A Villainess Should Be Strong

Chapter 175: Telling the Truth

"...Is being a Queen that great?" Estelle asked. To her, being the Ruler of an entire country was too much of a hassle as she would be restricted by a ton of responsibilities. The features that came with it weren't as appealing as freedom to her. 

Shirley mused, thinking of the question as she huffed her breath.

"Well- It has its own up and downs, of course. There is no perfect position, and to me.. being the Queen is a pretty suitable status, something that I can bear and live with. That's all I can say. Anyway, back to the problem... About your condition,"

"Do you know something about it?" Estelle's hearing perked up, waiting to hear what Shirley had to say. 

"To say that I know what it is would be too much of a stretch. I might have an idea, but I'm not certain yet because it's really.. something that you wouldn't think is possible," Shirley said.

"What is it?"

"I think... your powers resonated with the statue because your inherited the Goddess' powers much more than what our past generations absorbed. The reason for this being that your power's description is extremely similar to the one existing inside the traditional tales.. the records of our country. The light seeping out of your palm, that was a gesture that the Moon Goddess once did when she came to bestow her power. Those who were in her surroundings immediately got boosted, and the power you wielded seemed awfully similar to this tale," Shirley said, her brows knitted as she spoke. 

"But.. this doesn't make sense. Even after the powers got bestowed into our ancestors, they couldn't radiate the glow in the same way as the Goddess. And yet, you.." Shirley bit her lips, her eyes trembling and her heart starting to beat fast.

The fact that Estelle could be much more special that anything they have had in the past cast fear into her heart. The fear of her worth being taken away. Shirley eyed Estelle warily, trying her best as to not notify the child of her reaction.

This reaction, however, was caught by Estelle. The Queen acted fond towards her, but she always seemed restrained. As if she was hiding something, her true feelings and such. Estelle pursed her lips, wondering how she should approach this matter to get Shirley on her side completely.

"You are telling me that I have done something that only the Goddess could do, right? Then, what will happen to me?" Estelle tried to play it off from an innocent standpoint, acting relaxed even as Shirley took a step backwards out of instincts.

"I.. wonder. I wonder what would happen," Shirley replied, a strained smile appearing on her face.

Right then, something unthinkable happened to her brain. She received a stimulus. It was similar to the feeling she felt when she touched the statue. Only, this time, that same light travelled to her head and began stirring something up.

She discerned the intrusion and found out that there was a list of instructions placed on this new piece of information. With shocked eyes, Estelle read the entire thing and instantly, her mind fell into a frenzy.

The instructions told her to tell Shirley about her identity as the Goddess. 

Estelle tried to make sense into this instruction that she did not even know where it came from, and could only resort to analyzing the situation one more time. Shirley would be reluctant to help her with her current status as nothing but the Duke's daughter. However, if she was told about her true identity, then Shirley, who was deeply fond of her deity would definitely assist her unconditionally. 

It would be beneficial for her. After countless rounds of debating back and forth internally, Estelle finally made up her mind and decided to follow through with the instruction. This time, the instruction that was relayed to her directly conveyed what she needed to do. 

In the Sanctuary, there was a light blue ball of energy that she could take and merge into herself. This energy would then awaken something inside her and prove her 'worth'. She was not that clear on this matter, but she more or less knew what she had to proceed with.

"..What if I tell you that I am actually your Goddess?" Estelle was unsure on how to word it the best way possible. 

Shirley's face instantly warped. It was as if she felt offended. She gritted her teeth. "Estelle, even if you are my grandniece, I won't allow you to say such blasphemous things. Retract that statement you just made," 

"No, I won't. Do you think I would lie about this kind of thing. Aren't you suspicious as well? From where did a being like me appear, and what purpose I have to this Sanctuary? Wasn't that why you tried to tail me here, to catch me in the act?" Estelle questioned.

Shirley found it hard to refute the child as that was exactly what she was planning to do. To try and bait the child's intentions. 

She took in a deep breath and looked at the child straight in the eye.

"Prove it," Shirley was still pissed as hell, but she calmed herself down and tried to be patient. If this child lied, which she was almost certain of, then she would not hesitate to directly prosecute the child without leaving a chance for her to come back. 

"My magic is versatile.. But if you'd like to see what your ancestors saw.. then," Estelle created hundreds of golden spears, like the legends depicted. All the spears rose up, and the room was instantly filled with a divine glow. Estelle's power had been steadily increasing ever since she had gone through the training inside her mind. It polished her strength, and she could feel it herself. 

This large scaled display should have originally taxed her mind a bit, but due to her improved condition, Estelle was able to possess more control and be relaxed. 

"This... wow," Shirley couldn't believe what she was seeing. Her eyes twinkled with respect and admiration, and her mouth instantly gaped as Estelle spun the spears around and suppressed them into one large spear that she held within her hand.

"Is that close enough? That is probably it," Estelle scratched her head. Her showcase was only based on the stories she had heard, she hadn't seen the actual thing with her own eyes.

"I... I don't know. But even if it's not exact, a show of this level is.. How would you even beat this?" Shirley was dumbfounded. No matter how much she hated to admit it, it was the truth that the girl had an amazing power.

It wasn't just flashy spears that were  meant for entertainment, Shirley could feel the massive strength behind all of those individual spears. It sent a chill down her back when she imagined all of these spears falling down to the ground in a war situation. How devastating would it be for the enemy?

"...Well, it's not like there hasn't been people that fought me and won. Some maniacs did trap me. But.. I'm getting stronger too, day by day. One day, I want to have to enemies that can contend with me. Only then will I be satisfied," Estelle said, her eyes hooded as she thought about her ambition. 

She drew back all of her power and stored it. 

"That's it for the show. You must be wondering.. Why I told you about my identity out of my own accord?"

"..Why? Do I have something that I can do for you?" Shirley was expectant as she faced Estelle. Now that she knew that the girl was basically the incarnation of the Moon Goddess she revered, she was slightly nervous.

"Yes, and that has something to do with my purpose in this world. I have tasks that I need to fulfill, and one of the checkpoints is located in this place. It is.. in a form of a blue ball of energy. Are you familiar with it?"

"..!" Shirley took in a sharp breath as she rapidly blinked. "Y.. yes, I know something like that, but.."

"But?" Estelle wasn't going to be unreasonable. She had to obtain it either way, but there was a high chance of this particular energy being fundamental to the country. However, since the instructions that popped up inside her head did say that she was destined to obtain it, then there should be something that she could do.

She waited as Shirley repeatedly sighed, as if the matter was something burdening to her.

"That ball of energy is a heritage from the first generation. It is.. the Goddess' culmination of power that got trapped inside one of our magic pillars. It didn't disperse because it was so dense, and instead became a ball.. Like a pearl sized object. I have seen it before when I first became Queen," Due to Estelle's identity, Shirley could freely speak up and say the truth.