ALL NOVEL Chapter 4
Chapter 4: The Male Lead (?) Appears (1)
An unexpected face appeared in the view of the “Surveillance” spell.
I spent a moment pondering the situation but…
In the end, I scoffed dismissively.
—Pfft.
‘Well, I can just ask him directly.’
After all, we’ve known each other since the very first day I possessed this body. You could say we’re close friends.
Instead of wasting time worrying, I’d just go up to him and ask, “What are you doing here?”
With that decision made, I ignored him and continued switching perspectives, observing the academy’s activities.
———The academy, which was scheduled to be attacked today.
‘Hmm… no obvious signs. I don’t see anyone who looks like the protagonist either.’
Even after scanning for a long while, I didn’t spot anything unusual.
Today was the day when the protagonist was supposed to enroll in the academy.
And on top of that, it was also the day a certain villainous group would attack the academy, throwing the protagonist’s school life into chaos.
Because of that, I’d been keeping a close watch on the academy for quite some time.
But for there to be no sign of trouble at all until the day of the entrance ceremony…
To think they could evade my gaze — me, the absolute mastermind and the secret leader of the current strongest villainous organization in the empire, the TS Brigade.
The ones planning the attack today must be quite the formidable bunch.
Feeling a rising sense of caution, I puffed up my cheeks like a pufferfish brimming with poison.
—Puff….
—Blub blub.
Half-submerged in water, I renewed my resolve.
No matter how cruel this world was, no matter how much they despised it,
I would rewrite the story according to my whims.
I would even use their malice to further my plans.
As the absolute mastermind.
—Whisper, whisper.
—Ah, the princess is playing in the water.
—She’s so adorable♡
—Look at those soft, squishy cheeks… I want to poke them.
—Hold it in. You can squeeze them to your heart’s content later while doing her makeup.
‘Ah. Now that I think about it… Knowing there’s going to be an attack but walking in casually anyway— I’m totally a mastermind!!!’
Feeling good about myself, I played around in the water for about 20 more minutes.
When I finally finished, the tips of my fingers had gone a little pruney.
***
For some reason, today’s lotion application was especially persistent.
When it finally ended, I stretched out my arms in a T-shape with my eyes still closed.
‘Alright, do it.’
“Come now, Your Highness. We’ll help you get dressed.”
At those words, the servants swarmed me to change my clothes.
…To be honest, I could dress myself, but the attendants loved dressing me up.
Besides, once you’ve experienced it a few times, you get used to it. It’s actually quite comfortable.
So, I let them do as they pleased.
Under the deft hands of the clothing experts, I was dressed in my outdoor attire as quickly as if I’d undergone a magical girl transformation.
Only then did I open my eyes.
—Blink, blink.
“You look absolutely radiant today as well, Princess Esti!”
“Yeah, yeah.”
‘To me, I still look like a little kid, though.’
The servants seized the moment to shower me with compliments.
They went on about how cute, beautiful, and “so much like a little girl” I looked, but I only gave half-hearted replies.
My silver hair and red eyes were the ultimate “mastermind” color combo, which was nice, but…
That combo was attached to a 135 cm-tall body that hadn’t grown an inch since I was 10.
Even my 13-year-old self from before I possessed this body would have seen me as just a little kid.
So, I wasn’t exactly fond of my own appearance.
Even before and after my possession, I was not a lolicon.
Behind me, I heard a heavy sigh of regret.
—Haa… she’s so cute. She really does look like a little girl.
—She refuses to wear those adorable frilly clothes and always insists on those plain riding pants.
—Ever since that day…
Half the remarks were sighs of disappointment over my lackluster reaction, while the other half were complaints about my choice of clothes.
‘Huh. Is that how they see it?’ I glanced at the full-length mirror.
‘…What’s wrong with this outfit? It’s comfortable, and it looks cool too.’
White shirt, pants, a light beige cardigan, and a black jacket.
If I do say so myself, it was a pretty decent combo.
It was also the only outfit from the selections the attendants presented that I had approved.
…Well, I did insist on riding pants myself, which are usually worn while horseback riding.
‘Skirts are just uncomfortable. I’d only wear one if they forced me to.’
If someone really insisted, I guess I’d wear a skirt.
I liked pants better, but I wasn’t stubborn enough to throw a tantrum over them.
But no one ever forced me to wear a skirt.
Sometimes, they’d ask, “Isn’t this dress pretty? Don’t you want to try it on?” But if I said, “Pants are more comfortable,” they’d back off, saying, “Alright, as you wish.”
In fact, a few years ago, on Foundation Day…
When I casually asked my sisters, “Do I have to wear a dress too?” Their reactions were unforgettable.
—Ah, no, Esti!! You don’t have to wear one if you don’t want to, not at all!!
—Who told you that you had to wear one?
—No one said that, but since you’re a princess and all the other sisters are wearing dresses, I thought maybe I should too…
—Wh-what do you mean by ‘this body’…! Sniff!! Poor Esti…!!!
—…Esti. You don’t need to force yourself to do something you don’t want to do.
‘Even my sisters told me not to bother wearing one.’
Having received a firm declaration that I didn’t have to wear one, I saw no reason to trade my comfortable pants for a skirt.
Of course, if someone really asked me to wear one, I’d oblige.
But honestly, who’d want to see a kid in a skirt like this anyway?
With that logic, I shook my head once again today.
“This much is plenty for me.”
—Sniff… Esti, my dear…
I could hear someone sobbing behind me, but I ignored it.
