Super-dreadnought Villainess – SS 03

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The Villainess 1

　

On the day when Dale was about to condemn the entire royal family, the king must have told him, “If your engagement to Lunaria is annulled, you will no longer be the Crown Prince.”. It seemed he had realized that the only way he could remain the Crown Prince was to keep Lunaria’s existence in check, so he approached her triumphantly and asked her to listen.

And then, just to keep his relationship with Lunaria intact, Dale had flatly declared at that moment that he would abandon Saint Manna, even if it were merely empty words, and had immediately ordered his knights to banish her from the Royal Palace. Lunaria narrowed her eyes at Dale.

Ever since Dale had proposed renewing their engagement, seeing Lunaria remain silent, his anxiety had gradually built up. When Manna’s shrieks finally died down, the audience room finally fell silent, and it was so quiet you could almost hear Dale’s breathing. Dale’s expression betrayed a creeping desperation and pathos.

　

“Sister…”

　

Alicia was looking at Lunaria with concern, so she smiled confidently to reassure her.

　

“It’s all right.”

　

“Trust me,” she said telepathically to the fellow Dukes, and then, for the first time, she turned directly toward Dale.

She bowed gracefully and continued.

　

“I accept the re-engagement.”

“Really?”

“Huh.”

　

He didn’t even bother asking why Lunaria had accepted the renewed engagement so cheerfully.

And the other three Dukes behind her, though they kept quiet on the surface, somehow understood Lunaria’s intentions. They had heard from her that this world was a game world, and furthermore, since Lunaria had attempted suicide, they knew that there was a different soul within her who was not ‘her’… whose thought process was quite similar to Lunaria’s, and they knew that this did not mean that she wholeheartedly accepted the re-engagement.

The Crown Prince, the Saint Manna, and the King and Queen, who harbored what could be called an obsession toward Lunaria—‘she’ did not look kindly upon them.

In the first place, Dale’s re-engagement proposal was made at the King’s suggestion. If things had continued as they were, the Crown Prince would have been swiftly replaced without incident. Upon hearing the re-engagement proposal, Lunaria murmured telepathically.

　

“… Pathetic.”

　

Her voice was icy, her aura chilling, her gaze cold enough to freeze the soul. Just as ‘she’ had described, Lunaria—who possessed power sufficient to summon even the Demon King had things proceeded normally—flashed a glimpse of that power for just an instant. She skillfully adjusted the angle of her face to conceal her expression, hiding it slightly behind her bangs, and maintained the pretense of indecision.

When she lifted her face, it bore the usual expressionless mask of the Duchess of Solfege, from which she allowed only the slightest softening. That alone—merely shifting from a stern expression to a relaxed one—conveyed a gentle aura…. But inside, she was anything but calm; a storm was raging.

Dale hadn’t even considered that Lunaria was consciously controlling her actions to this extent. That’s why his expression suddenly lit up. He seemed oblivious to the fact that the Queen had grimaced at the Crown Prince for revealing such emotion.

Alicia secretly chuckled in Lunaria’s place.

　

“(Your Highness, your mother looks extremely disappointed.)”

　

Still, she wouldn’t say it aloud, nor would she offer any warning.

For it was this Crown Prince who caused Lunaria, whom Alicia cherished, such suffering—yet he himself remained utterly oblivious.

　

“Please allow me to offer my congratulations. Congratulations, Her Excellency the Duchess of Solfege and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Your Royal Highness Crown Prince Dale congratulates you on your renewed engagement.”

“… Congratulations”

　

Alicia, Falitus, and Mithos offered brief congratulations in turn. But when Mithos delivered his words so stiffly, Falitus couldn’t help but stare at him, then discreetly pinched his arm so no one would see.

　

“(A, ouch!)”

“(Let’s at least pretend to celebrate…. After all, we can all see how this will end, can’t we?)”

　

To hide the action of pinching his sore arm, the two were standing quite close.

After being whispered to, Mithos nodded his head several times in affirmation.

　

“… My sincerest congratulations, Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Duchess Solfege.”

“… Um, thank you.”

　

Lunaria offered a genuine smile to the three families.

A smile she would never show to Dale —one born of trust, and opening up her heart. Seeing it, Dale was stunned. Yet he seemed utterly unaware that, having neglected his fiancée all this time, he had no right to such an expression. He gritted his teeth.

　

“Lunaria, you…!”

“Is something wrong?”

“Why! Why don’t you smile at me like that?! We’re to be husband and wife in the future, no, very soon!?”

“Well… now that is an amusing thing to say.”

　

With a soft, mocking smile, Lunaria’s attention and gaze shifted to the King and Queen standing behind Dale.

　

“After all, it was not His Highness Dale who proposed this re-engagement, but rather His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen, was it not? Since it was not His Highness’ own opinion or will, I accepted. Besides…….”

“What?”

“You’ve been scheming to exclude me at every turn until this very moment. So why on earth would you think I would place even that much trust in you?”

　

When she gave him a scornful look, he flinched, his shoulders trembling as if frightened.

She accepted the re-engagement because the King asked it of her. And not because she was happy about it. She did it with a specific intention.

