(EP-1.) Flower Aira

To read up to 300 chapters. patreon.com/Daoist02

001 – Evil Flower Aira #1

To me, a Queen only exists in the media.

A woman who wears a beautiful jewelled crown and never loses her noble dignity.

That's the image that comes to mind when I think of a Queen.

There was a Queen that I came to know recently.

Aira Von Tarantera VIII. 

Quick-witted people would have already guessed by her name that she's the Queen, though not in reality, rather she's a villain character in the novel 'Villain Hunter.'

That's right.

She's a villain character.

Aira Von Tarantera.

In the story, she is a tyrant. She's someone who's the farthest away from being a good Queen.

According to the description in the novel, Aira was a beautiful girl with black hair and eyes.

Although she was very pretty and outstanding, she had a low position in terms of succeeding the throne.

That was until one day, her brothers and sisters, who were above her in status, suddenly died for a variety of reasons. Ultimately, she became the Queen at a young age of 17.

She had 17 brothers and sisters, but who knew what their fate was, as they all died in a year. The novel didn't describe that part much.

As a result, the child, who was supposed to be the last to inherit the throne, became the successor because she was the last remaining descendant of the Royal Family. 

Now, what would happen when a young, foolish girl of the Royal Family, who knew she would never ascend to the throne in her lifetime, suddenly came to power-.

"Guards, off with his head-!"

I was watching the scene unfold right in front of my eyes.

"Please, Your Majesty-!"

Belmott Douglas, the Finance Minister at the Court, was terribly perplexed. He pleaded that the amount of tax levied by the Royal Family was too much and that it would cause a backlash among the lords.

"Your Majesty-! Please, listen to me just once."

No matter how foolish of a Queen she was, how could she not know what 'off with his head' meant towards him, who was trusted by many nobles and people?

In fact, the people around who were watching were also making a fuss.

━She wants to behead him?

━Is this for real?

━Heu, no-. Someone do something-.

━Someone say something to that crazy Queen-.

It'd been about three years after Aira became the Queen.

Although she had issued many bizarre orders during her reign, this was the first time she had ordered an execution that ignored legal procedures, so it was natural that people were perplexed.

━What should we do?

━I don't know. What are your plans?

━No-. She's not beheading a thief, that's Lord Belmott-. How can we do that-?

The Royal Guards could only look at each other. Their hands were on their swords, but not moving.

 "What are you doing-? I said behead him-. If you won't do it, then I'll do it myself!"

Unable to bear such a sight any longer, Aira groaned and drew a sword from the scabbard of the Guard who was standing next to the throne.

"Ahh, this cool feeling. After wearing the crown, it's been a long while since I've used a sword."

The sword in Aira's hand vibrated, seemingly eager to taste blood.

Aira would then cut the head off the old man in one graceful swing, with a skill comparable to the Kingdom's Sword Master.

That was the story.

After taking her first blood, Aira would continue on before finally getting deposed. She would then later be hanged on the gallows.

The scene where she struggled and died was very exhilarating to me as a reader, but not to the current me.

"Belmott-. Since this Queen is merciful, despite your audacity to speak nonsense, I'll let you leave your last will."

Shingg-.

Aira put her sword on Belmott's neck. However, she did not behead him immediately.

"I will give you time to leave a will. Because I, Aira Von Tarantera VIII, is generous."

"…."

Belmott was kneeling with his head bowed down. At this time, when he lifted his head, one could see a detached expression on his face. It was the face of a person who was prepared for their death.

I'd seen quite a few people with that kind of expression lately…

The words that came out of their mouth were usually as follows.

"A glorious Kingdom and 500 years of history is being brought to ruin by a foolish girl and a demon. I have no face to show my ancestors. So, upon my death, keep my corpse away from their graves."

"Wh, what-?!"

Aira's expression darkened.

The gap between this look on a pretty woman's face and her beauty was so sharp of a contrast, it was scary.

