The Villainess Returns with a System Chapter 87: Rescue Mrs. Becky

The Ivanovs ca into the service of the Moores around 300 years ago at the ti the Moores had hit a huge obstacle. The King has issued an ultimatum banning each noble family from certain practices in order to create a balance between all nobles and stop them from fighting each other like dogs. The Moore family was prohibited from practicing Magic but the great dilemma arose when the only heir to the family at that ti was training to be a wizard.

The Ivanovs were a ruined noble family from Novark and their heritage was filled with magic. They got too tied to the Moores in order to be raised once again and one day return to their motherland and reclaim their possessions. However, when the King issued that accursed decision, even the subsidiaries and all the underlings of the Moores were to either stop the practice of magic or sever their ties with House Moore. The Ivanovs had already betrothed their daughter to the Moores and were practically in the sa boat as them, severing ties ant losing every asset they invested so they abandoned their magic.

A lot of drama happened at the ti but it seed that the Moores had also taken a blow since the young master of the family failed to gain power after giving up his magic and fell to sickness a year later. What saved the main family from losing the heir position was that the lord and his wife at the ti had managed to produce another heir in the nick of ti. Not long after, the first son died in his mid-teens and the second son held the position of heir and eventually grew to be a direct ancestor to my Father and .

As for the Ivanovs, the death of the first son was the final nail in their coffin, causing them to be reduced to a re rchant family, before making a coback in business a few decades ago at the hands of Natasha’s late father, Sir Victor Ivanov. With Natasha’s talent blooming, it seed that the Ivanovs were finally about to be back to relevancy, alas, Natasha was the last surviving mber of the Ivanovs. Even if she married, she’d have to switch her final na and be soone else’s wife or sully the family’s bloodline by giving her last na to her children as a maternal marriage.

But it seed that for so reason, there was a male Ivanov, and Natasha had hidden him from everyone... which is contrary to everything that should have happened. If a male child—even if it was a bastard one—with a Silver-rank Aura, he could get legitimized easily if Father agreed to ask the Temple for such a thing... but they didn’t!

Like... why?

All of that couldn’t leave my head even after going into the room with Matilda and she examined Saskia’s condition.

"The balm stretches the skin and gives it enough moisture to provide both protection and freshness. The problem here is that the balm would need to constantly keep the skin stretched and protect it at the sa ti. When I said it was impossible, Lady Natasha offered her... secret recipe." Matilda explained as she was taking a close look at Saskia’s skin.

"Secret recipe?" Father asked with a frown.

"Spirit Lotus seed extract." I added.

"I later understood that the vitality granted by the seeds’ extract isn’t a property it has. While the seeds are brimming with life energy, it has to draw it from sowhere... I didn’t have the chance to take a look at the spirit lotus seeds but... I can only speculate..."

Matilda and I exchanged a look. Those three seeds we got from Natasha’s lab are with at the mont. We just agreed not to talk about them while I was with her.

"Tell us what you think?" I spoke to her.

"It is just a theory but if such seeds can harness that much energy, I think they are similar to the Fire Dragon Lilies and Iron Cap Mushrooms that grow in mineral-rich areas. So if that kind of process were to be replicated in a human body, the seed extract must absorb vital nutrients from the body and revitalize the skin with it. Lady Vivian noted that many of those ladies who had used the balm for the trial period had been experiencing joint pain so... the balm may be absorbing nutrients from their bones."

Hearing what she said, I could see the look on everyone’s faces, especially the anger on Father’s face and the fear on Saskia’s.

Father accused Matilda of creating a poison that hard the ladies of high society but as I felt he was getting emotional, I stepped in and defended her. Father didn’t seem pleased with standing up for the one who ruined my future as princess consort but I convinced him that the family’s reputation is what’s at stake here.

I knew Father was not the most compassionate person in the world but his feelings for Saskia are real and I hated to see him displeased... even for her.

When the dermatologist arrived, he was briefed on the situation and went to check on Saskia right away. First, he asked her to scratch her skin with her fingernails, which he claims to have left no redness even after he told her to dig her nails harder.

He then lent her a clean dical needle and told her to scratch herself on the neck with it. Since Saskia applied the balm on her face, neck, upper bosom, and shoulders, this was the most affected area with the cursed balm, and after a few scratches...

