BJ Villainess

To solve any problem, strategic thinking is necessary. Relying on the mood of the day, a fate-like intuition that strikes like lightning or horoscope fortunes to act is something only amateurs do.

“Someone like me, who fundamentally has a good head for strategy and tactics and easily grasps rules, would never do such foolish things.”

Ding!

[The Constellation ‘The Ugly Side of 22 Years Old Theresa’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]

[Can I speak my mind?]

Ding!

[The Constellation ‘Born From Theresa’s Heart’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]

[No, don’t]

Ding!

[The Constellation ‘The Ugly Side of 22 Years Old Theresa’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]

[I might have raised her as my child, but it’s infuriating every time like this]

Ding!

[The Constellation ‘Born From Theresa’s Heart’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]

[I told you not to talk—]

There are three categories for evaluating our harmonious home: parenting, marital relationship, and reputation. ‘Reputation’ directly refers to how people perceive Euges and me as good parents or not. High evaluations in parenting and marital relationships naturally boost the reputation score. The most critical category here is the marital relationship. It’s tricky because the male lead’s affection level is also considered in the evaluation. However, I wasn’t overly worried.

“Given Euges’s reactions, he seems quite interested in me.”

On my way to fetch the alcohol and cigar for Euges, I paused and checked my reflection in a mirror on the wall. “Does everyone really like me that much?”

I don’t know the intense attraction creations feel towards their creator. I couldn’t even guess how special I appeared to them.

“What if Euges’s affection for me skyrockets? It would be hard to handle.”

I have no intention of reciprocating his feelings.

. Being popular is for those who can handle it.

Ding!

[The Constellation ‘Correct Words, Beautiful Words’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]

[Who sprayed gas in the dungeon? This child seems worse off today?]

Muttering to myself about the headache, I went to the liquor storage that Winda hadn’t shown us and naturally picked up the alcohol. I thought about checking if the alcohol had spoiled but quickly dismissed the idea. Then, I took a cigar case and a box of matches from the luxury storage and headed to Euges’s personal bedroom.

The area near the couple’s bedroom was deserted, but quite a few people were moving through this corridor, so I had to be careful with how I addressed him.

“Honey, it’s me.” I tried to sound affectionate, but my voice came out more monotonous than I intended.

Ding!

[The Constellation ‘Over Immersed Otaku’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]

[How can calling someone ‘Honey’ be so unexciting…]

It seemed my reluctant heart had translated into my voice.

Soon, permission to enter was granted from inside.

“Come.”

Ding!

[The Constellation ‘Groom Euges’s Class’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]

[What’s with ‘come’ to a wife? Raul always speaks respectfully to Roseanne]

That’s what I’m saying.

. Entering, I found Euges already changed into comfortable clothes, looking slightly irritated as he searched the room.

“Looking for something?”

“Matches. Just put what you brought on the table.”

I set down the items and informed him, “I also brought matches.”

Magic couldn’t be used in this world, like in the ‘dungeon where you die if you don’t do what you love.’

“And I’ve also learned about this dungeon.”

Finally stopping his rough search for matches among the figurines in the display cabinet, Euges looked at me. “

.” He didn’t say it out loud, but his previously harsh gaze softened, perhaps pleased with my initiative.

He approached the table more leisurely, opening the cigar case first. However, he merely stared at the neatly arranged cigars without taking any out. “Tell me what you found out about the dungeon.”

Euges gestured for me to sit, and sitting across from me, he closed the cigar case lid. He didn’t seem to plan on smoking right away.

If so, that was commendable.

I briefly explained what Cecilia desires in this world, and Euges condensed it even further.

“So, we need to create a harmonious family to Cecilia’s satisfaction to enter the room that the maid wouldn’t let us into earlier. And there’s a demon hiding there?”

“That’s right.”

Realizing Cecilia’s wish, Euges clicked his tongue. “Contracted with a demon over such trivial reasons.”

