Episode 1: A Villainess’ Wish (5)

“Wait,” Isodor spoke.

I, who was about to leave, halted at his words.

“So… it really wasn’t you,” he said.

“Do you believe me now?” I turned to him and growled.

“Then if it isn’t you why…” Isodor bit his lips, his sentence stopping short. 

“Don’t know, don’t care,” I interrupted him before he could jump into any conclusion.  I don’t want him to suspect that I was completely innocent. I didn’t know why Lowe didn’t show up either.

“Why do you hide from me then?” With a slight pause, he asked. I wanted to run away by this point.

“Why? Because I hate seeing that bitch with you.” I cursed aloud. 

“So you’re jealous?” However, Isodor instead of anger, looked at me as if he was shocked.

Huh? 

Right! To him I must’ve looked like a cute whore tailing him every break. Afraid of a direct confrontation, only willing to take a passive stance despite the clumsy execution.

No, no, no. This wasn’t supposed to happen! I need to drive a wedge between us or something. 

“I am your fiance? Is it not appropriate to be jealous? And what does it matter if I told you, you’re smitten by that damn commoner. Our engagement never meant a thing to you,” I said half covering my face with my fan to hide the cringe.

“That…” Isodor struggled to follow up with a response. 

“So you do favour that commoner over me after all. Seems like I have to take things into my own hands, I’ll tell my father,” I huffed.

“Hold on…” He grabbed my wrist.

“What!” I shouted.

“I’m sorry,” He said and knelt.

“What…?” My eyebrows flinched, his reaction completely surprised me. “...W-What kind of nonsense? Y-you… how dare you…!” 

“I’ll make it up to you. I admit my faults, I have crossed the line,” Isodor didn’t fear my father, nor did he care about our engagement which was bound by an ancestral contract. Even though he looked displeased with what he was saying, I knew it was out of duty that those words managed to leave his mouth.

Still, the fact that he declared such was a bad, bad sign.

“Tell me, what should I do to make it up to you?” With the reverie of a knight, he asked with utmost sincerity.

“F-Fine! Since you asked for it, I’ll make it difficult,” Seeing that I couldn’t bring myself to berate him. I forced my lips to curl into a smile. “Surprise me.”

“Understood,” Isodor lowered his head. Bringing my hands close, the skin of his forehead met mine. “Astraea, I promise.”

“...Y-Yes, that you should…” This is not good.

… Or so I thought.

The next day, he still sat beside Lowe, holding intimate discussions with her during class. Yeah, the audacity to make a promise with me. Here I thought he genuinely had a change of heart. 

Regardless, there were more pressing matters at hand. 

When class ended I decided to stalk Lowe. It didn’t matter if I had to wait the whole lunch break for her to finish her long bathroom break, or chase her across the entire campus. Until I learn why she wasn’t following the original storyline, I’ll continue to chase her until the end of the continent.

That wasn’t the easiest thing to do when you exist as a celebrity that turns heads wherever she goes. Nevertheless, I took uncommon routes and used <Wind Magic: Concealment> again to shake off attention. 

“Astraea, what are you doing?” Well, I’m screwed. My attempts proved futile when I heard Isodor’s voice boom from behind me. 

“You…” I turned to him with a snap.

“Are you… following Lowe?” Isodor looked at me with a similarly cold eye.

“And why should I tell you?” I turned my head away, my fan dangling by the tips of my finger.

“Nevermind. Since you’re at it too, let’s go together,” He muttered.

“Go there yourself… uweh!” By logic, it didn’t matter if Isodor or I went. Lowe’s location was information which Isodor needed, not me. I was about to turn around to leave when he grabbed my collar.

“Keep your voice down, let’s go.” Isodor grabbed me by the scruff of the uniform and dragged me with him. You! When did you learn to do something so rude to your own fiance! 

⋉◆⌌ ⫺⪼▫◆▫⪻⫹ ⌍◆⋊

A few minutes earlier…

When class ended, Lowe quickly packed her notes and stuffed them inside her bag. 

Today as well, she felt slightly nervous about meeting ‘him’. So far, he had kept his promise. Their interaction so far hadn’t violated anything too extreme, and for the money she was earning from it, she thought it was well worth the embarrassment.

She just had to be careful not to stray too deep. 

“Would you be open to having lunch with me?” Isodor’s timbre voice rang, cooing. Lowe flinched as she raised her head to meet his inviting smile.

“I’m sorry I have something I need to do so maybe sometime…?! Um…! I’m sorry!” Her answer was something she came up with without forethought, not expecting yet another request from Isodor. Lowe cursed herself inside for turning down the crown prince. 

Isodor kindly accepted her refusal. “Is that so? Then I suppose next time.” 

“I-I apologise. This is really a serious matter, I will definitely make some time next week to have lunch with Your Highness. Definitely.” Lowe kept lowering her head. 

With that, she rushed out of class and headed for the prearranged destination. She kept glancing behind, ensuring that no one was following her.