People in this world were just way too emotional.
That’s just how it is in romance-fantasy novels.
***
Anyway, after a hectic morning of preparing to go out…
I endured about an hour of being harassed by my family before I could finally leave the palace.
It was because my overindulgent family was far too sincere about their farewells.
—Flop.
‘I thought it would take two hours, but surprisingly, it didn’t.’
Even so, it ended much faster than I’d anticipated.
That’s why I had a rather cheerful expression as I sat in the carriage.
So much so that the coachman, who had been waiting in advance, struck up a friendly conversation.
“You’re absolutely glowing today, Princess. Are you that excited about enrolling in the academy?”
“Of course… Huh? Captain? Why are you driving the carriage?!”
“His Majesty ordered me to guard you with the utmost care.”
“Eh?”
The captain of the Imperial Guard, in the role of a coachman.
His eyes were filled with unwavering resolve, vowing to protect me no matter what, and my heart skipped a beat.
‘Does… does Father know about today’s academy attack?’
Today’s attack on the academy, which was critical information from the original story, was something even I, the absolute mastermind, couldn’t detect using my “Surveillance” magic.
But could it be that Father had already caught on?
Had my skills as a mastermind fallen behind Father’s insight?
However…
“He said to make sure no strange men approach you.”
“……Ah.”
‘This overprotective fool of a dad, seriously.’
The captain let out a helpless chuckle.
I, too, couldn’t help but laugh softly, dumbfounded.
“Alright then, let’s get going.”
“Understood. Leave it to me!! Hehe.”
And so, with a strange sense of camaraderie between us…
The carriage began moving forward.
Toward the academy, where the entrance ceremony would soon be held.
“Hyah!!”
—Whinny!!!
“…Huh!?!?”
—Hop!
The moment we departed, the carriage jolted so hard that I bounced straight up, floating a good 10 centimeters off the seat before crashing back down.
—Thunk!
“Ouch, ouch!!”
‘What the heck!? This guy drives like an amateur…!!!’
I ended up smacking my bottom against the seat, groaning in pain.
The irritation of wanting to yell, “Can’t you drive properly?!” rose to my throat.
But…
“I-I’m so sorry, Princess! It’s a habit from spurring my horse on the battlefield…”
“…….”
Seeing him bowing his head in sincere apology made all my anger vanish instantly.
Come to think of it, wasn’t he only doing this coachman gig because of Father?
Despite being the highest-ranking captain of the Imperial Guard, he was being forced to play driver because of that dad.
I couldn’t bring myself to scold someone who was suffering because of my father’s whims.
I massaged my sore bottom and shook my head.
“It’s… it’s fine. I heard it’s always like this the first time. It hurt a little, but… it can’t be helped. I’ll forgive you.”
—Rub rub.
“…I-I have committed an unpardonable sin!!!”
—Fwoosh!
“……?”
For some reason, after receiving my forgiveness, the captain’s face turned pale, and he quickly averted his eyes.
He never turned back to face me again.
…What’s his problem?
***
Anyway, after a short while…
Thanks to the captain of the guard gritting his teeth and driving with absolute care, we safely arrived at the front gate of the academy.
The moment the crowd of freshmen and other visitors spotted the imperial crest engraved on the carriage, they split to the sides like the Red Sea.
—Whisper, whisper.
—That’s the 3rd Princess of the Avrien Empire in that carriage…
—Why would someone as prestigious as the 3rd Princess attend the academy?
—And even Blezer is here. Why are all these noble figures coming to the academy…?
‘Looks like rumors about me have already spread.’
Even though I was still inside the carriage and couldn’t hear the crowd clearly, I didn’t need to. I could guess what they were talking about.
They were probably wondering why a princess like me was attending the academy.
But I didn’t care.
No matter how much you explained, commoners wouldn’t understand anyway.
Masterminds are supposed to stay aloof.
‘Now, let’s see… Where are you, protagonist? Come out, come out, wherever you are~.’
—Splat. Rub rub.
I pressed my face against the carriage window and scanned the outside.
I was looking for a girl with dull brown hair and yellow eyes, someone with an ominous, shadowy air about her.
But I didn’t find anyone like that.
—Squish, squish.
—What’s that? So cute.
—Her cheeks are stuck to the window…
—Hold on, that’s the 3rd Princess? She looks like she’s only 10 years old!
—Hey, watch your mouth!! That’s her…
‘Hmm… still nothing.’
I had been hoping to find her right away, so I could haul her into the carriage and kidnap her, but oh well.
I reclined against the backrest of the carriage without any lingering regret.
It was disappointing that I couldn’t find the protagonist, but she was naturally drawn to accidents and incidents.
I’d spot her soon enough, even if I didn’t try too hard.
If I looked around the academy before the entrance ceremony, I’d definitely find her.
Nothing would happen until the ceremony started, after all.
I could take my time searching.
That poor girl, bound to be swept up in misfortunes.
***
A short time later.
“Ni-nice to… Uugh!!!”
“…Louis?”
“So… unripe…”
“……!!!!?”
‘No way. You got burned so badly 10 years ago, and now, after being quiet for so long, you’re at it again?!’
The moment he saw my face, the boy’s expression crumpled.
And then—
“So undercooked…”
“…………!!!!!!!!!?”
—Murmur, murmur.
The bombshell that fell from his lips.
As the shock and horror rippled through the crowd, my face twisted into a scowl.
…I thought the protagonist was supposed to be the one caught up in all the trouble.
Why am I the one getting dragged into this?