The Villainess Intends to Have It All - Chapter 39

A public notice bearing the emperor’s seal was posted in the Asilium Empire, which was bustling with a week-long national founding festival.

[Appearance of a mana stone mine, owner: Erina Bril Medelia.]

The notice was posted in every corner of the empire’s countryside, and the news of the mine spread instantly.

Those who saw the notice all cheered.

Some cheered at the fact that new jobs would be created, while others cheered in anticipation of the magical power contained in artifacts.

While people looked forward to the new market that would open, curiosity about the mine’s owner grew even more.

Erina, whom everyone was curious about, was spending a more peaceful day than ever, having tea time with Revil in the garden at Heila’s suggestion.

“Erina, they say notices have been posted all over the empire.”

Heila’s voice, which conveyed the news to Erina, was strangely high-pitched, as if she was excited.

Erina couldn’t help but smile at Heila’s appearance, who seemed happy as if it were her own news.

Worried about Erina, whose mood had been down since returning from the imperial palace yesterday, Heila had been taking care of her without rest.

She moved busily as if she didn’t want to give her time to be depressed.

“Con, congratulations!”

Revil, who was munching on a scone, congratulated Erina with a solemn look.

As if he had been waiting for the right timing to speak, the end of the scone he was holding was crumbled.

Erina really couldn’t help but laugh.

The clear sky, the cool breeze, Heila’s kind consideration, and Revil’s cute congratulations all made Erina happy.

“Oh, His Majesty the Emperor is holding another banquet on the last day of the founding festival.”

Heila, sitting in the middle, told Erina while wiping off the scone crumbs around Revil’s mouth.

“A banquet?”

“They say it’s a banquet to celebrate the appearance of the mana stone mine and Erina, but it’s probably to warn neighboring countries.”

When Erina tilted her head in confusion at the word “warning,” Heila answered with a smile.

“The mana stone mine belongs to the Asilium Empire, the owner of the mine is a noble of the empire, so don’t even think about trying anything.”

“Is that necessary?”

“Ahaha, what do you mean necessary? Erina, you don’t seem to know exactly what kind of attention you’re receiving and what position you’re in.”

“Ah.”

Erina, who suddenly realized, let out an exclamation and shut her mouth tightly.

It was because she remembered the original work.

In the original work, when Rose got the mana stone mine and told Peiron about it, and it was announced to the empire like now, various incidents occurred, big and small.

There were requests for naturalization from neighboring countries, and even kidnapping incidents where lives were threatened.

Of course, Rose was always with Peiron, one of the empire’s best knights, with the emperor’s permission, so she got through it without any major incidents.

Heila patted Erina’s hand, who had stiffened up completely.

“Don’t worry, Erina. We have those reliable imperial knights over there and the dependable Marquis.”

Heila’s gaze met with Barun and Silphiane, who were standing on one side of the garden.

The three of them passed it off by smiling at Erina, but in fact, there had already been one threat.

As soon as the notice went out at dawn, an assassin had infiltrated for a kidnapping.

Fortunately, when Erina was staying at the mansion, Barun sensed a suspicious presence from beyond the wall and quickly dealt with it, allowing it to pass quietly.

Looking at the unconscious assassin, Barun and Sandes realized they had been careless with the escort.

They thought Erina wouldn’t be harmed because the mana stone mine loses its power and becomes a lump of stone if the owner dies.

But the kingdoms that were eager to bring down the empire didn’t seem to have any intention of hiding their greed.

They wanted to capture Erina and obtain the mana stone mine to bring the empire to its knees, even if it meant imprisoning her.

The assassin confessed that he had attempted with the mindset that Erina only needed to be alive, no matter what happened during the kidnapping process.

Remembering that incident, Heila’s expression darkened for a moment, causing both Erina and Revil to become worried.

Heila forced a smile for both of them.

Sandes had gone to the imperial palace early to report the facts and increase the manpower to escort Erina, while the angry Enzo prepared for the banquet.

It was to invite envoys from all the surrounding kingdoms and clearly show that Erina was under the protection of the empire.

“So why don’t we properly prepare for the banquet?”

Erina smiled like a painting, following Heila’s playful smile, knowing the worries hidden behind her appearance.

