Chapter 28: Villains

Knock, knock.

Just as I was about to try on the dress Lady Fisalia had chosen for me, someone knocked on the fitting room door.

The tapping was so delicate that I knew immediately it couldn’t be Kaelvarion. Much less the clumsy von Lysander or the ever-dramatic Lady Marionette.

So I did the most natural thing I could think of.

"Please use another fitting room. This one is occupied."

A voice answered from the other side—harsh, cold, and with that faint diaphragmatic tone I could recognize even in my sleep.

"Open. It’s Fisalia."

I didn’t need to think twice. I opened the door at once.

There she was. Her white hair, pure as moonlight, fell over her shoulders with elegance. But her expression… was another story. Her brows slightly furrowed, her lower lip bitten with her canine.

She was upset—and not just a little.

I’ve known her since childhood; I can read her face as if it were a mirror of my own thoughts. But this time, I couldn’t guess the exact reason.

Was she here to talk to me, to ease her stress?
…Highly doubtful. Fisalia stopped being sentimental a long time ago. She went from a sweet little girl to a fully formed lady in every sense of the word.

So again, I did the only proper thing in this situation.

"Lady Fisalia, what seems to be the matter?" I asked, bowing my head slightly with a formal smile.
A lady must always show courtesy—just as Mother taught me.

"I’ll get straight to the point. That filthy Nen is here. Two fitting rooms away."

"Eh? Seriously?" I replied, maintaining the smile, though just hearing her name made my stomach twist.

I could already picture it. If Kaelvarion found out, he’d surely try something stupid for that stray cat.

By all the gods, why did I have to run into her even here? That woman was like a parasite clinging to my skin, draining every drop of my patience.

"I see. Thank you for informing me of such… unpleasant company."

"I’m not done," Fisalia replied firmly.

"Mmm?"

"I don’t like that Nen. But Lord Auren ordered me to watch her, to make sure she doesn’t cause trouble. I dislike it. I feel like she’s dangerous. My instincts tell me that stray cat wants to sink her claws into him. And I won’t allow that."

Her words were laced with a frozen tension. It was rare to see her unsettled. Normally, Fisalia maintained an almost inhuman composure. But today… there was a crack in her façade.

I didn’t respond. Though her words helped confirm my own suspicions: that stray wasn’t just getting involved with Kaelvarion, but also meddling with the closed circle that is Fisalia and Lord Auren.

A circle so airtight that I was expelled before I ever stepped inside.

Even if a lady like me shouldn’t think it: I don’t like Lord Auren.

I always told her to stay away from that Ice Prince, but she never listened.

I don’t know how to put it into words, but… there’s something about his magnanimous presence that doesn’t feel right. And it’s not just the weight of his title.

It’s something else…

I tried reasoning with her once, but she distanced herself from me. I understood then that insisting would be a mistake. Making my family an enemy of the Fisalia clan was a price far too high to pay for an instinct without proof.

So I let it go.

But of course, that stray cat couldn’t do the same.

…Truthfully, I feel a little bad for her…

Nah. I’m lying. Not even a little.

"Even so, Lady Fisalia… why tell me all this?"

She crossed her arms, throwing me a sideways glance.

"I know she’s been meddling in your affairs with His Majesty Kaelvarion. You want her gone, and so do I. That gives us more than enough reason to work together, don’t you think?"

"Work together? Are you telling me that you, the loyal and ever-righteous Jade von Fisalia, are going to disobey a direct order from Lord Auren?"

Fisalia’s lips tightened, her expression unreadable.

I’ll admit it—it was my mistake to let my tongue slip with such a sarcastic remark.

"My personal affairs have nothing to do with this."

"Oh, I think they do," I wanted to say. But I held my tongue. It wasn’t the time to provoke her.

I wanted her on my side for the benefit of my family. We may no longer be childhood friends, but we certainly aren’t enemies.

"If you don’t want to cooperate because you fear Lord Auren’s retaliation, that’s fine. I can handle it myself."

"Wait!" I stopped her before she reached the door.

My tone was firmer than I expected.

Thinking through the situation more carefully: Lady Fisalia is asking me for help. That means that if I play my cards right, I can kill two birds with one stone.

