She is the Daughter of the Villainess in a Ridiculous Novel - Chapter 109

“…Th-Thanks?”

Idel, who answered reflexively, narrowed her brows with a bewildered expression.

‘That’s not what I meant to say.’

She originally intended to ask when he woke up or if he had been pretending to be unconscious from the start.

Although the decisive reason for making a choice different from the plan was because of Patrick, Sigmund’s condition also played a large part.

Before Idel missed her chance to speak, Sigmund, who had bolted upright, released Idel’s arm and spoke first.

“Melisa gave a command to collapse.”

“What? When?”

“Right before I lost consciousness?”

Idel gently rubbed her chin at Sigmund’s answer.

If she gave the command right before losing consciousness, it meant she knew Nox would step forward beforehand.

‘Come to think of it, the black mage who looked like a ‘merchant’ said the same thing. Saying, “You boasted so much that we could take over the Ducal house, so what is this?”’

The poison Melisa applied to the hairpin was not a lethal one that would instantly take a person’s life.

‘She said it was a slow-acting poison that takes time to kill.’

In other words, Nox planned to infiltrate the Ducal household and plant their eyes from the moment the Duke was poisoned.

‘That’s how the Melisa in the original story could take over the ducal household so easily.’

Idel lightly nodded, realizing a fact that she couldn’t understand just from reading the book review.

‘It was a good thing I told Vilred to hide after using the spell to remove the curse.’

She almost created unnecessary variables.

Feeling the relief spreading through her chest, Idel spoke to Sigmund again.

“So, are you alright?”

“My body?”

“I know you have a considerable degree of freedom from the command because you’ve taken control of the curse, but I just wanted to check, just in case.”

Sigmund lightly rolled his eyes at Idel’s direct gaze. Just as Idel was flustered by his congratulations, Sigmund hadn’t expected to hear genuine concern from her.

“Uh… well, the command wasn’t strong enough to affect me in the first place. How much strength could a guy who was already half-collapsed possibly exert? I just…”

He trailed off for a moment, then frowned and continued.

“I just felt eyes on me, so I played along with what they wanted. The atmosphere was such that if I let them find out it didn’t work, they might try something else.”

“So, you’re saying your body is fine?”

“Uh, I’m fine. Didn’t you hear the doctor just now? He said there’s no problem.”

He rolled his eyes briefly, looking away from Idel, bit his lower lip slightly, and then spoke again.

“Anyway, I’m sorry.”

With those words, Sigmund’s ears flushed slightly. It seemed he was embarrassed to say it out loud.

“Sorry? You are? Why?”

“I was the only one left out.”

“…What?”

Sigmund frowned intensely at Idel’s expression, which clearly showed she didn’t understand.

“Geez, I was the only one who just collapsed when even Gianna and Dante stepped up.”

His slightly flushed ears turned even redder. Idel snorted, as if to say, ‘What are you talking about?’ when she saw that.

“No, you obviously couldn’t move. You’re Nox’s precious puppet. If you stepped up, not only the Duke or the Count but every noble would notice. What could you possibly do?”

“No, that’s… Ah, never mind! Just accept the apology! You don’t even know how you looked back then…”

“What? Say that again; I couldn’t hear you clearly.”

She meant it. Sigmund’s last words were drowned out by the noise of the moving carriage.

Sigmund frowned briefly, as if displeased with something, then reached out to her again.

However, unlike when he pulled Idel toward him, this time it was Sigmund who moved.

At a distance where their voices could be clearly heard over any outside noise, Sigmund asked Idel,

“Are you sure you’re alright?”

“Uh, why so suddenly?”

“What do you mean suddenly? The doctor said you needed treatment just now, and I saw it myself.”

Meeting Idel’s eyes from close by, he gestured towards her shoulder.

“Your shoulder looks badly bruised after all. Isn’t it?”

“It is, but this much is fine. You sound just like the Duchess. But I really am fine. I don’t intend to foolishly endure pain.”

Idel answered Sigmund in a firm voice and tilted her head toward the window.

“We should be arriving at the temple soon. After I drop you off, I’ll get treatment, too. The temple will surely do that much.”

