The Tragedy of The Villainess

Mermaids were really afraid of drinking clean water. Mermaids would never swallow water into their esophagus, just as humans suffer when water enters their lungs. The water that came in contact with their skin was enough.

So Linon, a mermaid half-breed, was also afraid to drink pure water. He didn't know why, though, since tea and beverages smelled different and could be drunk. Unlike the pure-blooded mermaids, his body needed to consume water anyway, so he drank it when he really needed to.

But to make such a mermaid drink this much water…. It seemed that Duke Howard had already figured out what the mermaid's weaknesses were.

Nobles like beautiful things. They like rare things. They are willing to spend money on mystical hobbies. Linon was well aware of the habits of these nobles. Having seen the scales of the mermaid in front of their eyes, the nobles would want to keep it close to them….

Linon could vividly picture how Duke Howard would use this mermaid for socializing.

But when mermaids became common, their value would be low, and the nobles would quickly lose interest. Then, of course, the mermaids would be re-sold, but in rare cases, it would be thrown away.

And if the mermaids got in the hands of the commoners who had nothing to eat….

Linon's white-gloved hands trembled.

‘Then they’ll eat the mermaid in front of me. It's terrible.’

All the commoners didn't want to know the difference between a fish and a mermaid who was too old to make any money. The dirty, filthy commoners, blinded by their appetites, did.

Feeling nauseous, Linon crouched down. Gasping as if hyperventilating, then finally got up. Scratching at the cloth, he woke up the mermaid who had been cowering in his sleep.

Their gazes met in silence.

He wanted to release it right now, but it was impossible. Now that there were the Grand Duke and Duchess of Berg, and the Saintess attended the banquet, the Howard family would be in an uproar, but today was the only chance. Even if the power of the Howard family had fallen recently, Duke Howard was still a Duke…

"……."

When Linon opened the lid, the mermaid lifted his face to the surface. The water-soaked skin, the hair, those shimmering scales…. Even if it lives anyway, it will become a spectacle, and it will be a life where it will be tortured with clean water and shed weaknesses of the race.

The mermaids had a separate villain to protect them anyway. For mermaids like this, accidentally washed up on shore, a quick death was the way to go for the safety of the species.

Linon untied his cloak with shaking hands and laid it on the floor.

“Run away.”

"……."

"…You may die on the way to escape, but it’ll be better that way.”

As of today, this mermaid would receive the explosive interest of most nobles of the Imperial capital. All the observant and greedy nobles will recognize it.

Splash!

After Linon finally took the mermaid out of the tank, he wiped the water off with his cloak. At a certain moment, his eyes spun around in front of him.

"Why are the gods always so stingy with the beastmen…?"

Of all times, now was such a tense time.

He felt like he was experiencing a relapse of the panic disorder he had experienced so many times at the Academy. Linon hugged his knees and lowered his head with wet eyes. His lungs were throbbing with pain from hyperventilating. He was out of breath when suddenly he was grabbed by the collar and lifted up.

Linon turned around, his cheeks wet with tears.

“You’ve grown braver. Totally ….."

Seria stood there, clicking her tongue.

***

"I can't believe the mermaid is gone!"

Duke Howard exclaimed with a pale face, less than an hour after the banquet had begun.

For a moment, the music died down, then hastily reconnected.

The gazes of the nobles who had been talking about the mermaid gathered on Duke Howard. Duke Howard's face was completely pale.

“Lock the doors and search immediately!”

“Yes, sir!

The nobles began to rustle at the unexpected situation. Seria glanced at Linon, who was fidgeting behind her.

"What is it? Did someone steal the mermaid?"

"Perhaps he thought he wouldn’t get caught because there were too many people. What kind of noble person is he?”

"The scales were really fantastic. It was like Stern’s ceremonial dress…"

Duke Howard was not a member of the royal family, but he was a Duke by rights. The Duke Howard's butler and servants politely asked each of the nobles who attended the banquet if they could check their carriages. They politely asked for permission.

"Of course. Come on, check it out."

Among them were Prince Jun whose presence was so small that they didn't even know he attended. Knowing that he was the son of Empress Ezikel, he immediately accepted it. But what nobleman could say no?

Rather than the Prince, it was Seria’s own husband that the butler had a hard time with.

"It's a terrible lack of respect, Grand Duke Berg…."

The butler of Duke Howard's family approached him awkwardly.

"…Duke Howard."

Duke Howard's eyes flashed.

"I saw the Grand Duchess go to the mermaid’s room."

"……?"

There was silence for a moment. The eyes of Duke Howard, as well as the rest of the nobles, were only focusing on the person who had just opened her mouth.

"…Saintess?"

The nobles by Lina's side were also bemused. They had just learned about their simple tendencies. Many of them were pious, sincere nobles.

Duke Howard asked in a shocked voice.

"What did you say just now?"

