Education

What arrived at the mansion where Mythia lived one week later was a large box.

There was no sender’s name, only a single blue iris flower attached to it.

Ciel and Vincent stared suspiciously at the delivered box.

Who had sent this, and with what intention?

The two of them had encountered too much human malice to take it as pure goodwill.

“I will inspect it. Ciel, please stay back.”

Remaining on guard, Vincent carefully examined the outside of the box.

(For the time being, there are no dangerous signs on the exterior. The flower attached is a blue iris. If I remember correctly, its language is conviction and hope.)

He pressed his ear to the box.

There was no sound from inside.

(So it is not some kind of explosive. If anything, it would be poison gas or a biological weapon.)

Opening the box with the utmost caution, Vincent saw what was inside and pressed his lips together.

(Preserved food…)

What crossed his mind was the possibility that it had been poisoned.

He took a small amount in hand, put it in his mouth, and checked for poison.

Thanks to training he had undergone in his days as an agent, Vincent had acquired resistance to more than two hundred kinds of poison.

(There is no poison in it.)

Only after confirming that did he finally understand that there was a high probability it had been sent in goodwill.

(Who in the world…?)

Judging from the kinds of preserved food packed inside, there was a high chance the sender was someone of high status.

And Vincent had someone in mind who fit that description.

(His Highness the Second Prince…! Surely he took a liking to Lady Mythia in that earlier meeting and decided to support her.)

Though the Second Prince was known as an idler who was not earnest about his work and held in low regard within the country, the man Vincent had actually seen before his eyes had not seemed anything like the person of those rumors.

(Most likely, that unserious behavior is to avoid drawing the suspicion of the Council of Three Hundred.)

And thinking of his master, who had won the trust of His Highness the Second Prince in just a single meeting, Vincent’s cheeks softened.

(No matter how poorly you were treated, you never gave up and kept studying all along.)

A dusty underground library where sunlight never reached.

That figure, continuing to face books the whole time while confined in a locked room, was etched deeply into Vincent’s eyes.

(Lady Mythia. Your efforts are now steadily bearing fruit.)

(Unmarked food from an unknown sender is scary…)

Mythia stared doubtfully at the large box that had arrived.

Even after hearing from Vincent that it was safe, that very goodwill only made it more frightening.

(The sender is definitely that merchant company head I met before, right? If he took a liking to me when I was acting like one of those oblivious bigots so common in noble society, then he’s the real dangerous kind of person…)

Mythia did not think in the least that this was someone she could ever get along with.

She had absolutely no idea that the merchant company head’s true identity was the Second Prince.

(The sense to leave out the sender’s name and attach a blue flower is pretty painful too. He’s not just dangerous. He’s painfully dangerous.)

Surely he had wanted to be popular, studied women’s tastes through romance novels, and ended up becoming painfully embarrassing.

He was a tragic monster born because he had been born rich, and no one had been able to stop him.

(I should avoid getting involved with him as much as possible.)

Feeling a chill run down her spine, Mythia thought so.

A month passed.

While grinning to myself as I came up with cool villainess poses for crushing rotten nobles, and while wearing a work cloth over my head as I reclaimed wasteland, I was thoroughly enjoying a free life bound by nothing.

There was no need to watch anyone’s expression, and I could freely do what I wanted however I wanted.

My days were fulfilling in a way completely unlike my cramped and suffocating previous life.

At the same time, I could feel that the lords ruling the surrounding regions were beginning to notice what was happening in Lineage.

Restrictions on travel had delayed the spread of information in order to prevent the infectious disease from spreading, but that situation was beginning to change as things settled down.

I had no idea how they might move.

In addition, exchange with the surrounding regions was indispensable both for creating competitive industries and for normalizing management of the territory.

I asked Vincent to investigate the surrounding regions and their lords.

The investigation materials were ready two days later.

“The tax rates everywhere are terrible… It feels like they’re trying to squeeze out as much as they possibly can.”

