The Villain is Being Suspiciously Kind

In the small garden of the country house, long after the warmth of Citrina had faded.
Countess Badil quietly summoned her attendant, but the beautiful and holy paladin appeared instead.

“What happened?”
“You’re here, Genfiros-nim.”

Badil held up her hand.
Genfiros smiled approvingly.
It was not up to Elaina. The spiritist’s attitude was refined. If she made a name for herself, not only the jewel spirits but other non-human species would rise in this world.

‘So…the arrogant non-humans will come out because of her. It’s all because of her.’

The mana of the sacred world was running out. Therefore, only the pure, chosen humans deserved the beauty and mana of this world.
Genfiros held out his hand with a holy smile.

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“You will be able to get closer to God.”
“I am honored, Genfiros-nim.”

The smile on the countess’s lips was unnatural. Genfiros ran his hand over the wedding band.
It felt like a living, breathing, dirty, non-human.
Genfiros’s face contorted as if he had chewed on something uncomfortable. Despite his frown, he looked as holy as ever.
He was a seeker of light and divinity.
Therefore, Countess Badil would be left in this world as a fresh taxidermy to the divine.

“We will create chaos for the greater good.”
“…Thank you, Genfiros-nim.”

Countess Badil blinked. Unlike when she faced Citrina, his eyes were irrational. Nevertheless, she didn’t seem to recognize it.

“The time has come for us to go.”

Genfiros whispered softly. His voice held a certain rigor.
The countess started walking further and further inside without realizing it.
It was beautiful, this world.
Countess Badil gasped as one would at seeing light for the first time.
She felt a holy energy. Her heart began to beat as if it was was new. But was this really…a good omen? [T.L. Note: Wait, did Genfiros just murder the countess?!]

Citrina was back from Countess Badil’s country house in her own home.

‘I don’t have a good feeling about this.’

The day was uneventful, but Citrina’s premonitions were oddly accurate.
Unable to sleep, she brought out the commissions she had taken along from the atelier.
A request to make a jeweled casket out of rubies, a request to make a woven necklace with lalima, a gemstone found only on the shores of Seore ……;.
Still, most of them had quite a few days left to complete.
It was a good thing that the high-ranking nobles who were religious usually canceled their commissions.
Citrina slowly scanned through the lists of commissions.
A small letter peeked out from between the commission papers.

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‘Was there a letter like this?’

It was a matter of taste, but it was luxurious at a glance. There was no sender, just a recipient.
Citrina cautiously opened the letter.
It was time to question everything.

Citrina, are you doing well? I’m curious because I haven’t heard from you since that day.
How are things going with your guy? I’m talking about the Duke! Hopefully…there will be some good news.
Anyhow…I hope you’re doing well. I’ll see you at the succession ceremony soon.

The letter was short, and Citrina’s suspicions were put to rest.
It was Princess Iana. Citrina’s cheeks flushed as she read the letter.
Princess Iana…was odd.
Though the strangest thing about her was her self-confidence. Citrina’s heart swelled like a balloon at Iana’s words from the beginning to the end.

-She’s so weird!

A small whisper from inside her pendant echoed Citrina’s thoughts.
She was surprised Gemma found out how she felt. She wondered how the connection worked at this level.

-What…what is it?
-No, I’m talking about the country house. Wasn’t there something wrong with it? I looked all around, and there wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, except for a bunch of yellow tulips in the greenhouse, but that’s still weird.
-It seemed…a bit strange. And I think it’s related to something else.

Elaina’s paladins couldn’t stay in the empire forever. Therefore, she had been able to look past the harassment so far.
But something was not right.

-I need to find out what’s going on.
-How?
-I’ll ask my friends. Something’s not right. See you in a bit!
-Gemma, take care of yourself.

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Without asking for Citrina’s permission, the light quickly extinguished from the pendant.
Gemma was always naive. Citrina sighed deeply, hoping she wouldn’t get into trouble.
It was a shame there was nothing she could do with the urgency of the situation.

‘Still, sooner or later, when I receive my own aristocratic title…a lot will change.’

Even if it was a non-hereditary title, the recipient of the title would get a new surname. It wouldn’t be long until she was free of the Foluin name.
She would be able to distance herself from Baron Foluin. That was enough. Now she had a new family that she was close to.
And also…
She had someone to love.
In the very brief respite she was granted, Citrina fell into a short daydream.