The Monster Inside Me

(All right! I somehow managed to bluff my way through it!)

Having survived by winning over the rioters, I let out a sigh of relief.

First overwhelm them and make them think they cannot win, then get close by empathizing with their hearts.

A truly villainess-like, genius strategy that created exactly the situation I wanted without fighting.

After that, I even treated the townspeople with household magic.

Household magic was looked down on in the magical kingdom, but because I had practiced every day and improved its output by layering the spell formulas, it seemed to have become something that could function perfectly well as healing magic.

I was confident in my magical power, since I had continued my training all this time.

By casting it again and again at least fifty times on each person, I was able to restore the strength of those weakened by the epidemic.

(Because the villainess I admire is merciless to her enemies, but kind to her own people!)

My cool villainess-like conduct must have appeared charming to the townspeople as well.

They grew very fond of me, and thanked me with sparkling eyes.

(S-so being thanked feels this wonderful.)

It was the first time.

That someone had relied on me and thanked me like this.

A fluffy feeling that warmed my heart.

When I thought back on it, I went “ehehe” and basked in the pleasure.

However, at the same time, I felt a faint fear.

It felt too good.

Being thanked, praised, and relied on felt so good that it made me feel like I might start wanting even more.

(This is bad… the monster sealed inside me is about to break loose…)

Fear ran cold down my spine.

(The approval-seeking monster that wants to stand at the center of the world and be praised!)

I must not let it consume me.

I had to deal with this calmly.

I had to learn how to tame this monster.

(Calm down… stay calm. It’s not like being praised gives me anything, and it’s not that big a deal. It just makes me a little happy and fluffy inside, and makes me feel like it was such a wonderful day all the way through.)

I told myself that, and sealed the monster away.

The cool villainess I admired would never yield to a craving for approval.

“This is a problem. The greatest monster is the one inside me. From now on, I must fight this monster as well.”

I said that while brushing back my hair.

“Fine. Come at me, monster within me. I will master you and become invincible. I will neither flee nor hide. I will face you head-on and fight you fairly.”

Wearing a composed expression and speaking that cool line, I was feeling very pleased with myself, completely unaware.

The door to the room was slightly open.

And from that gap, Ciel and Vincent were looking at me.

“Lady Mythia is kind of cringe sometimes, isn’t she?”

“I imagine it is because she could not play with friends her own age and spent all her time alone lost in fantasies.”

“Poor Lady Mythia… but those slightly unfortunate parts of her are cute too…!”

Completely unaware that they were having such a conversation, I gazed out the window while happily immersing myself in my fantasies.

The new lord who had come to a ruined territory where those unable to use magic lived, and had begun treating the epidemic for free.

The sight of that little girl delivered a great shock to the people of the territory.

(A noble, and yet she is treating us…)

From the standpoint of their own common sense, born from lives of being looked down on and oppressed, it was an utterly unbelievable sight.

What surprised them most of all was that the girl had become someone adored even by those who had once turned into uncontrollable rioters.

Lawless men hungry for blood and violence were now willingly cooperating with their lord.

(Those unruly people…?)

A sight like a lie.

And yet, it was certainly reality.

Borrowing the strength of her two attendants and the rioters, the girl skillfully treated the sick.

She did not hesitate in the slightest even when dealing with severely ill patients whom even the townspeople were reluctant to approach.

If anything, she tried to treat those people first.

(What kindness… and what confidence in her own magic…)

More than anything, what astonished them was her quantity of magical power and her endurance.

No matter how many times she cast magic, she showed no sign of fatigue at all.

She would proudly brush back her hair, wear a fearless smile, and occasionally stare into the distance while striking mysterious poses.

(She’s only ten… what terrifying talent…)

She could only be called a true prodigy.

She had already acquired this much magical skill and power to attract others.

If she continued to grow, just what kind of great person would she become?

A faint hope had begun to be born in the hearts of the people of the territory.

(This person may be able to change this utterly rotten country.)