Episode 3: Stop, I Beg of You (3)

Having just returned from the bath, Reene’s hair smelled like flowers. 

All maids of the Winterfall family were assigned an accommodation in the annex. Her’s was a shared room with Elysia.

The eventful day was coming to an end, Reene felt exhausted.

Climbing onto the bed, Reene was planning to lie down when her attention was seized by a copper mass—a hair pin. 

Being a cheap piece of metal, the hair pin was already bent in shape. Even patina had already begun growing on the surface.

From the time she tried to preserve it in the slave house, she sacrificed so much to protect this useless junk. She threw away so many parts of herself during her time as a slave, yet this was the one thing she couldn’t forsake.

It was absurd.

It was foolish.

She grabbed the broken pin and lifted it high into the air.

She imagined throwing it so hard the metal snapped into two. She wanted to smash it, break it apart, bury it somewhere so she would never see it again.

The past couldn’t stay if she wanted to move on. 

So why…

“Agh…!” Tears squeezed out of her eyes.

Yet why was she still clinging on to it?

… She wanted to believe in him.

So much… 

She wished that she had at least someone who cared about her.

She lowered her arm.

Cooling her head, she placed the pin inside the drawer of her desk. 

In the end, she realised that she couldn’t abandon the memories of her brother’s care. Even if it were a lie, those short few weeks spent together were still bitterly precious.

“...” Reene laid down on her bed, staring up at the ceiling.

It was the second most comfortable bed she had slept on thus far, number one being Astraea’s.

Knock. Knock.

Reene stiffened at the sound. She got up quickly and first shut the window before turning her attention towards the door.

“Who is it?” Reene knew she should be safe, but emotions got the better of her. 

“It’s Elysia, Lady Astraea calls for you.” Elysia’s voice boomed clearly through the obstruction of the door.

Reene warily confirmed that the person on the other side was indeed Elysia.

Elysia, who was still in a maid’s uniform, looked miffed.

Reene did not question why Astraea was calling for her. Her mind was too preoccupied suppressing the gnawing fears that she failed to consider anything else.

“I have brought her.” Elysia announced her presence before the young duchess’ boudoir before entering.

“Ah…” It was only now did Reene realise that she was currently in her sleep wear, not a proper maid uniform. As a servant… this was a grave mistake.

“Elysia, thank you for everything today. Rest well tonight.” Astraea’s voice boomed from inside the room. “Reene, come in.”

“I-I will.” Elysia responded stiffly abashed. 

“Close the door.” Astraea, who was seated at her desk, spoke without turning to her.

“Y-Yes.” Reene shut the door. Elysia was cut off from the interaction from henceforth. “Good evening milady…”

The princess looked like she was trying to finish up some paperwork, Reene’s response was met without an answer. Seconds went by, she stood there unmoving and anxious, awaiting Astraea’s next orders. 

Reene wondered if this silent-treatment received was punishment for doing something wrong. 

She had forgotten to wear her uniform, that must be it…

Then finally, knocking the stack of paper against the table by the spine, Astraea asked. “Did you cry?”

“H-Huh?” Was it that obvious?

“So you did cry then.” Astraea looked straight at Reene. Her usually cold demeanour was nowhere to be seen. Instead, Reene found herself looking into her infinitely compassionate gaze.

Reene sensed that Astraea was hiding something. 

‘It was all an act’.

Just like herself—just like Kairen; just like everyone else—the young lady of Winterfall too had to put on an ‘act’. 

Only in front of Reene does she show her true nature… but why?

“N-No. I’m alright… it’s just a little…” 

“Do you want to sleep with me again tonight?”

Reene’s ears must be torn.

“Me? Sleep with…” Reene fumbled with her words. “I-I don’t know milady…”

“You can call me Lady Astraea when it’s just the two of us.” 

“T-That… Lady Astraea…” Reene wanted to say no, but considering the totality of everything from her experience and Astraea’s purpose, she second guessed her choice.

“At least until you feel comfortable sleeping alone, I don’t mind indulging you a little” Astraea got up from her seat and approached Reene. The girl’s small shoulder quivered. “Reene, I don’t want you to feel like you’re alone in this.”

Reene felt Astraea’s touch on her back where the slave mark was placed.

“Plus, aren’t you mine exclusively? A slave who defies her master’s indulgence doesn’t seem right, doesn’t it?” Astraea grinned. 

