Ruining the Villainess’s Scheme

“Uh…sorry?”

Of all the reactions I expected, I certainly didn’t think rage would be one of them. Perhaps I had deluded myself into thinking she would throw herself into my arms, sobbing in gratitude and vowing to repay this debt, and it would be the start of my harem life in another world (not that I actually wanted a harem, considering the trouble that came with it)…

…but getting my collar grabbed and being screamed at in my face were certainly not romantic. Also, where did her earlier composure go? I recalled her as the very image of calm when the second prince annulled their engagement.

I suddenly realized I had completely misread the situation. When the corners of her lips twitched, it wasn’t restraint at all. She was smiling. Earlier, when she was trembling, it was not because she was moved. It was because of rage.

Oh, s…

“Ahem.”

Clearing her throat, Lumiere released my collar and took a step back, recomposing herself. She folded her arms and glared at me.

“Listen, I understand you meant well, and I appreciate you standing up for me. But that was unnecessary.”

“...it was?” I raised an eyebrow. “Correct me if I’m mistaken, but are you saying you want to be exiled?”

“Yes!” Lumiere then caught herself, and she glanced away with a cough. “No, I mean…I saw the benefits of moving to a remote province. Truth be told, I tire of the intricacies and intrigue of court politics, and I would much prefer to leave the capital far behind.”

That didn’t make any sense. I might be from another world, but in the time I had spent here, I had never heard of any noble lady who was willing to accept banishment and leave the capital – the shining jewel of the Antares Kingdom where the latest fashions and most advanced technology flourished – for a distant, isolated province in the boondocks.

Rather, from what I knew, noble ladies competed fiercely to elevate their status by marrying into higher-ranked families. Lumiere enthusiastically letting go of her engagement with the second prince to be exiled to the middle of nowhere was completely at odds with everything I had learned about this world’s society.

“What is your real reason?”

“Real…reason?” She repeated, flustered. Probably because I wasn’t buying her bullshit. However, she refused to back down. Keeping her arms folded, she glowered. “You just need to know that I have a plan… and you ruined it.”

“My apologies.” I closed my eyes and ran through the possibilities in my mind. All the light novels and manga that I had read, maybe there was some reference I could find in there to explain her implausible behavior. Then it struck me. “Is there something in Atlytta? A treasure in the mountains, perhaps? Or an inheritance?”

“...what are you talking about?” Lumiere stared at me, her mouth hanging open in astonishment.

“I’m trying to reason out why you’re so desperate to be exiled to Atlytta.”

“No! It doesn’t have to be Atlytta! I just want to leave the capital!” She snapped.

“The money, then? If I hadn’t interfered, his highness would have given you ten thousand gold. Enough for you to retire to a little country estate outside the capital.”

“Why are you speaking as if I’m some old woman? I’ve no intention of retiring! It’s just that, if I continue to stay in the capital like this, I’ll eventually be killed!”

I stared at her silently for a few seconds, and her expression turned to panic. She inhaled sharply.

“No. Forget you heard that.”

“I can’t, my lady. If you’re in danger, I wish to help.”

“I don’t need your help!” Then she blinked. “Wait, wait…you believe me?”

“Yeah. I meddled when I shouldn’t have, without knowing that there are people in the capital after your life. I’m sorry. I’ll take responsibility and protect you.” I smirked and pushed my glasses up my nose. “I might look like this, but my skills might come in useful for a situation like this.”

After all, I was a reincarnator. I had a cheat.

“No, no! No one’s after my life! At least not now. And it’s…it’s…” She swallowed and looked away. My brow furrowed, and I considered her words.

“At least not now…so in the future.”

“Ah…well, something like that.”

Despite her vague words, the pieces fell together. Mostly because I’ve read this exact same scenario several times before.

“You’re a regressor.”

“Eh? Huh? W…what are you talking about?”

“Nothing. I’m just musing to myself. This is purely speculation…” I paused and made a show of thinking hard. “I assume objecting to the annulment of the engagement the first time round made things worse, and eventually led to your death. But instead of staying dead, you found yourself given a second chance at life.”

“Are…are you a mindreader?” She gawked at me. I shrugged, suddenly aware that we were attracting a lot of stares. A peddler from across the street was watching. A few ladies carrying baskets of fruit and bread were sneaking glances at us and whispering gossip. They were probably wondering how I had such a wild imagination.

