The Villain is Being Suspiciously Kind - Chapter 70

Chapter 70

During the time Citrina lent Gemma to Desian, Gemma was undergoing extreme training as Citrina’s contractor.
The story of the knights who punished the magic tower spread all around. As a result, the value of elementism increased.
In this situation, Elaina was on edge.

“Elaina -nim.”

Elaina met Genfiros’ gaze with wavering pupils. Genfiros’ wrinkled hands smoothed his stiff collar.
Confusion among humans was always interesting, and this was the sort he loved the most.

“Soon, Citrina-nim will be knighted. She made a great contribution to the destruction of the tower.”

Those stupid warlocks.
Genfiros clicked his tongue as he thought about the ruined tower. Oh dear, you don’t have to spread the jam on the bread once it’s done. [T.L. Note: This sentence confused me so much. My best guess is that Genfiros means the job wasn’t finished. If any readers understand this Korean phrase, please comment on the chapter. Thank you!]
But it was half successful. Genfiros loved fear and chaos. Perhaps the wonderful prey before him was feeling confused.

“Elaina-nim, you’ve been defeated.”
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Me?
Me, defeated?
Elaina looked at Genfiros with a mixture of puzzlement and doubt.

“Will Baron Foluin still love you?” [T.L. Note: Low blow, Genfiros.]
“Love? I don’t need that.”
“…I’ve heard there may be a succession ceremony in the near future…so Baron Foluin will be there, won’t he?”
“I believe so.”
“Unfortunately, there isn’t much for you to do until then, Elaina-nim. That is as long as Duke Pietro holds out.”
“Duke Pietro.”
“The only thing we can do is kill Citrina-nim when Duke Pietro is not looking.”
“Kill…killing?”

She had a look of slight confusion. There was a vague hesitation in her venomous gaze.
Genfiros wasn’t one to miss picking up on that hesitation.

“Alright. You won’t be able to kill her right away, Elaina-nim, not with your power. But there is something you can do.”
“…What is that?”
“Desian Pietro’s weak point is your sister, Citrina Foluin.”
“So?”
“Citrina Foluin’s weak point is you.”

Citrina’s weakness is me?

“You don’t know Citrina. She betrayed me in an extremely calculated way.”

At one time, Citrina would have supported her without hesitation.

“So I suppose you’ll have to put yourself between the two of them. It will be quite interesting to watch the Duke run amok.”

Genfiros had hit the nail on the head. Desian Pietro’s only weakness was Citrina Foluin, and Citrina’s only weakness was Elaina.
Otherwise, Duke Pietro wouldn’t kill Elaina mercilessly.

“So lend me your ear. I’ll tell you how.”

Elaina bit her nails as she listened to him speak.
The act of killing came with a lot of risk.
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***

It had been a few days since Gemma disappeared.

‘Did she really want to go to the duke’s? I don’t feel comfortable.’

Gemma cried that she had to go, so Citrina let her go.
It was strange to have a spirit who had been with her for so long disappear.
She realized that if Gemma didn’t come back in three days, she would have to visit the duke.
She had news that Gemma would be happy to hear.
The news was something delivered to her by a knight in the form of a small scroll.

‘I want to tell her that there will be a ceremony for my knighthood.’

She had only crossed one hurdle so far, but she was happy enough.
She would have to prove her wealth and semi-noble reputation first. There could be no misrepresentation.

“So Citrina is going to become a noblewoman?”
“I suppose so, but it’s not a hereditary title. It’s more like a knighthood…so it won’t be much different from now, Adilac.”
“Still! This is really good. I can’t wait to show it off to my brothers, too.”

Since it wasn’t a heritable title, it was like she was a complete aristocrat, but it would be nice to get a small estate, repair it, and move in.
She would get rid of the rented townhouse, build a castle, and move in with Adilac and Lita. They would have a big party.
And then…

‘When we get settled, then I’ll consider my relationship with Desian.’

She was moving forward one step at a time, like climbing a staircase.
One thing that concerned her though, was Elaina’s behavior, and her attitude was somehow strange.

‘I’ll have to put up some sort of defense.’
Somehow, it felt like she was empty inside.
Citrina smoothed her hands on her neck. Before Gemma came back, Citrina would have to grow up to some extent.

“Ah, I’ll go ask the information guild for some info.”
“The information guild? You mean those nefarious creeps?”

Adilac looked puzzled. Right, the intelligence guild in this world had a bad reputation. They had a reputation for hiring thuggish mercenaries to intimidate people.
However, Citrina know of one information guild that had a good reputation.
Being reincarnated came in handy at times like this.
A question mark appeared over Adilac’s head.
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“We’ll need specific figures to prove our reputation.”
“Well, I suppose so.”
“I don’t need a huge guild, and I’ll need a place that has a reasonable price. Come to think of it…”

Citrina had a sudden thought.
‘Duke Pietro also paid attention to prestige.’

Citrina bit her lip.

‘There’s something I can do to help.’

She would have to gather some rumors about the Pietro family.

‘Let’s find out what sort of infamy the Pietro family has, what kind of situation they are in, and make sure they are taken care of.’

That was how Citrina helped Desian.

‘I know a bit more about Desian, and I don’t believe the rumors, but even so.’

Somehow, Citrina wanted to get to know him better.
Maybe she could find out what rumors were out there and, in some small way, help to spread the good news about him through her contacts. She could also give Desian some advice.
Still, it would be nothing compared to the favors he had bestowed upon her.
Determined, Citrina spoke up.

“I’ll go to the information guild.”
“H, how long will that take you?”
“I don’t think it will take long.”
“Master! May I go and see Count Lorena’s young lord?”
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The small cuff links commissioned by Count Lorena’s young lord were set with jewels that Lita had crafted.
Lita was getting back to his trademark clever remarks.
Citrina stroked Lita’s head and nodded.

“Alright, Lita, let’s do that.”

With that, Citrina grabbed a handful of gold coins and headed out the door. She needed to go to the information guild.