“Sounds good.”

Erina agreed to visit the dress shop with Heila tomorrow due to her schedule with Sandes, ending the conversation.

In the original work, after announcing the mana stone mine, Rose also experienced various threats for a while.

However, they all failed and ended up only raising the status of the empire.

Erina had no choice but to trust Sandes, who had as much strength as Peiron, and Enzo, who held overwhelming imperial power behind his youthful face.

Still, thinking she should prepare, Erina fell into thought.

[This is the timeline separator]

After spending an enjoyable lunchtime with Heila and Revil, Erina headed to the mana stone mine at Sandes’s request.

In the bumpy carriage, Erina found it difficult to look into the eyes of the person sitting across from her, who was giving her sweet glances.

It was because of the embarrassment that washed over her, having returned half-conscious after crying her eyes out in his arms last night.

“Um, Marquis.”

“Erina.”

“Yes?”

Erina, who had called out to Sandes, was surprised to hear her own name called back and asked again.

When she looked at his face, his sweetly smiling expression suddenly hardened.

As Erina became flustered, Sandes asked with a serious face.

“Why aren’t you calling me by my name today?”

Erina’s face turned red as she flinched and avoided his gaze.

It was because she remembered the time when she kept calling Sandes’s name with a crumpled voice while crying in his arms.

But now, it was quite embarrassing to look into his eyes and call his name in her right mind.

However, he seemed very uncomfortable with the return of the title he had waited for so long.

“Erina, please call me.”

Sandes said as he carefully brushed back Erina’s fallen side hair.

“Like yesterday.”

His whispering voice flowed like thick honey, wetting her ears.

Her ears turned bright red where his fingertips had brushed.

“San, des.”

Sandes couldn’t help but smile at her saying his name, not knowing what to do with embarrassment.

How could she be so lovable?

Even though he had realized he had fallen for her, he felt his heart deepening even more every time he saw her.

He couldn’t express in words how lovely it was that she avoided his gaze but not his touch.

“Yes, Erina.”

As soon as Sandes’s answer ended, the carriage that had been running for a long time stopped.

As Erina opened her mouth in the suddenly quiet surroundings, the coachman’s voice was heard.

“We have arrived.”

Sandes, who had been quietly looking at Erina, smiled and opened the carriage door and got out.

Then, reaching his hand inside, he said to Erina sitting in the carriage.

“We have plenty of time, shall we talk while moving?”

Erina nodded at his words and grabbed his hand to get out of the carriage.

As soon as she got out of the carriage, she let out an exclamation at the scenery before her.

The place where Erina got off was the entrance to the village where she had gotten off the Eols carriage when she first came here.

The village, which had only a few houses when she visited, and the rough stone mountain next to the village had changed a lot in that short time.

Dozens of buildings were under construction in the village, expanding the empty field, and sturdy walls were being built like in other villages.

Around the stone mountain next to the village, there was a black and sharp iron fence, making it clear at a glance that it was an important place.

She knew that this village and its surroundings would become a bustling area, but she never imagined it would change so quickly.

“Oh my…”

“It’s quite chaotic as construction is being carried out all at once. This way.”

Sandes gently led Erina with a not-so-strong force.

A walkable path had already been laid out to the side of the village.

Sandes smiled and guided Erina, who was still busy looking around in amazement.

“Soon, there will be a place for carriages to stop, like in any city. The road leading to the mana stone mine will also be improved.”

Walking along the path that wasn’t burdensome even for Erina wearing low heels, Sandes continued his explanation.

“Fortunately, His Majesty has allowed the use of artifacts for improving the village, so the construction seems to progress even faster than now.”

“Even faster than now?”

Erina was surprised.

It had been just over two weeks since she learned about the village and construction began.

She thought it was already fast enough, but she couldn’t grasp how much faster it would be from here.

Sandes laughed out loud at Erina’s surprised look with her eyes wide open.

The entrance of the tall and fierce iron fence that was visible from afar was now in sight.

“The security of the mana stone mine will be carried out more thoroughly. The dirty wolf pack has already started drooling.”

With a fierce expression contrary to his gentle tone, Sandes scanned around the iron fence.

Then someone approached the two of them.