A Villainess For The Tyrant

Cecile was speechless. She wondered if she should applaud the dragon lord who proudly stated she was a ghost. The sudden overload of information was overwhelming, and it took her a minute to organize her thoughts.

I see There are so many things I wish to know. May I ask a few more questions? Cecile asked cautiously.

What is it?

What did you mean by the books being worlds? And that Im the Cecile of this world, while there is a Cecile in the other worlds too? What did this is the last time mean? And most importantly would you be able to send me back home?

Cecile let out all her questions in a rush, feeling that the dragon lord would readily answer. Truthfully, the last one was the most pressing, since she needed someone to help send her back.

To start with, I cant answer the first question you asked.

Why not?

I can speak of it, but its impossible to give you an explanation. Its something the Archwitch did, you see.

The Archwitch? Wasnt that name mentioned by Aled?Cecile wondered. She remembered the spirit letting slip that name when he reappeared after a long absence. She hadnt given it much thought since she assumed witches lived in the spiritual realm. However, intuition was telling her that the one Aled and the dragon lord were referring to were one and the same.

But what had the Archwitch done? Cecile felt woozy as the questions only seemed to pile up. She wished she was in the imperial palace with a large sheet of paper on which she could jot down all her notes and spend some time calmly contemplating what shed learned, rather than be here.

Then, what about sending me home?

Impossible.

Cecile clicked her tongue in annoyance. She knew she should be careful with her attitude, but she couldnt help it. She wanted to go home!

But somewhere other than home seems possible, the dragon lord added.

Cecile immediately fell to the floor and prostrated, while saying, Oh venerable and esteemed dragon lord, I have long held deep respect for you. Please, send me anywhere but here.

You sure are a spineless one, arent you? the dragon lord remarked with amazement.

Cecile merely curved her lips into a smile. She could bear with anything if that meant getting out of here. Youd be able to meet Girgantia if you came with me Hell be so pleased to see you, Cecile said persuasively. Obviously, the dragon lord could go without her, but Cecile needed to feign usefulness while making an appeal that itd be better to return to the imperial palace rather than some other place!

You think Im crazy? Its enough that I gave birth to him. Why should I meet my son again at this age?

I guess you didnt have such a good relationship with Girgantia?

Dont even get me started. You dont know how much he stressed me out. Come to think of it, how is it that you lot are coexisting with Girgantia? Im sure the rascal wouldve tried killing everything in sight as soon as he hatched.

Cecile contemplated on lying that he turned out to be a good boy, but ultimately decided honesty was best. I recited a spell from some book, which made him cry out this is mommys power in agony. We managed to catch him thanks to that, she explained.

Oh, you saw it in a book. I thought that might be the case.

You believed that? Cecile had expected the dragon lord to react with disbelief, but instead shed readily accepted it, as if it were natural that a book had taught her such a method.

Were you lying?

I wasnt! I just find it strange that youd believe that I found a spell in some book so readily. Even Cecile had doubted whether it had truly happened, since the book later disappeared without a trace. It was odd that the dragon lord was so unfazed.

Whats to be surprised about? Some of the books here mustve slipped out and reached you. There mustve been a spell for slapping Girgantias back among them.

Now it was Ceciles turn to be surprised. That mysterious book came from here? But how had it reached her? Its not like books have legs. Was it a puppy shed lost once upon a time? How had it found her? Her curiosity was only growing by the minute. Suddenly, Cecile realized she still had no clue as to where she was.

Where is this, by the way? Is it possible to return to the empire by going up?

This is the gap in space. To walk from here to the human realm Lets see Going by the average walking speed of a human woman in their twenties, Id say it would take about 737,749,299,233 years?

That Thank you for the calculation, Cecile replied dryly. Putting aside the ridiculous amount of time it would take, she decided to focus on her relief that it was technically possible to return. Obviously, she had no intention to accomplish this by walking.

Then, you mentioned you could send me somewhere other than home Would that be to the human realm?

Well, I think I can send you there with the page thats being used.

Then, Im really sorry but could I please trouble you to do that for me? Cecile had already given up on trying to comprehend what the dragon lord meant anymore.

Well, I may as well. Times about up for me too anyway. Lets see the dragon lords voice trailed off, as if she was searching for something, found it. Lets send you now.

Huh, so quickly?

Whatll you accomplish by staying here? Hurry back. Youll probably end up where the one you seek is.

Cecile wondered if shed misheard the urgency in the dragon lords voice, but before she could think too deeply, something resembling a gate opened up before her.

Go, quickly! Just run! And the dragon lord said.

And? Cecile asked.

Its nothing! Go already!

Y-yes maam!

Without hesitating, Cecile rushed forward into the gate at the dragon lords command. She didnt know what would happen next, but believed it would all work so long as she didnt die. Suddenly, she heard the distant whisperings of the dragon lords voice.

And just like how it is in stories, youll forget everything you heard here! Dont try to remember! Its futile!

What? You shouldve said that sooner! Cecile cried, as she tumbled into distant space. No reply came to her. All she could do was clutch the scepter tightly and flip her body. She was intent on seeing where shed land without passing out this time.

Gazing straight ahead as she dropped downwards, a scenery came into view. The dukedom of Etia? she whispered. Beneath her was a city of death dyed black.