No, I simply read a bunch of otome regression novels. They always follow the same plot.

“What led to your death? Were you executed after someone framed you for a crime you didn’t commit? Were you assassinated? Betrayed?”

“T…that’s…” Lumiere swallowed and hardened her expression. There was a flash of triumph, as if she was relieved that I could not, in fact, read minds. “I don’t believe we are close enough to share such intimate details. Come to think of it, I don’t even know who you are.”

“Ah, forgive my lack of decorum, Lady Lumiere.” I bowed. “I’m Trevor Livrebrook. My father is Baron Livrebrook.”

Her face was blank. “I have never heard of you.”

“It’s only natural, because we’re among the lowest ranking nobles, and our province is all the way in the northern border.”

“I also don’t remember you showing up in the previous timeline, when his highness annulled the engagement. Was it because I was throwing a tantrum and kicking up a fuss the last time that nobody stood up for me? Did my actions this time around cause a massive ripple effect? What else did I do differently this time?” She stiffened and grimaced. “Ugh, I hate being reminded of my black history.”

“Don’t worry, my lady. Now that the timeline has been reset, I don’t think that past counts any longer.”

“R…right! You’re correct! Anyway!” She pointed at me dramatically. “I’ll let you off the hook this time, but in future, do not get in the way of my plans! If you interfere again, I won’t forgive you then!”

“My deepest apologies, Lady Lumiere.”

“No, that’s…” She appeared chagrined when I bowed, and waved her hands frantically. “You had kind intentions. I appreciate that. I really do! I didn’t mean to berate you. It’s just that…I have plans, and this concerns my survival, so I need to be very careful that no one ruins everything accidentally!”

Then she frowned and pondered for a moment.

“...though, I doubt we’ll ever meet again, given that we never did in the previous timeline. So maybe I don’t have to worry.”

I felt a burning curiosity, mostly stemming from my bookish nature, but I suppressed it. It was rude to pry into a lady’s past. But, man, I really desired to know what had occurred in her previous life. It sounded very interesting.

There was a reason I read those otome books back in my previous life, after all. Though I didn’t understand the angst – the mysteries of a woman’s heart were beyond the comprehension of a male nerd like me – I did enjoy the schemes and revenge.

“Oh, it’s about time. Excuse me.” Lumiere straightened and glanced up, as if listening for a sound in the distance. She closed her eyes and sighed deeply.

“What happened? Are you all right?”

“Not exactly, but it’s inevitable.” She sighed again. “My father will be showing up any moment now to pick me up.” She scrunched her face and deepened her voice, as if to mimic him. “Get in the carriage. We’re going home. Stop shaming the duchy any more than you already have.”

She looked away and dropped her gaze, her voice now a whisper.

“No words of comfort. Not even anger at his highness for one-sidedly calling off the engagement established between our families since our birth. No, everything’s my fault, for bringing shame to the family.”

“Um…” I began, but the thunder of hooves drowned out any polite assurances I might have offered. Horses neighed as they galloped to a stop, pulling an exquisitely crafted carriage into view and drawing the attention of the residents whose homes lined the junction.

“What are you doing?”

A cold, sharp voice sliced through the air. The door to the carriage was flung open, and a handsome man with dark brown hair and piercing amber eyes leaned partly outside. I swear, he wouldn’t be out of place in a bloody CEO webnovel, playing the role of brooding male lead.

“Quit wasting my time dawdling along the streets. Get in the carriage. We’re going home. Stop shaming the duchy any more than you already have.”

“My deepest apologies, Father,” Lumiere responded in a small voice, her head bowed in a chastened manner. He regarded her frostily before disappearing back into the carriage. The duke’s daughter turned to me, a sad smile plastered on her beautiful features. “Well then, Sir Trevor. Good day to you.”

I watched her climb into the carriage before the horseman whipped his charges and the transport plunged into a terrifying dash ahead. However, my attention was no longer focused on the ostentatious exterior of the luxurious carriage. Instead, my mind wandered to the brief glimpse I caught of Duke Ombre.

Malevolent wisps of dark shadows had shrouded his imposing figure, composed of malignant runes and incessant malicious whispers that orbited his otherwise regal form. I recognized the insidious inscriptions. If left unchecked, they would continue to eat away at his emotions…his sanity, and render him into an unfeeling shell.

Clearly, someone had placed a curse on the duke…but to what end?