Regardless, she did something horrible. Whatever it was exactly is escaping me.
Maybe Alicia’s trial is being pushed forward.
A stern-looking man with a deep crease between his eyebrows speaks to me. “Suspect Alicia Williams—this way.”
Calling me “Lady Alicia” would certainly be odd in these circumstances. The transport guards called me such, but they can’t do so in a place like this.
My, what a lovely ring suspect has to it. Peak villainess.
“In here.”
He opens the heavy door—he must have strong arms.
……I’ve never been here before. And what a big, rigid door that is. What’s the motif etched on it…? Is that a hawk? What an aesthetically pleasing door. I would love to meet the designer.
“Oh my…!” I blurt out in surprise after I step inside. The room is filled with a dozen or so people dressed in a way that would be difficult to qualify as “high class.” Duke is sitting in the back, glaring at me.
Duke looking at me with contempt… What a novel feeling. When a person is so blessed, even anger looks handsome on their face.
I don’t see His Majesty or any of the Great Five nobles. Is Duke conducting this trial alone? Is His Majesty sanctioning any judgment Duke makes?
“I haven’t decided yet that you’re the one who did it,” he tells me.
“Huh?”
“I want to hear your side of the story.”
“And who are these ladies and gentlemen?”
“Townsfolk.”
“Why are they—?”
Duke cuts off my question with a hard stare.
……You want me to remain silent? Fine, then. I won’t say a word.
“I’m going to question you now.”
Question me? Not torture?
“I won’t be doing the questioning—they will,” Duke says deeply.
The townsfolk?
What in the world are they going to ask me…?
My heart races faster. Talking to ordinary townsfolk makes me much more nervous than talking to nobility.
“Understood, my lord. I will answer truthfully,” I say, keeping a firm eye on Duke and the townspeople.
The first to speak is a woman about my mother’s age or older. “We heard you’ve been abusing our sweet Liz.”
What a frail voice she has. She’s scared of me. Perhaps she heard rumors about me and Liz from the academy. I just have to answer honestly, then.
“I don’t quite understand what you mean by ‘abusing,’ but I do recall treating her caddishly.”
“Don’t lie to me! I heard all kinds of stories from the magic academy students when they came to town with Liz!”
The room is suddenly filled with the booming voice of a plump woman.
“The abuser may not remember, but the abusee does!”
“That’s right! Have you considered how your victim feels?!”
Accusations ring out one after the other. Opportunistic heckling, I call it.
Wow, look how utterly despised I am…… Can I call it? Can I call myself a villainess here and now?!
No, no, no, don’t get carried away, Alicia. I want to be the biggest baddie in the world, not just in this kingdom. It’s me against the world, not Durkis.
“And you are always so rude to His Highness!”
“The prince’s generosity is no excuse for you to act so high and mighty!”
The angry mob doesn’t seem to know that Duke lost his memory. I’m not surprised Duke hasn’t revealed that; royal amnesia is top secret, after all.
“You ignorant little bitch!”
“Don’t think your rich parents will keep the sweet nectar flowing forever.”
“It’s people like you who keep the world from getting any better!”
Their slander keeps worsening. Being disparaged by people I’ve never met is a little jarring, honestly.
Exactly what version of me have you all been watching?
“You’re just an ignorant, spoiled brat—you’ll pay for what you’ve done.”
“Nothin’ more than a pretty face.”
I don’t mind the insults—I just think they could speak with a little more finesse.
I glance at Duke. He’s staring right at me. His eyes are emotionless. Is this his poker face, or does he just have a bad case of RBF?
He used to show all sorts of emotions around me… Something rages in my chest.
“Aren’t you going to deny it?”
Duke’s voice snaps me back to my senses. The townsfolk are screaming so angrily, I wouldn’t be surprised if they pounced on me at any second.
I didn’t realize I was so deeply detested, but this is all escalating far too quickly… Is whoever erased Duke’s memory connected in some way?
“Go to hell! This kingdom would be better off without ya!”
“Beg Liz for forgiveness!”
“If you hurt her again, you’ll regret it!”
Are these townsfolk also devout followers of Liz? I’m not exactly a patriot. I wouldn’t mind being banished… It sounds great, actually.
Yes…you can use this situation to your advantage, Alicia!
“Yes, well, Liz has brain worms.”
My words instantly freeze the tension in the air.
Liz is blind to reality. She doesn’t have the ability to approach and solve problems rationally. That’s why I play the villainess and drive a wedge in her way of thinking.
“A shrew like you could never understand Liz’s kindness,” somebody grumbles, their voice so full of hatred, it could send shivers down someone’s spine.
“Don’t think you can say anything you want just ’cause you’re noble scum.”
“Roll in the mud and beg for forgiveness.”
“Nah, horse shit would suit her better.”
“Her parents didn’t spank her hard enough.”
“Liz said the sons of House Williams are very good people.”
The sons, eh…?
In other words, Liz is going around implying I’m a bad person. She doesn’t need to say so outright. Just by isolating me from my brothers, she can deceive everyone. Sure, she flashes saintly smiles at everyone (including at me), but perhaps she isn’t so saintly after all.
“This bitch really is a bad seed!”
“Get the hell out of Durkis!”
As they hurl abuse at me, the door suddenly slams open. Standing there is a little boy, glaring at us all.
“Gill…”
Gill? Smart boy. I’m sure finding his way here was easy enough.
“How dare you gang up on her like that…?! It’s fucking disgusting.” His voice fills the silent room.
Whoa, Gill. Where’d you learn such a dirty word?
“Duke, what the hell is going on here?”
Gill approaches me, his eyes practically shooting icicles at Duke. What a terrifying death glare. I can even feel a slight chill down my own spine.
Gill turns to look at me critically. This may be the first time he’s ever judged me like that. He usually has such concern in his gaze—but not now.
He isn’t breaking eye contact. “Alicia…you should exploit me when you need to.”
Before I know it, I’m smiling (well, the corners of my mouth are raised, at least). A dignified villainess wouldn’t sneer; that’s too crude.