“You’re truly amazing! How did you even think of riding a horse into the city?”
Erensia was exhausted. Viktoryna’s sudden visit, followed by endless praise, had strayed far beyond anything she had expected.
“When I heard that, my heart started racing…”
Viktoryna talked a lot.
No matter how pleasant the words were, Erensia realized that hearing them repeatedly made them tiresome and draining.
Viktoryna freely interpreted Erensia’s various antics however she pleased.
What Erensia had done to torment Stein became the righteous act of a justice-bringer punishing a cheating man.
Riding a horse through the streets became a bold challenge against the constraints placed on noble ladies.
Somehow, even the lecture hall incident had spread as a rumor.
Erensia arguing with a scholar had been transformed into a courageous act of rebellion against outdated academic traditions.
In short, among noble ladies, Erensia had become a cool woman standing against corruption and old customs.
That’s not it at all.
Erensia formed a faint smile and hid her face behind her teacup, letting out a quiet sigh.
“So, Lady Erensia…”
Viktoryna, who had been passionately praising her, lowered her voice. Blushing shyly, she bowed her head.
Her long eyelashes trembled.
Erensia flinched, raising her brows.
That expression… that atmosphere!
She looks like a girl about to confess!
“Would you… be willing to attend our tea party?”
Viktoryna squeezed her eyes shut.
It was a perfectly ordinary invitation, but to Erensia, it felt as intense as a heartfelt confession.
Erensia was now trying hard to understand how things had turned out like this.
Yesterday, she hadn’t been able to refuse Viktoryna’s invitation.
Viktoryna talked far too much, and while half-listening, Erensia had somehow ended up agreeing to attend her tea party.
With no choice, Erensia woke up late in the afternoon, prepared herself, and went to Viktoryna’s estate.
Naturally, she arrived well past the agreed time.
She had wanted to be seen as a rude person who disregarded others’ time.
But—
“Oh my, Lady Erensia!”
“Lady Erensia, I’ve wanted to see you so much.”
Young ladies in colorful dresses surrounded her and began talking.
The fondness in their eyes caught Erensia off guard.
The three of them began chattering the moment she sat down.
“I also love horseback riding, but I never even imagined riding through the city! Next time, I’ll go out on horseback too. Carriages are so uncomfortable.”
“How about we all ride out together next time? We can have tea at Afternoon Sun Café.”
“Afternoon Sun? Will that be alright, Viktoryna?”
“If you’re worried about the Stein incident, it’s fine. I got such satisfying revenge.”
Not a single word criticized her lateness.
Whenever Erensia tried to bring it up, Viktoryna and a lady named Evelin would quickly change the topic to something related to Erensia.
Laughter filled the small garden.
What is going on right now…
Erensia was the only one who couldn’t laugh.
“I heard about it, Viktoryna. You slapped Sir Stein! I was so shocked. Where did you find that courage?”
Viktoryna smiled sweetly and looked at Erensia.
Her blazing gaze made it hard to breathe.
“It’s all thanks to Lady Erensia.”
Ahh—
The other ladies let out admiring sighs, their eyes filled with understanding and respect.
What is this atmosphere?
The background behind them looked pink, petals seemed to flutter everywhere… what is this?
“Lady Erensia is truly amazing. We want to be like you too. Could you teach us?”
Erensia nearly spat out her tea.
Thankfully, thanks to the strict etiquette training she had received since childhood, she avoided embarrassment.
But her face was full of confusion.
She hadn’t understood most of what Viktoryna had said.
Perhaps she didn’t want to understand.
They were speaking the same imperial language, yet it all felt so unfamiliar. The last part even sounded like a foreign language.
Teach them…?
Did she even have anything to teach?
Should she just tell them the truth?
That she wasn’t amazing, that she hadn’t done any of it to change anything, and that they had all misunderstood her actions meant only to attract criticism?
Should she teach them how to be villains…?
Oh? That’s not a bad idea.
