Chapter 26
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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How to Survive as the Villain's Younger Sister
Episode 26
'These feelings are dangerous.'
I couldn't afford to let my guard down.
Alexis quickly changed the subject.
"Thanks to you, the extraction of Night Spirit Stones has been proceeding smoothly. We've only mined a portion so far, yet the quantity is staggering. However, there is a problem."
At the mention of a problem, Cyrilia swallowed hard.
The delicate curve of her slender neck trembled with tension—it was endearing.
Alexis deliberately averted her gaze from that feeling and spoke.
"The Spirit Stones extracted in secret must be sold in secret. And the volume needs to be substantial. Only then can I repay the debt I owe to Jenin with the proceeds."
"Selling such a vast quantity of Spirit Stones in secret won't be easy."
Dain groaned.
Night Spirit Stones.
Their efficacy far surpassed that of ordinary Spirit Stones.
Double, triple the effect.
Depending on quality, some raw stones yielded ten times the potency.
Once sold, substantial profit was guaranteed—that much was certain.
'But the problem is that we must conduct this operation in absolute secrecy.'
Only then could I truly crush Jenin and Roel.
Render them utterly beyond recovery.
Lost in thought, Alexis felt a piercing gaze upon her.
Cyrilia tilted her head, looking up at her with curious eyes.
"What's with that look?"
"Why are you troubled?"
"What?"
"You have someone who will keep the secret."
Cyrilia spoke brightly, as if wondering why I was even worrying about such a thing.
"Just sell it to the Imperial Court!"
"The Imperial Court?"
Why would she suggest the Imperial Court of all places?
The Kineste Empire's Imperial Court had poor relations with the Parkision Ducal House.
'Rather, the Imperial Court unilaterally despised the Parkision Ducal House.'
This was because the Emperor held the previous Duke in contempt.
In fact, he trusted Roel—who had traveled between the Capital and the Duchy, handling the lazy Duke's affairs—far more than the Duke himself.
'Conduct business with the Imperial Court? Why? And how, exactly?'
My blue eyes, filled with questions, suddenly widened with realization.
"That's right. The Imperial Court has been troubled by Nightmare Valley."
Nightmare Valley.
The nightmare of humanity, the sanctuary of demons.
Before the age of recorded history.
Heroes had sealed three demons.
Nightmare Valley was where Ikellos had been sealed.
'There's a barrier, but monsters run rampant within it. To the point where no one knows when it might shatter.'
And in my past life, it actually did.
Nightmare Valley lay within Imperial territory.
So the Imperial Court had continuously sent subjugation forces to reduce the monster population, but it proved futile.
The difference in absolute power was simply too great.
'But what if we had the Night Spirit Stone?'
The Night Spirit Stone was useful as an energy source in everyday life.
However, its greatest effects manifested in combat and purification.
It not only amplified the power of mages and warriors but also enhanced weapon quality.
'Besides, it's still a spirit stone. It's simply more powerful than ordinary ones, yet retains the same purifying properties.'
It could even purify forests corrupted by monsters.
"The Imperial Court will drool with greed the moment they learn we possess Night Spirit Stones."
The Imperial Court would never refuse this proposal.
Currently, there were almost no places mining the Night Spirit Stone.
Even when discovered, the quantities were negligible.
Only Parkision possessed such quantity and quality.
Conversely, only the Imperial Court had both the wealth and necessity to purchase spirit stones of this magnitude at a fair price.
'With this contract, I secure funding and restore relations with the Imperial Court—killing two birds with one stone.'
No, wait. If I also capture Jenin and Roel, that's four birds.
As that thought crossed my mind, a refreshing smile spread across my lips.
Since my third regression, I hadn't smiled this genuinely.
Cyrilia, witnessing that expression, stared at me with an enchanted, dazed look.
With her small mouth hanging open, I narrowed my brows again.
"What's with that expression?"
"Just now, Sister, you looked so cool..."
"What?"
"I really like how you smile, Sister..."
Cyrilia spoke shyly, twisting her body.
At that, Dain chuckled warmly.
"Miss, are you embarrassed? How adorable."
'She's shy about everything.'
I let out a soft laugh, though I didn't find it unpleasant.
'How did I smile? They say I look cool when I smile like that?'
I deliberately lifted the corners of my mouth again to test it.
Cyrilia, who had been gazing at me as if smitten, suddenly widened her eyes.
"But how will you meet the Imperial Court in secret?"
That was indeed the problem.
For years now, all communication channels between the Imperial Court and Parkision had been severed.
Meeting in secret would be even more difficult.
"Let's head to the Capital."
Alexis spoke.
"Your Grace, are you suggesting we leave suddenly without any preparation?"
