How to Live as the Terminally Ill Younger Sister of the Villain - Chapter 66
The cleanly cut surface suggested it was sliced by a sword. They had focused only on magic defenses, never expecting they’d need to contain someone with such sword skills.
“This would be difficult even for an average mercenary…”
Wyatt narrowed his eyes while running his fingertips along the cleanly cut surface. Derek, carefully watching his mood from the side, cautiously spoke up.
“That wench was already giving us headaches with her disobedience, perhaps we should find a new vessel…”
“Talk sense!”
The High Priest struck the already broken door hard. The creaking door finally fell with a thud.
“Do you have any idea how much money we poured into finding someone suitable for the sacred object and how many times we had to clean up after the Empress’s messes to say such nonsense?!”
The High Priest gnawed at his lower lip.
“If this reaches the Empress’s ears…”
Just imagining how much that cursed woman would gloat made him shudder.
That’s when it happened.
“High Priest! Something terrible has happened!”
A priest came running breathlessly.
“What now?”
“Th-that… well… that…”
“Speak up, stop being so frustrating.”
At the High Priest’s urging, the priest squeezed his eyes shut and spoke.
“There’s been a theft at the Grand Temple! The blue rose that bloomed from the Sun’s Tears has di-disappeared…!”
“What?”
“What are you saying? The sacred object disappeared? Who would dare do such a thing!”
When Derek asked in shock, the priest hesitated before answering.
“It… it seems to be the Magic Tower Master’s doing…”
Bang!
The High Priest kicked away the remains of the fallen door. Then roughly ran his hand through his dark green hair.
“That damned youngster…!”
The bad news wasn’t over.
“High Priest!!”
“What now?!”
This time, a Holy Knight appeared holding something in his hand.
“The… the Empress has contacted us.”
What he held was a communication orb. One that worked with holy power as well as magic power.
In fact, most magical tools were like that. Though less efficient, holy power was still a perfectly good fuel source.
The High Priest glared at the crystal orb before clicking his tongue and placing his hand on it.
“To what do we owe this rare contact from someone we usually can’t even get a glimpse of?”
Though his words were polite, his voice was sharp.
-I hear the Grand Temple is in chaos?
In contrast, the Empress was leisurely.
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
When Wyatt played dumb, the Empress snorted.
-Surely you don’t think you’re the only one who has planted eyes and ears among my ladies-in-waiting?
Spies are everywhere, after all.
Wyatt clicked his tongue softly. He had bitten his lip so much it was in terrible shape.
“The Order will handle its own affairs. Your Majesty should focus on managing your children.”
At the High Priest’s provocation, a low laugh was heard from the Empress. The chilling atmosphere transmitted even through the communication orb.
-High Priest, you seem to have forgotten who put you in that position.
The provocation was met with a warning.
“Aren’t you curious what would happen if His Majesty learned about what happened thirteen years ago?”
Of course, the High Priest wasn’t one to take things lying down.
-…High Priest. A loose tongue tends to invite misfortune.
They each had dirt on the other, and if one fell, they would fall together. That’s why, despite their mutual hatred, they had no choice but to work together.
-Make sure those filthy drops of blood don’t splash toward the palace. Clean up well.
Click.
The conversation ended unilaterally.
Wyatt’s face turned bright red at the sight of the now darkened communication orb.
“That damned old hag!”
10. The Butterfly Effect
“Blonde looks pretty too. Next time, tell me what color you’d like to see and I’ll make it happen.”
Aesi, perched on the balcony, let out a hollow laugh at Angelina’s warm welcome.
“How did you know I was coming?”
“Because Pudding was irritated?”
“That’s an unnecessarily accurate alarm.”
Aesi glared at Pudding, who was nestled in her arms and growling at him.
“Your mask got smaller.”
“The big one was really uncomfortable.”
“What’s with the beard?”
“Just because. You don’t like it?”
“Just, well. Is it fake?”
“It’s as real as an illusion can be.”
“So it’s fake then.”
“Not all illusions are fake. You can touch it, can’t you?”
