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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: The Villainess, Rose van Darmian (4)
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I never thought this would actually happen.
I became Rose's escort knight.
To be precise, not an escort knight, but a contracted attendant, but still.
At any rate, I was able to stay by Rose's side.
Honestly, the sole reason this was possible was thanks to the butler, Jetty.
Jetty had made several appeals to Viscount Darmian about me, but the most effective of them all was, without a doubt, the parfait.
"Hehehe, it's delicious!"
As I watched the pretty Rose giggle, her mouth smeared with chocolate, I couldn't help but think.
'How could he have thought of that?'
Cleverly, Jetty persuaded Viscount Darmian by emphasizing Rose's fondness for the parfait I made, rather than my numerous other virtues.
-"I told him that if you were taken on as an attendant, Lady Rose wouldn't sneak out like before."
Jetty, who had been smoothing his short, navy hair, said, pushing up his gold-rimmed glasses as if proud.
Thanks to him, I was able to enter the mansion more easily than I expected, and I've been staying by Rose's side for four days now.
One thing I realized while staying here.
Jetty was a better person than I had imagined.
-"There are two reasons why I'm accepting your absurd proposal. First, because I've always found you trustworthy, and second, because I can see with my own eyes that you genuinely care for Lady Rose."
-"So, if anything seems amiss with Lady Rose, inform me immediately. That is the only thing I ask of you."
He genuinely worried about Rose.
Sometimes he would complain to me, saying things like, 'The guests staying in the mansion have strange looks in their eyes.' Through this, I could tell how truly he cared for Rose.
'But why didn't he appear in the game?'
A sudden question arose. Why didn't Jetty, who was so devoted to Rose, appear in the game?
Because the setting was the academy?
That couldn't be it. As far as I remember, the Darmian family's butler had visited the academy before.
More importantly, the name of that butler, which I now vaguely recall, wasn't Jetty.
'That means Jetty either quit his job or died along the way...'
The former, considering Jetty as he is now, has a significantly low probability.
So, if my prediction was correct, the latter was more likely.
'Those bastards.'
To harm young Rose enough to make her a villainess, and even kill the butler who genuinely cared for her in the process.
Truly, the more I thought about it, the more they deserved to die.
'Not on my watch.'
Naturally, if such a thing were truly about to happen, I intended to stop it with all my might.
Honestly, it was true that it would be a troublesome endeavor.
But that didn't mean I would be doing something to my own detriment.
'It's practically skipping Chapter 1.'
Rose was the boss of Chapter 1, infamous enough to be called the 'newbie pulverizer.'
But what if I protected the current Rose and prevented her from becoming a villainess in the future?
I would also be easing my own worries.
The worry of the original protagonist, Fran, being retired by Rose, or even me getting 'clipped' by some chili scissors.
"Lady Rose, it's time for your swordsmanship lesson with the head of the house."
Knock-knock, Jetty's voice echoed from outside the door.
"Okay."
Hearing this, Rose wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and stood up.
****
The first unexpected fact I learned while staying at the mansion.
Viscount Darmian and his wife were such good people that it was hard to imagine them as the villainess's parents.
"Hahaha, you surprise me every time."
"You flatter me, Viscount."
Viscount Darmian handed the wooden sword he was holding to an attendant and smiled contentedly.
From the first day I arrived at the mansion, the Viscount had been curious about the calluses on my hands, which is why he often sparred with me like this.
"No, even considering my age, you truly have a talent. I'm serious. Don't you agree, my dear?"
"Indeed. I thought he was only good at making parfaits, but he's also polite and skilled in swordsmanship, it's truly delightful to see. There was a reason our Rose was so taken with him."
When the Viscount jovially asked his wife, who was handing him a handkerchief, the wife, dressed in comfortable trousers, chuckled and replied.
'Anyone would think they weren't nobles, given how they act.'
I learned this time that Viscount Darmian and his wife were both from the same swordsmanship academy. His wife was a commoner at the time.
'A romance for the ages,' they say.
The two, who had spent time together, naturally fell in love and, as expected, faced opposition from their respective families.
But Viscount Darmian did not yield to his family's opposition, and, impressively, he eventually accepted his wife.
Perhaps that's why. Despite being nobles, they held no prejudices when dealing with people, and often showed me such friendly attitudes.
"What do you mean 'taken with him,' I wasn't... "
Rose replied, blushing and her voice barely a whisper.
Her appearance was so utterly cute that I unconsciously wore a satisfied smile.
"Haha, what do you think?"
Just then, Viscount Darmian approached me, put an arm around my shoulder, and asked.
I immediately composed my expression and asked back.
