I, the Villainous Prince, Buy the Ruined Villainess with Money - Chapter 57-58

Chapter 57: Alvis Is an Unaware Heartbreaker

Kukuku, it’s almost time to collect.

The money for the papal election.
The money to get rid of that damn Alvis.

To begin with, why does this old man need money just to give orders to the apostles?

They should just quietly obey my commands.

But the only one who can currently give unconditional orders to the apostles is His Holiness the Pope himself.

“Well, no matter. Once this old man becomes Pope, the problem disappears.”

The preparations are steadily moving forward.

I’ve already assigned that woman to the easily manipulated Crown Prince.
Once he becomes Emperor, he will surely give me his full support.

“Even if he’s just a puppet Emperor, to become Pope I still need the Emperor’s official endorsement on the surface.”

Officially, the Pope is appointed by the Emperor.
In reality, our side holds far greater power, but it’s an old ceremonial tradition.

“Once this old man becomes Pope, perhaps we can do away with it. After all, this country can no longer survive without the Church.”

Anyone with the talent to use recovery magic is immediately kidnapped the moment they’re found.

Just because someone can use water magic doesn’t mean they can use recovery magic.
Besides, without the secret books hidden by the Church, no one can learn it.

“Alvis remains a mystery… but the simplest solution is to kill him.”

For that, a mere squad leader won’t be enough.
Maybe I should just hire an assassin instead.

Either way, there is no doubt that money is necessary.

“But there’s no need to worry about that either.”

I’ve taken one of the arenas completely under my control and can now manage it freely.
I threatened a beastman who had been active as an adventurer by holding his family hostage, and successfully turned him into a gladiator.

While running fixed matches, I’ve skillfully controlled things and steadily built up profits.

“He started saying he was tired of fixed matches, so I ended up having to use illegal drugs… but it’s almost accumulated, so there shouldn’t be any problem.”

After this, if I just let the fighter I prepared win and make one last big profit, everything should be fine.
That should give me a decent amount of money.

“Kukuku, just wait, Yulia. Once Alvis is taken care of, no one will come to save you.”

She played clever little tricks, but let’s look at this positively.
Crushing someone who has tasted hope once and throwing them into despair is quite an enjoyable thing.

It will surely serve as the perfect spice.

As I tried to hold back the drool that was about to spill, a knock came at the door.
When I gave permission, one of my subordinates rushed in, clearly panicked.

“What is it? If you’re my subordinate, you should enter with more elegance…”

“It’s terrible! The Royal Guard Knights have come to inspect the arena! And Kyle lost and fled somewhere!”

“Wh-wh-what did you say!? W-wait! The inspection can be handled somehow! And Kyle can be replaced… What about the money we had accumulated from the bets until now?”

“A… a mysterious person… a red-haired man calling himself Leon won, and he took away all the earnings!”

“…abababababa”

“S-stay with us, my lord! Someone—! Bring a recovery mage, quick!!”

Impossible… The money this old man poured his heart and soul into collecting… The path to becoming Pope…

Above all, the money to hire people to obtain Yulia…

The voice of my subordinate gradually grew distant, and I sank into darkness.

—

Chapter 58: Worried

Now, what should I do?

The next morning, I paced around my room, deep in thought.

For the time being, I had some money on hand, and strangely enough, the people from the church hadn’t come attacking either.

I couldn’t let my guard down, but for now, it was probably best to just watch and wait.

“No, right now that’s not the most important thing…”

“Master, everything is ready.”

“Mm, yeah… As expected of something I chose myself. (It suits you incredibly well!)”

“Hehe, I’m so happy.”

Saying that, she gave a light twirl in the clothes I had bought her.

Dangerous… Her delicate appearance almost made my nose bleed.

Letting someone this lovely walk around town was far too risky.

Shouldn’t this be designated a national treasure and protected?

“Ahem… So, today you’re going out with Agnes, right?”

“Yes. Thank you very much for giving me the day off.”

“Don’t mention it. Giving the lower folks a break is also a duty of those above them. So, what exactly are you planning to do?”

“Agnes-san said she wanted to go shopping… and later, Elise-san will be joining us too.”

“What?”

Elise—that’s the tea ceremony club president… and also the daughter of the Highland Marquis family.

Her father, the current head, serves as the Minister of Military Affairs overseeing the entire military, and his strength and radical nature are well known.

And according to what Sebas told me, he used to be a subordinate of her grandfather in the past.

“Hmm… So it really is Elise-san that you’re concerned about?”

“Hm? Well, she is the daughter of the Minister of Military Affairs, after all.”

