How a Villain Defies Destiny Chapter 19

 

None other than the host of the party.

 

Viscount Oannes greeted them with a trembling hand and, conscious of attention, spoke with a slightly lowered voice and a nervous rush.

 

“I had some news I wished to convey to Count Leblanc, and I was at a loss to find an audience with you.”

 

Leaning in slightly, he whispered furtively toward Yves.

 

“This time I went to the Kingdom of Larsa to trade, and they told me that a holy relic was found in the ruins. Did you know about it?”

 

“This is the first I’ve heard of it.”

 

“Surprisingly, I’ve been informed that the holy object was divided into seven pieces, and that the ruins are buried in each of the seven nations, the descendants of the seven gods.”

 

Standing next to Yves, it wasn’t hard to hear Viscount Oannes’ story.

 

‘Somehow the name sounds familiar.’

 

The Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Larsa, said to be a descendant of the sun god Shemesh, was one of the targets.

 

‘But I don’t recall any mention of a holy relic in the original.’

 

Viscount Oannes continued his explanation.

 

“We still don’t know for sure what miracles it possesses, but…”

 

Viscount Oannes paused, observing Yves for a moment, before continuing.

 

“Rumors have already begun to circulate from the Kingdom of Larsa that they are scattered across the Seven Kingdoms, so it’s quite possible that our kingdom will be among them.”

 

He added that he had hoped to bring the news to the Temple of Astarte sooner rather than later, but the High Priest had been away for a week, and Yves hadn’t been there lately either.

 

‘It’s hard to retrieve it if it falls into the hands of thieves.’

 

In essence, a holy relic refers to an object that contains the power of a god.

 

Therefore, it was forbidden for individuals to possess holy relics, but it was impossible for temples to protect even those buried in the same place.

 

The only way to protect them would be to excavate them before the thieves did.

 

“I’ve gathered some other information, and there are many listening ears here, so I’d like to speak with you in private.”

 

I expected Yves to say yes, but to my surprise, he asked for my opinion.

 

“Lady Laurus, are you sure you don’t mind being alone?”

 

“Of course.”

 

“I’ll be with you in a moment.”

 

After watching Yves walk away with Viscount Oannes, I followed suit.

 

‘I hope you and Selene can make your own arrangements while I’m gone.’

 

The outdoor party was small enough that a little wandering would bring me into contact with most of the nobles in attendance.

 

‘So, even if I don’t have to make a move on Selene, perhaps the two of them will meet naturally, as fate would have it.’

 

With the faint hope that this would be the case, I moved to a place off the beaten path.

 

I just followed my feet, and before I knew it, I was near a fountain.

 

As I watched the fountain spouting cool water, I noticed the statue at the top.

 

‘There are mermaids in this world, too.’

 

The figure, with a fish-like lower body and human-like head and arms, was indeed a mermaid.

 

“It’s called Apkallu.”

 

A voice interrupted her reverie.

 

“It’s an imaginary creature that teaches humans new knowledge during the day and returns to the sea at night.”

 

As I turned my head, I was surprised to see the heroine, Selene.

 

Realizing the identity of the other person, I kept my distance.

 

Her eyes widened in surprise at my reaction, but then she smiled a smooth smile and introduced herself.

 

“Oh, by the way, I apologize for the delay in introducing myself. I’m Selene.”

 

“…”

 

Normally, I would have introduced myself once the other person revealed their family name, but I remained silent.

 

The reason she approached me was that I couldn’t fathom why.

 

‘I wonder if this is just a coincidence.’

 

I stared at her for a while without making any introductions, my fan still covering half of my face. Trying to figure out Selene’s intentions.

 

Without any prompting, she locked eyes with me and suddenly flashed me a beautiful crescent smile.

 

“You look quite different,” said Selene.

 

Although her voice was casual, like she was asking how I was doing, I felt a chill run down my spine.

 

The implications of a sentence that left so much out were never something to be taken lightly.

 

‘I wonder if she knew the original Laura.’

 

Somehow, I had a premonition that I shouldn’t continue the conversation here.

 

Instinctively sensing danger, I turned to leave without another word with her.

 

If only Selene hadn’t caught me.

 

“You think you can change fate?”

 

She asked in a gentle voice as she grabbed my wrist in a vicious grip, but there was a clear madness in her clear sky-blue eyes.

 

‘What is this. It’s scary.’

 

At the same time, I reminded myself that this was like a game.

 

 

Selene and Laura were facing each other by the fountain.

 

‘This is what happens when you choose to take a break from the first option!’

