My Adorable Villainess Niece is Too Precious
Kasdia Argent's eyes flashed with a sharpness that practically crackled like an electric effect sound.
But it was over in an instant.
Even I, who had just witnessed it, doubted my own eyes—her shift in demeanor was that quick and cunning.
"Ho ho, what do you mean? As if I'd say anything like that in front of you, young master."
Her hand delicately covering her mouth as she laughed demurely screamed refined lady of a noble house, but my gaze remained utterly unsoftened as I watched.
Of course, you'd play it like that.
There was no point in nitpicking further here.
After all, she was from the Rosmos family, second to none in palace politics and mind games.
Even rotten, she's still from prime stock—Kasdia Argent's slippery antics in the story were beyond imagination.
Trying to catch her on anything minor would just leave me biting dust.
"My apologies, sister-in-law. I must have gotten a bit sulky without realizing it, seeing you try to whisk away my conversation partner."
"That's understandable. But for a man past thirty to sulk like that—it's quite an endearing side to you, young master."
"Endearing? It's just the whining of an immature husband."
"Women sometimes feel maternal affection for such immature traits, you know?"
"Indeed. I've learned something."
I bowed my head with a friendly smile of my own, and Kasdia scanned me from head to toe, as if appraising my attitude.
"By the way, I had no idea you doted on our Liriet so much. It's been nearly two years since you last met, yet there's no awkwardness at all."
"My niece has such a kind personality and impeccable manners. And what does time matter between uncle and niece?"
"True. I was foolish to think otherwise."
She tossed out words that seemed to measure the bond between Liriet and me, then stepped aside slightly and approached Liriet.
"……."
Was it only now that she noticed the doll cradled in Liriet's arms?
How little attention does she pay to the child to only spot that massive thing now? Still, she eyed the doll with unmistakable displeasure.
"Where did this doll come from, Liriet?"
"Uncle gave it to me as a thank-you gift."
"From you, young master? A thank-you gift, no less…."
"Funny thing—I've taken an interest in dolls at this age."
"You… interested in dolls?"
Kasdia alternated skeptical glances between the doll and me.
So, to prove my point, I pulled a bear doll from my subspace as evidence.
"Yes, this is the one my niece picked out for me. My workshop needed a couple new ones, so I thought she might have good taste and asked for her help."
"I… see. You have quite the whimsical hobby. I had no idea."
She fanned herself with her ornate hand fan, her voice laced with clear fluster as she forced a smile. It felt like some long-pent-up indigestion easing up.
Of course she wouldn't know.
It was a hobby even I hadn't known about.
"Once I left the main house, I no longer had to worry about others' eyes. Of course, in this day and age, I doubt anyone would belittle or mock a man for playing with dolls."
I narrowed my eyes deliberately, speaking as if for certain ears, and Kasdia's fan-holding hand trembled faintly as she let out a fake cough.
"Ahem! Y-yes, of course. Personal tastes should be respected."
"Oh? You think so too, sister-in-law? As expected of such an enlightened lady."
That'll do for the stare-down.
The verbal joust went pretty one-sidedly in my favor—quite satisfying.
Not exactly a good scene to linger on in front of the kid, though.
"Then I'll spend some quality time with my niece after so long. If it's not urgent, please call for her after I leave. Sorry for the inconvenience."
"…Very well. Liriet."
"Y-yes, Mother."
Liriet, who had been staring at us blankly, snapped to attention, her back ramrod straight.
Like a private before a colonel—no, a division commander.
Tsk, how harshly has she been drilled into her?
"When your uncle leaves later, your mother will come fetch you, so wait quietly in your room."
"Understood, Mother."
Wow, was she saying she'd come herself just in case Liriet ignored the summons?
From my memory, even in the original story, Kasdia rarely visited Liriet's room.
Or maybe there was another motive.
And one of those was probably that doll, with high certainty.
In the original, she was the psycho who burned up her own daughter's hard-saved doll right in front of her.
She might even be grinding her teeth right now, displeased by Liriet hugging the doll with a happy face, planning to dispose of it the moment I left.
"This should be fun."
"Pardon? What did you say, Uncle?"
"Nothing, dear."
Go ahead if you dare.
Having eaten outside, the remaining time was all for Liriet.
I used it to launch Operation: Make Her Admire Her Uncle.
Saying it like that makes me sound like a petty small-timer groveling for her worship, but that wasn't the intent.
More precisely, it was about closing the emotional distance.
Kids this age naturally draw closer to impressive adults.
Like how they cling to Dad as an all-powerful Superman in childhood, only to distance themselves in puberty upon realizing he's not invincible.
So my approach was simple: leverage every connection I had.
Kids are surprisingly indifferent to money.
Flashing cash doesn't impress much.
But imagine you're a fan of some idol, and your uncle's buddies with them? Hearts in your eyes instantly.
My niece was no exception.
"Wow, so you've met the Sword Saint too?"
"Since he's my master's old friend, we've crossed paths somewhat. Shared drinks a few times."
Truth be told, name-dropping my master's buddy pricked my conscience a bit, but oh well.
I lived decently, so I got a good master.
Good master means good company around him.
