I Became A Squirrel Seeking For The Villain Chapter 98

“Ha.”

 

Rivena pressed her forehead in irritation.

 

“To think they couldn’t even take care of that one thing properly.”

 

Not only had they failed to eliminate the Olteva father and son, but they had even entered the Duke of Medes’s estate.

 

She’d placed her hopes on the fact that Trevor Olteva was senile, and assumed Paul Olteva probably didn’t know anything either.

 

“It’s because of Yohan Hyrad.”

 

The subordinate spoke in a sullen voice.

 

“Actually, that wizard is too strong.”

 

There was a reason Rivena couldn’t take out her frustration on her subordinate.

 

After all, Yohan Hyrad himself had gotten involved. Of course, nothing would go as planned.

 

He was a wizard capable of ending a long, drawn-out war in an instant—there was probably nothing he couldn’t do.

 

Plus, with Yurika by his side, who has great calming abilities, who can beat that combination?

 

“Okay…”

 

“Rivena said, biting her nails in the secret laboratory.

 

“I’m definitely not enough on my own.”

 

Until now, there was a huge backing called the temple.

 

But now that even Patre was dead, she no longer had anywhere to rely on.

 

That had nothing to do with her being a brilliant researcher—it was a different problem entirely.

 

‘If the Duke of Medes’s family found out about the Artea barony and even came close to the truth…’

 

“How am I supposed to deal with Yohan Hyrad by myself? I’m too afraid to even go out alone right now.”

 

“Then… I’ll need a wizard to counter a wizard, no matter what.”

 

Rivena sighed deeply, gritting her teeth.

 

Now the only person she could rely on was Theodore.

 

“Besides, his status is higher than that of Yohan.”

 

Even if she didn’t like him, allies were still allies.

 

“If I can make him buy time until the experiment succeeds, that’s all I need. But for that to happen, the ban and detention must first be lifted. I’ll make sure it’s lifted.”

 

Rivena rubbed her eyes, her expression annoyed.

 

‘Theodore…., it felt bad to have to free that damn wizard with my own hands, but I couldn’t help it.’

 

The reason Theodore was imprisoned was because he hid the fact that he was a wizard.

 

And now, he had pinned all the blame on High Priest Patre, claiming that it was Patre who had enticed him to be a test subject for the calming potion experiment.

 

In reality, no one was harmed because of Theodore.

 

In other words, it was said that the ban and detention could be lifted immediately if only the person who made the decision changed his mind.

 

And the person who made that decision was the emperor.

 

“Emperor, huh…”

 

In the end, she would have to approach the highest authority in the empire.

 

Rivena picked up a beaker from the corner of the lab.

 

“I didn’t want to use this… but I’ve been backed into a corner.”

 

After all, if she could just turn back time, she could start everything over again.

 

Keeping that in mind, Rivena decided to take bold action.

 

“I will be the final winner.”

 

She murmured, pushing up her glasses with a chilling smile.

 

“Just like I always have been.”

 

* * *

 

Paul slowly opened his mouth, unable to resist Yohan’s threats, or rather, persuasion.

 

“The Artea Baron family is a vassal family of Medes from long ago. And as you know, the Medes family has the blood of the beastfolk.”

 

Then he looked at me and added with a suspicious look on his face.

 

“Don’t tell me you’re one of those who think that’s just an old legend or myth of origin?”

 

To be honest, that was exactly what I used to think not long ago.

 

But I couldn’t lose the battle of pride here, so I shrugged casually.

 

“Of course not. You saw how respectfully everyone treated the tiger earlier.”

 

“Hmph. So the descendants haven’t forgotten everything, I see.”

 

Paul stroked his beard once, as if satisfied.

 

Then, suddenly, he looked at me with a somewhat displeased expression, hesitating.

 

So Yohan had to step in again.

 

“I’m curious about my lover too. I’d like to hear a full explanation.”

 

“Hmph. From what I’ve seen in my years, lovers tend to break up often.”

 

“Not us.”

 

Yohan held my hand tighter and spoke coldly.

 

“We’re going to get married.”

 

And Paul was so displeased with that fact that he immediately struck out.

 

“Marriage is not something that can be done just by two people’s will. It is a union between families—”

 

“I don’t have parents.”

 

Yohan replied smoothly.

 

“There are no problems on my side, and as for the Medes, all I have to do is keep doing well.”

