The Villainess Elizabeth (2)
The romance fantasy genre always features a villainess. The villainess. A character positioned as the polar opposite of the heroine. She serves as a cliché that suddenly heightens the warm atmosphere. The villainess can never defeat the heroine. No matter how much power or scheming she employs to pressure the heroine, her role is ultimately to suffer defeat. That was why Elizabeth received a one-sided notice of annulment from Maximilian, the man she had truly loved. It was truly an unfortunate role. No matter how desperately she struggled, the villainess was destined for promised defeat.
Elizabeth was no exception. She had lost her fiancé—the man she had loved with single-minded devotion for a full fourteen years—to the heroine. Moreover, the author had once left a comment for readers that essentially spoiled her tragic end in Part Two. That made the situation even more sobering.
“…….”
A sharp-featured beauty asked while flicking her hair that cascaded down to her waist. Her pale golden locks shimmered brilliantly. They were so beautiful—like radiant platinum—that my mind went blank for a second. It was a stunning appearance truly worthy of the title Platinum Princess of the imperial family. Though I didn’t want to acknowledge her sky-high, self-centered arrogance, her breathtaking beauty couldn’t be hidden, so I had no choice but to admit it. She was indeed a daughter of the Valtaria imperial family, renowned for its handsome men and beautiful women. Seeing Ludmila, who possessed both a nation-toppling appearance and charm, made one realize the greatness of her superior bloodline.
“Wow, she’s an incredibly pretty princess! She looks like she’s sparkling!”
Rue, who had just stepped off the train, jumped up and down in place as she spoke to Elizabeth. Perhaps she was reminded of a princess from a fairy tale book. She expressed her honest feelings with great excitement. Elizabeth looked surprised at first, but then smiled faintly, seemingly pleased.
“Ehehe!”
Though she took after her famously fiery-tempered father, she was kind to children. Or rather, only to children. If a sleazy perverted noble had spouted such praise, she would have sent him straight to the underground dungeon. Delighted by the sincere compliment, she patted Rue’s head. In response, Rue—who had just been patted by the beautiful princess—grinned widely and shook her antenna-like tufts of hair from side to side.
Ludmila, who had been dealing with the crowd that had swarmed like clouds, approached. The Second Imperial Princess and the Third Imperial Princess. When the two beautiful princesses gathered, it was as if a bright halo shone around them. The crowd gathered on the platform seemed to agree, letting out collective gasps of admiration.
Ludmila muttered in a voice laced with resentment. Auntie. Auntie. Auntie. Edan, but who the hell is this auntie? The unpleasant word still rang vividly in my ears. She called me auntie… Sharp eyes glared coldly at the rude brat who had been disrespectful from the very first meeting. Like a snake flicking its tongue while eyeing a frog perched on a blade of grass.
“Hooray!”
The red dragon writhed, suppressing its anger at the impudent conversation between its younger sister and the brat. And I watched Ludmila’s defeated expression with deep concern.
There are countless “awkward situations” in the world. Family meetings between both sides of a marriage. Family court hearings that divide assets and custody. Or the moment your father discovers the dirty magazines you hid under the bed. None of them are easy. If faced with such a situation, one would probably freeze on the spot. No, I was already frozen. Because I was in a situation just as awkward as any of the examples I just mentioned.
Tea time. A luxurious gathering where one leisurely enjoys refreshments. But I couldn’t possibly enjoy my tea in peace. Because I was having tea time with an imperial princess whose hair shone like platinum.
What the hell is she thinking?
I kept glancing at Elizabeth, my insides churning with anxiety. No matter how I thought about it, there was no reason for her to invite me to tea time. So I trembled at my fingertips, worried that she might have poisoned the tea.
“…….”
Elizabeth, who had been picking up sugar cubes with tongs, murmured with a sorrowful smile like a newlywed bride abandoned on her first night. Cold sweat trickled down my back. It felt like my stomach and intestines were twisting. This was absolutely not a place I should be. Having tea time with my brother’s former fiancée? Their relationship had ended in complete ruin. Every time Elizabeth looked at me and seemed to recall my brother, I felt like I was going insane.
I felt genuine envy toward the brat who was devouring the colorful macarons on the plate like a hamster. She was enjoying tea time more happily than anyone else. My stomach churned even more. So I hesitated, only fiddling with my teacup.
Huu…
Elizabeth sighed as she stared down at the teacup filled with black tea. After a moment of gathering her thoughts, she opened her mouth again.
“…….”
The villainess in a romance fantasy can never succeed by any means. Defeat. That is the ending given to her. A role that must yield to the heroine and hero’s feats and exit the stage. That was the fate assigned to the villainess. One might think she met a tragic end simply because she could not become the heroine. But I couldn’t bring myself to conclude that. Because I, as the younger brother of her fiancé, knew very well that she had loved Maximilian with single-minded devotion for fourteen long years. That was why my heart grew complicated as I watched Elizabeth, who looked like she might burst into tears at any moment.
She had been abandoned. In the end, she had been cast aside. Yet even so, Elizabeth did not hate Maximilian. Because she loved him. Because she had truly adored him. That was why, even while facing the younger brother of the fiancé who had enough reason to become the target of her resentment, she did not express any anger. She only continued to harbor self-loathing for having been abandoned.
“…….”
What should I say? I didn’t know. I wanted to comfort her, but I had no idea what kind of comfort to offer. The pain of heartbreak would remain branded on her for life. The sorrow and self-loathing of not being chosen would linger in Elizabeth’s heart like a yoke forever. That must be the fate of women set up as villainesses.
When I hesitated to answer, the little green fairy who had been dominating the tea time suddenly chimed in. Perhaps because she had mentioned her former guardian. Rue jumped into the conversation as if it were her own business and defended my brother. It was like defending the perpetrator in front of the wounded victim. As if to prove it, intense emotions began to stir on the imperial princess’s beautiful face. Sensing the danger, I tried to stop Rue.
“…….”
It was an answer without any ulterior motives or calculations. It was filled with pure innocence, like a blank white sheet of paper. At the bold reply from the child, Elizabeth looked bewildered. Then, after staring at the cute fairy for a moment, she burst into laughter.
“Hieek…!”
Elizabeth, true to her villainess nature, expressed her feelings through sharp, backhanded compliments. Rue, who didn’t understand that, proudly cleared her throat and puffed out her chest. Well, it was clumsy… but it seemed to have helped the heartbroken Elizabeth, so I was relieved.
The author said it in the comments. In the end, Elizabeth is fated to die in Part Two. Just what kind of cause of death could possibly threaten an imperial princess of the empire?
The villainess, Elizabeth, was destined to die in the end. But how? With a red dragon firmly guarding the Valtaria imperial family… who would dare target the Platinum Princess?
I looked at the Platinum Princess—who was giggling while offering cookies to the stubby little fairy—with complicated eyes. The author had personally confirmed the principle of karma. Without a doubt, a tragic death flag would soon descend upon her. Along with the disappearance of the Saint Party, Part Two had begun. That was why I couldn’t help but feel anxious.