Taming The Villainesses Chapter 1.2

"Hmm-. Yes. As a matter of fact, that aligns perfectly with my own thoughts."

"Indeed, the great and incredibly wise Queen Aira understands best that this impromptu execution does not serve as a proper precedent."

I had repeated this statement countless times, like a weary martyr.

My delivery needed to be not only loud but also exceptionally clear. It felt unnatural initially, but after a full year of practice, my enunciation improved significantly.

As I spoke, I carefully watched Aira's expression.

Aira folded her arms, nodding slowly, and moved her sword away.

"Hmm, quite right. I too felt that a simple beheading was far too lenient. Therefore, Tae-oh, elaborate on the thoughts you perceived within my mind."

What did she mean by 'perceived my thoughts'? That clueless girl!

Although fury surged within me, I refrained from uttering any curses. I allowed a brief silence to pass, letting the intense heat of my anger gradually subside.

"..."

The crucial objective here was to disrupt the existing momentum.

When engaging with Aira, it was imperative to amplify my own vocal influence by commanding everyone's undivided attention and focus upon myself.

It had taken me an entire year to finally grasp this critical strategy.

Casting a glance around the chamber, I could sense the somber gazes of all present directed towards me.

They likely assumed I was merely flattering the Queen to secure her favor.

However, their judgments were of no concern to me. My primary goal was survival.

Should I perish here, there would be no certainty of returning to the body of Lee Seong-eum in the 21st century.

Therefore, in order to live, I declared:

"Esteemed Queen. This Tae-oh has brought forth Miss Clara, the daughter of Belmott, to the Royal Court."

"You have brought Belmott's daughter!?"

Queen Aira inquired with palpable excitement, as though she had stumbled upon a hidden treasure. She had apparently received no prior notification. It was clear she had no involvement in this development.

At that precise moment, I snapped my fingers.

Instantly, from an unseen location, individuals clad in dark robes emerged, dragging a slender, blonde-haired girl into the hall. Her garments were being roughly torn to shreds.

"Kyaa-!"

"Oh, Clara-!"

Witnessing this distressing sight, the previously impassive demeanor of Belmott contorted instantly.

"Clara-!"

It was as if he had plummeted from the heavens to the depths of hell in a single, agonizing instant.

He had never anticipated that his cherished, only daughter would be brought forth in such a manner.

Having resigned himself to his own demise, he had taken extensive measures to ensure his family's safety and concealment.

However, my knowledge, gleaned from the novel, revealed their hidden sanctuary was situated near the desolate Southern Desert City of Kel'thas. While morally questionable, what recourse did I have?

Belmott, a man of considerable intellect, must surely comprehend by now that his daughter had been taken as a hostage by me.

He would harbor profound fear regarding the potential atrocities that Tae-oh, the so-called demon, might inflict upon his daughter, who would be left vulnerable in his absence.

A father might endure the threat of a blade against his own throat, but he would react with visceral fury when his child was endangered.

Consequently, Belmott would ultimately offer an apology to the Queen, thereby averting his own execution.

This was the carefully constructed conclusion I had arrived at after days of agonizing deliberation and pulling out my own hair.

And precisely as I had predicted, this was unfolding before my very eyes.

Here in this very Court, I was the one manipulating the emotions of everyone present—!

With this maneuver, the death flags dangling precariously above my own head would surely be dispelled.

This was unequivocally my triumph!

A sinister grin spread across my face, masking the sheer elation I felt.

Aira, setting her sword aside, began to applaud.

"I see, that is precisely correct! Tae-oh, you have truly discerned my innermost thoughts! You wish to witness Belmott and his daughter Clara engage in an incestuous act before this assembly, do you not?"

"Huh?"

Absolutely not. Such a thought had never crossed my mind.

"As expected of you, Tae-oh. You are the only one who truly comprehends me. You understand my desires implicitly!"

My desires? Wait, pause the recording. I had absolutely no inkling this was what you wanted!

━Incestuous relations-?

━Right here, right now-?

━This is utterly horrifying-!

I could feel the collective gaze of everyone in the room intensifying, all focused on me.

They had undoubtedly grasped the implication.

Aira, blissfully unaware, continued to fan the flames with my accidental suggestion…

"Ah-."

I felt an overwhelming urge to tear my own hair out.

My intention was to ensure Belmott's survival, yet Aira persisted in igniting a disastrous situation.

"Aira, you insane woman, that's your own death flag!" I desperately wanted to shout, but was unable to.

Why were you so eager to sprint headlong towards your own demise!?

Could it be that the future predetermined by the threads of fate for these characters was simply unavoidable?

Just as the heroes of ancient myths could not escape the pronouncements of absurd oracles, were we mortals incapable of altering destiny, no matter how strenuously we strove?

Even with all my intellect and cunning as an ordinary mortal, was Aira indeed destined to become a villainess?

If that were the case, what then would become of the sycophant beside her, Tae-oh? What fate awaited me if Aira were to be executed?

No, there was no point in pondering such a question. It was a certainty that I would be torn to shreds by the enraged populace.

Rage consumed me.

To hell with fate!

I refused to accept such a predetermined outcome.

Though some might mock my misfortune and cast stones in my direction, I would outlive them all and be the one to ultimately prevail.

With renewed determination, I began to rapidly devise my subsequent strategic maneuvers.

There had to be a way. Come now, you have endured for an entire year already…

"Your Majesty…"

However, whether by fortune or misfortune, Belmott, who had been embracing his daughter, prostrated himself before the Queen, tears streaming down his face.

“Your Majesty, Queen Aira, I beg for your mercy, this old servant. I have committed a grave sin, truly… But my daughter…”

“Father…”

The sight of an aged father embracing his unclothed daughter amidst their tears was enough to stir emotion in many onlookers.

While Queen Aira’s guards were accustomed to carrying out cruel orders, even those who would snatch candy from a crying child and inflict beatings, they found this scene unbearable.

━I cannot bear to watch.

━Me neither. When can we leave?

━We just arrived…

Faced with such heartbreaking despair, they secretly turned their gazes away, their expressions beneath their helmets etched with discomfort.

Only Aira wore a smile.

“Oh my, what shall we do? The offense of defying the Queen is quite severe~. How should we proceed~?”

She spoke as if a small child was being presented with a choice of gifts by their parents.

At this juncture, it was my turn to be addressed.

“Tell me, Your Majesty the Queen, what is your judgment, Tae-oh?”

“Yes?”

Aira sought my perspective. She alone, a mere gardener, was consulted, ignoring all others present.

Observing this, I was once again gripped by the same sentiment I had felt daily for the past year.

I had become the attendant to a most unfortunate Queen.

No matter how much I pondered it, I…

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