The Guidebook for Villainesses
chapter-9

Konny snorted and approached Lara.

“Milady.”

“Hmm?”

“Do you feel upset with the other maids?”

“Nope.”

“Don’t lie.”

“I’m telling you the truth.”

Lara meant it. It was only in the past that she was hurt and sad. Now she merely did not feel anything. She thought she would be angry when she met them again, but when they were in front of her, she could only smirk.

Humans are all selfish; they envy those who are better than them and look down on others who are worse than them. They prefer insulting someone behind their backs rather than praising others. Those maids were just the embodiment of human nature. Lara felt at ease when she realized that fact.

But now, she has a concern much more important than that. Because now that her mother had completely left the house, only her father, Marquess of Bailey, and Lara were in the manor. At first, she tried to follow her mother out of the manor. But no matter how she thought about it, the Marquess would never let her go gently.

Lara was a young noblewoman who had a coming-of-age ceremony recently, and a daughter past marriageable age was treated as a political asset in the society of Hautean, among other things was Sidhar Hautean. Sooner or later, the Prince will visit this house. Even if Lara’s portrait was not to his liking, he still needs Marquess of Bailey.

Lara put on every effort to look pretty to him during her past life, thinking that she could finally meet the prince that she had a crush on. A week before the meeting, she got a massage and acquired a tailored white dress. On the other hand, Prince Sidhar was just gathering his power in order to become the heir of the throne.

It was best not to bump into him, but the situation could not be avoided.

Then if that was the case, she had better be a woman that the Prince would never show interest in. Her power was too weak to confront him now.

“What should I do?”

“Pardon?”

“If I tell father I want to move out of this house, will he give his permission?”

“No.”

“Right?”

“He might even detain milady. It is possible if it’s him. Now that Lady Bailey has left the manor, his mood is a disaster.”

Without realizing the fact that he was insulting his master, Konny shook her head. Lara liked this aspect of Konny. Throughout her previous life and this life, Konny was the only maid who did not flatter her, nor did she speak ill of her.

“If I just run away, the knight will for sure come to catch me, right?”

“Lord Bailey wants to make milady the Queen. There’s no way it would be that easy for milady to gain independence from him.”

As the painter finished the portrait, Konny approached Lara with a comb and brushed her hair. Her hair resembled her mother, in which it was fine, thick, and curly. No matter how often she had brushed her hair, it would quickly become disheveled. So, Konny always brought a comb in her apron.

Lara was just sitting, enjoying the touch of the comb with her eyes closed like a cat. Then, Konny said to her.

“But milady.”

“Yeah?”

“When will you go meet that slave again? A day has passed.”

Konny snorted again.

Konny, who was smitten with the charm of the mighty warriors that she saw yesterday at the field, was pestering Lara to go to the arena whenever she had the opportunity to do so.

“Who even goes to the arena every day? People would go there once in a while when they’re bored.”

Lara’s purpose was to help Demian, not to be the cringe-worthy Master Lady.

Arena, slave, man.

With her eyes closed, various clues followed one after another in her head. She thought and thought again about how to get out of the clutches of her father and the Prince. What is the most effective way to retaliate against them?

Man, sponsor, checkbook.

A good idea was almost at the tip of her thought.

Her past self, which was so obedient to her father and the Prince, scattered like a mirage, and her present appearance in the red dress became clear.

Demian, slave, scandal.

“Oh.”

Lara opened her eyes.

Her father, the Marquess of Bailey, was a man who valued honor, power, and the gaze of others. Therefore, he thought the business of Isadora was lowly. For him, a noble should not be a merchant. The wealth of the House of Bailey practically came from her mother. Nevertheless, her father still refused to acknowledge the credit.

The same went for Prince Sidhar. He wanted a proper woman who could raise the prince of his name. A woman loved for her kind heart and elegant look so that anyone can praise him. What kind of woman do the two men hate in common?

