I Became A Squirrel Seeking For The Villain Chapter 133

After a short engagement ceremony that was more like a family dinner, we went out on a date, holding hands, under the pretense of choosing rings.

 

There were no more enemies to worry about.

 

No more watchful eyes to deceive.

 

No emergency potions to carry just in case.

 

It was our first date, a pure one, without any worries about what might happen.

 

On the way out to choose the ring, we shared a long kiss in the carriage.

 

As always, Yohan pressed me to the point of dizziness, clinging to me persistently.

 

Every place our skin touched grew hot; my toes curled.

 

“S-Stop… I can’t take it anymore.”

 

“Yurika… it’s strange…”

 

Yohan whispered in a husky voice.

 

“There’s no magic left to calm anymore, and yet I like it so much it’s driving me crazy. It’s still intoxicating. I still want you just as desperately.”

 

Looking at his hazy eyes, it seemed like nothing had changed from before.

 

He sighed faintly and muttered.

 

“I honestly don’t know what’s changed. If someone like Theodore showed up again, I think I’d get just as angry as before.”

 

“Really?”

 

“I doubt the level of anger would be any different. It’s just that now my magic can’t go around smashing things.”

 

“That’s a relief.”

 

In fact, Yohan’s attitude had not changed at all.

 

I should say that there is no difference compared to when I calmed him down.

 

“Anyway, something has definitely changed.”

 

I answered, clasping his hand.

 

“The difference is that we don’t have to doubt each other’s feelings.”

 

“Smart, Yurika. As always.”

 

Yohan looked into my eyes and smiled like a boy trapped in a tower meeting a squirrel for the first time.

 

Just as our first peaceful date was only beginning, so too were the many days ahead of us—different, yet the same.

 

“But Yohan…”

 

I looked up at Yohan and said.

 

“Why did you say you wanted to meet Prince Theodore?”

 

Earlier, when my father asked if we had any wishes regarding their punishment, I had requested to meet Rivena in person.

 

And Yohan had immediately added, “I’d like to see Prince Theodore once as well.”

 

“To provoke him.”

 

Yohan made an oddly chilling face while saying something incredibly childish.

 

“Just like he did to me.”

 

“…You were really that provoked, huh.”

 

“Yeah.”

 

He clicked his tongue irritably.

 

“I’m finally confident enough to confront him alone now that I’m not a wizard. If we had met as a wizard, I would have gone berserk and killed him the moment I saw his face.”

 

Those were words filled with sincerity.

 

“Even now, just thinking about how he kidnapped you makes me furious.”

 

It seemed that Yohan’s jealousy had nothing to do with his wizarding instincts.

 

‘It might simply be his personality…’

 

“And you?” Yohan asked, gazing into my eyes.

 

“What are you going to do when you meet Rivena?”

 

“Oh, me?”

 

I smiled faintly.

 

“I’m going to teach her something.”

* * *

 

After my father entered the palace and took care of all the various matters.

 

Theodore was sentenced to life imprisonment, and Rivena was sentenced to death.

 

The temple was completely dismantled and closed.

 

The research that the temple had monopolized was transferred to the Medical Academy.

 

Naturally, Runart was appointed to oversee it all.

 

This is because, despite being a doctor, he was an unparalleled genius who had a precedent of saving people by analyzing the medicine of the temple.

 

“It’s like a dream that this opportunity has come.”

 

Runart thanked me deeply once again.

 

“It’s all thanks to you, Lady.”

 

I was simply glad I could be good to the person who had saved my mother.

 

Fortunately, the young Head Priest survived. However, I heard that at such a young age he had suddenly matured—and become a staunch atheist.

 

“As I researched, I realized it wasn’t that different from medicine.”

 

Runart said, pushing up his glasses.

 

“It was simply confined to an institutional domain. I’ll continue researching it at the Academy for the benefit of more people.”

 

Since the Academy wasn’t as closed-off as the temple, the same knowledge could now serve the public good.

 

It was a good outcome.

 

“Oh, and.”

 

Father cleared his throat.

 

“Marquise Lella has decided to leave the capital.”

 

“Yes?”

 

If it’s the Marquis of Lella, then it’s the girl who had eagerly gossiped about me behind my back.

