A Villain's Will to Survive novel Chapter 52

Chapter 52: Imperial Palace (2)

It had been three months since the professor promotion evaluations began, and the Mage Tower was still abuzz with discussions about the Head Professor. Despite Deculein’s unparalleled spell interpretation skills and theoretical frameworks, supported by the influential Yukline family, most believed Louina was superior overall, especially in terms of personality.

Deculein’s behavior, verging on arrogance, left the current professors wary of his potential as Head Professor. This apprehension drove their support for Louina. The Mage Tower’s evaluation criteria focused on individual merit and achievements rather than family or status. Even the current Chairwoman, Adrienne, hailed from a minor noble family.

Trusting the fairness of the selection process, Louina remained resolute. She faced relentless pressure and threats from Yukline but refused to yield. Even if it meant her death, she would not surrender. However, today...

“If the position holds less importance than your family, then it is time to relinquish it.”

Her father's voice, once robust, now sounded frail and withered. His words shattered Louina. The pressure from Yukline had extended beyond her to the entire McQueen family. Once one of the twelve great houses, they had fallen from grace ten years ago when her father lost his magic to a severe injury, causing the family's prestige to decline.

The McQueens had no power to resist Yukline. Louina couldn’t handle this alone; the situation was far more dire than she had realized. Her father, mother, younger siblings, retainers, and the entire family’s territory were collapsing.

Splish, splash—

It was once on a rainy day, feeling a sense of helplessness that far outweighed the rain soaking her, Louina went to see Deculein.

“You are not permitted to enter,” declared the guard at the imposing gate of the Yukline mansion, one of the most prestigious residences in the capital.

"I have urgent matters to discuss with him."

“Without a prior appointment, entry is not permitted.”

“I understand, but I must speak with him urgently!”

"It is not permitted."

“... Kindly step aside! If you inform Deculein of my presence, he will...”

Louina tried to advance, but several guards blocked her path, resulting in a noisy altercation as they pushed her back. The commotion ceased when a commanding voice interrupted, “What is happening here?”

Deculein stood just beyond the gate, shielded by a servant’s umbrella, his eyes fixed on her. The condescending disdain in his gaze churned Louina’s stomach.

"You again, Louina," Deculein remarked, his eyebrow twitching with barely concealed irritation.

Louina pushed past the guards and brushed off her clothes. Fixing her gaze on him, she reluctantly spoke the words she had dreaded, "... I give up."

“Give up?”

“Yes.”

Deculein gazed at her with the disdain one might show a stray dog.

Louina’s voice trembled as she said, “I give up. That will end this, won’t it? So, let’s put an end to this.”

Deculein's twisted smile was filled with disdain as he responded, “End this? What do you mean by that?”

“... What?”

Yukline had driven her entire family to the edge of ruin. Their debts were drastically accelerated, and their family bonds had lost all value. Their territory teetered on the brink of bankruptcy.

“Louina, I truly don’t understand what you mean...”

Deculein approached her with slow, deliberate steps, his cold eyes brimming with disdain.

“If your intention is to offer an apology...”

The idea of apologizing was absurd to Louina.

“You should demonstrate appropriate humility.”

Under the umbrella held by his servant, Deculein’s cold blue eyes glinted as he remarked, “You need to lower yourself.”

Louina bit her lip until it bled. Her voice, trembling with suppressed rage she said, “... Apologize?”

"Indeed. After Berhert, your family would have fallen if not for Yukline's support. You were spared collapse through our aid. Despite your family's betrayal, we granted forgiveness, yet your current actions are deplorable. At the very least, you owe an apology,” Deculein declared with a calm, aristocratic tone. Louina clenched her fists, glaring at him as he narrowed his eyes.

"... A decayed tree cannot be restored. Remember this, your family will wilt away like a dying plant," Deculein stated. He then turned and walked away.

At that moment, Louina felt the world spinning around her. It was as if the sky were collapsing. She wanted to disappear but couldn’t abandon her family.

“Wait!” Louina called out to his retreating figure.

Deculein halted and glanced back over his shoulder.

“... I will do it.” Louina said, her voice trembling as she slowly knelt, blood dripping from her bitten lip.

Splash—

Mud and rainwater soaked into her clothes, causing Deculein to pause, seemingly taken aback.

