KFBRV Ch 123
- Mar 16
- 7 min read
The next day, two headlines in the morning paper heated up Athena Island.
One was a heartwarming article about Odette, the Empire's greatest villainess, saving and treating the residents of Athena Island.
The other was a scandal involving Count Albrecht, who had been revered as a model of nobility and an ideal man of character.
Of the two news items, the one that garnered an overwhelmingly explosive reaction was undoubtedly the latter.
In scandals of this nature, the woman usually received more attention, but this time it was the opposite.
In contrast to Mrs. Becker, who was unknown to the public, Count Albrecht was a tremendous celebrity. The greatest angel of donation. The object of commoners' admiration.
Since he had been exalted as the Empire's greatest man of character, the twist that he was fooling around with his wife's lady-in-waiting was provocative. But it wasn't solely due to his fame.
[Ulrich] "Invisibility!!!"
It was because his handling of the situation was just too ugly.
Adultery was, of course, an act worthy of condemnation in the monogamous Empire, but Count Albrecht was hardly the only noble to commit adultery. However, he was the only one caught in the act in such a hideous manner.
Leaving his lover all alone is an excessively cowardly and despicable act. Where on earth did the chivalry of the revered Count Albrecht go?
Reporters also sharply criticized his cowardice and despicability. Even going so far as to draw cartoons featuring the Count as the protagonist.
A ridiculous cartoon of the Count shouting "Invisibility" confidently into a ring while not wearing trousers.
Newspaper companies competitively published photos taken from angles as varied as the number of reporters present.
But he couldn't see those newspapers. Because the Count, who found even imagining their mockery unbearable, left Athena Island before the morning papers were distributed.
The expression on the Count's face as he hurriedly woke Odette at dawn looked on the verge of madness.
It was understandable. From his perspective, he had merely gotten slightly drunk at the evening banquet, only to wake up in the middle of a terrible nightmare.
He couldn't even imagine that Karl had brought him to the Exotic Garden while he was dead drunk, so he must be frustrated to the point of insanity, not knowing the reason.
Dragged by his hand, Odette was currently returning to the mainland Empire aboard the Count family's sailing ship.
This was possible because Meursault Beach was directly opposite Athena Island, allowing them to quickly summon the Count's ship docked at the villa.
Standing on the deck, Odette tucked her hair, blowing in the sea breeze, behind her ear and looked back at the cabin.
Indeed, with that personality, how could he ride the Imperial cruise ship with other guests? He has a pathological hatred of anyone mocking him.
Wasn't he the one who ordered that no newspapers be allowed on this ship before departure, fearing even the crew might mock him? He even forced the captain to throw away the morning paper he had brought on board immediately.
Never dreaming that the newspaper also contained the story of Odette's outing. Feigning dignity, only busy hiding his own shame...
By the time we arrive on the mainland, the capital will probably be buzzing with rumors about him as well.
Given that, the Count would likely refrain from even meeting acquaintances for a while. So there was no way he would ever learn about her outing yesterday.
There was even less chance of that bastard Ferdinand finding out about her outing. Having boarded the ship in a daze while hungover, he was busy lying down with a bottle, oblivious to everything.
Ding—. It was then that the status window rang.
[♡Quest Success♡]
[You have removed all the bad reputations you possess!
▶ Vicious Villainess
▶ Selfish Purifier
▶ Arrogant Flower of Society
▶ Ignorant Lady with an Empty Head]
[Remaining Time: 2 days 15 hours]
[Quest Successfully Achieved!]
[Reward: Restoration of 'Fame' Function Window]
It seemed the guests at the Summer Palace had just read the morning paper. And likely began to see her differently.
[Excellent. You have time remaining! You may choose a reward proportional to the remaining 2 days. (Choose one of the following rewards)
▶ Increase Fame by 20
▶ Additional Daily Loathing Checks (5 times → 7 times)]
Select Additional Loathing Checks.
She chose the reward without hesitation.
Since Charlotte is acting strangely, I can't check Loathing only against the male leads anymore.
From now on, she intended to use Loathing not limited to male leads, but to distinguish between enemies and allies as well.
After all, immediately after entrusting the task to Mueller yesterday, she checked his Loathing just in case, and it was worth referencing.
[Mueller's Loathing: 0]
She thought it was useful, and just the right reward was given at the perfect time.
The second night on the ship was passing.
The Count couldn't move from his room due to seasickness. Ferdinand, upset that he couldn't fully enjoy the nightlife of Athena Island because he was forced onto the ship, was lying down, drinking again.
Mrs. Becker, depressed because the Count didn't care for her even slightly after boarding, wasn't coming out of her cabin either.