 

“So that’s her? That sly fake orphan? She sure dressed extravagantly.”

 

“Yeah. She came here pretending to be a real Lady of Medes, didn’t she? I don’t understand why she is trying to act like the real thing when everyone knows you’re a fake.”

 

I had made good use of their gossip at my first banquet—but that didn’t mean their words hadn’t hurt.

 

Back then, I didn’t even know I was truly a blood daughter. I had endured it while thinking, Once this is all over, I’ll leave the Medes family of my own accord!

 

“And she’s still pretending to be the real thing. But aren’t the Medests too naïve? If you pamper a fake long enough, does she become real?”

 

“I heard from a dismissed servant that she’s acting completely like a real lady. Honestly, after stirring up that whole ‘fake lady’ scandal once already, the nerve… And now she’s even claiming she’s the real one?”

 

They had continued belittling me all the way to the final temple event.

 

Apparently, Father had heard those remarks as well.

 

“That much, I can handle easily.”

 

After defeating Rivena, dealing with some marquis’s daughter was nothing.

 

But my father only chuckled and patted my shoulder.

 

“You’ve worked hard handling heavy matters on your own. Don’t concern yourself with even small things anymore—just be happy with that rascal. Ah, well. Not too happy.”

 

It sounded like a bit of sincerity slipped in there, but regardless, it was a very adult response.

 

“Then I’ll just take care of the rest.”

 

I shrugged, remembering the young ladies gathered around Marquis Lella, whose faces I couldn’t even remember.

 

Even if I didn’t remember, I was sure that if I asked my close guild members, they would list out all the weaknesses.

 

“I suppose it’s about time I make some friends in high society.”

 

“Good.”

 

Father smiled proudly and stroked my hair.

 

“It’s very late, but please enjoy everything you deserve as a Lady of Medes.”

 

“Yes. Though I’ve already enjoyed quite a lot thanks to my sister.”

 

“Anyway, when are you planning to go to Rivena?”

 

“This evening.”

 

I answered with a grin.

 

“Yohan already went to see Prince Theodore. He must have been really looking forward to it.”

 

* * *

 

As Yurika said, Yohan entered the palace as soon as he was granted the right to visit Theodore.

 

A trial was held and it was revealed that Theodore had conspired with the Temple to harm Roymond.

 

So, he was sentenced to life imprisonment, the highest penalty for a member of the royal family.

 

Many who heard the result cried out that he should be sentenced to death.

 

But Yohan surprisingly expressed the opinion that life imprisonment would be a good option.

 

Instead, he set one condition, and the meeting ended with everyone thinking Yohan was remarkably merciful.

 

“How splendid.”

 

Yohan looked down at Theodore inside the prison cell.

 

Theodore was trapped in a fairly large space, gasping for breath in a corner.

 

Yohan smiled brightly at the sight.

 

“My dear stepmother and half-brother, who tried to harm me, are also in the underground prison of Duke Hyrad’s castle, but the conditions are much worse than this.”

 

It was a chilling expression, entirely different from the one he wore when looking at Yurika and her family.

 

“And yet, after attempting to harm the Crown Prince, you receive treatment like this. Being royalty certainly has its advantages.”

 

“…If you came here to be sarcastic, then get out.”

 

Theodore glared at Yohan, clutching his chest.

 

“Did you know?”

 

Yohan lowered his voice and whispered with a smile.

 

“I was the one who insisted that instead of executing you, you should be denied calming potions.”

 

Theodore’s eyes widened for a moment.

 

“I prefer to repay exactly what I receive,”

 

Yohan said with a cold face.

 

“They all treated me as if I were merciful, saying it was already generous enough. After all, there are no high-ranking wizards left in the capital.”

 

“How dare you!”

 

Theodore tried to stand, but whether from pain or weakness, he collapsed back down. Yohan watched him calmly and continued.

 

“But you understand, don’t you? Without calming potions, a wizard’s suffering only worsens. As time passes, the pain will grow like a snowball. You’ll be tormented until you’re begging to be killed.”

 

“Y-You cruel—!”

 

“When you provoked me using Yurika, I was in even greater pain.”

 

Yohan said with a satisfied look in his eyes.

 

“I’m now completely free from that pain, and I’ll start a family with Yurika. You… live forever in that pain.”

 

* * *