Holy Power for a Villainess? - Chapter 06

Chapter 6

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“Hellooo, Duke.”

As usual, Heinox’s face practically shone while he sat in his office reviewing documents.

‘Isn’t it uncomfortable dressing like that at home?’

Heinox looked as though he were heading to a grand banquet.

‘It’s not even flashy, but…’

There was still something undeniably refined about him.

Dark navy pants, a vest fastened with small golden buttons, and over the white shirt beneath it gleamed a deep green emerald pinned near his chest.

The gem wasn’t especially large or flashy, but its value was surely astronomical.

House Tanzeric possessed that level of wealth, and Heinox himself was nobility to the bone.

‘Meanwhile his daughter only just got out of bed and her cheeks are practically sagging from exhaustion, yet he’s living comfortably.’

As I silently grumbled to myself while standing there, Heinox gestured toward the sofa with his eyes.

“Sit there.”

“Yes.”

He knew exactly how much I struggled climbing onto that sofa last time, yet he still told me to sit there again. He truly lacked even the tiniest bit of consideration.

“I heard today was your first lesson.”

“Huff, huff. That’s right.”

“How was it?”

Without wasting words, Heinox immediately got to the point.

I caught my breath for a moment after finally climbing onto the sofa with all my strength before answering.

“It was good.”

“What part?”

“Learning numbews was nice, and the teacher was nice too…”

“That’s unusual. Few children like Dikal.”

Well, Dikal was huge and looked like a bear, so it made sense that children would find him scary.

But I wasn’t actually a child.

“Only kids say stuff wike that.”

“Kids? Aren’t you a child?”

Heinox asked as though dumbfounded.

‘Ah right. I’m four.’

“I-I’m different from them…”

“And what exactly makes you different?”

At Heinox’s sudden question, my brain worked furiously.

‘What do I say so I can go back to my room?’

The longer my silence stretched, the narrower Heinox’s eyes became.

Panicking, I finally blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

“B-Because I’m a Tanzeric!”

‘Of all things to say…’

I’d proudly stated something painfully obvious.

Surely Heinox would look at me like I was ridiculous—

“Correct. Exactly.”

‘Huh?’

To my surprise, a smile had appeared on Heinox’s lips.

“You are the legitimate daughter of House Tanzeric. Entirely different from ordinary riffraff.”

Then he nodded as though satisfied.

“So you understand your position well.”

‘Ah, I can’t even tell if he’s mocking me or not…’

“What did you learn? Since you knew nothing, there must’ve been plenty to teach.”

‘That jerk!’

This time it was definitely mocking.

For a second irritation surged inside me, but I calmed myself down while thinking about my comfortable future.

“Today I learned numbews.”

“Numbers? You spent the entire day learning only that?”

“Yes.”

‘What? Got a problem with that?’

Despite his suspicious stare, I answered confidently.

“I see. Is that so…”

Heinox quietly observed me with an unreadable gaze.

“I assume you understood it all.”

‘Hah. Obviously.’

“Yes.”

“How far did you get? Two digits?”

“Nope. We learned up to five digits.”

“Hm? Usually they don’t teach beyond two digits since they’re rarely used.”

“That’s right.”

“Then why?”

“Because I was curious about the others too.”

“Do you have a talent for studying? I hear the eldest son of Marquis Harpel runs away every day because he hates successor lessons.”

“It’s not like I absolutely wuv studying.”

Of course, part of me was passionately enjoying the opportunity to learn everything I couldn’t in my previous life.

But saying it was purely fun would be a lie.

‘Still, I can’t say that.’

As long as I intended to stay in this house, I needed to leave the best possible impression on Heinox.

And to do that, showing enthusiasm toward the lessons I personally requested was the better option.

“So you don’t enjoy it, but still wish to learn?”

“Yes.”

Heinox’s eyes narrowed while looking at me.

It was an incredibly uncomfortable feeling.

Thinking about the original story, this entire situation made no sense to begin with.

‘Something’s suspicious.’

Recently, Heinox had started taking an unusual interest in me.

That was probably why he wanted me to report to him after every lesson.

‘It’s not like he suddenly developed affection for his daughter…’

Regardless, from my perspective it was beneficial to keep Heinox’s attention focused on me.

The problem was that I couldn’t tell whether that attention stemmed from goodwill or hostility.

‘Especially with the way he keeps speaking sarcastically.’

While I was lost in thought, something seemed to change in Heinox’s mood, and the corner of his lips slowly lifted.

‘He smiled?’

Oh no.

That expression absolutely meant—

“Interesting.”

—I’d been targeted.

My old boss used to wear exactly that kind of smile before making my life miserable.

“S-So then, may I go now…?”

I asked cautiously, and Heinox slowly nodded.

“Yes. Come again tomorrow as soon as your lessons end.”

“Okaaay…”

I jumped down from the sofa and hurried out of the room.

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Click—

As the door closed, Heinox briefly recalled Roxina sitting there moments ago.