“Is that so?”  I felt a bit embarrassed. I thought it was a significant enough reason. It was once my wish too.

Euges asked with a hint of boredom. “What happens if I don’t act like a parent?”

“We’ll receive a penalty. If we exceed a certain level, the dungeon will execute us as ‘incompatible’ and open the door to welcome new people for the parental roles.”

Normally, upon hearing this, one would discuss how to perform well as parents. But Euges didn’t.

“What if Princess alone takes care of Cecilia diligently?”

“There might be a limit, but I think the dungeon will consider it to some extent until Cecilia feels dissatisfied with her father’s absence.”

“Then that’s settled. You do it on your own.” Euges immediately opened the whiskey bottle and poured himself a drink, a relaxed smile on his lips. “I’m in no rush to leave here since the imperial palace feels more like a dungeon to me than this place.”

“I see. Understood.”

My easy acceptance seemed unexpected to Euges, who paused with the whiskey glass in hand.

“I thought you would try to persuade me, but that’s unexpected.”

“

, I’m about to do that now.”

Euges put down the glass of alcohol on the table with a look of bewilderment. “Are you confident or just not enthusiastic? Which is it?”

“I think I’m closer to being confident. I was planning to propose a bet to you.”

Euges’s interest was piqued, as I expected.

“What kind of bet?”

“Does Your Majesty want to bet whether you will play the role of a father within a week starting today?”

“The criteria are vague. What does it mean to play the role of a father?”

“I’ll consider it as playing the role of a father if you grant Cecilia’s request.”

“Alright. So, what’s at stake?”

“If I win, during our time in the dungeon, Your Majesty will act like a husband at all times. And call me ‘Wife’ instead of ‘Princess.’”

“That’s a trivial wish. Tell me one more.”

True to his generous nature, he was very accommodating.

“Then, hold my hand in front of Cecilia. Like a loving couple.”

“Fine.”

This time, Euges stated his own condition. “If I win, stop calling me ‘Honey.’ And during our time in the dungeon, act as my exclusive maid.”

“Yes, I will.”

The bet was smoothly established. Euges smiled with the most lively expression I’d seen so far. “This is why I like you, Princess. You always entertain me in unexpected ways.”

I smiled happily as well. “That’s an honor.”

Poor Euges. He seemed so excited about the bet, not realizing he was walking into a trap. But it’s all his own doing.

Well, I doubt that’s possible against the creator.

* * *

Euges lazily lifted his eyelids. It rained yesterday. Living like a monster that dies in the sunlight, he had, for some reason, enjoyed drinking while watching the rain yesterday. He fell asleep inadvertently and woke up to the morning sunlight.

Euges got up groggily from the bed and looked out the window. Today, there was no headache either. He had lost track of how many days it had been in a row. On days when he was particularly sensitive, sunlight felt like it was burning his optic nerves and melting his brain. So, waking up to the morning sunlight was a rare and unusual experience for him.

Was he feeling better because he was away from the detestable imperial palace? Or was it because of Theresa?

“Come to think of it, what day is it today? The third day?”

Theresa Squire had proposed a bet on their first day in the dungeon. The bet was that he would lose if he ended up playing the role of a father, but since then, Theresa had only been diligently taking care of his needs without doing anything special.

Euges, holding a cigar between his fingers, walked out to the balcony.

“

! Mommy is chasing me!”

At that moment, a child’s delighted scream drew his attention. Theresa, blindfolded with a cloth, was playing tag with the child.

“Got you!”

“

! Let me go! Help me, Mary!”

Giggles and laughter filled the air as the servants cheered and encouraged them. They couldn’t stop laughing.

Theresa, spinning around with Cecilia in her arms, looked like a blossoming flower. Then their eyes met. After whispering something to Cecilia, both waved at him.

“Daddy!”

Euges, who was staring blankly, inhaled the smoke deeply and exhaled it from his mouth. When the beautiful scene was covered with smoke, he went back into the room.