Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Severing Ties with the Heroine
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After Darsi left, I closed my eyes with the music playing. My favorite piano concerto filled the room.
Darsi's face suddenly came to mind. The most handsome person I knew...
An extra.
"What a weird guy."
He did seem like someone dangerous to get too close to. But it was already too late to keep my distance from him. Especially after seeing the performance of the magic tool he'd brought today.
When I pressed the button, light leaked out, showing me exactly what it could record.
The quality of the recorded footage was incredible. It was crystal clear, rivaling even modern cameras.
It captured vivid visuals, of course, but the sound quality was excellent too. The only downside was that the screen wasn't very large when playing it back.
"I wish he'd hurry up and make a screen for it."
I found myself looking forward to his next visit.
My cozy house arrest plan was progressing smoothly.
"Marso!"
"Come on in."
Amid glares from the male leads on either side, I welcomed Resuan. The heroine, whom I hadn't seen in a while, was as lively and beautiful as ever.
Her platinum hair sparkled brilliantly, and her large, innocent rabbit-like eyes naturally drew the gaze.
"Marso, thank you for calling me by my name. I heard you haven't been going out at all lately, so I was worried. I'm so glad you invited me."
Resuan's eyes sparkled with emotion as she sat down. The two male leads flanked the sofa where she sat, their faces twisted in contempt toward me.
To my right was the blond Ryan, and to my left, the brown-haired Kaisen. Their stares alone made fatigue crash over me rapidly. I decided to wrap this up quickly.
Send her away as fast as possible.
"Yes, I've been feeling unwell lately."
"Oh my, surely not some illness..."
Resuan was genuinely worried about Marso. I'd watched her long enough to know that much. She was amazing, no matter how many times I saw it.
Even before I possessed this body, Resuan had been constantly bullied by Marso. And yet, she still worried about her sincerely.
It was true that thanks to Ryan and Kaisen, Marso's bullying hadn't inflicted much real damage on Resuan...
But Resuan never truly hated Marso. Her lack of grudges was one of the protagonist's charms.
She approached people without hesitation and extended her hand first. It all made her seem utterly lovable.
At first, that's why I thought we could be friends too. Seeing how she truly cared for me.
But sincere care and causing hurt were two different things.
She wanted to be friends with me, but she lacked consideration.
Not delicate, perhaps that's the word.
"Marso, where does it hurt?"
Her words snapped me back to reality. I shook my head with an expressionless face.
"We're not close enough anymore for calling each other by name. Lady, I called you here to tell you that I won't visit you anymore and we won't meet again."
"...What? Why..."
I planned to pretend to appropriately regret Marso's past actions.
"I've realized how wrong I was. I didn't know that trying to befriend you was a mistake in itself. How foolish of me..."
"..."
"From now on, I'll confine myself to the mansion and reflect. Lady, you can rest assured I won't approach or harass you anymore."
"But... I forgive Marso."
Her forgiving Marso changed nothing.
Did Resuan really have no idea that I was getting blamed by Kaisen and Ryan?
It was impossible for her to be completely unaware. Rumors had spread even in high society.
And yet, Resuan was still avoiding the issue.
Because she'd never dealt with a problem like this before.
Because everything was for her sake.
"Please don't call my name."
I raised an eyebrow.
Of course, I might not be able to expect that much from Resuan. She could claim she hadn't done anything wrong.
But if the temple dislikes it, the monk must leave.
I was simply putting that into practice.
Resuan's eyes drooped sadly. Kaisen comforted her, then protested.
"What orders do you think you're giving?"
"I'm not giving orders. I'm just putting distance between us."
Kaisen fell silent at my words.
I smiled and added,
"Of course, we won't run into each other in society either, so no need to worry."
I even declared my retirement from high society to the protagonists. Kaisen asked incredulously,
"...Are you serious?"
"You know I really haven't gone out at all."
At my words, Ryan flinched. Seeing Kaisen frown as if he couldn't believe it, Ryan cleared his throat.
"That's true."
I hadn't expected Ryan to agree, so I was a bit taken aback. It was suspicious how much better he seemed to know about me than Kaisen.
...Had he planted someone around me? I'd have to check later.
Lost in thought, a voice laced with tears pierced my ears.
"I thought we were friends... How can you cut our bond so suddenly?"
Resuan shot to her feet. Tears dangled from her face.
But it stirred no emotion in me, whose feelings for her had dried up.
I glanced at Ryan and Kaisen in turn and muttered,
"It's not sudden. I've been thinking about it for a long time."
...I just couldn't show it properly because of the people around you.
As I propped my chin with a bored expression, Resuan ran crying from the room.
"Resuan!"
Kaisen followed right after her.
As expected of a male lead—always chase after the crying heroine. That's how love sprouts from comfort.
