Chapter 6

It has been a week since I reincarnated as Grace.

"──Sigh, you've ruined my mood because of your slowness. How do you intend to take responsibility for this?"

As I kicked the table, Yana, who was sitting on the floor, trembled. A single tear rolled down her cheek.

"I-I'm very sorry...! Ugh..."

"What value is there in your apology? Never mind, I'll punish you. Everyone except Yana, leave the room."

I pushed my long bangs back, leaned against the chair, and let out a dramatic sigh.

Thanks to Yana and Evan, I feel like I'm really getting into the role of a villain. In fact, Yana's acting skills are so high that it gives off the vibe that I'm doing something really cruel.

Thanks to their efforts, the other servants are quaking in fear and confusion at Grace. However, Evan is making a gesture indicating 32 points behind them.

To think I only got 32 points despite all this. The real Grace, who could score a perfect score, must be terrifying. Still, it's a big improvement from the negatives.

After confirming that everyone except Yana and Evan had left, I extended my hand and helped her stand up.

"Thank you, I'm sorry. Your acting was so good that I felt guilty and almost apologized in the middle of it."

"Hehe, thank you. You did very well too, Miss. I'll start getting ready right away."

"Okay, thank you."

With that, we moved to the vanity. As soon as I sat down, Yana started tying my hair.

I'm gradually getting used to this life, but I still get confused by the differences in values and financial sense. The luxurious meals are delicious and make me happy, but I also miss simple, everyday meals.

By the way, I've told Yana that she has some memory loss, but I feel like we've become quite close.

"Miss Grace, how about this style?"

"It's so cute! Thank you, Yana."

"Yes, you look very beautiful today, Miss."

When I looked up, the mirror showed me with my hair tied up in a loose ponytail, ready to go out. Grace is so beautiful that I'm still surprised every time I look in the mirror.

I'm wearing a light violet, simple dress that Grace had previously told a maid to throw away, but the maid had left it in another room.

Wearing a bright red, frilly dress in the middle of the day would be too much, so I'm glad I have this one.

"Today, I'll protect you properly, so please enjoy yourself to the fullest."

"Thank you. You sound like a knight."

"I thought so too, it's pretty cool."

Yes, today I'm going to the city with Evan and Yana.

I've been wanting to go out of the mansion for a while, and my father gave me an allowance that made my eyes pop out, telling me to buy a new dress.

I think I have enough dresses, but as the greedy villain Grace, it's absolutely unacceptable to wear the same dress all the time.

So, we're planning to go to a dress shop first. My father has apparently already reserved a store from a designer who is one of the most popular in the country.

The most expensive thing I've ever bought in my life is a bicycle, so I'm incredibly nervous about how much I'll be spending today.

By the way, the currency of this country, "Mia," seems to be similar to Japanese yen, which is very easy to understand. On the other hand, the real numbers make me feel sick.

"Wow, so many people! Is it always this busy?"

"Tomorrow is the National Foundation Day, so people from all over the country are gathering in the capital. It's usually much quieter."

As the carriage swayed, I gazed out the window at the bustling streets of the capital. It felt like a stylish European town you'd see on TV.

There were many people, from adults to children, walking down the streets happily, and I couldn't help but smile. However, I had to keep a stern face after getting out of the carriage.

The dress shop we arrived at was in a prime location and exuded a sense of luxury from the outside.

"Miss Centsberry, we've been waiting for you."

"Yes."

Despite my nervousness, I entered, and a refined female clerk greeted me immediately.

As we were led down a corridor, a woman in a hurry came from the front and bumped into me as we passed.

"……!"

I thought Grace would be angry in such a situation, but the moment I saw the woman's face, I lost my words.

There was a noble lady who looked like a fairy, with silver hair as fine as silk that flowed down to her waist, exuding an ethereal and otherworldly beauty.

"Sorry, are you okay?"

Her honey-colored eyes, which looked at me with concern, sparkled like jewels. Her flawless features were so delicate that they seemed like a finely crafted doll.

Of course, Grace is also beautiful, but this girl is more like a beautiful young lady. Even I, who have no eye for such things, could tell that everything she was wearing was of very high quality.

