I Became the Absolute Hidden Villainess Princess of the Academy

Chapter 11: What’s This? What’s Going on Between These Two? (1)

A little while back, at the moment when Louis was lost in thought, wondering, “What’s the deal with those two?”

Esti had successfully managed to soak in the bath together with Irene and was overjoyed.

She was splashing around so much she even started humming a tune.

“Hhmm~♡”

—Splash, splash.

‘Up until now, she’s always seemed uncomfortable around me… But with this, Irene should finally get it, right? That I genuinely like her!’

For Esti, this bath was a means to close the distance between them.

While Esti already felt a strong sense of internal closeness to Irene, she knew that, to Irene, she was probably nothing more than an intimidating imperial princess.

Even if she was a less-than-impressive Esti, she was fully aware that her noble status would be burdensome to others.

That’s why she decided to show, with her actions, “I’m not dangerous~ I’m safe~” by bathing together with her.

‘Besides, I’m even keeping my eyes closed like this.’

On top of that, Esti had her eyes firmly shut the entire time.

Half of it was because she was already used to having maids help her bathe.

The other half was because, as someone who was once a man, it felt a little wrong to be seeing Irene’s bare body, even if it was on Louis’s behalf.

‘Louis, I’m really going all out for you here, so be grateful to this big sister of yours!’

“…”

However, because her eyes were closed, Esti had no idea.

She failed to notice how her actions came across to Irene.

And because of that…

She also failed to see how Irene’s gaze toward her had shifted.

‘So, it wasn’t that brat she was after… Was it me?’

Esti probably thought of bathing as something close friends do together.

And in truth, it was indeed something close friends would do.

But for two girls to bathe together, a lot more needed to happen beforehand.

If you’re not confident in your own body, bathing together could end up hurting your self-esteem.

And in the worst case, there’s always that anxiety — “What if that girl talks behind my back about my body?”

That’s why, for two women to bathe together, it’s usually only after a significant level of trust has been built.

The only person you’d feel comfortable revealing your body to is a truly close friend.

Of course, it’s different for everyone, but at least, that’s how Irene felt.

But what about Esti?

—“The bath is all ready! Come on, let’s go in together~!”

—“Princess, pardon me for saying so, but it’s rather improper for a lady to expose her bare skin to someone she’s just met…”

—Rustle, splash splash.

—“I’m going in first, so take your time and join me~.”

—“…Yes, Your Highness.”

She had no hesitation in showing her body.

To someone she’d just met a few hours ago, no less.

Because of that, the same suspicion that was brewing in Louis’s mind also flickered through Irene’s.

‘Could it be that she picked me up with that kind of intention?’

After that, Irene’s gaze toward Esti’s naked figure grew more curious.

—A curiosity driven by the question of whether Esti’s preferences aligned with her own.

‘Huh. Could it be that she’s into girls, just like me?’

In truth, the proportion of witches who were homosexual was relatively high.

Despised and feared instinctively by humans, the only companions they could rely on were other witches.

And as they sought comfort in each other, it naturally led to the development of such tendencies.

And as the last remaining witch in the world, Irene…

She too, if she had to choose, leaned in that direction.

She’d never had a romantic relationship before, but if she ever did, she’d definitely prefer it to be with a woman rather than a man.

That’s why, at that moment, she looked at Esti and thought of her as someone who shared her tastes…

—Hehe.

‘Well, it’s not like she’s doing this with that kind of intent, though.’

Still, she didn’t see her as a “comrade” either.

Because, after all, true recognizes true.

Irene, better than anyone, knew that Esti wasn’t looking at her that way.

And likewise, Irene didn’t see Esti that way either.

‘Besides, I don’t even see her as a woman.’

—Stare.

‘…No, I really shouldn’t be looking at her like this.’

Even if Irene’s preferences leaned that way, she wouldn’t look at a girl who’d barely hit puberty in that light.

Technically, Esti was a 20-year-old adult, but her physical growth had stopped 10 years ago, leaving her appearance frozen at a much younger stage.

