Rodi stole a glance at Likens.
His expression remained as unreadable as ever, giving nothing away, but Rodi—having played the game—could read him plain as day.
Likens was on the verge of murderous fury at his subordinate's sheer stupidity.
It was the profound, suffocating irritation of realizing he had harbored such an incompetent fool in his ranks all this time.
Step.
Step.
With every pace the commander drew closer, the face of the knight who had dared blurt out that nonsense turned a sickly shade of yellow.
“E-Eek…!”
Likens halted before his subordinate and slowly lifted a hand.
‘Is he… going to hit him?’
The moment everyone except Rodi held their breath in dread, his hand swept forward in a blur.
Rip—
Likens tore the knightly insignia straight from the man's chest.
“You are unfit to remain in the knighthood.”
Clenching the insignia tightly in his fist, he added,
“You are dismissed.”
“…!”
The subordinate's face drained with horror.
It was only natural.
Expulsion from the order was a catastrophic disgrace in high society.
“C-Commander!”
Likens cut him off ruthlessly.
“From this moment on, you have forfeited the right to call me your commander. Return to your estate.”
The disgraced man hung his head, dazed and hollowed out.
A stifling gloom instantly settled over the alley.
Rodi, on the other hand, reacted quite differently.
Clap, clap, clap, clap.
She gave a slow, deliberate round of applause.
Everyone present, Likens included, turned to gawk at her in utter disbelief.
“What are you all looking at?”
Rodi offered a bright smile.
“Did you honestly expect me, a ‘wicked villainess,’ to weep with pity?”
Serves you right.
She meant every single letter of it.
“That took a weight off my chest. My thanks, Lord Magzeta.”
“You vicious little…!”
The freshly expelled knight flared up in outrage, but Rodi merely let out an ostentatious snort.
Even Likens seemed exasperated as he replied,
“I did not act on your behalf.”
Rodi gave an airy shrug.
“Nor did I ever imagine you took my side. I simply happen to be immensely pleased with the outcome.”
Likens studied her with an inscrutable gaze.
“…You never change.”
“Why on earth should I?”
Rodi let out a short laugh.
“Did you imagine being cast out of my family would magically make me a good person?”
Perhaps, after possessing a villainess, playing the part of a repentant soul would have been the far safer path.
Yet she was Yunseo and she was Rodi, and she had no intention whatsoever of playing nice.
‘I’ve already received more than enough love as a good daughter to my parents.’
‘Everything we do is out of love for you.’
‘We sacrificed everything for your sake!’
‘We cherish you this much, so why can’t you even get a simple thing like this right?’
Ruthless violence, repeated endlessly under the guise of ‘love.’
That was the only love Yunseo had ever known in her life.
‘If being good means acting like a sweet piece of candy rolling around in someone else’s mouth,’
and if becoming that docile doll was the only way to earn affection,
‘if that is what passes for true love,’
she wanted no part of it.
She would remain a villainess to the end.
“I,”
Rodi swept her long violet hair behind her shoulder, flashing a radiant grin,
“will never be a good person.”
Likens conceded without argument.
“…That sounds like you.”
As if he truly understood her.
“Well, since the entertainment seems to be over, may I take my leave?”
“…”
The knights remained silent. Now that any pretense for cornering her was gone, they had nothing left to say.
“Wait, please.”
Just then, Simone, who had stayed quiet throughout, stepped forward.
“Lady Evant, may I see that jewelry box you’re holding for a moment?”
Rodi gave an irritated retort.
“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t address me by that family name in the future, Dame Gretia.”
Simone flustered and corrected herself.
“Then… Miss Rodi. Would you allow me to look at the jewelry box for just a second?”
“I refuse.”
“Why not?”
Confronted by her baffled question, Rodi put on an equally baffled face.
“Do I have any obligation to display my belongings to you?”
“Well, but…”
Simone hesitated, her eyes fixed upon the blue-green jewelry box.
“It looks very much like one that an acquaintance of mine has been searching for.”
Only then did Rodi realize what she meant.
‘Right, Simone heard about this box from Yubar.’
“Is there, by any chance, writing carved onto the bottom?”
“There is indeed an inscription.”
Simone’s face brightened instantly.
“I knew it… We might be able to return it to its rightful owner!”
“No, its rightful owner right now is me.”
Rodi added in a firm, unyielding tone,
“And I have no intention of showing or handing this box over to anyone else.”
“Miss Rodi, the true owner is desperately searching for it even now.”
“And that, frankly, is none of my concern.”
“Don’t you think you ought to return it for that poor soul’s sake?”
“I will do as I please with my own property.”
Simone cast a faint look of reproach her way.
“As ever… you refuse to show any sympathy for the sorrow of others…”
Rodi was dumbfounded by the remark.
‘I bought this with my own hard-earned money; why on earth should I be lectured for it?’
Granted, she did intend to pass the box along to Yubar eventually.
But that would happen on her own terms, not at Simone’s patronizing behest.
Beside them, Simone’s admirers began to mutter.
“How hard could it be to part with one old, worn-out trinket box…?”
“Would it kill her to give it back when there’s a real owner waiting?”
Rodi felt a tick of irritation.
Did these fools completely lack the concept of private property?
“If you want my property so badly, pay a fair price for it, Dame Gretia.”
“Very well.”
Simone’s expression cleared a little.
“Then I shall purchase it from you! How much do you want?”
The corner of Rodi’s mouth curved upward.
“Five thousand gold.”
“…!”
A chorus of indignation erupted from all sides at once.
“Y-You swindler!”
“For a shabby antique like that…!”
Rodi gave an unapologetic shrug.
“You’re more than welcome to decline if you don’t like the price.”
She had named that sum precisely because she had no desire to sell.
She offered a light smirk.
“Well? Are you buying, Dame Gretia?”
Simone slowly shook her head.
“No… I do not possess such a vast sum.”
“Splendid. The deal is off, then.”
Simone spoke again, her voice laced with pleading sympathy.
“Miss Rodi, please think this through. There is someone who yearns for that box with all their heart. Don't you believe returning it is the right thing to do?”
“…”
“Try opening your heart to a little mercy and kindness. If you do, everyone here—and the whole world beyond—will begin to see you in a different ligh—”
“I made myself quite clear just now.”
Rodi cut her off flatly.
“I have no intention of changing.”
Simone’s shallow attempt to coax her into begging for public affection was nothing short of laughable.
“I couldn’t care less how others see me. Nor do I need anyone’s love.”
Rodi smiled sweetly.
“Being myself is more than enough for me.”
“B-But—!”
“Enough.”
An unexpected voice severed Simone’s words.
“That is enough, Dame Gretia.”
It was Likens.
“C-Commander…”
“It is unbefitting a knight’s honor to persistently covet another’s belongings.”
“…”
“Whatever your reasons, if you wish to possess another person's property, pay the price for it. If you cannot, give it up.”
He was entirely correct.
At this point, Simone was acting no different from a spoiled child throwing a tantrum for a toy she had no right to demand.
“…Understood.”
Simone nodded dejectedly.
‘Is it finally over?’
Rodi cast one last look at the heroine and turned around to leave.
A pitiful voice called out from behind her back.
“Miss Rodi, will you promise me just one thing? I will buy that jewelry box no matter what. So please… don’t give it to anyone else.”
‘She still hasn’t given up?’
Rodi shot back without missing a beat.
“I don’t want to.”
