Taming The Villainesses Chapter 2.2

(EP-2.2) Flower Aira #2

002 – Evil Flower Aira #2

She served as the assurance that Belmott wouldn't betray us.

I had taken her as a hostage, converting her into a palace maid. Perhaps, one might argue this action was a safeguard for Belmott, dissuading him from harboring any rebellious thoughts.

All the maids within the palace found themselves in circumstances akin to Clara's predicament. Each was assigned the duty of observing the others.

It was quite beneficial to have them scrutinize each other and lodge accusations.

“Come, Clara. Let’s go now.”

“Heung.”

Though she was treated like a prisoner of war, her noble bearing as a high-ranking lady remained intact. Her gaze at me was piercingly sharp.

I escorted her to the quarters where the maids resided.

━Fool, do you truly believe it will taste good if you pour it like that?

━If you pour it, it will just become soggy!

━Hey, hey! Look, that person is approaching!

The instant I made my appearance, the maids who had been conversing fell into a state of shock and promptly feigned engagement in their duties.

They were being compensated for this performance…

I considered uttering a remark, but decided against it, not wanting to seem petty. Instead, I simply handed over the bound Clara and stated:

“Here, this is Clara. She will be serving as a maid starting today. Please guide her through the necessary steps, beginning with what she absolutely must not do.”

The response I received was devoid of warmth.

A sense of pity was evident in the maids’ eyes as they regarded Clara. It was as if they were conveying, “So, you too have fallen into this situation, haven’t you.” Simultaneously, a feeling of relief washed over them, knowing they were no longer alone in their predicament.

“Miss Clara, the maids here are ladies of noble birth, much like yourself. Therefore, refrain from conflict and endeavor to work harmoniously. Now, would you care to extend greetings to your new colleagues?”

Slurp. The moment the gag was removed from her mouth, Clara let out a cry. She had clearly been anticipating this opportunity.

“Tae-oh, I swear I will never forgive you. My curses will follow you eternally. You are but a blight upon Angmar, a venomous servant!”

Was she perhaps intending to say, “Thank you for saving my father and my life?” I met her outburst with a bright smile, offering my thanks.

“You’re most welcome.”

In days past, such criticism would have deeply wounded me. However, I found myself utterly unfazed by it now. It seemed I had developed a slightly thicker skin.

Nevertheless, this particular Clara proved to be a formidable opponent.

“Do you truly believe your authority will remain unchallenged indefinitely? One day, you shall have to confront the consequences of your actions! Queen Aira’s reign will soon crumble! You understand nothing!”

Pwae.

She spat directly onto my face.

I had endured being spat upon three times within this week alone. This had become such a frequent occurrence that it no longer held any significant impact, yet…

I understood nothing?

Even my considerable patience was tested by that particular remark.

After such a prolonged period, I finally raised my hands.

Jjak.

“Kyaaa!”

I seized the fallen Clara by her collar, coercing her to stand upright.

“I understand nothing? Do you possess the standing to utter such words to me? You sheltered aristocrats who spent your lives indulging in luxury and comfort?”

Who dared to insinuate that I should bear the burden of karma and descend into damnation?

“S-stop, please don’t hit me-”

Despite being the instigator of this confrontation, Clara trembled visibly as she touched her now red and swollen cheek.

Though I had much more to convey, the demands of my duties necessitated my departure. I decided to conclude our exchange here.

“What are you waiting for? Get back to work!”

I resolved to let the intense anger simmering within me subside. More pressingly, the matter of karma was at hand. I felt exceptionally confident regarding the principles I had learned.

Indeed, I had a fairly clear notion as to the basis of this lady’s vehement outburst.

She must possess some form of conviction, some belief.

That very belief was quite apparent.

Was it finally ‘their’ moment to make a move?

Originally, Clara, secreted away in her hiding place, would have initiated contact with ‘them,’ leading to a subsequent event. It was a scenario I had foreseen.

I envisioned a perfectly balanced party lying in wait somewhere, sharpening their predatory instincts.

Would those sharpened claws ever manage to reach me?

Absolutely not. I would never permit such an outcome.

