Super-dreadnought Villainess – Epilogue

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Epilogue – After All, I Am the Villainess, Am I Not?

　

A gazebo in the Royal Palace.

Deep within the Royal Rose Garden, an area reserved only for the Queen.

There, a tea party was being held.

I was seated there. And across from me was the Queen.

In complete silence, the two of us enjoyed our tea with elegant, refined gestures.

Without making a sound, the Queen gently set down her teacup and finally spoke.

　

“Was it truly necessary to corner my dear son to such an extent?”

“……”

　

I only glanced at her, shifting just my gaze.

　

“I… I truly believed you would become my child…!”

　

Though her tone was accusatory, such words held no sway over me.

The moment I resolved myself as Duchess, the moment that magic bell rang, the path to becoming future Queen had ceased to hold any value.

　

“And of all people, that Saint…”

　

I felt certain that this woman was equating Lunaria with the late Duchess.

I had intended to corner her gradually, but perhaps the condemnation of the King had had too much of an effect on her heart. Her tone was no longer that of a Queen.

It had become casual, like talking to an old friend.

　

──────I’m sorry, Your Majesty. It seems I have broken the heart of you, my mother’s friend. However, if you possess a sound mind, you could never endure your own child being disinherited. That is why….

　

Apologizing in my heart, I imitated my mother’s smile, as preserved in her portrait, and offered an elegant smile.

　

“My, to be united with the one you love… is that not just like you!”

　

Desperately recalling the speech patterns and vocal inflections of my mother, preserved in the distant recesses of Lunaria’s memories, I continued.

　

“If you raised him wrong, then you should simply… yield.”

“Yield… what?”

“There are plenty of spare princes, after all!”

　

I had heard from my butler, Cain, that the friendship between my mother and the Queen was sometimes twisted.

Although they were usually very close, the slightest trigger could send them into a tirade against each other. Still, it was always extremely brief, never lasting long.

Perhaps the closer they were, the easier it was for their true feelings to slip out.

But still, what kind of relationship did those two have? I couldn’t help but inwardly question it. Yet, their positions were those of the Queen, and Lunaria’s mother, a high noble.

Is that how friendship can be? I pondered it in the back of my mind as I continued speaking, trying to echo my mother’s words from before.

　

“It’s fine. Let the child take responsibility for what they’ve done. You should just watch over your beloved King and the future of this country.”

“Is that… really so? “

“Of course it is. You’ve worked hard enough already. It’s only right, yes, absolutely right!”

　

With exaggerated emphasis, I affirmed all of the Queen’s past efforts, achievements, and very existence as a royal consort—never once denying them—while subtly urging her to step down from her current position and withdraw. I gave her a firm push with my words.

After pondering like a child, lost in indecision, she finally answered, “That’s right,” and my smile deepened.

I told her that I would visit regularly, hold her hand tightly, and smile at her like a close friend. I continued my words as if they were invisible poison meant to seep in and corrode.

　

“You must make preparations promptly, you know?”

“That’s right… quickly, uh… yes, I suppose.”

　

Seeing the Queen smile sadly, my heart ached just a little.

Childhood memories swirled through my mind.

Don’t waver. Don’t hesitate.

Even if she was my mother’s friend, the fact remains that her parenting failed. No, it was the failure of the current Royal Family’s parenting, including hers.

A complete overhaul is necessary.

To achieve that, she is the first obstacle.

After finishing my tea, I stood up, smiled like a girl, bowed to the Queen, and waved goodbye, saying, “See you later,” even though I would never come again.

　

I never looked back.

　

　

──────────

　

　

“Sister, why did you start talking about adopting an heir? It’s not easy to find a child worthy of the Solfege name, you know…”

“Alicia, don’t you whine.”

“But still…”

“… My mother chose her own marriage partner, and this is the result.”

“Ah.”

　

She had chosen her own husband, and he had caused all sorts of trouble.

Given that, I thought that bringing in superior blood from elsewhere might be one solution.

　

“Even so, if we were to seriously start looking… it would be difficult within this country…”

“Would it not be acceptable to look in other nations as well…?”

“That might be worth considering too…”

　

The two girls grumbled (although one of them had just come of age), while Falitus flipped through letters of courtship, casually tossing them aside.

Mithos gathered the discarded profiles and tied them into bundles with string.

It was a rather surreal scene, but the servants of the Duke’s household only had wry smiles on their faces as they helped tidy up.

The word “adoption” that I had announced at the Royal Palace spread far and wide with unimaginable speed.

Not only throughout the Duchy, but also among those who studied with Lunaria at the academy. Grasping at straws, they have sent letters of courtship.

Do they not realize that it is not some glamorous Cinderella story?

Any person with common sense knows they couldn’t possibly survive in this hellish noble society.

However, seeing how much Lunaria changed at the academy, it was understandable that students would cling to a sliver of hope and send courtship letters.

　

“Huh… One really shouldn’t speak carelessly… I’ve learned that the hard way. Even someone like me.”

“Sister, let’s take a break!”

“Everything’s ready. Please, this way.”

　

The butler and maid had already set up a tea table.

The plates were beautifully arranged with colorful cakes, simple baked goods, and seasonal fruits.

