Living As the Villainess Queen (Web Novel KR)-Chapter 432.2

Eugene began preparing for the approaching active season with a clear objective in mind: to bring the wanderers safely into the kingdom.

Among those still hiding in the sanctuary, the children had yet to receive protective spells. Once the active season began, they would be vulnerable—easily detected by larks. Ensuring their evacuation before then had become a matter of urgency.

The sanctuary, stripped of its enchantments, was no longer a safe haven. It was only a matter of time before the wanderers would be forced to leave and find a new place to settle.

To facilitate this, Aldrit traveled to the sanctuary using the teleportation spell in the darkroom. His mission was to inform the clan of the situation and persuade them to spend the active season in the Hashi Kingdom. Transportation would be arranged through a base-type spell.

Although Aldrit was skilled enough to draw the departure spell himself, it came with a significant limitation—it could only transport one person at a time. With the active season fast approaching, relocating the entire clan would be a race against the clock.

Even after bringing the wanderers into the kingdom, new challenges would arise. While the citizens of Hashi did not harbor the same deep-rooted hatred as those in the capital, they still viewed the wanderers with suspicion. For generations, it had been standard practice to capture any wanderer on sight and send them to the capital. Shifting such deeply ingrained attitudes would take time.

In the meantime, Eugene searched for a place where the wanderers could live quietly and safely. She purchased several mansions on the outskirts of the capital—once noble retreats, now vacant and isolated from nearby villages.

They were perfect.

As the first wanderers began arriving via teleportation, soldiers stood ready to escort them discreetly to the newly prepared residences, where they could remain out of sight—and out of danger.

The days passed quickly. The relocation of the wanderers progressed without incident. With the routine now well-established and no unexpected issues arising, Eugene no longer needed to oversee every detail herself.

After lunch, she flipped open her spell notebook and saw a new message from Kasser. Since leaving the capital, he had kept her regularly updated on his progress.

[I've reached the point where I can see the mountains. I’ll begin the climb after lunch. If all goes well, I should be able to cross them in two days. Are you doing well?]

Smiling to herself, Eugene picked up her pen and replied:

[I’ve been doing exactly what you asked—resting and lazing around. Once you’re over the mountains, the border’s not far. Be careful on your way back.]

Even though it would still take time for him to reach the capital after crossing the border, the mere thought of them being in the same kingdom again made her heart flutter with anticipation.

Just then, a lady-in-waiting entered the room and bowed.

“Your Highness,” she said, “a prisoner has requested an audience with you.”

There was only one prisoner bold enough to make such a request—Flora.

Eugene had never rescinded the order for Flora to be closely watched. Upon returning to the capital, she had inquired about Flora’s condition. The guards had reported that the woman was like a lifeless doll—eating when served, sleeping through the nights, but otherwise sitting in silence, lost in a daze.

Eugene had instructed them not to provoke her. So long as Flora remained calm and passive, there was no need to stir a dormant storm. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟f͟i͟r͟e͟.net

But now, after all this time, Flora had broken her silence.

“Arrange a meeting,” Eugene ordered.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

They met in the same room as before—a quiet chamber with a single table in the center. Four hearing-impaired maids stood silently in the corners, just as they had during the last encounter.

But this time, something was different.

Flora lifted her head as Eugene entered, her eyes following her with a trace of awareness. Her expression was far from lively, but it held more substance than the hollow look she wore before—when she’d seemed like a woman who had given up on everything.

Their eyes met, and Flora’s gaze faltered before she looked away, lowering her eyes. An awkward silence filled the room.

Gone was the defiance, the cold hostility that once radiated from her. Instead, she looked unsure—like someone facing a stranger, uncertain of what to say or how to behave.

“The kings have vanquished the monster in the capital. It was reduced to dust—nothing remains.”

Eugene began recounting what had happened in the capital since Flora had come to the Hashi Kingdom. Regardless of what Flora had done, it was thanks to her that the kings had entered the capital. Her role in destroying the creature had been vital, and she deserved to know what had transpired.

“The capital palace has collapsed and lies in ruins. Many priests and knights lost their lives… but your family is safe, so you needn’t worry.”

Flora gave a slight nod, showing little emotion.

“And then something completely unexpected happened,” Eugene continued.

She told Flora about the breaking of Mara’s seal, how she had brought the elders to the capital, and how Mara had become the catalyst for a new protective spell over the city.

“With the capital still in turmoil, each kingdom has agreed to leave some of their troops stationed there. Whether they will remain long-term or withdraw will be discussed after the active season. Is there anything else you’d like to know?”

Flora thought for a moment before asking, “Is Sir Pides safe?”

She vividly remembered the moment she had tried to kill him. The fearlessness with which she had considered taking his life—simply because he might be a hindrance—now terrified her.

“Yes. Sir Pides is safe.”

Eugene recalled her recent meeting with him. The morning after the new barrier spell had been successfully cast, Pides had come to the royal estate.

“There were many unjust deaths in the capital—people exiled or executed simply for uncovering the creature’s hidden horrors. Sir Pides said he was leaving to recover their remains and uncover their stories, since most of the Inquisitors who might have known what happened are now dead.”

‘The diary I gave you belonged to a friend of mine. He accepted a service mission to the capital but likely never returned. I want to find his body—and others like him who died unjustly.’

Tracking down those lost lives, starting from scratch, would be a grueling task. But Eugene had seen the resolve in his expression—the determination to devote his life to this cause.

‘I will need to travel frequently between kingdoms. Could Your Highness speak with the six kings and secure permission on my behalf? Please.’

Eugene had gladly agreed. She obtained an indefinite travel pass from the six kings and sent it to the inn where Pides was staying. He had sent his thanks through a soldier. She hadn’t heard from him since, but she doubted he was still in the capital.

“Flora, what do you want to do now? Will you return to the capital?”

“…If I said I wanted to go, would you let me?”

Eugene nodded. She had thought long and hard about Flora’s fate. Ultimately, neither she nor the kingdom had suffered any direct harm. More importantly, Flora had become a spellcaster in an effort to help others. Knowing the risks, it had been Eugene and the six kings who had tasked her with the role. They, too, shared the responsibility.

After a long pause, Flora replied, “I don’t want to return to the capital. At least, not yet. I’d rather stay like this for now. Is that alright?”

“Of course. For as long as you wish.”

Eugene arranged for Flora to have a quiet and comfortable place to live. She also ordered that no one refer to Flora as a criminal ever again.