Here, I'd play it bold.
A twinge of conscience? Worthless compared to bonding with Liriet.
Besides…
In the original, Liriet admired the Sword Saint quite a bit.
I brought him up because he tied into Liriet too.
Though Leon overshadowed that.
In the story, Liriet was dead serious about the sword.
It started as family pressure, half-forced training.
Paradoxically, with that being her only "education," she grew obsessed.
Funny part: it botched her first meeting with Leon.
Leon got scouted first as disciple to Oden Craig, the empire's top sword, the Sword Saint.
By skill then, Liriet was superior—even won their spar.
She fully expected to be picked.
But Oden saw Leon's innate Star's Grace and took him after a long speech.
Liriet had Sword Aspiration too, but no target yet, so Oden overlooked it.
Fans joked: if he'd picked her first, her Aspiration would've locked onto him.
"Come to think of it, your master is…."
"Right. Sir Godwin Lowell."
Godwin Lowell.
My master, the continent's sole 8th Circle mage at present.
Normally just a boozy neighborhood grandpa.
But a perfectionist in magic—no compromises. I suffered as his disciple.
Not even "disciple" at first.
Just errand boy.
Fetch booze when low.
Clean his dusty workshop.
On day 100, he finally accepted me.
Even though I'd hit 6th Circle young, already famed.
To him, all were lacking.
He reached 8th at thirty—unprecedented genius (disaster).
"As expected, great ones have great masters."
"Not quite. I'm far from matching his fame."
"No way. You'll surely become a grand mage rivaling Sir Lowell someday."
"Haha, thanks. Your cheer gives me strength, niece."
What to do with this cute niece?
Her tiny fists clenched in a fighting pose nearly stopped my heart.
"Someday, I'll arrange a meeting with Sir Oden."
"Huh? M-me with the Sword Saint?"
"Yeah. No guarantees, though."
For her, I'd slay dragons.
But Oden was worse than one.
In the story, even the emperor's order to take his kid as disciple? He'd rather die than accept an unworthy pupil.
High chance it'd flop.
But I had confidence.
'Cause the old man's said it himself.
In the original, taking Leon, he told despairing Liriet: if he'd found her first, he'd have picked her.
Ironic—it stabbed deeper.
Key: he doesn't spout insincere comforts.
Pre-Leon now, introducing them? Possible.
Sorry, Leon.
My niece trumps the protagonist.
Hero'll find a master rolling in dung if needed.
"Don't get hopes too high. If it works, Uncle'll let you know. Got it?"
"Yes! I'll wait without too much expectation."
"Pfft."
Her expectant face killed the line's credibility.
But cute's enough.
Cuteness is truth.
A renowned scholar said it.
Who? Me.
I'm renowned enough.
We kept chatting aimlessly, building rapport.
Then—
Whoosh.
"Huh? Uncle, something came out— Eek?!"
A black thing burst from my pocket into the air; Liriet startled, nearly toppling.
I caught her—no accident.
But that….
"This damned disciple! I reached 7th Circle for once, so this sky-high master treks all this way, and you leave the workshop empty to scamper about?!"
Wings flapping from the tiny creature, a bellow echoed—I grasped it then.
Crazy. That old man planted this on me?
Stalker much?
"U-Uncle, what is that?"
"A familiar. Summon we mages use. This one's a Cyclo—specialized in surveillance and intel."
"Surveillance? So it's been spying on you?"
"Pretty much."
"……."
Liriet pouted oddly at my words.
Then scanned around, grabbed her wooden sword from bedside—
Swish! Swish!
"Hya! Hya!"
"…Huh?"
She swung cutely at the Cyclo with spirited yells.
Cute grunts, but sword family blood ran true.
She chased the zippy flyer to swat it down.
But a Cyclo from that old man? No ordinary familiar.
His surveillance pick—even a skilled kid's agility couldn't match.
"Huff, huff…!"
"Calm down. What's with the sudden outburst?"
Exhausted, Liriet panted; I asked gently what happened.
She pointed sulkily at the Cyclo.
"But… whoever sent it, that naughty thing was secretly watching you, Uncle."
"……."
Wait.
Did Liriet miss the Cyclo's shout earlier?
Telepathy magic, huh.
His voice boomed so loud, I mistook it.
Added telepathy to avoid startling others. Thoughtful.
If only half that thought spared my niece the scare.
"Niece. Truth is, my master sent that familiar."
"Huh? Your master…."
"Yeah. Sir Godwin from earlier. Probably dropped by the workshop to congratulate my 7th Circle, found me gone, so messaged via it."
Explaining kindly, Liriet listened quietly—
"……Meow."
Thud.
A kittenish whimper, then she flopped limply.
So that's why she's this cute. She's a cat.
I hadn't realized.
"Tch."
No choice—laid her on the bed.
Cast recovery magic just in case, slipped out quietly.
Time to head back, but leaving without goodbye felt off.
"Gilbert."
"Yes, young master? What is it?"
"Well, you see…."
I tipped him off on the way—no forgetting.
Avoid misunderstandings of mischief.
Thankfully, he trusted me.
Probably from my main house days: bookworm, never up to no good. That helped.