Angelina chuckled.
A beard on brother…..
She had never thought about it before.
“If you can cover everything with illusions, why bother with a mask?”
You could just change your face completely.
“This is insurance.”
Just in case.
Then Aesi turned his attention to Catherine.
“Is this the person you wanted to entrust to me?”
“Yes. The Order’s victim…”
While making introductions, Angelina realized Laura was still present. As always, she was watching the situation without changing her expression.
Perhaps because she had seen Angelina and the Magic Tower Master meeting secretly like this before…
‘She’s too calm about this!’
Angelina was also intrigued by Aesi’s reaction. He acted as if he either didn’t notice Laura’s presence or didn’t care about it.
And he usually says too many people are dangerous.
‘Could Laura know Aesi’s true identity too?’
If that’s the case, this was unexpected. Since when did she know?
Or am I mistaken?
Angelina looked at Aesi, then at Laura again.
Could Haley know too? Was I the only one who didn’t know?
She felt hurt for a moment but quickly got over it.
Well, if I were brother, I wouldn’t have said anything either.
Understanding Ante’s feelings completely, her momentary sullenness disappeared instantly.
“Why did you stop talking?”
“Huh? Oh, she’s a victim of the Order. The ‘fake saint vessel’ we were talking about. Her name is Catherine.”
“Hmm~?”
Aesi rested his face on his arm propped on his knee. Tilting his head fully to the side, he examined Catherine’s face.
“Um… Li-, I mean… Lady, that person is…”
“My friend.”
“The Magic Tower Master.”
Angelina and Aesi spoke simultaneously.
Catherine’s eyes grew round.
“So, so the High Priest’s words about people sent by the Magic Tower Master were true?”
“The High Priest said that?”
“No, that’s not it.”
Angelina and Aesi spoke in unison again.
“It’s not that I sent them, but rather she sent me.”
Aesi added, correcting the facts.
“Did you resolve the issue well?”
Angelina turned to Aesi, asking as if she had brought up the topic well.
“I did.”
“Actually, I didn’t expect you to come this quickly. I thought even Aesi would take at least half a day to get here from the Grand Temple.”
“I went to the Grand Temple in the morning.”
“That early?”
“I thought if I timed it with the solar eclipse, security would be even tighter, so I chose a slightly more relaxed time. The morning sunlight being stronger was also beneficial.”
“So, you succeeded?”
Instead of answering, Aesi pulled out two objects from his possession. One was a flask containing holy water, and the other was a whiskey glass.
“Wow, it really does look like a tulip.”
“Right? It’s pretty when it turns blue. Makes me not want to break it.”
“Was it water or holy water?”
“Holy water.”
“I thought so.”
“W-wait a moment! Th-that’s…!”
Catherine, who had been listening to their conversation, pointed at the sacred object in Aesi’s hand with a shocked expression.
“How did you…!”
“I told you. It’s not that I sent them, but she sent me.”
As Aesi pointed at Angelina, Catherine turned to look at her. Her eyes were so wide they seemed about to pop out.
“Did you know the true nature of the sacred object?”
“Because I knew, I stole this too.”
Angelina pulled out the Crimson Thorn she had hidden in her possession.
Catherine staggered for a moment. Though she quickly grabbed the balcony railing to avoid falling, she seemed mentally overwhelmed.
“Then when you said earlier the High Priest would never find the ‘vessel’ again…”
“How could he find it when the sacred objects are gone.”
“This is impossible… The High Priest spent almost his entire life searching for those two…”
Angelina smirked.
How could one compare the High Priest to herself, who was using the cheat key of knowing the original story? No matter how unfriendly the novel might be, everything important will be revealed eventually.
Leaving Catherine in her confused state, Angelina turned to Aesi.
“Here. Your payment for your trouble.”
She handed the Crimson Thorn to him.
“Now, I’m entrusting Catherine to you.”
“You just want me to hide her, right?”
He asked while holding the thorn up to the moonlight, examining it from different angles.
“For now, yes. But we can’t keep her hidden forever.”
