Chapter 33
---------------
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
---------------
How to Survive as the Villain's Younger Sister
Episode 33
Alexis gazed at the Crown Prince with a smile I had never seen before—one that masqueraded as kindness. It was a business expression.
A business expression.
"Please lend your support so that a transaction between the Imperial Court and Parkision may come to fruition."
Kailson's eyes narrowed.
"I knew you had turned the Parkision Territory upside down, where not a single blade of grass grows. I don't know what you're digging for, but you're trying to trade what you've excavated from there, aren't you?"
"That is correct."
"But you were planning to make contact with the Imperial Court by capturing Borja Keren, weren't you? His Majesty will personally commend your achievements. Since the Princess was involved in this matter as well. You can request the transaction at that time."
Kailson spoke coldly.
There was none of the playfulness he showed when speaking to me, nor the subtle benevolence that had always emanated from him.
Now Kailson seemed like the 'Crown Prince' himself.
"His Majesty will not consent so readily."
Alexis answered as a humble subject, yet as an unbending Duke of Parkision.
"Resentment accumulated in the human heart is far more resilient than one might think. Conversely, trust is more fragile than glass. He will reluctantly commend your achievements and refuse even to hear talk of a transaction."
"So you want me to persuade His Majesty from the sidelines and become Parkision's ally?"
"Yes."
It was a resolute answer, yet one filled with sincerity.
Honestly, I was astonished.
'In the original work, the two of them were enemies.'
Their personalities didn't align in the slightest.
For Alexis to ask for help from Kailson, who would refuse indirectly, was unexpected.
Kailson's expression was one of exasperation.
"What if I fall out of favor with His Majesty as well? You should know, but the current Empress is desperate to push me aside and elevate her own son as heir. His Majesty would be satisfied with either of them becoming the successor."
Alexis answered as if he had been waiting for these words.
"If the transaction succeeds, Your Highness will have no reason to fall out of favor with the Emperor. Rather, you will gain his trust."
"How can you be so certain?"
"It is because the item we wish to trade is the 'Night Spirit Stone.'"
"!"
Kailson's crimson eyes gleamed.
The Night Spirit Stone.
Created only by corrupted spirits—the most powerful spirit stone in the world.
Not only is its value as an energy source immense, but its purification ability surpasses ordinary spirit stones by several times over.
"What was mined beneath the Parkision Territory, where not a single blade of grass grows, was precisely the 'Night Spirit Stone.'"
"Then the reason Parkision was so barren was...!"
"Yes. The Night Spirit Stone was draining the fertility from the Territory."
Alexis withdrew a fist-sized 'Night Spirit Stone' from his bosom.
"This is precisely the 'Night Spirit Stone' produced from our Territory."
It was a spirit stone with a brilliant silver radiance, different from the blue light of ordinary spirit stones.
Within the translucent spirit stone, silver light flowed like water.
It was like a river of stars.
Kailson gazed at the Night Spirit Stone, utterly entranced.
He had encountered Night Spirit Stones obtained through arduous effort several times before.
But even the Crown Prince Kailson had never laid eyes upon such a premium specimen.
"It is... truly magnificent."
"Its value extends far beyond mere beauty."
At Alexis's words, Kailson finally tore his gaze from the Night Spirit Stone and turned to face her.
"The 'Night Spirit Stone' can be used to purify 'Nightmare Valley.' Is this not His Majesty's long-cherished wish?"
"!"
"This is an opportunity to gain His Majesty's trust, Your Highness."
Kailson's grip tightened around the Night Spirit Stone.
There was no need for prolonged deliberation.
"Very well. I shall aid the Duke. However..."
Kailson paused deliberately.
Why would he hesitate over such a favorable opportunity?
Even I, watching from the sidelines, felt my tension rise.
Kailson opened his mouth.
"There is one additional condition."
"Please, speak."
"I shall tell you later, not now. It is not an unreasonable request."
Alexis regarded Kailson intently for a moment, then nodded.
"Understood, Your Highness."
"You must keep your promise."
Kailson extended his hand to Alexis.
Alexis rose from her seat and shook his hand.
A powerful current of energy flowed between them.
'Both of them have such overwhelming presence.'