“I told you that I saw Grand Duchess Berg go to the mermaid’s room. And she came back quite a while later."

Lina spoke clearly one more time, but the atmosphere became as cold as ice. When it came down to it, Lina was quite nervous to speak and couldn't seem to grasp it. ….

It was the way they looked at her.

“So…..”

Seria stared at Lina without concern.

"Are you suspecting me?"

"…I just testified as a witness. Since Duke Howard is looking for it busily…..”

"So, I’m a mermaid thief?"

"……."

Lina fell silent. But she didn't deny it either.

Duke Howard asked in a trembling voice.

"…Why did the Grand Duchess enter the room with the mermaid?"

Seria looked at Duke Howard quietly. The longer they looked at each other, the more pale the Duke became.

"My knight is from the southern island of Murat, and he told me something.”

Duke Howard's eyes shook at the mention of "my knight," and the nobles whispered quietly to the word "Southern Murat."

As it should be, the island of Murat was so secluded that even the nobles living in the south did not know much about it.

"It looks like the mermaid is not a noble, but a slave."

"A slave? No!"

"No? See, Linon?”

Linon, equally pale faced, hurried out.

“Roll up your sleeves.”

Linon immediately rolled up his sleeves. He then untied the temporary bandage he had made with the cloth. The nearby nobles inhaled.

It was a well known fact that mermaids have teeth as sharp as sharks. And Linon's wrist was full of ragged flesh and blood marks as if he had been bitten by a shark.

It was a bit disgusting.

“Prisoner slave prosecution is my duty as an Imperial citizen, and I have the right to hear what Stern's knight wants. I asked my aide to look into it in case, and the mermaid threatened and bit Berg's chief aide like this."

Seria tilted her chin and continued.

“Release it.”

“……!”

“Duke Howard tortured the mermaid in a way that was not well known to the public.”

The Duke’s eyes went wide. All the nobles were interested in what method he had used. Of course, if they asked now, they would be scowled at, so everyone stayed quiet.

Setia said with a grim look on her face.

“Slave or noble, the mermaid was under Duke Howard's responsibility, so the price for making Berg's chief aide like this should be fully paid, Duke."

Linon had deliberately placed his arm in the mermaid's mouth, but there was no way they could tell.

That was when Duke Howard's face turned very pale.

The servant announced with a pale face that the slave prosecutor had arrived from the Imperial Palace.

‘I don't think it's been an hour since I reported it. They came really fast.’

The atmosphere of the banquet quickly became chaotic. Duke Howard excused himself with a pale face.

"Ha, Grand Duchess Berg."

That was when Duchess Howard spoke to Seria, stomping her feet.

“Priests." (Lesche)

Lesche’s voice dropped sharply. The priests, who had been standing consistently behind Lina, flinched.

‘'Yes, Your Highness.”

“The Saintess drove my wife into a thief, and you have nothing to say?”

"……!"

"You're not trying to run away without apologizing, are you?”

"…Your, Your Highness.”

Lesche shifted his gaze to Lina. Her face was as pale as porcelain.

‘It would be ridiculous for a saint to run away to such a small banquet hall.’

Then Lina asked with tearful eyes.

“…Why is Your Highness forcing me to apologize?”

"Saintess!” (The priests)

The nobles on all sides froze, and the priests looked as if they were about to collapse, but Lina did not retreat.

"This is a matter between Seria and me….”

Of course… her voice was trembling uncontrollably.

“If that's what you think, call Marquis Haneton, Saintess.” (Lesche)

"…Why Kalis?" (Lina)

“Isn't running away the best thing a Saint can do?” (Lesche)

“Why do you say that? Unlike Your Highness and Seria, I'm just not used to being in a place like this!"

Lesche gave a short, cold laugh.

"It's annoying to even say it.” (Lesche)

"……!"

“Either apologize properly right here, or bring your husband before me right now. I think it’s time for you to stop talking.” (Lesche)

His voice was like ice. Lesche didn't hide any hint that he didn't want to even exchange any more words with Lina. Even the nearby Duchess Howard stiffened.

Lina, her lips tightly squeezed, walked towards Seria. Everyone's eyes were on her. She stopped in front of Seria and bowed her head without saying a word.

She lifted her head and her eyes were filled with clear tears. That was the end of it. It seemed that Lina probably didn't know what words she had to say to make a formal apology. Or maybe she did, but didn't want to for the sake of her pride.

A stifled silence fell.

Seria shifted her gaze from Lina, whose tears were trickling down her face.

Then she stared at Duchess Howard.

“What were you going to tell me?"

That was her answer.

The gaze of the nobles on Lina dissipated in an instant.

Duchess Howard hastily cleared her throat.

“Yes, Grand Duchess Berg. Her rudeness is truly…."

The priests cautiously took Lina out of the room. Lina's shoulders trembled in her shimmering dress that matched the season. At the same time, the music in the hall changed. Duchess Howard beckoned.