It was simple, an extravagant and prodigal troublemaker who is constantly the talk of the town. Lara’s scarlet eyes that resembled the sunset, shone brilliantly. An ordinary troublemaker would not be enough. Her father was greedy and cunning. She had to be a villainess so corrupt that even her father would not be able to handle her.

I have lived a life as a villainess with the façade of a saintess. And so, this time, I will show them what a real villainess is.

“Great.”

Lara turned her head and looked at the mirror. She pulled the corner of her mouth and smiled.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Lara had enough money, the pocket money she had saved up so far was as much as 2,000 gold. She bought Demian for two gold, so 2,000 gold was enough money to buy 1,000 of Demian. Just in time, Lara got a message saying her mighty warrior would have his first match in the arena.

“We will watch the match first and then go to the designer then.”

“Can’t we go to the designer first?”

“Why?”

“Because it feels like milady will wear just whatever milady wants. Recently, milady has been wearing only shabby casual clothes.”

“Just you wait, Konny.”

“Pardon?”

“Because I will make you beg me to come back to my casual clothes.”

The carriage carrying Lara and Konny ran towards the arena. That day, the main hall of the arena was crowded with young noblewomen talking in groups. They were all dressed in the latest trends in Hautean—dress with the collar upright and the sleeves and hips puffed out.

“Milady is the only one…”

“Who is shabby?”

“Nevermind, it was nothing.”

Lara took Konny straight to the audience seat. This time again, the young noblewomen were pointing their fingers at her and mocking her. In the past, she used to behave properly and checked her attire, as if reacting to each and every one of those gazes.

“But not anymore.”

‘Who cares?’, crossed her mind.

No matter what others think of her, she did not even want to try to react to them. It was not her fault that they had a narrow view of things and were closed-minded. After taking off her shoes, Lara sat spread over with her both legs on the sofa. Then, she sat leaning on the armrest and rested her chin.

“Milady, is that position comfortable?”

“Yeah.”

“I will keep it a secret.”

“Thanks.”

The young noblewomen who were glaring at Lara whispered amongst themselves with their mouths covered with fans. Lara did not have to listen to them to know what they were talking about. They must be gossiping about how shabby Lara was as a young noblewoman.

“The match of the day!”

The host appeared.

Holding a megaphone, he looked around the audience and grinned.

“The mighty warriors of Lady Laviore and Miss Dvonn will compete in the honor of their Master Ladies!”

What? Who?

Lara tilted her head.

“Miss Dvonn’s mighty warrior is… Milady! The man who rubbed his lips onto the skirt of a young lady last time!

“Ah.”

He’s going to get in trouble.

With her hand that was resting on her chin, Lara rubbed her dry lips.

The mighty warrior of Miss Dvonn will fall helplessly like a paper doll. Because what he had been doing so far was not fighting, but acting. Demian is someone who only knows to fight. Moreover, he’s a monster who is beyond the standard.

“Should I stop him…”

“The mighty warriors are coming!”

Lara’s monologue was buried with the host’s voice.

The mighty warrior of Miss Dvonn did not look much different than he was at the last match—stylish suit, decorative armor, and thin fleuret.

On the other hand, Demian.

“Oh no.”

The field, which was filled with shouts and uproar, had quickly calmed down.

Demian was walking out.

Every time he took a step slowly, his muscles moved violently. He wore a leather band diagonally on his bare upper body, and protective gear to protect one side of his shoulder and chest. He wore black leather pants, and every time he moved, his knee protective gear and metal belt clanked.

He was thought to be skinny, but his whole body was a muscle.

No one said anything, not even the sound of a gulp could be heard.

Even Konny, who was so excited to go to the arena, was distracted by Demian. So much so that she opened her mouth absent-mindedly.

He was not slouchy, he did not cover his face with his hair, he did not even look around nor did he act clumsily. His blue eyes were full of violent temper, and each of his steps was smeared with hunger. The composure that was revealed on his pale face was sensuous.

At this moment, the only ones still in their right mind in the arena were Lara and the host.