A Villainess for the Tyrant Vol. 5: A Villainess for the Tyrant, #5

By Yoo Iran

An ending set in stone. An empress on the prowl. A battle against fate.

 

With her powers as the archwitch restored, Cecile had gained the tools necessary to save the world. With her tyrannical emperor by her side, a dragon at her back, and an assortment of powerful friends aiding her, she was determined to make it happen.

 

Yet saving the world proves to be a bigger challenge than anticipated. Countless have failed before her, so what makes her so different? What's more, even if she succeeds in her self-appointed quest, what about all the other worlds that now lie in ruin?

 

Follow Cecile and her motley crew through the long-awaited ending of her fairytale and take a peek at their lives after the conclusion of the bloody battle. Everything came to a satisfactory conclusion and they could finally live in peace... or could they?

 

Among these scheming walls, only the wicked can survive.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WordExcerpt
• Release date: Dec 5, 2023
• ISBN: 9798890470249

Book preview

PART ONE

EVERY STORY COMES TO A CLOSE

CHAPTER 1

A FLEDGLING NO MORE

The plummeting books disintegrated into fragments of azure luminescence that shimmered in every direction around Cecile. Their power coalesced around the empress, water and blue light intertwining to enshroud her in a colossal pillar of radiance.

Cecile shut her eyes and, from within the luminous pillar, raised the scepter in her hand. The airborne droplets gradually merged into a stream, swaying and flowing in harmony with her movements. A resounding, crystalline chime echoed across the world—a sound unmatched in its clarity since the confrontation with the dragon lord.

Goodness, Richard mumbled, covering his mouth as he listened to the reverberating notes that resonated throughout creation.

It was said that the strength of witches always manifested alongside sound—the greater and more perfect the wielded power, the more melodies it wove, harmonizing flawlessly. Presently, the watery tones that caressed his ears surpassed mere harmony—they became music.

Although Richard had limited knowledge of witches, his instincts guided him to follow along with the melodic composition. The same held true for the others. Despite their bewilderment, no one blocked out the ethereal symphony. Rather, they found themselves humming along to the mellifluous melody, as it refreshed and soothed their very souls.

Richard's understanding of witches had been confined to what was documented, but now, in this very moment, he was certain that the newly born archwitch named Cecile could no longer be considered a fledgling. An immeasurable wealth of experience and knowledge lay within her now.

In a flash, the torrent of books pouring from the dimensional gates above the empress vanished simultaneously, and Cecile opened her eyes.

Now, I understand, she murmured.

Merely moments ago, she had been clueless about what needed to be done, but no longer. She now understood how to save Estian and thwart the dragon lord. Above all, she possessed the necessary power to make it happen. However, there was one task she needed to complete first.

Cecile lifted her gaze skyward, although it mattered not where she directed her sight, for her mother was surely everywhere that Cecile was.

Mother, Cecile called out.

Even though Cecile had ascended to become the new archwitch, it did not mean that her mother's powers, as the former archwitch, had completely faded away. As evidence of this, Cecile realized that she still could not recollect her mother's visage.

After embracing the memories of all the past worlds, Cecile had caught glimpses of the countless endeavors of the archwitch, who never abandoned her daughter. Far from abandonment, the mother had desperately struggled in every world, attempting to guide her daughter away from an inescapable fate. How many times must she have witnessed her daughter's despair and demise?

Anger and resentment had accumulated within Cecile's heart ever since she had discovered the empty grave in Navitan, realizing that her enigmatic mother had been deceiving her all this time, weaving an elaborate web of death. However, now she understood that sorrow underpinned all her mother's actions.

Taking a deep breath, Cecile prepared to undertake a task she had never before attempted in her life. If she were to be completely honest, it was something she had yearned to do at least once for the longest time.

Mom, Cecile called out again, her eyes still fixed upon the heavens. Then, donning the smile she had practiced countless times in her childhood before the grave in Navitan, for the mother that resided in her imagination, she spoke, Can you not assist me just this once?

Cecile had always hoped for the day when she could experience the unique privilege held by a beloved child—to smile like this and cling to her parent, while making an earnest plea.

What is that? the saintess exclaimed.

Her gaze remained fixed upon the sky, where a pillar of light akin to the one surrounding Cecile materialized in the indiscernibly distant horizon.

Over there as well! This time, it was Aled who shouted, its spirit form pointing in another direction.

And another one! Ruin exclaimed, joining the chorus as the third voice.

