Chapter 2: A New Lackey.
It... has been one week since the party.
The heroine was escorted out of their mansion, leaving a bittersweet feeling in the villainess' stomach. The passionate night that they had was one of the most- well... ahem.
She was hiding her figure in her private office, not wanting to leave and just decided to work on some documents that her parents gave her about some businesses that they have. Lady Olivia has come of age recently, it would be the perfect time for her to learn about managing the family's business.
Which was maintaining their wealthy farmlands and residence.
"There have been a few requests for repairs... that's going to be a headache for my father but I could report our past financial reports and see what I can do with it." (Lady Olivia) was looking at the past records of their expenses, sales and taxes records. It was a blessing that she had some background in accountancy but- some of the laws in this world were different from hers.
She has never experienced someone dealing with the taxes of lower class nobility residing in their territory so she had to be careful on margining the numbers.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Lady Olivia didn't even glance up at the door and orders for whoever it is to come in.
"You may enter." She takes a bite of her thumb after learning that her father has not been maintaining their finances properly, using some of their extra sales in useless things like- an expensive tiger rug that was in their living room.
Her personal butler sees her lazy and gossiping young miss- turned into a diligent heiress who voluntarily helped around for the past six months.
It surprised him at first but soon accepted that the young lady of the house is growing up.
"Oh Sebastian, it's just you. Yawn... lovely morning isn't it?" (Lady Olivia) gave him a smile and slightly yawned looking tired from all that paperwork that she had to deal with.
Sebastian takes a letter out of his vest and presents it to the villainess. "Milady, another letter has arrived for you. The sender is from the adopted daughter of Baron Borbón, Lady Mariana Borbón."
The smile on the villainess' face was gone in an instant just by hearing that name. "What did you just say?"
"It is from Lady Mariana Borbón."
She didn't say anything for a moment and reached out her hand to take the letter. "Give it to me. After that you can leave."
"Y-Yes, milady." (Sebastian) could feel the change in her mood changing just by seeing the letter in her hands and excused himself after completing his task.
Clack.
He closes the door and glances back, "How odd... and scary the young lady is sometimes."
The said odd and scary young lady was clutching on the letter nervously, reading the name written on its back several times. The heroine has sent her a letter. Regarding to what it's contents she has no clue and it's making her feel a little anxious.
"That girl has the nerve to send me a letter?" (Lady Olivia) takes her sharp letter opener and opens it at the side. The smell of rose scented wax was strong. "She should learn her lesson and not contact me before the story starts or else I'll be damned-"
"...!"
===
Dearest Lady Olivia Charlotte Alarie,
How have you been this past week?
My mind seems to never tire of thinking of you. I wonder if you feel the same. My heart races whenever I would remember the passionate night we have had, hopefully we would do it again. The way you whispered into my ear, how beautiful and how you loved touching me in certain places- I miss it.
I am having a small party for my father's sake soon. Will you be able to attend?
If you do, you will be rewarded greatly.
Sincerely,
Mariana Borbón
===
That ends the written part of the letter but attached to it was a very explicitly drawn nude art of the heroine in great detail and Lady Olivia couldn't stop staring at the wonderful piece of art that would put some of the greatest paintings to shame before-
"What is she doing?!" She places the art somewhere safe before calming herself down.
What the hell happened to the heroine and why is she suddenly sending her nudes?! Lady Olivia's body suddenly felt hot and something didn't feel right down there.
"It's okay- she can still be fixed! It's my fault that I got her to be like this so I'll bring the original heroine back!"
The sweet, pure and innocent heroine for her to bully!
But after what she did would it be so easy for them to go back?
...
The next day... still holding the letter that was in her hand she didn't know what to do. Should she attend? Or keep following the plot to make sure that the game is finished?
"..." (Lady Olivia) was quietly eating her breakfast the servants had prepared and stood up from the table, to hear really loud gossiping in the corner of the hallway of their mansion.
"Have you seen Milady's guest wearing the same clothes on the night and then the next day of the party?" Some servants have certainly seen the heroine wearing the same dress as the night they were happily drinking wine and dancing.
"Do you think she tortured her all night long? I feared that milady's room was full of voices screaming in agony." One maid dropped in a low manner and whispered it, but Lady Olivia's ears perked at hearing whatever nonsense these servants were yapping about.
The one next to the maid nods and agrees with the prospect of their young lady torturing the poor girl. "It is a well known fact that the Alarie family are full of sadists and enjoy humiliating people that cross them. So maybe she did something else too."
"Oh goodness-!"
Lady Olivia Charlotte Alarie's face was flushed red with all the rumors that were surrounding her servants. How awful she was coming from a family of sadists and falling not too far from the tree.
Though she is not sure if she was happy that the rumors turned out this way instead of the truth coming out. Which is worse-? Everyone knowing that she slept with the heroine in her own private quarters or that she kept her inside her room to be tortured?
Just thinking of it makes her head hurt even more.
"Will you all stand there and not do your job like you are supposed to?!"
"L-Lady Alarie!"
"Beat it before I fire all of you for being such an eyesore."
"Y-Yes, milady."
Honestly... the one who was tortured was her with all the bite marks and nail scratches the heroine has left her with. "What kind of brain for a light magic user to forget healing my wounds to cover up the marks?"
It was either she was truly oblivious or she left those marks on her body on purpose.
