A Painting of the Villainess as a Young Lady

“Haha. Just listening here, it seems like something major has happened. Personally, I think the original target might not have been His Highness the Imperial Crown Prince.”

“I agree with that, but I can’t understand. Why single out the Ducal Lady instead of me?”

“Well, she holds an important position in the country too. Maybe they’re planning to use her as a hostage or a bargaining chip.”

“Lady Everett?”

“Because she’s a safer bet than the empire’s sole heir, perhaps. And the other two with her can wield swords, so it might have just been easier to kidnap her, right?”

“……”

Everyone fell silent at the plausible logic.

Indeed, it would be audacious for someone from the empire to orchestrate such an event at an event hosted by the imperial family.

It was already a significant problem domestically, but if it would spread internationally, the situation would become much more severe.

Duke Everett and Margrave Blaise might personally get involved. If that happens, this would truly be beyond control.

“We’ve released the knights for now, so let’s wait and see. The informants are out too.”

“……”

In the end, all they could do was wait.

Cairn, still an injured patient, got scolded with a slap on the back for trying to get up forcefully. Even though it wasn’t on an injured part, everyone was aghast to see a physician striking a patient, and they hurried to stop Roen.

Alesia, recognized for her merits and as a courtesy to the patient, was allowed to rest in the crown prince’s camp.

Meanwhile, as much as the unpleasant news was controlled, the atmosphere couldn’t be completely sealed off.

The barracks were abuzz, the air smelling of blood. The noble ladies lowered their voices at the mention of a possible appearance of a strong monster.

‘A strong monster, huh.’

Aileen, who had been laughing and mingling naturally among them, turned her gaze to the sky outside the tent.

The air was ominous.

* * *

The drug used on Violet wasn’t very potent. It wasn’t long before she woke up.

She assessed her condition. The kidnappers must have underestimated her, not even bothering to tie her up.

Four whispering voices with strong accents.

Violet calmly gripped a hidden second dagger.

The small dagger, more akin to a knife than a self-defense tool, was better than nothing.

“Seems like she’s awake?”

“Did we bring the right one? It’s just a girl.”

“I heard her being called ‘ducal lady’. Must be of high status.”

Violet frowned at their conversation. It was in the common language of the continent, so she had no trouble understanding.

“Why did you kidnap me?”

“Heh, you think we’d tell you that? Just stay quiet and your life will be spared.”

“Everything but my life, you mean?”

The kidnappers snickered in a low tone. Violet showed no particular reaction to their words.

“What? She’s no fun.”

“There must be a specific reason why I’ve been kidnapped, but you cannot handle me any way you want. They wouldn’t want to diminish the value of a hostage.”

“Haha. Is she trying to think this through?”

“Hardly. She’s just stating the obvious situation.”

The kidnappers began to laugh at Violet’s words. As they had boldly orchestrated such a thing in the midst of an event hosted by the imperial family, they all seemed fearless.

There were four in total. It didn’t seem like they were planning to leave immediately.

Would it be the right move to cause a disturbance here?

She didn’t trust her judgment.

But it was better than not acting at all.

Either way, it was going to be the same disaster.

Violet suddenly rose and stabbed the nearest man’s thigh with her dagger. A short scream of ‘Ah, you crazy bitch!’ scattered in the air.

“This bitch is insane!”

Someone shouted harshly. He was holding a club, not a sword, which made his menacing appearance even more threatening.

Violet distanced herself from them.

“What, what is this!”

The man, though having avoided major arteries, was deeply stabbed and cried out in pain, his eyes flashing dangerously.

“Hey, don’t touch the hostage—”

“Shut up. Right now, I want to break at least one of her arms.”

Violet knew well the type of madness in his eyes. As she took a step back, the man advanced.

It was too late for regrets. The deed was already done.

“Don’t come any closer.”

“Ha, you think I won’t come if you say so? Where did all that boldness go, huh?”

The situation was tense.

The kidnappers were grossly underestimating Violet.

She was nothing but a fragile noblewoman. Even if she had a dagger, that was all. She couldn’t have learned proper swordsmanship, so she was no threat.

That judgment was half right and half wrong.

“I told you not to come closer.”

Violet’s dagger, which she had been pointing threateningly at her opponents, now turned to another direction.

Now, she was pointing the weapon at her own throat.

“Ha! You try’na be clever? You think we can’t touch you because of that?”

“That’s what I’m thinking.”

Dismissing her determination as mere stubbornness, the kidnappers laughed and approached her.

At the same time, blood began to trickle from Violet’s neck.

“It’ll be quite interesting if I end up dying here, won’t it?”

“Put that down right now!”

“Hey, high and mighty lady. You won’t die so easily. Let’s go easy, shall we?”

They spoke leisurely, but there was clear tension among the kidnappers.

Violet laughed at them.

“And even a tiny little shock can easily kill a human. Don’t come any closer.”

It was unlikely that the kidnappers would release her just like that. It would only become a pointless stalemate.

Violet knew that. The sensation of the blade touching her throat was prickly. The flowing blood was warm.

She was planning to create a small opportunity to escape. Even buying the slightest amount of time would be good.

If Alesia had immediately reported the situation to Roen, knights should have been dispatched right away.

That’s what she thought.

“Take that knife away right now!”

“Keugh—!”

“Who’s there?!”

Shouts and screams rang out simultaneously. Someone, appearing out of nowhere, had kicked another, leaving him gasping for breath.

Violet saw the man who had barged in.

“How dare…”

There stood Aldin, eyes half crazed.

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