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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: A New Resolve
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Kaysen knew that the moment he spoke, something significant would happen.
*This is troublesome.*
It seemed Darcy's eyes had gone mad.
Kaysen took a deep breath and chose his words carefully.
“Please tell me what you wish to hear.”
Darcy, who instantly saw through Kaysen's attempt to evade the question, wiped the muzzle of his gun on the edge of his cloak.
“You should know better than anyone.”
“…You are being deceived.”
“Weren't you the one who kept insulting her, all while comforting yourself by claiming you were being deceived?”
Darcy, having decided to stay here for a while, had scraped together all the rumors about Marso that he had previously ignored.
Kaysen was also one of the sources in his information network.
The rumors about Marso were varied. But not a single one was good.
*'They say she changed about a year ago, as if she became a different person.'*
There was no one who wanted to know the Marso he had seen.
The stereotypes were so powerful that he could understand why she would want to lock herself away. No one tried to see the truth.
But Darcy knew very well that a person cannot live alone.
*'Humans are social animals, after all.'*
It was clear who had driven Marso to this state.
Ryan was the main culprit, but Kaysen was not excluded.
After dragging a person's life through the mud, they had only one excuse.
Because she deserved it.
“What makes you so special that you get to judge another person?”
“Just as a person…”
“While you only see what you want to see, not even realizing that she has changed.”
Most of the rumors said that Ryan and Kaysen had punished Marso for trying to harm Reshuan.
But if you heard what Marso had done before their "heroics," the word "punishment" was an exaggeration.
It was just that the rumors of Marso being a villain justified everything.
Prejudice prevented sound judgment of the situation. Ryan and Kaysen's love for Reshuan ultimately became harmful.
As expected, love was not something to be trusted.
Facing Kaysen, Darcy gave a cynical smile.
“At least you have the shame not to make excuses. Is that it?”
“…Sir Darcy. That’s—”
“You’re not going to spout the same bullshit as Ryan, claiming she deserved what she got, are you?”
At those words, Kaysen was left speechless.
“Because then I'd have to beat you half to death, too.”
The expressionless face that continued speaking was rather chilling.
“Speak quickly. I'm already short on time if I want to prepare for tomorrow.”
Finally, Kaysen's mouth opened.
“…Well.”
And at the same time, Darcy began to shatter Kaysen's prejudices, one by one.
…along with a bit of force.
It didn't matter that Kaysen was a renowned Captain of the Knights. Before Darcy, all he could do was nod his head.
***
Darcy left after saying he would return in a week, giving me homework.
He said he wouldn't leave until I was happy. So he added that I should find a way to become happy.
It was a difficult task. How could one even define happiness?
“…It's not so bad right now.”
Though this self-confinement began because I was tired of everything, I didn't mind my current life.
It wasn't that I was incredibly happy, and although this situation didn't start by my own will…
Don't they say humans are creatures of adaptation? Honestly, it was a relief not to have to see the faces of Reshuan, Ryan, and Kaysen. Since I wasn't going out, I didn't have to worry about arousing needless suspicion, which was comfortable.
I told Darcy that I was fine with my current situation.
*'Marso, a person can't live alone.'*
There was a bite to his words, spoken with a slight glare.
I couldn't retort, "How would you know?" because I suspected he had been locked away alone in that abandoned palace.
The reason he found a way to use magic in a palace where it was forbidden couldn't have been just to escape.
Perhaps he had been frustrated by a life where he couldn't even have a proper conversation with others.
*'And you're just taking a break because the situation is exhausting. Nothing has actually been resolved.'*
And he hit a nerve.
The confinement began of my own will, but that will was born from Ryan and Kaysen's schemes against me.
*'I'll become the Crown Prince and support you, so do whatever you want.'*
Darcy's tone was full of confidence, even though he hadn't even secured the title of Prince yet.
So much so that you couldn't help but believe him.
It was the kind of composure that could only come from believing in oneself.
Perhaps that's why I started remembering the things I'd wanted to do after shedding this image when I first found myself in this body.
Thanks to Darcy, I feel like some of the faith in humanity I'd thrown away is returning.
When I found out not long ago that even Leticia was one of Ryan's lackeys, I was truly disillusioned with the world, but being with him made it all feel like it never happened.
Having someone you can trust seems to be reassuring in itself.
