|I'M THE OP VILLAINESS| {Yuri}

CHAPTER 27『OCTAVIAxVESPERTITE』

"Thy free trial of existence has been, hereafter, terminated. Please, let me cease your means of operation."

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The sun was setting in the Eastern Boshin Empire; its city of Gandrae, in the Sandhills of Medeon, was captured by the soldiers of the Empire, after my Syndicate sneaked in, killing the garrison in a quarter of an hour. The gates freely opened for us, and we marched inside.

We held captive all the nobles in the city, with the army positioning itself in the walls and in the barracks of this exotic oasis in the desert.

I wonder what Aurelia is doing...

Oh, but well, I can sort of use this turn of things, to interrogate this girl I saw earlier: the Commander of the Boshin Empire, the one we faced earlier.

I am currently sitting on the desk of the noble that controls this city, managing the logistics of the Imperial Army. Good thing we came here so fast. If we were late with our marching, who knows in which condition we would be with no supplies and food whatsoever.

The citizens of the city of Gandrae were less than appalled by our arrival. I had the army completely patrol and control all the major streets in the city, and dispell some riots in the city centre, all in a single day.

These people really have spirit, I'll give them that. They have a sense of unity that the Empire of Lightining doesn't have. But, then again, we would be doing the same if Barbarians invaded us.

Individualism thrives when people are independent, both in societal and financial terms. Unity thrives when that independence falls apart. You could say that this very unity is a product of weakness.

Anyway. I need to get some fresh air. Then, I'll go interrogate the Commander girl. I left the luxurious room, with expensive Anatolian carpets and gold all around the place, to find refuge in the walls of the city. My men lit up oil lamps, and some of them used their wands to patrol the walls. When they encountered me, wandering around, they simply bowed, and carried on.

Two casualties in this single battle for our side. Both of them were recruits that didn't know how to swim properly and ended up having their fingers broken from trying to grab some sort of rock on the river as they tried to swim on the other side.

On the other side, maybe a couple hundred thousand dead. Not too shabby.

Without thinking about it much, I stopped and stared at the moon. Yeah, I repaired it after I blew it up.

My plans are going just as I machinated them. But, this incident with the god, and he calling me a sinner and all that...it is a little alarming.

I'm probably just overthinking it, but I just can't rest easy. I know this has got something to do with Octavia and all. But...I just cannot help it but think that Aristea is behind all this.

"Bernadotte? What are you doing up here?"

I looked at my right, surprised by the silent approach of whoever was in there, in the darkness.

"Speak of the devil..."

"...you're the only one who's a devil in here, Bernadotte."

"Don't you mean 'Veevee', my dear Octavia?"

"Would you just shut it for a bit? I didn't come here to argue."

"You didn't? That's an improvement. What, you liked those kisses that much?"

"If one more word comes from inside your vulgar mouth, I'll kill you. Right here, right now."

"Awww, so romantic, don't you think?! Getting flustered like a little girl, saying how much you would 'kill' me under the moonlight, while blushing the whole time..."