I Became the Absolute Hidden Villainess Princess of the Academy

Chapter 7: The Princess Picks Up the Protagonist (2)

The second daughter of the Vernone Viscount family and a new student who was set to enter the academy today — Schefor de Vernone.

She had absolutely no reason to enter the academy.

What use would a diploma from the academy be for the daughter of a viscount, who had already successfully established herself in high society?

Attending balls or tea parties during that time would be a hundred times more beneficial.

So, why did she decide to enter the academy?

The answer lay with Esti.

“Schefor. This spring, you will enter the Imperial Academy.”

“Me? Why, Father?”

“There was a discreet request from the Imperial Family. If you take good care of Her Highness, the 3rd Princess, it will greatly benefit our family.”

“Take care of Princess Esti… me…?”

“Having a peer of her age around will surely put Her Highness at ease. Take good care of her.”

The reason she entered the academy was solely to support Esti’s school life, following the request of the royal family, who were famous for their love of their youngest.

Schefor willingly accepted this command.

There wasn’t a person in high society who disliked Esti…

But among them, Schefor especially adored her.

She was utterly weak against small, cute things.

“Helping out the family while also looking after Princess Esti all the time? This is the best!”

“Th-That’s a relief. Then, discuss the rest with the 2nd Princess. She seems to have a plan in mind.”

“Understood!!”

Even today, the reason Schefor was in a secluded area of the academy was because of Esti.

Although the academy had already screened the first batch of entrants, there were still some ill-behaved students left.

Using the observational skills she had honed in high society, she identified and drove out such individuals.

With harsh words and actions.

“Seriously. Why are there so many people with poor manners? If I hadn’t been here, it could have been a disaster.”

She had already driven out several delinquents with tanned skin and blond hair who looked like stereotypical thugs at a glance.

With her confidence boosted, she even lashed out at a girl who suddenly appeared before her.

“She seems to have a story, but… that unpleasant appearance. She doesn’t belong in the same academy where Princess Esti will be. I should give her some money, get her cleaned up, and send her back.”

“Did you crawl here like an insect? At the very least, dress properly…”

Thud, thud.

“Lady Schefor. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

“…!!!!!!?”

If she had known she would run into Esti, she would never have acted like that.

Schefor found herself face-to-face with her beloved Esti at the worst possible moment.

She couldn’t hide her panic.

‘W-Why is Her Highness here?! No, more importantly… isn’t this the perfect situation to be misunderstood?!’

How could Esti have perceived the harsh words she had just spoken?

Why was she now looking so obviously upset right in front of her?

There was no way Schefor wouldn’t realize that she was now being mistaken for a “villainous noblewoman.”

As a result, she quickly tried to recover from the situation.

Flustered and stumbling.

“U-Uhm. Your Highness. That wasn’t what I meant… Oh my?”

However, her tense expression quickly melted away.

All thanks to Esti’s puffed-up cheeks.

“Phuuu… Lady Schefor, I didn’t think you were like this!!”

‘Ah, she’s so small and adorable again today♡’

From Esti’s perspective, she was trying to act as the top predator of high society, pressuring Schefor.

But to Schefor, who was one of the real elite socialites, it looked more like a squirrel begging for a cookie.

Schefor’s tone became gentler.

“What do you mean, Your Highness?”

“I saw it all! Calling an innocent, pitiful girl dirty and unpleasant! I heard it all!!”

Slam!

“How could you do that?! You’re so mean!!!”

Esti’s small, maple-leaf-sized hand was placed on her own protruding lips.

A silent gesture from high society that meant, ‘I am at a loss for words with you.’

Schefor’s lips curled into a wide smile.

‘I know what you’re trying to do, but… your hand’s in the wrong spot, Your Highness♡’

Despite her delusions of being a master of high society, Esti’s actual social skills were abysmal.

For someone like Schefor, who was deeply entrenched in the world of socialite politics — or, as Esti would put it, a “veteran” — this gesture was nothing more than adorable play-acting.

But soon, Schefor’s expression became slightly more complicated.

‘Well, it can’t be helped if she doesn’t know.’

After all, the skills she was trying to emulate were honed through years of enduring insults and slander in high society.

Esti had never experienced anything of the sort.

Since her debutante ball 10 years ago, Esti had been a beloved figure under the protection of nearly every woman in high society.

‘That bastard who should be torn to shreds and thrown away… ahem, I mean, that foolish Duke Louis, it’s all because of him.’

Glare.

Schefor’s gaze shifted to Louis, who was far away.

The look in her eyes was completely different from when she was looking at Esti.

It was the look one gives to rotten food waste.

At the same time, the events of that day flashed vividly before her eyes.

‘Ah, even now, just thinking about it makes my blood boil…’

Ten years ago.

At Esti’s debutante ball, Louis had made the infamous comment: “It’s undercooked,” turning the entire ball into a disaster.

All the women who had gathered that day decided to erase the incident from history.

Regardless of their factions, they all shared the belief that the birthday and debutante ball of a 10-year-old girl should not end in such a way.

The following day, the ball was held once more.

Everyone was prepared to lavish praise on her beauty.

When the protagonist of the ball, Esti, finally appeared…

Her attire, her hair…

“…Huff!”

‘Oh no, I almost fainted from shock like last time…!!!’

