I Became A Squirrel Seeking For The Villain [EN]: Chapter 46

Became a Squirrel to Save the Villain 46

Johan had already learned his lesson about disrespecting the Medest family after ignoring his adjutant’s advice once before.

Therefore, even if the content was terrible, he listened to his adjutant until the end.

“Never assume that the Duke and his daughter are each other’s only support. Don’t let your guard down. You never know what kind of man might try to get in between them.”

But the more he thought about it, the more horrifying it sounded, and Johan looked around the banquet hall with a wary expression.

“Johan.”

Without guessing his thoughts, Yurika whispered cautiously once more.

“As I said, I might not be much help to your reputation at this banquet.”

Yurika had even adorned herself in a way that was so extravagant and luxurious that it was sure to draw everyone’s attention.

Johan smiled deeply and lifted Yurika’s hair, gently kissing it.

“Don’t say that. I’m honored just to be your partner.”

“Ah, ahaha…”

Her bewitching purple eyes were practically dripping with honey, and everyone watching them was convinced of their relationship.

Rumors had been circulating for days, so everyone looked at them with eyes that said, ‘The rumors were true.’

“Still, just watch me with adoring eyes, as if you’re completely smitten.”

“I’m confident in that.”

Johan creased his long eyes and replied kindly.

“And don’t worry too much about my reputation. It’s already a mess anyway. So, you can do whatever you want. Even if you act terribly, people will just say it suits me, right?”

“…That’s a problem in its own way, though.”

Yurika sighed softly and rolled her eyes.

“I think the rumors have already gotten very strange…”

Even before the banquet, bad rumors about Yurika were spreading throughout society.

She was said to be very mean, cunning, and unaware of her place.

It was even said that she was acting ignorant and extravagant while pretending to be a fake daughter thanks to luck.

And by the time Meriel realized this, it was already quite late.

“How dare anyone spread such slander about my sister? I won’t stand for it!”

Even Meriel was fuming with anger.

“I’ll tell them seriously that Yurika isn’t like that!”

Considering Meriel’s personality, it was quite a strong stance for her. Of course, it didn’t have any effect.

“It’s okay, Sister.”

However, Yurika just smiled calmly and sipped her tea.

“Just leave it as it is. I’m fine. Rather…”

She looked like she had figured out the situation.

“…It seems like there’s more room to use it to my advantage.”

In any case, Yurika appeared at the banquet without responding to the malicious rumors.

She even dressed extravagantly to match the words ‘ignorant and extravagant,’ and confidently entered with Johan’s escort.

Yurika smiled and muttered.

“Then I’ll have to live up to those strange rumors.”

As they were talking, a servant standing at the entrance rang a large bell.

“His Royal Highness Crown Prince Roimund Roelai enters!”

The noisy banquet hall became somewhat quiet.

Usually, the more important the person, the later they appeared.

Therefore, the Crown Prince’s entrance meant that only the Emperor was left.

“Lady Meriel Medest enters!”

The door opened, and Crown Prince Roimund and his partner, Meriel, entered.

Roimund, with his fine silver hair and blue eyes, was an undeniably elegant Crown Prince, and Meriel beside him was exceedingly beautiful.

Meriel smiled and waved slightly at Yurika. They had left the house together earlier, but it was still a gesture of greeting.

Not long after, the Emperor and Empress entered, and the splendid banquet held for the first time since the victory finally began.

* * *

Before the official start of the banquet, a tedious procedure followed.

First, there was a ceremony to praise Johan’s achievements as a war hero. It was, in a way, a victory banquet for Johan, so it was only natural.

So, Johan had to go to the front and listen to the very long congratulatory speech read by His Majesty the Emperor.

In other words, I was alone without a partner during that time.

Meriel was also sitting at the head table with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, so I quietly stood on one side of the banquet hall, fanning myself.

A small vial rattled in my bosom [chest].

The very vial that I had received from Renat, which would scatter magic power and allow me to turn into a squirrel.

I planned to use it in case of an emergency.

‘That person is Rivena Sevs…’

Of course, I had already familiarized myself with the target.

The woman named Rivena, next to Prince Theodore, was a very slender beauty.

Only the Emperor and Empress, and the Crown Prince and Meriel were at the head table.

Even though Theodore was a prince, he was illegitimate and could not sit at the head table according to custom.

And Theodore and Rivena were standing quite close to me, whether by coincidence or not.

Watching Theodore smiling kindly, I snorted inwardly.

‘He has such an innocent face, but inside he’s a human being whose insides are glistening with ambition. In the original story, he joined hands with Johan, but betrayed him first.’

If that’s the case, Johan, who just looks cool and sharp, seems more consistent on the inside and out.

‘He’s not involved with Meriel, so I don’t have much information about that man…’

Anyway, Theodore was someone who had nothing to do with me, and the problem was Rivena.

The fact that she, a character who did not appear in the original story, suddenly appeared as such an important figure was suspicious in many ways.

‘If she’s really someone dispatched from the temple because of me, she’ll definitely approach me first.’

I could guess from the rumors, but… I was planning one more step to be sure.

Since all I had to do was seize the right opportunity, I decided to wait for now.

And it was when the Emperor’s long congratulatory speech was tediously continuing.

“I came late and didn’t see her. Is that woman the cunning fake orphan? She’s dressed up so extravagantly?”

“Yeah. She’s dressed up as if she’s the real Lady Medest, right? I don’t know why she’s trying to act like the real thing when everyone knows she’s a fake.”

Voices were clearly whispering behind me, as if they wanted me to hear.

“It’s obvious. Duchess Siena Medest has recovered a lot thanks to the new doctor, right? She became an adopted daughter because of the Duchess’s mental confusion in the first place. She’ll be kicked out as soon as she regains her senses. Isn’t she looking for a new escape route before that happens?”

I was the one who brought in that doctor….

“Well. She’s different from ordinary adopted daughters who were adopted directly by the head of the family in the first place. Lady Meriel is so… easygoing that she easily gave her family name to an obvious fake. How else would she use the name of a vanished lady as it is?”

Apart from the absurdity, I snorted.

I already knew that these kinds of rumors were circulating, but it didn’t feel good to hear them directly.

Even if I’m using Yurika’s name, isn’t the title ‘fake’ too much?

It’s not like I’m pretending to be real right now.

She even dares to pick a fight with me, who protected Meriel, who had only been taken advantage of in society?

‘Anyway, this is good.’

I shone my eyes and snapped the fan I was holding shut.

In fact, I could tell who it was just by the voice. It was Iella’s young lady and her gang.

I already had information that they had reacted sharply to the rumor that I would become Johan’s partner.

‘You guys. You’ll have to be my bait.’

My goal today was to completely figure out whether Rivena was from the temple and prepare for it.

Becoming a prominent figure in society was also one of the strategies.

In that sense, this was a pretty good opportunity.

I think I know what the temple is thinking and what kind of trap they dug… but I’ve already calculated everything up to that point.

‘Originally, it’s polite to ignore it…’

If Rivena was from the temple, I had to give them a similar taste of their own medicine before infiltrating the temple in earnest.

‘They must not know, but I’m going to deal with the temple, not a nobody like you.’

In the process, Iella, who only knows how to put me down, was just a means to be used.

‘The slander behind my back doesn’t even have a significant impact on me, who is risking my life right now.’

I decided to move immediately, raised my hand, and gestured to a servant who was passing by with several glasses of champagne.

“Ahem.”

When I coughed slightly, the servant approached me immediately to hand me the champagne.

It was normal to drink drinks like this at banquets, so my actions were very natural.

I naturally moved to where the servant was and approached Iella’s group, who were slandering me.