Chapter 23: I Reincarnated as a Villainess and… Finally, I’ve Been Rescued! (7)

“Thank goodness. It seems everything went well.”

“Where on earth have you been?”

“Oh, me? I was just finishing off the runaway dark wizards.”

After preventing the train from crashing, there were a lot of follow-up tasks, such as checking on the passengers’ safety.

Fortunately, no additional lives were lost.

However, there were more minor injuries than expected, so I took out all the potions I had and distributed them as much as possible.

“Thank you, young lady. I don’t know how we could ever repay this kindness…”

“One silver coin will do.”

Normally, these handmade potions would be worth several times more.

But given the situation, I decided to drastically reduce the price.

What?

How do I know the market price of potions?

I overheard it from the adventurers in Abel Village.

That’s why I have a decent understanding of the prices for potions, weapons, and other items adventurers commonly use.

While I was practically giving away potions and explaining how to use them, a group of uniformed people, likely responding to reports of the accident, approached.

They politely bowed to me and my subordinates before skillfully guiding the passengers to safety.

The site was quickly cleaned up.

Before long, all of us who had been on the train would be able to continue our journeys.

“Will you choose the general seating again this time?”

“…No.”

For the new train we transferred to, I decided to board a first-class private compartment.

To be honest, the general seating was a bit cramped.

“Understood. I will prepare the most comfortable compartment for you.”

Hearing my decision, Gallan smiled faintly.

I guess he was also looking forward to sitting on a soft chair like me.

Beeeep—!

The first-class compartment was indeed comfortable.

Calling it a compartment was an understatement—it was practically a luxurious mansion on wheels.

There was even a sommelier and a chef stationed one compartment away.

The meat dishes were excellent, but the black tea… It couldn’t compare to the herbal tea from Abel Forest.

And one more thing, being underage and unable to drink wine was a bit disappointing.

Other than that, I was completely satisfied.

“It’s coming into view.”

“That place…”

Sticking my head out the window, I saw the massive capital of Albion gradually revealing itself.

Albion—the official name of this new continent, commonly referred to as the Western Frontier or the Colonies, through which the magic train was currently speeding.

“Yes. It’s the heart of this continent, ruled directly by the Rosegarden family—Lunden, the capital.”

Gallan kindly explained to me, as if acknowledging my amnesia after the airship crash.

Actually, I already knew this information.

Lunden.

A metropolis located at the eastern edge of the Western Frontier and the capital of the colony.

It hosts the closest harbor to the Imperial Mainland, making it the gateway for ships traveling between the new continent and the empire.

In terms of strategic importance, it ranks among the top three ports within the entire empire.

Literally, it is both the entrance and the heart of Albion.

The Western Frontier’s governor-general, Edwin Rosegarden, personally rules over it with his two hands.

Moreover, one of the remaining three hearts of the empire is located on the far western edge of the mainland, in a region called Flandia, where the Rosegarden family’s estate is situated.

In other words, the Rosegarden family holds all the key harbors connecting the new continent to the empire.

‘With that kind of monopoly, who wouldn’t have ambitions? If I were in their position, I’d start a rebellion too.’

And this unbalanced monopoly…

It was one of the reasons why readers criticized the author so much.

Pshhh—!

As the train officially entered the capital, Lunden, it expelled a faint blue steam, the byproduct of mana crystal fuel.

Contrary to my expectations, Lunden turned out to be a highly developed city.

Due to the advanced magic engineering, some buildings emitted the clicking sounds of gears and clock hands.

The most striking feature was the enormous clock tower that seemed to pierce the sky.

Numerous airships were flying from behind the clock tower toward us, casting massive shadows that made it seem as if night had fallen momentarily.

“Young lady, it’s dangerous.”

“Ah… I didn’t realize I was leaning out too far…”

I had been so excited that I almost stuck my head out too much, like a dog on a car ride.

Gallan cautiously pulled me back inside.

“Newspaper! Get your newspaper!”

Looking down through the closed window for safety, I saw a boy carrying a bundle of newspapers at a busy intersection lined with Victorian-style buildings.

Despite being a medieval setting, there seemed to be no child labor laws.

Still, the streets were clean, and people didn’t seem particularly unhappy.

‘It’s pretty clear what country the author used as a model…’

Honestly, the information I knew about Albion was quite limited.

It wasn’t that I forgot or skimmed through the original story; it just wasn’t detailed in the first place.