Every individual standing amidst the open plains gazed at the three pillars of light that suddenly appeared and steadily drew closer to Cecile. As the pillars approached, they discerned figures within each column of radiance.

Realization dawned upon Richard.

The guardian witches? he muttered.

The archwitch had always been faithfully accompanied by the three guardian witches.

When the three pillars, which had emerged from disparate points on the horizon, converged before Cecile, the three women within stepped forward, bowing in deference to their archwitch.

Do you remember me now? I am Adelheid. Greetings to the new archwitch, Adelheid uttered, concluding her salutation before stepping back.

Next, the second woman advanced, bowing gracefully. It is an honor to meet you once again. My name is Belita. I extend my greetings to the new archwitch.

Finally, the third witch approached Cecile with a radiant smile and spoke, Long time no see, Cecile. I'm Ciel! Do you remember me now?

Unlike the solemn greetings of her predecessors, the third guardian witch waved her hand with a casual air.

Observing this, the other two guardian witches flanked Ciel on either side, promptly seizing her ears and rebuking her.

Hey! Did we not agree to offer our initial greetings with some measure of seriousness?

What she said! Must you spoil the ambiance?

But... it's embarrassing! Ciel whined. Maintaining this façade in front of Cecile of all people is mortifying!

The three of them squabbled among themselves for a brief moment, but upon noticing Cecile staring at them blankly, they hastened back to her side, wearing smiles.

Cecile! It has been far too long!

Are you well? In good health?

Oh my, look at this! Your complexion is dreadful! What on earth is your husband doing?

The solemn atmosphere that had enveloped them moments ago vanished in the blink of an eye, replaced by the fawning of aunties reunited with their niece after an extended separation.

W-wait a moment! This is not the time for such frivolities! Cecile exclaimed.

Flapping her arms, she managed to break free from the witches' clutches.

The three guardian witches appeared disheartened, but clicking their tongues, they said, It cannot be helped. Shall we attend to urgent matters first?

Taking a few steps back, the trio formed a circle around Cecile, raising their hands as they regarded one another. Instantly, additional melodies intertwined with the musical water resounding throughout the world.

Huh?

A peculiar sensation overcame everyone. Nothing outwardly changed, yet their bodies felt as if they had endured a powerful jolt, akin to the abrupt halt of a speeding carriage.

Adelheid commenced by saying, The previous archwitch bestowed upon us this power as she set us free.

Cecile inquired, By power, do you mean...

We have arrested the flow of the world, Belita responded. I did not anticipate her granting us such power. Honestly! No parent can surpass their children, can they? I shall enlighten you since you may not be aware—the archwitch possesses a unique ability. For your mother, it was the power to govern time... though she rarely employed it.

Conveniently, Belita omitted the fact that the previous archwitch had indeed manipulated time after her daughter's initial demise.

Jumping in, Ciel hastily nudged Belita aside and enthused, While we keep Estian's rampage and the dragon lord in check, there will be no further alterations. Now, enough chatter—let us proceed!

Silently, Cecile nodded in comprehension.

What is happening? the saintess murmured.

She had followed Cecile and the three guardian witches' conversation, yet numerous details eluded her grasp.

Aled could not resist the urge and embarked upon a lengthy explanation, filling in the gaps for the saintess and Kane. Thanks to its recapitulation, the saintess grasped the essence, though she remained uncertain about what to do with this newfound knowledge. Before she could organize her thoughts, Cecile sprinted toward her. The empress seized the saintess by the nape of her neck, shaking her scepter at the sky.

Hey, hey? What has come over you? Somebody, help me!

Startled, the saintess struggled to break free from Cecile's grip. She spotted Kane rushing to her aid, but suddenly, a blue radiance enveloped her, and her surroundings swiftly transformed. The sight of Kane with his outstretched hand blurred and vanished. Within moments, the saintess realized that he was not the only one who had disappeared. Everyone who had been around her seconds ago—Richard, Ruin, and even Aled—had all vanished.

While the saintess remained lost in confusion, Cecile placed a hand on her shoulder and said, There is much I wish to inquire and discuss, but there is a more pressing matter you must attend to first.

Something she had to do? The saintess doubted her holy power held much value at this juncture. So, what did the empress desire?

Do you comprehend the greatest disparities between the previous world and our present world?

Huh, what? Despite herself, the saintess responded meekly, caught off guard by Cecile's grave tone.

Firstly, it is the fact that I have ascended to become the archwitch, inheriting my mother's powers completely. Secondly, it is none other than your presence.

S-so? What about it?

