The Crazy Villainess in This Area Is Me

Driving his horse madly, Frinel crossed three or four mana tunnels and covered a distance that usually took two days in just one. Behind the sparkling Frinel, the exhausted knights caught their breath.

“

. Please slow down, Your Majesty!”

“Well, it seems everyone needs to retrain their stamina.”

“It’s because you’re too fast, Your Majesty!”

“My lovely princesses discovered an incredible treasure. How could I possibly sit still?”

He grinned slyly and issued an order to Alter. “You’ve all worked hard, so distribute generous bonuses and provide food and drinks for a feast today.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“And those newly married may go home early.”

“…Thank you.” Alter’s shoulders twitched, and he smiled sheepishly.

Leaving the cheering subordinates behind, the excited Frinel entered the Empress’s palace. “Lobelia! Merilly, Roseni!” He called out for the children and I in a booming voice.

Soon, Merilly and Roseni, who had been waiting in the first-floor bedroom, ran out to him.

“Father!”

“Father, you’re back.”

“Merilly, Roseni! My lovely daughters!”

Frinel opened his arms wide. The two girls squealed and jumped into his broad embrace.

“Is Father hurt?”

“Isn’t Father hungry?”

“I was definitely hungry, but seeing my cute daughters’ faces made me feel full instead. It’s strange.” He patted his belly, making a joke.

“Still, please eat something! Aunt Bella is here too!”

“

, Bella?” Frinel glanced at the closed palace doors in surprise.

Surely, Alter had rushed to Duchy Gracie because he missed Bella.

“Well, this is great. I can see my cousin after a long time.” A playful glint appeared on his face. He decided not to tell Alter.

Suppressing his laughter, Frinel took the children’s hands and headed to the dining room.

* * *

“Is that true, Lobelia?” Bella’s eyes widened, then curved into a delighted smile as she listened to me. “

, that’s fantastic! Really fantastic!”

“So we’re planning to surprise Frinel.” I smiled, imagining the fun.

“How?”

“Roseni and Merilly told him they found a great treasure in the imperial palace dungeon.”

“Really?”

“Yes. We made a maze in the dungeon. At the end of the maze, there’s a large golden egg. Frinel will find it, and inside are two heart-shaped turquoise jewels, just like in the children’s dream.”

“That sounds fun!”

“Yes, it’s an event to show our gratitude to Frinel.” I smiled softly, popping a piece of pre-sliced steak into my mouth. “Frinel has helped me so much. I owe him a lot…”

“There’s no such thing as owing in a loving relationship!”

“Even so…”

Perhaps I unconsciously felt indebted to him. I trailed off, drawing a wry smile.

“Frinel is surprisingly simple, especially when it comes to people he cherishes. He won’t understand why you feel sorry.” Bella shook her head with a laugh.

Despite Frinel’s appearance of testing things, he was straightforward at heart. Having known him for a long time, she confidently patted her chest.

“

, when Alter returns, I think we’ll try to have a baby too. We haven’t wanted one yet, wanting to enjoy our honeymoon, but if we have one around the same time, the children could be close siblings.”

“That would be wonderful!”

Bella and I, who were as close as Merilly and Roseni, held hands and smiled at each other.

“What are you talking about so happily?”

“Frinel!”

“Greetings, Your Majesty.”

I quickly rose from my seat, passing Bella, who bowed, and hugged him tightly.

“Did you have a good trip?”

“Of course. I came running because I missed my empress so much.” Frinel kissed me lightly on the lips. “Bella, what brings you here?”

“I just wanted to see my sister after a long time.”

“Alter must have rushed to Duchy Gracie now.”

“I’m about to head there now.”

“He’s probably crying after hearing you’re in the capital.”

“

, that sounds good in its own way, right?. I like men who look good when they cry.”

Bella laughed and kissed Merilly and Roseni on the forehead. “I’ll head back now, Princesses.”

“Auntie, come again tomorrow!”

“Be careful, Auntie!”

“See you!”

Not wanting to interrupt the family’s event, she waved lightly and left the dining room.

Frinel settled Merilly and Roseni into their chairs before he started to eat.

“I heard you skipped meals too.”

“Because I had to use the knights’ provisions.”

“You should have asked me for help.”

“No need. It’s all taken care of.”

After roughly eating the salad, he sipped his hot tea, letting out a small sigh as the fatigue began to lift.

“

, this is nice.” Surrounded by his beloved wife and daughters, eating good food and tea, a contented sigh escaped.

“Eat some more.” I offered him a plate of roasted pork.

“Salad is enough for today. So, what’s the treasure our kids found? I was dying of curiosity.” His blue eyes sparkled with childlike excitement.

Merilly, Roseni, and I quickly exchanged glances.

“That, it seems the treasure was enchanted with magic. Ancient magic, perhaps.” Merilly spoke first on my behalf.

“Magic?”

“Yes, Roseni and I were playing in the underground treasure vault when we saw a huge golden egg. We had never seen it before.”

“Do you know anything about a golden egg as big as the children, Frinel?”

“No. I’ve never seen anything like that.”

“Right? But as soon as we touched it, a maze appeared.”

“A maze?”

“Yes, let’s go together. It’ll be fun! We waited for you to come so we could go together.”

“

…”

Merilly and Roseni pulled Frinel’s hands. Though he allowed himself to be dragged along, he furrowed his brow with concern.

“Could it be dangerous for the children?”

“…I checked a bit. It’s not dangerous magic.”

“But you said it’s ancient magic.”

“Yes, it seems to give a small trial to the person who finds the egg, leading them to the treasure.”

“Really?”

Though suspicious, Frinel followed the three to the dungeon.

Downstairs, as they had said, there was a small maze made of bushes.