Volume 1 Chapter 2 Mean Villainess, Attending The Entrance Ceremony
"Ugh, I don't want to. Who's going to take care of my needs if Rolus isn't around?"
I don't want to carry heavy bags.
I don't want to think about managing my schedule.
I don't want to prepare for classes or lunch by myself.
After all, I'm a spoiled and mean noble Count's daughter, right?
Originally, I planned to go to the academy alone, but after I threw a fit, Rolus ended up coming with me.
Unfortunately, we couldn't attend together, but it was possible for him to come as my attendant.
I had given up since Rolus himself said he couldn't attend the academy, but when I mentioned it to Leve, he told me that there were waiting rooms for attendants and maids at the academy.
Since such a room exists, I had to take advantage of it, and that's how I ended up complaining.
"I'm relieved that Rolus is coming with me. Thank you for telling me about the Attendant Waiting Room, Leve."
"You're welcome. Now you won't be lonely when your school life starts."
Leve smiled brightly.
"Oh dear, I'm not bringing you along because I'm lonely, you know?"
After all, the servant is there to take care of me, and no matter how many excuses I make, Leve's knowing smile never faded.
It's not like I'm lonely without Rolus.
I just can't make mean judgments.
"Come on, let's play a card game instead. Rolus, sit down quickly."
That's right.
I didn't invite Leve over just to report and thank him.
The main point is this card game.
It's similar to what we call playing cards in Japan, and what we're about to play is a game called Old Maid.
"...Do I have to play too?"
"It's just to make up the numbers. Three people are more fun than 2, right? Leve, you don't mind if Rolus joins, do you?"
"Of course not."
Until the start of school life, the three of us had become a close-knit group who would play card games whenever we had free time.
I heard there are board games at the school, so once we start attending, we've promised to try those out too.
After Leve left, I checked on my mother, and she was in a good mood, smiling happily.
So, I figured everything was fine for now.
I've never played an otome game, so I have no idea what's right or wrong in them.
That's why I sometimes watch my mom's reactions to figure things out.
Now, I'm thinking maybe I should've tried an otome game after all, but it's too late for that.
It's not that I wasn't interested in good-looking guys from 2D games.
The action games I loved had a lot of handsome characters too.
And, of course, I had my favorite ones.
The thing is, I got so absorbed in action, RPGs, and puzzles that I never had the time for otome games.
But, I guess it might be fun to jump into something completely new without knowing what to expect.
For now, I'm just trying to convince myself that it's all part of the adventure.
"Alright, let's go, Servant."
So, today's the day of the entrance ceremony.
Just as I was about to leave with Servant in tow, Mother caught me.
"Elena, do you have everything you need?"
"Yes, I'm fine, Mother."
"There will be many wonderful people at the academy. Your future, and the future of our Count family, may depend on it. So make sure to build good connections."
"Yes, Mother. I'm off now."
What does she mean by the future of this house? What burden have I been given? I was internally panicking, but it seems I wasn't actually carrying any burden.
This is because Mother quietly murmured, "To interfere with the heroine, you need to get along with everyone to some extent," in Japanese, of course.
If she was going to say that, she might as well have mentioned how many targets there are.
But she didn't.
So, I have to figure that out myself by observing the people around me.
However, according to the stories Mother used to tell like a tale, the heroine is supposed to transfer in a few years, so I won't encounter her today.
So for now, I should just pretend to be a bit mean while getting along with the handsome boys.
Right now, I'm 10 years old, so no one is going to expect me to have a boyfriend just yet.
At least, I hope not.
"Please."
At the entrance of the carriage, Rolus extends his hand.
Even though the school isn't that far, it seems they decided to send a carriage for me.
"Thank you. Servant, sit next to me."
"Yes."
Taking his outstretched hand, I climbed into the carriage.
I had to give him the instruction to sit beside me quickly, or he might end up sitting at my feet.
That would definitely hurt my backside.
To protect Rolus's behind, I needed to act fast.
Over the past few years, Rolus has grown into a very obedient Servant.
Not just as a Servant, but as a person too.
When he first became my Servant, he couldn't even read or write, but after I made him a study set, he studied hard and now he's perfect.
The reason I made him study was that I had gotten some interesting books and wanted to read them together, but he said he couldn't read.
If he could read, we could share our thoughts about the stories, so I created the study set for him.
Also, he used to be as skinny as a twig, but now he has a good amount of meat on him.
This was probably due to the excessive snacks and late-night meals I forced on him, along with the stretching exercises we did together.
I just didn't want to gain weight myself.
After all, it would be awful if an otome game character was chubby.
I wouldn't like that.
"...I'm a little nervous."
"Is that so?"
This is one area where he hasn't really grown much; he still hardly speaks.
Unless I talk to him, he stays quiet unless there's something to report.
Sometimes I wonder if he actually dislikes me.
But then again, since I treat him like a Servant, it wouldn't be surprising if he did.
"But I'm also looking forward to it."
"Is that so?"
I'm a bit nervous because I don't know what the academy will be like, but there are many things I'm looking forward to.
Like the board games I promised Leve, and reading books in the library.
But more than anything, I'm excited about the magic classes.
In this world, there is magic, and everyone has some level of magical power.
It's a natural thing, and everyone can use magic as easily as they breathe.
However, just being able to use it means they can only manage the bare minimum needed for daily life.
By attending the academy, they can develop their magical abilities and learn to apply them better.
Therefore, it seems that nobles and wealthy commoners send their children to the academy.
Since it's not mandatory education, you need money to attend, like Rolus.
"I wish Rolus could have gone with me."
I complained so much about not wanting to go alone that my father once tried to send Rolus as well.
But Rolus refused.
"I have less magical power than others."
Yes, he said that back then too.
He was told he was useless because of his low magical power, and eventually, he ended up as my servant.
Rolus himself accepted it without changing his expression, but I felt a little sad.
So, while I treat him like a servant, I should be kind to him sometimes.
"Ah... I wonder if I'll make friends?"
Thinking about it, whether I become a Villainess with normal friends or a solitary one might depend on the week following today's entrance ceremony.
I don't want to be the kind of Villainess who bullies cute girls because she has no friends.
"With all due respect, Lady, if you stay quiet, you are quite lovely, so you should be able to make one or 2 friends easily."
"...You always say things like that, Servant. Honestly, you hardly talk at all, yet you chatter away at times like this."
Just be quiet! I can easily make one, 2, 3, or even 4 friends!
At this entrance ceremony, I simply smiled quietly, just as Rolus suggested.
But when I think about it, where's the Villainess in that...? Well, the heroine hasn't shown up yet... my potential isn't just this...
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