The Villain Saint is my secondary account

Not to mention that Ye Xiao himself warned Skadi not to use such methods, she shouldn't have done this based solely on the declaration made by the eldest princess when she participated in the royal selection.

Many conservative nobles who adhered to the glory of the empire joined her because they believed she could reform the rampant evil in Loren. If she resorted to despicable means like assassination, she would be no different from the evil spirits.

However, this also put Skadi in a dilemma. With the death of these three powerful nobles and the change of votes, the gap in support had soared to eight percent.

Even if she used her most skillful oratory skills to earnestly win over the few nobles who had previously abstained from voting, she might only manage to get one in three days, let alone the risk of assassination if she voted for them now. These abstainers were already acting out of self-preservation, and it would be even more difficult to get them to risk their lives to change their votes.

If the other side wants to kill two more people who changed their votes, or even if they don't need to kill any, some people who are scared will change their votes directly, and the royal election will be over. How can we play like this?

Although the throne obtained through such means may be unstable and the level of chaos in the country may be higher than ever before, that's a matter for later. The other party has made it clear that they would rather ruin the future of the Kingdom of Loren than not seize the throne.

This is how to do……

Skadi rubbed her nose, furious as she was, but most importantly, she seemed truly helpless against this tactic.

Chapter 153 Sowing Discord

After much deliberation, all Princess Skadi can do now is issue strict security regulations.

The imperial guards patrolled every street and alley, and were even temporarily split into multiple teams to cover the security of all nobles as much as possible.

He needs to hold out until his approval rating recovers and surpasses the Fourth Prince's faction.

However, this also brings a problem: if the personal safety of nobles cannot be guaranteed even with improved security, then a significant change in their approval ratings is almost foreseeable.

Skadi knew better than anyone how cowardly these nobles were.

The additional imperial guards were, in essence, just ordinary people with some martial skills, and it was hard to say whether they were stronger than the guards of some nobles themselves. Skadi herself was not sure whether they could defend against assassinations from the Fourth Prince's faction.

……

Dark clouds gradually enveloped the imperial city, and even at midday, the streets were shrouded in a thick, impenetrable fog.

Meanwhile, in a small villa adorned with flowers in the academy estate district, Ella sat on a soft chair, her fingertips tracing the rim of a teacup, gazing at Prince Raymond before her with her eyes half-closed.

"I never expected Your Highness to make such a decisive move."

"To be honest with Miss Ella, this time... what happened was also beyond my expectations," Prince Raymond said with a wry smile.

"Eh? Your Highness means that it wasn't someone from your faction who did it?" Ella rested her chin on the back of her hand, a faint, enigmatic smile playing on her lips.

Prince Raymond stared at her beautiful face, his eyes widening, his heart pounding with each word of her soft, melodious voice.

"I... um... in terms of faction, I should still be in my faction..."

In a way, Prince Raymond was only eighteen years old. Due to his strict requirements, compared to the extravagant young nobles, he had been quite virtuous and self-disciplined.

Of course, it was also because most of the women he had come into contact with since childhood inevitably submitted to his imperial power, and by bowing and scraping, they only became common women in his eyes.

He, who had always treated women merely as tools, had fallen hopelessly in love with the silver-haired girl over the past two weeks, thanks to her every smile and gesture.

Ella hadn't initially intended to do this, but her body language, manner of speaking, and gaze... these things seemed so natural, as if etched into her very bones, and would inadvertently reveal themselves.

Heaven help her, she originally just wanted to portray a "villain" in a way that fit her original character, and because there were no familiar faces like Li Cheng around, she acted a bit too casually. As a result, now anyone with eyes can see the strange situation where the Fourth Prince seems to have been bewitched by her.

Alas, this probably made the shrewd noblewoman think that she was the one who did the assassination last night. She thought that her speeches these days had finally improved her image in the noble circles, but now that this has happened, her reputation is probably going to plummet again.

The other party may even be deliberately using this to make themselves a shield in this assassination attempt.

That's infuriating! We need to find a way to get rid of this guy who's causing trouble behind the scenes.

"Hmm, that's quite an unexpected turn of events." Ella frowned, her pink lips parted slightly, and she sighed softly. "There are actually people who dare to defy His Highness the Prince."

“Hmm… well… it’s not exactly rebellion…” Prince Raymond’s eyes twitched almost imperceptibly. “But rising approval ratings… aren’t necessarily a bad thing for us, Miss Ella.”

Ella keenly noticed the fleeting fear in the other's eyes, picked up her teacup, took a sip with a light smile, and said, "Let me think... if it was an assassination order personally assigned by His Highness the Prince, it might not necessarily be a bad thing."

