The contract was signed without any issues.
“It was a pleasure doing business with you.”
“A fine deal indeed.”
After shaking Rodi’s hand, Noien returned to the carriage.
“Rodi.”
Having seen his father off first, Yubar called out to Rodi as she stared blankly at the mansion’s garden.
“Yubar?”
She turned her head in surprise.
“I thought you went back with Mr. Noien.”
“No. Um… there was something I wanted to tell you.”
“Tell me?”
Rodi tilted her head.
“Was there an issue with the contract?”
“No, it’s about you.”
“Me? What about me?”
“The truth is…”
After a moment of hesitation, Yubar’s expression hardened with resolve.
“I believe I have misunderstood you.”
He added formally,
“I apologize for my past rudeness.”
Rodi’s eyes widened at the sudden words.
“Uh, no, it’s fine…”
To think she would receive an apology like this from the haughty Yubar.
“I only did it because it benefited me, too.”
“Even so, had it not been for you, I would have never learned of my mother’s final wish. Nor the fact that my father has been so dreadfully lonely.”
Yubar offered a gentle smile.
“Thank you, truly.”
“…”
Rodi stared dumbly at his handsome smile. A handsome man’s smile really was harmful in so many ways.
“Well… it was a mutually beneficial deal, so there’s really no need to apologize. Besides, you didn’t like me much anyway, so don’t push yourself.”
“There’s something I need to say regarding that as well.”
Yubar abruptly added,
“I do not dislike you.”
Rodi nearly hiccuped.
“Uh… what?”
Yet the person who had just dropped this bombshell looked entirely composed.
“To be precise, I used to dislike you… but I suppose I should say that I no longer do.”
“What?”
Rodi’s eyes darted around frantically.
This was utterly astonishing.
To hear from Yubar’s own mouth that he did not dislike her.
‘Considering the original game’s relationship, this makes no sense at all.’
In Yubar’s original route, Rodi had been hanged.
‘I thought it would be nearly impossible to change the tightly woven relationships between the original characters.’
Rodi looked at him.
“Yubar.”
“Yes.”
“Did you stay behind just to tell me that?”
“…That’s right. And also.”
“And also?”
Hesitating slightly, Yubar quickly blurted out,
“Well… right now, I don’t particularly wish for your misfortune.”
“…”
Her eyes round with shock, Rodi stared at Yubar’s slightly flushed face.
“So, d-don’t go thinking that everyone wishes for you to be unhappy! That was all I wanted to say.”
“Ahahaha…”
At her crystal-clear laugh, Yubar, who had been staring at the ground, raised his head.
“…”
Rodi was laughing purely, the corners of her eyes crinkling like a young girl’s.
It was a side of her he had never seen before.
‘She can smile like that, too.’
Honestly speaking, seeing her smile was quite cute… Damn it, what on earth was he thinking?
Unaware of Yubar’s inner turmoil, Rodi asked,
“You’re comforting me, aren’t you?”
He didn’t deny it.
“Thank you, Yubar.”
“…”
“You have no idea how much comfort it brings to hear that you don’t dislike me.”
Her past life had been a nonstop sprint, looking only forward for the sake of her parents.
Until now, no one had ever offered Rodi comfort.
Comfort had always been an unaffordable luxury.
And yet, Yubar, one of the characters from Utopia, had just said he didn’t dislike her.
“I’m really happy.”
Listening to her, Yubar asked softly,
“Truly?”
“Huh?”
He grumbled with a slightly sulky tone,
“In truth, haven’t you been largely indifferent toward me?”
“That’s a misunderstanding.”
Flustered, Rodi looked at him.
“I’m very interested in you, actually.”
She was entirely sincere.
There wasn’t a single character in Utopia she wasn’t interested in.
‘Because it’s my absolute favorite game!’
“…!”
At her reply, Yubar’s face flushed red once more.
“To say something that can be so easily misunderstood…”
Watching his reaction, Rodi fell into deep thought.
‘What could Yubar be thinking to say something like this?’
It seemed this incident had made him look upon her favorably.
Rodi glanced at him tentatively.
‘Could we become a bit closer?’
If possible, she wanted to become friends. Yubar was a wonderful character, after all.
“Yubar.”
Rodi tentatively held out a hand.
“If it’s all right with you…”
Even as she parted her lips, she hesitated.
“Shall we be friends?”
Yubar’s eyes went wide.
“Friends… you say?”
Rodi hurriedly made an excuse.
“If you don’t want to, you don’t have to force yourself. I just felt that after this, we might be able to get along a bit better.”
“No, no, it’s not that I don’t want to. It’s just…”
Trailing off in hesitation, he soon put on a resolute expression.
“I, too, felt that I understood you a little better, so I was having similar thoughts.”
He took her hand.
“Thinking that we might become closer.”
His hand was large and warm. The warmth of their clasped hands brought a peculiar sense of relief to Rodi.
It was the first time she had felt the warmth of another person in this world.
‘Possessing the body of a despised villainess… I thought it would be utterly impossible to become close with anyone.’
“Thank you, Yubar.”
Rodi broke into a bright smile.
“This is the first time I’ve ever made a friend.”
“…!”
For some reason, Yubar averted his gaze before replying,
“I-I see.”
Releasing his hand, Rodi took a step back and stretched.
“Mmm… I sold the house, and now this. Today has been full of good things.”
Yubar looked at her candid, unvarnished manner with fascination.
“It would have been wonderful if you had approached people with such an honest attitude in the past.”
Rodi chuckled briefly.
“That was impossible.”
“Why is that?”
“Back then, I hated everyone in this world so, so much that I couldn’t control my feelings.”
“…Is that why you tormented Lady Simone like that as well?”
With a somewhat conflicted expression, Yubar added,
“If it’s now… you might even be able to reconcile with Lady Simone.”
“I’d rather not.”
“Why?”
Rodi put on a mischievous grin.
“Because I’m…”
Before they knew it, the crimson light of the setting sun bathed her cheeks.
“…the villainess, Rodi!”
Flipping her deep purple hair over her shoulder, Rodi laughed triumphantly.
“I will never change.”
“…”
Yubar stared at her intently.
‘A woman declaring such wicked words with utter composure while bathed in the sunset.’
Normally, he would have snorted in derision and ignored it.
‘Why?’
Yubar pressed a hand firmly against his strangely fluttering chest.
Perhaps he had lost his mind, but Rodi’s triumphant laughter looked quite lovely to him.
✦ ✦ ✦
A few days later.
Rodi casually drew lines of paint over the sign in front of her house.
FOR SALE X → SOLD!
Passing villagers who spotted the sign widened their eyes in shock.
“That house was sold?”
“Just who bought it?”
“No, that’s not the problem! Five thousand gold went straight into that woman’s hands…”
Someone gulped and spoke,
“Doesn’t that mean that vile villainess has become filthy rich?!”
Amid the murmuring villagers, the purple-haired woman strode out with confidence.
Right before everyone’s eyes, as if putting on a show, she stood beside an immaculate carriage.
Handing a silver coin to the coachman, Rodi smiled.
“A safe journey to the capital, please.”
Receiving the silver coin, the coachman grinned from ear to ear.
“Yes, you can count on me!”
Humming a tune, Rodi boarded the carriage and looked out at the passing scenery.
‘All right.’
The carriage rolled smoothly without a shudder.
‘It starts now.’
It was a world apart from the rickety carriage she had ridden when she first arrived here.
Her eyes sparkled as she gazed out the window.
‘I’m going to the capital to live a new life!’
…And so began the journey of Rodi, who would one day become the wealthiest woman in the empire.
