208: The Desires of a Villainess
Avril was still immersed in the lingering aftertaste from the commotion that just happened when Listeard’s gaze turned toward her.
“Well then, Top Scorer, Avril Allingham.”
“Ye-…yes!”
“I shall hear what your esteemed self desires, for it is our custom for the top scorer to be given a secondary prize, anything they wish.”
“!”
It’s finally here! Or rather, it came so suddenly.
She was mentally unprepared, still reeling from the denouncement against Alois. That said, would not leading the conversation into, “For the sake of countermeasures against the resource depletion of the Kingdom of Blanville, I humbly request the redevelopment of Your Excellency’s mines!” be far too self-serving?
After all, I merely scored highly on the exam. If a reward is to be received, then Lady Jeanne is far more deserving. She not only attained good marks but also upholds what is right for the sake of the country…
An announcement was made as she was mulling over such thoughts.
“Before that, allow me to announce an enterprise which, with Alois’s removal, our country can now undertake.”
Ehh?
Listeard began an astounding announcement before Avril who had been left agape.
“Within the Greenie Mountains of our nation lie resources. Once, development was advanced as a way to utilize their resources but was halted due to various reasons. This is something I wish to resume in the near future.”
Eehh!?
Listeard went and loudly declared that which I was about to request.
“This project has long since been stymied. Our nation’s technology alone would be inefficient, thus we intend to proceed in partnership with the neighboring Kingdom of Branwill. In due time, from among today’s successful candidates, I intent to appoint several of the most outstanding responsible for this project.”
“—What was that!?”
“—Redeveloping the mines? Wouldn’t that require a considerable labor force?”
“—The range of employment available will expand beyond just tourism. Life might even become more prosperous.”
Avril exchanged glances Dylan as those comments reached her ears. As expected, even he looked surprised. He hadn’t foreseen such a situation.
That His Majesty Listeard himself would bring up the redevelopment of the mines. This is something I would have never expected…!
“As expected, things seem to have gone just as Lawrence read.”
“It truly has…”
As she nodded at Dylan, who gave a wry smile, Listeard’s gaze once more turned her way.
“Now then, what does your esteemed self desire?”
“!?”
That the question would come like this. Avril had intended to ask, “Please grant us the right to redevelop the mines,” and thus nothing else came to her mind.
Moreover, as a villainess, requesting something easily given doesn’t seem very fitting. As she paled, wondering, What should I do? Listeard gave a sly grin.
“Jewelry, a historical book of this country, or a special cloth so popular with visitors that it has a ten-year waiting list?”
Having come to this point, it cannot be helped. For the time being, I have no choice but to ask for everything that seems expensive.
“Th-then… please give me all of them.”
“All of them, you say? Alright, and what else?”
“!?!?”
For some reason, he’s assuming there has to be something else. What is that supposed to mean?
She felt a pressure from Listeard that seemed to say, “Of course, you must desire many things as a villainess. I shall grant them all.” However, nothing further came to her mind.
Questions like these, in truth, should not be asked of one such as myself, but of Lady Jeanne or Lyn, people who truly have purpose and strived diligently in their studies…!
Then, the vivid image of the orphanage garden suddenly came to her mind.
The image of Lyn, who despite always laughing with innocence displayed a momentary glimpse of maturity, revived in her mind.
“…I’m really grateful to this orphanage. But there are still so many children without homes. I want all the orphanages across the kingdom to be better supported. I’m working hard to for that.”
She spoke that fragment of her dream so wistfully. Might it be granted now? However, once the idea came to her mind, there was no need to even think about it.
Avril lifted her face without a moment’s hesitation.
“—For the children.”
“The children?”
Avril openly conveyed her desire to Listeard who now appeared confused.
“As my reward for passing with the highest score, I ask for aid to the children who have no homes, and those who are troubled for something as simple as what they will eat for dinner.”
“!”
Everyone attending the ceremony, not just Listeard, audibly drew in their breaths.
Still, Avril also understood that a wish such as this was not befitting of a villainess. Thus, she restated it by gathering all the things she wanted. As it was, she only needed to say, “Please give me anything that seems expensive.”
All she needed to do was recall those expensive-looking art pieces her eyes had come across while acting as a villainess in the audience chamber on her very first day in this nation.
“In addition to support for the children, I want jewels, books of this nation’s historical writings, that special cloth so popular with visitors it has a ten-year waiting list for it, and from within the royal palace, the vases, paintings, and dollhouses displayed there, there, and there. Also, please give me the large painting displayed in the audience chamber as well! Please… grant this within the bounds of what can be done.”
“…”
Listeard’s expression was that of a pigeon struck by a peashooter. Then, a few seconds later, he burst out with grand laughter.
“—That’s just too greedy, no matter how you look at it…”
“—Like we thought, she really might be the villainous from the rumors…”
Where those voices came from was unknown. Avril couldn’t understand why they were mixed with laughter, but she was fully satisfied as the appointing ceremony came to an end.
This is good. I said, “within the bounds of what can be done,” so aid for the children is most likely all that will be given. And may it be that when Lyn passes the national exam as the top scorer, she will be able to request something for herself.
Such was what she thought.
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