“... I apologize. I... am truly sorry,” Louina said, bowing her head as tears mingled with the rain.

Deculein's voice dripped with scorn as he said, “Tsk. How pathetic and pitiful.”

Deculein advanced with deliberate steps, the rain intensifying around him.

"Your pitiful family, barely a century old and lacking roots or history, is nothing more than a collection of mongrels."

With her knees on the ground, he pressed his shoe firmly on her knee.

"Your attempts to preserve your pride, ignorant of your station...”

He pressed down on her knee firmly, as if branding it. Louina felt a searing pain that seemed to tear through her heart.

“Were truly repugnant and disgusting."

Crack—!

His heel drove into her knee, tearing flesh and snapping ligaments, causing blood to seep out. Louina stifled a scream.

"Get lost. If you wish for your family's survival, ensure that I never see your face again.”

Deculein spat his words and walked away, leaving Louina kneeling in the rain. The guards returned to their posts as the downpour mingled with the blood from her wounds, streaming down her body. She remained there, pleading for forgiveness until the rain ceased. The next day, Louina submitted her resignation to the Mage Tower of the University.

Two days later, she left the Empire. Within a week, life resumed as usual. Yet, Louina never forgot the humiliation of that day. She dedicated herself to relentless work. As a head professor at the Mage Tower of the Kingdom, she published numerous papers, developed new spells, earned substantial wealth, and restored her family’s reputation.

Having earned the respect of the kingdom’s citizens, Louina now stood in the imperial palace. Presenting her credentials to the guards, she received salutes and open doors. The journey from the imperial palace gate to the inner imperial palace took forty minutes, involving several security checks and a change of carriages.

At last, she reached the Path of Humility leading to the inner imperial palace.

“Louina von Schlott McQueen!”

When the Empress called her name, Louina felt as if she owned the world, overwhelmed by the Empress's favor. But then...

“Deculein von Grahan-Yukline!”

Upon hearing his name and seeing his face, Louina braced herself. She would not be defeated again. Resolving to repay the humiliation tenfold, she steeled her determination and walked the Path of Humility in silence.

***

In the imperial palace hall, I observed Louina, her expression stern and unyielding.

"Please refrain from staring," Louina said with a sharp edge to her voice.

Her words cut like a blade, and I quietly averted my gaze.

“But you’ve managed to endure all this time. It’s said that your brain took his own life three years ago,” Louina remarked, breaking the silence.

I retorted, “Refrain from speaking to me.”

There was no need to be kind to someone hostile. Feigning niceness in such situations only led to negative outcomes. My six months as Deculein had taught me this simple truth.

“Please prepare for a light body search,” the maidservants said, approaching. Louina removed her coat and submitted to the search first. One of the maids, inspecting Louina’s bag filled with various items, asked, “What are these?”

“These are gifts for Her Majesty and materials for our lesson,” Louina replied.

A brief glance disclosed grimoires and hefty documents. The palace mage assisting the maid performed a meticulous magical inspection.

“They are cleared. Now, Mister Deculein?”

I stood and approached the maidservants, who conducted an unusually thorough search. One of them examined the contents of my velvet bundle and asked, “What might this be?”

“A gift for Her Majesty,” I responded.

She retrieved a bottle of the finest Prurdua wine, vintage 33, and stated, “... Alcohol requires a more thorough inspection. We will examine it further before presenting it to Her Majesty.”

“Understood.”

“Tsk, we are here to teach, not to indulge in drinking,” Louina murmured.

I ignored her comment. With the search complete, we followed the maidservants up the imperial palace stairs. The Empress’s designated lesson space was called the Hall of Learning. We soon arrived at a door adorned with a golden lion, where the maid knocked.

Knock, knock—

The Empress sat in her chair, observing us. I stepped forward and bowed. _{fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓}

“Categories? Properties? Ah, the eight categories, you mean.”

— What, doing? Trouble, anger, Her Majesty. Because, you, me, too. Damn, you.

Louina glared at me resentfully. I wondered how much my Comprehension would aid me in this chess game.

I shook my head, preferring to observe Louina and the Empress’s game first. This would help me gauge how my Comprehension might apply.

“Hmm. One-on-one can be dull, but very well. Let us begin.”

Tap—