The Villainess’ Kindergarten

The last turn was Ren. She was panting, perhaps a little tired from dancing with Thomas and Greenly in succession. Come to think of it, even in the original work, it was said she had the weakest physical strength of Ren. I think it would be better to rest.

 

“You look tired. Would you like to rest for a bit?”

 

But Ren shook her head and held out her hand to me.

 

“It’s okay… Wow, I can dance more.”

 

But it seemed like she was having a hard time even standing now. Then a thought came into my head. I hugged Ren. Supporting her legs with one of my arms, and held Ren’s hand with my free arm.

 

“Wouldn’t it be okay to dance like this?”

 

Her and I were of similar height, so her gaze met mine. Ren, who lowered her head as if she was embarrassed, nodded her head.

 

“Yes, I love it.”

 

“Aren’t you uncomfortable?”

 

“No, I’m okay.”

 

She said as Ren looked down at me with her red face. To be able to call it a dance, it was just me spinning around while holding Ren, but Ren seemed satisfied.

 

“Did you enjoy the banquet?”

 

Ren nodded her head strongly at my words. A bright smile appeared on her face. That face was the loveliest smile I’ve ever seen on Ren’s face. She hugged my neck with both her arms.

 

“It’s more colorful and fun than I expected. Thank you for bringing me.”

 

Ren’s actions automatically made me smile. I patted Ren’s back as she hugged me and opened her mouth.

 

“I didn’t bring you here, and if you enjoyed it, that’s enough.”

 

For the first time, I felt fortunate that I had possessed Fiora. I could do this by becoming someone who has the ability to take care of them and protect them. I was grateful that I met them before their wounds got deeper, really.

 

At that time, when Ren lifted her arm from my neck, she faced me with a smile.

 

“I really like the fact that the princess is marrying my brother. Then we become family.”

 

But I couldn’t laugh comfortably at her words. If the family Ren talked about was a family bound by my marriage to Baridas, then I wouldn’t be able to be her real family. When she didn’t hear any answer, Ren’s grip on me tightened.

 

“…no?”

 

Only then did I come to my senses, manage my expression, and stroke Ren’s head. It’s okay, because she didn’t necessarily have to be called family to be by the children’s side.

 

“Of course we become family.”

 

Ren laughed at my words and buried her face in my arms. Was there a way for them and me to both be comfortable, but without me having to leave their side? It was a day when I had a lot to worry about. As I approached Baridas while holding Ren, Lima was pulling Baridas’ arm, as if he had just woken up.

 

“Eldest brother, do you want to dance with me?”

 

Her words were invitations, but her actions were almost forced. She looked there intently, wondering if Ren also wanted to dance with Baridas. At that time, Baridas came towards me and held out his arms as if he was going to hug Ren.

 

“Come here.”

 

Ren’s ears turned red. She held out her arms and Baridas carefully picked her up. He took his handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the beads of sweat from Ren’s forehead.

 

“I think it would be a good idea to build up some stamina.”

 

“It’s okay, so I want to dance with you too.”

 

Baridas let out a small laugh at Ren’s words, and his hand gently stroked Ren’s head. Ren’s eyes widened at his unexpected action.

 

“We can dance next time, but I think it would be better to take a break today.”

 

He said he would bring the children to the next banquet. The children knew better than anyone else that Baridas did not say empty words. For the children, the word ‘next’ had much greater value than Baridas thought. The first to speak was Thomas.

 

“Can I participate next time?”

 

Baridas’ eyes were agitated for a moment at Thomas’s words. It was such a brief moment that even I, who was looking at him the whole time, couldn’t even notice. He managed his expression again and smiled.

 

“If you want to participate, anytime.”

 

The children’s faces brightened at Baridas’ words. Baridas put Ren down on the chair to go dancing with Lima. Before Baridas’ hand could leave her, Ren grabbed his arm.

 

“Next time, we will definitely dance together.”

 

“Okay.”

 

Baridas took Lima’s hand and walked away from his children. When his figure completely disappeared among the people, Greenly opened his mouth.

 

“Brother, I thought big brother didn’t like us.”

 

“I told you, I don’t hate you.”

 

Although he spoke calmly, Thomas’ expression did not look like that at all. His cheeks were stained red as he looked at the place where Baridas had disappeared. At that time, Jasmine must have woken up and came towards me, rubbing her eyes. She tugged at my dress as if asking for a hug. As I picked her up, she buried her face in my neck and opened her mouth.

 

“Princess Jasmine, where has your eldest brother gone?”

 

Here, when she mentioned that she had gone dancing with Lima, she obviously jeered at her by saying that she was going too. It was past 9 o’clock, and it would have been time for a normal Jasmine to fall asleep. Knowing this very well, I winked at the children and opened my mouth.

 

“Wait a minute, where have you been? We’ll be back soon.”

 

Jasmine nodded her head at my words and she began to doze off again. I figured I’d take her to her lounge once she fell asleep. But there was one thing I didn’t know. Although Thomas resembled Baridas in most ways, including his appearance, eye color, and even the way he handled a sword, he did not resemble Baridas in one thing, and that was that he was completely oblivious to what was important in life. Thomas tilted his head at my words and opened his mouth.

 

“You went dancing with Lima?”

 

At his words, Ren and Greenly stabbed him in the side once, and Thomas didn’t seem to know why his younger brothers were doing that. That was until Jasmine, whose eyes widened at his words, shouted.

