BJ Villainess

Ding!

[The Constellation ‘Emperor Euges’s Sunfish’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]

[Just looking at his actions, you’d think his subjects wish for Euges to die soon, yet why do they desperately protect him?]

Ding!

[The Constellation ‘Passerby Constellation’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]

[Isn’t it obvious in such times? Lineage is important. You can’t have someone who doesn’t carry imperial blood become emperor.]

Euges, unable to suppress his intent, glanced back at the retinue of guards following us and asked me, “Doesn’t the Princess wonder why they are so desperate to keep me confined in the imperial palace?”

“Isn’t it because Your Majesty is the most precious person in the world, so they must be worried about your well-being?” I replied in a textbook manner, to which Euges laughed.

“You’re not wrong. If I die, the direct bloodline of the Rodrigo family would end.”

The Rodrigo imperial family’s lineage is signified by purple eyes, and the darker the hue, the stronger the divine grace the person is believed to possess. And Euges had the most vivid purple eyes among all the emperors. Thus, in his youth, Euges was also called the Son of God. Although the number of people who referred to Euges with such a sacred title drastically decreased due to his uncontrollable violence.

“Does Princess also see me as a son of God?”

Without hesitation, I answered, “Yes.”

“You lie so fluently with such an innocent expression,” Euges mocked, but he didn’t get more malicious than that.

It seemed like a rare good day for him as he leisurely toured the farm. “It was good to come to the farm. Maybe it’s the fresh air, but I woke up feeling refreshed today without a headache.”

Regardless, it was good to see him in a better mood.  Among all the people I’ve met, Euges’s mood was most reflected in his attitude.

Soon, bored with the repetitive scenery, Euges suggested we go somewhere else. So, I took him to the lab and showed him various crops with exceptional benefits. Euges rolled a piece of bark in his hand and examined it.

“This bark has anti-inflammatory effects?”

“Yes. It’s also great for calming, so it’s beneficial for insomnia.”

Despite the mention of improvement in insomnia, Euges seemed unimpressed. “It looks uninteresting. Is there something with the best efficacy but also has an impressive appearance? Like a pretty flower.”

“There are several medicinal flowers good for ornamental purposes.”

“Then select a few types and send them to the imperial palace. I’ll inform Jeffrey, so from now on, the magical plants used in the palace will be those grown on the Princess’s farm.”

Ding!

[Quest: Grow more than 10 types of rare crops at the magic farm completed.]

▸

Reward: +5,000,000 coins; obtain imperial delivery authority

It seemed that Euges’s declaration to supply the palace played a significant role.

“Despite the many shortcomings, I’m honored to receive such great authority from Your Majesty.” I expressed my gratitude formally and dismissed the onlookers with a glance.

Meanwhile, Euges amused himself by tossing and catching a fruit he had plucked. “Does the Lady have anything to say to me?”

“Yes. I have a favor to ask of Your Majesty.”

Euges raised his eyebrows as if beckoning to continue.

“Instead of the rights to supply magic plants, if you know anything about Squire Butterfly, please tell me.”

. Euges caught the fruit and stopped tossing it.

“What a strange thing to say. How would I know about Squire Butterfly?”

As expected, Euges did not easily disclose what he knew. So, I reluctantly played my card.

“The person who healed Your Majesty’s hand was me.”

Ding!

[The Constellation ‘Emperor Euges’s Sunfish’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]

[Whoa, weren’t you lying earlier? Aren’t you worried he’ll turn his eyes on you now?]

As I confessed, the fruit in Euges’s grip burst, splashing juice everywhere. The sight of red juice staining the emperor’s white gloves was rather chilling. He stretched one corner of his mouth long.

“It was the Princess, wasn’t it?”

The fruit fell to the floor as his hand, now tainted with a sour scent. He pulled my chin forward. “I thought it had to be you from the start. I have a good instinct for these things.”

