A Regressed Villain: Heroines, Villainesses and Me?

Chapter 186- A Hope

"Miss Aecilia, I apologize for their behavior, but please mind your language; they are not animals," Princess Katheria interjected, clearly disturbed by Aecilia's words.

She recognized the underlying intent to provoke both empires, though her efforts seemed futile, especially considering she had trained them to master their emotions.

"My apologies, Princess.

I have always believed that only dogs bark at anyone they perceive as a threat," Aecilia replied, a smile playing on her lips as she approached her chair.

Her gaze noted the protective layer surrounding the chair, an indication that the Princess sought to shield her from any potential harm, providing assurance that the situation would not escalate dangerously.

Even in the worst case, they would only sustain injuries and would simply require compensation from the Marquess himself.

The Princess fell silent, reflecting on Aecilia's calm demeanor.

It was evident that her own provocation had sparked the retort.

For the first time, she noticed how Aecilia wielded her words as a weapon, as had been noted by several noblemen before her.

Yet, it seemed Aecilia was not just skilled with her tongue but possessed considerable depth, providing a clear rationale for why she was a potential heir to the Sertsul family.

Ignoring Aecilia's provocations, the Princess took a deep breath, allowing herself to calm as she sipped her tea.

"It's natural for people to make mistakes; the world can feel quite small to some."

"You got me there," Aecilia agreed, a smile brightening her face as she cast a provocative glance at the Imperials.

The two of them, realizing that they were on unsteady ground, gradually retreated to the far side of the wall, choosing not to intervene in the conversation between the Princess and Aecilia.

They had been caught off guard; Aecilia's awareness of the Princess's imperial identity highlighted their own oversight in protecting her from a noble family that could pose a grave danger.

"You may continue, Miss Aecilia," the Princess said, placing her cup of tea back on the table, her gaze unwavering on Aecilia.

She was curious to see if Aecilia was prepared to discuss even more sensitive information.

From Aecilia's earlier comments, it was clear that the Marquess had been aware of the Princess's imperial status from the beginning.

It was all the more intriguing that Aecilia, despite being a defense-type Imperial herself, now understood this delicate situation.

It all began when the Marquess had divulged the information regarding Katheria's Empyreal identity to Aecilia.

Of course, it was already surprising that the Marquess was aware of her being an Empyreal, though she would ask this question to him herself. Read exclusive adventures at empire

But for now, the Marquess trusted Aecilia deeply with such significant information—something that cannot be just revealed to others and holds too much value for the Princess—suggesting he had more to communicate that warranted consideration before any actions were taken.

After all, she herself could not harm Aecilia, as she had come with a message on the Marquess's behalf and was determined to see the matter through without compromising anyone's safety.

"While I may maintain this charade for now, Princess, I must insist on a guarantee that neither of them will attack me again," Aecilia asserted, locking her gaze onto both Imperials.

She made her precarious situation clear, emphasizing that she would not reveal the crucial information she possessed, which could provoke an impulsive and dangerous response from them—or even from the Princess herself.

Complications would inevitably arise; after all, Aecilia felt vastly outmatched, even against a single opponent.

Her abilities were limited to those of a human, while they wielded powers far beyond her own.

"...Very well.

I assure you, none of them will take action," the Princess replied, taking note of Aecilia's confident demeanor, which suggested she believed there was a real chance the two Imperials might react violently.

This prompted a wave of doubt in her mind.

Perhaps the information Aecilia hesitated to share was of such significance that it could lead to dire consequences.

In a moment of precaution, the Princess cast a protective seal around Aecilia, ensuring that her words would not incite the ire of any of the three present.

The Princess was acutely aware that Aecilia was not the true target of this meeting; the real responsibility lay on her shoulders.

She needed to shield Aecilia without the girl realizing just how vigilant she truly was.

Lost in thought, the Princess pondered how these individuals had become aware of her identity as an Imperial—a secret she had meticulously guarded until now.

"I find myself inclined to trust your word then.

I am here with a proposal from the Marquess for you and the two beside you," Aecilia responded, her tone revealing a hint of hesitation.

Still, she adopted a casual demeanor, folding her hands and reclining in her chair, legs crossed in a calm manner.

All the while, her mind raced as she reflected on the weight of this task, which seemed designed to exert immense pressure; it was apparent that few could maintain their composure in a situation that felt more like an interrogation than a formal discussion.

"Proposal?" The Princess narrowed her eyes at Aecilia's choice of words.

She had not anticipated any sort of proposition from Marquess As, especially one that involved not just her but also the two Imperials beside her.

This realization reinforced her suspicion that Micros was aware of the finer details; perhaps it was he who had informed Aecilia about how she would protect the Imperials while sheltering them under her seal, leading to their unexpected arrival.

For the first time, she began to view him in a new light, reconsidering her previous perceptions of him as merely a talented man rather than someone with such hidden insights.

"Indeed," Aecilia continued, "but Princess, you must ensure that these words do not leave this room; otherwise, all three of us—Croceaus, Sertsul, and yourself—will bear the wrath of the royal family."

Though she did not voice these words explicitly, Aecilia sought to confirm the safety of such a powerful family.

If this information were to leak because of the Princess's weaknesses, it could certainly lead to severe repercussions from the royal family, who could easily order widespread retribution against both factions, rendering laws ineffectual until the opposing side was subdued.

"I hope it's not what I suspect," the Princess replied, exercising caution by enveloping the entire room in a seal that isolated their voices as a safety measure.

At the same time, she was confused by the thought that Micros would even consider going against their family.

Indeed, upon hearing Aecilia's words, the first notion that crossed Katheria's mind was the fear that it could be some sort of coup or retaliation against the royal family, which could trigger a civil backlash.

Of course, it was merely a hypothesis.

Whatever it was, it would undoubtedly conflict with the interests of the royal family, and involving so many individuals in a dangerous scheme would hardly be a profitable deal.

Yet, she was eager to learn more; she was about to be engaged to a man who was now revealing a rather intriguing side of himself.

"It's certainly not what you think, Princess," Aecilia clarified, though she hesitated momentarily, her thoughts drifting toward the alarming possibility of a revolt against the royal family.

This uncertainty made her second-guess her own words, especially as she noticed the Princess's skepticism.

She pressed on with her revelation: "The Marquess possesses a permanent remedy for the emotional drawbacks that Empyreals endure—"

'!?!'

Even before Aecilia could finish her sentence, all three individuals in the room were visibly taken aback.

The gravity of Aecilia's words hit them like a sudden gust of wind, and both Empyreals exchanged startled glances, even though they were restrained by her shield.

Something of such critical significance had evidently unsettled them.

"What?" The Princess was equally astonished by Aecilia's revelation that there existed a permanent solution to her own emotional instability—a condition she endured as a slave to her own mind.

She was reliant on the royal family for monthly doses of medicine to prevent her from spiraling into emotional chaos and potentially destroying her own body.

"Do you know what it means, Miss Aecilia?" This time Katheria seemed serious, her words formed as she inquired, with a visible clench on her fingers showing how important it was for her, given there was only this thing which was a cycle in her path, stopping her from even having the freedom she wanted herself, with the fear that, if she tried to retaliate, her family would not leave her alone and use this method.

"Yes, and the Marquess said that you shouldn't care much; he will soon prove it," Aecilia said, to clearly understand the intent behind Marquess's words.

He delivered it as it was, given the limited perspective with the narrowed cage and the suspicious look from Princess Katheria.