You claim to be an author, the one who penned this world.

Why was Cecile abruptly bringing up this matter? The saintess struggled to follow along, gazing at Cecile in a daze. However, confusion did not linger for long.

Seizing the saintess by her collar, Cecile demanded, Edit it.

What?

Or, to be precise, rewrite it! Cecile exclaimed.

When the previous archwitch answered her daughter's call and dispatched the guardian witches to her side, the remaining seals on Cecile were finally shattered. With the seals broken, the knowledge of other worlds flooded her mind, including information about the saintess.

This girl is not a deity.

In truth, the saintess's assertions had been preposterous from the start. How could this expansive world be fashioned with a few lines of prose? A world where lives were born and extinguished could not be so shallow. In reality, this world was shaped by an all-powerful entity that even Cecile, despite inheriting all the memories and powers of the previous world as well as those of the archwitch, failed to comprehend. The saintess had merely composed a tale based on a fleeting glimpse of that world.

However, she possesses the ability to meddle.

The only truth in the saintess's claims resided in her capacity to introduce modifications to the already completed story. Her true power lay in her ability to alter the narrative.

The power to modify a world—that is your ability. It is your gift as an outsider who entered the last world. Therefore, I implore you to rectify the story of this world. Right here, right now! You need only change one thing.

And what might that be?

Remove... the blood of Eugendiph, Cecile faltered, swallowing nervously, Remove it from Estian.

The most fundamental aspect of this world needed correction.

Very well, the saintess reassured her. But how do I make the correction?

What?

I will edit it. Piece of cake! The only issue is the absence of computers or word editing software. How am I supposed to go about it?

The saintess's words sounded perplexing to Cecile—word editing software? Computers? What were these delectable things?

CHAPTER 2

IS IT CONCLUDED?

The archwitch slowly unveiled her eyes. Long ago, she had lost her physical form, but that mattered little to her now.

I suppose I shall be referred to as the former archwitch.

A bitter smile adorned her face. Having gone through this ordeal multiple times before, she knew that her power would eventually return to her, and she understood the implications. When that moment arrived, she would accept it silently.

Cecile and Estian were destined to be reborn in a world that would be wiped out, only to begin anew. And with each cycle, the archwitch plunged into despair. Despite her great reputation and the vast knowledge and power she had amassed over the centuries, she remained unable to escape this fate.

Someday, I shall discover the answer.

However, with the creation of each new book chronicling yet another ruined world, a piece of her heart withered away. As the records accumulated into endless stacks, leaving only one world behind, the archwitch set her heart on a specific course of action. The dragon lord referred to it as lunacy.

Even the most extraordinary being, endowed with boundless wisdom and power, could not retain their rationality when faced with the impending and ultimate demise of their child. The archwitch envisioned the last Cecile from the previous world—a charming, kind, and adorable child, yet simultaneously stubborn, strong-willed, and prone to tears. Her final daughter possessed an indomitable spirit, despised defeat, and had a penchant for throwing tantrums. Just like all the Ceciles before her, the last Cecile was an endearing presence to the archwitch.

That was precisely why the archwitch made the decision to imprison her child, without any consent, fervently hoping that her daughter's fate would have no connection to the world. With all her remaining strength, the archwitch locked away her daughter.

Time and time again, fate attempted to steer Cecile back onto a path that would lead to the repetition of history. And time and time again, the archwitch struggled to impede it. In the end, she failed to prevent Cecile from reuniting with Estian. Eventually, Cecile unraveled the truth.

When Cecile unearthed the empty grave, the archwitch knew that her child would never come searching for her again. Yet, the truth remained that she had always been listening—whether it was when Cecile visited the grave to recount an inconsequential day, sang a joyous tune she had learned from the maids, or sobbed in muffled cries after being scolded by her teacher. The archwitch had silently listened to her daughter's sorrowful calls for a mother she could not even remember.

For the archwitch, Cecile's voice was the most exquisite sound in the world. So, when the empress coldly gazed upon her mother's vacant grave before departing with Estian, it was the archwitch who shed tears, convinced that her child would never call out to her again.

But she called out!

The archwitch believed she could be content with this much, but she was not. She yearned for her child to come to her, seeking affection and care. She would give her daughter anything and everything. And now, the archwitch's ears caught the faint sounds of something.

Mom! Cecile's troubled and bewildered voice reached her. I do not know how to begin anew!

The archwitch could not help but chuckle, for she possessed the answer to that question. With a sense of joy in being able to teach her child something new, the archwitch sprang into action.

