Chapter 18

Chapter 18

The Misunderstandings Continue to Grow

The evening before the Academy semester was set to begin, the summer dress collection that Helen had slaved away at creating for me arrived at the mansion. As soon as the sun rose, the attendants selected one of them and dressed me in it along with matching accessories, and as soon as I saw my reflection in the mirror, I clutched dramatically at my forehead.

Helen had described the dress as both ornate and simple at the same time, making it perfect for not only parties but for formal occasions as well. I’d thought this to be a load of hot garbage, but now understood what she’d meant.

The dress was both sexy and innocent at the same time, as demure as it was graceful. In fact, I looked so beautiful in the mirror that I was at a loss for words. Who’d have thought I’d end up living a life that included getting to see this beautiful face every morning?

Feeling gratified, I threw my hands out, unintentionally punching the wall. The expensive paintings on it shook as if an earthquake had hit. This body is really strong. I had no magical talent, but my physical strength and stamina were excellent. Ever since I’d entered Deborah’s body, the constant fatigue and headaches that had plagued me on the daily had disappeared. I supposed one could not be a successful villainess without having the necessary vigor to back it up.

Good. Looks like I’ll live a long, healthy life. Waving my fists in the air, I walked past the trembling attendants and made my way outside. In front of the mansion, two carriages marked with the twin-headed snake of Seymour were waiting.

One is for me… But who is the other one for? Oh, it’s for him. I nearly screamed when I saw the small boy approaching the carriages in the distance. Though I’d been here for nearly two months now, I’d had almost no opportunities to see my youngest brother, Henrique Seymour. We lived in different parts of the mansion and since this was a tragedy novel, the family never ate together unless some special occasion demanded it.

He looks like a baby cat. Henrique, with his silver hair brushed forward over his forehead, reminded me of a tiny sleek gray kitten. He was supposed to be around ten years old, but despite his childish appearance, there was a mature air around him. Perhaps it was his dark and subdued gray eyes.

I stared at the boy as if mesmerized, then our gazes met. Henrique frowned as if he’d just spotted a dead animal carcass on the side of the path and climbed into his carriage without even a greeting.

Ha! So even the kid hates Deborah. At this point, I’m honestly amazed by how absolutely everyone seems to despise her. Though, of course, Deborah herself didn’t have any affection for the precocious Henrique. In fact, she apparently had quite the inferiority complex thanks to the cute child. Deborah had no ability to manipulate mana whatsoever, but Henrique was so talented that he could use class three magic despite his youth. The Academy’s research institute, a subsidiary institution of the Magic Tower, operated a program for talented students. Even among that group of gifted students, Henrique was supposedly the best.

I guess I’d feel inferior too if everyone in my family but me was so brilliant. Deborah had a prestigious family, money, great looks, a great figure, and was even pretty strong. I was grateful for all of these things, but Deborah had been obsessed with the things she didn’t possess.

The humiliation she felt because of her lack of ability in using mana, in particular, knew no bounds. There was no one in her direct or extended family who couldn’t use mana, and her father’s obvious disappointment had probably made things worse. But she didn’t have to resort to violence to deal with her stress! There was really nothing I could say in Deborah’s defense, but it did make me rather sad to see even that cute child shunning me like that.

I’m still going to live as a villainess, though. Younger brothers were nothing special. My fantasies about having a cute little brother crumbled as soon as I recalled the assholes that had made up my family in my previous life.

Pulling myself together, I climbed into my own coach and stared out the window as both carriages began to roll away. The scenery passing by outside was that of the Iones District. We crossed an arched bridge over the river, meaning we had arrived in Horrun District, where the imperial castle was located.

The Horrun District was where the imperial knights were trained. The imperial academy, magic tower, and even the theological seminary were all located here. The noble sons who attended the Academy and had no inheritance to receive from their parents dreamed of working at one of these imperial institutions and living off stipends.

My dream, of course, was to delay my marriage for as long as possible, using the House of Seymour’s resources to my advantage. I’d save up enough money to live the rest of my life in unemployment—as the head of my own house.

“In any case, this is really chaotic.”

The walls around the Horrun District were crowded with carriages ferrying the sons and daughters of various nobles. I’d expected the trip to take a while, but to my surprise, the servant guarding the gate directed the two Seymour carriages down a separate path—it seemed like a VVIP entrance.

Once again, I relished the sweet taste of power. The carriages entered Pangea Academy and came to a majestic stop in front of the main building at the center of the grounds. Silence fell, and people gasped as soon as I stepped out of the carriage. The House of Seymour coat of arms told everyone watching that the person inside was none other than the infamous Deborah Seymour.

The crowd parted like the Red Sea for me wherever I went. If I happened to make eye contact with someone, they would shudder and redirect their gaze to the ground. I felt like the only predator in a herd of grazing animals as I made my way toward the lecture room.

I guess things are pretty quiet in here, too. When I walked into the large lecture room for attendance, the warm chatter immediately died out. I seemed to chase sound away wherever I went. But where do I sit?

Looking around, I searched for a seat. I noticed there was a spot that was distant from the lecturer’s table and outside the teacher’s direct field of view. It was close to a wall, making it a psychologically comfortable spot, and was even in the beam of sunlight cast by the nearby window. That’s a premium seat. This was obvious to everyone, and so it was already taken.