How could she trust a person who had committed an act of infidelity once already? He wasn’t worthy of her trust, and Lunaria owed him no obligation to relax her guard and smile at him. Beyond being astonished, Dale’s naivety in failing to grasp this was enough to make her laugh out loud.

Behind Dale, the King and Queen were clutching their heads in despair. Dale didn’t even notice them. She could see the chill in their regard toward him deepening, as they realized their beloved son had sunk to such foolish depths.

Even when confronted with this reality, he still couldn’t accept it, glaring at Lunaria. She might have admired his thick-skinned nerve if he hadn’t been displaying his utter foolishness to the Heads of the Duke Families and the retainers. Lunaria thought it might be time for him to stop.

Of course, she offered no advice.

And at this moment, when Lunaria accepted the re-engagement, it was confirmed that all the training she had received up until then to become Crown Princess would not be in vain, and her path to life as Crown Princess was now set.

　

“Your Highness the Crown Prince. I would like to say this…”

“What now?!”

“I shall, of course, fulfill my ‘role’ as Crown Princess. You must fulfill your ‘role’ as Crown Prince. Ah, and naturally, the state affairs will be divided between the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess. Is that acceptable, Your Majesty?”

“Of course it is. The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess don’t have entirely identical state affairs.”

“… Huh?”

　

The absurd voice caused the Queen to sigh in exasperation.

She understood that Dale, who was hopelessly infatuated, couldn’t handle his duties properly, and had just publicly declared this before everyone. But she hadn’t expected it to be this bad.

Back at the academy, Lunaria took on all his troublesome tasks. The reason was simple.

She was his fiancée, and she possessed solid practical abilities.

However, after he called off their engagement at the graduation party, all the government affairs and miscellaneous tasks that she had handled alone were returned to him. She had clearly refused, stating he was no longer her fiancé and thus had no obligation to do them.

Furthermore, given that the Royal Family had the audacity to propose a second engagement, Lunaria was now in a more advantageous position. Both at first and this time, the engagements were made solely due to the wishes of the King and Queen, and the late Duchess of Solfege never desired this connection in the first place. Even without it, they were a “Duke Family” because they had at least some royal blood in their veins.

　

“Wh, why must I do this?!”

“Because you are the Crown Prince, isn’t that why?”

　

She added, as if to say, “What are you talking about?”. Startled, Dale turned to look at his parents behind him. But within this brief exchange, the King and Queen, whose willingness to support him had already begun to wane, were looking at him with exasperated expressions.

　

“I… understand.”

“Then so be it. Ah, that’s right. I never anticipated having to re-engage in this manner, so I shall dedicate all my free time to my duties as Duchess.”

“… Huh?”

“After all, it was Your Highness the Crown Prince who willfully broke off our engagement, and now it is being forcibly reinstated.”

　

Lunaria said coldly and bowed respectfully to the King and Queen.

　

“I request that an office be prepared for me within the Royal Palace. Consider it a small reward for my compliance with the Royal Family’s unreasonable demands, and kindly grant it.”

“…………… very well.”

“…… Well, it is the result of our own unreasonable demands. Someone, prepare it quickly!”

　

At the Queen’s command, the retainers hurriedly left the room, rushing about to prepare an office for Lunaria to conduct her administrative duties.

Dale stood stunned, but urged by his aides, he exited the audience chamber.

The Heads of the Duke Households watched him depart before turning their attention back to the king.

　

“… Your Majesty.”

“… My apologies… Solfege.”

“I have pushed myself far beyond my limits. While I deeply regret this toward Her Majesty the Queen, I shall never again place my trust in that man. Furthermore, as I shall be fulfilling my duties as both Crown Princess and Duchess, I request your permission here and now to summon my household steward.”

“Th, that is…”

“Is this not a gesture of goodwill from Duchess Solfege…”

　

Falitus, who had remained silent until then, muttered this, and both Mithos and Alicia nodded.

　

“After causing such a commotion over the broken engagement at that party, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince proceeded to berate Duchess Solfege relentlessly at the academy, mocking her and hurling baseless accusations at her. Many commoner students witnessed this, and the rumor is spreading rapidly among them. Please understand that damage control is impossible, Your Majesty.”

　

At Mithos’ words, the Queen and the King turn pale.

　

“Besides, he hadn’t fulfilled his duties as a fiancé, had he? …An offer of renewed engagement from such a person? I would not accept it, nor would I wish to.”

　

Alicia’s relentless follow-up left them not just pale, but drained of color. However, the ones who had imposed this situation upon her and forced her acceptance, despite their own ulterior motives, were unmistakably the Royal Family.

Having repeatedly exposed what could be called the Royal Family’s shame in such a short time, the Royal couple finally realized the extent of their blunder. They were certain to find themselves unable to hold their heads high before Lunaria from now on.

She had accepted that Crown Prince.

They could only feel gratitude, denying her was simply impossible. Furthermore, while she was the fiancée of the Crown Prince at the academy, she even assisted him while also fulfilling her duties as the acting head of the Duke Family. After becoming Duchess, she had managed everything—her ducal responsibilities, her academy life, all of it—without fail.