 

The first option at the beginning of the game’s drama was the easiest to collect, a branch of the normal ending.

 

Attending a party in hopes of landing a good job, Selene was led around by Asel and made acquaintances with several noblemen.

 

However, the unfamiliar atmosphere quickly tires the heroine, and she has two options.

 

[1. Tired but persistent, continue to move around the party.]

[2. Ask Asel for excuse and take a break.]

 

If you choose option 1, you’ll get the normal ending where you don’t awaken as a saint.

 

A bland ending where you’re told that you were able to get a job and contribute to the family.

 

It was a boring ending that was mandatory to collect illustrations.

 

Of course, the second event was the reverse of the first, the awakening of the saint. This was the meeting with Laura.

 

If it was a normal party, she could have rested on the terrace or in the restroom. But since it was an outdoor party held under the auspices of a sponsor, there was nowhere to rest, so she headed towards the fountain.

 

She realized that although the fountain was located in the center of the party, it was out of the way of the nobles, whose purpose was to socialize.

 

The heroine spots Laura, who has been wandering around alone despite attending with Yves.

 

Selene was beautiful, even if she was dressed in a shabbier and more modest dress than she was.

 

Feeling intensely jealous of her, Laura confronts her with a series of tirades.

 

Her inferiority complex boils over because of Selene’s wise response to her one-sided tirade, and Laura loses her temper and pushes her into the fountain.

 

And just like that.

 

“Ouch!”

 

I stiffen, looking at Selene. Never in my wildest dreams had I imagined that she would let go of my wrist and fall into the fountain herself.

 

‘Wow, I never thought the heroine would turn out like this.’

 

I’ve made assumptions about powerful coercive forces being used to force unwanted behavior, but I never dared to think that Selene would come out and try to make me the villain.

 

The first person to run to me amid the commotion was Asel.

 

“Lady Selene!”

 

Sensing that something was wrong, I quickly thought to myself.

 

‘If I leave now, I’ll just end up confessing that I did it.’

 

Selene’s shout drew my attention away.

 

Sure enough, the nobles surrounding me began to stir.

 

“Oh my, what’s going on.”

 

“It seems that Lady Laurus pushed her.”

 

“Really?”

 

“In any case, she doesn’t look like a civilized person.”

 

The tide had already turned in Selene’s favor.

 

No matter how much I plead the truth here, it would only sound like an excuse to the others.

 

“Lady Laurus, what are you doing? Apologize already.”

 

Asel scolded me as she pulled the drowning Selene to her feet.

 

I tried to keep my mouth shut because I knew she wouldn’t believe me, but I had to get this point across, so I folded the fan covering my face and asked back.

 

“What?”

 

I asked, implying that I had no idea what I’d done wrong.

 

Asel’s temper flared, “You pushed Selene!”

 

“I didn’t push her.”

 

I replied calmly, looking straight at Asel.

 

‘These people are going to be witnesses, and I’m going to make it clear that I didn’t.’

 

Even if no one believed me, the official statement was important.

 

It might look like I was deflecting, but it’s better to be consistent when it comes to proving the truth.

 

“Do you think I’m going to believe a blatant lie? I don’t know what was said between the two of you, but it’s not right to insult someone like that in public.”

 

I was surprised.

 

‘I thought Asel would defend Selene unconditionally.’

 

She said this as if she was considering the possibility that Selene might have said something against me.

 

Though she seemed to believe it was true that I had pushed her.

 

“Maybe she has no shame.”

 

“My whole face is burning.”

 

“Shameless.”

 

The chatter grew louder.

 

At first, I tried to ignore them as much as possible, and then quietly slipped out of the party, but then I changed my mind.

 

“I’ll say it again, I didn’t push her.”

 

For in this world, I found a way to prove the truth.

 

“I can swear to the truth on Astarte’s name.”

 

It was an oath of faith that had worked even for Yves, whose trust in me was zero.

 

“You mean it?”

 

Asel’s eyes widened in surprise.

 

“Since you don’t believe me, I’m going to go straight to Astarte’s name…”

 

“Wait, wait, wait, do you realize that if you break a god’s oath, you’ll be branded and die within a year? Even if you swear it out loud, you won’t be able to break it!”

 

Asel hastily stopped me. Like a child who’s been lied to and thinks it’s okay to use a god’s oath to bully their way out of it.

 

‘I wonder how weak Laura is in Asel’s eyes.’

 

But I wasn’t offended. In a way, she was only urging me on because she feared for my life.