The most I knew was that my father, Edwin Rosegarden, ruled over the colony.

Aside from that, I knew that the city was technologically advanced and that the colony’s residents suffered under the tyrannical governor.

I was too engrossed in sightseeing, having temporarily forgotten about the impending doom.

The train had already stopped, signaling the end of the city tour.

I couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed.

“Haa… Finally, I can rest.”

“Our mission isn’t over yet.”

“Getting this far is practically the same as finishing it.”

After disembarking, we were immediately surrounded by a crowd.

However, I didn’t get caught up in it, thanks to the uniformed men who had been waiting to escort us.

What should I do from here?

It would be best to continue acting like a villainess as I have been. After all, that suits me best.

Even though I don’t exist in the original story.

But whatever—every Rosegarden is a villain anyway.

To change my doomed fate, I must continue to act convincingly.

If I think about my past experiences and the usual clichés, this world will likely intervene to maintain its original course.

That means I need to deceive this world.

By becoming a thorough villainess, even if I wasn’t in the original story, I must make people think, ‘Hmm, she’s more useful than expected.’

Obviously, all of this could just be my paranoia, delusion, or pointless speculation, but there’s no harm in being cautious.

After all, aren’t protagonists who get transported into novels always shouting about preserving the original storyline?

My case is pretty similar.

Alright, let’s reorganize my plan here.

Plan One: Become the villainess.

Plan Two: Enroll in the academy.

Plan Three: Befriend the protagonist.

Plan Four: Follow the cliché of  “Even so…! Lin is my precious friend…!” and undergo the typical redemption arc.

Yes!

Perfect!

A flawless plan without any gaps!

Now then, let’s move on to carrying out Plan One!

As I waited briefly in the prepared carriage, the door opened from the outside.

“Wow…”

When I got out of the carriage, I couldn’t help but let out an exclamation.

A grand architectural structure loomed massively before my eyes, captivating my gaze.

The splendid building was so magnificent that I couldn’t help but be amazed.

Despite being a new continent without any historic castles or palaces, the building erected in the centre of the capital could easily rival the beautiful castles of the Imperial mainland.

But… Isn’t it too far to walk from the gate to that building?

Vroom…!

Just then, a familiar yet unfamiliar engine sound tickled my ears.

A car?

Could it be that this world has cars?

Considering the existence of airships and magic trains, it’s not that surprising.

Still, in fantasy settings, real-world elements are usually avoided as much as possible.

“…Ah.”

Turning around in disbelief, I saw a primitive automobile spewing light blue steam.

It wasn’t exactly the kind of car I was familiar with—more like a carriage with a driver’s seat and steering wheel instead of a horse.

Its design teetered between fantasy and reality.

Unlike earlier when I enjoyed the scenic train ride, this vehicle didn’t excite me.

Still, my eyes widened in surprise.

A man got out of the car-carriage hybrid, and everyone around him immediately bowed their heads.

He approached with a stern expression.

His name was Edwin Rosegarden.

The Governor-General of Albion and the head of the Rosegarden family.

“Dad…?”

And… my father.

“…Lin.”

Despite meeting his missing daughter, his face remained rather stoic.

But through his warm embrace, I could feel that his heart wasn’t as cold as it appeared.

“……Hic…”

Suddenly, my emotions overwhelmed me, and I burst into tears.

Why am I crying?

‘I’ have never even met this man before…

Why do I feel like this?

My emotions overpowered my reasoning.

Maybe it was my young body reacting instinctively.

Given that ‘Lin Rosegarden’ is still a little girl, it wasn’t surprising.

“Yes. I’m just glad you’re safe.”

Tears continued to pour uncontrollably.

Seeing this, Dad pulled me deeper into his embrace.

It was warm.

The embrace of a loving family felt incredibly comforting.

At that moment,

I felt a faint fragment of consciousness from deep within.

The fragment slowly melted into the flood of emotions, eventually becoming one.

When I first became myself, there was one question that lingered.

If I became ‘Lin Rosegarden,’ where did the original Lin go?

Back then, I had tilted my head in confusion.

Now, I finally understand.

That question was flawed from the start.

The previous Lin… no, the previous me never existed in the first place.

Edwin Rosegarden and Leona Rosegarden’s youngest daughter.

The little girl who just returned to her beloved parents’ embrace, her heart overflowing with emotions.

That is… who I am now.