I’d get rid of that disgusting stray, and on top of that, strengthen ties with the Fisalia family.

Not bad at all. Now, what do we have to work with?

Still holding her wrist, I formed a soft smile with my lips and eyes—the most genuine smile I could muster.

"I never said I wouldn’t help. Let’s do it."

Fisalia nodded, her icy gaze surely forming a striking contrast with my warmth, if any bystander happened to be watching.

Perfect. We caused enough commotion to attract the guards. Now we’re heading to the security room.

Everything so far is going according to what we managed to plan in the little time we had.

I must admit, running all the way here from behind was troublesome. At least I managed to get ahead of them because—shockingly—Kaelvarion was actually useful for once, stopping them for a moment.

Sometimes his impulsiveness can be quite convenient.

According to what Fisalia told me, Madam Herz had a particular interest in that stray because of her Non-Elemental Magic aptitude. A shame, honestly… that something so rare ended up in such a vulgar creature.

So we’re at a disadvantage.

But if we could implicate her in a theft… we could stain her record. Even Madam Herz would have no choice but to look away.

It wouldn’t be immediate, but the downfall would be inevitable.

As we walked toward the security room, I felt the stray’s gaze land on me.

"What? If you’ve got something to say, say it."

"I was just wondering how it feels to be such a piece of sh*t."

"Ask yourself. After all, you’re the adulteress."

"There you go again… I told you from the start: I’m not interested in your fiancé. Literally, I haven’t done anything that could even be considered flirting."

"In front of me," I replied with a cold smile.

"What?"

"You haven’t done anything in front of me. But that doesn’t mean you didn’t seduce him behind the scenes."

…I don’t know if that’s true. But when I think about how Kaelvarion gets so fixated on her, I can’t help but feel she did something. Then again… we’re talking about His Majesty…

Even so, it doesn’t matter anymore. I just need her gone.

"This isn’t a personal vendetta," I said, feigning calm. "It has nothing to do with my feelings. This is about your criminal acts."

"Uh-huh. And I was born yesterday. You and I both know you set me up."

"Serious accusations, coming from someone like you," I whispered.

I stopped for a moment, placing myself at her side. Then I leaned toward her ear.

"Who’s going to believe that a noble of my standing would do something so dirty? You’re just a Nen. I’m a real lady."

It was the truth. No one would take her side over mine. They’d have to be an absolute idiot.

I expected her to tremble, but instead she forced a smile. She wanted it to look defiant… but her lips were shaking, and the glint in her eyes betrayed her anxiety.

Good try.

She didn’t pull it off, but I’ll admit—I had a little fun.

"And you think the cameras won’t show that I stole nothing? They might even show that it was you!"

I couldn’t help it. I laughed.

A soft laugh at first, which turned into a small cackle I had to stifle behind my hand.

Then I extended that same hand and ruffled her hair, giving her a couple of not-so-gentle pats on the head, like petting a dirty animal. I made sure to be as condescending as every fiber of my being allowed.

"Aw. It must be so nice having such a simple mind."

"Hey, cut it out! You think I’m some kinda pet or what?"

I ignored her, giving her one last pat on the head.

Stupid stray. Did she really think we wouldn’t prepare for something that basic?

"Ahem… Lady Wiebke, I must ask that you refrain from mistreating a student. It is not a proper example," Lady Ryu scolded, her voice stern.

Her silver eyes pierced my skin. I’ll admit it—if she were a true noble, she’d be a woman to fear.

Even so, I must show courtesy, even if she’s just an elevated commoner.

"My apologies," I replied with my usual composure. "I wasn’t mistreating her. It was simply… a game. Right, Lady Adelheid?"

"Go to hell, b*tch," the stray muttered, swatting my hand away.

I’ll give her that one point. She didn’t fall for my provocation. If she had hit me, I’d have had the perfect excuse to tear open a hole in her body, right in front of everyone.

After that, she stepped aside, moving next to Lady Ryu.

And so, we finally reached our destination. Where the plan would take shape.

I looked at Fisalia and smiled.

All right, dear Jade von Fisalia. Let’s make sure that filthy Nen is gone. Not today. Maybe not tomorrow.

But I promise you—we’ll make it happen.