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Chapter 13. I Became a Fake Villain
Late during the night.
“I left the matter to my father, so everything will be fine, right?”
I lay against bed early in hopes to earn some rest. However, I had been tossing and turning for endless hours now.
Count Latni eventually yielded and headed for the Imperial Palace.
The Countess comforted me by saying, ‘Your father will solve it well. He’s always done what you wished for.’ She reassured me like so, but we all comprehended how impossible it was.
That was why I couldn't relax my eyes in peace.
‘I won’t be able to rest properly until I hear of the news…’
It was around the time I sighed and tossed to the left.
Tuk.
A strange sound originated through my ears.
Tuk-tuk.
Again.
I gazed towards the ceiling to see if it was the mice, but that didn't seem to be the case.
Tuk.
The racket resembled something dull striking glass…
I raised my upper body to observe the surroundings. And…
Tuk.
The window caught my attention.
Tuk.
As I scrutinized, I spotted a small rock fly towards the windowpane. Just what kind of crazy person threw stones at someone else’s property this late during the night?!
I was currently in a state of disarray.
Okai! Congratulations, you were caught well!
I’ll grill you skillfully.
I rolled my sleeves, prepared to relieve my accumulating stress, and approached the window.
I opened the window the same time another stone flew forth.
Tuk.
“Argh!”
The solid object struck my forehead before falling to the floor. I wrapped my forehead in surprise, my body kneeling painfully.
The stone was very small yet contained enough force to inflict pain on one.
It hurt like hell.
“What kind of crazy bastard!”
I held back tears from escaping, clutched my forehead, and revealed my head out the window.
I searched to locate the cause of this disturbance. My eyes widened as I spotted a familiar figure.
Wait, what-?
I rubbed my eyes in case this was a mere hallucination, but.
“Why are you here…?”
“Of course I came to see you.”
There stood Crown Prince Paryan, smiling brightly while waving both his hands. Why was this person here?
What were the guards doing? They receive a paycheck day by day to prevent such incidents from occurring.
“I sneaked in to avoid the guard's eyes. Ah, one caught me, but I bribed them."
Was that something to brag about?
“Who accepted the bribe?”
“Yes?”
“The person who received your money should be fired first thing tomorrow morning. To betray their master who puts their trust in them is unacceptable.”
Prince Paryan ceased smiling brightly. He was overtaken with embarrassment.
“I have no intention of meeting guests who are not invited.”
As soon as I proceeded to close the window, Paryan hurriedly shouted.
“W-w-wait!”
His voice was deafening to the point that the maids and knights nearby would discern the commotion at this point.
“Be quiet! Are you trying to tell the others that you're here? You’re going crazy and want to be caught?!”
It didn't matter to me whether Paryan was captured or not.
I simply didn’t desire for him to be found out ‘with me’.
After the rumor spread, it was no doubt the nobles hooked on romance would gossip about me and Paryan’s 'forbidden love'.
“Why-why are you still angry?”
Was what Paryan demanded, his eyes on the verge of tears.
“Serrine, I have included you as a Crown Princess candidate under my authority.”
Yes. I know that, you bastard.
“Are you still mad at me?”
Of course. Because I never wished for this!
I swept my hair and sighed as tears formed in the corners of Paryan’s eyes.
“When did I ask you for that?”
Paryan’s eyes widened in surprise as I pronounced my words. He seemed like a puppy drenched in rain.
The thing is, I don’t like dogs.
“I have no desire to become a Crown Princess.”
“Wh-what…”
“I won't become a Crown Princess.”
Flustered, Paryan drooped his shoulders like an abandoned pet.
“Wh-why… What made you so angry, Serrine? I ran to see you despite the fact I was prohibited from leaving.”
You were prohibited from leaving? It doesn’t seem like this would end anytime soon. I pulled a chair from nearby, sat down, and leaned my arm against the window frame.
“You were prohibited from leaving because you announced me as a candidate?”
Paryan nodded in response.
“By his Majesty?”
Nod.
“You deserve it.”
“Serrine!”
“Did his Majesty reprimand you?”
Paryan's face dyed red in shame.
“So why did you announce me? You could’ve just chosen one of the other candidates.”
“Because I promised.”
“Promised?”
“I wouldn’t make you cry.”
Paryan gazed at me. His eyes were filled with sincerity… Not enough to move my heart.
‘If you didn’t want Serrine to cry, you wouldn't have chosen April at the end, trash.’
“I think I'm going to cry right now.”
“Wh-why? Is it because you were moved, Serrine?”
What now. Paryan’s face was filled with expectation. I think I could see a tail wagging behind his back.
“You're holding me from my sleep when I’m so tired. At this point, tears will fall from my eyes if I yawn. Please return now.”