Comparing Lunaria, a talented woman who has accomplished so much, to a Saint who hasn’t properly fulfilled any role isn’t even worth weighing on the scales.

While highly regarded, Lunaria had always pondered something in her daily life.

The ‘Lunaria’ existing here now is an entity deviating from the game system. She had delivered their judgment at the academy graduation party, returning their scorn in kind. However, she hadn’t truly paid them back for all that was done to her.

Even though she had allowed those two to be together according to the script, the Crown Prince forcibly reinstated the engagement.

Because of this, the point of granting them the happiness they desired in the first place became utterly lost. Lunaria wanted to live her life as a Duchess, walking alongside the Three Houses. Yet, the proposal for a re-engagement has ruined that.

She wasn’t entirely blind to the King’s feelings.

　

In that case, she decided she would accept—and then proceed to thoroughly destroy everything.

　

There was no doubt that Manna and Dale would never part ways and would continue meeting in secret.

Dale, who was born into royalty and held a privileged position, would never truly relinquish his status as Crown Prince. If so, she would grab him by the feet, drag him down, and force him to face what he’d done before everyone, ruining everything completely.

When she heard the word “re-engagement”, she had conceived this plan in an instant.

She wouldn’t be satisfied until she had forced the consequences of their actions upon Dale and Manna, made them understand, and utterly crushed them.

Lunaria was that enraged. Only the heads of the Duke Houses knew the full extent of her fierce emotions.

　

“Your Majesty, we beg your leave. We have matters regarding the future we must discuss amongst ourselves.”

“Very well… Lunaria, as Crown Princess, you know what your role entails. I leave everything to you.”

“As you command, Your Majesty. I shall act accordingly.”

　

After bowing and smiling, the Dukes left the audience room.

　

　

　

After passing through the Gate in the Royal Castle, they arrived at the residence of the Duke of Solfege. Kyle, who greeted them, couldn’t help but widen his eyes, as he saw the brows of the heads of the Four Family Heads furrowed.

　

“W, welcome back! Please…”

“Please prepare some relaxing herbal tea right away…!”

“I, I understand! Quickly, prepare for the Dukes!”

“Yes!”

　

The servants bustled about frantically.

Moving to the reception room, the four gathered. They sank into the sofa, leaning back deeply into the cushions. Though not in sync, all four let out a deep, deep sigh at the same moment.

　

“He’s not an idiot, is he? His Highness the Crown Prince, he’s completely incompetent…”

“I suppose this is the price to pay for such infatuation… Well now, what a predicament.”

“Lunaria, are you planning to handle both the Duke’s household and the Crown Princess at the same time?”

“I’ll do it…! I’ll show that I can. Then His Highness will let his guard down, thinking that he doesn’t need to worry about me, and he’ll end up meeting Miss Manna, right?”

“What are you planning to do, Sister?”

“…… Hey everyone. Does a ‘Saint’ who fails to fulfill her role have any value at all…?”

　

The three of them stopped moving as Lunaria quietly asked them, covering their eyes with the backs of their hands.

　

“Failing to fulfill her role, refusing to listen to our advice, and then spewing abuse at Alicia, Duchess of Mitzegard, at the party. … She also spews insults at me, the Duchess of Solfege. She dislikes her duties, has yet to do anything, has no achievements, a burden on her family… I wonder if such a person is necessary.”

　

“Hmm”, Falitus muttered, lifting the corners of his mouth.

　

“Unnecessary, indeed.”

“The truly pitiful ones are her family, the Viscount House… Ah, and the Queen as well.”

“Oh? And why is that?”

“Until now, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had been raised properly, managing his role reasonably well. Yet, lost in romantic distractions, he has become utterly worthless. Her Majesty made sure he had been properly educated up until then, right?”

　

Lunaria spoke without removing the hand covering her eyes.

　

“It would be best for the Queen and His Majesty to face reality and then ‘deal with’ it with their own hands…”

　

Finally, Lunaria removed the back of her hand, turned up the corner of her mouth, and laughed with great amusement.

　

“Wouldn’t that plunge them into despair?”

“Well… Sister, you look rather wicked.”

　

Alicia grinned back.

Though young, she had proven her skill as Head of the Duke’s Household within that palace teeming with demons and monsters. She naturally agreed with Lunaria’s plan and believed the Saint, who did nothing but hunt for men, was unnecessary.

If the Crown Prince remained serious and kept Mana at arm’s length, as he had declared he would, there would surely be no problems. If there was one, it would be the survival of the foremost Duke House.

However, if Lunaria’s plan goes through, she would not become the Crown Princess. Instead, she would be able to continue living with her family as a Duchess.

And Lunaria was confident she would succeed.

Although it was a rush, the Duke’s maids served them drinks, tea, and snacks.

Finally able to relax, Alicia first chooses a cake, while Mithos slowly sips some mint herbal tea.

Lunaria and Falitus both enjoyed the flavor and aroma of their Earl Grey tea.

　

“Saveur the magnitude of your resolve.”

　

Lunaria murmured softly, her voice low.

Hearing the mutter, the three exchanged glances and nodded to each other.

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