Living As the Villainess Queen (Web Novel KR)-Chapter 437.1

“I want to go see it,” Eugene said firmly.

Kasser regarded her quietly for a moment.

“Is it not allowed?”

“It could be dangerous,” he replied cautiously.

“But it’s a lark, isn’t it? Larks don’t harm Anikas.”

“That’s what everyone says,” Kasser said, his voice steady but serious. “I’ve seen it with my own eyes. You’ve experienced it yourself. But in this world, there’s no absolute rule without exceptions. I worry because you’re too trusting of the lark. You need to be more careful—more cautious.”

His seriousness brought a certain memory to Eugene’s mind—the day after she arrived in the capital, riding Mara’s back. They had talked long into the night.

Kasser had confessed his worry for her then, asking her to always consult him before doing anything risky. Eugene had seen the sincerity behind his concern, listened closely, and promised herself she would never give him cause for worry again. The most update n0vels are published on NoveI[F]ire.net

Now she realized where she’d gone wrong. When she first heard about the creature lurking near the city walls, curiosity had overtaken caution. She had been intrigued, not mindful of the danger. Perhaps her expression or tone had betrayed her.

Quickly, she straightened and met his gaze with resolve.

“I understand why you’re worried,” she said quietly. “And I haven’t forgotten what we talked about that day.”

Kasser’s brow furrowed slightly, suspicion flickering in his eyes.

“I trust you,” she continued. “If I truly believed it was dangerous, I wouldn’t be asking to see it. I know you’d have already looked into it yourself before ever bringing it up to me.”

His gaze softened, as if to say, That’s true, but…

Sensing an opening, Eugene slipped into his arms without hesitation.

“And you’re right here beside me,” she murmured. “You’re the one who defeated the monsters in the capital. With you here, there’s nothing to fear.”

Kasser let out a dry chuckle. He knew she was coaxing him, and yet—how could he resist? His arms moved instinctively, pulling her close, his hands resting gently on her shoulders.

“We’re going now, aren’t we?” she asked, her eyes bright with anticipation, not a flicker of caution in them.

Kasser stared at her for a moment. She was too trusting, too daring. And yet… maybe he wanted to be swayed by that innocence, just this once. Honestly, if the lark showed up right now, he wouldn't care. The only thing he truly wanted was to carry her straight to bed and forget the world outside.

After issuing orders for all the scouts on the city walls to retreat, only a handful remained: the king and queen, Sven, and the general.

“Where is it?” Eugene asked, peering out over the battlements. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Kasser pointed. “There.”

She squinted into the distance, eyes scanning the horizon until she finally caught sight of it.

“It’s getting closer,” Kasser murmured.

At first, Eugene found it fascinating. But as the creature crept nearer and its shape became clearer, her expression shifted.

“A centipede? Oh no—absolutely not. I’d take a snake over that any day.”

The creature stopped well before the wall, pacing back and forth with uncertain steps. It looked agitated, as if it wanted to draw closer but couldn’t bring itself to.

Why is it acting like that?

She glanced sideways at Kasser—and the answer became obvious. It’s afraid of the king.

Even Mara, as formidable as he was, had treated Kasser with caution. Of course this beast would hesitate.

Rather than asking him to move, Eugene stepped forward. She cupped her hands around her mouth, took a steadying breath, and braced her abdomen as she shouted into the open air.

“Hello!”

Startled, the men around her turned in surprise. But Eugene didn’t waver.

“Can you speak, too?” she called. “It’s okay—come closer! I won’t hurt you!”

She shouted until her lungs ached, until her breath ran out—but still, she kept her voice calm and earnest, hoping to be heard.

Kasser watched Eugene, her cheeks flushed, chest rising and falling with effort—and burst out laughing. Eugene shot him a withering glare, her face burning with embarrassment.

“Ah! It’s coming!” Lester's shout cut through the moment. The centipede beast began to inch forward, its movements slow and deliberate, as if carefully surveying its surroundings.

Lester muttered under his breath, “You really can talk to beasts, can’t you?” His voice was low, but his expression remained composed. At this point, he felt as though nothing could surprise him anymore.

The beast crept closer than it had ever dared before. Yet unlike Mara, it kept a cautious distance from the wall—close enough to observe, far enough to flee. It was clear the creature was leaving itself an escape route.

It remained still for a long time, silently staring at Eugene. Its eyes weren’t like those of ordinary animals—alien and unreadable—but she could feel its gaze locked onto her, sharp and curious. It was unmistakably watching her.

Then, as abruptly as it had come, the beast spun around. Without a backward glance, it turned from the city and slithered away, shrinking with each passing moment until it finally disappeared beyond the horizon.