"Um... Miss Ella means...?" Although Prince Raymond was somewhat bewitched by the little vixen's every move, he still understood the unspoken meaning in her words.

“Your Highness’s greatest rival right now is indeed Princess Skadi,” Ella said, setting down her teacup. “But Princess Skadi is not the only crown prince currently in power.”

"...Crown Prince...Miss Ella, are you referring to the Fifth Prince? Or Erica?" Prince Raymond was stunned, not understanding what Ella meant. "It can't be that simple..."

Sigh, sometimes getting too attached can make someone stupid, Ella sighed helplessly. If it were Prince Raymond from half a month ago, he would have already understood what she was implying when she said those words.

“Well, I apologize if I may be offended, Your Highness. Your Highness might as well imagine what the nobles would think if you continued to ascend the throne in this manner,” Ella smiled.

“…they will question the methods I, as king, have employed.” Prince Raymond frowned. “They won’t be completely obedient…”

“Your Highness is wise. So, if this incident was arranged by Your Highness, with Your Highness’s foresight, you would surely have made preparations to appease the people in advance,” the girl’s beautiful eyes sparkled. “But if not, even if the election is over and the throne is imminent, what will happen if a large number of people who are in disarray but have not yet submitted are rallied by those with ulterior motives?”

“Hmm… I understand what Miss Ella means… but… I think the only one with that kind of power right now is the eldest princess. The youngest princess is too young, and the fifth prince has a bad reputation… I think they are all unlikely to amount to anything.”

Ella simply looked at Prince Raymond with a smile, but did not reply.

“Leonard… Leonard?… Miss Ella, this… this can’t be…”

"Well, that's just my concern."

Ella leaned slightly closer to Prince Raymond, whose face immediately flushed red, and he lowered his head, his gaze darting away. "Miss... Miss Ella..."

“But, my dear prince,” Ella said with a playful yet charming smile, reaching out and gently lifting the other’s chin with her index finger, forcing him to raise his head slightly so that his sparkling gaze would meet her crimson eyes.

“I am your advisor, and in my heart, you have always been an irreplaceable king.”

"I am willing to think of you and share your burdens. My only fear is that some people do not think so."

"Your Highness, if you trust me, please tell me..."

"Are you really not worried about him at all?"

Up close, those eyes, so perfect and flawless like works of art, resembled crystal-clear red glass filled with a peach-shaped rimmed sake cup, adorned with long, silvery-white eyelashes that made one irresistibly want to kiss them.

Prince Raymond felt a burning sensation in his throat, like a parched desert that no amount of tea could quench. "I...I..."

Such a beautiful angel, such a kind and understanding Miss Ella.

If he continues to hide it, how can he face his own soul?

Chapter 154 The Heart-Slaying Demoness

In the account of a king in later generations, it will be written that on this day, a poor prince was manipulated by an evil witch.

Prince Raymond was already resentful and suspicious because of his "teacher's" suppression. Now, Leonard and his "teacher" have carried out such a significant action without his knowledge.

This not only damaged his reputation, but more importantly, it sent a signal that neither the Third Prince Leonard nor "the teacher" took his ideas seriously anymore.

Prince Raymond had certainly considered this after learning of the assassination attempt, but he was helpless and could only console himself with the thought that it was all for the sake of becoming king.

But if... if what Ella said is true, is it possible that this is the "teacher's" way of paving the way for Leonard to replace him in the future?

A ruthless crown prince ascends the throne through despicable means. At this point, another crown prince, Leonard, only needs to impeach him at the coronation ceremony with evidence, whether true or false. As another representative of the reformists, it would not be difficult for him to oust Prince Raymond with the support of many.

Raymond was merely a pawn used to eliminate the traitors; Leonard would ultimately be the true king.

Prince Raymond didn't know if things would really develop this way, but it wasn't something that hadn't happened before.

The eldest prince, Evans, was killed by him using the same methods.

Ella had already sensed Prince Raymond's concerns during the very first question in the conversation.

She immediately realized that this was the perfect opportunity to sow discord between Prince Raymond and the small alliance behind him.

Half a month is enough time for Ella to discover the subtle relationship between Prince Raymond and the forces behind him.

This is not difficult. The fact that Prince Raymond would so "easily" trust himself, despite having a powerful deity backing him, demonstrates his true loneliness.

Why are we lonely? Because we have no companions we can trust.

This is human nature. When faced with a lonely teenager who has been under so much pressure, as long as you gradually break down his defenses, you can take advantage of his vulnerability at the most opportune moment. Violence is always just a last resort, while a truly skilled hunter will make his prey tie himself up and offer himself up.

However, Ella was also a little surprised. The natural feeling and inexplicable pleasure she had when she was provoking Prince Raymond was starting to feel like that of an evil god... Was she really that kind of person?