Since these were Darcy's words, I had no intention of taking them lightly. Staying here couldn't have been an easy choice for him, so I wanted to show just as much sincerity.
I recalled my memories from when I first became Marso.
*'What was it I wanted to do?'*
Since I had money, I wanted to travel after becoming good friends with Reshuan, I wanted to learn magic, and I wanted to start a business.
Because I had the financial power to achieve such things.
However, when I first arrived here, I focused on setting everything right. Back then, I was even confident I could change the plot of the original story.
*'At least that time wasn't for nothing.'*
I was hurt during that time, but I definitely became stronger.
Right, I can't stay cooped up at home forever. I won't be tired for the rest of my life.
Once my current wounds heal and I have a bit more energy, I'll surely run into Ryan again. Same with Reshuan.
*'Even without Darcy, this was a problem I would have had to face someday.'*
While Darcy is a Prince, I'll certainly feel secure.
So, I'll do what I want to do.
What exactly is that?
After pondering, I came to a clear answer.
*'I want revenge on Ryan.'*
Even if it's not some grand, bloody revenge like the heroines in books, I wanted to create a situation that would make Ryan sick with envy.
In other words, I want to be so successful it becomes an eyesore to him.
Ryan said he couldn't even stand the sight of me. The feeling was mutual. He was no longer the male lead, just a fool in love.
What's the most effective way to screw him over?
First would be to go back on my word. To go outside, contrary to my declaration that I would stay locked up at home.
It's not actually my fault.
I intended to stay cooped up in the house. It was Ryan who provoked me.
*'I knew you'd do that.'*
Despite this, I could vividly hear Ryan's mocking voice. He was the type of person who would do that and more.
But now, my thoughts were different.
If I get on his nerves, I'll live up to his expectations and become even more annoying.
*'I can't let it end here.'*
I thought of the Magic Tools.
The Magic Tools, whose image only improved after Reshuan and Ryan used them in the original story, were like an unwon lottery ticket.
The potential they held was truly endless, and the fact that no one was interested in them yet was another advantage.
I originally intended to use them only for myself, but popularizing them by collaborating with mages didn't seem like a bad idea.
Things might go badly in the beginning.
It would be difficult to persuade the mages who are reluctant to make Magic Tools, and it wouldn't be easy to quell the bad rumors about them either.
But I had already seen people use Magic Tools without any resistance.
The members of the theater troupe used Magic Tools to monitor their acting, and this drew people's attention.
People outside might not know their secret, but it was clear that the source of that secret was my family, the House of Etoile.
Once their usefulness becomes known, it would only be a matter of time before they gained popularity.
Being able to record a moment in time as it is is a very romantic and mysterious thing. There was no way the people here wouldn't feel the same way I did in the modern era where videos were commonplace.
*'The stage is perfectly set.'*
Pitol's ambitious play preparations were picking up speed. Soon, the curtain would rise on the play, polished from the draft he had shown me.
I had no doubt that this play would be a success.
A spicy drama covering the hidden birth secrets of the male and female leads, adultery, a love triangle—no, a love square—would be more than enough to captivate the audience.
It was a chance to bring a breath of fresh air to the nobles who were used to the mild fare here.
*'Perfect.'*
I can't openly showcase the Magic Tools this time. Because countermeasures for it haven't been prepared yet.
It would be wrong of me to ask Darcy, who will be busy as a Prince, to keep helping me make Magic Tools.
I can't trust Leticia anymore either… I had to find mages who would make Magic Tools for me, using only my own strength.
*'What kind of people are they?'*
Mages tend to have strong pride.
Having been ostracized by people, the only thing they could believe in was their own power.
A pride in being different from ordinary people.
*'Let's not overthink it before I meet them.'*
I should be wary of rumors, but since I've never met any mages other than Darcy, it was too early to judge.
*'Since they're mages like Darcy, I don't want to judge them based on rumors alone.'*
This was especially true because I, too, had suffered from rumors and prejudice while trapped in the frame of a villainess.
Okay, I can do this.
Just the fact that Darcy is helping me seems to fill me with strength. Because when we're together, he's a reliable ally.
How long had it been since I felt happy just thinking about what I could do?
I organized my thoughts on what to discuss with Darcy when he came next week, and called for a maid.
It was to fire Leticia.
