Chapter 3

Well, it's all fine and dandy to claim you're the greatest villainess in history...

On a particularly pleasant afternoon in the courtyard, clear as a bell, I'm lying in ambush from the shadows of the shrubs, keeping an eye on my targets.

According to the "Hunter's Guide: Beginner's Edition" I read the other day, it says, "An ambush is to lie in wait for the enemy, to hide in the bushes or among the trees." So, I'm pretty sure I'm ambushing them. I followed His Highness Rihito as he walked briskly somewhere...!

Perhaps the "Hunter's Guide: Beginner's Edition" is paying off, as I've managed to get this far without being discovered. I'm glad I read the beginner's edition. Basics are important. If I return safely, I'll move on to the "Challenge Edition"... No, no, I need to focus on the target in front of me now.

--Crouching low, I visually lock onto the target from behind the leaves.

I've spotted two targets in the direction of the fountain.

Things are going smoothly!

Target One, His Highness Rihito, and Target Two, the young lady, are sitting in front of the fountain, chatting happily. I can't hear what they're saying because of the sound of the fountain's splashing water...

However, His Highness Rihito seems more relaxed and talkative than usual. The young lady, Baroness Sonia, has a rosy flush and is smiling happily.

--Now, the problem starts here.

I ended up following His Highness Rihito without thinking, but what should I do now?

With fewer people around, isn't this the perfect timing and location for my first "greeting" as the villainess?

Usually, there are many other high-ranking noble children around both His Highness and me. If I were to "greet" Sonia in such a situation, it would be like leaving a fawn in the den of hungry beasts. In my mind, the fawn looked at me with teary eyes. Don't worry, I won't leave you behind, little fawn!

Now. Now is the only time. Let's do it.

How should I make my entrance? Should I boldly step in front of them and say, "Oh, Your Highness, who is this?" to assert my overwhelming presence?

Or should I pretend not to see Sonia and say something like, "Oh, you're here? I'm the fiancée of His Highness, is there something you need?" to subtly convey that you don't even exist in my world, in a gradually sinister and nasty way?

In the story I read the other day, the villainess deliberately pushed the heroine into the fountain and said, "Oh dear, are you alright? You might catch a cold. It's best to go home before you get sick," to rudely interrupt the hero's time. But... pushing someone into the fountain is a bit too much, isn't it?! Even though the weather is nice, it's still chilly. She might catch a cold, and most importantly, it's not beautiful. Such a deed would go against the aesthetics of evil!

"–What should I do to be the greatest villainess in history..."

"What's a 'greatest villainess'?"

"What do you mean...?"

Turning around at the voice that sounded like a partner in hiding, I found myself face-to-face with—

The Crown Prince, who has the beautiful golden hair characteristic of the royal family, and sky-blue eyes that sparkle like gemstones, and who looks a lot like His Highness Rihito—no, His Highness Rihito resembles him—His Highness Rihito's older brother.

"Ah!"

"Rose, it's been a while. Are you playing hide-and-seek now?"

The Crown Prince's beautiful voice was low and whispered in my ear.

–It was a scream of joy. If I weren't the overwhelming, flawless, superlative, and overwhelming villainess, I would have fainted. Being a villain is... quite... a lot...! Even in the presence of a god-like beauty!

"Excuse me! It's been a while, Your Highness."

"Ha ha, stop it. Don't you call me 'Richard-ni-sama' anymore?"

The Crown Prince, known as "Richard-ni-sama," smiled brightly. He is the same age as my brother, eighteen, and we used to play together with His Highness Rihito.

–But that was when we were children.

Those days of close friendship are long gone. I have grown up and am now the future princess, training every day to become a proper lady. No matter how well we got along in the past, things are different now. Our positions, everything.

"–Your Highness is still Your Highness."

"Yes... Rose is no longer a 'little lady,' is she?"

"Yes, I am a proper lady now."

"Right. So, what is this proper lady doing here? Watching... ah, that?"

You are quite perceptive, Your Highness.

The Crown Prince glanced at the targets with a piercing gaze. His profile looked very cold, quite different from the bright and proper prince "Richard-ni-sama" in my memories.

"Ah!"

"–Were you hiding and crying, Rose?"

His voice was very stern, and even though I wasn't being scolded, I felt like crying.

"No, no! I wasn't crying! I was observing the target!"

Frightened by the terrifying expression of the Crown Prince, I confessed everything. It was pitiful for a villainess, but I think it was a wise decision. Better to be smart than to be cut down in the middle of my mission. Yes.

*

"I see... So, Rose, as a villainess, you want to support them?"

"Yes..."

The Crown Prince folded his arms and pondered something. The sunlight filtered through the trees, and the handsome prince looked melancholic. Despite being here to monitor his brother's infidelity, the scene was picturesque, perhaps because the Crown Prince is a beauty blessed by the gods.

"–So, Rose, you have no regrets? You can give up on Rihito?"

Unconsciously drawn to the Crown Prince's sky-blue eyes, which had been lowered, they slowly lifted and looked into mine, as if peering into my soul. Under his gaze, the doubts and hesitations that had lingered in my heart until now were resolved.

"...I have decided. I will make them... I will make His Highness Rihito happy, and become the greatest villainess in history."

The Crown Prince's gaze seemed to scrutinize my words and my heart, searching for any lies or doubts. I met his gaze without flinching.

A gentle breeze blew between us.

The Crown Prince's golden hair shimmered in the dappled sunlight, and the scene brought back a distant memory. The breeze ruffled my nearly white silver hair, breaking my gaze.

After tucking the fallen hair behind my ear and returning my gaze to the Crown Prince, I found that he was no longer the "bright Crown Prince" from before.

"–Hmm. Interesting. Then, can I join your plan?"

The Crown Prince smiled, and he was far more of a "villain" than I was.