 

‘Which he was doing. Better than anyone else, really.’

 

Thanks to Yohan, I even found my father… there was no reason for any of my family to object.

 

My father is currently in the form of a tiger and doesn’t know gratitude and is furious, but when he came to his senses, he could never oppose it.

 

“Don’t worry. I will propose to you soon.”

 

At those words, I looked at Yohan in surprise

 

‘He’s going to propose to me soon?’

 

‘We only just started dating…’

 

‘It didn’t sound like a joke either…’

 

And as Paul still looked doubtful, Yohan added casually,

 

“Shall I tell you about my plans for children?”

 

Even my pupils were shaking violently now.

 

‘We’d only just become a couple… and he’s already planning that?’

 

“Yohan? What are you talking about….?”

 

I looked at him, flustered. But Yohan  innocently asked,

 

“You’re not… planning to marry someone else after doing all sorts of things with me, are you?”

 

“Huh?’

 

I had questions about that “all sorts of things” comment, but more importantly, his expression had turned tragically sorrowful.

 

“Oh, no… No, that’s not it…”

 

Since I had no intention of marrying anyone but Yohan, I replied awkwardly,

 

“But things like children… we should agree on that together—”

 

“That’s true. You’re right.”

 

Yohan smiled happily and whispered softly.

 

“Let’s talk about it soon when we get the chance. I have some thoughts, but I’ll follow your decision no matter what.”

 

Now that I think about it, I’m curious about his opinion.

 

Now I was curious about those “thoughts.”

 

I thought he had no plans just like me, but apparently he had firm opinions about children.

 

‘Wait.’

 

I suddenly came to my senses as I imagined a child who looked like Yohan and me.

 

‘Did I just get swept up again?’

Paul, who had been watching us silently, let out a long sigh.

And then he started talking as if he had no choice.

 

“Fine. I’ll tell you.”

 

Paul indeed worships Yohan, but it seems like he doesn’t really want to hear about his plans for children.

 

‘Actually, it looked like some of his admiration had crumbled…’

 

“The Arthea barony devoted themselves to research for the Medes family for a long time… and about a hundred years ago, they made a proposal. As you know, that was a time of great turmoil in the empire.”

 

Having studied at the Medes estate, I nodded earnestly.

 

Yohan, who hadn’t received much education in this area, tilted his head,

prompting Paul to explain with a slightly disappointed look.

 

“After the civil war, the empire moved toward rapid centralization, which strengthened the imperial family’s power and restructured the noble system. Many elder councils of noble houses disappeared during that time. Medes, too, was pressured to dissolve theirs.”

 

The elder council system had helped noble families unite their power, so from the imperial family’s perspective, it was an undesirable tradition.

 

That’s why they abolished it after the civil war.

 

At that time, all noble houses had no choice but to bow to the empire.

 

I’d learned that the imperial authority was overwhelming in those years.

 

“Anyway, according to the journal, at the final council meeting, the Artea family made a proposal to the Medes family.”

 

“A proposal…”

 

Paul sighed as if he really didn’t want to talk, looked at Yohan’s face once, and continued speaking gloomily.

 

“From the Artea family? It was obviously a proposal for an experiment. And the Medes family rejected it—harshly.”

 

‘Well, did our ancestors hate experiments?’

 

That seemed like a bit of a misunderstanding.

 

‘Anyway, isn’t the process of researching and learning about something an essential process for development?’

 

‘Our ancestors must have been a bit rigid…’

 

As I tilted my head, Paul continued speaking.

 

“There weren’t many details, but what the Artea family suggested was clear enough… It was a human experiment.”

 

‘Oh my god.’

 

I, who was once a test subject, opened my mouth wide.

 

‘Our ancestors weren’t rigid—they were righteous.’

 

‘Of course they should have rejected such a horrific proposal!’

 

“According to the contents of the journal, it was a time when all the prominent families had weaknesses that the Imperial Family held over them. It’s said that even the curses attached to each of those noble houses couldn’t be properly passed down to later generations…”

 

Yohan, who had been listening to Paul with a calm expression, frowned slightly at the word “curse.”

 

“They called it a curse, but really, it’s more accurate to say it’s a side effect that comes with power. After all, every power comes with a price.”

 

The more Yohan listened to Paul’s words, the more something seemed to bother him.

 

* * *