So Irene’s reaction was only natural.

On top of that…

“Hehe, come to think of it, what do you think of our Louis? Isn’t he just soooo cool?”

‘Seems like she’s already got someone she likes.’

To Irene, Esti’s appearance as she proudly boasted about Louis was just like a girl in love.

And Irene had no interest in interfering with a couple.

‘This cheeky little princess probably keeps me around because of that boy, Louis, huh? Fine, I’ll just play along.’

“Yes, he’s… really cool! The coolest in the whole world!”

“Right?! Right?!”

Of course, Esti’s compliments were only meant to promote Louis’s charms.

But Irene’s thoughts were nothing more than a grand misunderstanding.

Once a misunderstanding takes root, it’s not so easily untangled.

As a result, the two of them continued chatting away in the bath, each completely mistaken about the other’s intentions.

“You’re saying I can stay in this palace…? No matter how you put it, that’s too much… I’d feel too guilty.”

“Hhmm, don’t be like that~ Louis is going to stay here too! How about that, huh?!”

‘So she’s hoping to live together with her boyfriend, huh? But living alone with a guy would draw too much attention. So she’s dragging me in as cover?’

“If… if you insist that much, then… Yes. Please allow me to stay.”

‘Well, I guess I’ll play along. I’m planning to use her to safely graduate from the academy anyway.’

The more they talked, the deeper the valley of misunderstandings grew.

Both of them smiled.

—Grin.

‘Fine, I’ll play along with your little “friendship game” until you two officially become a couple.’

—Smirk.

‘I’m a total Cupid…!!!’

***

As time passed and the servants were about to finish bathing Esti, a sudden sense of incongruity struck Irene.

‘Wait a second. Why has she kept her eyes closed this whole time?’

She hadn’t noticed it until now, but Esti’s eyes had been shut from start to finish.

Irene’s eyes narrowed as she observed Esti’s face.

She began to wonder if, perhaps, Esti saw her as something unsightly or disgusting.

‘Could it be… my “witch’s trait” is acting up again…? No, that’s not it. If it were, she wouldn’t have gotten so close to me in the first place.’

Soon, she dismissed that thought.

Esti’s actions so far had shown she wasn’t affected by the “witch’s trait” that most people were.

In fact, being around Esti even seemed to make the gazes of those around them feel just a little bit warmer.

Her fleeting gloom was soon replaced by curiosity.

‘Then what’s she closing her eyes for?’

“Um, Princess…? Why are you keeping your eyes closed…?”

—Clamp.

“Mmmpf…!!!?”

Irene’s curiosity-fueled question was abruptly cut off as one of the servants tending to Esti’s bath swiftly covered Irene’s mouth.

‘What’s going on? Was that something I wasn’t supposed to ask?’

“Hmm? My eyes?”

“Ah.”

At the sound of Esti’s voice, the servant let out a soft sigh and released Irene’s mouth.

The shock on the servant’s face had shifted into an expression of pity.

—Whisper.

“Miss, please don’t bring that up in front of Princess Esti…”

But with Esti’s eyes still closed, she had no idea what was happening in the bathroom.

Her answer drifted into the air.

‘If I say it’s because I’m more comfortable when they wash me like this, it’ll sound too childish, right?’

“…It’s just a habit. So don’t worry about it.”

Since Esti was surprisingly self-conscious about how childish her reasoning sounded, her voice came out stiffer than usual after the short silence.

Even the smile she’d been wearing faltered slightly from the lie she’d told.

In short, Esti’s lie was written all over her face.

“Ah… I see.”

—Tilt.

‘What’s with this weakling’s blatant lie? What’s going on?’

With her head tilted in confusion, Irene’s gaze shifted to the servant.

The one who had urgently silenced her and was now looking like the world’s saddest person, tightly pressing her own lips shut.

Her questioning eyes prompted the servant to write words in the soap bubbles on the floor.

[Since Princess Esti trusts you, I’ll tell you. Actually, the princess…]

‘…What?’

