A Villainess Should Be Strong

"Gardenia Sky?" Estelle furrowed her brows.

She repeated it a couple more times, but still couldn't understand what the term entailed.

After pondering for quite some time, she got stuck and finally decided to store the note in her space first. She would find out more later, but her current priority was meeting her maternal grand aunt.

She touched the floor and began thinking of her wish to go to Alfheim.

Before the magic activated, however, she took one last look at the room she was in and suddenly missed her father.

Even after being separated for so long, she had to go away one more time. Not meeting both of her parents because she had her duties.

How great would it be if she was a normal child?

Then, she would've been able to spend time with them every day.

Live a normal noble child.

At this very moment, Estelle's thoughts were drawn back to the Duke's words.

The meaning of sacrifice. The Duke had told her to learn it. But for what?

Who or what did she have to sacrifice? And for what reason?

"...I want to become strong. Strong enough so that I won't have to sacrifice anybody," Estelle made a resolution to herself. She was in a precarious position with less freedom than what she thought she had.

Her choices were little, and all the events were guided.

To this, Estelle wanted to grow.

After thinking one more time, she felt like the way she phrased it was incorrect.

Wanting was different from a factual statement. Just wishing wouldn't get her anywhere.

"I will become that strong," Estelle said. "I will do it," she corrected herself, saying encouraging words.

A warm blue light magic then enveloped her as she felt the teleporting agent start to work.

The destination was the Elves' land, Alfheim.

Estelle looked forward to the trip, but she was also a bit spooked out. Worried as to what might arrive next, and what future shall greet her.

_____

Estelle regained her footing on a lush forest with splendid sights. It was a garden of sorts, with many kinds of flowers decorating the environment with their beautiful sparks of colors.

A light, fleeting scent of lilies wafted through the air and entered her nose. The flower that dominated the garden the most was the white lily.

Estelle took this chance to calm herself down and prepare for her encounter.

However, before she was able to relax, a voice greeted her.

"Ara," A woman's voice entered Estelle's ears. "I thought that my sister had somehow crawled back into this place, but it turns out that..."

"Her successor came instead?" The woman chuckled.

Her chuckles were like music to the ears. Adding into the vast garden space, a perpetual echo was made with each sound. Crisp effects of wooden sandals clacking against the concrete pathing was slowly drawing closer and closer to Estelle's current location.

Her words implied that she was indeed the Elven Queen. Saying ' sister' and 'successor', it could only be the sole person Estelle came to visit Alfheim for.

Estelle couldn't help but gulp her saliva as she prepared herself for the arrival of her 'maternal grand aunt', who she didn't expect would greet her this fast.

Soon, the figure of said woman entered her line of sight.

A blonde beauty with hair that stretched down to her waist, had braids in some places, and was silky smooth. The strands seemed to dance against the air with every movement she made.

Her bright aquamarine eyes glowered like nothing else. The clarity that emanated from said irises were unfathomable.

Estelle unconsciously stopped breathing for a short moment due to being taken aback by the beauty's sudden appearance.

This was her maternal grand aunt, the current Elven Queen Shirley.

"Since you are here... You must already know who I am. Only, I'm not that familiar with you?" Shirley tilted her head.

The Elven beauty had one hand placed snugly on her hip, and a forever lasting smile plastered on her face.

She was clad in loose white robes, and her main point of fashion were the golden jewelries that hung off her. The circlets, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, down to the smallest detail made on the dress.

She was someone worthy of being called the Queen of Elves. For the Elven race, who were known for their appearances, the Queen must be a top notch beauty above all.

And Shirley was indeed a top notch beauty. It was hard to imagine that Shirley was an existence akin to Heine: someone who had lived for hundreds of years and yet showed no signs of aging because of their powers.

"My name is Estelle Clareste.. Silvanna Villarante's granddaughter," Estelle raised her hand up, showing the ring that was circling her ring finger tightly.

Shirley's eyes softened as she saw the ring.

"Silvanna's granddaughter. That would make you my grand niece, then. Pleasure to meet you, I am Alfheim's current reigning Queen, Shirley Villarante," Shirley put her right palm over her heart as a saluting gesture.

Shirley's beauty was intoxicating. A glamorous, flashy type. If Estelle's looks leaned more towards a calm, cool beauty, then Shirley was an ethereal being that captured others' hearts with every move she made.

Estelle performed the same gesture Shirley made, thinking that it was a way to greet others in Alfheim.

"...Oh? You actually followed me?" Shirley giggled.

"Is there something wrong...?" Estelle questioned, worrying that she had offended the other party.

"The gesture is reserved for Royalty. It's a policy that we Elven Royals do not bow to others. Be it our head, down to the whole body. We are destined to stand above many. Thus, the salute was created.. but,"

"I'm terribly sorry! I didn't know," Estelle hurriedly apologized, realizing what she had just done.

"Well... technically you are a royal. And the bloodline that runs through you is very strong. Splendid," Shirley complimented.

She walked a few steps forward to get near to Estelle.

"Is that really the case? I've heard about it, but accepting the fact is a bit hard," Estelle went from being a Duke's daughter to suddenly a temporal Goddess and now an Elven royalty.

Just how many titles and ranks must she have before the world is satisfied?

"It's going to be fine. You weren't born into the society firsthand, so I doubt that anybody is going to force you to do your royal duties. I have children, too, so you won't be held accountable unless you want it," Shirley extended her hand and placed it over Estelle's head gently, rubbing the younger's silky hair with a gentle countenance.

"..Thank you for the understanding," Estelle replied back with a small smile, relieved that her maternal grand aunt was someone like Shirley.

"Don't mention it. Now that you've arrived in Alfheim, I should provide you with a well-deserved treatment. Welcome to Alfheim, little Estelle," Shirley snapped her fingers.

Instantly, two Elven beauties, one male and one female appeared out of nowhere.

"They are my attendants. Twins," Shirley clapped twice, signifying them to introduce themselves.

They both stepped forward and kneeled to the ground as a form of respect. Before their arrival, Shirley had told them of Estelle's identity.

Since she was a royal, an influential one at that, they must give her the utmost level of respect.

Of course, this was merely the appropriate attitude as royal attendants. It did not mean that they approved the girl completely.

After all, a royal appearing out of nowhere was quite the shocker.

For more than five seconds, they stayed in the kneeling position. Then, they got up.

"My name is Niki, and I will be attending to you for the rest of your stay in Alfheim,"

'Niki' was the female elf. She made a polite bow after getting up. Her face was stoic, and Estelle could faintly see that Niki was holding back a sense of dislike. The reason for that was unknown, but to think that the elven beauty would dislike her right off the bat was a bit unnerving.

This was their first meeting.

Yet, Estelle understood the fact that elves were seclusive creatures. Call them xenophobic all you want, but they have been raised with their own principles and believes that their views were completely justifiable.

"My name is Niel, and I too will be attending to you for the rest of your stay in Alfheim,"

The male elf was 'Niel'. Their names were similar, which was understandable since they were twins.

Estelle sensed a rather prominent hate emerging from Niel.

Internally, she laughed.

It seemed like her stay in Alfheim wouldn't just be all roses judging by the 'welcome' she got.

She then decided to make a bold move out of curiosity.

What would happen if she was to declare herself... a Villarante?

An outsider like her, confidently stating that she was a royalty and this twin siblings were to drop their hatred this instant.

"Pleasure to meet you. I am Estelle Villarante, your royal princess starting from now on,"