The Villainess’ Beloved Plan: The Struggles to Avoid a Doomed End

　The next day, Sophia was visiting Viscount D’Silva’s mansion.

This was because she received an invitation from Viscount D’Silva, who had heard that the princess of Glastona was in the town of Caesars.

Viscount D’Silva seemed to be aware that Manara was at the inn, but he didn’t seem to be aware that Sophia and the others were hiding Manara.

While  turning away Viscount D’Silva, who had caused a commotion at the inn, Cyril apparently threatened to ask if he would be held responsible for causing a disturbance when the princess of Glastona was staying there, and since Sophia’s presence was known because of that, she could not refuse the invitation from Viscount D’Silva. Because she didn’t want him to come to see her at the inn.

Viscount D’Silva’s mansion was built next to his father, the Duke’s mansion.

　The large marble entrance was decorated with large vases, stuffed animals, raccoon-shaped figurines, and pictures that were difficult to understand. 

Randall, who had been invited along with Sophia, stood stunned as soon as she reached the entrance.

‘Isn’t this a nouveauty hobby? It’s pointlessly sparkling, and my eyes flicker.’

The salon, guided by the butler, was also a room without a sense of unity, just like the entrance. A leopard-like fur was spread under the heavy table.

When the maid prepared the tea set and left, Sofia restlessly looked around the room until Viscount D’Silva came. The multitude of colors rushing into her vision almost gave her a headache.

‘I don’t even understand what the painting here is, except for the big sea painting over there.’

Among the paintings decorating the room is an exceptionally large picture of the sea. It may be a painting by a famous artist, and is hung in an expensive-looking frame in the centre of the room’s wall. Surrounding the painting are various paintings of various sizes, but it is not clear what is depicted in them. They were just painted over with super-coloured paints, and it was hard for Sofia to understand what was good about them.

“Hey Randall, I wonder if Viscount D’Silva likes paintings? There are so many paintings in the entrance, in the corridor, in this room.”

“It’s more like graffiti than painting.”

If Randall, who is more familiar with works of art than Sofia, was nonchalant about it  like that, then it must really be all junk.

She wondered if Viscount D’Silva liked to decorate with something that he doesn’t know if it’s a picture or a graffiti.　

According to Cyril, Viscount D’Silva started a trading business a few years ago, and purchased several ships for that purpose. 

Could it be that these paintings were acquired through that trade? Or was he planning to sell it to other countries as a trade item? Either way, it’s in bad taste.

“Speaking of pictures…”

Among the paintings on the wall, Sophia was not sure if it was a pig, a cow, or a horse. Randall spoke…

“Racca drew a picture on the ship, but Johannes bought some. If you like it…”

“Could you possibly give it to me?”

“…Oh”

Randall was about to say that he would decorate Sophia’s room in the Duke of Voltio’s residence, but before he could say anything, Sophia interrupted him and after a short silence, he nodded his head and let out a small sigh so that Sophia would not notice. He was aware that Sophia had no intention of going back to Duke of Voltio’s house in Glastona with him. Because she wanted to be with D’Artano.

‘You are my wife, right?’

Randall want to say this out loud. But he, who had never done any of the duties of a husband, was in no position to criticize Sophia like that.

For now, he should be happy that Sophia was wearing the hair ornament he gave her the other day. She wouldn’t have worn it if it was a gift from a man she disliked. He prefered to believe so.

Randall followed Sophia’s gaze and looked at the graffiti-like painting, where several colors of paint were swirling around like a mussel.

It was like the inside of his own mind, Randall thought, a whirlwind of frustration and anxiety.

　On the way back from Viscount D’Silva’s Mansion, Sophia was invited to the sea by Randall.

The atmosphere of the sea was completely different from that of the daytime, as the setting orange sunlight tinted the sea red.

Sophia and Randall’s shadows stretched long on the beach, which was also tinted orange.

　Sophia’s heart rippled in her chest as her hands were held firmly in place, as if it would be difficult to walk on the beach.

Her small hands were intertwined with Randall’s large hands, It was as if they were lovers.

“Come to think of it, Randall. why did you come to this town?”

　At Verhund Castle, she heard that Randall and his friends were going out on an errand, but she had not heard where they were going. What business did he have in this town of Caesars? He was helping Sophia with her errand – to find the sealskin of Marana, Karana’s sister… But she wondered if that has put his own errand on the back burner. I felt sorry for him when she thought about it.

Randall looked at her hesitantly for a moment, and then answered, “I’m looking for selkie tears.”

“Do you want selkie tears?”

It was surprising that Randall would want a jewelry. Perhaps it was a gift for Sophia’s half-sister Keira, whom he holds dear? In the game “Snow of Glastona” Keira wore earrings made of selkie tears, but were they a gift from Randall?

Sophia felt a twinge of pain in her chest, but she pretended not to notice it and looked up at Randall.

“If it’s a selkie tear, I have it. Do you want it?”

Sophia had the selkie tears that Karana had given her. It should be in her luggage at the inn. Randall was helping her, and if he wanted the selkie tear, she would give it to him in return for his help.

“You have a… selkie tear?”

“Yes, I have one that Karana gave me.”

Speaking of which, there were many selkie tears that D’Artano picked up from the bottom of the sea in the caves of “Paradise Eden,” the isolated island where he had his hideout. As expected, I can’t tell D’Artano about this without telling him.

Randall excitedly puts his hands on Sophia’s shoulders and shook her.

“Well done, Sophia!”

“Oh, Okay.”

Randall seemed to want Selkie’s tears so badly. Sophia’s eyes widened and she asked again, “Are you there?” He answered immediately, “Of course I am.”

Tl: I seriously don’t understand what the author is saying here

And then, without so much as a walk on the beach, Randall dragged her back to the inn, saying, “Let’s get back to the inn.”

‘Randall is behaving Weirdly …’

Sophia tilted her head in thought