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

While Sophia was listening to old stories from Duchess Rosa Levord, Randall and Kyle, the son of Duke Levord, were glaring at each other at the chessboard in another salon on the second floor.

The Duke was smoking a cigar a little further away.

“Lady Sophia has become so beautiful again. She seems to have outgrown her childhood. I’m so jealous that you were able to marry such a beautiful woman.”

Kyle was the same age as Randall, and they studied abroad together as teenagers. Randall frowned when he was teased.

Grown out her childhood? Just the other day she was splashing around in the fountain.

Certainly, there was something that caught Randall’s attention about Sophia’s appearance today, and as Kyle said, she is beautiful. However, Randall did not marry Sophia because he liked her.

“I thought you were going to marry Princess Keira. You have so many options to choose from, I’m jealous.”

“Keira’s not like that.”

“Then what about her?”

“…She’s like a little sister. If you’re that jealous, you should put yourself forward as Keira’s husband. You’d be a good match in terms of status.”

“Princess Keira? No no, I’ll pass. I was actually aiming for Lady Sophia. If you’d waited a little longer to marry her, I would have put myself forward.”

“Sophia?”

While moving the black rook, Randall furrowed his brow even more.

Kyle also moved his piece and nodded vigorously.

“I’m not lying. Both my father and mother were in favor of it, and it was a shame. I never thought you and Lady Sophia would get engaged so soon.”

“…What do you like about Sophia?”

“Hey, hey, you’re the one saying that? She’s lovely. I’ve only spoken to her a few times, but I love the way she looks straight into people’s eyes when she speaks. Those big emerald eyes are so captivating I can almost lose myself in them.”

“…That’s ridiculous.”

Randall’s stomach started to feel queasy, and he moved his next piece in frustration.

Kyle looked at the chessboard and grinned.

“Thanks for putting the piece in such a weird place. It’s checkmate in two moves.”

Randall suddenly frowned, and Kyle laughed out loud, “Even you can get flustered sometimes.”

Sophia’s mother, Rizete, lost her mother Anne when she was fifteen, and was taken in by Madame Rosa, who found out about her just before Anne’s death. However, Liselte chose to live on her own, rather than live with Madame Rosa. Madame Rosa tried to persuade her many times, but Rizete was adamant, and she was forced to introduce her to a maid at the castle, where she could work with confidence.

“When Rizete was chased out of the castle, she just disappeared without saying a word. I wonder why neither Anne nor Rizete tried to rely on others. I wish they would rely on me… Maybe she couldn’t say anything because she was pregnant with His Majesty’s child. Maybe she thought they would take it away from her.”

“I don’t know. But maybe. My mother never spoke about herself or my father.”

“I see… I received a letter from her shortly before she died… before you were taken in by His Majesty. The letter said about you, and that she didn’t have much longer and wanted to entrust you to me. But at the time, I was in the territory to take care of my husband’s recovery, and by the time I noticed the letter, you had already been taken in by His Majesty. That was the first time she had relied on me, but I wasn’t able to help her. I’m sorry. His Majesty is that kind of person, so I’m sure he loved you, but in the castle… you weren’t very comfortable, were you?”

It was certainly uncomfortable, but that wasn’t something the lady should be worried about. She must have been worried about her ever since the incident with her grandmother. Sophia felt like she understood why her mother hadn’t tried to rely on her until the very last moment. She was a kind lady, so she didn’t want to cause her any trouble.

The Duchess stood up, moved next to Sophia, and gently held her hand.

“I don’t have a daughter. If you don’t mind, I’d be happy if you came to visit again.”

“Yes, please.”

Sophia tightly shook Lady Rose’s hand.

For Lady Rose, it may also be a way to atone for not being able to do anything for Anne and Lisette. However, Sophia was happy. She felt thrilled to be able to talk about her mother, which she felt she shouldn’t ask her father about, and she was happy about Lady Rose’s feelings for her mother—Sophia’s tension had disappeared imperceptibly and, as time allowed, she enjoyed chatting with Lady Rose as if they were mother and daughter.

“Please come again.”

After a hug from Lady Rosa, Sophia left the Duke of Levord’s mansion.

The carriage was parked outside the gates of the duke’s house. The rain that had been falling when they left the Duke of Voltio’s house had stopped before she noticed.

As Sophia walked the short distance to the carriage, she glanced stealthily at Randall.

(…He seems to be in a bad mood.)

For some reason, Randall seemed irritated. He never smiled when he was with Sophia, but he looked even sulkier than usual.

Did something happen when he was with Duke Levord and Kyle? But those two were friendly and gentle, and she didn’t think they would say or do anything to make people uncomfortable.

Although Sophia had just met the LeVord Duke today, she had talked to Kyle a few times at the castle. However, each time, it was when Sophia was on her way to the library to borrow books or when she was called by the King, and they exchanged polite small talk. Kyle always smiled and seemed like a kind person.

(Yeah, I’m sure it’s just my imagination.)

There’s no way Randall would be in a bad mood being with those two.

Sophia had stopped worrying and was about to get into the carriage of the Duke of Voltius with the help of the driver when…

“Sophia!”

Sophia looked up at the sudden voice and gasped when she saw a man running towards her like a charging boar.

The man ran up to Sophia and tried to embrace her, but Randall stopped him before he could. Randall kept saying it was a fake, but Sophia was moved that Randall had tried to protect her as a princess. She turned her head to look at the man she had never seen before.

The man had dull blonde hair and was of average build. He looked to be around forty years old.

“Um… have we met somewhere before…?”

Sophia had no idea who this was, but seeing as he called her name, perhaps she had met him somewhere before?

The man who had been held down by Randall raised his head, his eyes welling up with tears.

“Sophia! I’m sorry for making you feel lonely until now!”

“Excuse me?”

Sophia tilted her head, even more confused.

But the next moment, her mind went blank at the words the man spoke.

“Don’t you understand, Sophia? I’m your father!”

[What did you say!?]

 

—————————————————————

Translator Note: