I, The Villainess, Will Seduce All The Heroines Instead
Chapter 72: The Emperor

Chapter 72: The Emperor

If the snake could talk now, that could only mean one thing.

Interrogation time.

"Hey, speak up!" Verena grabbed the little serpent and gave it a light but pointed shake-shake-shake. "Why the hell am I here?! What kind of joke is this?!"

"H-Hnk!" the snake squeaked, its tail flailing. "T-The Majesty places their hope on you! I’m just the messenger!"

"Majesty? You mean some shiny god-being decided I was the chosen one and didn’t think to send a letter first?!"

The snake wiggled helplessly in her grip. "Divine beings don’t do stationery!"

"And why the fuck is the system so damn annoying?!"

"It’s not annoying! It’s—Hrk—just trying to protect you!" the snake defended through a raspy hiss.

"By applying debuffs?!"

"YES!" it yelped dramatically, as if the truth would set it free.

There was a long pause as Verena glared at it. "Tell me more."

"I can’t! I’d be breaking the rules!"

This was getting way too suspicious.

Honestly, it was starting to feel like she’d been thrown into some kind of bizarre video game, which was complete with stat screens, power-ups, ridiculous tutorials, and a talking snake sidekick who sounded like it graduated from Drama School.

And really, with the way the system kept micromanaging her life like a passive-aggressive life coach, was it that far from the truth?

Nope. Not even a little.

"Verena?" a sleepy voice mumbled from the other side of the bed.

It was Evelyn.

Once fully awake, she launched into every detail of what had happened.

Thankfully, no blood. That was a relief.

According to her, after Verena collapsed, chaos broke out, but not because of her. The nobles had freaked out, sure, but all that delicious panic had been directed at Penelope.

The plan had somehow worked.

Still, part of Verena felt bad.

Penelope may have been a spoiled brat, but it was her eighteenth birthday.

Her grand debut turned into a disaster the Empire would whisper about for years.

Not that they’d ever admit it. The Imperial Family had swiftly swept everything under the rug with the elegance of a suspiciously practiced broom.

No one dared question it.

Not when everyone feared the Emperor.

"Verena..." came a knock at the door, followed by her mother’s voice.

She opened it, and standing beside her mother was a tall man with sharp eyes and shoulders like carved stone.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

[WARNING: A high-threat individual has entered your proximity.]

[Activating Emergency Debuff & Buff Protocols...]

— [Debuff Applied: Frailty Veil]

[Your presence has been masked to appear weakened and harmless.]

— [Buff Applied: Mental Clarity]

[Your cognitive functions have been heightened. Think wisely. Speak carefully.]

[Proceed with caution, dear Host.]

"Hangh..." The moment the system activated, Verena staggered slightly.

Her strength was entirely drained.

But her mind was crystal clear. Every detail sharpened. Every heartbeat in the room, every flicker in the man’s expression, every thread of magic in the air. She could feel it all.

When she saw him fully, she no longer questioned why.

Valen Droskar Vexian.

One of the novel’s most feared antagonists.

The Conduitor of Scorpio.

On the surface, he was stoic and detached like a perfect reflection of the Scorpio’s symbol.

He was cold, calculating, and patient.

But beneath that exterior was a mind capable of holding emotions so deep, so violent, that even his closest allies dared not glimpse them.

He was a man whose rage simmered beneath the surface and was always just on the edge of eruption.

The Astral Sovereigns didn’t choose their Conduitors based on morals or integrity.

To them, balance was the only currency, no matter the cost.

And if chaos was necessary to maintain it, so be it.

Valen was like venom, slowly poisoning everything around him.

And he understood something most never would: Real power doesn’t come from brute force.

It wasn’t about overwhelming your enemy with violence or rushing into a fight.

True power came from the patient and deliberate stripping away of everything around you, leaving nothing untouched.

Nothing unbroken.

He didn’t destroy outright; he corroded, decayed, and eroded.

He made the world around him slowly unravel until nothing remained but his will.

"You’re awake," he said, gesturing others to leave the room. They quickly left. The snake slithered underneath the bed.

"Y-Your Imperial Majesty," Verena gasped. "I’m... afraid I can’t bow right now."

"I’m not one to ask for details, but... I do need a small favor from you," His lips barely twitched. "For your own sake, I suggest you keep your mouth shut about what happened at the debut party."

There it was. The venom. But Verena wasn’t the type to back down.

But if there was one thing Verena knew for sure as an HR manager, it was this: sometimes you’ve got to kiss up to the higher-ups, or risk being the next one on the chopping block!

"Haha!" Verena wheezed. "What event? I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about! Hahahahahahaha!"

"You’re not going to make this easy, are you?"

"Oh, I’m sorry, Your Imperial Majesty! How could I, a humble servant, possibly know about such grand affairs? I barely even know how to tie my shoes!"

Valen raised an eyebrow, unamused. "What’s a shoe?"

"Ah, yes! I’m very sure the last thing I’d want to do is... transgress against you, Your Majesty. What could I, a mere mortal, possibly do against someone as... as magnificent as you?" she added, batting her eyelashes exaggeratedly.

"How do you survive this much confidence?" he muttered under his breath, before leaning in. "Let’s see how long that smile lasts. Conduitor of the Lost Zodiac..."

Once he left, it was like a fresh breeze had swept through the room.

[Debuffs have been removed!]

[Buffs have been removed!]

[Congratulations! After the event, you have earned 500 Descent Points!]

"500?!" Verena blinked, her jaw dropping. "Is this a reward or a bribe for surviving that nightmare?!"

From outside, Evelyn burst through the door, launching herself at Verena. "Verena! Are you okay? Are you feeling alright?"

Then she planted a kiss right on Verena’s ear. It sent shivers.

Great. She’d forgotten she still had to handle this overly affectionate whirlwind.

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