"Ugh, what a way to start my morning." She groggily walks back to the direction of her private office but not before Sebastian came running to her in a rush.
"Milady, hold on for one moment!" (Sebastian) was one of the most hardworking butlers there was in the mansion- and you could say that she's her right hand man.
"Sebastian, is something wrong? It seems you ran over there in such a hurry."
"Apologies, but we have an unexpected visitor. The eldest daughter of the noble house of Sinclair wishes to speak with you." (Sebastian) takes a handkerchief from his pockets and wipes off his sweat from running.
Lady Olivia sighs, trying to remember this unexpected visitor and from what kind of noble house did she belong.
"The eldest daughter of the noble house Sinclair... ah- you mean Lady Anne. I haven't seen her in a while." The villainess made a few 'acquaintances' or 'friends' in order to survive the political alliances of the new world.
One of them being a count's daughter.
Lady Anne Sinclair, in terms of power she's nothing compared to her status but- that girl is rumored to be very talented and gifted in academics.
That includes magic.
"What does she want this time?" Though the villainess is not in the mood for an unexpected visit, since these things happen for a reason- they're not even that close to be considered as proper friends that would casually visit at random.
If she's going to be visiting unexpectedly, then Lady Anne must want something.
"Tell her to meet me in the garden and prepare adequate treats for her to enjoy." She orders Sebastian who takes note of everything, bowing to his young lady.
"Certainly, I'll let Lady Sinclair know that we'll let her in now."
"Thank you, Sebastian. I'll be expecting her in a moment." She went through her room and changed into proper clothes for a tea party.
And then left to see the eldest daughter.
...
The garden of the Alarie family was wide, it was full of assorted purple flowers- for some reason her parents really adored that color.
For it's the color symbolizing their noble house.
At the gazebo, a young woman with dark black hair and red eyes was sitting down peacefully as she took her teacup to her mouth. Drinking the hot tea, looking at the wisteria flowers hanging by the tree.
How wistful, this place was serene.
Lady Olivia stares at the young noble lady and wonders how side characters can have this much charm and it's not properly given justice by the game!
This woman in front of her... was beautiful.
But not as beautiful as the heroine.
"Lady Anne Sinclair... to what I owe the pleasure of your visit?" (Lady Olivia) walks over to her and she only hums in reply.
Lady Anne finally notices her company, she eyes her clothes and wonders very weirdly of it. "...hmm."
"Did you only visit to give me a long cold stare, Lady Anne?" (Lady Olivia) sat down right next to her, trying her best not to roll her eyes.
Lady Anne shakes her head. "No, just wondering why you have such layers of clothing. I know your style and it's usually loose- especially now that we're in the summer. Did something happen at the party perhaps?"
The villainess chuckled, instinctively hiding some of the hickey marks that the heroine left in her body- "Perceptive but I don't see how that's any of your business. After all, whoever I sleep with is my own private matter."
Lady Anne nods, understanding what she said and decides that she won't take long to explain her true purpose of visiting.
"Hmm... that's true, well then I won't beat around the bush and tell you the reason why I'm here." She places down the teacup at the coaster and offers a proposal. "I would like an alliance between us, I've been told you prefer a straightforward approach."
Lady Olivia, the villainess truly did prefer the straightforward approach.
"Our families have been good friends. Even my little sister is getting along with your cousin from the main branch of the Alarie household." (Lady Anne) continues, remembering how happy her sister was with the little Alarie girl- though she has to keep tabs on that one.
That Evelyn Alarie seems to be... a little peculiar.
Lady Olivia hearing the main branch scoff. The whole branch of the tree is no better! Every single one is rotten and at the risk of falling. I suppose the children of the current generation are either a hit or miss as well.
"Then you'd ought to stick close to the main branch of our family, I see no benefits when it comes to me." She tells her and Lady Anne once more, disagrees with that statement.
"That is what you see but you will be a great asset to be associated with. Especially when we're in the academy next month. I'll be needing some aid for my personal projects."
"Excuse me- the academy next month?" That took the villainess by surprise, she knew school was near but she didn't expect it to be next month?
Then... next month is where the game will officially start?
"Yes, I thought you were well aware that the west royal academy for nobility is opening a new semester for all. Hmph, even letting a few exceptional commoners with no ties to royal blood." (Lady Anne) dislikes the idea of commoners being allowed in, because of competition- and status discrimination.
"Well, isn't that something?" Though the villainess doesn't really care who she'll be attending with, she's just worried about the heroine doing something she's not supposed to. "And what do I get for taking an alliance with you, Lady Anne?"
"Anything that I can give per your request it will be met. If you need me handling someone for you, it shall be done- you need money then I have lots to spare. All you have to do is act like my friend for the whole school year we're going to be together."
Lady Anne said that with no hesitation, making the villainess find her a little cute for making a contract deal to have friends.
"Do you not have a lot of friends, so why are you resorting to this?" She teases the girl and she slightly puffs out her cheek.
"I... have plenty of friends." She mutters out weakly, looking away.
"Hmph, sure but if your words are true... whatever I want huh?" (Lady Olivia) stares at her reflection in the hot tea, trying to think of something she can ask for.
Ding!
A lightbulb idea came into mind, she's having a hand time bullying alone so what if she has someone with her by her side like in the original game!
A lackey!
The lackey from the party is broken for stealing her job so she needs a new one anyway!
"Then-! How about bullying a certain adopted daughter of a Baron?"
"...pardon?"
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