BJ Villainess Chapter 310

* * *

After Theresa caused the heavy rain, a massive transformation occurred around Clyde’s estate.

 

“What’s that scent?”

 

The servants, drawn by a sweet fragrance, found themselves unknowingly flocking toward the annex, where they witnessed an astonishing sight.

 

“…Where are we?”

 

Around the familiar annex, a forest of plants they had never seen before had sprung up. But that wasn’t all. There were birds gliding gracefully, leaving golden trails behind them, a white stag with transparent horns grazing on the grass, and a cat lazily napping while scattering shimmering light—all creatures that looked as if they had come straight out of a fairy tale.

 

The servants blinked dumbly, all wearing the same bewildered expression.

 

“This isn’t a dream, right?”

 

“Yeah… it seems real…?”

 

At that moment, the dense underbrush suddenly parted as if it had been neatly cut away, forming a path. When everyone turned to look, Theresa and Clyde appeared, walking along the newly formed path.

 

Clyde frowned at the sight of the gathered servants. “Why are you all here?” He had given explicit instructions not to come near this area without a special reason. Still, the servants seemed to have lost their sense of fear, frequently seeking out Theresa.

 

Though the servants usually minded their behavior when Clyde was around, today, for some reason, they had flocked here early in the morning. His expression grew even more displeased as he noticed that most of the gathered servants were men.

 

The servants hurried to explain themselves before he could reprimand them.

 

“A forest suddenly appeared near the annex, so we came to investigate… There are also some unusual animals.”

 

“They’re intelligent and benevolent creatures, so there’s nothing to worry about,” Clyde responded.

 

Theresa lightly elbowed him in the side, scolding him. “How can you say there’s nothing to worry about when these creatures that no one’s ever seen before suddenly appeared? You were so startled that you dragged me around from dawn on!”

 

“That’s different.”

 

“How is it different? You should explain properly.”

 

“Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.” Clyde gently tapped her on the nose before she could say more. “I have to go to work now, so just sleep until I get back. And don’t cause any trouble.”

 

“What trouble am I going to cause?”

 

“Making me stay up all night because of this forest and heading to work isn’t trouble?”

 

“Who asked you to stay up all night and go to work… You chose to do that yourself…”

 

“Stop grumbling and go inside.”

 

Clyde guided Theresa back to the annex, speaking in a surprisingly gentle voice that the servants had never heard before.

 

“I’ll be home early today, so I’ll wake you up when I return.”

 

“Okay. Have a safe trip,” she replied, rubbing her sleepy eyes and waving. Clyde chuckled softly and ruffled her hair.

 

The servants, who had been listening in on their conversation, suddenly realized how private and intimate the scene had been. Embarrassed, they quickly retreated. They felt as though they had intruded on something intensely personal, so their faces flushed with shame. As they hurried away, they couldn’t stop thinking about what they had just witnessed.

 

“That… It seems clear that master has feelings, right?”

 

Though they hadn’t mentioned the name, everyone knew they were talking about Theresa.

 

“You could see it in his expression. It was so heartwarming to watch.”

 

“I never knew master could speak so tenderly.”

 

“…Let’s just get back to work.”

 

More shocking than the fairy-tale-like forest was Clyde’s demeanor. The servants, feeling as if they had been hit over the head, dispersed like zombies.

 

* * *

In the imperial palace, where the emperor was absent, a meeting was held. High-ranking officials, influential priestesses, and Clyde were all present. The urgent topic of discussion was, ‘What exactly are Theresa’s abilities?’

 

Despite their best efforts to keep it contained, the massive changes occurring at Clyde’s estate had leaked out. The sudden appearance of strange and beautiful plants, along with stories of mythical creatures that spread like folklore, quickly engulfed the entire capital.

 

Frea, one of the most prominent figures in the room, asked with a stern face, “I’ve heard that the outsider is using a peculiar power. She’s created flora and fauna that didn’t exist on the planet Signio.”

 

Clyde was well aware of Frea’s particular dislike for the outsider, especially her heightened vigilance toward the outsider whom the emperor had ordered to be captured. So, he had deliberately invoked his position as the emperor’s knight to protect Theresa at his estate.

 

Given the current situation, Frea’s wariness of the outsider had increased, and she might try to have Theresa confined in the imperial dungeons by any means necessary. But Clyde had no intention of allowing that.

 

Clyde confidently addressed the room. “Yes, that’s correct. I’ve been observing the outsider, Theresa, and studying the abilities she uses. I’m convinced that her powers could greatly benefit our planet.”

