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

In the end, Gasur was not Sophia’s father.

After being taken to the castle, Gasur woke up and readily confessed that he had done it because he was lured by money.

According to him, about two weeks prior, a woman had visited him. With her hood pulled low over her face, she said she wanted to commission him for a certain job. She claimed that if he succeeded, she would pay off Gasur’s debts and give him a reward of five hundred gold coins.

The job was to approach a lady named Sophia, from the Voltio Ducal family, and claim to be her father. He was told that all he had to do was make Sophia and those around her believe that he was her real father, and Gasur thought that would be easy enough, so he accepted.

He received twenty gold coins in advance and, following the woman’s instructions, approached Sophia, weaving a fabricated past about having worked as a castle gatekeeper where he had met her mother.

As long as Sophia fell for it, Gasur would obtain the rest of the money and have his debts erased.

Gasur acted as instructed. He hadn’t received any other instructions and was smirking at the prospect of only needing to collect the remaining reward, when a hooded woman appeared at the Crescent Moon, stating that the operation had failed and that they would discuss the reward.

Enraged, Gasur attacked the woman, and the rest is history as Sophia knows it.

In the end, Randall scolded Sophia for serving as a waiter dressed as a town girl, and grounded her for a week, but since she doesn’t usually go out anywhere, it didn’t hurt that much.

* * *

“So, in the end, you won’t talk, huh?”

In a chamber of the castle where Randall had just woken up, Kyle Levord was staring at some documents with a serious expression.

The woman he captured that day along with Gasur was a maid for the first princess, Keira. When Randall questioned her, the maid said she had done it on her own, but according to Gasur’s testimony, the woman who had approached him with the request was a blonde, unlike her.

As soon as he heard “blonde,” Kyle immediately thought of Keira and told Randall to confirm with her. However, Randall seemed to easily doubt Sophia but not Keira.

Seeing that they were getting nowhere, Kyle had his father, Duke Levord, confirm things with the king.

However, Keira only said she “didn’t know” and cried for “poor Sophia.” In deference to the queen, they could not delve any deeper, and the truth remained elusive. Kyle found it unsatisfying, but without solid evidence, there was nothing more that could be done.

“If only the maid had at least spoken…”

“Are you still suspecting Keira?”

“In fact, you’re the one who’s crazy for not suspecting her in this situation.”

Kyle put the investigation report on the desk.

Gasur was facing imprisonment for claiming to be the princess’s father. The maid who conspired with him to deceive Sophia would face similar consequences. Although Keira claimed she “didn’t know,” she needed to take responsibility for what her maid did—this time, no matter what the queen said, Keira was to be put under a month’s house arrest.

Kyle was very unhappy with the result, but the King would likely keep a close eye on Keira and those around her after this incident.

Randall, who every second he says is like “Keira is a kind-hearted angel” and makes comments that make it seem like he has a bug in his brain, doesn’t seem to understand why Kyle is suspicious of Keira.

With a sigh at his friend, who appeared unlikely to change his mind no matter what he said, Kyle stood up.

“Where are you going?”

Randall, perplexed, tilted his head as Kyle was about to leave.

Kyle grinned and shook the fool’s heart to its core.

“I’ve been invited for tea by Lady Sophia. It’s a thank-you for the previous occasion. Apparently, she’s going to offer some homemade cookies. I have no time to waste here with you.”

“…What?”

“See you later. Oh, and since you won’t be thanked for your part in this matter, don’t go interrupting.”

Kyle was satisfied with Randall’s frown, and he waved his hand and left his room.

* * *

“Oh, young master. What brings you here today?”

Having returned home, Butler Johannes welcomed him with a surprised look.

“Don’t call me young master.”

Randall said, refusing to hide his displeasure as he gazed up the grand staircase.

“What is that?”

“Everyone is having a tea party at the salon.”

“…Everyone?”

“Indeed. Lady Alina, Lord Kyle, and the boy named Theo who was here the other day.”

Since he could assume that Orion and Isolde were together, it seemed they were having a delightful tea party with six people.

“Which salon are they using?”

“The one on the second floor.”

“I heard someone baked cookies?”

“Indeed. Today, the lady is serving homemade cookies. It’s apparently a thank-you gift.”

After hearing Johannes’ answer, Randall silently climbed the great staircase, opened the salon door a little, and peeked inside.

There, he saw Sophia laughing happily and chatting with Kyle and the others. The moment he spotted the oddly shaped cookie in Kyle’s hand, blood rushed to Randall’s head. Just as he was about to storm into the salon, he heard a sighing voice from behind.

“Young master. You mustn’t interrupt the tea party that the lady has organized.”

“…I am the master of this house.”

“Even so, young master, you weren’t invited.”

“…”

Randall looked over his shoulder and glared at Johannes.

Johannes smiled back, and Randall, who had slightly opened the door, watched as it was shut with a firm clap.

“It seems that both Kyle and that boy Theo have a fondness for the lady. I imagine that must be troubling for you as her husband.”

“…That’s ridiculous.”

“Oh my, really? By the way, Kyle brought a bouquet of red roses. The lady looked genuinely thrilled—oh, but you’ve come home after so long without anything in hand.”

“… Johannes.”

“What is it?”

Johannes had worked in this household since Randall was in diapers, and no matter how much Randall glared at him, it didn’t bother him in the slightest.

Perhaps feeling he had crossed a line, Johannes said to the sulking Randall:

“The cookies made by the lady were lovely; I had some myself. It was perhaps a tad too much for an old man, so I would be overjoyed if you could assist me.”

Randall still had a sour look on his face, but after glancing at the salon door, which was tightly closed, he nodded sulkily and said, “Fine.”

Johannes chuckled at Randall’s stubbornness and smiled at him.

“Speaking of which, the roses in the greenhouse are blooming beautifully.”

He smiled at Randall.

* * *

Keira Glastona slammed the glass she was holding against the wall.

The glass hit the wall and shattered with a loud crack.

“What a useless man…!”

Because of him, she was under a month’s house arrest. Two soldiers stood guard at her door, always watching her. Even when she wanted to step outside for some fresh air, they followed her, making it feel unbearably stifling.

Keira turned to look at the maids who were standing frightened against the wall of the room.

“Hurry up and clean up!”

The maids jumped at her words and began to clean up the broken glass. Keira threw her fan at one maid’s back and flopped down onto the sofa with an exasperated sigh..

“Watch me, one day I’ll definitely kick you out…!”

 

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