Former Crown Prince favors the Villainess

Interesting...isn’t he?

I thought to myself on our way back to the mansion.

Father or better known as the Prime Minister of the Empire and the Duke of Hastings was sitting in front of me.

“You should be careful.”, he said.

“And why should I be careful?”

“I don’t advise on revealing your identity like that. Why did you choose to trust him, anyway?”

Why?

Because he is the only one different.

He is the only one that causes ripples of changes.

Not like I can say any of those.

“Because Arthur knows...he knows how important it is to maintain a secret identity. And he also knows that he benefits much more by keeping my identity a secret.”

“He is someone who hates William and the Emperor...what if he decides to direct his anger towards you too?”

“I’ll take care of it...only if it ever happens.”

I said while looking at the scenery outside.

The Hastings family has one of the largest pieces of land on the outskirts of the Capital.

Surrounded by lush green forest, it is perfect to lay low without any trouble of the press.

“You never listen to me these days…”, he said while looking at the floor.

“I begged you...I literally fell on your legs to stop the engagement between me and that shit...yet here I am, known as the most vicious villainess of all time.”

“Fiona, please...I couldn’t do any-”

“Save it, Dad. I’m over it...I’m atleast glad that Luxica is doing fine.”

“Sigh...atleast now, you’ll be able to establish yourself in Switon, or Ellen as it will be known from now on.”

“I know, right? It won’t be just me, there will be hundreds of businesses and companies waiting to get in touch with Arthur. I’m glad I got the first appointment.”

All these days, we had to wait for a proper representative to appear in Ellen. It’s extremely difficult to set up a branch there without a proper leader. 

Though there were officials, it’s not on the same level as someone with complete authority.

“Shouldn’t you thank me for that?”

“Yeah yeah...whatever.”, I said while taking my phone out.

The first notification was a message from Hazel Stuart. She hails from the Stuart Dukedom, daughter of Caedmon Stuart.

“Things heated up after you left.”

The message said with a video attached to it.

Clicking the video, I was able to notice two things immediately.

One, the video was not taken by the purple-haired Hazel, but rather by her maid from the edge of the garden.

And what she was focusing on was at the center of the garden.

Woah.

The lot of noble kids, especially from my year... were divided into two groups.

 They were divided mainly by gender.

The boys were headed by an unknown baron kid.

The girls on the other hand...Ethel?!

What are you doing?!

I was able also to see many older nobles worrying about the current condition.

Since the surrounding was loud, I was not able to hear the arguments very well.

But I still recognized my name being thrown around.

Ethel on the other hand was a bit too pissed off.

Shithead William was also trying to make his way through the group of boys. Though it still proved difficult for him.

Unfortunately for him, the use of magic is prohibited in the garden.

There was also another special person in trouble.

The Black-haired recently appointed Duke, Arthur was in the middle of the two groups. 

Father too started watching the video carefully.

As the argument heated up, knights started to assemble outside the group...in case of violence started to occur, they will be able to take action in a moment.

Honestly speaking, isn’t the noble boy pushing his limits?

Doesn’t he know about Ethel?

The Prorins are infamous for their fighting ability...Ethel is no exception.

The ladies too were not showing any restraints...I am glad that the problem is confined only to verbal words. 

But these are nobles...words are more than enough to cause wars between territories.

“Don’t worry...there will be no battles.”

“I’m sorry?”, I responded to my father.

“All the heads are quite disappointed. We have unanimously decided that most of these kids won’t be given chance the inheriting the title.”

So, even the adults are concerned about the current situation.

Or so you say, then what about Silas? Won’t he become the head of Hastings?

It’s funny how the person who caused this whole situation is nowhere near the current commotion.

The pink-haired midget was on the sidelines protected by her so-called friends.

“Shut up, you masculine bitch!”, one boy said while splashing water at Ethel.

*CRACK*

“Is he an idiot?”, Duke Landon said while looking at the now cracked phone.

Fiona on the other hand was silent. Her Azure blue eyes were glowing in the dark.

Both of them were confused as to why Ethel stood still, not even bothering to wipe water that was splashed at her face.

“Move.”

A deep dark voice split both the groups, moving all of them a few steps backward.

In the middle were three people...Ethel, the noble kid, and Arthur.

The boy was writhing in pain...while Arthur was calmly twisting his shoulder.

“Break it…”, Fiona whispered. 

It was at this point when William came in.

The video couldn’t pick up what they both spoke...

But Arthur left the boy’s shoulder, after which the knights took him away.

Presumably to throw him out of the palace.

Ethel on the other hand...was smiling awkwardly.

“Why did the fight start?”

Fiona messaged Hazel.

“The boys were bad-mouthing you to Arthur...at some point, Ethel got too pissed”

“You should have stopped her.”

“Do you think anyone other than you or her fiance is capable to stop her?”

“Sigh...fine...how is she now?”

“She’s doing as good as ever. Though both Arthur and the Prorins disappeared after the mess. Arthur had this murderous look on his face though.”

“...is that so? Well, whatever...I’m gonna sleep now. I’ll talk to you all later.”

“Sure...Good night.”

“Dad.”

“Hmmm?”

“I’m getting down.”

“Pardon?”

“Head home without me, I’ll get back soon...butler, stop the car.”