Her back damp with sweat, the scene where she turned down the crown prince kept repeating in her mind. She was lucky he was benevolent, but how long would his kindness last? How long would it be before he found out about her ‘gig’ which she put above his invitation for lunch?

Not to mention, if she had the audacity to take his hand even once, she didn’t dare imagine the consequence she would face when she meets his fiance in the future. Astraea had warned her to keep-her-distance after all.

Besides, it wasn’t in Lowe’s conscience to steal the man of another woman.

Soon Lowe arrived before a beautiful lakeside. It was located behind the school compound, a popular place where couples came to hang out. The surroundings weren’t crowded, but it wasn’t completely empty either.

Seeing a pair of student lovebirds whispering sweet nothings to each other, Lowe felt a surge of embarrassment from what she was about to do.

Right now, for money she would do most things… as long as it didn’t cross the line.

She walked off the red-brick pavements and entered a sparse forest. The grass which had only been trampled the past few days left a noticeable trail on the ground. She needed only to follow that to arrive at a large stone formation. From it formed a cascading curtain of ivy flowers, blooming flowers dangled off the ceiling like chandelier jewels.

Beyond the curtain of flowers was a sunlit meadow tucked away within the woodland. Light rays peaked through at just the right angle to create an enchanting mood, the small flowers on the ground glowed as if magic. 

The edge of the glade touched water. Low hanging branches and abundant leaves acting as cover from those viewing from the opposite side of the lake, it was a hidden beach within the forest.

A secret spot around the lake that only she and her employer knew. 

When he first brought her here, she thought they had entered a completely different realm. To think he knew such an idyllic spot.

A youthful, black-haired student sat on a low rock, gazing at the lake in deep contemplation. Sunlight filtered through the canopy above, casting a warm glow that enriched the tone of his tan-brown skin.

His sharp, swept-back black hair framed a delicate nose, while his tranquil, amber-lit eyes held an unreadable intensity.

Lowe traced the line of his jaw, noting the way his arched brows subtly reflected his mood. A faint frown rested on his face—natural enough to seem harmless, yet just present enough to hint at something deeper.

Snapping out of his thoughts, Kairen Copper turned to Lowe having noticed her presence.

Lowe swallowed.

As much as she wanted to deny, his cool appearance certainly contributed to why she initially accepted his offer in the first place. 

“Oh, you’re here,” Kairen said.

“Lowe, at your service Master,” She performed a curtsy, just as he had taught her the first day they met like this.

His lips lifted slightly at her greeting. Seeing that, the tips of her fingers trembled slightly. 

She wanted money, he wanted her time. 

It was a fair exchange.

⋉◆⌌ ⫺⪼▫◆▫⪻⫹ ⌍◆⋊

It was as if we had just walked into a fairytale. 

The weathered surface of the arching stone structure was a cliff to which a waterfall of flowers cascaded down. Kissed by the shimmering glow of sunlight, the sweet fragrance of blossoms perfumed the refreshingly cool air.

I never knew such a spot existed in the academy.

“What is this place…?” I couldn’t help but exclaim.

“Did she come here alone? This makes no sense,” meanwhile, Isodor, who could care less about the magical sight, only worried for Lowe. What an attitude, I should’ve expected less from a blockhead like him.

Isodor stepped forward and peered beyond the curtain of ivy. Slightly distracted as I continued admiring the wonder of nature, I tailed closely behind him. 

By accident I bumped into his back. I knew it was partly my fault for not noticing he had stopped. Still, I felt annoyed so I opened my mouth to berate him.

Or that was my intention until I caught sight of two students beyond the arch. 

Lowe’s pink hair made it obvious that it was her, but seeing the guy sitting next to her made me question the direction the world was headed.

Holding a silver spoon in one hand, and a lunch box in the other, Lowe was about to feed Kairen another scoop of her homemade meal when she noticed us. 

Like us, she stopped dead. Her hand which was stretched out towards Kairen withdrew.

There was a light wind which blew, causing the flowers to sway gently. The beauty of what should’ve been an idyllic scene of a pair of lovebirds enjoying their lunch together, shattered.

So all this while, the reason for Lowe’s absence was because of… this damn bastard?!

You fucker, get away from Lowe!

I wanted to scream but couldn’t, knowing it would’ve shatter the reputation I painstakingly suffered to maintain. Fortunately, the dilemma didn’t last long as Isodor stepped forward first.

“What is the meaning of this?” His voice was chilling. 

“Ah.” Yet, all the asshole could respond with was an aloof gasp. Kairen got up from the grass then turned to Lowe. “I didn’t know this would happen, here, today’s compensation.”

He took out what I thought were gold coins and simply dropped them at Lowe. She quickly caught them before it fell anywhere near the grass.

Seeing how Lowe cherished the money he easily threw away, I was suddenly reminded of why. 

Lowe suffered from poverty. 

“You…” Isodor’s indignant gaze was locked on Kairen’s who maintained a dry expression. 

“I hired her. She agreed. Anything wrong with that?” He boasted, not a shred of hesitation could be seen on his face.