Thus, inside the ship, with absolutely no one watching. Odette walked leisurely out onto the deck. She held a birdcage in her hand.
[Odette] "Here, eat this."
Opening the birdcage door, she had the white bird sit on her arm and fed it crushed cookie crumbs. It was a specially intelligent carrier pigeon received as a gift from Lady Brentano.
A carrier pigeon trained by Lady Brentano to fly to and from Canaris Square.
Since Odette had trained it multiple times with Gisella's face as Karin taught her, the note would likely fly well to Gisella.
Since I sent a carrier pigeon to Malea yesterday, sending the letter to Gisella at this time would be best.
Since the Count had already become laughable, she had no intention of ending it here. To escalate matters, Malea had to meet the Countess, and Gisella had to meet Paula.
Odette watched the white bird flying toward the inland. The figure crossing between the moon and the sea looked somewhat fantastical.
Watching its trail for a long time, she turned her gaze below the deck.
Shall I go see the artwork now?
Below the deck of the sailing ship, there was a storage room for alcohol and food. Below that was a place for storing goods.
And even further below that, in a place where not a single ray of light entered, there was a cage for confining beasts.
[Odette] "Hello, Doly? Rudolf?"
The man and woman, huddled together in the cage, looked back at her. Gladiator's Chokers were around both their necks.
[Odette] "Congratulations. You two have become completely famous."
Odette, holding a candle, smiled brightly and shook the newspaper. She had secretly kept it after telling the captain she would throw it away for him.
[Odette] "Mrs. Becker, known as the Count's lover, rushed at Doly and Rudolf, who created this situation, and fastened something around their necks. Some speculate that the object might be an 'Ancient Gladiator's Choker'."
She recited the article reflected in the candlelight verbatim.
[Doly] "Odette...!"
Her face, calling Odette in anger, was bruised blue.
The Count had hired thugs from Athena Island to chase these two and lock them in a cage to load them onto the ship.
Due to injuries sustained during that struggle, both of their faces were swollen with bruises and cuts.
[Odette] "They say couples resemble each other when in love. It seems you two love each other sincerely. To think you already resemble each other this much."
When she mocked the fact that both had bruises on their right cheekbones, Doly screamed in malice.
[Doly] "It was your doing that we fell into a trap, wasn't it?!"
[Odette] "Do you call that a question right now? It's obvious just looking at the situation."
[Doly] "Why did you come down? To mock us?!"
[Odette] "Hardly. Who do you think you are, to be worth mocking?"
[Doly] "Then why did you come? Why did you come? Because of you, I'm locked up like this!"
Odette folded the newspaper she was holding and tossed it whoosh through the bars. The newspaper went through the bars, hit Doly's face with a thud, and fell to the floor of the cage.
[Odette] "There's more to your article, so read it to the end. You just need to read the part I highlighted with a pen."
She even brought the candle closer for them.
Doly, furious at being hit in the face, only huffed and puffed, but Rudolf hurriedly picked up the newspaper and began reading.
[Rudolf] "The Ancient Gladiator's Choker is a magic tool used in the ancient Colosseum. Once a time is set, unless the designated opponent is killed within that time, it explodes... E-Explodes?!"
At those words, they turned pale.
[Doly] "E-Explosion? What does that mean?"
[Odette] "Exactly what it says. A magic tool that goes boom if you don't kill the opponent within the time limit."
[Rudolf] "T-There is a way to unlock this, right? You came to tell us because there is?"
[Odette] "Of course. There is. You can unlock it if you have the key."
She spoke thus and shook a crude key.
The master key held by the owner of the magic tool had already been handed over to the Count by Mrs. Becker to appease his mood, and this was an emergency key.
Karin gave it to me separately, worried I might get hurt.
Information, carrier pigeons, and even a key, all for a single handkerchief. Karin was bestowing excessive kindness on Odette to the point where one might wonder if she was a pushover.
Seeing the key, Doly quickly changed her voice to a subservient tone.
[Doly] "Ah, Young Lady... I was too impudent just now, wasn't I? I-I made a mistake because I was so angry."
[Rudolf] "Lady Odette, the mistake she made isn't that great, is it? Please forgive her. Hmm?"
Odette twisted the corners of her mouth up. In her past life, those kids dared to ruin her and made a fortune. Their bond grew stronger by that much.
[Odette] "Don't worry. I intend to release you. But... unfortunately, there is one problem. This key is for emergency use. It can open any Gladiator's Choker, but it is designed so that it can't be used a second time once a choker is unlocked."
Literally an emergency key. A disposable item designed so that the tip of the key breaks immediately after one use.
[Doly] "...Pardon?"
[Odette] "Unfortunately, it means I can only unlock the choker of one of you."
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