"There's no point staying here anyway. It would be better to seek solutions closer to the Imperial Court."
It was typical of Alexis—decisive and efficient.
"Spread word that we're going to the Capital on merchant guild business."
"Understood, Your Grace."
While the two conversed, Cyrilia lowered her head.
The small child, her head no bigger than an acorn, had been deep in thought, but suddenly looked up.
"What if we actually go for merchant guild business?"
"What do you mean?"
"We could meet with merchant guilds that trade with the Imperial Court. We'd pretend to be seeking new trading partners for guild business. That way, we could meet with the Imperial Court too, couldn't we?"
"That's an excellent idea. And the fact that you came up with such a suggestion..."
Alexis crossed her arms.
"...means you want to come to the Capital with us, doesn't it?"
"Yes!"
Cyrilia bounced in place.
"I want to see the Capital too!"
"Only if you promise not to scurry about like a squirrel and get lost."
"I'm twelve years old. I don't act that childish."
"You're quite childish enough as it is."
Dain spoke those words while barely suppressing a laugh.
Cyrilia shot him a glare, but it was more ticklish than menacing.
* * *
"Why are you bringing such a large trunk? Accompanying the young lady is burden enough."
"It's the box with my dolls. I want to hold them when I sleep."
"Don't be stubborn. We'll discard anything unnecessary."
"No, we can't...!"
Maran had taken issue with my trunk that the servants were about to load onto the carriage.
The servants exchanged glances nervously under Maran's sharp gaze and stepped back.
"Sir Knight! Even if you are a knight, this is the young lady's...!"
The maid beside me gathered her courage to protest.
But when Maran shot her a look brimming with killing intent, her legs gave way and she leaned against me.
'Even so, there's a limit. Killing intent toward a maid?'
Maran had decided to accompany us on this trip to the Capital.
It was my suggestion.
No matter how hot-blooded Maran was, I couldn't leave him behind.
If the Duke were to visit the Capital and exclude him from his escort duties, his pride would be deeply wounded.
'Then when he learns the truth later, he'll be thoroughly resentful.'
It was an obvious conclusion given Maran's personality in the original story.
So I decided to tell Maran the truth earlier than originally planned and ask him to keep quiet about it.
Though he could be a bit prickly, Maran was undeniably the Knight Commander of the Parkision Ducal House.
He came from a respected swordmaster family and possessed outstanding abilities, earning high regard among the knights.
He was someone Alexis truly needed.
"A puppy doll? You intend to bring such a thing on this important journey to the Capital?"
"No, I can't throw it away!"
"I'll discard the turtle doll as well. You'll make do with just the rabbit doll."
"Whimper...."
Even if he was harsh with me.
Maran opened the box and ruthlessly removed the dolls.
Only then did he permit the luggage to be loaded before departing elsewhere.
'He's someone my sister needs, so I have to endure this.'
I pouted and embraced the maid, who was still trembling.
Still, it was fortunate.
'Kyle was hidden inside the box.'
Thank goodness Maran didn't discover him.
If he'd pulled out the rabbit doll, I would have been caught red-handed.
Because he was hiding inside it.
I exhaled a silent sigh of relief and carefully lifted the rabbit doll to peek inside.
But....
'Where did he go?'
When I told Kyle I was going to the Capital, he immediately said this.
"How can I let a scatterbrained girl like you go to the harsh Capital alone? I need to be there to keep you safe."
"I'm not going alone though.... My sister and the knights are coming with me."
He said he would come along as well.
'Of course I was planning to take him with me.'
I couldn't leave him alone in the Mansion to run wild without me.
But I never expected him to volunteer to come along first.
'Wouldn't that be a perfect opportunity for him to secretly explore the Mansion?'
I thought he'd insist on staying, even if it meant making excuses.
In that case, I was prepared to tie him up with both arms and legs and drag him along like a dog on a leash if necessary.
So I was relieved when he agreed to come along.
'Could he have slipped away in the middle?'
This traitor!
No wonder the servants were carrying the box so lightly...!
I was certain he was hiding inside, but when exactly did he escape?
I boarded the carriage, trembling.
Then Maran appeared again and picked a fight with me.
"Miss, you should ride in a different carriage. This one is for the Duke."
"What? A different carriage?"
"Do you see that carriage in the back?"
Maran pointed to a small, dilapidated carriage.
It didn't look impossible for me to ride in, cramped as I was.
'It looks exactly like the kind of carriage that lower-ranking noble attendants ride in.'
Still, there was no helping it.
'I don't want to fight with Maran.'
He was the one who personally killed me—or rather, the original Cyrilia—in my past life.
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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