Villain, Let Me Touch You! - Chapter 118
I spent a chaotic morning with Jamie, a battle of words and emotions. But I didn’t get to go out.
Unknowingly, a restriction had been placed on me. I wasn’t allowed to leave.
And the one who had issued the order was none other than Helios.
“Your Highness, I’m fully recovered now.”
“Mm.”
Helios nodded and placed a neatly cut steak on my plate. I quickly popped the steak into my mouth.
“Your Highness, we have to catch the person who sent the snake to me.”
“The yellow-banded viper.”
“Huh?”
“The snake that bit you, the one that should be extinct from this world. It’s a yellow-banded viper.”
Is he giving me information, or is he trying to change the subject?
“That’s right. The yellow-banded viper. There’s someone I suspect brought that snake into my room.”
“We’ve figured out who brought the snake from abroad. His name’s Milchin. He’s 30 years old and has loved snakes since childhood. I’ve already sent someone to bring him in.”
Helios was conducting his own investigation, in his own way.
“Are you saying that person tried to kill me?”
“No. He was probably hired by someone else.”
“That’s right. I want to find the person who hired him.”
“You don’t need to. The answer’s already clear.”
“Who is it?”
I had an idea, but still, I asked, hoping I was wrong.
Like Helios said, one mistake could be overlooked, but a second time would not be so easily forgiven.
I hate fighting with people in high places.
“Priscilla.”
The name finally came out of Helios’s mouth.
“You’re not surprised?”
I wasn’t shocked, but Helios seemed surprised by my calmness while continuing my meal.
“I had a guess.”
“How should we handle it?”
Helios acted as if he would do anything I asked.
What I wanted was for Priscilla to live the rest of her life like a mouse hiding from a cat.
But she was the Imperial Consort, and on top of that, the mother of a prince.
It wouldn’t be easy to make her live like that.
Unless I found a major weakness to exploit. Or made her think she was at risk of losing everything.
The mention of Priscilla made my appetite vanish. I put down my fork.
Resting my chin on my hand, I stared at Helios.
“Is there something on my face? Ah… Don’t say things like, ‘You’ve got rice on your face.’”
He remembered the playful joke I’d used before.
“I’m not doing that.”
“Good, don’t.”
Helios grimaced at my cheesy joke.
“I’m not doing those obvious things anymore. Anyway, Your Highness…”
“Hmm?”
I lowered my hand from my chin.
“You don’t have evidence, do you?”
Helios’s lips twitched ever so slightly, barely noticeable—just a tiny tremor.
***
Helios tilted his head back, his face clouded with a storm as he melded into the sofa completely.
‘You don’t have evidence, do you?’
Rienna had hit the nail on the head. While he hadn’t expected capturing Priscilla to be easy, he didn’t anticipate it being this difficult either.
Before he even had the chance to continue my investigation into Priscilla, it seemed like he’d have to close the case.
The false evidence she had prepared was too solid.
A customs declaration, of all things.
It was blatantly fake evidence, but it was hard to outright call an official document a forgery.
Of course, it wasn’t entirely impossible to challenge it. He could do it if he wanted, but it would require an immense amount of time.
In that process, a battle with the customs office was inevitable.
Helios pushed his tongue against the roof of his mouth.
The Emperor had been keeping an eye on him. Priscilla, standing at the edge, was more than ready to strike at any moment.
If he added more enemies to the mix, protecting Rienna would become even more difficult.
It’s hard enough as it is.
Helios sighed in resignation.
Until now, he had thought of himself as a rather capable person. But being with Rienna had made him realize just how lacking he truly was.
So, maybe it was time to let go of his pride.
Helios let out a bitter laugh.
