The Villain’S Daughter-In-Law Is Inherently Powerful [EN]: Chapter 153

“Ugh!”

The temple carriage was truly awful.

I felt nauseous several times throughout the journey and cursed Lahin every time I got out of the carriage.

‘This isn’t a carriage, it’s a torture device!’

I couldn’t sleep because I could feel the shaking as if it were made of cheap materials. I don’t even remember how many times I bit my tongue because the wheels hit a rock and jolted violently.

‘Ha. I guess I’m lucky that we stopped by villages in between.’

Even that wasn’t for rest, but for volunteer work.

I healed the sick and cared for the wounded with divine power.

I don’t know how far the rumor that the Saintess was treating patients on her way to the Magic Empire had spread, but people flocked to every village we arrived at, making it impossible to avoid delays.

Eventually, I lost my appetite due to impatience as we fell behind schedule by half a day.

And that’s when it happened. The Pope called me.

“Sit down, Florin. It’s been a while. It’s nice to talk face to face like this.”

Speaking informally? I was planning to dig into the Pope, but I didn’t expect the opportunity to come like this.

I stared intently at the Pope before slowly moving and plopping down on a chair, examining my nails. It wasn’t proper etiquette, but that’s why I did it on purpose.

‘What would Lahin do? I have to think about that and act like Lahin in front of the Pope.’

It seems like they’re close enough to speak comfortably… I have to dig something out, right?

“I’ve heard that you’ve become diligent.”

“……”

“Are you very uncomfortable? With the sleeping arrangements and the meals.”

Should I get angry at this point?

After contemplating, I raised my eyebrows.

“Are you making fun of me right now?”

“Ahahaha, sorry. Sorry. Still, I’m happy and grateful that you’re following along so admirably.”

The Pope had a truly unremarkable face. Neat, but that was it.

And I had seen this kind of ‘ordinary’ face before.

‘It’s Arkalik’s technique. No doubt about it.’

I had seen enough of human skin masks while living in Arkalik.

Since it was an interesting item, I even made my own and used it myself, so I could be sure.

“Excluding travel time, you’ll be staying in the Magic Empire’s Imperial City for exactly 14 days.”

“……Okay.”

The Pope whispered in a soft voice.

“There, we’ll determine whether you’re the real one, and whether that Lahin from the Magic Empire is the real one.”

Did he call me separately just to say that?

I glared at the Pope and shook my leg.

It was a very rude and uneducated posture, but I had heard something from Sandi.

‘Lahin often curses, can’t sit still, squirms, and shakes her legs.’

I can’t bring myself to curse, but I can at least fake the attitude.

“But there is only one Saintess under the heavens.”

“So? What do you want me to do?”

“What do I want you to do? I want you to kill her.”

“!”

His tone was so gentle that I doubted my ears, wondering if I had misheard.

But the Pope was still smiling, with a face that showed no awareness of anything strange in what he had said.

“I know you can do it, Florin.”

At that moment, the Pope called my name and slightly frowned as if something was wrong.

It was only for a fleeting moment, but I clearly saw it. The Pope seemed awkward pronouncing ‘Florin’.

“Why, why should I follow your orders?”

“Hmm… because if you don’t, you’ll die. You don’t like being sick, do you, Fl…orin.”

The Pope narrowed his brow again as he spoke my name. Then, the pure white radiance that arose in his hand pierced into my chest before I could even stop it.

“Ugh!”

“That’s a time bomb made of divine power. I planted it in your heart.”

“You!”

“Attack the Saintess of the Magic Empire for me. Then I’ll release you. We’re friends, so you can do that much, right?”

You crazy bastard!

I clutched my chest, gasping for breath.

Sure enough, I could feel a strange power binding my heart.

‘But this isn’t the power of the Celestial God.’

This… this was definitely power received from an Evil God.

“Like light and shadow, divine power can heal others… but it can also attack. It’s probably a story you never heard because you were sleeping during class.”

My chest hurts so much. It felt like a dark pain was swallowing me whole.

“Oh, and it’s lovely that you act as you please, Florin, but I hope you’ll restrain yourself in the Magic Empire. It’ll be hard to assassinate her if you’re too noticeable.”

The Pope is not an opponent I can win against.

That was an intuition based on instinct.

I stepped back and left the Pope’s tent.

Only after being alone did I finally come to my senses. As the terrifying pressure disappeared, I was finally able to breathe properly.

‘Dangerous. That guy… his eyes were crazy.’

I wasn’t easily frightened by most things. But the ominous aura and energy he exuded… I couldn’t explain it.

It was as if all the bad and evil things in the world were mixed together and painted white.

‘I was planning to get rid of Lahin anyway, but I didn’t intend to do it while being threatened like this. Besides…….’

Even if I kill her, it has to be after everything returns to normal.

If Lahin dies now, it’s Lahin, the princess of Arkalik, who dies. I might not be able to regain that position forever.

‘And Lahin can’t die no matter what I do until everything goes back to normal.’

If physical harm is done to my body, Dad will know immediately. I had a powerful protective barrier.

Although it was made by humans and couldn’t surpass the power of God, that’s how I and Lahin ended up switching like this, but it was a barrier that could block any physical attack.

And now that would be Lahin’s.

‘Especially if I suffer a major attack that leads to death, Dad will come right away.’

Does the Pope know about the bet between the Celestial God and the Evil God and is doing this? Or is it a personal grudge?

‘Ah, right. I asked Hwairan to investigate the Pope!’

Surely she wouldn’t bring that data directly to Lahin, would she?

* * *

At that moment, Lahin was sitting on Dante’s lap, shamelessly opening her mouth.

“Mmm, delicious!”

“Really?”

“Yes! It’s the most delicious thing in the world because Dante is giving it to me!”

What does a tea party usually mean? It was a place where young ladies gathered to socialize.

This place was literally for ‘ladies’ and men couldn’t join. Ladies also didn’t join gentlemen’s billiard saloons [billiard rooms].

But Lahin completely ignored those conventions today.

Her attire was so excessive that it deserved criticism, and she was doing such outrageous things that even a maid wouldn’t do.

The young ladies sitting around the table all had stiff expressions.

But the two with the worst expressions were Lahin’s close friend and the host of this event, Belladi Roybaium, and Ayla Schurzwatz, who had long harbored a crush on Dante.

“Ahem. Young lady, isn’t that too much?”

Eventually, the oldest young lady at the gathering cleared her throat and fanned herself with a fan. It was a signal to stop soon.

Then Ayla Schurzwatz glared at Lahin with tearful eyes and added.

“Take your lovey-dovey acts outside!”

The young ladies had never experienced such a rude event before, so they were still searching for words to say. They believed that Lahin would stop in the meantime.

But even after 30 minutes had passed, the bizarre behavior didn’t end. It was even more absurd that Dante was following Lahin’s lead in everything.

“Why? Are you annoyed?”

That’s when it happened.

Lahin, who was wiping her mouth with a napkin, scanned Ayla up and down and sneered.

The atmosphere completely froze.

Annoyed?

Ayla had never heard such vulgar language in her life, and tears of anger streamed down her face.

“Don’t…… cry, Ayla. And…… Lahin. I…… have to say something this time.”

Belladi wasn’t usually talkative. She only said what she had to say.

That’s why Belladi’s words had weight in this situation.

“Are you going to choose Dante?”

If she chose Dante as the head of the family in her 20s, then she couldn’t help but dislike it.