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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: The Villainess, Rose van Darmian
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Uncovering the Count's vile scheme wasn't particularly difficult.
Having been taught various techniques by my master, I could easily overhear Count Caden and his subordinates merely by observing them from a distance.
They, on the other hand, seemed to lack any caution, constantly flaunting their depraved desires whenever they thought no one was nearby.
"Man, did you see that broad who just passed by? Ugh, she looked damn tasty."
"Yeah, I saw her. Seriously, I wanted to grab her by the hair and drag her back to our quarters. If this were our territory, I would've followed her right away."
"Ugh, but why isn't the Count throwing any parties these days? Is he perhaps not getting off on voyeurism anymore?"
"I doubt that. He was doing just fine at the last place we visited before coming here."
"Damn it, you idiots. What do you know of the Count's grand plans? He's preparing quite the party for us right now."
Sounds so nauseating they made my blood boil and my ears ache.
Each time I overheard them, I felt a strong urge to draw my sword and sever their necks, but I didn't want to mess things up, so I had to bite down on my lip and endure.
I genuinely wanted to stop them.
I wanted to prevent Rose and her family from being ruined by such scum.
'Repulsive bastards.'
A fact I learned while eavesdropping on their vile conversations:
These were irredeemable human refuse.
They claimed to have enjoyed 'parties' with the Count before coming here, but the parties they spoke of were events that utterly destroyed a woman's life.
When I first learned this, a question arose:
Why would a Count, of all people, engage in such acts with his subordinates?
I found the answer to that question from the subordinates themselves.
'Because he was a voyeur.'
Count Caden could only become aroused by witnessing women being violated by others.
And these human refuse were entangled with the Count in a web of mutual interests.
The more I thought about it, the more utterly repulsive it became. How could anyone born human become so depraved?
'Damn it.'
My teeth ground together as I recalled the plan I discovered the day before yesterday, when I secretly followed them to the Lake of Mana.
"Haha, they call it the Lake of Mana, and it truly lives up to its reputation. I haven't even immersed myself yet, but I already feel my whole body tingling!"
"Heh heh, Count. This viscounty is so generous, shouldn't we repay their kindness?"
"Dunkel, you're right. Indeed, we must. Since they've been so gracious, I shall give the young lady of the viscount's family an unforgettable birthday present!"
"Gentlemen, did you hear? The Count is inviting the young lady of the viscount's family to the party!"
"Yahoo!"
I had somewhat expected it, but there was a world of difference between merely imagining such a vile sight and actually witnessing it.
It was a shocking scene. Nearly ten grown men intending to harm a child who had just turned twelve.
'Now I understand.'
The reason Rose appeared as a villainess in the game.
The reason she chose death.
It was because she had been utterly broken.
Her body and mind were so utterly shattered, beyond any hope of salvation.
That was why.
*****
After arriving in her room, Rose silently gazed out the window.
Was it because I had learned of Count Caden's plan?
Or was it because I felt pity for the villainess in the game?
Today, her shoulders seemed particularly pitiful, and her expression looked somber.
"Lady Rose."
Unable to bear the sight, I opened my mouth and asked,
"Are you alright?"
Are you alright? At my words, her small face turned to look at me.
"…Yes."
Looking closely, tears welled in her eyes. She had bitten her lip so hard that bright red blood beaded on it.
'She was holding it in…'
From what I've seen, Rose is a bright and astute child. So there's no way she wouldn't know.
The fact that Count Caden harbored sinister intentions towards her.
"Camel…"
Had I, perhaps, been the one who failed to control my expression? Rose stared at my face for a moment, then forced a small smile and called my name.
Is this what it feels like to have one's heart torn? An inexpressible frustration made my stomach churn with nausea.
"Can you… can you hug me for a moment?"
"That would…"
"No one else is here. Otherwise, I…"
A trembling voice, thick with unshed tears.
Rose looked as though she might burst into tears any moment.
"Just for a moment, then."
—*Whoosh.*
So I didn't hesitate to embrace her. It was an action I would never have taken normally, but I couldn't help it.
It felt as if Rose would crumble at any moment if I didn't hold her like this.
I gently stroked the tiny head buried in my chest.
"H-h-hng."
My shirt grew damp, and soon I felt a tremor against my chest.
'What do I do now?'
While I pitied the crying Rose, I also felt quite flustered.
I felt like I should comfort her somehow.
'If only I had any experience with this sort of thing.'
The most I could do was merely awkward head-patting.
How long did we stay in that uncomfortable embrace?
Perhaps it offered some comfort, as Rose's trembling subsided, and she pulled away from my embrace, calling out to me.
"Camel."
"Yes, Lady Rose."
"Let's stop this."
Stop what, all of a sudden? Wait, had we even started anything in the first place?
"Excuse me?"
"Pfft, look at your face. Anyone would think I just called off an engagement."
"Anyone would make that face if you said something like that out of nowhere! No, but seriously, stop what?"
"The guard knight game, I mean. It's been fun so far, hasn't it? So let's stop. I think it's best to end it while it's still enjoyable."
"Lady Rose, I was quite serious about it, actually…"
I tried to add that I had been committed, but seeing Rose's expression, I couldn't.
"I'm serious too."
Rose was smiling on the surface, but she looked incredibly resolute, as if she had made some momentous decision.
"…"
Why was she acting like this all of a sudden?
I had a rough idea.
A high-ranking noble harboring sinister intentions towards her.
Her own powerlessness.
A guard knight trying to protect her.
Rose was worried about me.
Worried that I, a commoner, might get entangled in something terrible alongside her.