"My God!"

Even the dermatologist exhaled from what he saw.

Saskia’s skin was left scratchless. As for the needle, its tip broke from scratching against human skin.

Like... really?

Now I have to deal with Super Saskia!

"What is this? Is it... a good thing?" Saskia asked with a shaken voice.

"It is unnatural, mada. Anything unnatural isn’t good and definitely has horrible consequences. We need to know what compound did this and find a redy for it."

The doctor’s words were quite severe and honestly, this is going to be a good lesson for everyone involved in this whole thing. Now, every product will be put under a lot of suspicion and tests before it goes public.

But to solve the matter at hand, Father spoke to the doctor informing him that Matilda was the creator of this "poison".

Father was greatly displeased with Matilda and I was sowhat worried for him, I wouldn’t want to trigger Robert’s route by any mistake so I kept my silence since I am not quite the peace-making type.

After Matilda and the Doctor spoke, it seed that he was able to pinpoint the problem which wasn’t any different to how Matilda theorized it at first. And so with that out of the way, a serum was being prepared once Father asked the chief pharmacist of the Moore Conglorate to participate.

The other nine ladies—who were attendees at the party and received an early sample of the product ten days before the launch—were all contacted by official letters and the mansion beca very busy in a matter of an hour. The Count’s n have managed to keep a low profile and covered up the news with a late-night party. However, one would expect that things would always go south whenever the Heroine erges, after all, the seven male leads will be in her shadow wherever she goes, and in the case of tonight, it is Edmond Black.

Under the pretext of coming over to collect his sister, Edmond walked into the mansion and had a private conversation one-on-one with Father where the latter had to explain the situation to the forr. If not for the fast action and the quick reflexes of the Moores, their contacts, and finance, many adversaries would have taken advantage of this situation but before even Edmond Black walked in, the situation could be seen as resolved.

Behind her brother’s back, Edith Black requested an investigation to be launched by contacting the Black Family Inquisitors, an arrest order was issued against Natasha Ivanov but here is where things got complicated, Natasha has long since vanished and if the tiline of the incident is correct, she disappeared when shots were fired in her laboratory and chaos started to erupt.

The current whereabouts of Natasha Ivanov were going to be a mystery for a few days to co. As for now, the Moore Pharmaceutical establishnt has managed to break down the poisonous costic product and linked its ingredients to Bliss, the wild narcotic that invaded the streets as of late.

But there was another strange turn of events during that night. After Edmond Black collected his sister, Edith, he asked Matilda Ambrose to join them and leave the Moores’ Mansion together, however, the one who stood in his way was none other than Robert.

Robert claid that Matilda’s presence was vital for the success of the serum that was being developed for the ladies who had been using Gratia. So while she is a guest in the mansion, Robert himself would ensure that Matilda is treated with utmost respect and friendliness even with the presence of his poisonous sister, little old .

But in my experience, Robert is a wuss at best. Edmond was almost going to threaten him but the one who ca to his rescue was strangely Isabella. For so unfathomable reason, Edmond couldn’t face Isabella one bit. I know the two had so sort of history since their days in the academy but the old was still a freshman at the ti and didn’t invest any ear in rumors.

Everything played out as Robert wished and Matilda Ambrose was to stay as a guest for a day in our mansion. He, of course, wanted to use this 24-hour window to get closer to her but surprisingly, Matilda didn’t give any heed to his approaches. She was monstrously focused on her work to finish the serum as it seems she was feeling guilty about the whole incident and her being the creator of this poisonous costic.

But you know who else used this opportunity to get a sleepover?

"I’m so excited, girl! This is going to be so EPIC!"

Isabella had by the neck as she slid into one of my nightgowns and took half of my bed. I could see Esralda, standing at the corner, giving that look with her eyes.

***

After surviving a night with Isabella, she joined us for breakfast the other day along with Robert, who usually spends his breakfast ti sowhere else, and Matilda, who inford Father that the first trial of the dication she has pulled an all-nighter to develop is eting success.

It seed that Father wanted to do sothing about Matilda, maybe start to antagonize her in order to punish her on the pretext of poisoning this number of noble ladies but I had no plans to go against the Heroine more than that. If we end up clashing once again, Father will surely get involved to be on my side and it may turn ugly if Robert’s route gets triggered.

