Kapitel 23: Cynthia's Folly

"What's wrong?"

Emilia frowned, not quite sure herself if the strange feeling was just her illusion.

"No, it just felt like someone's been following us."

Crystal looked slightly embarrassed as she coughed.

"I-It's probably not wrong. All kinds of bad guys litter this area, so you should definitely be very careful if you ever come alone."

Emilia blinked, looking at the heroine curiously. "Don't you do it every day?"

The heroine looked slightly awkward. Is she a beautiful rich lady? Why would the thugs target some poor 'plain Jane' like her?

"I-It's different when it's you. I don't look that good."

The only ones she had to worry about would be the truly desperate of rapists, and those types didn't have the guts to go after someone in broad daylight where anyone could see them.

And even among those, there were probably few who would go after her, or at least that's what she thought.

Emilia clearly didn't seem to agree.

"Eh, don't these thugs have eyes?"

The heroine's face exploded in a fierce blush, wondering how she should explain that she wasn't talking about looking 'good' in terms of beauty, but wealth. Wouldn't that be insulting both of them at the same time?

If she really kept on insisting that she wasn't as good looking as the rich girl, then she would probably come off as a bootlicker. Worse, Emilia could think she was trying to flirt, which would probably drive her far away.

It was absurd to think how the thought of keeping her away would have filled Crystal's mind with relief not long ago, but she dreaded it so much just a few days later.

Although the two of them seemed to have completely forgotten about the strange gaze Emilia felt, Dixy couldn't be so nonchalant.

She already knew that Emilia probably didn't involve herself in their circle so far, and the girl was probably completely ignorant and defenseless against underhanded tricks, but her actions today really hammered it in.

'Even if we're learning how to fight, it's barely worth mentioning right now, and for her to be so carefree… Besides, even if this stalker is unrelated to our circle and is just an obsessive bastard, they still need to be dealt with.'

She did not voice her thoughts to Emilia, however, because her princess did not need to know everything.

Dixy preferred for her to remain as untainted of the muddiness in this world as possible, because it was the purity of her charm that had enchanted her from day one.

As for whatever bastard was following them, she hoped he was happy with the few looks he managed to sneak in today. It's better for people to pass on with at least one happy memory, after all.

Contrary to the dark thoughts of her 'knight', Emilia was more inclined to believe it was some routine thug around the area who had spotted them as a potential target.

This was because according to what Cynthia had told her, the heroine had been harassed quite severely by them in the last life, and even the poor girl's mother had ended up dead at their hands.

Even if a part of it was 'Danielle's' responsibility, the existence of these unruly types in this area was definitely undeniable.

And since there was a hunter in the shadows, how could it not stalk a prey walking by?

'It doesn't feel like there's any immediate threat… Maybe they're just scouting for now…'

And it was quite wise of them to do so, because Emilia knew Dixy's bodyguard was following them discreetly not far behind. He would remain out of their sight, but the thugs would definitely spot him if they remained in place.

'But they'll definitely go after whoever their target is once they feel they have it all figured out. A single bodyguard is far from enough when they come prepared.'

She wasn't too worried about Dixy or herself, just a word would multiply their level of security. But the heroine was another matter. She didn't have anyone protecting her at all, nor was she the slightest bit capable of combat.

It was also unlikely that the ever studious honor student Crystal would agree to enroll in combat lessons with her. To her, it would just be a fruitless waste of time.

And even if she did agree for some reason, just how much could it possibly help?

She wasn't Emilia, who had a multiple lifetimes worth of training and fighting experience. Nor did she have Dixy's inherently strong gorilla physique. It would take too long to yield only mediocre results.

'What do you think, Cynthia? Should I ask Sam to arrange something for the heroine?'

Cynthia seemed to disdain the thought of her villainess seeking help on such a simple matter.

"What I think you should do, is secretly find out who these thugs are, and then kick their ass! Become their boss, and have them work as your dogs!"

Emilia almost rolled her eyes.

'Uh… yeah, not happening. I sometimes wonder which donkey kicked your head to think that would actually work.'

And as expected, her system exploded immediately. "Why! What's wrong with my plan?! Isn't it just right for my villainess to have a few thugs following her whims?"

Making sure that both her knight Dixy and the heroine Crystal seemed to be still lost in their own thoughts as they continued walking, Emilia felt it was safe to start a long lecture without any issues.

'First off, it's very likely I'll be discovered while trying to investigate them. I'll just startle the snake to hide in its hole, making everything multiple times worse.'

'Secondly, even if I manage to do it unnoticed, do you think it's so easy to beat multiple people all by myself with this body? Even if I use shapeshift and get some weapons, why take such a huge risk?'

'And finally, even if I manage to beat them up, there's no way they'll just suddenly become loyal to me. It's far more likely they'll pretend to be obedient but try to stab me in the back on the first chance they get.'

After finishing her detailed analysis on why Cynthia's idea was the worst idea in the history of all ideas, Emilia gritted her teeth and braced for impact.

"You bully! You think I'm stupid, all my ideas are stupid, I'm never giving you any from now on!"

----------

"Are you okay, Emilia? We're almost there."

Of course, it wasn't just Crystal who was worried.

Both the heroine and Dixy had noticed that Emilia seemed to space out quite a bit for the past few minutes. She didn't respond to them at all and just kept on walking straight as if on autopilot.

She seemed perfectly alright for so long that they didn't think she would have any issues, but it seems like the pampered girl had finally reached her limit.

Just as Dixy was wondering if she should just carry her for the rest of the way, Crystal nodded towards a decent looking restaurant not far from them, relief clear on her face.

"That's my home."

Ever since they left the cafeteria, the heroine had been worrying over if she should invite the two of them inside when they finally reach her place, or if it would be better to just bid them farewell from the gate.

It's not that she was stingy, but she wondered if the two rich girls would even like anything in their humble restaurant. But it was also equally rude to turn them away without even a glass of water after they had walked with her for so long.

Her dilemma became moot, however, after looking at Emilia's state. And both of them hurriedly rushed her inside so she could take a seat.

Both of them breathed a sigh of relief once Emilia took a sip of water from the cup, her eyes no longer as lost as before. It really was too much for someone like her to walk so long!

How could they have known that Emilia wasn't tired from at all, but her brain was almost fried from Cynthia's explosive tantrum!

'Mercy, please?'

"What do you mean, wasn't I complimenting you?"

'You were…?'

"Of course! Insults are all compliments to the villains! You should be happy!"

But how could Emilia, who had spent the entirety of her past life trying to be as admirable a princess as possible, truly think like that?

Even during her very last moments, she had thought she would become the most beloved queen of an empire, and lead it into an era of glory.

No matter if she called herself a villainess for Cynthia or if she truly believed herself to be one, it was just too much to ask her to be happy from being called all types of despicable.

Even if she knew deep down in her heart that her partner was just being silly and it was probably a joke, it still touched a sore spot that she had always tried to keep hidden away.

And no matter how hard she tried to hold it in, rapidly pooling tears quickly replaced the foggy look in her eyes that had been just starting to clear up, immediately alarming both Dixy and Crystal.

'… fuck my life…'