Rehabilitate the Villainess

44 – The Villain Strikes Back

“⋯⋯ For what reason?”

—That child showed me the Azbel family’s magic and the Baslet family’s arcane magic.

Ruelle claimed to be my daughter at a tea party where all the ladies were waiting. That’s what Claire said.

To be honest, it was very shocking. She claimed to be my daughter in front of the tea party. I don’t know how many people have seen it.

But I did not deny Clie’s words. There must have been a reason why Ruel did that.

So I couldn’t say anything hastily. I don’t even know why Clie told me this. I said, putting Clie’s bracelet, which was still about to ring, into the envelope.

“Let’s talk later.”

That time will come quickly. Thinking of the original novel, Clie and Shael will meet sooner or later.

First, I lay down on the bed. Fortunately, Duke Ezran was not at home. Perhaps we won’t be seeing each other for a while.

As much as Duke Ezran is the head of the Baslet family, he is very busy. Thanks to that, there is no need to make excuses about rumors. For that reason, there was no immediate urgency.

What the hell is the meaning of the advice written in the book? And, thinking about why Ruel would be like that, he fell into agony.

* * *

“There are rumors going around that you and I have a daughter.”

“⋯?”

Shael tilted her head. Certainly, it was an absurd rumor. I too have my doubts.

Even though Ruelle actually claimed to be my daughter at the tea party, I didn’t expect rumors to spread this far.

It was Shael and I, the son of a duke. So I thought the rumors would spread in secret…

Not at all. Rumors spread all over the place. To the extent that even I, the party to the rumor, heard the rumor. It was thanks to the quick-witted Barslet family informant.

It was a more detailed rumor than I thought. Up until now, Shael hadn’t been out much.

And the reason, in fact, is not because of the child. People said they were suspicious. Several reasons were added to it, and the rumors became huge.

When Shael heard about my story, he put on an absurd expression. She also has a slightly puzzled expression mixed in.

Of course. It would be a bad feeling to have a child that no one ever gave birth to because of rumors.

But soon, Shael changed her expression. Suddenly, her expression improved.

“Aren’t you in a bad mood?”

“⋯What is it?”

As if what was the problem, Shael asked back. But it was she who had frowned on her earlier.

She could at least know that Shael had an intention behind her.

“How do you feel about having a child you didn’t even have?”

After thinking for a while, Shael nodded her head with a sneer on her face. It was the look on his face when he bullied me.

I asked again.

“⋯⋯ Are you really okay?”

“Yes.”

“I had a child that I didn’t even have because of rumors. Maybe there are even more strange rumors going around.”

Shael smiled and confidently raised her head.

“No way, do you care about rumors like that? Not even a child.”

“⋯.”

Originally, Shael would have been more upset than I was. When she said that, she couldn’t answer anything, but ⋯⋯.

She asked Shael, who was laughing at me instead.

“You are acting as if the rumors are good. Isn’t it?”

“⋯⋯When am I?”

Still, Shael did not bend his will.

⋯⋯ Then how can I bend the wicked woman?

Simple. It’s okay if you make them hear the rumors themselves. After thinking about it, I got up from my seat.

At the same time, I took out the dessert. Shaking to show Sael the dessert.

“I’ll give it to you if you go somewhere with me today.”

So it was natural for the wicked woman to follow me.

* * *

The place Shael and I headed to was a building built by a famous merchant. In reality, it was a place close to a department store.

It was a place where only wealthy nobles and commoners came. Most of them would know about the rumors about me and Sael.

To that extent, rumors were widely known to the public. Furthermore, the content of the rumor was the hidden daughter of the duchy’s children who were engaged.

Who were the people who spread the rumor?

Indeed, numerous high-ranking noble families saw the magic of the Azbel family and the arcane magic of the Baslet family that Ruel used.

So no matter how absurd the rumors were, people had no choice but to believe them.

I could be sure that even now, rumors are coming from the mouths of many people.