Looking down at me, his eyes twinkled. It would be a lie to say I wasn’t nervous; my heart had been beating a bit faster than usual for a while. But that was it.

“I thought Your Majesty was indirectly asking me to forget that day.”

I believed it was a troublesome noble tactic.

Euges held a smirk. “Did you think I was testing whether Princess could keep a secret? You spill lies quite smoothly with that innocent face.” His grip on my chin tightened slightly.

Despite the emperor’s intimidation, I maintained a dignified demeanor. “I forget when Your Majesty wishes me to forget, and remember when you wish me to remember.”

“Truly loyal. One would think you have sworn eternity to me like a knight. Since when has the Squire family been so devoted to me?”

I couldn’t help but smile a bit at that.

The Squire family had a bad relationship with the Rodrigo imperial family, just like the same case with Willow. Euges believed the Squire was behind the rebel, and he was half right. So, everything I said must be like a bullsh*t to him.

“I’m starting to feel devoted now.”

If it meant achieving my goals, I was willing to cater to Euges, take his side, and keep him in a good mood.

The sound of grinding teeth came from his direction. Did he want to tear me apart for deceiving him? The response was chilling, yet I didn’t show my fear.

In a verbal battle where gaining information is at stake, the one who gets agitated loses. It was a universally applicable rule.

Whether the Black Butterfly was Squire Butterfly or not was uncertain, but I was in a position where I had to grasp any potential lead.

Euges dropped his hand from my chin, his face wearing an expression of ennui, and casually tossed his wet glove to the floor. “So, you’re saying that on the day I have no memory of, you brought up Squire Butterfly?”

Euges stepping back to engage in dialogue was a significant development, abandoning concepts like concession, agreement, and collaboration.

Ding!

[The Constellation ‘Born From Theresa’s Heart’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]

[Ahh

ㅠㅠ

. I was so scared he might actually harm our child.]

I was inwardly delighted but kept a calm demeanor as I spoke. “Yes. Your Majesty mentioned Squire Butterfly was a familiar.”

At my words, Euges clicked his tongue. “

, I must have been in a very good mood that day.”

“Your Majesty said you were feeling good.”

“And you know why I was feeling good?”

“…”

My silence served as my answer, and Euges chuckled.

“It seems I told you. It’s more surprising than the fact that you snuck into my bedroom.”

The sound of knocking on the lab door interrupted us. Euges’s annoyance showed in his furrowed brow. “What is it?”

Bein, the butler’s voice, came from beyond the door. “Your Majesty, a petition from the nobles in the capital has arrived, requesting your immediate return with the military to preserve your well-being.”

Looking out the window, I saw the armed forces.

Euges sighed as if fed up. “Do they think a natural disaster will strike if I leave the capital?”

There was indeed a trend among the capital’s nobility to regard the god-like emperor as a sort of human totem. Thus, despite his indifference to state affairs, violence, and misbehavior, he still wielded significant influence.

Neither Euges nor I welcomed the nobility’s request for his return.

Then Euges made a startling offer. “If you come to the imperial palace, I’ll show you the Squire family’s arcane magic book, but only to you. So, go and see for yourself.”

“…!”

He really had the magic book!

“However, if you disclose this fact, I’ll accuse the Squire family of all kinds of treason and erase them from the world.”

I swallowed hard and swore to keep it a secret.

“One more thing.” Before leaving for the capital, Euges added, “As we discussed earlier, select crops grown here and send them to the imperial palace. I won’t play the petty game of granting and then revoking such a trivial authority.”

It was a relief for me. Supplying magical plants to the palace would bring in a significant income. I gratefully accepted his directive.

“I’m deeply honored, Your Majesty.”

Euges, with a wicked smile, emphasized again. “Send something pretty. Something very, very pretty that fits well in my palace.”

It was a warning that if I disappointed him, I should be prepared.

Ding!

[The Constellation ‘Pure Child’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]

[Got it! I’ll send Theresa!]

With that, Euges left for the imperial palace with the military.