As the car stopped, the tall platinum blonde hair girl got down the empty road. 

Since it was still, daylight...most of the traffic on this road is moving traffic.

“Careful.”, Landon warned Fiona

“Get home safe. And...warn Silas to stay out of my damn sight.”

With the fleet of cars vanishing in the distance, Fiona made a call.

“Send me a car. Preferably one that doesn’t warrant too much attention.”

Ten or so minutes later, a black civilian sedan arrived.

A young boy got off the car, handed the keys, and vanished into the crowd.

After getting herself in the car, Fiona then started driving towards the Baron’s mansion in the capital.

Her journey to the mansion was slow and silent.

No rash driving, no music...just a calm Lady driving with a destination on her mind.

“I want to get in quick and silent.”, she said on the phone, while being just a few streets away from the mansion.

The mansion gate is massive and will only open for authorized personnel.

But as the black sedan drove closed in, the gate slowly opened. 

None of the people walking along the road thought it was weird.

As Fiona drove through the gate, she looked at either side of the gate...where the guards laid unconscious.

*STOP*

Fiona soon stopped the car, not far from the gate...for there were dozens of knights armed in front of her.

“I apologize.”, she said while getting off the car.

“L...Lady Fiona!! This is not a place you can trespass. Please leave, or else we will be forced to equip violence against you!”

“Your Young Master...do you know what he did today?”, Fiona said while stepping forward towards the knights.

“We apologize on behalf of our Young Master. It was not mature of him, we agree. But please, don’t make it harder than it already is.”, the knight pleaded while taking his sword out.

“Is that so…”

As the platinum-haired beauty made her way towards, some of the knights took a step backward.

She was alone now...but behind her, the power Hastings is nothing to scoff at.

She had no emotion on her face...her voice neither indicated anger nor happiness.

It was just monotone.

*STEP* *STEP*

“Knights, arm yourself!!”, the head shouted.

All of the knights in unison brandished their swords against Fiona. 

“Damn it...why am I not able to get in touch with the Imperial Knights?!”

It is mandatory to contact the Imperial Knights in case of inter-territorial disputes.

But the Baron’s knights were thrown in dismay...the call to the Imperial knights is supposed to be instant.

And they were inside the capital, there’s no way they didn’t have a network.

Unless…

The knights were troubled, they didn’t want to hurt the princess of Hastings. 

*SPIN* *SPIN*

Fiona on the other hand was calmly playing with a dart. Throwing it up, catching it.

“Like I said...I apologize.”

You’re forced to be in this situation.

*SPIN* * THROW*

“Careful!!”

The head shouted as the dart Fiona threw landed right in front of the knights.

“Oh, that’s just a normal dart.”, Fiona said while removing her gloves.

“Huh…”

Perhaps they didn’t notice due to the tension...but the surroundings….

“Isn’t it too cold?!”, one of the knights shouted.

“Put your barriers up!”, the head shouted activating his barrier.

“Too late.”

*CRACKLE*

Just as Fiona finished her sentence, hundreds of shards of ice rose from the ground all around Fiona.

The knights weren’t given any chance to talk…

*FREEZE*

All of them, in an instant, were frozen from toe to head. 

The front yard was filled silent except for the noise of crackling ice.

The faces of the knights with quick reactions were filled with horror and despair.

On the other hand, the ones who couldn’t comprehend the situation had calmness on thier faces.

The only one who survived was the Head Knights.

Though the Ice was slowly getting the better of him.

“What you are doing now...yo...you’re going to regret it later on.”, the knight stumbled due to the bone-chilling coldness of Fiona’s Ice.

“Am I now?”

Fiona said while tilting her head.

Her Azure Blue eyes were filled with pure but cold bloodlust.

“You know...I was never someone who would act this rashly.”

She said while looking up to the sky.

“I mean, it was just Ethel...there are dozens of people who would take action for what happened today.”

“...”

“But you see...I wanted to be the only one who could do this...I am not making any sense, am I?”, she said while awkwardly smiling.

The ice was already reaching the neck of the Head Knight.

“Th...That doesn’t justify your actions.”

“Haha of course...I know that my actions are unfair towards you all, but who cares...it’s not like you can do anything against me.”, she said while shrugging.

“Do you think no one will stand against you? One day, you will have the whole Empire against you...that day, you won’t be able to do anything, you will face the worst despair in your life-”

The Ice covered the mouth of knights, forbidding him to speak to anymore.

“Oh Believe me...I know all about that future. Hell, I even know about the various ways I could die. It is all fun and games until you see your head rolling right in front of you. I was traumatized to the point where I had to stay indoors for two weeks.”, she said while smiling brightly.

The knight, on the other hand, was confused about what the Azure blue-eyed lady was speaking about.

“You won’t die…”, she said right before the moment when the knight was completely covered in ice.

“Now then...I have to wait for them to arrive.”, Fiona said while walking towards the mansion.

The Founding Day celebration was still going on. 

So, it would take a long time for the Baron family to arrive.

“Hmmm~~ What shall I do until then?”, she hummed while entering the mansion.

Various screaming and freezing noises were heard from the mansion for the next ten minutes.

After which, it was dead silent...the whole mansion was waiting for the Baron Family to return.