"Alright then-. As you wish, I will tear your corpse to shreds and sprinkle it as fish food-!"

She raised her sword high while everyone either closed their eyes tightly or covered their faces with their hands, knowing what was coming. Everything was over.

They thought that the blood of an old and loyal servant would warm the Court floor at that moment.

And that no one could stop this tragedy from happening-. 

However, in this funeral hall-like Court, there was one person.

"Your Majesty-."

A tall figure.

As I opened my lips, the Queen's hand suddenly stopped in its tracks. She then looked at me with a wrinkled brow and asked.

"What is it, Tae-oh?"

"With all due respect, I reckon that executing Lord Belmott like this wouldn't be a good example. As a wise Queen, Your Majesty should know."

"…"

I could see the power receding from the Queen's hand that was holding the sword.

Good.

I saved Belmott from dying a dog's death.

It could be said that I was half successful in preventing the nobles' rebellion, where they united under the pretext of Belmott's death.

Queen Aira said.

"Tae-oh, my gardener. My only confidant. Yes, unlike other idiots, your words are worth listening to."

"Thank you."

"So, Tae-oh, why did you stop my execution?"

I could feel the mad queen Aira, whom no one could control, actually listening to me.

At the same time, the resentment and hatred-filled gazes of the people in the Court could clearly be felt.

However, it couldn't be helped.

Because the character 'Tae-oh', which Lee Seong-eum possessed about a year ago, was originally the 'idiot.'

The villain, Tae-oh, along with the Queen, led the splendid kingdom of Angmar to destruction. Yes, f*ck me, that was my current identity.

Oh how I wished someone could explain to me why this happened.

Alas, this was not the time to seek answers, but to give an explanation.

So I decided to say the lines that I had memorized beforehand in case something like this happened today.

"Finance Minister Belmott had sinned, for not only daring to oppose the absolute power of the Queen, but also debasing the Royal Family by bringing up the history and ancestors of the Kingdom-."

"Hmm, okay-. Continue."

"If Your Majesty personally executed the person who challenged the Queen's authority—. Rather than a punishment, it's more like a reward for them."

"Death by my hands is a reward?"

"Yes, as they had made the Queen's hands be smeared with their filthy blood. What is a reward if it isn't that?"

It was sophistry. However, it did make the Queen's wrinkled expression loosen.

"Hmm-. Yes. In fact, that's what I was thinking too."

"Indeed, the great and wise Queen Aira knows best that this impromptu execution is not a good show of example."

I'd said this over and over again like a martyr.

Not only did my voice have to be loud, I also must have a clear pronunciation. It was awkward at first, but after a year of doing so, I got better.

As I said so, I observed Aira's expression.

Aira folded her arms and nodded her head, holding the sword away.

"Hmm, indeed. That's right. Even I, too, thought a simple beheading was too merciful. So, Tae-oh, continue to speak the thoughts you read in my mind."

What did you mean I read your thoughts? You blank-headed chick!

I was furious, but didn't swear. I paused for a moment until the boiling simmered down.

"…"

The point here was to break the momentum.

When dealing with Aira, I needed to increase my speaking ability by having everyone's attention and focus on me. 

It took me a whole year to figure this out.

Glancing around, I could feel everyone's grim looks.

They probably thought I was licking the Queen's feet to gain her favor.

However, I couldn't care less. I had no intention of dying.

If I died here, there was no guarantee that I would return to the body of Lee Seong-eum in the 21st century.

So, in order to live, I said.

"Respected Queen. This Tae-oh brought Miss Clara, Belmott's daughter, to the Court."

"You brought Belmott's daughter!?"

Queen Aira excitedly asked, as if she was in a gold rush. It was the first time she'd heard of this. Obviously, she played no part here.

At that time, I snapped my fingers.

Then from some place, men in black robes dragged a slender girl with blonde hair in, tearing her clothes left and right.

"Kyaa-!"