“Ah, then… that’s good.”

“By the way, pretending to be unconscious won’t work at the temple, so what are you going to do? Should you lie down again for now?”

Sigmund shook his head at Idel’s question and replied.

“There’s no need for that. I can just say I woke up during the move and try to talk my way out of it.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. The Saint won’t be checking me personally, so if I say I’m fine, they’ll probably just give me a blessing, and that’ll be it, right?”

That much wasn’t a big deal. Idel narrowed her eyes, staring intently at Sigmund’s easygoing expression.

“…You know that kind of talk is really ominous, right?”

“What is?”

“When you say things like that, the very thing you said wouldn’t happen always does.”

“No way. Hey, if that happens, I’ll buy you cake for life.”

Idel merely shrugged her shoulders in response.

The answer to the bet would be revealed soon anyway.

Outside the window, the elegant appearance of the Grand Temple was visible. Even the sight of the priests lined up at the entrance, waiting for them.

* * *

Idel exchanged a brief glance with Sigmund at the sight of the man approaching as soon as the carriage door opened.

It was clear that the Crown Prince collapsing was a big deal.

Not only was it exceptional for priests to be waiting like this in front of the temple, but the attire of the person who came out to greet them was also unusual.

The man, exuding a pure and clear aura, placed a hand lightly on his chest and offered a greeting to her.

“Welcome to the Temple, young lady. I am Othello Divinewalker. Though I am lacking, I serve the Goddess with the rank of High Priest.”

“Hello, High Priest. I am Idel Clementine. Um, did you receive word from the Ducal house?”

“Of course. That His Highness the Crown Prince collapsed, and it seems to be related to black magic.”

Idel lightly nodded, looking at the High Priest, who was kind even in an urgent situation.

“Yes, that’s right. So, we hastily brought His Highness to the temple, but, well…”

“Well?”

“I woke up on the way here.”

“Your Highness!”

Sigmund, who appeared before Idel could finish her sentence, lightly waved his hand toward the priests. It meant excessive ceremony was unnecessary.

Othello, confirming the Crown Prince was standing perfectly fine, spoke with a voice full of sincerity.

“To have regained consciousness on the way… It seems the Goddess has watched over Your Highness. That is truly fortunate.”

“Indeed. I apologize for causing you trouble because of me.”

“Trouble? Please don’t say such a thing. We are content to follow the will of the Goddess here. Aside from regaining consciousness, do you feel any discomfort? Like dizziness or an upset stomach…”

“No, just as the High Priest said, perhaps the Goddess watched over me, as I am completely fine.”

A benevolent smile spread across Othello’s face as he listened to Sigmund.

“That is truly fortunate. However, it seems this incident is no ordinary matter.”

“Oh?”

“The Saint has personally requested to see His Highness.”

“…The Saint?”

“Yes.”

Asking again was meaningless. The answer from the High Priest would be the same.

Sigmund let out a deep sigh after seeing Idel’s expression, which suggested she had expected this. It was the moment the loser of the bet was decided.

“Now then, Your Highness, shall we go inside? I will personally escort you to where the Saint is. As for the young lady…”

“Ah, I need some treatment as well; could I request that?”

“Treatment? Of course. Priest Sedna, please take care of Lady Clementine.”

The priest who stepped forward immediately after hearing the high priest’s request smiled kindly at Idel.

“Sister, this way.”

“Yes.”

After exchanging a light nod with the High Priest, Idel followed Priest Sedna and smiled broadly at Sigmund.

“I’ll enjoy the cake, okay?”

“Just go already.”

She let out a small laugh at Sigmund’s grumpy-looking expression and resumed walking.

How far did she walk like that?

“Sister, could you wait here for a moment? From this point onward are the inner chambers of the Temple, which do not receive outsiders unless it is a special matter.”

“Of course.”

“Then, excuse me.”

While Priest Sedna asked for Idel’s understanding and stepped inside the inner chamber for a moment, Idel had a very strange experience.

She saw Sigmund, who should have gone to meet the Saint, appear and disappear in the middle of the hallway leading to the inner chambers.

And it happened in the blink of an eye.