CHAPTER 70…………..
The sound of a thud drew everyone’s gaze even more.
“……”
Serene’s face flushed red. She pressed her hands against the floor to push herself up, ready to quietly slip away.
I finally came back to my senses.
Why Serene?
I remembered her tearful expression during the Holy Trial, when my innocence was revealed—how she had whispered “Thank goodness!”
Looking back now, the nuance felt a little odd.
Was she saying it was fortunate for me, not for herself?
And come to think of it, she had insisted on drinking the reconciliation wine with me, even when everyone else tried to stop her.
She secretly defended me behind my back, even getting angry at my personality and demanding explanations.
I rushed here, worried it might be a death flag… But could it be that Serene actually liked me more than I thought?
What was going on? I needed to find out.
I strode forward like lightning, blocking Serene’s escape route.
“To disguise yourself as a customer, sneak into your own tea salon, and manage every detail so meticulously—Miss Serene, you’re truly an excellent manager. But for the potential victim who nearly suffered losses from those false rumors, a simple permanent ban isn’t enough.”
At that moment, my blood-red eyes turned toward Baroness Basset—the young lady who had just attempted false business practices.
“We must cut them off completely so they can never spread such slander again.”
With those words, I grabbed something from the knitting table beside me.
A pair of scissors.
“……!”
Everyone gasped in shock.
When my red eyes widen, the white spaces above and below the pupils become visible—creating a chilling, terrifying effect.
The face of a mad, psychopathic killer.
“Kyaaah!”
The lying baroness screamed and ran away. But it wasn’t over.
“Manager, please report this to the police. Someone has committed the crime of insulting an innocent citizen of the Empire, and the victim has absolutely no intention of settling.”
“Ah, yes.”
Again, if anyone’s going to use my name for profit, it should be me. How dare someone else try to cash in?
After nipping it in the bud so no one would dare try again, I looked at Serene.
“To think the salon owner herself stepped in to resolve this… I’m grateful. I’d like to personally thank you, Miss Serene.”
After having some time to blow off steam, Serene seemed to have regained her composure.
“Alright. Please, this way.”
She led me into the manager’s room at the back of the salon. The door closed, and as I sat down, I asked:
“To openly defend a villainess in front of so many people? As expected of you, Miss Serene. This will only make your angelic image even more unshakable.”
Serene flinched.
“No… I didn’t do it for such calculations. I was simply so angry at Lady Bisset’s nonsense that I couldn’t control myself… Ah, no, anyway.”
She quickly changed the subject.
“You did use the voucher I gave you. Since you didn’t come no matter how long I waited, I thought you had thrown it away.”
Why would I throw away a free voucher with no expiration date?
Wait.
“Don’t tell me… you’ve been waiting for me here this whole time?”
“Yes. After it was revealed that the accusation of you trying to poison me was false, I decided I had to tell you this.”
“…Tell me what?”
“Please look at this first.”
Serene solemnly opened a drawer, took out a thick notebook, and pushed it toward me. I flipped it open.
“…Hmm?”
Inside were old, yellowed newspaper clippings, pasted one after another.
The Young Lady of Rosenga Refuses to Bow at Her First Imperial Greeting!
‘Get out before I throw you all in prison!’ The Young Lady Scolds Reporters …
All the extraordinary deeds of “Villainess Aristina” since childhood were gathered here. Some were underlined, others marked with stars.
Curious, I asked:
“Why did you study articles about me so thoroughly?”
Serene replied:
“It wasn’t me—it was my parents.”
“Your… parents?”
I was shocked.
Her parents were none other than the Duke and Duchess of Hyperion.
Renowned heroes of the Empire, admired by the people for their exemplary, glorious lives.
“Why would such great people ever bother with someone like me…?”
“There’s a reason.”
Serene answered:
“My parents lived their whole lives respected as heroes of the Empire, proud of it. They wanted their child to follow a similar path, so they raised me diligently from a young age. Whenever I struggled, they would point to you, Miss Aristina, and say: ‘Do you want to end up like her?’ These clippings were their teaching materials to spur me on.”
“……”
“I worked hard to meet their expectations. But at some point… their attitude began to change. There I was, studying etiquette, bleeding from my nose during spirit magic practice, hardly ever smiling. Meanwhile, Miss Aristina—you were cheerful, laughing brightly, running around full of energy. They began to wonder… which of us was truly happier?”
Serene continued calmly.