I stared at Ryan, who should have followed them right away.
...Surprisingly, Ryan was lingering. He stared at me intently and asked,
"Are you serious?"
"Yes."
Ryan blinked. The way he narrowed his brows made him look like someone sensing my change, which felt strangely odd.
This must be what they call a belated realization.
"People don't change that easily."
Tell me about it. Looking at you proves it perfectly.
With an expressionless face, I muttered,
"I told you I'm staying home since nothing's working out."
"..."
Ryan gazed at me steadily.
For the first time, his face as he looked at me seemed peaceful.
It was amusing how this change in expression only appeared after I'd let go of everything.
And so...
"I hope Your Highness suffers as much as I have."
Thinking it was the last time I'd see him, words slipped out that I wouldn't normally say.
At my harsh words, Ryan frowned.
"See? You haven't changed."
"I think I'm the impressive one for holding back this long."
Isn't not cursing even more remarkable?
When I asked with genuine puzzlement, Ryan whipped his head away.
I shrugged my shoulders as I watched him walk off.
What I said about their suffering starting now wasn't a curse—it was fact.
Resuan is kind.
Her kindness leaves room for everyone, whether woman or man. She doesn't build walls or push anyone away.
There are always many people around her. Which also means she lacks time for a select few.
It was the same with me.
Resuan forgot our promises a few times and was neglectful toward me at others.
'I'm sorry, Marso.'
She apologized promptly.
But the petty conflicts kept piling up.
Because she never changed.
Unlike me, who pondered every moment because of the villainess title and strove to speak only sincerely, Resuan always said the same things without following through.
'Marso, I still like you. I want to be friends. Can I come see you again?'
Seeing that kind face would untie the knots in my heart.
If even I felt that way, how must the male leads have felt?
Beloved by everyone, Resuan. Most of her conflicts stemmed from me.
Once I left the stage, the time Ryan and she could spend together would naturally increase.
They'd be happy for a while. But could they truly never clash?
So from now on, I'd watch all those events unfold from home.
Isn't there a saying that life is a comedy when viewed from afar?
Now it was my turn to escape the tragedy and enjoy this comedy.
With a light heart, after sending off the heroine, male leads, and even the sub-male lead, I felt like I could float away.
Thrilling— this feels great!
A villainess's relationships are indeed easier the narrower they are. Approaching others mostly just gets you framed for schemes and plots.
Times spent reading in a simple chemise or rolling around the room had never felt this happy.
In the midst of these dreamlike days, I finally dressed up after a long while.
Partly for a mood boost, but today was...
The day I would finally meet the theater troupe actors!
I put on a pearl necklace with large pearls and neatly combed my hair back. My flowing navy hair outshone any Xerastin model.
My skin was fair, and I liked the shade of red on my lips. The me in the mirror was a beauty with a cold, serene aura.
"Leti, good work."
"What do you mean, miss?"
"Ah, right. Did you find what I asked about?"
"Hmm... I looked, but I'm not sure."
Leti bowed her head to me. I'd ordered her to check for anyone Ryan might have planted around me, but she'd failed. Knowing her personality, she'd surely searched diligently, so I wasn't angry.
"It's fine. That can happen."
"I'm sorry."
"No, no."
What could Ryan's spy even steal from me anyway? He'd probably only placed them because of Resuan... Now that I'm distancing myself from her, they'll fall away on their own.
Leti, who had looked crestfallen, forced a bright smile and said to me,
"Shall we go now?"
"Yes."
I grabbed the recorder— I'd decided to call it that— that Darsi had made and left the room. Everyone would be waiting for me.
The troupe's actors had all been escorted to the theater. It was a remodel of our Etwar Marquis House's annex.
The main house was ridiculously large anyway, and with two annexes side by side, I'd claimed one for myself.
Marquis Etwar, who never blocked anything Marso did, naturally approved.
Of course, the interior facilities were no less splendid than any external theater. I'd poured quite a bit of money into it.
Remembering how I'd gone to musicals alone, I'd even perfected a space for an orchestra. I hadn't expected it'd only be used for recordings, though...
We had more than enough money to spare for that. If you have money, spend it. The economy turns when money circulates.
Walking the theater's corridors brought a fresh wave of emotion.
Leti opened the door to the largest stage in the theater. I stepped inside lightly.
On the brightly lit stage, people stood in a line. They all looked extremely tense.
Well, they'd been summoned by 'that' Marso, so who could blame them? No matter how much they were being paid, fear was fear...
I was the kind of person who could throw enough money around to overcome even that.
"Hello, everyone."
In any case, I was in a good mood, so I greeted them with a smile.
The people bowed their heads one by one. They seemed to murmur among themselves upon seeing my good mood.