Paryan’s shoulders drooped.
“I'll be back.”
“Don't.”
“I will appear in your dreams.”
“You don't want me to have constant nightmares, do you?”
Paryan stood speechless. He clenched his fists before yielding.
“…I will return.”
“Great thinking. Goodbye. Please don’t come back in a drunken state.”
“I will meet you again at the Imperial Palace.”
He seemed to be referring to the day the Crown Princess candidates would enter the palace.
But, I'm afraid I won't be able to participate! That is because Count Latni, my father, left to inform his Majesty I wouldn’t be nominated!
If I said this now, this guy would most likely try to interfere.
“Yes yes, let's do that. Please go ahead.”
Paryan turned around. After confirming his leave, I shut the window without regret.
‘I'll have to tell them to start guarding my window.’
I lowered my sleeves to warm my arms and turned back to bed.
Still, I felt relieved after pouring out what I wanted to say.
“Ha-am.”
It seems like I’ll be able to fall asleep thanks to this yawn.
***
“I can't? Why!”
“His Majesty did not allow it.”
The next morning, Count Latni returned with the opposite of my expectations.
All the candidates called that day must participate in the Princess education.
“Even if I don't want to?”
“There is nothing I can do.”
I gazed at him tearfully, but Count Latni only shook his head.
I figured it would be cute if I did something like this, but it was of no use.
“Instead, his Majesty promised this.”
“What is it?”
“As you are not feeling well, he will send you back to the mansion as soon as the time is given.”
Returning as soon as possible?
That meant…
“I won't become the Crown Princess, will I?”
It meant that I would be the first to leave the Imperial Palace.
When asked with a bright smile, Count Latni nodded hesitantly. He could only smile awkwardly. I was named a candidate, but it wouldn’t be virtuous if I left without becoming the Crown Princess.
“More than that, Serrine.”
“Yes.”
Count Latni’s expression darkened.
“I heard strange words while at the Imperial Palace.”
“Strange words?”
“It was said you weren’t originally a candidate.”
Ah, that.
I was already aware of the fact. The fact that the Crown Prince acted simply according to his desires.
“I see.”
“However, his Majesty insisted you wouldn’t be excluded as the announcement had already been made. Ah, and…”
“Is there anything more?”
“The incident where you and Lady Violetta fought…”
"Ah!”
I jumped up from the chair before Count Latni could finish his sentence.
“Serrine?”
Oh my god.
I completely forgot.
Because I was included in the Crown Prince's nomination, and that ass…
No! Stop thinking of his butt!
I shook my head and whispered 'Thank you' to Count Latni who stood opposite me before hastening my steps out the room.
“Prepare the carriage now. And send notice to the Violetta residence. I will head there.”
I can't continue this way with April. If I don’t clear the misunderstanding until I’m kicked from the palace, the original will flow as intended.
I had to ask April for forgiveness now.
***
“…Serrine, you visited me. It's the first time.”
Perhaps she hadn’t erased the incident from her memory. The child greeted me, her smile awkward.
I’ve gotten pretty much used to this life now.
For her to visit my mansion first.
Well, aristocrats didn’t seem as disgusting as they used to when it came to this child.
I stared at the prepared carriage before me and opened my mouth.
“That day…”
I’m sorry.
Just as I was about to speak, April cut me off and smiled.
“It's alright, Serrine.”
She smiled brightly, like a flower blooming during the spring.
“How surprised you must have been to be called out all of a sudden? That must be the reason, right? I was surprised at first… Upon returning home, I contemplated seriously on the matter and figured your situation.”
Do you understand the person who pushed you? I was speechless.
Originally, I was going to apologize and say ‘I don't think you and I get along well’ to end our relationship…
“April…”
If you do this, I can’t bring myself to be so brutal.
As expected, she is a good female protagonist. If it weren't for the fact that my demise was related to her becoming, we could have been close friends.
If the person was April, I could regard her as a true friend despite her noble status.
“I… Actually, I really like Prince Paryan.”
April's cheeks heated in embarrassment.
Why? Why do you feel for such a man?
Where the hell did she look in him to say that? …Well, he wasn’t ugly.
“But that doesn't mean I will ask you to yield. We have both been called, so let’s compete fairly. Let’s refrain from avoiding each other.”
April reached to me.
Fair competition. She was speaking regarding the Crown Princess position.
I stared at her hand for a while before shaking my head.
“A fair competition. There won’t be any need for that.”
“Uh?”
Yes, a wedge was necessary here.
April, I am not your enemy.
So you don't have to kill me!
"I do not have a heart for His Highness. I have no intention of becoming the Crown Princess.”