I Became the Absolute Hidden Villainess Princess of the Academy

Prologue

Mastermind.

I really love this word.

To the point where it ranks alongside glow-in-the-dark dinosaurs and giant robots as one of my top three dreams.

A figure who controls everything from behind the scenes, bending the board to their will.

Ordinary people remain oblivious to the fact that they’re being played like pawns.

Only protagonists, those of equal standing, can perceive their existence and rise to challenge them.

How could any man not dream of such a role?

Even now, after becoming a woman, that dream continues to burn black within my heart.

Not just any mastermind, but the greatest and most terrible of all.

One who achieves their goal, even if it means deceiving everyone.

I would become the absolute mastermind.

For the sake of that dream, I…

“I’m going to the academy.”

“…Huh?”

“Esti, what are you talking about?”

“I’m going to enroll in the academy this term!”

“The academy? Why would a princess like you go to a sweaty place like that…?”

“If you don’t let me go to the academy… I’m going to cut my hair again!!!”

“…What?”

I threw a full-blown tantrum with every ounce of strength I had.

‘It’s embarrassing, but… if I want to escape this hopelessly doting royal family, I have no choice but to use my ultimate move…!!’

“Ahem. Esti Noir de Avrien, my beloved daughter. If you wish to cut your hair, I can call a hairstylist—”

“Father, if you don’t let me go to the academy, I’ll chop it off really short! Just like I did 10 years ago!!!”

“Wha— W-WHAT!?”

“No, no, no!!! Absolutely not!!!”

It was early winter of the year I turned 20—ten years after I had reincarnated into the world of a novel.