"Are you coming again today?"
For several days, young ladies, including Victorina, had been visiting the Novellita Manor.
The attendants, including Agnes, became curious. They wondered why Erencia was acting this way.
Unlike a daughter of a noble family who is encouraged to participate in social activities from a young age, Erencia neither attended tea parties hosted by her peers nor hosted them herself.
Yet, this very Erencia kept inviting young ladies her age to the manor.
"She's coming again today. Not the left, but the right one. Yes, I like that earring."
Erencia pointed to the ruby earring in the jewelry box Agnes held out.
Agnes's hands became busy helping Erencia get dressed.
"Young Lady, you're late again! I said we would hurry to get ready..."
Because Erencia dawdled at every appointment, only Agnes's hands were kept busy.
Even though her hands moved in a blur today, the appointed time had already passed quite a while ago.
Yes. Agnes felt so guilty that she bowed her head low. In fact, Agnes had absolutely no reason to feel guilty.
Considering the time Erencia had been sitting in front of the dressing table, it was impossible to finish getting ready on time unless she had four hands.
Nevertheless, Agnes's head continued to droop.
"It's okay, good job. Your skills are getting better and better."
"Miss..."
Even scolding her for failing to finish the preparations on time wouldn't have been enough, yet Erencia encouraged her. A wave of emotion swept over Agnes.
Just as Agnes's eyes were moistening, Erencia stood up.
***
"You have arrived, young lady."
Sebastian bowed his head deeply in front of the drawing room.
Sebastian became much more polite after the incident involving the drawing room door repair.
“Open.”
Erencia gave a short command. The servants standing behind Sebastian opened the door.
"Lady Erencia!"
The young ladies who had arrived earlier stood up to welcome her. Their voices were filled with joy.
Erencia slightly lifted the hem of her dress and swiftly bent down to her knees. If she saw even the slightest opening...
It seemed like everyone was about to run and hug her.
"You're all here early. I told you, didn't I? The later you show up, the more people's interest grows."
In an empire where keeping appointments was very important, Erencia taught the young ladies to deliberately arrive later than the scheduled time.
"We thought we were coming late, but we can't keep up with Lady Erencia."
Mary lowered her eyebrows. She looked dejected, as if she had done something terrible.
From what she heard, it was absolutely not that she was sorry for not being able to keep the appointment.
"Also, since you said we shouldn't be too late... would about 30 minutes be just right?"
"Yes, let's make it 30 minutes."
Actually, how late it is doesn't matter. What matters is the fact that it is late.
The young ladies' reputation will naturally decline, and if people speak ill of them, they will resent Erencia.
It's Lady Erencia who made me like this!
Then Erencia gets reviled for corrupting good ladies... Isn't that exactly the virtuous cycle a villainess needs?
Erencia smiled and placed the fan on the table with a clack.
"Alright, we've reached the end of the class. Today, let's do a final review. Are you ready?"
“Yes, of course!”
In the meantime, Erencia taught the young ladies many things.
It was words and actions completely different from the obedience we had learned to take for granted until now.
For example, when someone asks for a favor, don't just say yes; instead, say "Why? Why should I do it?"When someone asks for your agreement, if you feel something is wrong, don't agree but say no; and if someone you don't like asks you to dance, refuse immediately without beating around the bush.
Come to think of it, it wasn't even an evil deed. It was a perfectly natural right, but something that was not permitted to a noble lady.
"Nothing in this world is taken for granted."
Erencia always emphasized that.
"You get what you give!”
She emphasized it until it was ingrained in their ears, telling them to make it their motto for life.
And, one more thing!
"Give back what you received. Now, Mary, step forward."
Mary was the weakest of the three.
She, with her fair skin and noticeable freckles, was ashamed of her shorter height and lack of curves compared to others.
Even within the family, she was looked down upon for her poor appearance.
Mary always walked with her shoulders hunched and was dejected.
Mary also could not refuse requests from others. She unconditionally accepted even tasks that were too heavy for her.
Erencia taught Mary with particular focus.
This is because she is the person who will bring about the biggest change.
'When a naturally good person changes, the repercussions are bound to be huge.'
"What did I say you should do if a man you don't like comes up and asks you to dance at the banquet?"
Mary lowered her head and muttered.
"R-refuse to dance..."
"Good. Treat it like the real thing, Clementine."
Clementine was the attendant in charge of the assistant today. Clementine, who had rushed out at Erencia's call, stood in front of Mary.
The young ladies had already refused Clementine's dance request dozens of times.
"Miss Mary, would you like to dance with me?"