“Uh, J-Jake. I think I’ll move forward a bit. It’s kind of hot here, actually.”

“H-huh? Yeah, actually, me too.”

Perhaps I’d been staring too intensely. The students previously occupying the seats visibly shrank and moved to a couple of seats located further forward. Does a villainess get to sit wherever she wants, too? Nonplussed, I flopped down in the spot the other students had just vacated. Their behavior was confusing, but I had no reason to refuse the newly free seat.

As expected, the location was lovely. There was just the right amount of sun, and it was nice to be able to observe the scenery outside the window. I cupped my chin in my hand as I gazed out at the Academy’s beautiful landscaping. I turned my head when I noticed the students beginning to murmur again. Suddenly all the air left my lungs.

It was Pilav Montes and Mia Binoche. The moment they appeared, my heart began to race. I felt like I couldn’t breathe properly. What’s wrong with me? It seemed like Deborah’s body was having some sort of hard-wired reaction—it certainly wasn’t coming from me. It felt similar to the vague distaste I’d felt when I’d met Veleque for the first time.

I was scowling, feeling rather strange when I made eye contact with Pilav. A buried fragment of memory rose to the surface when I locked eyes with those icy, dark-brown eyes. It had been six years ago, at a harvest festival celebration hosted by the imperial family, that Deborah had met Pilav for the first time.

“Eeek!”

Deborah had knocked an ornamental candlestick hanging from the wall by mistake. Her dress had caught on fire, and while she’d flailed about in confusion, Pilav had used an elemental water spirit to put out the fire and prevented any further accidents.

Pilav had looked mysterious and alluring as he commanded the elemental, and Deborah had fallen for him instantly. After that day, Deborah made her interest in Pilav extremely public. So much so, that there was even discussion of marriage between the Houses of Seymour and Montes at one point. But Pilav had made it clear he had no interest in marrying Deborah, and the talks of an engagement had fizzled out.

Learning that he had refused her, Deborah’s pride had been deeply wounded. She took her anger cruelly out on her servants, and when news of this got out, Pilav despised Deborah even more, creating a vicious cycle. Despite his rejection, Deborah did not give up and nurtured a mixture of resentment and affection for him in her heart.

A temper tantrum had always been the most effective way she’d managed to secure anything she wanted. It was too much to expect that she’d turn to a more reasonable method in order to win his heart like any ordinary lady might. She bullied any lady that spoke to Pilav or displayed an interest in him. Her intention was clear—if she couldn’t have him, no one else would, either.

I mean, even if Deborah’s a pretty terrible person, he didn’t need to hate her so fiercely in return. I tended to sympathize more strongly with Deborah than Pilav, perhaps because I was currently occupying her body. She had shown her affection for him for such a long time, yet here he was, walking in with Mia Binoche by his side. Rude bastard.

His lips tightly pursed, Pilav pushed Mia, the female protagonist, behind himself to hide her from me. He seemed already to think I was a villain set on killing the girl.

What’s the matter with him? If I were the real Deborah, such over-protectiveness would have only ticked me off. I could tell he was terribly lacking in tact. Though I suppose this wouldn’t be a reverse harem novel if Pilav had any tact. The story would have been over and done with very quickly, and I wouldn’t have had to spend so much buying as many chapters as I had.

Still, he was certainly worthy male protagonist material. He stood out from all the other men around him. His features were visually pleasing, and his hair a fiery red, making him the most conspicuous man in the room.

“Lord Pilav?” said the female protagonist, peeking out from behind the looming Pilav.

I gasped when I saw her. Oh my gosh. She’s so pretty. If the descriptor “innocent youth” could take on human form, it would be Mia Binoche. I’m a girl and even I’m attracted to her. Her hair was a flowery pink, her skin was as smooth as cream, and her eyes were like blue gems. Her nose was graceful and shapely, and her lips were as red as ripe cherries.

I immediately understood why all the notable men in the novel, including the sadist twins who lived in the mansion, were dying to get to know her. Deborah takes a lot of pride in her looks. Seeing Mia must have come as quite the shock.

Frankly, between Mia and her, Mia had a face that was more generally appealing. I now understood why Deborah had felt so deeply inferior to Mia Binoche in the novel. Once you started drawing comparisons, you could never stop.

Why do I get the feeling everyone’s having fun watching this situation unfold? Proving me correct, plenty of people were succumbing to their burning curiosity and glancing over at me after Pilav and Mia entered the room. Of course, they were curious to see my reaction since Deborah had been so open about her interest in Pilav.

I’m not even going to make eye contact. Just like when I’d unintentionally stolen the best seat by the window only moments earlier, people might think I was glaring at Mia if I so much as glanced at her. I quickly turned back to look out the window and pretended to be preoccupied with my thoughts.

* * *

Pilav was not in a very good mood, since Mia was not wearing the necklace he’d given her. And that wasn’t the end of his grievances. He’d been suffering from frequent bouts of irritation just picturing Deborah flaunting the pink diamond necklace and strutting about the Academy.

But... She’s not wearing it? Pilav was taken aback to find an ornate black pearl necklace wrapped around Deborah’s throat instead. And since she was staring out the window with her chin cupped in her hand, he couldn’t read her expression. His confusion only mounted.