Erensia quickly regained her composure.
It was fine to be hated alone, but expanding the scale sounded even better.
A sly smile spread across her lips.
“Are you curious?”
“Of course! We want to become as amazing as you, Lady Erensia.”
How innocent.
Suppressing her scheming thoughts, Erensia spoke.
“Shall I teach you how?”
The three ladies nodded vigorously, as if their heads might fall off.
“Guests will be arriving. Prepare everything.”
Erensia instructed Sebastian and began getting ready.
“Draw the eyeliner a bit higher.”
She didn’t forget her effort to look more fierce.
“For the lips, a bold red.”
Erensia picked up a red lipstick and handed it to Anes.
“Wouldn’t something lighter be better?”
Anes suggested, but Erensia firmly shook her head. Anes carefully applied the lipstick to her full lips.
Closing her eyes, Erensia reviewed today’s plan.
Even I think this is brilliant.
“L-Lady… please stop smiling for a moment.”
Anes looked troubled, but Erensia’s lips refused to go down.
Erensia finished preparing early and headed to the drawing room.
She carefully inspected the Novellita drawing room.
Sebastian and the maids stood in a neat line, awaiting her evaluation.
Putting on white gloves, Erensia wiped the window frame.
This had become part of her daily routine.
What?! It’s spotless!
Not a speck of dust appeared on the glove.
Startled, she quickly removed the gloves and scanned the room with sharp eyes.
There wasn’t a single flaw.
Not one thing to criticize.
When she first started inspecting, her gloves had turned gray with dust.
But now, after just a few days, there was nothing.
Despair filled her.
“Since when did people start working this well?”
Sebastian and the maids looked proud.
Glancing at them, Erensia whispered to Anes.
Anes smiled meaningfully.
“Well, that’s because you, my lady—”
Knock knock.
It sounded like something important, but Erensia didn’t get to hear the end.
The door opened with an unpleasant creak.
Erensia’s eyes lit up.
“The guests have arrived.”
“What is that noise? Creak, creak… the door is practically singing.”
Her remark buried the announcement.
“My apologies, my lady. We will fix it as soon as the gathering ends.”
“How will you fix it?”
They’d probably just push some young servant to handle it poorly.
Sebastian answered,
“We can have the lower servants take care of it quickly.”
“Sebastian.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“For things like this, you shouldn’t assign children. Hire a proper professional. Go into town and bring a carpenter. And a blacksmith too.”
“But the Greatree craftsmen require reservations weeks in advance…”
“There are plenty of others, aren’t there?”
Because noble estates only hired specialized guild craftsmen, a monopoly had formed.
But monopolies rot.
Erensia didn’t care about such pride.
“As we wait for Greatree, the year might end. I don’t care if they’re commoners or not. Find someone who can fix it properly.”
She crossed her arms and tilted her chin.
Sebastian’s eyes widened.
“Understood, my lady. I know just the right craftsman.”
Strangely, there was a faint smile on his face.
Sebastian… smiled?
Erensia was shocked.
Anes leaned in and whispered,
“The butler has a grandson…”
The explanation followed.
If he proved himself, he could enter the guild.
Unbelievable… Now I have to investigate even the staff?
Being a villain was exhausting.
“Welcome, Viktoryna, Evelin, Mary.”
Erensia greeted the arriving ladies with a smile.
“Thank you for inviting us.”
The drawing room quickly filled with noble ladies.
“Shall we begin?”
After a brief tea, Erensia placed her hands on the table.
Her gaze turned serious.
“Oh my, already?”
“Of course. Learning should never be delayed.”
Evelin immediately took out a notebook and pen.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m taking notes on teacher’s words. I’m a model student, right?”
Erensia fell silent.
Get a grip, Erensia.
She resolved not to waste a single moment in training proper villains.
“We’ll begin now.”
“Yes!”
The three ladies responded enthusiastically.
“We’re ready!”
And so, Erensia’s villain-making project finally began.