Got to walk on eggshells here, pops!

« Your Karma Grows Stronger! The Heroine’s Karma Grows Weaker! »

Then this ssage appeared to at so point. I can’t make heads and tails for it but this "Karma" thing always triggers when the Heroine is nearby.

Maybe every ti I get to have an advantage against her, so sort of Karmic thingy triggers.

How? Why? What will it do? I have absolutely no idea.

But tell you what... I am loving it.

It just slls like winning, I don’t know why.

"Vivian... Vivian..."

"Yes! I am sorry, dad... Father! I spaced out!"

Father’s voice introduced my blissful thoughts as everyone at the breakfast table was eyeing strangely. There was Father, Robert, Isabella, and Matilda. Saskia didn’t want to show up so she was having breakfast in her room.

"I would ask what is keeping your head busy but I assu that last night was eventful." Father said.

"Yes. Well, I can say I had a nice 10 hours of sleep so all pains are healed." I replied.

"Mhm!"

On my side, Isabella made that satisfied sound which had turn to face her.

"What?" I asked.

"Well, I slept beside you last night so of course you had a good sleep, save your thanks." Isabella said with a sleazy smile.

"Don’t be a brat!" I replied while rolling my eyes.

"Vivian!" Father spoke in a stern tone, "Is that how you speak to a senior of yours? You better thank her since she has stayed watching you all night."

Watching ?

That skank hugged like a doll and slept like a bear.

"Fufufu!"

And that arrogant laugh she makes.

"I apologize, Father. Of course, thank you, Isabella." I thanked her just to get the day over with.

"So she is walking out without a punishnt after breaking into the ho of a noble and firing her guns like a moron?"

This delightful question ca from Robert.

"Robert. Punishing your sister is no concern of yours. Unlike you, she is a young adult and her punishnt is my business alone. I am rely delaying it since we have many guests." Father replied sternly.

I could see Robert letting out a snort while shaking his head.

"Finish your veggies, Robbie." I couldn’t help but fire back.

"You..." Robert gnashed his teeth but since Matilda was around, he simply smiled with a few veins popping on his forehead.

"Vivian."

"Sorry, Father."

Father seed displeased but he acted casually while picking up the gazette from the tea table and fixing his monocle over his right eye.

"Once again, young lady Isabella, I thank you. Looking after Vivian like you always used to do must be taxing." Father spoke warmly to Isabella.

The temperature on my left started to increase a bit as a blush appeared on Isabella’s face. That girl... blushing?

"Well, of course, my Lord." She replied and smiled, "The bond I share with Vivian has always been special. I don’t mind watching over her at all."

"That’s assuring. It always pained that Vivian had no close female relative to look after her. I do appreciate you treating her like an older sister." Father said.

Isabella’s smile almost crumbled as she heard that.

"Motherly... is how I describe it." She replied very faintly, almost mumbling, completely dispirited.

I turned to her with a laugh I couldn’t let out but my reserved smile was enough to rub all the salt I could afford all over her emotional wound. She turned to and I could feel the violence growing within her.

"Wait... is that... Mrs. Becky?"

While we were having our mont, Matilda suddenly spoke as she pointed at the back of Father’s gazette. I couldn’t see what she was pointing at since it was on the other side.

Father turned to the page she pointed at and nodded.

"That’s indeed Mrs. Becky." He said with a smile before it got replaced with a terrifying frown, "It says here... Mrs. Becky has disappeared."

"What?" Matilda covered her mouth with utter shock.

"Mrs. Becky disappeared?" Even Isabella stood up with a pale face.

I didn’t know who they were talking about so I asked a question I regretted asking for the rest of my life.

"Wait! Who is Mrs. Becky?"

Everyone turned to and for a second there, I felt like I had done so sort of a taboo.

"You don’t know Mrs. Becky?" (Father)

"You’re a monster, Vivian." (Robert)

"Mrs. Becky... She is the most gentle soul! A true one of a kind!" (Matilda)

"Viv! Mrs. Becky is the most festive spirit in Elgard!" (Isabella)

Alright... that sounds weird.

Who the F is Mrs. Vicky or Becky or whatever?

« ERGENCY QUEST: Rescue Mrs. Becky! »

Oh, boy! Here we go.