The Path To Becoming A Villainess

(Hm? Judge evil and save the oppressed?)

I did not really understand what Vincent meant by those words.

“The Splendid Villainess (Albertine) Plan” certainly did include, as one of its activities, beating up corrupt nobles I could punch without hesitation to relieve stress.

However, that was only for the sake of becoming a cool villainess myself.

I was only planning to beat them up based on the genius idea that if all the bad people besides me disappeared, then I would naturally become the number one villainess in the world.

What in the world did he mean by that…?

As I was thinking, I suddenly realized.

(I see! Vincent is a fan who admires agents from spy novels, so he wants to do activities that save people too!)

Certainly, there were many agents in novels who fought for justice.

For Vincent, who had a strong admiration for fictional characters just like I did, saving people was probably an important element too.

(But is it really right for a villainess to save people…?)

I imagined the cool villainess I admired defeating other evils and saving people.

(No way, that’s way too cool…! That’s a dark hero!)

It was incredibly good.

A villainess who crushes half-baked scoundrels with no convictions and saves people.

The feeling of acting based not on ordinary values, but on one’s own personal standard of values, felt exactly like a villainess and was unbelievably cool.

“I am a true villainess, so I cannot forgive a half-hearted villain like you.”

I imagined myself delivering that signature line while swirling a wine glass.

It was unbelievably cool.

(All right, let’s go with this direction. It will make Vincent’s dream come true too, so it’s two birds with one stone!)

I thought that while giving a small nod.

(As expected, a true villainess must also think about the happiness of the subordinates working hard alongside her. A real villainess is kind to her own people and merciless to her enemies.)

After that, Vincent’s work as my new ally was incredible.

He skillfully brought me information on corruption spreading through noble society and on corrupt nobles.

His refined techniques were so polished that one might mistakenly think he was a real agent.

As expected of the “Elegant and Perfect Butler,” the most capable person in this house.

Even with his hobby of playing at being an agent, he probably could not help but carry it out perfectly.

To make the plan even more enjoyable, I told Vincent about the fictional enemy organization I had created in my imagination.

The “Council of Three Hundred” that ruled the magical kingdom from the shadows.

They were the root cause behind the spread of bloodline supremacy and eugenic ideology through noble society, and were trying to remake the magical kingdom into a land where only rulers and slaves existed.

“To think such an organization exists…”

In response, Vincent’s reaction was magnificent.

He drew in a sharp breath and nodded with a serious face, just as though he truly believed the organization existed.

“A supreme shadow organization whose existence even the Imperial intelligence agency failed to grasp… understood. I will investigate it.”

And then, one month later.

Vincent laid out investigation materials on the table with an emotionless face.

“Just as you said, Lady Mythia. The ‘Council of Three Hundred’ that rules the magical kingdom from the shadows. Bloodline supremacy and eugenic ideology. While reshaping society’s structure to make people easier to control, they also operate numerous criminal organizations and reap enormous profits. They are the root cause of the poverty afflicting this country’s people. An irredeemable great evil.”

While drinking tea, I lowered my gaze to the documents.

I could not help but be impressed by the many pieces of detailed information written there, all so realistic that they felt even more convincing than reality itself.

(Amazing… Vincent’s love of agents is way too intense…)

To think he could create investigation documents this authentic, just like those of a real agent.

And on top of that, real events and information from noble society in the magical kingdom had been beautifully incorporated into them in perfect harmony.

It was as though the “Council of Three Hundred” really existed.

As expected of the “Elegant and Perfect Butler.”

To think he possessed an imaginative power that could rival even mine.

I too had to behave perfectly as a cool villainess and live up to his expectations.

“You must not rush. Do you know this proverb from the Eastern Lands? ‘A bird that has lain low for long will surely fly high. A flower that blooms before the others will also fall alone all the sooner.’”

“No. What does it mean?”

“A bird that has crouched on the ground for a long time gathering strength can fly high. A flower that blooms before the others will also scatter all the sooner.”

I said that while elegantly swirling my tea.

“Now is the time to gather strength. Precisely because the enemy is powerful and cannot be defeated easily, what matters is the accumulation of each and every day. Let us continue our preparations. So that we may destroy this great evil and teach them what true evil really is.”

“Understood.”

We steadily continued our preparations.

For me, that life of confinement after Father abandoned me was actually rather convenient.

Without being distracted by unnecessary temptations, I could devote all my effort toward the dream I wanted to achieve.

“Lady Mythia. I have brought the book you were looking for. I hope it will be of use to you.”

The basement room where I had been placed was made so that I could have no contact with the outside, but Vincent, being a highly skilled agent, exploited gaps in the security and brought me supplies.

The hidden room and library he made beneath the floor.

No one else had noticed, but I was actually living in quite a comfortable environment.

“Lady Mythia, I brought fluffy cushions and handmade sweets!”

Partway through, Ciel also began bringing me supplies.

Ciel, who had grieved deeply over my confinement and had been so distraught that she could barely swallow food, was told the truth of my life in confinement by Vincent.

“I apologize for only telling you after the fact. I judged that she would be fine since she had served Lady Mythia all this time.”

“There is no need to apologize. There is a limit to how far two people alone can carry the plan, after all. Certainly, Ciel is someone I can trust.”

I told Ciel about “The Splendid Villainess (Albertine) Plan.”

“Lady Mythia is going to become the strongest villainess and pass judgment on the villains of corrupt noble society…”

Ciel’s eyes trembled as she stood there in a daze, and then she said,

“Lady Mythia trying to save people from corrupt nobles is far too angelic… and even though she’s so tiny, the way she tries to act cool with such grown-up gestures is unbelievably adorable, and those extra-long sleeves are irresistible, and the fact that she insists she’s a villainess instead of a champion of justice is a little cringey in a way that actually makes it even better…”

“Sorry, I didn’t quite catch that very well.”

“It means Lady Mythia is wonderful.”

Ciel looked at me with direct eyes and said,

“Please let me help. I want to become a source of strength for you too, Lady Mythia.”

(There were parts I didn’t quite understand, but it means she respects me a great deal, right? As expected of me! What villainess-level charisma!)

I secretly let my cheeks loosen as I replayed her words of praise in my mind.

Thus, Ciel became one of the partners advancing the plan with me, and came to visit me whenever she had the chance.

At first Vincent had been opening the lock by exploiting gaps in the security, but eventually she started coming on her own without borrowing his help.

“I practiced lockpicking just thinking maybe I could do it, and it turned out I could.”

“…Is that really something you can do that casually?”

“I’ve always been dexterous since I was little. You need a little trick when turning it, and there’s a knack to it.”

Ciel said that while narrowing her eyes a little proudly.

“My feelings for Lady Mythia cannot be stopped by something like a mere lock. I practically think of you as the daughter I bore myself after laboring in pain.”

There were parts I didn’t quite catch, but she was probably enthralled by my charm as a cool villainess.

(To live up to the two people helping me, I have to do my best too!)