Watching the two of them, I decided this would not do and hurried over to them.
Then I placed my small hand on top of their clasped fists with a gentle tap.
In an instant, the tense energy dissipated.
Both of them turned to look at me with bewildered expressions.
"Hehe, let's do our best together!"
I called out with deliberately bright cheerfulness.
* * *
Roel presented the gold-painted box to the Empress.
"This gift seems rather modest."
The Empress spoke arrogantly as she opened the box.
"My goodness. Is this not a gift from the Archbishop? What wealth could a person of faith possess? One should simply accept it with gratitude."
Prince Theo, seated beside her and catching a glimpse of the box's contents, also seemed unimpressed.
'Damn these pigs. I scraped together what little I had to offer this.'
Roel ground his teeth.
'The situation is already tight preparing funds to lend to Alexis.'
He had converted all his assets into cash and even taken on debt.
If things went wrong, it wouldn't be Alexis but himself and his father Jenin who would face bankruptcy.
Under such circumstances, this expensive bribe had been barely scraped together.
It was the price for arranging an audience with the Emperor.
The pretext was a report on the situation in Parkision Territory.
Back when the late Duke Parkision, Kanan, was alive, this had been far easier.
The lazy man had entrusted all of the Duke's duties to Roel.
Traveling between the Capital and the Territory, handling all the Duke's affairs and reporting to the Emperor after his audiences—it had all fallen to Roel.
The Emperor used to say:
"You seem more like the Duke of Parkision than Kanan himself. Since you share Parkision blood anyway, should I simply appoint you as Duke?"
On the surface, I had waved it off as excessive flattery, but inwardly I had exulted.
Having won over the Emperor's heart, I had believed it was only a matter of time before eliminating those little girls and becoming Duke of Parkision.
'Things are taking longer than expected.'
Once Alexis ruined the merchant company, it would be resolved soon enough anyway.
'But a variable has emerged.'
Alexis, who had come to the Capital on merchant company business, had actually captured Borja Keren, the con artist of the century.
'Alexis. That bastard's luck is absolutely infuriating.'
She was going to receive an audience with the Emperor to be commended for her achievement.
There was a chance Alexis might catch the Emperor's eye.
'Her face is as handsome as any nobleman's, so she certainly makes a good first impression. Of course, she lacks that gentle charm, and her words are unlucky, but...'
I wasn't particularly worried.
But if the Emperor also saw Cyrilia clinging to her side with that cheerful smile like a squirrel, it was obvious he would favor someone so pretty and adorable.
So my plan was to slip into the audience with the Emperor myself and completely block any opportunity for the two to grow closer.
The Emperor had never been fond of Parkision anyway, and I could not tolerate even the slightest variable.
That was why I had bribed the Empress to arrange this audience with the Emperor.
'But the fact that the first person Alexis met to contract with for the merchant company was a con artist is a good sign.'
Meeting con artists and going about her business.
The merchant company preparations weren't proceeding properly.
This time she had been lucky enough to catch the con artist, but there was no reason such luck would follow her next time.
'Why don't I send a con artist to Alexis myself?'
That way, I could completely destroy the merchant company.
While Roel was smiling inwardly at the mere thought of it,
"Then let us go to His Majesty."
the Empress said.
The three of them—Roel, Prince Theo, and the Empress—headed toward the lounge beside the audience chamber.
It was where the Emperor rested before and after audiences.
"Empress, what brings you here? And the Prince and Parkision's administrator as well."
Emperor Aldorf Ruel Kinister, who had been resting, greeted the three warmly.
The Emperor, with his magnificent beard, cut an impressive figure despite his middle age, his muscular physique commanding attention.
Moreover, he spared no expense in his appearance and adornments.
He enjoyed flaunting his looks.
This was precisely why the Emperor despised Kanan.
Parkision's incompetence was merely the surface reason.
In truth, he resented Kanan for being more handsome than himself and for living with such extravagant, ostentatious splendor—it offended his vanity.
Roel, who groveled before the Emperor with such servile obsequiousness, was exactly the sort he favored.
Alexis, however—Kanan's own daughter and the current Duke of Parkision—was far from pleasing to him.
'She's unlucky in a different way than Kanan.'
---------------
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
---------------