"What do you mean, sir?"
"My family, that is. Don't we seem quite harmonious?"
Why was he asking me this?
As I looked at him with a puzzled expression, Viscount Darmian grinned and continued.
"I'm just saying this because I'm in a good mood, so just listen. I, you see, want to keep this happy family intact."
"Indeed, I think I'd feel the same way. Honestly, I'm a bit envious."
"Hehe, you see it too, don't you? Now, let me ask you. How should one protect this happiness?"
"To protect it..."
Was it because it was a question I hadn't considered?
Or was it because I didn't know the answer?
For some reason, I found myself utterly speechless.
"A difficult question, isn't it?"
"Yes, it is difficult. Honestly, the only thing that comes to mind right now is force."
"Well, that's one of the right answers. That's why I haven't let go of my sword yet. And it's the same reason I had Rose wield a sword early on."
"...I think that's a very wise choice."
"Yes, it's not a wrong choice. Aren't you similar? The reason you took up a sword at such a young age, that is."
'Am I similar?'
Honestly, I'm not sure. I learned swordsmanship and magic not to protect something, but simply to survive in an unfamiliar world.
Well, if I think about it, I did it to protect my own life, so perhaps it's true after all.
"So, listen. If you have something to protect, protect it with all your might. Well, it goes without saying that my daughter is included in that, right now?"
"Of course, Viscount."
"Haha! You're truly a friend after my own heart. Yes. That's all there is to it. I look forward to working with you."
Viscount Darmian, who had laughed heartily and clapped me on the shoulder, then extended his hand to me.
"I look forward to working with you too, Viscount."
I wasn't sure if this was appropriate for a noble.
But I couldn't just stand there, so I politely clasped his hand and bowed at the waist.
"Alright. Come, let's head inside now."
Saying so, Viscount Darmian turned and then began to lead his family into the mansion.
"..."
As I watched the backs of the harmonious family, a sudden thought struck me.
If I were to witness this happy family falling apart.
I, too, would be quite broken.
****
The second unexpected fact I learned while staying at the mansion.
Count Cayden, a 5th-circle mage, had been teaching Rose magic during his stay at the mansion.
"Haha, the young lady is truly brilliant, isn't she? To learn so quickly."
"You flatter me, sir. This maiden is still far from the level of your esteemed children, yet you speak so highly, it's truly embarrassing."
Unlike the cute image I had of her, Rose was a clever child who meticulously observed the etiquette among nobles.
'A noble is a noble, after all.'
Since she had always shown such a clumsy side in front of me, I was quite shocked at first.
But what was most shocking was...
"Yes, the posture should be like this..."
"Ugh..."
"Ah, even if it's uncomfortable, you must endure it. All of this is for the young lady's benefit."
It was Count Cayden's lecherousness. He would grope young Rose under the guise of correcting her posture, just like now.
'Ugh, I really can't stand it.'
For now, he was only touching her thighs or arms, so I wasn't stepping in immediately.
But the occasional lecherous smile and increasingly bold gestures were more than enough to make me frown.
"Our little escort knight's expression isn't good. I understand your feelings, but you must endure. The Count is not as lenient as I am."
Had he seen my frown? Dunke, who was standing beside me, quietly whispered to me.
"And understand this. You haven't learned magic, so you wouldn't know, but posture correction is an absolutely necessary process."
When I remained silent, Dunke prattled on with nonsense, as if hoping I would flare up.
'What utter nonsense.'
Dunke's words were absolute bullshit. Posture is not important in magic.
On the contrary, a skilled mage should be able to cast their magic in any posture.
Despite this time being rife with nonsense and foul play.
There were two reasons I had endured until now.
"Let's end the lesson here. You've worked hard."
"...Yes. Thank you for your guidance, Count Cayden."
First, today was the last day Rose would be receiving lessons from Count Cayden.
And.
"Yes. I'll see you on the young lady's birthday. I've prepared a very precious gift, as a token of my enjoyment."
"This maiden is at a loss as to how to repay the great kindness you have bestowed upon her, Count."
"Hehe, no need for repayment. The young lady simply needs to happily accept the gift I give her, so don't worry and go."
Second, I knew the true nature of the terrible gift Count Cayden had prepared.
While staying at the mansion, I secretly observed Count Cayden, and fortunately, I was able to learn about his disgusting plan.
'Just two more days.'
Watching Rose walk down the hallway with a pale complexion, I vowed once more.
'I'll save you.'
That I would never let this girl be devoured by such vile desires.
Just as Count Cayden had devised a repulsive plan, I too had made my own a long time ago.
A plan on how to punish those rutting dogs.