I Became the Mastermind Who Betrays the Heroines

[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]

Chapter 91 – The Rose (3)

Despite her fierce resistance, my cold palm gently touched her soft skin.

Her abdomen radiated a lukewarm warmth, contrasting sharply with the sharp thorns she’d raised against me.

Through the thin fabric of her nightgown, her delicate flesh could be felt—a sensation as tender as flower petals greeting spring.

Before I realized it, my hand was stroking the pale, smooth expanse of her belly.

“Ugh, y-you...! I’ll kill you, I swear!”

The Rose screamed, her voice sharp and defiant.

Her expression, one of disbelief, burned with ferocity as her green eyes glared daggers at me.

She clung desperately to her venomous hatred.

Yet...

“How dare you do something like this and think you’ll get away with it…!”

Despite her effort, the tremor in her pupils betrayed her.

Her green irises quivered violently, exposing the turmoil that stirred within.

Even through her defiant facade, unmistakable fear swirled beneath.

As I watched that tremble, my lips involuntarily curled into a sinister smile.

A chilling laugh escaped, unbidden.

“There, there... no need to worry. I assure you, this won’t hurt a bit.”

I murmured soothingly as I slid her top upward.

The fabric of her clothes now reached just below her chest, skimming the edge of forbidden territory.

Elise, bound and half-exposed on the bed, presented a sight verging on indecency.

Was it because so much of her was laid bare?

The sweet, faint scent of her skin seemed to permeate the air.

“Ugh... ughh...”

The tension in the scene rose to its breaking point.

Her frail health left her body thin and delicate.

Even so, her figure maintained a subtle allure—an undeniable presence, emphasized by her disheveled state.

The thin fabric clung to her, tracing her curves in ways that were irresistibly captivating.

I teased her trembling stomach with my mischievous touch.

“You... you bastard…!”

She flinched violently at the sensation, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably.

Though she tried to lift her head, her crimson hair spilled wildly across the bed, her movements as futile as wind-tossed petals.

Squish.

A slight pressure from my hand pushed her soft stomach downward.

The yielding sensation of her skin lingered on my fingertips.

“Ugh...”

Finally, Elise clamped her lips shut.

Until now, she had played the part of the fierce, rebellious Rose.

But in a moment of sheer helplessness, her true nature was laid bare.

Her green eyes began to glisten, moisture pooling along the edges.

They wavered, breaking apart, their defiance crumbling into fragile vulnerability.

“How pitiful.”

Perhaps I had gone too far.

Her rude treatment of Charlotte had irked me, so I’d meant to tease her a little.

But now it seemed I needed to stop and begin the real treatment.

After all, it wasn’t my intention to make her cry on our first meeting.

Softening my tone, I offered her a gentle reassurance.

“There’s no need to make such a frightened face. This is only the beginning.”

= There’s no need to be afraid. The treatment is just starting.

“Shut... up... I’ll... kill you!”

“Heh... even if you hate me now, I’m sure you’ll come to like me soon enough.”

= You may resent me now, but someday, you’ll realize this was necessary.

“Don’t... don’t talk nonsense...!”

“I promise it’s nothing like you’ve experienced before. You’ll feel happiness you never thought possible.”

= You’ll come to understand how wonderful a painless life can be.

“Cough... cough... is... is there no one outside?”

With a weak voice, Elise tried to call for help.

Her gaze darted toward the closed door, but no answer came from beyond.

Naturally, the soundproof barrier I had set ensured that no one could hear her cries.

Charlotte had already been warned, so no one would disturb us by chance.

With a leisurely smile, I answered her unspoken plea.

“It’s no use.”

This was a sealed space, a room containing only the two of us.

And this state would last for at least two hours.

“Just relax and accept it. This will be nothing more than a pleasant little interlude.”

= Relax and let it happen. This can be a peaceful moment if you allow it.

“You disgusting bastard...!”

“As I said before, it won’t hurt at all.”

= Truly, I don’t intend to cause you pain.

Calmly, I coaxed the trembling Rose while focusing a small surge of energy into my fingertips.

Shadows flickered faintly, coating my fingers.

Perhaps due to its subtlety, Elise didn’t seem to notice the faint glow.

My hand moved unhesitatingly, continuing to stroke her abdomen.

Squish.

Pressing gently against her core, my touch sought to unravel the tangled mana within.

Beneath her pale skin, I could sense the dense flow of energy—both corrupted and chaotic.

“Now then... let’s begin in earnest.”

Focusing my intent, I delved into her disrupted pathways.

Her mana circuits were in complete disarray, their delicate strands tangled and frayed.

Jagged fragments of ossified mana churned violently within, scraping her insides.

‘The worst of it is here in her abdomen.’

The nexus of her mana flow, it bore the brunt of the disease’s effects.

Shattered pieces of stone-like mana swirled like broken glass within her core.

‘How has she endured this for so long?’

Every moment must feel like her organs were being torn apart, yet Elise bore the agony in silence.

It was as if she had grown accustomed to suppressing her suffering.

