episode_0012

Villainess Seina.

Just thinking about the deeds described in the novel brings to mind attempted murder, assault, extortion and plunder, solicitation of murder, smuggling, and even kidnapping.

There are several definite villainesses in this novel.

Seina, the villainess, was one of those beings.

However, it wasn’t fair to blame Seina for things that hadn’t even happened yet, and right now, it felt like I had become friends with the prince rather than being in a romantic relationship.

I began to think that even the villainess Seina could be redeemed.

“Yeah, I can do it if it’s me.”

Nodding my head, I gazed out the window.

The sky was clear without a single cloud.

Let’s make a move.

Connect the prince and the villainess Seina to solidify my current position.

Not as lovers, but as friends.

Although I felt a bit guilty about pushing the morally questionable Seina into a friend’s lover, if I did nothing, Seina might start attacking me and the prince as friends.

Sorry, Deron, but you’ll have to be sacrificed.

Leaving the dormitory, I headed towards a place where Seina might be found.

The Second Garden.

Seina always frequented that place.

It was said that the scent of flowers was stronger there than anywhere else.

I’m not sure, but anyway, since it was described that way in the novel, it must be true.

As I walked with a shrug of my shoulders, some people recognized me and greeted me.

“Oh, Lia, hi!”

“Where are you going?”

“Still in pajamas today?”

I responded to the greetings appropriately.

“Yes, hello everyone-”

After spending almost a month playing with the prince, I seemed to have become quite famous.

Initially, some people were wary because of my fallen noble status, but now they approached me somewhat warmly.

Actually, it’s not about me.

They probably want to approach the prince through me.

I’m not naive enough to be taken advantage of.

If they want to get close to the prince, I suggest they approach him directly instead of using me as a bridge.

“Hehe….”

I put on a smug expression.

Still, receiving special treatment didn’t feel so bad.

Even though I have no intention of connecting with the prince, strangely, I keep receiving treats as if they were bribes.

I started feeling like my status had risen.

But after all, a fallen noble is ultimately the same class as a commoner.

I know I have to maintain boundaries, but if I continue like this, I might end up in an accident at any moment, so I briskly tapped my cheeks to wake myself up.

I am a commoner.

On the same level as Shasha.

“…Well, maybe a little above Shasha?”

But still, because I have money.

I shrugged and continued walking.

By the time my legs started to ache, I arrived at the Second Garden.

And I found her right away.

Should I call it a drill hairstyle?

I don’t know how such a hairstyle is possible, but anyway.

A girl with a unique hairstyle was sitting in one of the garden chairs.

Her behavior of admiring the flowers truly suited the image of a ‘girl’ as if she were drawn in a painting.

A dignity that was incomparable to someone like me was felt.

I naturally sat down next to the villainess Seina.

As soon as I sat down, her calm expression shattered into confusion as she looked at me, startled. Silently, I moved closer to Seina, pressing against her side.

These days, nobles wash their bodies with water infused with flower petals.

From Seina, I faintly smelled the scent of roses.

“Why are you… doing this?”

“It smells nice.”

“Y-yes?!”

She doesn’t seem as bold as the typical character in novels, but just in case, I whispered to the trembling Seina, wondering if I might be mistaking her for someone else.

“What is your name, miss?”

“M-my, name? Uh, S-Seina Fraus…”

What? Isn’t she Villainess Seina?

With her red hair and red eyes, who else could she be besides the villainess Seina?

However, how can personalities differ so much?

The villainess Yeong-ae I know didn’t have this kind of personality.

It’s two years later when the villainess Yeong-ae reveals herself in the novel.

She made a grand entrance, confronting the female lead.

Consistently displaying a thoroughly shattered personality, she firmly established herself as a true villainess.

…Isn’t she too different from now?

Anyway, that’s not important.

Ultimately, it was a matter for another day.

I should focus on the present now.

“…Miss, your skin is incredibly soft?”

Quietly reaching out, I grabbed the villainess Yeong-ae’s hand.

Her skin was soft.

“Oh, no… I don’t like it… P-please stop…”

Her voice trembled as if filled with fear, shakier than a leaf in the wind.

