I Became A Pretty Trash Villain

Chapter 3

“……do you have to do this?”

The butler asked in a small voice. He cowered as if he was a mouse in front of a cat.

“So, you didn’t take care of it as I said?”

“N, no, I did send them all out. However, His Excellency is sure……”

“Sir.”

When I called him softly, he answered in a more timid voice, “Yes?”

“I understand that Sir’s wife is quite busy preparing for the ball. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes……. That’s right.”

“Didn’t you say yourself that you were having a headache because there weren’t enough guests, did you?”

“I, I did.”

After waving the fan gently and enjoying the breeze for a while, I folded the fan with a snap and glared at him.

“I’ll take responsibility for that ball. If need be, I, a member of the imperial family, will show my face.”

“…….”

“Shouldn’t you make your daughter a successful debutante?”

Then the father, who had a nubile daughter, immediately closed his mouth.

Even though she didn’t have many friends because of her broken personality, she had enough connections to mobilize as she was a member of the imperial family. And being responsible for the guest was a pretty big favor.

But why was I making it sound so threatening? It was kind of nice to hear it straight away when I was saying it for the first time.

“I think it’s time for him to come.”

Like a child waiting for Santa Claus, I kept glancing at the entrance to the hall.

It was time for Evandel to come down for dinner. Imagining that unfortunate face distorting made me excited.

“Aren’t you curious about how our Excellency will come out? Huh?”

“…….”

The butler, who had stood there with a gloomy expression as if resigned, straightened his posture at the sound of footsteps just in time.

Finally, Evandel entered.

When he found the dining hall empty, he stopped as if he had reached an unfamiliar place. I couldn’t hold back my laughter any longer, so I covered my face with a fan.

Even though it was almost meal time, there was no food prepared.

Not only the dining hall, but most of the entire mansion would be empty. Perhaps he felt strange on his way here.

“Is it Your Highness’ doing?”

“What you’re saying is disrespectful.”

Evandel sighed and sat down across from me. The butler, who had been restless since he appeared, continued to stare at his master with an anxious face even after pulling out the chair.

“There is no one at home, what happened?”

“I sent them all out.”

“…….”

“We have hands and feet, so why can’t we take care of ourselves?”

Of course, I didn’t actually fire the employees.

It was unreasonable to hire all that many people again, and it would take a lot of time to train them. I couldn’t afford to go through such an inconvenient trouble.

It was just a mercifully paid vacation. Although the Marquis in front of me should not know the truth.

“So, you will personally make the food?”

“I’m controlling my diet these days, so I don’t need anything grandiose. Ah, I didn’t think of you. I’m sorry.”

I rolled the grapes into my mouth with a very unfortunate sarcasm.  And behind Evandel’s back, I gave a warning look to the butler who seemed to be wondering if he should tell the truth now.

“I see.”

……what do you know? Is he raising the white flag?

As I looked at him with small expectations, he rose from his seat.

“I’m not controlling my diet, so I’m going to have to stay somewhere else for the time being.”

“…… You’re going to move out of the house now?”

“I trust that Her Highness will take care of the household affairs while I am gone.”

Then he said to the butler, who was watching the situation anxiously.

“Sir Azim, please pack your luggage.”

“Yes!”

The butler replied vigorously, bowed and waited for his master to exit the hall first. When Evandel disappeared from sight, he glanced sideways at me and followed his master.

“Ha.”

I let out a laugh and irritably tossed the grape.

So this doesn’t work either?

Let’s see how far you can go. I tried some special plan, but it didn’t work, so I will try to find a more risky way to succeed.

* * *

The plan to virtually fire the employees was withdrawn after he had not returned to the mansion for more than five days.

It took a day or two to survive on bread and tea, and if I held on any longer, I would die.

I wondered if it would be okay to continue the separation as it is, but I needed to find a place of my own before the female lead appeared.

My existence as the nuisance of the Imperial Palace. Since I might lose my place to stay, it was safer to make a property in my name in advance.

“Are you really going to carry it out?”

Mary, who had put together all the plans in depth, asked. There was a tension in her voice that couldn’t be hidden.

“Will you be alright?”

“Even if there is one more scandal now, what will be different?”

