The Villainess Who Was Dumped Got Married into My Family, a Mob Noble from the Frontier, and Turns Out, She's an Amazing Capable Wife? - Chapter 53: Like a Celebrity Brainwashed by a Fortune Teller

Chapter 53: Like a Celebrity Brainwashed by a Fortune Teller

“I was told by Patricia that I could retrieve it using my cloak of concealment …”

Edward seemed to have come to the dungeon in the Brave territory because Patricia had asked him to.

“That’s why I disguised myself and even managed to slip away from Clive, who probably was supposed to escort me, to get here.”

He seemed sensible enough. 

I had been wondering what logic other than brainwashing could possibly explain a reverse harem, but it turned out most of it was just Edward leading everyone into playing along in this game of make-believe. 

The idea of a commoner being surrounded by royalty and nobility didn’t make sense when you think about it normally. 

Alicia, Mariana, and I have built a friendship through miraculous common ground, but without such encounters, we’d normally never mix.

“With that… my love with Patricia could be acknowledged!” 

As someone familiar with the story inside the game, I know that Mariana is the saint, and there are important figures within the academy hinting at knowing this.

The fact that Patricia is not the saint remains, and no matter how sacred relics she acquires, her position won’t change – that’s my take, at least within what I know.

No matter what happens next, Edward and Patricia’s love will never be accepted, and the fool kneeling before me has no choice but to understand his position and settle for Patricia being his mistress at best.

Only those who have fulfilled their duties have the right to be selfish.

It’s like saying if you want to play games, you should study and get good grades first.

“So, I beg you, Lord of the Frontier! Please take me to the deepest part! If anyone can reach the depths, it’s the ruler of this land where strong adventurers gather, a lord with the bloodline of the hero runs strong! Surely we can make it to the deepest part!”

Edward pleaded.

“Is that true, Ragna, about the hero’s descendants?” 

“No, I don’t know anything about it.”

There’s no such legend in the Brave family, and frankly, I’m not interested. 

My family values are all about battle and training, not such tales.

“You won’t be held accountable for any crimes, absolutely not. Since Clive or anyone else isn’t here, you won’t be accused of anything. I’m risking my life here too.”

‘Patricia has been kind of cold lately’, I heard him say quietly.

It doesn’t seem like he’s reflecting at all. 

It feels as if he could die at any moment, manipulated by Patricia.

No, more like he would surely be killed. 

Coming here alone, tricked, means Patricia intended to let him die and pin the blame on the Brave territory. 

Using the toxic influence of status to always make us look bad is quite the strategy. 

It’s so aggravating how things are going as she planned that I’ve decided not to kill him for now.

“Your Highness, I don’t mind guiding you, but does such a thing really exist?” 

“It does, because Patricia said so!”

Aren’t you going to ask where she got that information from? 

Is it because love is blind? 

He’s just unconditionally on her side, seriously.

“But as Alicia said, if you really wanted it, shouldn’t you have first contacted the Brave family to go get it?”

Not that we have it, though. 

“I can’t just decide that on my own. I know Patricia is in a difficult position because of her status. That’s why I came using this cloak of concealment myself, to prove my love for her.” 

“And what if it doesn’t exist?”

“It does! I got a map! It’s in this love letter from her!”

The prince pulled out a letter written in clumsy handwriting, “To my beloved prince,” with a map that looked like a child’s drawing. 

“Is this really a letter from Miss Patricia…?”

“She’s always been embarrassed about her poor handwriting because she thinks she lacks education. This letter she wrote with so much effort is my treasure.”

Alicia and I were just holding our heads in our hands, seeing how serious Edward was. 

The handwriting looked like it was done by a child, and without a sender’s name. Even if he says it’s from Patricia, it sounds like something that could easily be explained away if she said she had a commoner’s child pass it to Edward.

This isn’t just love being blind; it feels as crazy as a celebrity brainwashed by a fortune teller.

Is such a thing even possible for someone who knows about otome games?

“Ragna, what will you do? Are you really going to guide him?”

“It’s too much of a hassle to deal with him otherwise, so I’ll just take him and make sure he’s satisfied before sending him back.”

I whispered back to Alicia. 

I’m not about to let our people suffer over one man’s life.

“Then we should put it in writing.” 

While saying this, Alicia took out paper, a pen, and ink from the backpack she was carrying. 

“…Can I ask something? Why do you have that?”

“It’s a dungeon, right? I thought we might need to take notes if we can’t remember the way.”

“Makes sense.”

Alicia is always so thoughtful!

I was worried she’d end up writing something like, “I’ll call off the engagement if you try to kill us right now.”

Like writing a divorce paper saying “I’m going back to my parents’ house.”

But then again, such formalities don’t exist in this world.

“We couldn’t possibly refuse if the prince asks for our help, right? So, let’s put in writing that everything happening here is the prince’s responsibility, just in case.”

Alicia probably doesn’t think that’ll be enough, but it’s better than nothing.

“Your Highness, we can’t proceed to the dungeon unless you leave us a note. It’s only natural given the danger, right? Please make sure to infuse the ink with your magic when you write. This isn’t like any ordinary letter.”

“Uh, yes. Of course, that was my intention…”

Edward, intimidated by her smile, sweats as he writes down the agreement, infusing it with his magic for credibility. 

“Alicia, if the so-called sacred artifact isn’t found, let’s also include cutting ties with Miss Patricia.” 

“Sure.”

“What! Why do we need to go that far!”

“It’s definitely there, right? So, it shouldn’t be a problem. Or do you not trust Miss Patricia, Your Highness?”

“Of course, I trust her! I only believe in the path I choose!”

Edward quietly wrote down everything as Alicia suggested. 

This is going to be interesting to watch.

“Alright, shall we go search for this sacred artifact then?”

With Edward now part of our group, we decided to move forward, like ants through their nest.

Probably— By the time I obtained the sacred relic sleeping in the academy’s dungeon, Edward’s route was essentially doomed.

For Patricia, who knew this, Edward had become an unnecessary existence.

I wonder what kind of end awaits this poor prince when he realizes he’s been deceived.

Though, I suspect he might just keep denying it.