“Enduring it doesn’t make the pain any less severe.”

“Shut up! What do you know?!”

“I know better than anyone.”

Mana Stone Ossification—a terminal illness where the body’s mana circuits calcified and shattered, ultimately reducing the afflicted to fragments.

Its origins and treatment were unknown.

It was so rare, occurring only once or twice a century, that many referred to it not as a disease, but as a curse—a divine punishment.

“Indeed... such a cruel disease could only be called divine wrath.”

In the Empire, even the imperial family wasn’t immune to this perception.

Elise’s isolation in this desolate annex stemmed from the stigma surrounding her condition.

Though she had once been cherished as the Second Imperial Princess, her diagnosis brought whispers of ill omens and misfortune.

Her public appearances ceased under the pretense of poor health, but the truth was a secret buried deep within the imperial palace.

‘The secret of the Rose.’

I, however, knew the truth—having read the setting materials of the original story.

I knew how lonely her battle had been, how deeply it had shaped her into the person she was now.

For a brief moment, a pang of sympathy flickered through me.

“Even if just for a moment... perhaps this will feel like salvation to you.”

Channeling my lies, I began meticulously dissolving the ossified fragments within her.

Her blocked circuits gradually regained their flow.

‘This is only temporary.’

The reprieve would last for a day at most.

But with patience, I could heal her entirely, piece by piece.

True faith takes time, after all.

To save the Little Prince, I would first have to open the heart of the Rose they cherished so dearly.

This treatment was my opportunity to do so.

“Cough... cough...!”

Blood spattered from her pale lips, even as her breathing began to even out.

I murmured a quiet incantation, embedding my Lie into her body.

The shadows at my fingertips seeped into her abdomen.

“Rest.”

And with that—

The cacophony of her world fell silent.

“...”

Peace descended.

For the first time in a decade, Elise experienced stillness free of pain.

Her eyes widened in wonder.

“A... ah...”

A startled exclamation escaped her.

Her trembling green eyes had lost their hostility, reflecting only awe.

A faint smile played across my lips.

‘It worked.’

The overwhelming sensation that engulfed her was serenity—a state so foreign to her that it felt euphoric.

After enduring such prolonged suffering, even a moment of peace was enough to overwhelm her senses.

“W-what is this...?”

Her breath quickened, her words breaking apart in astonishment.

“How... how am I not in pain? What did you...?”

Confusion laced her voice, but I simply pressed a finger to her lips to quiet her.

With my other hand, I gently closed her eyes.

“Shh.”

For now, what she needed most was rest.

Years of unrelenting pain had stolen her ability to sleep soundly.

I wanted her to let go and drift into a much-needed slumber.

We could discuss everything else tomorrow.

“Ah...”

Softly, her eyes fluttered shut.

Her arms, which had resisted so fiercely moments before, fell limp against the bed.

I leaned closer, whispering a parting word to her fading consciousness.

“Sleep well.”

With those words, I bestowed a gentle blessing of rest upon the fragile Rose.

In the tranquil silence that followed, I continued to lightly stroke her abdomen.

Her warmth lingered, a reminder of her humanity amidst the fragility.

***

Hours later.

The previously sealed door creaked open as two young women stepped inside.

Charlotte and the maid she had taken outside earlier entered, their expressions tinged with unease.

Were they worried about Elise?

Though I had assured them her condition had improved, it seemed they dared not harbor much hope.

Perhaps this was a reflection of the many times they’d witnessed her suffer, only to be disappointed by empty promises.

The hope that once fueled their spirits had long since given way to learned helplessness.

“Where... where is Elise?”

As the only ones who had stood by the suffering Rose, their concern was deeply ingrained.

They had wept countless times upon hearing her pained cries during the lonely hours of the night.

‘But today.’

Today was different.

Because I had been here.

“She’s over there.”

I pointed toward the bed.

The Rose, who had lost consciousness hours ago, remained peacefully asleep.

Her crimson hair spilled over the pillow, peeking out from beneath the soft blanket.

Haa, haa.

The steady rhythm of her breathing filled the room.

Her face, now calm and untroubled, bore no sign of distress. @@novelbin@@

No sweat matted her forehead, no pained expression marred her features.

Seeing this, the eyes of the two women widened with astonishment.

As if they were witnessing a miracle.

“My goodness.”

“Elise…?”

“I’ve never seen Her Highness look so serene before! She’s not frowning or breaking out in cold sweats!”

“This is… this is truly possible?”

“Thank goodness... Oh, thank goodness, Your Highness!”

Tears streamed down the maid’s face as she clasped her hands together, overwhelmed by relief.

Even Charlotte, normally composed, appeared too moved to speak.

After a moment of silence, she managed to regain her voice enough to ask a trembling question.

“What... what did you do?”

Through her clear, teary eyes, only my reflection was visible.

As if addressing a mirror, I responded with a playful smile.

“Fufu.”

And then, as always, I answered with a single, teasing remark.

“That’s a secret.”

[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]