Episode 1: A Villainess’ Wish (6)

In the original story, the lack of money drove Lowe to study hard for the first term exam. If she made it to the top 10 then her situation would be resolved by claiming the reimbursement. 

If she didn’t, it didn’t matter either as she could borrow from Isodor or Glenn—depending on the route the player took—and later on when the church found out about her ability to heal blight, she would receive a generous sponsorship as the ‘Saint’.

However, those chances to strengthen ties with the male lead were lost now that she had another source of income.

It didn’t make sense that Kairen had found out about her weakness and exploited it. He never did anything like this in my previous round. The fact that it happened couldn’t have been a coincidence.

“Do you have no shame in what you’re doing?” Isodor growled. 

“No. I was just trying to help out a friend in need of money. It’s not like she’d be comfortable accepting money out of nowhere. There has to be a fair exchange involved—right Lowe?” Kairen turned to her and asked.

“Y-Yes…” She responded with her head lowered, her face was red. 

“There, I did nothing wrong. If nothing else I’ll leave now,” Kairen coughed and brushed past us.

Isodor tried to grab him, he twisted his body causing Isodor’s aim to miss. 

“What?” Isodor’s eyes shook, not expecting Kairen to dodge like that.

The bastard quickly broke into a run. Isodor, in dismay, chased after him. This left me and Lowe alone in the glade.

Turning away from the ivy curtains, my gaze returned to Lowe who slowly stood up. Her lunch box, half-finished, was carefully packed back into her briefcase while she hid the gold coins deep inside her clothes.

She approached me and bowed.

“I-I refused the crown prince’s invitation for lunch. I didn’t do anything wrong, I promise I’ll avoid the crown prince in the future as well, so… so please don’t punish me or Kairen for this,” she reasoned. 

It was like I had just been hit by a truck. 

Lowe didn’t know Kairen—she didn’t know the many ways he probably exploited her innocence in the past. 

He was a man who loved Lowe to the point of obsession. His family wasn’t that of a noble lineage, he was just a commoner with a little more money than his peers. Knowing that his love could never blossom as Isodor and Glenn blocked his way from the untouchable flower, he would eventually go crazy, plotting a quest to kidnap Lowe for himself.

Even if he appeared to be acting kind on the outside, the truth was that he harboured dark intentions within.

To avoid the bad ending, I needed to separate them. I couldn’t let his sweet tricks keep fooling her.

“Lowe.” I called. 

“Y-Yes.”

“I will turn a blind eye to what I saw.”

“T-Thank you.”

“However, in addition to my fiance, from now on you should also avoid that man.”

“H-Huh?”

I took off the diamond brooch from my lace-tie and reached out for her collar. She stiffened, I attached it to her collar and leaned into her ears.

“If you listen well to my orders, I promise there’s more where this came from.” I felt her breath stifle. “A lovely lady like yourself shouldn’t be associated with that weasel. The black money you received came from corrupt dealings. When his family falls by the empire’s hand, you can’t hope to cling onto him forever.”

“A-Ah…” Lowe seemed to realise just how serious the situation was. 

“Tell me you’ll stay away from him?” Pulling back, I asked again with a voice tinged with an almost sarcastic concern.

She bit her lips, reflecting. A few seconds passed before she finally gave me a meek nod. “I… understand.”

“Good girl. I hope you think wisely of my reward.” I praised her with a giggle.

She nodded again.

Leaving Lowe behind, I walked through the curtain of flowers back where I came. I sighed silently in my heart, hoping what I said scared her enough to avoid Kairen in the future.

On the other side of the ivy curtain, among the flowers I saw Isodor standing solemnly with a bitter expression. His rose-blonde hair sparkled, everblue eyes deep in thought. The bastard Kairen was nowhere to be seen.

“I’ll forgive you this once.” Flicking my fan, I spoke to him in a displeased tone.

“Astraea, am I really… no, I don’t deserve…” Isodor averted his gaze. I furrowed my brow at the seizure-like reaction he was showing.

“Speak clearly. I can’t understand you,” I said.

“...I was wrong.” 

“...What nonsense are you saying?” His apology made me uneasy. 

He sounded hurt, and I couldn’t understand what he meant. “Let’s go.” 

“What were you trying to say? Isodor Estelle! Tell me this instant!” I shouted.

How did Lowe end up with Kairen? Why did Isodor apologise? What did Kairen tell him? Was it him or did I mess up somewhere? What the hell was with today? 

He ignored me and walked ahead.

As these questions lingering in my mind, a growing unease tightened around my neck.

⋉◆⌌ ⫺⪼▫◆▫⪻⫹ ⌍◆⋊

“Stop at once!” Isodor managed to grab hold of Kairen. 

However, if one looked at it from afar, clearly Kairen had allowed himself to be caught.

The wind disappeared, and the sound of the forests died. 

Kairen turned around and met the prince’s stern gaze. “Alright, stupid prince, do you need me to remind you what your role in this story is?” 

“...What?” Isodor faltered, dismayed. How dare a commoner speak to him in this manner?!

“Wow, indeed the story made you dumb on purpose. Hey, snap out of it, you’re a prince with the most precious ice princess as your fiance for fuck sake. How do you think Astraea feels when you keep trying to flirt with Lowe?” Kairen condemned.

“W-What are you saying? She’s the one being inconsiderate…” Isodor tried to defend himself.

“And so what if your fiance is being inconsiderate?” But no matter the kind of shitty excuse the prince may come up with, Kairan knew the prince had crossed a line he shouldn’t have.

“...?!” Isodor’s expression cracked.

“Just because you don’t understand her feelings, you’re going to throw her away? If you’re a grown man, act like one. Don’t be having an affair and blaming her for it,” Kairen was merely stating the truth from the standpoint of a witness. It was up to Isodor to come to that realisation himself.

“But...” Isodor gasped, he felt his chest tighten.

“If I hear any shot that you’re breaking off your engagement with her, even if it costs me my life, I’ll make sure to rip out your gonads and make you an eunuch for life.” Kairen’s murky gaze sent a crippling chill down Isodor’s spine.

Taking his quietude as an answer, Kairen turned around.

“One more thing. Stay far away from Lowe,” leaving, he spoke. “She’s mine.”