 

In truth, he wasn’t entirely certain. Reviving the planet was undoubtedly a good thing. The problem was that she was altering the ecosystem itself. To be more precise, she was transforming the planet into an environment that was extremely favorable to herself. Though it seems she’s doing it unconsciously.

 

Clyde wasn’t sure how this would play out in the future, but he allowed it to continue. In fact, he even encouraged Theresa to spread more magical plants as quickly as possible. That’s why he had rigorously trained her to use holy power freely.

 

They had spent two months together, teaching each other—she taught him magic, and he taught her holy power. Watching Theresa up close, he found her to be a unique and extraordinary person.

 

When Theresa noticed that magic was absorbed by holy power, she hypothesized that the two forces might share the same essence and immediately dove into research. Within just a week, she discovered that the two forces indeed had the same origin.

 

“Magic can exert similar abilities without draining the planet’s energy. The downside is that it requires learning specific techniques, unlike holy power, which is driven by mental strength.”

 

Clyde then drew a spell with magic and conjured flames. Seeing the unique method of using magic, everyone present couldn’t help but be impressed.

 

Noting that everyone except Frea seemed favorable to magic, Clyde delivered his final point. “Learning something new can be a bit troublesome, but if we can use magic, we won’t need to search for new planets to relocate to anymore.”

 

“Ooh…!”

 

The room was filled with murmurs of admiration and excitement, but Frea remained skeptical.

 

“Is there any guarantee that this power won’t cause harm?”

 

“What harm could there be in a power that turns barren land into soil where trees and plants can grow?” Clyde’s tone was polite, but his sarcasm was evident.

 

Before Frea could retort with a furrowed brow, Clyde played his strongest card, which he had saved for the critical moment.

 

“I’ve even confirmed that the monsters cannot approach the magical plants Theresa has grown.”

 

“Is that true?!”

 

“It seems there was a good reason for the emperor to issue a warrant for this outsider.”

 

“If this is all true, then we won’t need to find a new planet to relocate to!”

 

The imperial elders, without exception, burst into joyful exclamations.

 

Since Ozworld ascended the throne, they had moved to new planets seven times, struggling to adapt to each new environment. Relocating to a new planet was an immense burden, both physically and mentally. Even with cities being replicated, the environment could never be the same, leading to many deaths from the inability to adapt. The rapid decline in the population on the planets where the emperor resided inevitably weakened the nation, making frequent relocations highly undesirable.

 

The elders now saw Theresa as a savior who had appeared on the planet Signio.

 

“We’d like to formally ask this outsider for help. Could we arrange a meeting?”

 

Clyde, fully aware of how desperate they were, spoke carefully. “Now that the war is over, so His Majesty will be returning soon. It wouldn’t be too late to report to him and discuss it properly.”

 

“Reviving the planet is far more urgent. I’ll take responsibility for this matter, so I hope we can proceed with the formal discussions as soon as possible.”

 

Under pressure from the elders, Clyde reluctantly nodded.

 

“Understood. I’ll get an answer from her by today and let you know.”

 

Only then did the room fill with relieved smiles.

 

The elders repeatedly praised Clyde, saying that many good things had happened to the empire since he became one of the 13 knights. Their attitude was a far cry from when they had vehemently opposed breaking the tradition of 12 knights.

 

“I’ll be going now.” Clyde gave a slight nod to Frea, who was watching him with a complex expression and left the meeting room.

 

Haa. The meeting had been worth all the effort he had put in.

 

Before heading home, Clyde stopped by a busy street lined with luxury shops. Jingle! Entering a small jewelry store run by a single craftsman, he knocked to get the owner’s attention.

 

The jeweler, who had been hammering something in the workshop, took off his goggles and came to the counter.

 

“You’re here.”

 

Recognizing Clyde, the jeweler retrieved a box from a drawer.

 

“I finished it this morning.”

 

Clyde accepted the box and opened it. Inside was a woman’s wedding ring, custom-made to match the man’s ring he had received from Theresa.

 

Even though Clyde was known as the most handsome of the 13 knights, the normally indifferent jeweler couldn’t help but ask, “Are you planning to propose?”

 

Clyde closed the ring box and answered, “No.”

 

Although he had secretly measured Theresa’s ring size while she was asleep and had the wedding ring made, he had no intention of giving it to her. There was no reason to share the rings. So, he planned to keep it for himself.

 

Clyde slipped the woman’s ring onto his left pinky finger. Though it didn’t fit properly, the sight of the matching rings pleased him, and he couldn’t help but laugh at himself.

 

“This really…”

 

Clyde had no choice but to admit his one-sided love.