That was why we invited her here today. Had she left the wig in her room, I had arranged for someone to search her house during this time and ensure it was brought here.
Since she attempted to harm Bertia, it was only fitting that she faced appropriate comeuppance. To ensure this, we took a clear approach to exposing the culprit. And now this was it. Incidentally, her beloved Fannir was already aware of her guilt. Naturally, I had explained the situation to him beforehand and requested his cooperation.
With no way out, Viscountess Eirin turned her gaze to her beloved, who was sitting beside her, in a last-ditch hope. At that moment, Fannir delivered the final blow. “Eirin Silbertz. I despise you from the bottom of my heart.”
Hearing these words, her face was perfectly painted with despair. Surely, being despised by Fannir must be the harshest punishment for her. “No… Nooooo!!” She crouched down on the spot, trying to escape the reality of her situation.
Quietly, I spoke toward her back. “This matter will be reported not only to the academy and Bertia’s parents but also to my own parents, just so you know.” At the same time, several students who had been seated nearby stood up, dragging her away despite her protests. They were members of the Bertia Fan Club, still furious over the incidents involving Bertia. I was confident they would handle the aftermath appropriately.
Bertia, still unable to grasp the situation, looked at me with a frightened expression. I smiled at her and helped her to her feet. “Well then, that’s the messy part dealt with. Shall we go, Tia?” I wanted to leave, gently holding the shaky Bertia close.
“Wait a minute! What about me?! I’m the victim here, aren’t I? Why aren’t you comforting me?!” Another troublesome person grabbed my arm in protest.
Within my embrace, Bertia flinched. Ah, this is truly vexing. “That’s not my role. What I need to do is let her rest,” I said with a smile, shaking off Baroness Hironia’s grip and turning away.
“What on earth is going on with this development?! This is the part where everyone is supposed to feel sorry for me and comfort me!” she shouted, her face turning even redder.
Well, even though she was a victim in this particular incident, there was no room for sympathy because she had been attacking Bertia in other ways. She should have given up here. However, without such consideration, she glared at Bertia.
“And it’s all your fault!! If you’re going to be a villainess, then act like one properly and be disliked as you should be! Because of you, I’m being treated like the villain too! Why do you have to hang around with rival ladies and be popular?! And on top of that, you’re facilitating relationships between the capture targets and the rival ladies, having meals with Prince Cecil—I’m really suffering because of it!!”
Bertia, trembling within my arms, tried her best to respond. “I-I’ve been doing my best with regard to Prince Cecil…”
Baroness Hironia, paying no heed to Bertia’s words, continued to berate her more fiercely. “Do you understand? Unlike other capture targets, your beloved Prince Cecil can’t be happy unless he’s with me! I’m the only one who can save Prince Cecil. As a villainess, all you can do is bring misery to him!! If you understand, then stop getting in my way!”
Bertia gasped.
The other students listened to Baroness Hironia’s rant with bewildered expressions, as if watching something bizarre.
Bertia, seemingly the only one who understood the true intent behind her words, was unable to retort. After a pained expression crossed her face, she bit her lip as if enduring something and looked down.
All this time, Bertia had hoped that I would end up with the “heroine” and be happy. At the same time, I had felt that she harbored some degree of affection for me.
Even with the setting of an “otome game” at play, I couldn’t understand why she would try to foster a relationship between me and a romantic rival. I thought that by pairing off other “capture targets” with the “heroine,” Bertia could remain my fiancée since I wasn’t attracted to the “heroine.”
However, Baroness Hironia’s words now implied that there is some reason I had to end up with the “heroine” as decreed by the “otome game.” But considering everything so far, couldn’t this destiny be changed?
Bertia often talked about “mandatory events” and tended to give up easily, but so far, it seemed like they hadn’t been in effect. It felt more like Bertia’s own misconception. If she really cares about me, perhaps there is a way for her to resist?
I was on the verge of getting lost in these thoughts when I abruptly stopped myself. Now was not the time for such reflections.
Bertia, gripping her dress so tightly that her fingertips turned white, was enduring Baroness Hironia’s words right in front of me. People around us, unable to grasp the situation, wanted to defend her but didn’t know how and could only glare at Baroness Hironia.
Yet despite the surrounding stares, she continued to rant. “You exist only to highlight me. You couldn’t even become a rival, just a third-rate villainess. If you abandon that role, Prince Cecil cannot be saved. You are stealing the happiness that should have been his.” Baroness Hironia declared with finality, “You can’t replace me because I am the ‘fated maiden’!”
To someone unfamiliar with the concept of an “otome game,” she might have seemed like just a delusional person. However, Bertia’s face twisted even more painfully at her words.
“I understand,” she whispered faintly, a statement and a tear that no one else might have noticed, muffled by her agony.
I felt an indescribable mix of anger and sadness directed at her small figure. Stepping forward protectively, I glared at Baroness Hironia Indelon. Almost simultaneously, Kuro moved in front of her, her hair bristling menacingly.
She hissed in anger.
To an ordinary onlooker, it might appear as if Bertia’s young attendant, a mere child, was glaring at a lady who had insulted her master. However, seeing Kuro’s true spirit form, I knew it was an extremely dangerous situation. Around Kuro, black lightning crackled and swirled, ready to strike at any moment.
The air around us seemed to darken and sizzle with tension, running over my skin with an electric static.
Despite the ominous atmosphere, Baroness Hironia only seemed slightly intimidated but not truly afraid—likely because she lacked the ability to see spirits and thus could not recognize the real danger.
In contrast, her spirit, resembling a bird, frantically moved forward to protect her. However, the disparity in power between Kuro and the birdlike spirit was stark…
“What now! What is this?! Why must I, the victim, be treated this way?! It makes me so angry! This world is meant for me to shine, Bertia Ibil Noches! Eventually, your prince will be mine. Enjoy this moment while you can! The happiness of a villainess disappears in the blink of an eye!!”
With that final shout, Baroness Hironia stormed off. I watched her retreating figure, hearing Bertia’s faint voice near me.
“I’m sorry.”
And with that, she collapsed.