“…Is that all?”

“There’s no ulterior motive. If I had to say something, it’s just that she’s not someone I’d want as an enemy.”

“Then that’s fine…”

To live in peace, it’s better not to make enemies if at all possible.

To achieve that, gathering information was necessary.

After seeing Yulia off, I quietly slipped out of the mansion.

“Right, this is absolutely not because of any shady feelings. I simply have to determine whether this woman named Elise will become my enemy or not.”

“Alvis young master, what exactly are you doing?”

“Sebas, don’t interfere.”

“Sigh… Very well then. In that case, I shall accompany you.”

“Hmph, do as you please.”

I erased my presence and followed after Yulia.

◇

I gazed at my reflection in the mirror.

There I stood, wearing the clothes my Master had bought for me.

“…Ehehe.”

Remembering the moment he bought them for me made me grin stupidly to myself.

Unable to help it, I lightly skipped my way toward the meeting place.

Under the clock tower in the square, the other two were already waiting.

“Elise-san, Agnes-san, sorry to keep you waiting.”

“No, no! We just got here too! Wow… Yulia-san, you’re so cute!”

“Yes, it really suits you wonderfully.”

“Ah, thank you so much. Both of you look very lovely too.”

Agnes-san was wearing comfortable pants-style clothing, while Elise-san was dressed in something that resembled everyday kimono wear.

We chatted as we walked and headed to the café that Elise-san often visited.

After placing our orders, we decided to sit at the outdoor terrace seats.

“The weather turned out nice, didn’t it!”

“Yes, it did. By the way… hehe, such an overprotective gentleman.”

““Huh?””

“Oh, nothing, never mind. Anyway, if this is a girls’ gathering, then the topic is already decided… namely, the love lives of you two.”

““L-love lives!?””

Once again, Agnes-san’s and my words overlapped perfectly.

For me, love life… that meant my Master.

I wanted him to be happy more than anything.

“First, Agnes. What’s going on between you and that blockhead Arnold?”

“Ah, Arnold-kun and I are just friends!”

“…Poor Arnold.”

“Fue? W-why?”

I see. So Arnold-kun has feelings for Agnes-san… I really am terribly insensitive to these kinds of subtle human emotions, aren’t I?

Until now, I had never been interested in such things at all.

But lately… whenever I think about my Master, my chest starts to ache.

“Sigh… Well, whatever. Then, Yulia-san, what about you? You seem awfully close with His Highness Alvis lately.”

“M-me and Master are simply in a maid-and-master relationship… something like that would be far too presumptuous.”

“Is that really so? Compared to that disappointing crown pri—*cough*, I think he’s much better. I was a fool for believing the rumors.”

“Ahaha…”

How should I put it—Elise-san seemed to be the type who spoke her mind bluntly without sugarcoating.

Personally, for someone like me who had always been flattered or kept at a distance, it felt refreshing.

She and Master might actually get along well… and their family backgrounds would make them a suitable match too.

“Then, would it be alright if I threw my hat in the ring?”

“That’s no good! …Ah, I mean, um…”

“Oh? And why is that no good? As far as I know, he doesn’t have a fiancée…”

“I-I won’t allow anyone who doesn’t truly cherish Master!”

Certainly, Elise-san would be a perfect match in terms of status.

But I wanted Master to have a happy marriage.

If the other person was truly serious… then I could bless them.

“Hehe, sorry. It was just a joke, so don’t make such a face like you’re about to cry.”

“Huh? …Muu.”

“Hey! Elise-chan! That’s enough teasing! Apologize properly!”

“You’re right. I’m sorry.”

“N-no, I’m the one who got too worked up. I’m sorry.”

Did I really look like I was about to cry? I haven’t shed tears since that time.

What exactly… do I want to become with Master?

I just want to stay by his side.

“Well then, as an apology… Hey, you there, sir! What do you think you’re doing eavesdropping on a conversation between ladies!?”

“…Don’t say such awful things.”

When Elise-san pointed at one of the pillars, sure enough, Master appeared.

“M-Master!?”

“W-what a coincidence.”

“…Were you following me?”

“T-there’s no way I’d do something so disgraceful.”

…Could it be that he was worried about me?

If that’s true, then somehow… it makes me happy.

My chest felt warm and my heart felt all light and floaty.

“Hehe, Master, honestly.”

“Oh my, that really is a lovely smile. Your Highness Alvis, please don’t worry about Yulia-san. I will take full responsibility for protecting her.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but do whatever you want.”

With those words, Master quickly walked away.