ALL NOVEL Chapter 13.2
“…Ahem. The weather’s nice.”
I didn’t know why Louis suddenly turned his gaze away, but it probably wasn’t important.
Feeling pleased, I beamed.
“Anyway, that means we’ll be taking classes together from now on!”
“It seems so, Princess.”
“Yeah.”
“Then… as a friend who will be with us at the Academy from now on, I have a question!”
“…Huh?”
And with that smile still on my face…
—I hit the core question.
“Irene, why did you come to the Academy?”
‘Of course, I already know the answer, though.’
I asked Irene why she came to the Academy.
As a devoted reader of the original story, I already knew the answer. But I still wanted to hear it directly from her.
Of course, I couldn’t reveal that she was a witch just yet.
However, with my unique ability to win the favor of others, I was sure she’d tell me her true reason.
My confidence proved correct.
— Ding!
[Irene’s favorability has been adjusted.]
[Current favorability: 50 (+5)]
[Due to favorability effects, the likelihood of earning the other’s goodwill is ‘moderately’ increased.]
“…Because I want to live.”
‘As expected. It’s just like in the original.’
Irene — the final witch who, if unsealed, could destroy the world.
Her only wish, as the most infamous and fearsome witch, was…
To live an ordinary life.
That’s why I couldn’t help but support her.
Her small yet earnest wish was so sincere that I felt compelled to root for her.
With that in mind, I rubbed my cheek against her arm a little more.
— Squish, squish.
“Yeah! That’s a good reason!”
“Huh? Aren’t you going to ask for more details? Like my situation or anything?”
“Why would I? That’s reason enough. Yep!”
“……”
These were words I had always wanted to tell her when I read the original story.
Hearing them, Irene’s eyes widened briefly, as if she hadn’t expected to hear such words.
Soon after…
— Ding!
[Irene’s favorability has been adjusted. Current favorability: 60 (+10)]
— Thud. Pat, pat.
“…Princess, you’re really a kind person.”
Irene began patting my head.
With favorability at 60, I had officially reached the ‘friend’ level.
Smiling brightly, I rubbed my cheek against her arm once more.
“Hehe. I don’t do this for just anyone, you know? My cheeks are soft and warm, and my sisters are always praising them!”
“Pfft. That’s not what I meant, but okay.”
The mood grew warm and pleasant in an instant.
Beneath that warmth, Irene’s gaze shifted to Louis, who had been turning his head away since earlier.
— Stare.
“…Anyway, for that reason, I’m going to do my best from now on.”
Her gaze at Louis’s side profile held a hint of determination.
‘Oho, what’s this?! What’s with these two?!’
“Yeah! I’ll cheer for you all the way!!”
I didn’t bother asking Louis why he came to the Academy.
After all, he’s like a chick following its mother hen — if I’m going, he’s coming too.
As a result, the final gaze of the two turned toward me.
Why did the Third Princess come to the Academy?
Why did the Imperial Family’s cherished youngest daughter come to a sweaty place like this?
To that question, I replied playfully.
— For world peace.
Of course, they both laughed, calling it nonsense.
— Thump, thump.
“It wasn’t a joke, though.”
That night, I snuck out of the Academy alone, muttering quietly to myself.
“It wasn’t a joke. That was my true intention.”
My breath turned white in the cold night air.
Then…
I slowly released a spell.
It was a perception-disrupting spell that prevented anyone from noticing me as I left the Academy, where leaving was strictly prohibited.
The fact that the spell had been fully released became immediately apparent.
— Thud.
“…Lady Esti♡”
A woman appeared before me, bowing deeply, as if she’d been watching me the entire time.
She quickly slipped her hands under my arms and lifted me up.
I didn’t bother resisting.
If the Imperial Family is my backer as a princess…
Then she is my support as a hidden villainess.
She’s my loyal servant and a contracted ally.
— Dangling.
“Crow. It’s been a while.”
“Ah, it’s been far too long… Ahem. Everyone’s been waiting for you, Lady Esti, so I’ll take you there immediately♡”
— Flash!!!
After that, she leaped forward with almost instantaneous movement.
To the depths of the empire’s underworld — the darkest, most hidden place.
She finally set me down inside an abandoned cathedral in front of an opulent throne.
— Swish. Plop.
“We’ve prepared refreshments in advance, so please take a seat♡”
“Mm. Thanks.”
Crow treated me like a holy relic as she sat me on the throne.
I picked up the drink next to me and crossed my legs leisurely.
Just like a true hidden villainess.
“I’ll remove your shoes for you♡”
— Swoosh.
“…Huh? Is that necessary?”
“Your soles are surely covered in dirt from the journey♡ I’ll clean them and return them to you, spotless♡”
“……”
‘Then why are you taking the socks too… Tsk. I guess that’s just how devoted servants are.’
For a moment, I was dumbfounded as Crow swiftly took my shoes and socks, but whatever.
Then I looked down.
Before me, a crowd of at least a thousand people were bowing low.
— Ahh, ahhh…!!
— Lady Saint, you’re as cute and beautiful as ever today!!
— Crow, you’re so unfair, keeping her to yourself!!
— Heh.
‘Truly, they never change.’
As always, they were going on about “Lady Saint” this and “divine beauty” that.
These people were my greatest force as a hidden villainess — the TS Brigade.
Seeing them after so long made me smile without realizing it… but that smile didn’t last long.
Taking a big, hearty sip of my sugar-replenishing milk tea, I raised my eyebrows to their peak.
“…How exactly have you all been doing your jobs?”
“L-Lady Esti…? Are you perhaps… angry…?”
“Do you have any idea how much Irene suffered because of you?!”
Thus began my scolding session for the sake of world peace.