A Regressed Villain: Heroines, Villainesses and Me?

But another thing weighing down the situation here was the status of Avendial, who could easily, by using his influence, stop all funds or money received by the Elite Academy, as if choking its neck.

And once that happened, like a struggling chicken prepared to die, it wouldn't be long before the academy completely ran out of money and finally shut down.

So, there was fear in the director's mind as well, making all the donations Avendial proposed have ten times more effect on him.

"F-fine, I will prepare the documentation, and from tomorrow—" The director noticed how everyone was looking toward him, including professors, his assistants, and even the noblewoman from the Sertsul family, making him feel pressured to provide an answer.

"30 million Imperial Crowns." Once again, Avendial placed his bid, causing the director to lower his gaze and tighten his fists. He pondered the staggering sum, realizing it could readily support the academy's programs and various initiatives. This notion led him to believe it would ultimately benefit the students, prompting an immediate nod of agreement.

"You can join from this moment; welcome to the academy, Marquess!" Even in that old body, the director managed to project his voice clearly and loudly, as he instantly bowed 90 degrees, along with both professors who also greeted him, along with the assistant behind them.

"Very good," Avendial nodded, feeling satisfied that now he was a professor of the academy without having to spend a penny.

Indeed, when he needed funds to support his preparations for upcoming events, it was impossible for him to waste 30 million imperial crowns on some academy. So, he had scammed this naive director, who would soon be in jail on murder charges in the upcoming future.

Avendial then turned toward the professor who belonged to the art department standing beside the director. He added, "How about you show me my class right now?"

"Huh? Sir, right now their sculpture class is about to start," the other professor accompanying the director came forward as he informed about the next class, noting the clock showing 10 o'clock.

"Let's go then," Avendial moved. Seeing him move, the director, including everyone inside the room, tried to follow behind him. Even Aecilia was about to stand from her seat, but Avendial gestured and stated, "No need for others to come; I will just go alone."

Given that if he went with everyone, it would just attract more gazes and interest from others. So, he preferred to go alone, prompting the director to nod, "As you say, Marquess, we will wait here for you then."

"You don't have any problem, do you, Miss Aecilia?" Avendial, while exiting the room, glanced toward Aecilia, who sat on the sofa, as she shook her head before just closing her eyes.

"Director, should I inform the department about the addition of a new professor?" Professor Daphis glanced toward the director and spoke to him about informing the art and culture department about the arrival of a new professor, to which the director nodded before Professor Daphis left the room accompanied by the assistant of the director, who would make things much easier.

"Hm, Professor Rihane, how about—" The director was about to tell how Rihane would also come inside and rest on the sofa instead of standing near the door. But before he could say further, a woman's firm voice came from the room.

"Rihane, come here and massage my shoulder, and you old hag, piss off from here."

"Huh?" Rihane and the director both turned their gazes toward the source of the voice, observing that Lady Aecilia was sitting on the sofa with her eyes shut. She had gracefully crossed her legs and leaned her head back, appearing to be in a state of restful sleep while her thin black nightgown elegantly adhered to her delicate milky white skin.

"Can't you see I am trying to sleep? Just piss off, old hag, and you, bird's nest, start massaging my shoulder," Aecilia, while remaining in her relaxed position with her head leaned back, once again repeated herself, aware that now the Marquess had left and would not come for some time; there was no need for her to act and preserve her image.

"Y-yes." Rihane couldn't help but be surprised when she heard Aecilia Sertsul talk with a toughness that surpassed that of ordinary citizens in the free cities, as if she hailed from a backward, criminal-infested rural area.

But it didn't take Rihane long to adjust herself, knowing well that everyone had two faces, and it was not new for her. She approached the sofa while adjusting her round glasses, her curly hair tousled around. Arriving near Aecilia, stretching her hands, she started to massage her shoulders while she laid there.

'Am I seeing things?' The director, who in his 40 years of experience had never seen someone from aristocracy speak like that, felt as if he were dreaming.

He indeed had met a few barons or counts from aristocracy, but even though they showed their status and ego, they never once used words that didn't align with the proper well-known etiquette of noblemen.

But this woman?

"You really seem to have a fetish for enjoying a woman getting massaged, haven't you, old man?" Aecilia slightly peeked through one eye, revealing the golden hue in it as she looked toward the director, who instantly snapped out of his thoughts before nodding and exiting the room, locking it.

"Hey, once you go to Croceaus territory, contact a man named Sam there; he is in the main family mansion and works under Alfred," Aecilia, seeing how she had emptied the room for her to have a proper conversation with Rihane, while she massaged her shoulder with Aecilia's face resting on the head of the sofa, half-visible from Rihane's sight.

"I-I don't understand what you mean, my lady." Rihane, trying to comprehend, realized Aecilia wanted her to keep an eye on the Marquess, which wasn't unexpected considering many noble families did the same. But right now, she hesitated, knowing very well that both of them had a significant role in her life's events, making it a very difficult situation for her.

"Simply send messages through his hands; he would easily pass through security and provide me that message," Aecilia spoke calmly while relaxing, but for Rihane, looking at her calm face only intensified the turmoil in her mind as she realized that the situation was definitely not in her favor. She considered how, if she somehow got entangled in this, everything would be over.

She would just become an expendable pawn waiting to be slaughtered.

In simple words, if she accepted Aecilia's words and started to act as her spy and got caught by the Marquess, it was most likely that the Sertsul family would reject any relation with her, leading to a death without anyone knowing.

If she rejected Aecilia Sertsul right now, it was most likely that she would get rid of her even before she could reach Croceaus territory.

Rihane was in a dilemma, with her mind filled with horror that was slowly shattering all the thoughts she had accumulated about having a way to help those who changed her life, but it seemed it was just her own biased thinking. For the nobleman, she was just expendable, prompting her to lower her gaze and feel her body trembling as she inquired, "What kind of message, my lady?"

With a slow blink, Aecilia opened her eyes, her golden pupils fixated on Rihane, who had her eyes shut. Gazing toward her with frosty malice, Aecilia revealed, "Messages carrying the details of servants or people who are spying on Avendial with ill intentions, including those sent by the royal family. You see, he isn't good at catching the rats."

Aecilia again closed her eyes before thinking about how much burden was on her shoulders. 'Sigh, being a housewife is tough.'

"Huh?" Rihane's eyes suddenly snapped open as she looked blankly toward Aecilia, blinking for some moments before nodding, "Y-yes, I—I understand."