Her daughter, who had come this far, was her pride and joy; she loved her more than anything else in the world. Whispering her child's name in her heart, the archwitch tenderly watched over the child who had finally found happiness and would continue to do so in the days to come.

Cecile observed as a gentle blue aura, not of her own making, enveloped her wrist and guided her forward. It also extended to the saintess standing beside her. The surrounding scenery transformed rapidly, revealing that time was reversing. The house that once stood there changed into a meadow, then a forest. However, when Cecile and the saintess were directed to extend their hands simultaneously, they were left speechless.

They stood in awe as time froze before them, the rapid flow held in suspended animation. As soon as they withdrew their hands, a glimmering blue light flickered and vanished. In place of the lush forest, a dazzling sea now stretched before them. Understanding dawned upon them simultaneously. They were about to rebuild the entire world.

Huh? Tania, frozen amidst the scene of confrontation, was struck by a sense of incongruity. Did we always possess twenty grizzlies?

She could not fathom why this thought crossed her mind at that particular moment, but it felt as if someone was reminding her to keep that fact in mind. Unbeknownst to her, she was not the only one grappling with a sense of oddity.

Eh?

Aled's mind suddenly added three extra zeroes to the amount of its loan installment compared to what it previously remembered. It was absurd, but the alteration felt like it had transpired in a distant past that could not be violated, leaving Aled no choice but to accept this new reality tearfully.

What in the world...

Meanwhile, Kane also sensed that something had changed. It seemed as though his wealth had multiplied fifty-fold, but that was not all.

Was I a duke?

Kane swiftly dismissed the fleeting thought. Although he had become a nobleman only after assuming the role of Estian's aide, he was certain that he had always been an earl.

Yet, in the next moment, he shook his head and wondered if he had experienced a momentary lapse of reason. How could he be a duke? Upon reconsideration, he recollected that he had indeed been an earl all along.

Will you cease your foolishness and do it correctly? Cecile scowled, slapping the back of the saintess's hand.

If only he had become a duke before being discovered...

The saintess grumbled as she observed the scene with regretful eyes. While making minor adjustments to the world, she had come across Kane.

But, an earl should suffice. The title of a duke carries too many responsibilities. Besides, I made him wealthy!

Although Kane's fortune had been considerable to begin with, having more never hurt. By sneaking in this slight alteration for Kane, the saintess resumed her actions in tandem with Cecile. The task of correcting a world was peculiar. While they did not fully comprehend the intricacies of their actions, it was undeniable that the world was undergoing a transformation.

One by one, individuals who had perished due to the chaos were resurrected, beginning with the zealots of the holy kingdom who were the first to attempt assassinations on Cecile and Princess Yuliana. Those who would have lived peaceful lives had fate not intervened returned to existence, unaware of their previous demise.

Cecile likened the process to slicing up a massive reel and piecing it back together, replacing unwanted sections with something new. Instantaneous changes were impossible; it required steady editing from the beginning.

Eventually, they arrived at the section they desired.

Found it, the saintess announced, capturing Cecile's attention.

To others, the sight before them appeared as a single radiant mass of light. However, with their discerning eyes, they perceived that this radiant mass contained the fate of Estian's eventual consumption by the blood of Eugendiph.

The saintess approached the light with utmost care, aware that this was the one thing she absolutely had to alter.

After this, Kane and I shall live happily ever after!

All the saintess desired was to resolve this troublesome matter and return to a life of idleness. However, in the next moment, her expression froze.

Why? Is there a problem? Cecile inquired, noticing the change in the saintess.

I-it's not changing, the saintess stuttered.

What?!

After much struggle, Cecile and the saintess discovered that it was impossible to completely eliminate the blood of Eugendiph. Just as Cecile and Estian were indomitable beings within the world, so was the blood of Eugendiph.

It refuses to vanish. No matter what I attempt...

The saintess endeavored to transfer the blood to Cecile, but it proved futile and only resulted in another outburst. What vessel could possibly stabilize it?

Deep in thought, Cecile crouched down before leaping up in realization. Making her way to another fragment of light, she exclaimed with joy, It's here!

Long ago, when Estian struggled to regain his human form, Earl Levnen had aided him. At that time, the earl had requested a small favor from his healthy daughter—a drop of her blood to dilute the blood coursing through Estian's veins. In exchange, her father promised to grant her every doll she had been pleading for. The earl's daughter willingly agreed, and the meticulous procedure successfully infused Estian's blood