“What difference would it make even if there is one more scandal now?”

The special plan was to pretend to be in an affair.

Many show window noble couples[1] were nothing special, but I had to be prepared to appear on the front page of the newspaper if things went wrong.

However, even if it took such trouble, it would be enough if I could provoke Evandel and obtain a divorce.

“It’s not that, Your Highness…… I really wonder if you’ll be okay……”

I stared at Mary, who couldn’t help but speak vaguely. It was a plan that the original Attila would never have done.

In the past, she had done everything she could to get Evandel’s attention. However, other than deliberately speaking kindly to other young masters, she did not cross the line beyond that.

It may be because it was her last honor as a member of the imperial family or because she wanted to keep her loyalty with Evandel.

What loyalty. Give that to a dog.

“Mary.”

I warmly called out the maid’s name. It was unusual for me, who doesn’t usually take the trouble to memorize the names of the employees.

“When I jumped into the pond, Evandel Listane died inside me.”

He might have been so precious to her that she would have given up on the plan, but not me.

He meant nothing to me, and my purpose was far from crude, such as inducing jealousy.

“I really don’t care in the slightest.”

“…….”

Mary remained silent for a while, looking somewhat shocked. It would be hard to believe if a person who has always been desperate for the love of the Marquis said such a thing.

After checking the watch, I looked for the lead role in this plan.

“Has the young master who would help me arrived?”

“Ah, yes. He is probably here by now.”

She quickly came to her senses and moved quickly. I asked the parlor maid who was serving customers a few questions, and she immediately returned to me and gave me an answer.

“He is in the parlor.”

I don’t like her at all for measuring other people and being shrewd. Even if that was not the case, I should promote Mary, and I ordered her to guide him here.

“I, I, I greet Her Imperial H, Highness.”

“…….”

The young man who would help me with my divorce was a likable man with reddish, curly hair and freckles. I liked his cute appearance, but one thing bothered me.

“Mary, does this young Sir always stutter?”

“N, no! I’m just nervous…….”

The answer was given by himself. I squinted my eyes and examined him.

Even if he was actually stuttering, it was not a big deal. However, I wanted someone who could seemingly match Evandel in appearance. Even if the imperial lady who has only looked at one male lord all her life has one eye, she will immediately understand such a man.

The kind of man who would make everyone understand right away why the imperial princess, who had only been looking at the male lead all her life, looked away from him.

I was afraid that Evandel wouldn’t take the type that took some time looking for his charm, seriously.

“You shouldn’t be shaking when my husband comes.”

“…….”

“Go back if you’re not confident.”

“No! I can do it well.”

This was the second son of Baron Juan was in debt to the Listane family. Antonio Juan, who had the opportunity to pay off his debts at once, seemed full of enthusiasm.

“I, if only my life could be preserved from Lord Listane……”

The problem was that he didn’t have the courage to back it up.

I let out a small sigh and smiled.

“Sir Toni, you can put aside your useless worries. No matter how much I act rashly, my husband won’t give me a look. I guess you didn’t hear about us couple?”

Antonio looked like he didn’t know how to react to my self-deprecating joke. He was wriggling his fingers with an uncomfortable look, so I grabbed his hand to lighten the mood.

“Heok.”

He looked at me in surprise. I stared into Antonio’s widened eyes and slowly raised the corners of my mouth.

“Don’t be surprised. We’re going to do more than this.”

“…….”

“I guarantee your life along with your family’s debts. However, if you get scared and ruin things, I will personally take your life.”

He shivered and nodded wildly. I was a bit dissatisfied, but time was running out and there was no guarantee that I would find a better candidate, so the plan went ahead.

That night, I heard from a servant who had put in a word in advance that Evandel would be coming home soon.

Having prepared Antonio Juan, I likewise put on my thin gown and headed to Evandel’s bedroom.

“I greet Her Imperial Highness…….”

Antonio, who greeted me in his sleepwear, was mesmerized. He hastily rammed his head on the floor while greeting me with a reddened face.

“We don’t have much time, so why don’t you relax?”

“That is because Her Highness is so beautiful…….”

TL Notes:
    [1] Pretend couples/showing from the outside that you are couples.