The Villainess Intends to Have It All - Chapter 20
Meanwhile, Peiron was embarrassed that he could only stand far away and look at Erina without being able to approach her in the banquet hall.
She had always been a woman who only looked at him within the boundaries of Iolus.
When conversation was needed, he didn’t have to raise his voice – just giving her a glance while she lingered nearby was enough to start any necessary talk.
That person, that familiar woman, that wife he took for granted, really changed in an instant.
Peiron’s gaze on her feet disappeared, and the everyday actions he had taken for granted changed.
He wanted to run up to her right away, ask why, and demand answers, but Peiron could do nothing.
Erina’s face, clutching her chest with a flushed expression as she watched Count Kerenic’s back, was clearly the face of someone in love to anyone who saw it.
Just like Rose looking at Peiron.
“Count Kerenic, it feels like it’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”
Erina could tell from Enzo’s tone that he was close with Sandes.
“Yes, Your Majesty. I’ve been quite busy lately.”
Sandes’ expression also looked relaxed as he conversed face-to-face.
“What could have kept you so busy?”
Though his tone was reproachful, Enzo’s expression remained warm.
Sandes smiled back at Enzo and gave a nod to a servant standing in a corner.
The servant carefully approached, carrying an ornate box decorated with luxurious velvet.
Enzo and the nobles’ curious gazes turned to the box the servant brought.
“Hmm? What could you need that you’d bring a bribe to the Founding Day celebration?”
Sandes took the box from the servant and stepped closer to Enzo, holding it out.
The box, adorned with a golden brooch of a swan engraved on deep purple velvet, was clearly very high-quality at a glance.
“Your Majesty, a mana stone mine has been discovered.”
Enzo leapt up from his seat in surprise at Sandes’ calm words.
Just as Enzo’s face showed a mix of shock and joy, the nobles were busy exclaiming in astonishment.
Paying no mind to the commotion around him, Sandes very carefully opened the box and held it out closer to Enzo.
“By the will of the mine’s owner, we present the first mana stone to Your Majesty.”
Inside the box, a beautifully crafted mana stone the size of a child’s fist sparkled in the light of the chandeliers.
Golden letters engraved beautifully within the pale purple mana stone caught the eye.
Enzo, unable to hide his excitement, hurriedly stepped down from the dais and approached Sandes.
Sandes smiled at Enzo’s reaction and extended his arm further so he could see better.
“This is…”
“As soon as mining began, we quickly sent official letters to the Kamkarash Temple and Meltias Tower to conduct an investigation. The exact size of the mine is still being determined, but the priests and scholars have certified it as a top-grade mana stone.”
Since ancient times, when a mana stone mine was discovered, there was a process of investigation and certification by the temples where priests resided and towers where scholars dwelled.
This was one of the customs established to prevent mine owners from making unreasonable claims or committing fraud.
As a result, research on mana stones has been entrusted to temples and towers for generations.
In the original story, just before the ending, the process of engraving the mine owner’s name was also revealed during research at the temple and tower.
“How large is the currently confirmed size?”
“Your Majesty, do you remember the rocky mountain at the northern edge where the Iolus County and Kerenic Duchy territories meet?”
“Don’t tell me the entire mountain is the mine?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Remembering the map of the Asilium Empire, nobles who recalled the rocky mountain forgot about the official proceedings and exclaimed loudly in surprise at Enzo’s expression of joy.
“Oh my!”
But no one rebuked them.
The Asilium Empire, located in the center of the Pechenia continent, was undoubtedly the place with the strongest power and authority on the continent.
The Asilium Empire was shaped like a smooth hexagon, with the capital where the imperial palace is located at the very center.
The Iolus County was located not far east of the capital, and the Kerenic Duchy was positioned a bit further out.
The rocky mountain where the mana stone mine was discovered was situated north of Iolus County, bordering the Kerenic Duchy as well.
The rocky mountain, considered useless until now, bordered both territories but belonged to neither.
The rocky mountain, about the size of an average barony, had been the most unnecessary place in the Asilium Empire, with talk of removing it having circulated for the past few years.
That rocky mountain turned out to be a mana stone mine.
It was the discovery of a mine boasting the most overwhelming size among mana stone mines recorded since ancient times.
Enzo carefully lifted the mana stone, unable to hide his joy, his face beaming with a bright smile.
The last time a mana stone mine was discovered was already hundreds of years ago.
Even if all the remaining mana stones held by the imperial palace were combined, they wouldn’t match this size.
As if enchanted by the ethereally glowing mana stone, Enzo couldn’t take his eyes off the “first mana stone” he held in his hand.
The nobles staring at the mana stone were no different.
Nobles who had been observing the greetings of high-ranking aristocrats from afar unconsciously took small steps closer, wanting to see better.
“Your Majesty, may the owner of the mana stone mine greet you here?”
“Oh? Is the owner of this fortune perhaps a noble?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Once again, the hall buzzed with excitement.
The banquet held on Founding Day was an event where all those bearing noble titles in the Asilium Empire gathered.
In other words, the owner of the mana stone mine was present in this banquet hall right now.
“One hypothesis has been verified through this newly discovered mana stone. The name of the mine’s owner is engraved on the first mana stone found in a top-grade mana stone mine.”
At Sandes’ words, Enzo’s gaze turned to the golden letters glowing inside the mana stone.
Enzo carefully read the beautifully engraved, mystical cursive script.
“Erina… Medelia?”
There was a flurry of murmuring everywhere.
Though the members of the Medelia Viscounty family didn’t know, everyone’s gaze turned to the Medelia Viscounty people not far from the entrance of the banquet hall since their family name had been mentioned.
The gazes of all watching the Medelia Viscounty people, who looked bewildered and startled, were strange.