Of course, Ella's own ulterior motives are another matter entirely.

In the tea room, under Ella's final, simple questioning, Prince Raymond finally revealed the truth.

Once this kind of thing is started, once a little bit is said, it will all come out like a floodgate being opened.

His teacher's oppression and harshness, his teacher's emphasis on the third prince Leonard, and his suppression and abuse of him.

Prince Raymond seemed to have endless grievances and frustrations, pouring out his heart with tears streaming down his face. Even Ella was starting to feel sleepy, but she still had to put on a polite smile.

"Ahhh... Miss Ella... Miss Ella... You know, I understand the meaning of this incident perfectly well, but I really don't dare to think about it... I'm so upset..."

"Alright, Your Highness." Ella patted Prince Raymond's shoulder as he sobbed on the table.

At this moment, a true vixen should let the other person bury their face in her arms and cry.

But for Ella, it was a no-go; she was only interested in hugging soft, cute girls.

Hmm... at most, if we add Ye Xiao... and give her a small cake.

Anyway, Prince Raymond has said everything he should and shouldn't have said. Ella isn't really looking to take in a servant, so there's no need to go to such lengths.

However, after learning about the teacher behind the other party, Ella began to consider it with great interest.

His strength is unknown, and his true identity is also unknown, but he doesn't seem to be the leader of the Cult of Life... There's actually such a hidden character in this royal selection.

Looking at Prince Raymond, who was still sobbing on the table, Ella narrowed her eyes and curled the corners of her mouth slightly, revealing a wicked smile that had the air of a villainous little devil.

……

That night.

The moon is dark and the wind is high.

On the second floor of the Seven Stars Guild's residence, in the conference room, Princess Skadi, covered with a blanket, was taking a nap on the table.

Li Cheng, who was guarding the conference room, sat on a chair to the side, arms crossed, and yawned helplessly. "Sigh, no matter how I try to persuade him, he won't listen. It's the same if he goes back to his room to sleep."

He even had the female members of the guild specially clean a tidy room. When Brother Ye comes back and finds out that he made his princess sleep on a chair, I wonder if he'll beat him up.

After yawning, Li Cheng looked at Isaac, who was silently gazing at the night sky by the window, and said, "Commander, it's pitch black and there's no moon. What's there to see?"

"There's a smell of blood in the wind," Isaac said in a deep voice, his face expressionless.

"Indeed, the wind is quite noisy today." Li Cheng was speechless. How old is he? Still acting like a teenager.

"bang bang bang"

Just then, there was a knock on the conference room door, and when the handle was turned, the door was opened.

The deputy, Xiao Deng, rushed into the room, shouting, "Boss, something terrible has happened...!"

"What? The convenience store next door is offering half-price potato chips?"

"What are you saying, boss?! A guard squad has caught a nobleman being assassinated!!"

"Sorry, I'm such an idiot, where is the location?!" Li Cheng immediately put on his coat. "Commander, please take care of His Highness for now..."

"Wait, I want to go too!" Unexpectedly, Skadi opened her eyes, lifted the blanket, and looked up from the table.

"Forehead……"

Li Cheng hesitated for only a few seconds before the eldest princess had already tied up her long golden ponytail, slipped her slender legs into her boots, picked up her sword, and was ready to go. "Hurry up, I'm a master swordsman, I won't hold you back."

"it is good."

Li Cheng didn't waste any words. Ye Xiao had told him that this eldest princess had the bloodline of two dragons. As a descendant of the Sword Saint, protecting her in a greenhouse was not a suitable environment for her growth.

The group immediately set off from the mansion at full speed, the sound of their horses' hooves echoing through the misty alleyways.

Most of the high-ranking nobles lived in the bustling western district, which made it convenient for Li Cheng and his companions to travel.

In order to transmit information immediately in the event of an attack, each guard squad is equipped with a simple communication scroll with a corresponding number. When something unusual happens, they can simply tear it open, and the Night Watch of the Septians will know which noble family is in trouble.

Therefore, they quickly arrived at the mansion of the victimized nobleman. The dark mansion stood silently in the fog, a stark contrast to the brightly lit streets around it.

The scene was deathly silent. The imperial guards immediately split into two groups to surround the city from the front and back, while Li Cheng led his guildmates straight to the main gate.

Chapter 155 Night Raid

"boom"

"Imperial City Guards!"

With a loud shout, the gates of the mansion burst open, and Li Cheng led the imperial guards and guild members in single file.

The flickering lanterns dispelled the gloom and illuminated the exquisite and magnificent hall.

Several dark red bloodstains were dragged across the intricately patterned marble floor tiles, and a mottled knife mark was clearly visible on the pale stone pillar.