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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: An Unwilling Villainess
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“Undine, I’m going to call for someone. What will you do?”

- I'll return to the Spirit Realm! The King is curious to hear about you.

“Alright.”

Only after Undine disappeared did I pull the long cord hanging by the head of the bed.

A maid would be here shortly. It wasn't an unfamiliar feeling, thanks to my experience in Part 1.

A moment later, the door opened, and a maid entered quietly.

“My lady, did you have a good night?”

‘My lady,’ she calls me. A bit cringey. I hid my embarrassment behind a neutral expression.

“I need to get ready.”

“Yes, your bath has been prepared.”

The maid glanced at my feet, then brought over a pair of slippers and set them down neatly.

Then, she knelt on the floor and bowed her head. Her posture was natural, as if she had done this hundreds of times.

“My lady, if you'll permit me, would you please lift your foot?”

Did maids normally go this far?

Even when I thought of my colleague, Prince Leonhart, who was born with the biggest silver spoon, I didn't think it was this extreme.

I wanted to refuse, but I couldn't. The directive clearly said, ‘as usual.’

“...Alright.”

As I lifted one foot, she slipped the slipper onto it.

The moment I lowered my slippered foot, the maid's fingertips scraped across my instep as she moved quickly.

“Hm?”

It wasn't a hard impact, but a red scratch appeared on my pale foot.

I guess I must be the type to get injured easily.

Just as I was thinking that and nonchalantly looking down at the red mark, the maid collapsed backward.

“Ah… ah…”

“Hm?”

“I… I… I'm… sorry… so sorry…”

She was completely gripped by terror.

So much so that she couldn't even speak properly.

‘Why is she so scared over something like this?’

I was about to tell her it was alright.

[Step 2: (While slapping the maid's cheek) You're in charge of cleaning the laboratory starting today.]

“…”

Why would I slap the maid for this? Isn't this just completely unreasonable?

‘This is why it's a trash novel!’

The Step 2 directive had 50% freedom. I only needed to follow about half of its instructions.

Instead of slapping her cheek, I gently patted the top of her head.

“You're in charge of cleaning the laboratory starting today.”

In that instant, the color drained from the maid's face.

‘That's strange… I definitely smiled and spoke gently, so why does she seem even more terrified?’

“Th-the, the, se-sealed laboratory… you mean?”

“Is there another laboratory besides that one?”

“Eek! M-My, my lady! Please spare me!”

“…Huh?”

“I-I was wrong! I-I-I won't make a mistake again… P-Please, please, anything but the laboratory! I-I'm begging you! P-Please forgive me just this once!”

‘W-What is this situation?’

I looked down at the maid, dumbfounded. She was clinging to my leg, even pressing her lips to my instep.

‘She seems to be afraid of the laboratory.’

I don't know what kind of research goes on there, but for an order to clean it to provoke this much fear, it can't be an ordinary place.

‘Is she raising a monster in there or something?’

I clicked my tongue at the useless thought.

‘How badly must she have treated people for them to react like this? The girl is having a complete meltdown.’

I could pretty much guess.

Unfortunately, it seems the personality of the body I've possessed is very… aristocratic.

Meaning arrogant, authoritarian, and completely self-centered.

Her pride in her bloodline must be sky-high, making her believe she alone is noble. Everyone else is insignificant.

‘Ugh, why did I have to possess a character like this!’

I moved to help the maid up, but then I hesitated.

From now on, I needed to act as much like Adrian as possible.

Because I have to hide my identity until the end to return to my original world.

Of course, they wouldn't immediately suspect I was someone else just because I acted a little differently from Adrian, but you never know.

It was better not to give that cunning, trash author any reason to find fault with me in the first place.

Instead of helping the maid up, I stepped back.

What would Adrian have done in this situation? I'm sure she wouldn't have comforted her.

“What are you dawdling for? Did you not hear my command?”

My actions were different from the directive, and my tone wasn't natural, but thankfully, there was no penalty.

‘So this counts as 50%? The judgment isn't too strict.’

“M-My lady, please, just this once, forgive me…”

Tears streamed from the maid's wide eyes.

I felt sorry for her, but it couldn't be helped. I'll just have her clean the laboratory for today. I can call her tonight and reinstate her.

[Step 3: Adrian took the laboratory key from the small drawer next to the bed and gave it to the maid.]