Schefor, who had been reminiscing about the past, snapped back to reality with a short gasp.

The scene from that moment flashed vividly in her mind.

It was the image of Esti that had caused half the women of the social circle to faint and sent the other half into tears.

Her knees buckled as if collapsing, and she bowed deeply.

“…It seems I was too harsh with my words, just as Her Highness said.”

‘She must be projecting herself onto that girl. How pitiful.’

With her head lowered, her eyes met Esti’s.

Esti’s eyes were brimming with determination.

Brazenly, her hand reached out and touched Schefor’s head.

Swoosh, swoosh.

“I was wrong, Your Highness.”

Schefor calmly apologized.

She could have argued if she wanted to, but with Esti, she had to concede.

After all, she could never win against cute and small Esti.

‘That girl too… Looking at her now, she’s just an ordinary girl. Why did I see her as some sort of witch?’

—On top of that, the girl covered in dirt, whom she had considered a creepy witch earlier…

When she looked again, she seemed like nothing more than a normal girl.

So much so that Schefor couldn’t understand why she had labeled her a witch in the first place.

Grin.

“…Hmph, as long as you understand now! Don’t do it again, okay?!”

But Esti, completely unaware of Schefor’s reasoning, merely flashed a triumphant smile.

‘See? All it took was one word from me, and she caved! As expected of me!!’

If Schefor had known what Esti was thinking, even the usually composed Schefor would have delivered a well-placed flick to her forehead.

The argument with Lady Schefor ended with my overwhelming victory.

“Now then, apologize to the prettiest and most lovable girl in the world. Do it, now!”

“…I’m sorry. I spoke too harshly. Did it hurt your feelings?”

“Eh? Ah, no… I’ve heard things like that so often, it doesn’t really bother me…”

“Hmph. Lady Schefor, make sure nothing like this happens again in the future!”

And as the victor, I claimed my spoils of war.

That “spoil of war” was, of course, none other than Irene.

“From now on, this girl is my friend!!”

Slap!

“…Huh?”

“Y-Yes…?!”

This was the protagonist of the original story, whom I had been searching for over the past few years.

The “Last Witch” who would face numerous hardships before eventually bringing about the end of the world — Irene.

I clung tightly to the now slightly cleaner Irene.

And with great confidence, I declared our friendship.

“Did you not hear me? I said, from today on, this girl is my friend!!”

‘If I leave her alone, people will just keep bullying her. I might as well keep her close. Just like I do with Louis!’

“U-Um, uh…?”

Irene, who froze at my sudden declaration of friendship, stood still, unable to react.

But the one even more shocked than her was Schefor, who had been harassing Irene just a moment ago.

Muttering.

“F-Friends? I’ve never heard of such a thing… She’s clinging to Her Highness like that…”

She was so stunned that her spring-like golden curls trembled as if they were about to unwind.

But what could she do?

Would someone as influential as me in high society be swayed by the reaction of a mere “loser”?

Of course not.

Instead, I rubbed my cheek against Irene’s as if to flaunt our closeness.

Rub, rub.

“H-Huh…?”

‘Look how close we are. From now on, don’t even think about messing with her. Got it?’

Irene shrank even more, but regardless, my provocation was effective.

“Th-Those soft, squishy cheeks… I’ve never even touched them… Grr!!”

Jump!

“…Her Highness, I’ll see you at the entrance ceremony!!”

Unable to endure it any longer, Schefor suddenly leaped to her feet.

She stomped off, leading her entourage of servants behind her.

Perhaps she was so frustrated that she even bit down on a handkerchief in her mouth.

Finally, I felt at ease and let out a grin.

“Phew, crisis averted!”

“What… even was this…?”

“Oh, Louis~!”

Louis let out a long sigh as he watched me.

I smiled at him with pride.

I had scored a perfect victory in a socialite duel for the sake of his love.

How was it? Wasn’t it amazing? I silently gloated at him.

Grin.

“…Sigh.”

But all I got in return was an even deeper sigh.

“Look, I know you like her, but you should step back a bit.”

“Huh?”

“If a princess suddenly grabs someone and declares them a friend, of course, it’s going to freak them out. Can’t you see she’s probably a commoner?”

“…Heh? Huuuh?”

‘What’s with that face? Are you jealous because I hugged her? Is this that whole “I fell for her at first sight, and now she’s my girl” kind of thing?’

His sigh meant, “Stop hugging Irene.”

But instead, I misinterpreted it as jealousy, and it made me grin even wider.

Sure, Irene had a gentle, feminine charm that I didn’t.

It was only natural that my brother, with his strong preferences, would fall for her at first sight.

“Well, if my little brother says so~.”

‘At this rate, it’s only a matter of time before they’re a happily married couple!’

So, I let go of Irene and got to my feet.

I had clung to her a little excessively while making my friendship declaration to Schefor.

Even though I knew it wasn’t appropriate to hug someone I had just met.

Even if I felt a deep internal affection for Irene, I still had enough sense to know my limits.

…But.

Grab!

“…Huh?”

Irene, who had been frozen in place since earlier, suddenly grabbed my arm as soon as I released her.

Not only that.

She hugged my arm so tightly that my forearm was pressed snugly between her two chests.

Squeeze.

“…!!!!! S-Sorry…!!!”

‘…Wait, was Irene always this bold that she’d just hug a princess like this?’