Alicia sat down on the sofa, took a breather, and slowly sipped her tea, then, after choosing a cake, she looked around at everyone as if suddenly remembering.

　

“Oh yes, it seems the Second Prince is making good progress in his Crown Prince education.”

“That’s most reassuring.”

“Uncle Falitus has been encouraging him, you know. And His Highness the Third Prince has been staying with us without incident.”

　

“Ufufu,” Alicia beams with delight, finally showing a smile befitting her age.

　

“You two should just keep things going smoothly.”

“Yes. And what’s more, the Third Prince and I think alike! Our household will surely thrive even more. No, I’ll make sure it thrives!”

　

Full of confidence, backed by the strength and drive to make it happen.

Alicia cut a slice of the strawberry tart she’d chosen and took a bite.

　

“So, what will you do, Sister?”

“I wonder. I suppose I’ll put the adoption on hold for now. Though finding a suitable marriage partner is proving quite the challenge as it is… Perhaps I’ll travel for a while…”

“Eh.”

“Hah?”

　

Mithos and Falitus stare blankly.

　

“What is the head of the foremost Duke House saying!!”

“Miss Lunaria?!”

“Well, won’t you hear me out? There’s no guarantee that the Royal Family we support will endure forever, is there? I’ve had my fill of incidents like this one.”

“That’s… well, yes…”

　

Mithos found himself at a loss for words. But one mustn’t forget that Lunaria possessed a wildly unconventional way of thinking, even if this world continued as a ‘game’.

Even if she declared she’d play along with being the Villainess, summoning a Demon King? That’s not something ordinary people do.

It was only because it was a game, and the story conveniently favored the protagonist, but… it made me shudder to think about it. Or rather, the three who heard Lunaria’s story trembled at the thought that such a being could even be summoned, but I myself was very nonchalant about it, saying, “I guess that’s what would have happened if we had followed the game’s plot”.

The current Lunaria is utterly, completely, and without exception using every possible means to crush all enemies without relying on magic.

Even the Royal Family is nothing but an obstacle if it stands in the way of my peaceful future. Therefore, I will finish them off without mercy.

The same applies to the matter of the adopted heir.

Although it was just something I blurted out, from Lunaria’s perspective, she would want to avoid a situation in which the Duchy would be wiped out if something were to happen to her. She would want to make absolutely sure that creature, the expelled brother, can never return. That’s why I wanted to be a fierce person like that. And since I dislike the Royal Family getting too involved, I won’t accept their help either.

First of all, Alicia screamed that the prerequisite of being “a fierce person like that” was far too high a hurdle, but I’ll leave that aside.

　

“Although it has been decided that a new wind will blow through the current Royal Family, my family doesn’t go out much, so we won’t be able to bring in anything new, right?”

“Ah…”

　

Although Solfege is a Ducal House, compared to other Ducal Families, they aren’t particularly active externally.

The three heads of the families nodded in agreement after some thought.

　

“There is no rule saying I absolutely mustn’t go out. So, wouldn’t it be possible to try incorporating a little of the outside world?”

　

Though phrased as a question, all three understood that I was stating it as a near certainty.

Of course, the servants waiting in the background understood it too.

The servants were especially relieved when I explained that I wouldn’t be away for a year or two.

At most a few weeks—two weeks at least.

Actually, this game has a sequel, but Lunaria doesn’t appear in the main story of that one. The sequel has its own heroine who does this and that, but I think her personality was far better than Manna’s.

Since Lunaria, the Villainess, wasn’t in it, I had no desire to play it, but I did gather information.

So, I had to be careful not to run into the sequel’s heroine.

If I did encounter her, and she too turned out to be a reincarnated soul, it was obvious it wouldn’t end well.

The Villainess who vanished from the first game, erased from the stage, is now alive and enjoying life?

That’s nothing but a glitch.

If I accidentally ran into the sequel’s heroine, some strange coercive force might kick in again. So…

　

“To gather knowledge from other countries and run a better domain… I shall be stepping out for a little while. After all, this future was only achieved by shattering the script and getting everyone’s cooperation.”

“Well said. I’m sure you have the mental fortitude to accomplish it even without us.”

“Indeed. But wouldn’t you want to harass those who get in the way with all your might? … Do you really think I’ll forgive pinning all those unfounded crimes on me?”

“I don’t think so, Sister.”

“I suppose that’s just like you.”

　

The three of them laughed.

I was drawn to it and smiled gracefully and bewitchingly.

　

“I merely showed that even if someone is a villain to one person, they aren’t necessarily villainous to others… but hehe… aah… His Highness the former Crown Prince… the Saint… the one and only King and Queen of this country, everything… All of them, every last one… were merely official characters meant to obstruct me… Indeed, to them, I was the ‘Villainess’……”

　

“Ufufu,” I laughed, sipped my tea, and continued speaking leisurely.

　

“But it can’t be helped. After all…”

　

　

　

　

　

“I am the ‘Villainess’, am I not? In that case, I shall play the part to their heart’s content. And then, they can regret their own actions, their own words and deeds. I won’t show them any mercy.”

　

　

　

　

Now, let’s get started on the “future” I have seized.

　

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