Clementine reached out her hand to Mary.
Mary hesitated. Erencia came closer and whispered.
"Mary, if he hurt you at the last banquet, think of the man. He might torment you again at this one, you know?"
Mary got angry the moment she thought of that man.
The man who asked Mary to dance but heartlessly let go of her hand and left when another woman appeared.
And then he went around badmouthing Mary, saying she didn't know her place because she was ugly and tried to dance with him.
Mary's hunched back slowly straightened. Her drooping eyebrows rose. Mary lifted her bowed head.
'Do it like Lady Erencia.'
Mary silently chanted, "I am Erencia," ten times. It worked, indeed. Her eyes regained their vitality, and she gained confidence she had never had before.
Mary lifted her chin and said
"I'll decline the dance."
“That’s good too.”
Erencia said.
"If a piece of trash asks you to dance, this time you say this."
Erencia whispered into Mary's ear.
"Um, um, is it really okay to say that?"
Mary's eyes widened. Erencia smiled broadly.
“Of course.”
Mary muttered, repeating what Erencia had said. Erencia watched with satisfaction.
"Mary, aren't you monopolizing Lady Erencia a bit too much?"
Victorina intervened.
"We also need to undergo a final inspection from Lady Erencia."
Evelyn also puffed up her ball.
"I have plenty of time. I'll take care of everyone. One by one, very thoroughly!"
She could feel the young ladies' enthusiasm.
'Everything is going perfectly according to plan.'
Erencia smiled broadly.
***
Time flew by. Erencia's debutante ball was already just a month away.
Erencia's short-term crash course on making a villainess ended yesterday.
Finally, it was time for her favorite students to shine.
"You should start making a decision now."
"What?”
Agnes spoke to Erencia, who was spending some leisure time for the first time in a while.
Erencia, who was lying in bed absentmindedly picking up and eating cookies, put the cookies down and looked up at Agnes.
"The dress you will wear, the jewelry you will carry, and a partner."
“Let’s do it as usual.”
Erencia found this banquet awkward.
At this banquet, Erencia met the husband who had killed her.
It was her debutante, and she fell in love at first sight. He was that handsome. Of course, not as handsome as Euclid, though.
However, Euclid did not attend this banquet at the time, so the most handsome person Erencia saw back then was her former husband.
The man was shining so brightly that she mistook it for love.
Looking back, it wasn't love.
Erencia needed a man to make her shine, and he just seemed like the right fit.
And she met her end by dying from that man's knife.
'My tendency to be a sucker for good looks is the problem.'
Filled with belated regret, Erencia deliberately avoided banquets and men in her life thereafter.
But that can't happen this time.
Even if she stays like a pattern on the banquet hall wallpaper, Victorina, Mary, and Evelyn won't leave her alone.
"Haa, I'm not really in the mood."
Erencia muttered while looking out the window.
She doesn't want to get involved with her first husband.
To do that, she needed a reliable partner. A partner who would make jer first husband look like a squid.
“Agnes.”
Erencia thought of a certain figure. She did not hesitate.
“Yes, Miss.”
As she organized the list of designers, Agnes looked back at Erencia.
“I need to write a letter.”
***
"Be sure to attend."
Prince Barlos spoke. Euclid gave a wry smile.
"Your Highness, I was not invited."
Prince Barlos's mother and the current Empress hate the Gredelus family.
It was a kind of political issue.
When the current Empress was the Crown Princess, the Crown Prince was deeply infatuated with Lady Gredelus.
Rumors were widespread that as soon as the Crown Prince became Emperor, the position of Empress would go to the daughter of Gredelus.
At the time, it was treated as an open secret that the Crown Prince had a secret rendezvous with Lady Gredelus on the balcony of the banquet hall.
The Crown Princess treated the Crown Prince like a mouse. The Crown Prince grew weary of the Crown Princess and declared a breakup.
However, Lady Gredelus suddenly died.
It was the Crown Princess who comforted the despondent Crown Prince.
Thus, the Crown Princess became the Empress and gave birth to two children, Barlos and Selvarena.
This is the story of the current Emperor and Empress. The past of Yopeham and Lillie.
So Empress Lillie shuddered at the thought of anyone from the Gredelus family.
"Don't worry about my mother."
"She is the mother of the Empire. How could I not care?"
Euclid did not want to go against Lillie's wishes unless absolutely necessary, as it was obvious that it would become a hassle rather than something to worry about.
"Please come for my sake."
However, Barlos, who usually respected Euclid's opinions, took a hardline stance this time.
"Your Highness."
"Euclid."
The two called out to each other at the same time.
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