“Y-Yes…” Reene responded, trying to hide her blush. “...Thank you, master.”

Checkmate. 

Astraea pulled her towards the bed.

…

..

.

The light leaking out from underneath the door extinguished. 

Sounds of sheets shuffling could be heard before the room settled into quietus. Unknown what was happening inside, one could imagine all sorts of pretentious acts. 

Small, tantalising whispers under the bedsheets—the sharing of warmth, as two bodies came together in close proximity—In soft caresses, gently sinking into a whirlpool of pleasure.

Outside, Elysia who had her ears pressed against the door released her posture and stood in a daze. Her body flushed red, body quaking.

“I was there first, I am her favourite… so why…” Elysia didn’t understand why Astraea was going out of the way for that slave. 

What about her? What about the maid she chose initially? 

Reene Copper, the illegitimate child of the Copper family whom Astraea had been so fixated on… that girl’s survival was a variable in the story. 

… The die had been cast, the flutter of butterfly wings—ripples created here that would forever change the future. 

“It’s not fair.” Tears glistened in her emerald eyes clouded in indignation

⌌✧ ⫺⪼▫◆▫⪻⫹ ✧⌍

 ⋉◆⌌ Astraea’s POV⌍▫◆⋊.

Ever since I took Reene in, Elysia had been acting weird.

Reene had been having frequent nightmares. I gave permission to let her sleep with me so that she would adjust to her new environment more comfortably. 

Maintaining a cold attitude in front of someone whose mental health was at its breaking point didn’t seem like a good idea. 

Concurrently, by showing a softer side of my personality towards Reene, Elysia may have grasped that I wasn’t as scary as she thought. 

The way she spoke to me was suddenly more firm, and there were many moments where she took the initiative to approach me when she had been all timid merely a week ago.

Her change forced me to strike a cautious balance between being strict and gentle in my demeanour. I didn’t want her to think I was displeased by her growth, yet I had to be careful not to break my pretense.

Well, all in all, it was a net positive. 

“My Lady, do you have anything you need me to investigate?” 

“None, given this duration.” With that said, I’ve been getting this persistent feeling that there was something more to Elysia’s change in behaviour. 

There wasn’t anything at the moment that required any intensive investigation. And  as I would be away for the practical examination for a few days soon, I thought this was a good time for Elysia to take a break,

Her expression hardened slightly. “My Lady… how about the matter with Kairen?”

“What? Stop looking into him. There’s no need to waste your precious time on someone who is about to die.” Was she concerned about my safety?

“I-I see… then do you need help with preparing any materials for the upcoming examination? I’ve heard that the expedition would be difficult without sufficient research and preparation…”

“No need.” I didn’t even know why she would suggest doing my exam for me.

“...” Elysia’s expression fell sullenly.

I opened the drawer, and took out the gold chain which I had prepared earlier and casually held it out to Elysia. 

“...” She looked at my hand, then at my face. 

“What? Do I have to spell it out for you?” She’d normally gobble up anything I throw at her. Why was she hesitating?

“My Lady… I'm forever grateful for your kindness.” Elysia hesitated. She took a deep breath as if preparing to say something. “But could I be selfish and… ask for something else?”

“Oh?” Well, given the timing, I suppose most of her debt had been paid off. Money wasn’t a primary concern for her anymore. I was open to listening to any other requests she may have. “I’m willing to listen. Speak.”

“Then… please allow me to take care of your nightly services in Reene’s stead.” 

The gold chain slipped from my hands.

Take care of my… nightly services… in Reene’s stead? 

“I may be inexperienced, but I am willing to learn.” Her eyes were indifferently calm, yet in betrayal to her feelings, she looked ripe as a tomato. 

I’m telling Reene to sleep with me only because I want to ensure her psychological health. Owing to society’s twisted cultural understanding, inviting a slave into bed at night was autonomically associated with ’warming the bed’.

It never once crossed my mind that I’d come to do such a thing with Reene…

I suppressed my desire to smash my head into a pillar. 

“Elysia Alchn. Never once had I laid my hands on Reene.” I tried my best to maintain composure as I spoke.

I’m completely straight!!!

What the hell does Elysia think of me?! Don’t tell me the other servants also have the same idea?!

