The Villain Carries the Holy Sword – Chapter 81.2

Chapter 81.2: Proof of Spring (3)

“I’m willing to bet everything to have you.”

“You place a high value on me.”

“Of course.”

Olivia met Cain’s gaze, counting off her reasons on her fingers.

Her eyes were hidden behind the full mask, but he imagined them sparkling with excitement.

“First, you’re strong. And clever, the eldest son of Earl Ethelred, mature, and…… audacious. Is that all? You’re also wicked, cunning, and ruthless enough to manipulate a half-brother who threatens your position.”

“The middle part sounds like an insult.”

“That’s what makes you so intriguing. You’re like the perfect protagonist from a story, yet more human than anyone else.”

Cain could say with certainty.

The woman standing before him was a little strange━no, insane.

“Princess Olivia.”

But that didn’t matter to Cain.

The world he had lived in had been a living hell where one couldn’t survive a single moment without being a little mad.

“I want Oleciren to be king.”

Cain was so far removed from Olivia’s madness that it couldn’t even touch him.

“My sister as King.”

Olivia, failing to draw Cain into her pace, reached for her mask.

With a swoosh━.

She pushed it aside.

Her face, framed by thick gray hair, was revealed. It bore a clear resemblance to Oleciren, but with slightly softer features.

She lowered the mask to just below her nose.

Olivia’s golden eyes blinked, following Cain’s violet gaze.

“Interesting. If that’s what it takes, can I have you then?”

“Why are you so fixated on me?”

Olivia smiled.

It was a smile that, at first glance, seemed innocent and pure.

But Cain could tell that her eyes weren’t smiling.

“My sister, who should have died long ago, has grown so much because of you. It’s only natural that I’d be greedy.”

“There must be more to it than that.”

“Oh my, how many times have you met me to make such assumptions?”

“I have a feeling there’s more.”

Cain mirrored her enigmatic tone.

A princess and a warrior.

Olivia and Cain Ethelred.

Countless words had been exchanged, but it was only now that they felt like they were truly facing each other.

Olivia removed her mask entirely. Her small lips, painted the color of scarlet tulips, parted slightly.

“My sister should have nothing.”

“And you’d take me away from her too?”

Click.

Olivia flashed a sharp smile and put her mask back on.

“Of course, I also hold your abilities in high regard. Think about it. Even Grandfather was quite open to the idea of you as a potential husband.”

Whoosh━.

She turned away, as if she had said all she needed to, her heels clicking against the platform.

“Oh, right.”

Olivia stopped and looked back.

She raised her ever-present fan and pointed it at one of the shattered windows of the train. Through it, they could see Oleciren, her face stiff, watching the scene unfold.

Olivia called out in a loud voice.

“It would be nice to have a proper conversation next time, Sister Oleciren. We never know when or how we’ll die in this world, so we should at least share a meal together before then.”

“…….”

Oleciren remained silent.

Olivia glanced at her for a moment and turned around, whispering softly enough for only Cain to hear.

“No fun.”

Director Lubrick, whose face had brightened considerably upon hearing that the archive car had burned down, followed after her.

“The rest of you, assist the passengers in disembarking!”

Although unlikely, there was a chance that passengers from other cars had colluded with the terrorists, so everyone was being kept on board for investigation.

While not close enough to overhear Cain’s conversation, it was easy to tell who had come and gone from the window.

Despite the guidance of experienced railway staff, the passengers disembarked with visible fear.

They couldn’t help but steal glances at Cain, who stood motionless on the platform.

“Her Highness has requested that everyone disembark before her.”

Vanderbilt, who had been in Cain’s car, approached him and explained. It would only cause more confusion if they disembarked now and had to greet the royal family.

It was a considerate gesture, typical of Oleciren.

“Vanderbilt.”

“Yes, My Lord.”

“Did I, by any chance, have someone like a fiancée?”

He already knew the answer, but he asked just in case.

The elderly knight blinked, confused by the question, before shaking his head.

“No, you did not. It’s not that there weren’t any proposals, but Lord Count Edmund wasn’t interested……”

Rumble━.

The sound of passengers disembarking grew louder as they realized everything was alright.

The clatter of approaching trains filled the air as the platforms that had been cordoned off were reopened.

Amidst the city’s noise, Cain looked towards where Olivia had disappeared.

“I guess I’ll have Abel do it.”

“Ex… Excuse me?”

“Anyone but a crazy woman like that, preferably.”

Although they hadn’t made any concrete plans, as the commander-in-chief of the Northern Expedition, he was bound to encounter her again in the forest.

Cain shuddered internally at the thought of Olivia.

By now, all the passengers had disembarked, and Oleciren was the last one off the train.

Her eyes were fixed on the ground.

“Why are you walking with your head down?”

“Because I had to leave everything to you. I couldn’t even say anything back to her.”

“Oleciren.”

“Yes?”

“If you don’t have anything to say, just stab them with your sword.”

Isoel and Vanderbilt both turned to Cain with wide eyes. Cain continued, as if it were nothing.

“If they’re going to try to kill you anyway, you might as well bite back.”

“But I have nothing. I can’t even stand up to the Archbishop……”

“You have time.”

“……?”

“The time you spent with Isoel. The time you spent with me. The time we fought together. Do you really have nothing?”

“……!”

“If someone looks like they’re going to hit you, hit them first. If you’re not sure, just hit them.”

Cain didn’t know how Oleciren had survived in the royal capital. But the Oleciren he knew wasn’t someone who would back down so easily.

That’s why he told her his way.

“That’s how people at the bottom survive.”

“You speak as if you’ve lived that way yourself.”

Having lived through it, Cain could only smile bitterly.

Oleciren, her thoughts collected, looked at Cain. Her hair was the same shade of gray as Olivia’s, but her eyes were a different shade of gray altogether.

“I went to see the archbishop.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“That priest wouldn’t have backed down so easily. That last part, you must have done something to make him say that.”

“…….”

“We’ll go on ahead. I’m just going home for a bit, anyway.”

Cain thought for a moment and nodded.

“I’ll catch up soon.”

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