It was also for that reason that I came here. If someone was talking about rumors, he was going to tell Shael about them.

For this purpose, Sael and I wore robes to cover our bodies.

First, I started walking around the building. You won’t be able to meet the person you’ve been exchanging rumors with since the beginning.

In the meantime, I saw a dessert shop. Outwardly, it looked sophisticated. It was enough to attract the attention of Shael, who loves dessert.

Shael entered the dessert shop and immediately started choosing desserts.

“Do you eat this much?”

“Yes.”

“Will I serve you dessert later?”

“Don’t worry, you will eat that too.”

Anyway, the villainess was greedy. Shael sat down with dessert in her basket.

“⋯⋯ Won’t you give me one?”

The villainess replied by glaring at me. She meant not to give it at all.

Actually, I could just buy dessert, but I couldn’t because Sael interrupted it for some reason.

Wagjak-

It was the sound of Shael eating a cookie. Normally, he would put on a happy expression. But Shael frowned at her.

“It doesn’t taste good.”

“Not tasty?”

That can’t be. I wouldn’t be in this building for nothing. Desserts must have been delicious too.

“Because of you.”

It was easy to understand what Sael meant. It was clear that Shael had become accustomed to my dessert before he knew it.

There must have been a reason why the villain in the novel stayed at the dessert shop where I got the dessert recipe.

“It’s because of me, it’s disappointing. From now on, I will not serve dessert.”

“⋯⋯I heard you did it for the rest of your life.”

“⋯Did I?”

When I was exchanging small talk with Shael for a while. I heard someone talking from behind me.

ㅡRayel, did you hear that famous rumor these days?

ㅡI think I know what rumors you are talking about. But I saw the rumor with my own two eyes.

This was a dessert shop. It was certain that it was a good place for wealthy young ladies to chat. The two young ladies were also chatting.

Shael hardened her face, as if she had expected that back story.

ㅡ He was a very cute kid. It uses the magical power that only flows in the blood of the Azbel family… So cute.

ㅡNo matter how much Azbel’s magical power was used… Is it real?

Sael said quietly.

“⋯⋯You must have seen it wrong.”

At Sael’s words, she nodded. Then the words of the young girls continued.

ㅡI rather want to believe. You are so romantic. To think that Princess Shael, who had such a bad personality, was captured by Prince Eran.

ㅡIf it’s real⋯ why aren’t you getting married?

Shael nodded her head. So, it seemed he wanted the young ladies to realize that the rumors couldn’t be true.

ㅡMaybe Princess Shael forcibly attacked Prince Eran!

ㅡ⋯Puh, that makes some sense.

I also hardened her face like Sael. Why the hell do you think that makes sense?

ㅡBut Young master Eran is a bit of a waste.

—-Well, that’s not true.

Shael stood up from her seat. It was clear that she meant to tell them something. I said quietly.

“You really care about rumors?”

“⋯.”

This is also what Shael told me earlier. At those words, Shael sat down again. The young ladies’ conversation continued.

—-Ah, when the banquet hall was held in the magic tower⋯ I saw them.

ㅡ How was it?

It was also in the Magic Tower? If so, what the heck will it mean? I too am curious

ㅡPrincess Elan was staring at Princess Shael ⋯ but he couldn’t take his eyes off her.

It was to prevent Clie from spilling her wine on Sael ⋯⋯.

There was no opportunity to make excuses. The young lady spoke again. Suddenly, the voice was mixed with excitement.

ㅡDid you look at Shael very lovingly? I thought honey was dripping from her eyes.

ㅡ Kyaa~

Not at all. But the problem is that the bullshit shows no signs of ending. I got up from my seat.

To correct that nonsense. But before that, Shael opened her mouth.

“No way, you don’t care about rumors like that, do you?”

“⋯.”

The villainess was attacking me. Suddenly, my face was red with shame. The evil woman’s attack was more lethal than expected.

Of course, Shael’s face blushed with shame as well… Shael and I just glared at each other with blushing faces in silence.