Elysia seemed to notice my slight crack in expression and took it as a sign to pursue, further complicating the misunderstanding! “My Lady, I won’t judge you for having such preferences. I can accept everything about you.”

“When did you start to think I would ever lay my hands on a woman? I have a fiance, for goodness sake.” I pinched the bridge of my nose. Where did things go wrong?

“O-Oh…” Elysia seemed to shrink after realising I was serious. “Then… why are you sleeping with her?”

I was startled by her nonchalance. 

I can’t tell her that it was because I wanted to protect Reene can I now? It would break my image as a ‘bad’ person. Yet to falsely admit that I was ‘doing in’ Reene was equally…

“Are you suggesting I should burden you with more work? There is no need to.” I tried to dissuade her using a vague statement.

“It’s not a burden to serve you, My Lady. I will do my best to fulfil anything you desire.” Yet Elysia remained unwavering in her stance. 

Struggling to come up with a response, I gestured loosely, telling her to get out. “Leave if you don’t wish for me to get any angrier.”

“Y-Yes… my apologies.” Elysia bowed stiffly and ran out of my room.

Elysia who was normally scared of me could play such a joke now huh? 

I don’t know if this is a good sign or bad sign…

“U-Uh, milady… should I start sleeping by myself from now on…” Reene, who entered right after Elysia, looked at me with hazy eyes. 

“No.” I refuse. You will continue sleeping with me until you stop having nightmares.

⌌✧ ⫺⪼▫◆▫⪻⫹ ✧⌍

Based on my knowledge, there were two main kinds of villainess stories you can find online. 

One which follows an aristocratic, political-marriage type of plot line whereby the villainess’ main worry was trying to not ruin her relationship with her ‘destined husband’.

The second, more shounen, follows the premise of a battle academy whereby the villainess’ main concern was to not die by becoming an enemy of the protagonist and… saving the world.

As you can tell, this world fell into the second category. Male readers preferred this kind of a setting… not that I know why I ended up here.

Elements of aristocratic politics were few and far in between, but it wasn’t to say that it didn’t exist here. It just wasn’t the main focus of the main story.

And so, true to the story’s nature, pointless fighting scenarios were inevitable.

It was the exam season. The examinations were roughly divided into two main buckets. A written examination, and practical demonstration.

The practical exam for this term involved this stupid excursion survival scenario which required the students to move from point A to point B while fighting monsters.

To be frank, this was a dangerous and useless exam. Students get injured every year, and the excuse for such a crazy exam curriculum was to ‘teach the kids how to protect themselve, and build mental resilience’. 

Fucking awesome.

What are mercenaries, and the knight’s order for if academies teach people how to fight? Wasn’t it a redundant concept then? It made no bludgeoned sense… yet this was a necessary part in maintaining the delicate balance of the empire’s economy.

Well… what can I say? The story’s narrative simply worked that way.

Now, in the original scenario of <Devouring Blight, Estelle’s Flower>, it was during this exam where Kairen causes a ruckus by hiring assassins to kidnap Lowe.

Isodor protects Lowe, but gets stabbed by a cursed blight-infused weapon during the process. In reciprocation, it was Lowe who saved Isodor from the blight’s corrosion.

At the end of the whole dramatic twist of events, Lowe’s unique ability to cure blight was revealed, and Lowe becomes the Saintess. 

“Lowe, Isodor, and Glenn. Team one.” Professor Aturina announced the line-up for each team.

Obviously, the protagonist was fated to be paired with the two powerhouses.

“Astraea, Kairen, Tiffany. Team two.”

Meanwhile, true to the original, the villainess ends up being paired up with Kairen.

I wasn’t sure of the details of the story, and if the villainess had anything to do with any of Kairen’s schemes, but her reputation took a hit regardless of her plea of innocence.

In my previous life, due to the interferences I caused, I wasn’t paired up with Kairen. I didn’t know what he did during the time he was away from sights, but this time for sure, I’ll keep a close eye on him so that he doesn’t get the opportunity to act.

I turned to look at Tiffany, who I knew to be Lowe’s roommate. When she noticed my gaze, she panicked a little and looked away. 

Then confirming that she was keeping distance from Kairen, I glanced at the star of the scenario’s villain in question.

For some reason, he looked somewhat depressed today. Seeing that, the itch to stir some massive trouble for him took hold in my mind.