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Chapter 08
Charity Does Not Suit a Villainess
She desperately wanted to grab him by the collar and demand an explanation—but she couldn’t bring herself to do it.
She had already seen about three servants grumbling that the young lady must have gone beyond being kind and straight into insanity just for preparing donations.
If she caused any more unnecessary trouble, she wouldn’t be called a “kind-hearted daughter,” but a “mad daughter.”
Leriel wanted to be a troublesome do-gooder and get kicked out—not to be labeled insane and locked up inside the house.
“Ever since the engagement ceremony, you haven’t visited me even once, so I assumed you were very busy. But to think you’d come along for charity work… Isn’t that pushing yourself too hard?”
Left with no choice, Leriel replied while maintaining the bare minimum of etiquette.
To her, Peric Trian—the male lead who ends up with the unhinged saintess—was her number-one person to avoid.
“Caring for the people is the crown prince’s foremost duty and responsibility. This is simply something I ought to do, so don’t concern yourself.”
“Then perhaps you could do your volunteer work separately, at another time—”
“While my fiancée gains a reputation for good deeds, you expect me to remain alone in the palace? That would be unacceptable. It would damage my dignity.”
But Peric was no easy opponent either.
Each time he calmly countered her arguments with perfectly chosen justifications, Leriel found herself running out of words.
Then why, exactly, are you so determined to follow me?!
Her silence, born of confusion, stretched on. Peric couldn’t endure the pause. His patience had already been worn thin from the moment he met Leriel—like a candle burned down to the last drop of wax.
“!”
He suddenly stepped closer and bent down toward her. His faded blond hair fell softly with gravity.
For a moment, Leriel thought he was about to kiss her.
Startled, she sucked in a sharp breath—but instead, he passed her cheek and brought his lips close to her ear. In a low voice that seemed all the more resonant for its softness, he whispered with something like disgust.
“I told you. I said I’d tear off your mask. Do you really think I don’t know what you’re plotting?”
Leriel doubted her own ears.
He knew her intentions?
So he knew all about her plan to become a troublesome villainess and get herself expelled from the Teneberis family?
That’s impossible.
Unless he was some kind of mind-reading psychic, there was no way.
Only then did Leriel finally realize his misunderstanding.
This man was seriously, profoundly mistaken.
No wonder he’d shown up knowing she was going to volunteer—had he been watching her every move?
Letting out a quiet sigh, she tried to explain calmly.
“…As I said before, I just want to be a good person.”
“Ah, of course. And raising the prestige of the Teneberis family in the process would be even better, I assume.”
“That’s not what I—”
“Then what is it?”
Things were never that simple. Peric cut her off mid-sentence and openly mocked her.
Just as she once had done to him.
“Are you really asking me to believe that you’ve suddenly become a good person?”
No. I’m asking you to stop caring about what I do.
Leriel barely managed to swallow the retort rising to her lips.
Damn it. All I wanted was to do a few good deeds and get disowned.
I never expected the side effect of being suspected by my fiancé who already hates me.
Leriel Teneberis—what kind of life did you even live?
Because of the mess you made, I’m stuck dealing with this pointless suspicion!
Even as she mentally protested to the body’s original owner, the time she’d promised the orphanage was fast approaching.
It was time to decide.
Either give up on volunteering to avoid going with the crown prince—or…
“I’m not asking you to believe me. I’ll simply show you through my actions.”
Go volunteer with him.
“Shall we go, Your Highness?”
“That’s only proper.”
When Leriel stepped back, Peric finally withdrew as well, abandoning his threatening posture.
His low voice still seemed to linger near her ear.
Seeing such a handsome face up close was nice—but that was literally the only nice thing about this entire situation.
Let’s just finish the volunteer work and think about it afterward. Who knows? Maybe he’ll clear up his misunderstanding once he sees me in action.
And once the misunderstanding is cleared up… huh?
As she climbed into the carriage with Peric, Leriel felt like she was missing something.
But the pair of red eyes glaring at her from behind the carriage door, urging her to hurry, cut off her train of thought.
With a soft thump, she sat down on the thickly cushioned seat befitting a ducal family carriage and looked across at the crown prince.
Not only am I hated by a man this handsome, I end up dying later too.
The life of a villainess is truly exhausting.
For a moment, she even felt a bit sorry for the Leriel she’d been cursing earlier.
Wait—I’m the one suffering! I didn’t do anything wrong!
On second thought, maybe she wasn’t that pitiful after all.
The Leriel in the novel died because of her own sins—but what crime did I commit to deserve this?
Grumbling internally, Leriel deliberately turned her gaze away from the crown prince and toward the window.
The scenery rushed past.
The orphanage was less than ten minutes away, yet today it felt like it would take an eternity.
* * *
“Welcome…”
The priest lied.
“We have been eagerly awaiting your visit, Lady Countess.”
He had not been looking forward to her visit at all.
If anything, he’d been praying to the gods that she would change her mind at the last moment and cancel her volunteer work.
In fact, as the scheduled time drew near with no carriage in sight, the priests had been so relieved they nearly embraced one another.
But with one minute left, when a carriage bearing the Teneberis family crest came to a rough halt in front of the orphanage, that hope shattered completely.
Renatria, heavens above.
Clatter—neigh!
Startled by the sudden pull of the reins, the horse reared. The wheels scraped viciously against the ground as the carriage slid forward, stopping just barely in front of the priest. A gust of wind followed, scattering his bangs.
If only she hadn’t come at all. Oh gods, why must you test me like this?!
Calling upon the gods in his heart, the priest bowed his head, hiding his expression.
The woman stepping down from the carriage was Leriel Teneberis—the most infamous villain in the kingdom.
Even a revered priest would earn a slap for openly showing displeasure in front of her. It had actually happened when she was ten years old.
Why would someone like her suddenly volunteer for charity…
The priest clicked his tongue inwardly.
Then—step, step—the sound of someone else descending the stairs followed. Two sets of footsteps.
The priest glanced up in confusion, then cried out in shock.
“Y-Your Highness?!”
There was an unexpected companion.
At the priest’s raised voice, Peric frowned, signaling him to lower it.
“There’s no need to be so surprised. My fiancée said she was volunteering, so I merely came along.”
“I-I see…”
“I didn’t apply in advance, but there won’t be a problem, will there?”
“Of course not. We are simply honored by Your Highness’s gracious kindness…”
The priest had no choice but to lie again.
While he stalled for time, another priest hurried into the temple.
They needed to gather everyone. Even if the royal family’s authority had waned compared to the nobility, the crown prince still deserved treatment befitting his title.
“Everyone, get up and put on your ceremonial robes! I’ll go fetch the High Priest myself!”
“What is this all of a sudden—”
“No questions! Hurry! The crown prince is here!”
“Renatria, heavens! Is that true?!”
Priests who had been resting or attending to other duties hurriedly began dressing.
All except one.
“Wake up, Saint Anilla! Didn’t you hear that the crown prince is visiting?!”
“Mmm… five more minutes…”
“Five minutes, my foot! Get up, now!”
Rustle.
Rubbing her eyes, a beautiful woman rose from a simple cot.
Behind her, shimmering white hair cascaded like a waterfall, gleaming with an aurora-like light.
Yaaawn.
An inappropriately casual yawn echoed through the solemn temple.
Despite the surrounding urgency, she dressed at an unhurried pace.
After all, no matter how slowly she moved, a single pure smile from her would make everyone forgive her without complaint.
“What’s so special about a crown prince… What a hassle…”
The saintess, who had yet to see his face, rose casually while saying that.
Her ice-clear blue eyes were still heavy with sleep.