Amidst the small commotion, the sound of someone walking with clicking steps was heard.
Many people turned their gaze from the Medelia family to look at the person stepping forward.
Numerous people drew in shocked breaths.
Erina savored the electrifying gazes as she walked forward and bowed her head to Enzo in greeting.
“Your Majesty, Erina Medelia greets you.”
“The wife of Count Iolus?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. That is who I am currently.”
Enzo glanced at Sandes once before facing the woman standing alone calmly in the noisy banquet hall.
Vivid purple long straight hair and two gleaming eyes reminiscent of the mysterious golden letters engraved in the mana stone.
Though she was the wife of Peiron, whom he cherished, she was a figure that remained only faintly in his memory.
Most young people these days tended to marry for love rather than political reasons.
Enzo was the same.
His wife, the Empress, was the daughter of a viscount family, but they had married after falling passionately in love.
Since imperial authority was already strong enough to be beyond control, Enzo didn’t need to consider family influence when marrying.
So when Peiron proceeded with a political marriage, he had spoken to him several times, telling him to think it over more carefully.
As the imperial family mediating marriages and divorces between nobles, they had seen countless couples meet and part.
Statistically, most divorces were from politically arranged marriages, so Enzo had advised Peiron to reconsider, explaining this to him.
He thought Peiron and Erina were living well quietly since Peiron hadn’t changed his mind, but seeing Erina’s eyes sparkling now, it seemed there was something going on.
Erina’s appearance at the Founding Day banquet, considered the most important in the empire, was very different from other noble ladies.
As it was an event commemorating the empire’s founding day, it would be no exaggeration to say it was an occasion for many women to show off bright and luxurious new dresses, with everyone looking splendid.
Like a crow sitting alone among pure white swans, the color of Erina’s dress was dark and subdued.
Enzo’s gaze turned to Peiron, standing to one side and staring blankly.
Seeing him wide-eyed with shock and unable to speak, it seemed Peiron had no idea at all that his wife had obtained a mana stone mine.
“Your Majesty.”
Erina opened her mouth, looking at Enzo.
“May I explain how I came to acquire the mana stone mine?”
Enzo noticed that Erina, with her eyes twinkling and a bright smile, was intending something.
Seeing Sandes quietly stepping back and calmly watching Erina, it seemed the two had planned something.
When Enzo stared pointedly at Sandes, he just nodded with his usual friendly smile.
“Speak.”
With Enzo’s permission, Erina slowly turned her head to look at Peiron and said:
“The day I obtained the mana stone was truly a day when I was very mentally and physically exhausted. So to soothe my heart, I left the mansion abruptly and went to a quiet place.”
Erina continued speaking calmly and gently, as if telling a fairy tale to a child.
People who found it odd that Erina’s gaze was directed at Peiron instead of the Emperor followed her gaze.
“…Why were you so mentally and physically exhausted?”
Enzo was quick to grasp the situation and read between the lines.
Just by the distance between the two people who should have been partners and the way they looked at each other, he could tell something was amiss.
With all eyes on her now, Erina looked like she wanted to reveal something.
As if Enzo’s question was correct, Erina slightly bowed her head to Enzo in greeting and answered.
“My husband… Count Iolus returned to the mansion with his mistress.”
“Erina!”
“Oh my goodness!”
“Oh!”
Following Erina’s trembling voice, Peiron’s urgent call of her name and the voices of shocked people echoed through the banquet hall.
Many noble ladies were busy whispering behind their fans, while the nobles around Peiron stepped back with deeply furrowed brows.
Erina’s expression crumbled as Peiron looked like he might rush forward at any moment.
But contrary to her mournfully contorted face, her brightly shining eyes looked far too joyful.
Translation complete. 100% of original text translated.
Top Celebrity Younger Brother Bears Her Child (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: Forced to live stream romance with a top celebrity in a female-dominant world.
Yan Jin transmigrated into a brothel, with a fellow transmigrated junior beside her.
Hearing the obscene words coming from outside, the unfortunate junior covered his ears tightly, his cheeks flushed red, and whispered to comfort her, “Don’t worry, I will definitely help you escape.”
“Don’t worry, I will definitely defend your chastity.” Yan Jin looked at the flawless and delicate features of the unfortunate junior and gently comforted, “Because we have transmigrated into a female-dominant world.”
※※※
Top celebrity Yu Shu suddenly fell into a coma during a concert.
Research scientist Yan Jin fainted in the lab after working overtime.
Two people with no connection were rushed to the same hospital.
Three days later, neither of them had woken up.
Suddenly, the entire nation discovered that a live streaming app had been forcibly installed on their phones.
Upon opening it, they heard the two discussing how to escape from the brothel.
The entire internet was in an uproar.
After the two successfully escaped from the brothel, Yu Shu’s fan group rushed to make a banner and sent it to the hospital overnight.
“Big sister bravely took action to defend the chastity of our idol!”
※※※
When Yu Shu was diagnosed with pregnancy, Yan Jin stared at his belly for a long time.
Covering his stomach, he muttered gloomily, “If you don’t like it, I’ll go get an abortion.”
“It’s not that I don’t like it.” Yan Jin hugged Yu Shu and said softly, “I just feel like I’m not human.”
Yu Shu comforted Yan Jin, “I was already an adult when we got together.”
Yan Jin hesitated, “But you won’t be of legal marriageable age even after giving birth to the child.”
At the same time, a flood of bullet comments appeared in the live streaming room that the two couldn’t see.
[Although it’s inappropriate, I also want a young and handsome boyfriend to have my child.]
①Male pregnancy (highlighted)
The female lead is five years older than the male lead, and the male lead is already an adult when he appears.
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