, so no big deal."
Darsi arched a brow at that and muttered under his breath.
"You don't have to trust me quite that much at a time like this."
...Who turns "I wanna hold hands" into something like that?
I snickered. After all his efforts to keep his emotions in check, the one thing he let slip was griping about me holding Eaton's hand.
That petty jealousy had me buzzing.
'I'll hold his hand later.'
I couldn't risk acting too cozy in front of Eaton, so I just made a mental note for now. Instead, I poked Darsi's hand a couple times.
And so our covert prison break operation kicked off.
...Though it moved way too fast to really call it an operation.
Darsi led us through the cave's dark tunnels like he owned the place.
Once we looped back the way we'd come, I spotted a man passed out at the entrance who hadn't been there before.
Darsi casually tucked the key into the guy's belt. Then we slipped outside. It all happened in seconds.
'Feels like we're out on a picnic or something.'
Everything was suspiciously easy. And I wasn't the only one thinking it.
Eaton gazed around with a stunned look on his face.
"No way it could be this straightforward."
"That's just how exceptional a mage Darsi is. Without him, even I couldn't have gotten in there."
Eaton ignored me. He clearly had zero interest in thanking Darsi.
We kept trekking along the path.
"Where are we headed now?"
"Off the island."
"Then shouldn't we go to the port?"
Eaton cocked his head as we veered toward a beach far from the harbor.
The ring's teleport was limited to spots Darsi preset. We'd have to hit the beach where we first landed to bail from here.
I was on edge wondering if the boy might suddenly bail on us.
People were funny like that. When circumstances shifted, they often ditched promises for their own gain.
...Marso Etwar's experiences had become a part of me.
I squeezed Eaton's hand and explained the plan.
"Eaton, you need to take me back to the mages' place."
"So why not the port?"
"No need to bother with the port."
Before long, we'd returned to the beach we'd hit early that morning.
The Milky Way stitching the night sky lent it a magical vibe. Just like morning, no souls in sight.
Darsi, standing in place, gave Eaton a quick rundown.
"We're heading straight to the capital from here."
"...With magic?"
Eaton sounded like he couldn't believe it.
"Less magic, more magic tool doing the heavy lifting."
"Magic tool?"
I paused as I started to slip off the ring on my finger. I knew now wasn't the moment, but I hated messing with a memory tied to Darsi.
Still, I knew better than to show any hesitation.
"Put this on."
Eaton's eyes held a spark of curiosity as a mage—less guarded than before.
Darsi stepped up to him.
"Wh-what!"
"Need it for the teleport. Whatever suspicions you've got, they won't line up anyway."
Darsi struck right at the heart of it, face impassive. Eaton's cheeks burned red.
"How can I not suspect you after what you pulled? That'd be the weird part!"
"Didn't tell you not to suspect. Just said it's not quite right."
"Argh!"
Eaton looked fit to burst but held back from anything rash. Wary of Darsi or not, he knew how to think straight.
Darsi was the foremost expert on this teleport spell and the ring's creator, and every jump required him to go with someone.
Two teleports were needed, and we settled on sending Eaton first. Easy to track him down at my mansion, unlike on this island.
Darsi wasn't thrilled about leaving me alone here, but I assured him it'd only be a moment.
Still fretting? His gaze clung to me as he stood with Eaton. I beat his worry by greeting first.
"See you soon."
"Yeah."
Darsi vanished with a resigned reply.
"What's your angle?"
They'd teleported into Marso's bedroom—the same one Darsi and Marso had set out from that morning.
Eaton rounded on Darsi before even glancing around the room.
He despised every ounce of "kindness" from this man—it made his teeth grind. Yet he knew full well he couldn't dodge the Emperor's gaze without his help.
There was no such thing as a favor without strings. Someday, this guy might show his true colors again.
That was why Eaton needed to carve out a new safe haven before then. He'd holed up on that island for exactly that reason.
If the islanders—free from the Emperor's watchful eye—could just slip in somehow, he'd never have to rely on this man's creepy handouts again.
...But he'd gotten busted. And not only that—he'd ended up taking the guy's help.
It was a massive humiliation for Eaton.
So he needed to get a read on this man's real intentions.