* * *

『A Proclamation Concerning the Expenses for the Maintenance and Restoration of the Fortress Walls, and the Emergence of Frontier Nobility-.』

『A Legislative Measure Addressing the Tax Evasion Conducted by Marquis Lioness-.』

『An Investigative Report on the Rogue Faction Known as ‘Black Robe’-.』

『The Widespread Infestation of Wolf Spiders. A Decline in Silk Production. Ramifications for Exportation.』

『An Outbreak of Rampant Michuri in the Eastern Territories. The Desperate Pleas of the peasantry. The Nation’s Economy in Distress.』

Sreak, Sreak.

I efficiently processed all the documents, each one a burden to behold. Upon affixing my signature to the final page, I stretched, a smile gracing my lips.

“I have become far too accustomed to this.”

It was quite astonishing to contemplate that I was presently engaged in such tasks within this office.

Even if I had aspired to a mundane white-collar profession, who could have possibly predicted that I would find myself occupied with work of this nature? Moreover, it was a position of considerable influence.

The Court Gardener, Tae-oh.

That was my current official title.

My standing within the Court ranked approximately 75th, yet within the entire Kingdom, there was no one unaware that I held the second most influential position, subordinate only to the Queen.

I was cognizant of this fact.

Regarding the individual known as Tae-oh.

Within the narrative of the novel, Tae-oh was depicted as a minor antagonist, appearing only in a handful of lines. His role was insignificant, beyond being so irritating that one fervently wished for his swift demise.

In truth, his significance was minimal, almost to the point of being negligible. Yet, each time he made an appearance, the comment section would erupt into a frenzy.

Ultimately, this character's narrative concluded with a single, curt sentence: "One day, Tae-oh met his end, executed according to his karma."

I may not recall the precise wording, but the sentiment was something along those lines. His ending was handled with such brevity that it was almost impressively nonchalant, wouldn't you agree?

Following Tae-oh's demise, Queen Aira's influence began to wane, and the Kingdom subsequently crumbled.

Indeed.

Had the story continued its course, I might have faced execution myself.

However, the specifics of Tae-oh's death – who, when, where, and how – remained shrouded in mystery, as the original text offered no detailed explanation.

'One day, Tae-oh was executed according to his karma.'

My very existence hinged upon that carelessly written sentence, devoid of any indication regarding timing or method…

Because of this ambiguity, it was entirely plausible that a stone, hurled by an incensed mob, could currently be hurtling through my office window, ending my life in a freak accident.

In fact, I'd had numerous close calls, narrowly escaping death on more than one occasion. Not long ago, I managed to survive a poisoning attempt.

So, has the swelling on my poisoned face finally subsided?

Rising to my feet, I approached the tall mirror tucked away in the corner of my office. Pulling back the heavy, dust-laden curtains that obscured it, my reflection appeared on the grimy surface.

No, could this face even be considered 'mine' anymore?

Light brown hair framing a pair of blue eyes.

“After enduring a year of gazing upon this visage, I find myself gradually growing accustomed to it.”

The face itself seemed caught in an ambiguous stage, straddling the line between boyhood and young manhood.

Yet, if I were to be entirely honest, it leaned more towards the former. Though gauging Tae-oh's precise age was difficult, given his notorious reputation as the 'demon's of the Kingdom.

On the whole, the features were well-defined, and the individual possessed a rather handsome appearance.

It was somewhat vexing to behold such a comely countenance, but the moment I remembered it was, in fact, my own reflection, a sense of satisfaction bloomed.

"Hmm."

However, a single imperfection marred the otherwise pleasing symmetry: a prominent scar, stretching from the apex of his right eyebrow down to his right cheek. It bore the mark of something sharp having gouged the skin.

This stark, asymmetrical scar detracted from the otherwise perfectly sculpted face, lending it the air of a villain's mark.

And, as it happened, he was indeed a villain.

This, it seemed, was the true identity of this troublesome character.

As these recollections about the scar surfaced, a knock echoed from my office door.

"Who is it?"

“Tae-oh, the Queen requests your presence. She wants you to 'come and heat up the water.'"

It Seems the moment has finally arrived…

——————————-

{1} The word demon here comes from this 요승(妖僧) in the raws. 妖僧 in Chinese means demon monk and 요승 in Korean means evil spirit, therefore I simply used demon.

• Edited by: Mochiusagi
• Quality checked by: faker