The Reincarnated Villainous Young Master's Guide to Happiness

Chapter 50: Auria Odum

This chapter is brought to you by cold rain by Aimer.

Edit by: bafflinghaze

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Vespera knew something was wrong when Laurel came back from her visit to the Moores Manor with an ashen face.

"Did she hurt you?"

Laurel wore a vacant expression, though she attempted to smile in reassurance.

"No. Not physically, at least."

Vespera stared at her, not knowing what to say.

Laurel closed her eyes. "I may need an hour to compose myself."

Vespera nodded. "Go."

She watched as Laurel made her way to the guest room they had prepared for her with a defeated air.

It seemed the conversation with Countess Moores did not go well.

Tch.

A murderous expression crossed her features as she stood in the middle of the hallway, contemplating.

Vespera had been ready to storm the Moores Manor when Laurel deduced that the poison was likely a creation of the Countess.

She did not question how Laurel was familiar with the poison in Nazareth's body—for that would mean an hour-long lecture on the wonders of medicinal science—but she was furious with Lucian's wife.

Not only had she turned the Moores' name into a complete joke of a House, she dared to touch one of her children.

Rage. The muses would sing of Vespera's rage, simmering beneath her skin and coursing through her veins in magma inferno, hot with burning fury that could swallow the sky.

She would bring countless ills against the one who had crossed her—

And yet, Laurel stopped her.

"Astella and I..." the other duchess had paused. "... We were apprentice sisters to the Wandering Traveler. I believe this could be all... a misunderstanding."

Vespera had eyed her with a hint of contempt that evening, sneering inwardly as she became fully aware of how this sort of story would go.

She was familiar with this type of dynamic. The way old friendships proved themselves stumbling blocks toward justice.

"You seem used to apologizing for all her transgressions. Was that the excuse you used to justify what she did to your stepson?"

Laurel took a step back as if she'd been slapped, mouth parting open and eyes wide with guilt and sorrow.

"H-how do you—"

"I have my sources," Vespera had replied. "Eubulous was distraught at the time and I led the investigation. You defended the Countess' actions and promised she would never harm another innocent person again. And from what I recalled, Eubulous allowed it."

Laurel stammered. "Astella was... I know what she did was wrong, I do. But you have to understand—"

"I cannot empathize with her lack of morals. If it was not for the fact that she could hold the cure to Nazareth's ailings, I would have made Lucian a widow once more."

So Laurel had begged and groveled for the life of a woman undeserving of that devotion and love, and Vespera gave in, not because Laurel fell to her knees weeping but rather—

"Please, Vespera, don't kill her. I know she's not innocent, and I know she has caused you offense, but please... spare her."

"Are you stupid? I will not—"