 

“I want to dance with my eldest brother too!!”

 

The voice was so loud that all the nobles who were talking around them turned around. Jasmine jumped out of my arms, looked around him as if looking for Baridas, and then tried to move his steps towards the middle of the banquet hall. But when Ren stopped him, he looked at me with an expression that made him look like he was about to cry.

 

“… Me too, my eldest brother… I want to dance… .”

 

Tears formed in Jasmine’s eyes, and Thomas, who only then realized his mistake, looked up at me in embarrassment. Jasmine’s crying eyes and Thomas’ embarrassed red eyes turned towards me at the same time. No, I didn’t know what I could do about it. When was Baridas coming? I looked resentfully in the direction where Baridas disappeared. Even though I knew it’s not his fault.

 

“Sorry. Jasmine, shall we go dancing with your brother first?”

 

Jasmine shook her head and shouted at Thomas’ words.

 

“Nah! I’m leaving with my eldest brother!!”

 

It seemed like Jasmine was going to burst into tears at any moment, so I hugged her and got up from my seat. He must have gone out onto the terrace. It would be a big deal if it was even rumored that the youngest child of the Chilan family shed tears at the banquet. I patted Jasmine on the back and whispered to Thomas, who was following behind me.

 

“It’s okay, just wait.”

 

I passed through the crowd and took refuge on the curtained terrace. Fortunately, Jasmine no longer whined. Although it was spring, the terrace was colder than I expected, perhaps because it was night. I took off the shawl I was wearing and wrapped it around Jasmine. She was looking at me with her crying eyes. As I wiped the tears from his eyes with my hands, Jasmine rubbed her face in my hands.

 

“Are you okay now?”

 

Jasmine nodded her head in response to my question.

 

“Did… Did you really want to dance with me that much?”

 

“I don’t really care about dancing. But if I dance, I can be with my eldest brother, right?”

 

I knew it, but the kids seemed to like Baridas a lot more than I thought.

 

“Shared… I want to get picked out by my eldest brother.”

 

Why didn’t I think of that? For Jasmine, Baridas was like her father. After his mother and father passed away, the only adult left in the house was Baridas.

 

“My eldest brother probably thinks so too. Today, I couldn’t go with Jasmine because she was sleeping and I was afraid she would wake her up. Do you think my brother would like to become friends with me?”

 

Jasmine smiled slightly at my words, but her expression soon hardened. She became sullen and snuggled into my arms, muttering softly.

 

“But my eldest brother never hugged me…”

 

Baridas was wrong. You’re so cute, how can you not give me a hug at least once? I patted her back and opened my mouth.

 

“It’s because he can’t express it all.”

 

But there was no further answer from her. It was because Jasmine had already fallen asleep in my arms.

 

“Thank goodness,” I muttered softly and kissed her forehead. After covering her with her shawl once more, I turned to go to her banquet hall, and the curtains on the terrace were drawn.

 

“Are you here, princess?”

 

It was Baridas. I was taken aback by his unexpected appearance and looked up at him without any response. He looked at Jasmine, who was sleeping comfortably in my arms, and breathed a sigh of relief.

 

“All the children have been sent back to the mansion, so you can go back if you want.”

 

The moment I was about to answer that I understood, a sneeze came out of my mouth instead of an answer. It was because the terrace was too cold. Baridas, seeing Jasmine wearing my shawl, sighed, took off his robe and covered me with it.

 

“No, let’s go in first.”

 

I nodded because I had no intention of refusing.

 

“All right. Please come in carefully.”

 

“Of course. Thank you for taking such good care of the children.”

 

Smiling when I told him to be careful, his large hand touched my head and then fell. Surprised by the sudden skinship, I blinked and looked at him blankly. It’s been a while since someone stroked my head. However, I felt something strange.

 

* * *

 

When I returned to the mansion, the children had already fallen asleep. After taking Jasmine to her room, I took a shower and lay down on the bed. As I was staring blankly at the ceiling, I remembered what the kids said earlier.

 

“It’s family…”

 

I liked children. And I wanted the children to be happy. That fact was certain. However, I couldn’t devote all my emotions and time to my children. Now I also have to continue living in this world. Even after breaking off my engagement with Baridas, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to be with the children, and I also needed a place to live. There was no way he would accept the princess who returned after breaking off her engagement in the Damon Empire. As I was thinking about my future, one fact came to my mind. Why did I think that the engagement would naturally be broken off? In the original work, the reason Fiora broke off her engagement to Baridas was because there was irrefutable evidence that she had been harassing the children. And the engagement between me and Baridas was for the benefit of our family, not for the personal feelings of both parties. It also meant that it was impossible for the engagement to be broken off due to change of heart and love. So, shouldn’t I just not cause any problems until the female lead arrives?

 

…A lifelong job as a Duke’s hostess isn’t bad. In the first place, I had no intention of marrying anyone. Why did I think it would go exactly like the original? I’ve already changed a lot of things. What I wanted to prioritize most was my life here, my happiness, and my children. What did it matter what other people care about? The future could always change. I just had to live with the original work and do whatever I wanted.

 

When Baridas says they would break up because he liked the heroine, she would tell him to just die. After gathering my thoughts, I lay down comfortably on the bed and fell asleep. So, I just want to think about the happiness of myself and my children. There’s no need for me to worry about other people’s future, right? Of course, as long as it did not cause harm to others.

 

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