Then he rose from his seat and walked toward the large desk.

From atop it, he picked up a brown picture frame.

Inside the frame was a woman with soft yellow hair reminiscent of warm spring sunlight and lively green eyes, smiling gently toward the viewer.

“Priscilla…”

Heinox stroked the photograph with his fingers.

“It’s been a long time.”

It had been four years since the two of them last faced each other.

Though more than two weeks had passed since returning from the battlefield, Heinox still hadn’t been able to bring himself to face her.

“I thought I might smell like blood…”

He had spent four whole years on the battlefield.

At the very front lines, leading countless imperial soldiers.

For four long years.

He’d tried to forget the grief of losing Priscilla by cutting down enemies, but it hadn’t been easy.

If anything, the overwhelming scent of blood only reminded him of the day he lost her.

“I couldn’t face you looking like that. I’m sorry.”

Heinox lowered his head until his forehead rested against the photograph.

“I missed you.”

Truly.

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The Philitium Imperial Palace, located north of the capital.

Among its many palaces, the Second Prince, Royster Philitium, who lived in the smallest palace called Apella Palace, followed a maid toward the Empress’s Palace.

The Empress’s Palace appeared at least three times larger than the one he lived in.

Its magnificent exterior and the countless servants moving busily both inside and outside revealed its overwhelming scale.

As he entered, a vast garden filled with brilliant roses and tulips spread before him.

At the center sat a woman at a white table.

Royster approached and bowed his head.

“I greet the Moon of the Empire, Her Majesty the Empress.”

“Ah, the Second Prince has arrived.”

Empress Angelana Philitium carefully observed Royster’s greeting etiquette.

Since she never told him to relax, Royster maintained his rigid posture.

Only after a long silence did the Empress finally speak.

“Hm… It seems the Prince still does not properly understand how to greet others.”

She lightly furrowed her brows as though genuinely concerned.

“A prince is the face of the empire. He must be more perfect than anyone else. I worry the northern barbarians may look down on us if they discover that the Second Prince of the Luent Empire displays such poor etiquette.”

“…I’ll make sure that never happens.”

Angelana let out a small laugh at Royster’s faintly trembling voice.

“Will you really?”

“I’ll try to ensure it doesn’t…”

“And how exactly will you do that?”

“I’ll practice more.”

“Prince, this is not something solved simply by increasing your practice time.”

Her eyes widened as though she’d just remembered something important.

“Ah.”

Then, as though generously bestowing precious wisdom, she continued:

“Every tiny detail reflects a person’s dignity. Their gestures, posture, even the smallest sound of breathing.”

Angelana elegantly lifted her teacup and smiled lightly.

“It seems I expected too much from a prince born of a concubine.”

Royster couldn’t say anything in response to the humiliating insult.

Because it wasn’t wrong.

His birth mother, Naomi, had once been a wandering shaman before becoming one of the Emperor’s concubines.

“…I’ll do better.”

In the end, as always, Royster could only promise to try harder.

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After leaving the Empress’s Palace and returning to Apella Palace, Royster spotted Naomi waiting for him outside wearing only a thin shawl.

“Why are you outside?”

As Naomi tried to answer, a dry cough escaped her, causing Royster to hurry over even faster.

“Your health is weak already. What if you catch a cold?”

“This much is fine.”

Naomi smiled faintly at her son, who looked overwhelmingly worried.

“Did your conversation with Her Majesty go well?”

“…Yes.”

Royster held out the wooden box the Empress had given him.

“She said it’s tea good for recovering from fatigue. She said you should drink it every day after lunch.”

Naomi accepted the box with a bright smile.

“How kind of her. I wish I had something to give Her Majesty in return…”

Naomi glanced around.

“But I have nothing worthy to offer…”

She murmured softly, eyes slightly watery.

Royster recalled what Angelana had said before he left the palace.

But seeing Naomi look so genuinely touched, he kept his mouth shut.

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“Hewwo, Teacher.”

Dikal looked at Roxina, whose expression seemed brighter than usual, and asked curiously:

“Did something good happen?”

“Ah! Is it obvious?”

I was genuinely excited.

Lately, now that I’d started leaving my room more often, I’d become completely addicted to secretly eating desserts with Anne.

And apparently Puichi, the head chef, had noticed I always ate cookies and decided to make me a special apple pie using his personal recipe.

Dikal merely nodded instead of directly saying “yes.”

“Actually, the chef said he’s making pie for me later.”

“The chef…?”

“Puichi!”

Dikal nodded as though understanding immediately.

“Puichi Nux’s desserts are famous for being as delicious as they are beautiful. What kind of pie is he making today?”

“Apple pie!”

Puichi was already a renowned chef throughout the empire, and his desserts were said to be especially incredible.

‘I’ve only read about them in books, and now I actually get to eat them!’

Unable to hide my excitement, I kept smiling nonstop.

Watching me carefully, Dikal finally opened his mouth.

“T-Then let us begin today’s lesson.”

“Yes!”