“Looking back, my parents may have lived glorious lives, but at the cost of chronic stomach problems, insomnia, and nervous disorders. Seeing their only daughter reflected in that, they must have started to think, ‘This isn’t right…’”
Worried by her parents’ doubts, Serene also grew increasingly confused. And then, as she became entangled with the Crown Prince, she began to observe me even more closely…
“Your honesty. Your determination to take whatever you wanted. Your boldness in doing whatever you pleased. Your unshakable will to always prioritize yourself. I admired those traits—I could never do them myself. To confess now… sometimes I deliberately lingered around, hoping you would lash out at me. Only occasionally.”
Serene admitted hesitantly.
“But when you drank the reconciliation wine and collapsed, I was truly shocked. I never thought you would do such a thing. My parents were deeply shaken too…”
Her face darkened for a moment as she recalled the memory.
“But in the end, it was all false accusations! You proved your innocence so magnificently, Miss Aristina. It was exhilarating! My parents were thrilled, giving a thumbs-up. ‘See that? Everyone’s been fooled all along! That girl isn’t stupid at all!’ At that moment, I decided: I must meet Miss Aristina alone. And I must tell her.”
Suddenly, Serene jumped up and knelt in front of me.
“Please take me as your disciple!”
“……”
My half-open mouth fell completely slack.
What on earth was this?
Why was the protagonist saying such a thing?
Could this be the hidden plot—Serene’s path to becoming a villainess?
And did I, somehow… become her perfect role model?
“……”
I didn’t know how to respond.
Perhaps mistaking my silence, Serene cautiously added:
“Of course, I’m not asking for an immediate answer. I just want you to know that I’m completely sincere. Hearing His Highness’s words this time left me feeling so empty. I had dreamed of ruling this nation, of achieving great things. I truly loved His Highness, the kind and gentle Crown Prince…”
She clenched her fists.
“But now? I don’t need men or love. They say I’m too scatterbrained to have real talent in the family’s spirit magic anyway. So the best path for me… is to make money, start a business, and live splendidly on my own—just like you, Miss Aristina!”
Her eyes shone brightly.
“……”
I stared blankly at her.
In my head, I could hear the sound of something collapsing into ashes and scattering away.
Did this girl… awaken in a strange direction?
Was this really okay?
After thinking it over, my conclusion was: I don’t know either.
But the world always sides with the protagonist. Best to stick close to her.
I quickly shifted my stance.
“Well, if that’s how Serene truly feels…”
I stroked my fan arrogantly and spoke in a lofty tone.
“Then perhaps helping Miss Serene in that way isn’t such a bad idea.”
“Really?”
Serene’s face brightened.
“Then you accept! Thank you! Thank you so much!”
No, I should be thanking you.
I watched her radiant smile with satisfaction.
Serene quickly pulled out a piece of paper and scrawled across it in big letters:
“Aristina’s Lessons on the Art of Living.”
Then she looked at me with shining eyes.
“You seem busy these days. What are you planning this time? Of course, I know you’re preparing for the successor qualification exam.”
“That’s right.”
I nodded.
“That’s why I’ll be holding a ball—and inviting you, Serene.”
“Please, speak comfortably. I’m your disciple now.”
“Is that so?”
I didn’t even bother pretending to resist.
“Very well. Then from now on, I’ll speak casually, Serene.”
“Yes, Aristina!”
Serene grinned happily.
“Isn’t there something I can do for that day? Whatever it is, I’ll give it my all.”
“It’s fine. Just brighten up the place with your presence.”
“That’s too easy. There must be something I can do.”
Seeing her earnestness, an idea suddenly came to me.
“Actually…”
I leaned in.
“At that ball, I’m preparing to punish a villain who’s plotting to ruin me.”
“Oh my goodness! Really? What perfect timing!”
“Exactly. In short…”
I lowered my voice.
“There’s a group scheming against me.”
“Like the Remiel family who tried to frame you for poisoning? Then yes, they deserve another scolding.”
“Of course. According to their plan, some frivolous playboy will try to seduce me at the ball. That’s when I’ll expose the plot.”
“And I’ll help reveal it?”
“Exactly.”
Her eyes gleamed, and another idea struck me.
“What if you hid in a closet or behind a curtain, and when they opened it expecting a playboy—ta-da! It’s Serene.”
“Oh my gosh! That sounds so fun!”
Serene clapped her hands excitedly.
“Leave it to me! I’ll be watching over you the whole time, Aristina. If any playboy approaches, I’ll follow right after!”
“Good. Then after putting on a show like that, turn the mood around. Say something like, ‘How could you do such a thing!’ If it’s you, everyone will agree unconditionally. That way, the atmosphere will become even more unfavorable for my enemies.”
“Ah! I understand! I’ll do it! I’ll do it perfectly!”
Her eyes sparkled with determination, as if she had become my closest confidant.
I watched her with satisfaction.
Good. Very good.