"Oh, Clara-!"

Seeing this, the apathetic look on Belmott's face instantly contorted.

"Clara-!"

It was like he had been thrown from heaven to hell in an instant.

He wouldn't have thought that his precious only daughter would be dragged here.

He was prepared to die, so he made sure to hide his family beforehand.

However, I already knew that the hideout was located near the Southern Desert City of Kel'thas because I read it in the novel. It might be scummy, but what could I do?

Belmott was smart, and by this time he should have realized that his daughter had been taken hostage by me.

He was afraid of what Tae-oh, who was called a demon, would do to his daughter that would be left behind once he was dead. 

Fathers could endure a blade being pointed at their neck, but they would foam at the mouth when it came to their child.

Then, in the end, Belmott would apologize to the Queen and avoided the death penalty.

This was the conclusion I'd come up with in the last few days, after pulling all my hair out.

And that was what was actually happening.

Right now, in this Court, I was the one in control of people's emotions-!

With this, the death flags hanging from my neck would also disappear.

It was my victory!

I grinned insidiously and shade the joy I was feeling.

Aira put her sword on the floor and started clapping.

"I see, that's right. Tae-oh, you exactly read my thoughts! So, you would like to see both Belmott and his daughter Clara indulge in the act of incest in front of everyone, correct?"

"Yeah?"

No, I didn't think of that.

"As expected from you, Tae-oh. You are the only one who understands me. You know what I want!"

What you wanted? Hey, f*ck this, let's pause. I didn't think that far.

━Commit incest-?

━Right here-?

━This is terrible-!

I could feel everyone's eyes on me.

They probably noticed it.

Aira had no idea, and the fact that I was tempting her like this…

"Ah-."

I felt like pulling my hair out.

I tried to keep Belmott alive, but Aira just kept on fanning the flames.

"Aira, you crazy woman, that's your death flag!" I wanted to cry out loudly, but couldn't.

Why were you so eager in sprinting towards your death!?

Could it be that the future the wheel of fate set for the characters was inevitable?

Just as the heroes in myths could not avoid the absurd oracles, couldn't we mortals avoid fate no matter how hard we tried?

Even if I, an ordinary person (mortal), used all my wits, was Aira still destined to become a villain?

If so, then what about the bootlicker next to her named Tae-oh? What would happen to me if Aira was executed?

No, there was no point in asking. It was certain that I would be torn to pieces by the angry crowd.

I was pissed.

F*ck fate!

I wouldn't stand for that.

There might be those who laughed at my misfortune and threw stones at me, but I would outlive them all and be the one who gets the last laugh.

I then busily began to think about the next moves I should take.

There must be a way. Come on, you'd persevered for a year now…

"Your Majesty…"

However, fortunately or unfortunately, Belmott, who was embracing his daughter, bowed before the Queen in tears.

"Your Majesty, Queen Aira-. Please have mercy on this old servant. I have indeed committed a mortal sin-. But, my daughter…"

"Ah, Father…"

The sight of an old father and his naked daughter hugging each other while crying was enough to make the eyes of many people wet.

The Queen's Guards would viciously steal candy from a crying child and beat them up if it was Queen Aira's order, but even for them…

━I can't stand it.

━Me too. When are we leaving work?

━We just got here…

At this pitiful scene, they secretly averted their eyes while wearing bitter expressions under their helmets.

It was only Aira who was smiling.

"Ah, what shall I do? The crime of opposing the Queen is grave~. How should we do this~."

It was as if a little child was asked to choose a gift by their parents.

At this moment, it was once again my turn.

"Tell me, Your Majesty the Queen, what's your take, Tae-oh."

"Yes?"

Aira asked for my opinion. She only listened to me, a gardener, and not the other people present.

Looking at it, I once again felt the same feeling I had every day for the past year.

I became the servant of the wretched Queen.

No matter how much I thought about it, I…

To read up to 300 chapters. patreon.com/Daoist02