“It seems the lords have been hoarding a considerable amount of hidden assets as a result. It appears the current situation was formed by their colluding with one another and gradually raising taxes while taking care not to provoke the townspeople too much.”

Vincent said.

“On the surface, it seems that Viscount Hilton, who holds strong influence in this region, is said to be leading it. However, there are several suspicious points there as well. If you can give me a few more days, I believe I will be able to provide accurate information on that too.”

Vincent reported in an unflustered tone.

It was such perfect work that one could only call him the 《Elegant and Perfect Butler》.

More than anything, the professionalism overflowing from every part of him was incredible.

If I let my guard down, I almost forgot, but Vincent was not a real agent.

Just like me, he merely admired the agents in novels and was seriously playing make-believe.

And yet, this overwhelming level of perfection.

I had never seen the real thing, so I could not judge, but it almost felt as though he had gone beyond the real thing.

(Amazing… How cool!)

As someone who shared the same hobby, I could not help but be moved by how strong Vincent’s admiration for agents was.

Even though he was an adult man so capable at his work, he kept up his full-force agent roleplay and aimed ever higher without the slightest compromise.

Behavior that might seem strange by ordinary standards.

But that was exactly why it was cool.

That pure attitude of not caring about age or the eyes of others, and simply loving what he loved, struck me deeply.

(I’m glad I met Vincent. He really is a wonderful person…)

Once again, I reaffirmed Vincent’s greatness.

In addition, it seemed that the maid Ciel was also doing her best as Vincent’s assistant.

“The other day, I helped with an infiltration for the first time, and it was absolutely thrilling and so much fun. Maybe it’s that guilty feeling of doing something you shouldn’t. I feel like I could get addicted to it.”

Ciel said, looking excited.

“In terms of difficulty, it felt about the same as sneaking off to meet Lady Mythia while you were imprisoned. Maybe I might actually be suited to this kind of thing.”

She had brought me little offerings almost every day, but I had never imagined that it had led to Ciel developing those skills.

“Marvelous, Ciel. Thanks to your strength, the plan has advanced to the next stage. Be proud. I, the ultimate villainess, praise your efforts—”

It was just as I was saying that in a cool pose while standing on a wooden crate nearby.

A hole opened in the crate, and I toppled forward headfirst.

Sparks burst behind my eyes.

My vision blurred with tears.

“Cieeel, Mr. Crate bullied meee!”

I cried.

Ciel gently patted my head and soothed me.

Sometimes things do not go the way I want.

But even including that, every day was peaceful and comfortable to an almost excessive degree.

(Today was so much fun too. I hope tomorrow will be an even more enjoyable day.)

Thinking such greedily villainess-like thoughts in bed, I let my cheeks relax.

However, it was the next day that something unusual happened.

“A beast’s carcass was thrown into the well?”

At my words, Grandma Nadia, who always swung her hoe together with me, nodded.

“Yes. And the wells that might be used by the lady lord were targeted in particular.”

“Was it done by someone who bears a grudge against me?”

“I do not believe there is anyone in the territory who bears a grudge against Lady Mythia. Everyone is truly grateful to you.”

“Thank you. I’m happy to hear you say that.”

Narrowing my eyes, I whispered quietly into Vincent’s ear.

“Did you notice it too, Vincent?”

“I have tracked the culprit and obtained clues leading to the employer. Within a few days, I believe I will be able to identify the mastermind.”

“As expected of you. Thanks.”

We had anticipated that this sort of harassment would happen.

In this country, where outrageous taxes were considered normal, only Lineage had lowered its taxes to an appropriate level.

If that information spread, dissatisfaction among the townspeople toward the lords of other regions would only grow stronger.

It was only natural that they would apply pressure to make everyone keep in step.

All the more so because their opponent was a child.

They probably thought that if they frightened a single ignorant little girl a bit, they could easily make her obey.

At last, the attack from the corrupt nobles had begun.

I lifted the corner of my mouth in a grin and said,

“Let’s teach them what true evil really is.”