Chapter 2: RMLIP

Chapter 2

The fact that Seria had already been appointed the Saintess but had not yet left for the Grand Temple meant that the original story hadn't started yet.

But Airel had probably already commissioned the curse.

After all, before Airel died, she had once said this to Seria:

"You stole him! Lishid was supposed to come to me that day! I'd been waiting for that day for months...!"

She had the nerve to act like the victim after putting a curse on someone else's body.

Though... how was she supposed to know that "someone" would end up being me?

"W-Why are you asking that, My Lady...?!"

Jenice, Airel's maid, suddenly dropped to her knees in front of me.

It was right after I had asked if I had recently visited any suspicious places.

"Did I do something wrong again? You're testing me, aren't you? That's it, isn't it?"

"No, I was just curious..."

"There's no way that's true!"

Jenice shook her head as if the very idea were absurd and looked up at me with eyes full of distrust.

I awkwardly scratched my forehead.

Is it really that bad?

Jenice was the daughter of Baron Florence, one of House Blandiche's vassals.

She had also been Airel's childhood playmate.

So seeing her act so submissively caught me off guard.

Though, thinking back on the original story... I guess it does make sense.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"And what's with that tone? The way you end your sentences is irritating! Are you mocking me?"

"Come over here and kneel. That's your punishment for disrespecting me."

The ability to make innocent people feel guilty for crimes they never committed.

That ridiculous way of speaking belonged to none other than Airel Blandiche.

But every villainess has a tragic backstory.

Airel, the Empire's only ducal lady, was actually the illegitimate daughter of the Duke of Blandiche and a maid from a one-night mistake.

Apparently, he had been so drunk that he mistook the maid for his wife.

Or so he claimed.

To prove his love for his wife, the Duke spent his entire life ignoring Airel.

The Duchess naturally hated her as well.

She adopted Airel only because she carried the Duke's blood, but never accepted her as family.

Her older brother Edwin was no different.

Airel was always treated like an unwanted outsider in her own home.

As a result, she grew up consumed by an inferiority complex over her incomplete status.

She constantly took out her frustrations on the servants, even her own maid.

Like the one-dimensional villainess she was, she never hesitated to abuse those who served her.

Eventually, Jenice became so exhausted that she betrayed Airel and became friends with Seria...

Thinking about that bleak future, I let out a sigh.

Judging by the timeline, Jenice hadn't reached her breaking point yet.

And naturally...

I had no intention of behaving like the original Airel.

It wasn't in my nature.

Nor did I want to mistreat innocent people.

All I want is to avoid the villainess route.

If the male and female leads were truly destined to be together...

Then they would meet on their own, even if I did nothing.

Lishid didn't have to be cursed.

Whether at a banquet or at the temple, there were plenty of opportunities for him and Seria to cross paths.

So... sorry, but I'm stepping out of the story first.

Farewell, original Airel.

I'll reform in your place!

"Jenice."

Smiling as kindly as I could, I reached out toward her.

I only meant to brush away a strand of hair stuck to her cheek.

"Eek!"

But the instant I reached out, Jenice recoiled in terror and dodged my hand.

A heavy silence filled the room.

"I-I'm sorry, My Lady!"

Jenice immediately threw herself flat onto the floor again.

"I... I must have gone crazy for a moment...! How dare I avoid your hand...!"

Large tears dripped onto the carpet.

I inhaled sharply.

The novel had only mentioned that Airel abused the people around her.

It had never actually shown how she treated them.

But seeing Jenice panic simply because I reached toward her...

It seemed Airel had been even worse than I'd imagined.

I had underestimated her.

Watching Jenice cry made me want to cry too.

...Maybe keeping a safe distance for a while is the best idea.

Awkwardly withdrawing my hand, I stepped back.

"I'm sorry, Jenice."

"...What?"

The moment I whispered weakly, Jenice looked up in surprise.

Slowly, I knelt in front of her.

It felt unfair to apologize for something I hadn't done.

But I couldn't think of a better way.

If I wanted to cancel the curse and survive here...

The first thing I needed was Jenice's forgiveness.

If you've done something wrong...

You apologize.

That's only right.

"I was only trying to brush your hair away, but I ended up frightening you. That's because I've treated you badly until now."

"...My Lady?"

Jenice's eyes trembled as she looked at me.

I forced an awkward smile and carefully held out my hand.

"So... I want to sincerely apologize for everything I've done. From now on, you don't need to bow your head to me anymore."

"Why all of a sudden...?"

Her face gradually turned pale as she looked back and forth between my hand and my face.

It seemed she found my behavior suspicious since it was nothing like Airel.

I hurriedly added,

"I... I realized that no one has the right to force you to kneel! I know it's far too late, but I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you, Jenice."

So please... help me! I really don't want to die.

Desperately, I lowered my head.

Hoping she would understand how sincere I was.

Hoping she would accept my apology.

After what felt like an eternity...

"Lady Airel..."

Jenice gently placed her hand on top of mine.

"Do you remember the promise we made when we were children?"

"...Huh?"

"We promised that if either of us did something wrong, we'd forgive each other once. That's what friends do. Even though... you stopped keeping that promise, I've always remembered it."

As she said she forgave me, Jenice squeezed my hand with tearful eyes.

It seemed she had remembered their childhood friendship.

How could she be this kind? What on earth did Airel do to someone like her...?

My own eyes began to sting.

"Jenice..."

"Um... but, My Lady."

"Yes?"

"Every place you visit is incredibly strange and suspicious, so... I honestly have no idea how I was supposed to answer the question you asked earlier..."

What?

I immediately raised my head.

The tears that had been threatening to fall disappeared instantly.

"This is the building?"

After getting out of the carriage, I looked back at Jenice.

She hurriedly climbed down after me and nodded.

"Y-Yes... This is the last place."

I looked up at the gloomy staircase.

The building before us looked so abandoned it seemed ready to collapse.

Ha... I hope I finally find something useful.

Looking down at the small notebook in my hand, I sighed.

Illegal circus.

Gambling den.

Dog fighting arena.

Black market.

Slave market.

Just what kind of life did Airel live?

Thinking back on all the places we'd already visited made my head spin.

Jenice hadn't been exaggerating when she said everywhere Airel went was suspicious.

Even this final destination sat at the very edge of the underworld district.

There was one piece of good news I'd learned through Jenice.

I have a lot of money.

Dresses.

Jewelry.

Airel's wardrobe was filled with priceless belongings.

Even her monthly allowance was more than enough.

The Duke might have treated Airel like she didn't exist...

But he certainly didn't hold back when it came to money.

Maybe that's the last shred of his conscience.

It was fortunate...

Though also absurd.

After all, the only reason Airel had been able to strut around high society acting like a villainess was because of that wealth.

Inside her home...

She was merely an unwanted illegitimate daughter.

Outside...

She was Lady Airel of House Blandiche.

Covered in jewels and gold, no one dared criticize her openly.

A ducal lady was still a ducal lady.

That's probably why she could wander into places like this whenever she wanted.

What a world.

"Let's go."

After collecting my thoughts, I loosened the ties of my robe and started walking.

I'd seen so many unpleasant things today that my stomach was turning.

Then—

"Huh? Am I coming too?"

Jenice's confused voice stopped me.

I turned around in surprise.

Jenice...

And even the escort knights who always accompanied us...

Were all standing still.

...Oh.

A slow smile spread across my face.

If this is a place Airel always came to alone...

A place where she left behind both her maid and her guards...

I've finally got a lead.

This place reeks of something suspicious.