“Hush, stay still.”

With a reassuring tone to calm her trembling, my words were met with a sharp pain.

Thud!

Intense pain surged from her forehead, causing her to scream, “Ah!”

Tears welled up slightly as she turned around, clutching her forehead, only to find Deron staring back at me.

“What are you doing?”

“…Why did you hit her?”

Violence is wrong.

And using violence, Deron proved himself to be a bad person.

As I openly watched, Deron seemed dumbfounded and retorted as if in disbelief.

“Why are you sexually harassing a child?”

Sexual harassment?

I was just showering praise to ease tension, planning to educate her with the behaviors the prince likes, but this accusation feels unjust.

Even this level of physical contact.

Isn’t empathy allowed between us?

“…It’s okay because we’re of the same gender.”

“Without remorse, your sins become worse.”

At Deron’s firm words, I flinched.

Was it also wrong between people of the same gender?

Unfortunately, due to my lack of experience with women, including past lives, I didn’t know where the line was drawn.

Although Deron hit me, his words and the way he looked at me, tearful and fearful, made me see myself as the wrongdoer.

Feeling guilty, I lightly apologized.

One must know when to admit fault to be considered an adult.

“…I’m sorry, I thought this was acceptable.”

Shasha used to scold me every night before bed; perhaps Shasha was right.

“…I-it’s fine…”

Hmm, it doesn’t look fine at all.

What should I do? I pondered while looking at Deron.

With a sigh, Deron approached us and kindly addressed the villainess Yeong-ae.

“…Seina?”

“…Your Highness?”

Ah, perhaps I was so scared that I kept my gaze down, not realizing who had arrived.

“She probably didn’t mean any harm; she’s just naturally foolish, so please understand.”

“…Pardon?”

Looking bewildered, the villainess Yeong-ae alternated between me and Deron.

The Prince’s words left me equally puzzled, so I pursed my lips in dissatisfaction towards him.

“Hey.”

“Hey?”

“It’s a slip of the tongue, anyway, am I stupid?”

When I saved the Star Child last time, wasn’t I incredibly clever?

Back then, I wasn’t portraying the image of a mysterious maiden with many hidden secrets, right?

So why suddenly become a fool?

“…We’ve agreed to call anyone who can’t write properly until they turn 10 a fool. It’s a societal agreement.”

“Ugh… That’s unfair.”

Playing unfairly with truth.

No.

Not at all.

If we stick to the truth, shouldn’t my wisdom be praised instead?

Just three months into this world, speaking like this alone makes me a genius.

“…Rather than being a fool, wouldn’t I belong to the ranks of geniuses?”

While my writing remains stagnant, at least my speech is unaffected!

“…A genius? You?”

What’s with that pitiful animal-like expression?

Facing disdainful gazes, I made a request to the villainess, Yeong-ae.

“…Miss, are you acquainted with the prince?”

“Huh? Y-yes….”

“Then please stop. Is it okay to bully another student from the same academy like this?”

“…Uh, um, Your Highness, you shouldn’t torment your friend….”

What’s this? Why is she so docile?

Is she considering my words?

As I was taken aback, the prince placed his hand on my head and pressed down firmly, as if feeling a headache, murmuring softly.

“…Seina, you can ignore what this guy says.”

The prince momentarily confiscated my right to speak.

This is oppression!

I tried to resist by raising my arm, but the prince easily subdued me.

Sinking into deep feelings of defeat, I looked despondent. The villainess Yeong-ae glanced at us both and timidly nodded.

“Y-yes….”

Strange….

No matter how much I think about it, she’s too timid,

and even kind.

What happened in those two years to shape her character like this?

Novels often omit many details.

Perhaps this, too, seemed to correspond to the part omitted in the novel.

It seems necessary to investigate once.

Of course, before that.

“…Your Highness, please don’t press on my head; I might not grow taller, you know.”

Already feeling a subtle blow to my pride due to the fact that there was no one smaller than me in the academy, I diligently practiced stretching exercises I had seen in my past life before going to bed.

If he keeps pressing on my forehead like this, it’ll all be in vain.

I puffed out my cheeks.