[Step 3: (With a cruel smirk) Try to last for fifteen days. Then I'll forgive you.]

‘…So one day won't do.’

Just as the directive said, two keys lay in the drawer by the bed. I took one and handed it to the maid.

“Try to last for fifteen days. Then I'll forgive you.”

The maid staggered to her feet, looking as though she had given up all hope.

“…I-I will… call… another maid for you.”

The maid bowed and left, and another one entered. She was a red-haired girl with cute freckles dotting the bridge of her nose.

“M-M-My lady, d-did you call for me?”

Her thin body was trembling pitifully.

She's so scared. The previous maid was at least calm when she first came in.

Adrian must have really terrorized her employees.

“I need to get ready. Prepare everything.”

“Yes, my lady.”

After my bath, maids were mobilized to dress me. For a whole two hours.

“My lady, we are finished.”

I stared blankly at the mirror.

Heavy smoky makeup. A perfectly coiffed updo without a single hair out of place.

A diamond hair ornament was nestled in my hair, and I wore a matching set of large diamond earrings.

The form-fitting black dress was embroidered with gold thread, elegant and beautiful, but even that was extraordinary.

‘It looks like a fan is attached to the back of my neck. Is it made of feathers?’

Everything I wore was without exception splendid and beautiful.

It was so luxurious that I could probably buy a house just by selling the diamonds on the hair ornament.

“Am I attending a party today or something?”

I asked, feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all. The maid, who stood with her head bowed, answered politely.

“Shall I ask the butler about your schedule?”

“…No.”

So this is how she dresses on a normal day.

‘If you look at each piece, it's really pretty. It's pretty, but… why do I look less like a duchess and more like a witch?’

They say the position makes the person. It's one thing to have the dignity befitting a duchess, but this was a bit much.

I look so wicked. Who would dare even speak to me?

I shook my head.

‘Over-the-top settings are a hallmark of a trash novel.’

Honestly, isn't the title terrible too?

. It's the same as Part 1.

‘Even after failing so spectacularly, there's no improvement.’

Judging by the title, the genre seems to be fantasy, similar to Part 1, with a plot where the protagonist becomes a saintess and defeats the Demon King.

And I'm the cold-hearted duchess who sponsors the protagonist.

‘Wait, so who is the saintess?’

This damn author! You should at least tell me who the protagonist is!

“Haaah…”

Damn it. I'll have to find the protagonist first.

***

Adrian's mansion was truly magnificent.

The interior was grand, the furniture elegant, and the decorations ornate.

It seemed this was Adrian's taste.

When I arrived at the dining room, attendants swung both doors wide open.

As I stepped inside, the child I had seen that morning was already seated.

“D-Duchess! Y-You've arrived?”

The child, who looked to be about four or five, shot up from her seat and bowed deeply.

Her pink hair, tied in pigtails, swayed back and forth.

‘Oh my, she's so cute with her hair tied up like that.’

I suppressed the urge to stomp my feet in delight and sat down.

“Sit.”

“Yes!”

As the child sat, the meal began to be served.

There were so many things I wanted to ask.

Did she sleep well last night? What kind of food did she like? But since I knew nothing about the child, I couldn't even open my mouth.

What was her relationship to me?

‘S-Surely she's not my daughter, right?’

Nah, no matter how messed up Adrian's personality was, she wouldn't have made her own daughter call her ‘Duchess.’

…Right?

‘If you're going to make me possess a character, at least give me some information on the people around her. You damn author.’

With no other choice, I just stared at the table until the child asked timidly.

“Um, Duchess?”

“Speak.”

“A-Are you not sick anymore?”

“…Was I sick?”

“I-I heard you saying you were s-s-sick a lot lately. L-Last time.”

“Ah…”

So that's why she came to my bedroom this morning. She was worried because I was sick.

‘What a good kid.’

The child really seemed to like Adrian.

Even though Adrian probably never treated her warmly.

“You…”

…are so kind-hearted. Before I could say it, a directive appeared.

[Step 1: (With a cold expression) Piache.]

‘Her name is Piache? Oh, how cu—’

[Step 2: (Sternly) Are you boasting about eavesdropping? Return to your bedroom at once and reflect on your actions.]

‘You crazy bastard, the kid has to eat breakfast! This is abuse!’