"Oh, I have to hurry! I'm really sorry."

With that, the young lady rushed out of the store, followed by what seemed to be her maids.

"Hmm, she looks familiar..."

But if she were a main character, I would recognize her from the illustrations, so it must be my imagination. I followed the clerk down the corridor again.

After that, I spent hours buying a large number of dresses and placing even more custom orders. I was so exhausted that I wanted to collapse right then and there. Still, I was told that I had bought far fewer dresses than the original Grace, which made me feel dizzy.

"I only have one body... This is strange..."

I had dreamed of being able to shop as much as I wanted without worrying about money. However, the feeling of using such a large amount of money, which I was not used to, was much scarier than I had imagined.

I understand that it's not a big deal for a marquis family, but I still can't settle down.

I don't want to get used to this feeling, I thought as I looked at the pile of dresses and sighed.

◇◇◇

"Done it! It's so cute...!"

In front of me, a small clay figure, resembling a Haniwa, was walking around. It was very cute.

"To be able to use it this well on what's practically your first try is abnormal. You're a pervert."

"Was there no other way to compliment me?"

After returning to the mansion, I had been practicing magic with Evan in the backyard. Actually, I've been doing this every day for a few days now.

In this world, magic exists, and about 30% of the population can use it. It's especially common among nobles.

Grace is one of them, and among the four elements of fire, water, wind, and earth, as well as the rare elements of light and darkness, Grace is a user of earth magic, which is contrary to her appearance and personality.

She apparently didn't like using it because she thought it would make her look less beautiful, despite having a large amount of magical power.

"Such a powerful magic... Good job."

The clay figure I created with my magic moves as I imagine it to while I concentrate.

When I patted the head of the Haniwa, which bowed politely, Evan muttered, "That's so cool."

I've always been fascinated by magic, and since Grace had a talent for it, I can easily do many things and find it enjoyable.

I'm thinking of using this magic to grow crops after my role as a stage prop ends in a year.

"In your case, it should be fine, but running out of magical power can be life-threatening. Let's take a break, shall we?"

"Sure, thank you."

We decided to take a break and sat down on a nearby bench. Yana immediately brought us cold drinks, and it was really considerate.

We were talking about our trip earlier when I suddenly remembered the young lady.

"By the way, the girl I bumped into at the dress shop was really cute. She looked like a real princess."

"She's the daughter of the Winslett Duke."

"Really? The Winslett family... Wait, what?"

I jumped up and looked at Evan.

"Zain Winslett's sister, right!?"

"Yes, that's right. Her name is Mariabel."

Evan said this matter-of-factly, but I could feel my heart beating faster.

– Mariabel Winslett. She is Zain's sister who dies before the story of the novel begins.

Although there was no illustration of her, I felt like I had seen her before because she resembled Zain.

The two, who had lost their parents, cherished each other as their only remaining family. However, one day, Mariabel was kidnapped by a man who harbored an irrational grudge against the Winslett family.

After a desperate search, Zain found her mutilated body in the middle of the night in a remote mountain. This event shattered Zain's heart, and Grace took advantage of his broken state to start the story.

It was just a few lines in the novel, but thinking that the girl I met earlier would go through such a fate made me shiver.

"......But she's still alive."

I clenched my hand tightly and tried to recall the memory.

The beginning of the novel was next month, when Grace and Zain met at a royal ball. The king had summoned Zain, who had just lost his sister, to the ball.

Zain's past up to that point was only revealed in flashback scenes. Surely, there wasn't much time left before Mariabel was kidnapped.

"I think Zain was away from the capital... Why was he away... Oh, right, he had a mission..."

"Miss? Is something wrong?"

"Oh, the National Foundation Day! He's going to welcome the ambassador from the neighboring country."

Zain, known as the kingdom's strongest knight, was going to welcome the ambassador from the neighboring country on the eve of the National Foundation Day, leaving the capital. The culprit would take advantage of this opportunity.

"Tomorrow is the National Foundation Day, so people from all over the country are gathering in the capital."

In other words, Mariabel will be killed –

"......Tonight."