Living As the Villainess Queen (Web Novel KR)-Chapter 413.2

“Sir Sven!”

Eugene’s alarmed voice reached him as he struggled to regain his bearings.

“Are you alright? Can you hear me?”

Dizzy and disoriented, Sven could still hear Eugene’s voice clearly. Shaking his head to clear the fog, he answered, “I’m fine, Your Highness.” 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

He checked himself over. Though his body ached as if he had been thoroughly beaten, his stomach didn’t churn, indicating he wasn’t seriously hurt. As he blinked to focus his vision, he saw Flora lying motionless on the ground and murmured, “I heard something shatter.” ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ NoveIꜰire.net

Sven wasn’t sure if his attack had succeeded—he hadn’t felt his sword make contact with her body.

“It seems the spell has been broken,” Eugene said, gazing down at Flora. The spell had been tied to the caster’s mental strength and will. The sight of the larks turning into seeds must have overwhelmed Flora, leaving her with a sense of helplessness as her strength drained. The shock of seeing the illusion collapse likely shook her resolve, and when Sven’s attack landed, the spell shattered under the strain.

“Your Highness! Are you alright?”

Lester and the warriors, now regaining their composure, rushed over to Eugene. He pointed toward Flora and issued his command.

“Restrain her. Bind her hands and feet securely, and assign multiple guards to keep watch over her in shifts. No one is to look away, not even for a moment.”

More than ten warriors moved to capture the unconscious woman, though Lester didn’t find it excessive. If she had been conscious, they would have needed even more soldiers. The mere memory of her controlling the larks with a wave of her hand still sent chills down his spine.

Lester’s eyes wandered to where the castle walls had once been covered with larks. Now, not a trace of them remained. He muttered, “Oh, God,” his voice filled with a mix of awe and disbelief, feeling as though he had just woken from a nightmare.

He craned his neck, taking in the sight around him. The people, the castle walls—everything was submerged in water. Though there was no physical sensation, bubbles floated up whenever he exhaled. The vividness of the water, though merely an illusion, was breathtaking.

No… I shouldn’t call such a magnificent miracle an illusion, he thought. It hadn’t affected the people directly, but he had seen the larks transform into seeds with his own eyes.

The water continued to rise, merging seamlessly with the sky above. It felt as though he were looking up from the ocean floor toward the surface. Lester found himself at a loss for words, struggling to grasp the wonder he felt. As he turned his gaze, he squinted involuntarily, almost blinded by the halo radiating from the queen.

“…Your Highness, I think… it might be time to let this water go.”

Eugene chuckled sheepishly. “Sorry. I’m not sure how to do that. I’m still inexperienced.”

Lester closed his mouth, uncertain how to respond. There was an unsettling contrast in the casual way she spoke of such an extraordinary feat.

“In time, it will disappear on its own. Water naturally flows away, doesn’t it?”

With a dazed look, Lester could only nod in agreement, still processing the enormity of the situation.

***

The priest, escorted by a warrior, sketched a rough map of the Holy Palace. It was crude, with only the major buildings marked, but the kings, who had visited several times, could recognize the layout.

“Here, it’s here. The underground prayer room I descended to is around this area,” Katie said, pointing to a spot on the map. When she mentioned the scales on the wall and the strange occurrences involving the Anikas, the kings instantly recognized the significance.

“This place…” Akil began, then turned to Katie. “Thank you, Lady Anika Katie. Your help has been invaluable.”

Realizing he wanted her to leave, Katie bowed her head. “I’ve shared everything I know, so I’ll take my leave.”

The warriors assigned to escort her followed closely at her side. As Katie’s figure disappeared into the distance, Kasser’s gaze lingered. After a brief pause, he excused himself and quickly walked after her.

He slowed when he was close enough that she could hear him if he called. What should he say? He had never called her "mother." The unfamiliar word caught in his throat, but he swallowed it down, uncertain.

He simply watched her walk farther away. Suddenly, she glanced back. When her wistful eyes met Kasser’s, she turned fully toward him.

For a moment, mother and son stood in silence, locked in an unspoken exchange.

“Aiden… is he…?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

“He’ll be fine,” Kasser assured her. “I’ve sent someone to watch over him.”

“Oh…” Katie nodded, her eyes widening slightly. After a moment of hesitation, Kasser gave her a respectful bow before turning away. She watched his retreating figure, then slowly turned back, a tear slipping down her cheek.

She had heard that the larks were converging on the Holy City, and the thought of her children at home struck her immediately. The instinct to rush back had almost overtaken her, but she paused. She knew she had to inform the king of what she had witnessed in the underground prayer room. However, by the time she made her decision, the king had already left.

She was faced with a choice—go home to her children or deliver her message to the king. Her children weighed heavily on her heart, but she couldn’t bring herself to leave.

Thank goodness.

As she watched the kings’ expressions shift while they listened to her account, Katie realized that what she had shared was crucial.

I made the right choice… thank goodness.

Tears flowed freely, without restraint. The warrior, who had been quietly ignoring her crying, finally spoke with concern.

“Are you alright, my lady?”

Katie simply nodded, her tear-streaked face silently answering him.

You accepted him… my son.

Aiden. She had never imagined hearing her eldest speak her younger son’s name. Overcome with a mixture of joy and sorrow, Katie could do nothing but weep, feeling unworthy as a mother for having been so foolish and lacking in the past.