'How can a twelve-year-old be so incredibly perceptive?'
Well, I'm technically twelve on the outside too.
Thinking that this tiny child was genuinely worried about me, my heart swelled.
On the other hand, I also felt a little annoyed with Rose.
Someone who hasn't even dried behind the ears.
How dare she worry about this adult?
"Lady Rose."
So I called her name in a slightly irked tone.
"Uh, yes?"
Rose replied, her eyes wide with a hint of surprise.
"You're underestimating me, aren't you?"
"N-no?"
"I'm quite good at fighting, you know? Honestly, I could even beat the Viscount."
Noticing her hesitation, I began to press her.
"Wh-what are you suddenly talking about? I didn't say anything like…"
"Hah, let's just be honest, Lady Rose. You were uneasy because that Count acted like a pervert earlier, weren't you?"
"That's…"
"And then you must have thought, 'What if Camel gets hurt instead of me?'"
"…"
Was my rapid-fire speech shocking to her?
Rose was gaping, stammering, and I took a breath before continuing.
"Actually, I know it too. That Lady Rose is a very perceptive person for her age. I almost fell for it, believing you were just a pure, cute simpleton."
"I never deceived you!"
Rose bristled at the oddest point.
I was slightly taken aback by that reaction, but no matter how much Rose squawked, she only felt like a chirping chick to me, so I continued.
"Alright. Then let's put it this way: Lady Rose, you're cute and you have a deep heart. Happy now?"
It felt like I'd just repeated what I said before, but Rose pouted and nodded.
"Anyway, Lady Rose, your heart is too deep for your own good. But do you know something, Lady Rose?"
"What?"
"We're only twelve years old."
Hah, a deep sigh escaped me.
It was understandable. The conversation and worries we were having weren't something twelve-year-olds should be discussing.
"So it's okay for you to act spoiled. If you have someone to lean on, don't hesitate, it's alright to rely on others."
"What I mean is, Rose, because you're young, you don't have to act like an old soul, pushing people away just because you're worried about them. Why?"
"Because Lady Rose is still young. You might not know this, Lady Rose, but in this world, being young is a superpower."
When I spoke seriously, Rose's eyes widened like a rabbit's, and she replied to me.
"…But Camel, you're twelve too."
"…"
For a moment, I almost said, 'Oh, right?' but this wasn't the time for jokes, so I continued.
"Yes. And that's exactly what I'm doing right now. Acting spoiled."
"What do you mean, you're acting spoiled?"
"A commoner who's only twelve years old is saying he'll protect the Viscount's young lady. What else is that if not acting spoiled?"
"You're right, but I was worried you might get hurt, Camel… so…"
Rose's voice trailed off, trembling slightly as if she might cry.
Just as I thought.
Even though she had shown a lot of mature behavior lately, a child was still a child, and Rose was still Rose.
"Lady Rose. Listen closely."
Having clearly gained the upper hand over the young girl, I adopted a serious expression and gripped Rose's shoulders.
"I will absolutely never get hurt. I promise you. If I feel like I might get hurt, I'll stop this guard knight game."
"…"
"I told you earlier, didn't I? If you have someone to lean on, lean on them. If such a situation arises, I plan to lean on my master, whom I mentioned before. So."
"So?"
"It's okay for you, Rose, not to hold back and to lean on someone when you're struggling."
"On whom? You have your master, or whatever he is, but I…"
She lowered her head and asked, gripping the hem of her skirt with trembling fingers.
"On your guard knight. I'll keep acting spoiled just like this, so Rose, just lean on me."
"Camel. What are you, exactly?"
"Yes. I am. Or what? There are plenty of people around who can help, like the Viscount or Sir Jetty. So."
"…"
"Just quietly 'be protected.' Don't act like an old soul. Understood?"
Did I speak too harshly to the child?
I asked in a chiding tone, but Rose's eyes were already brimming with tears.
Feeling a slight pang of guilt for making a child cry, I continued.
"Oh, and there's something I forgot to tell you a few days ago."
"...?"
"Do you remember me telling you about the greatest dishonor for a guard knight, something or other, to you, Rose?"
"…that it was the tears shed by the one they serve."
"Yes. But it turns out, that only applies to adults. So."
I gave Rose an awkward smile and said,
"It's okay to cry."
Rose, who had been watching me, finally burst into the tears she had been holding back.
****
Jetty's office.
Jetty, scratching his indigo hair, let out a deep sigh and asked me,
"Camel. Are the things you just told me truly factual?"
"Yes. I heard it myself. That fellow Dunkel will cast large-scale illusion magic at the party tomorrow."
"…So, they don't intend to leave any witnesses."
"They'll create an alibi using the illusion, I suppose."
"These insane bastards!"
Jetty, genuinely enraged, slammed his fist onto the desk with a shout.
*Thud.* With a resounding bang, stacks of documents scattered into the air.
"Th-this isn't the time for this. We need to tell the Viscount immediately and cancel the party."
Jetty, unable to contain his fury, immediately grabbed his outer coat and started to rise from his seat.
"No. We should inform the Viscount, but the birthday party must proceed as planned."
"What? Camel. Do you understand how serious this situation is? If things proceed like this, Lady Rose will…"
"Those bastards. We need to catch them for good, don't we?"
I stopped Jetty, showing him a pendant set with a red jewel that I had pulled from my pocket.
"That's…"
"It's an artifact. It dispels all mind-affecting magic."
"Is that r-really true? No, let's say it is. But where on earth did you get such a valuable artifact…?"
I didn't bother to mention that I had secretly pilfered it from my master's subspace.