The servant’s message, written with the unnecessary skill of someone experienced in bath service, could be summed up like this:

Ten years ago, after suffering a humiliation from her fiancé Louis on what was supposed to be the happiest day of her life, Esti, in extreme shock, had shaved her own head.

Since that day, she’d been left with a trauma that prevented her from directly looking at her own underdeveloped body.

She’d also been unable to wear skirts or dresses that exposed her legs.

By the time the explanation was over, Irene’s expression had twisted in anger.

‘I always wondered why she only wore pants… Turns out, that little brat was total human garbage. Even I, a witch, think that’s just too much.’

Like most women who learned of Esti’s story, Irene’s impression of Louis plummeted.

If Esti herself knew, she’d be pounding her flat chest and crying out about how it was all a big misunderstanding.

But right now, with her eyes shut, Esti had no idea.

Meanwhile, Irene’s thoughts continued to spiral on their own.

‘She’s probably still hung up on that trash and trying to get back together with him somehow. And he’s probably too guilty to approach her properly.’

In Irene’s mind, the relationship between Louis and Esti had been redefined.

A reckless young lord who’d spoken cruel words in the past.

And a tragic princess who, despite being hurt, couldn’t let go of her feelings for him.

This was the general perception of the relationship between Esti and Louis held by the world at large.

Of course, in reality, there wasn’t even a single gram of romantic affection between the two of them.

But how could Irene or the rest of the world have known that?

After all, no one knew that the Blézer family’s bloodline had a tendency to spout “She’s not ripe yet” whenever they saw a young girl.

Nor did they know that the identity of the 3rd princess wasn’t exactly male or female, and that she had no interest in either gender.

Thus, Irene’s misunderstanding was inevitable—as was the world’s.

But unlike the others who’d heard Esti’s story, Irene had one critical difference.

—Heh.

‘Well, it’s convenient for me.’

For Irene was a witch.

If it was for her survival, she wouldn’t hesitate to manipulate a tragic princess to her own ends.

Even if that meant causing Esti a bit of emotional harm along the way.

Her golden eyes gleamed slyly.

‘Alright, let’s start by getting her into a nice, cute skirt.’

It was at that moment that the self-proclaimed “friend” decided she would become the princess’s benefactor.

After the bath meant to build friendship with Irene, I frowned as I stood in front of the servants.

“What kind of clothes would you like to wear, Princess?”

‘Did my sisters prepare these?’

The servants had brought in a mountain of clothes from the dressing room, asking if there was anything I liked.

Of course, most of them were skirts.

I shook my head to refuse.

‘Seriously, one pair of pants is enough for me. Why waste all that money?’

“My usual clothes are fine—”

“Princess, how about this outfit?”

“…Huh?”

But my attempt to refuse was cut off.

Irene, fully dressed in new clothes, suddenly appeared next to me.

Curious, I turned my gaze toward her outfit—and my mouth dropped open.

“It’s similar to the one I’m wearing now… I’ve always wanted to match outfits with a friend.”

‘Wow, as expected of a main character!!! Her beauty—what is it?!’

Irene, freshly bathed and now clad in a clean white dress, looked stunningly beautiful.

“It’s called a fustanella, a type of clothing worn mainly by men from a distant Mediterranean country, so it might not suit a princess…”

‘Oh wow. Her skin’s absolutely glowing too.’

Her beauty, enhanced by the post-bath glow, had skyrocketed several times over.

My resolve was instant.

‘This, this has to be shown. I need to show this to Louis right now!!’

“I’m sure Lord Louis would absolutely—”

—Snatch. Tug.

“…Huh?”

Without a second thought, I grabbed the dress and pulled it over my head in one swift motion.

Since it was sleeveless, there were no snags as it slipped on in a single go.

It felt a little airy and uncomfortable compared to pants, but I ignored it and snatched up more clothes from nearby, putting them on quickly.

This was no time for chit-chat about fashion.

I had to show this to Louis before the effect of the bath wore off!

—Murmur, murmur.

—“The princess…!!!?”

—“W-What am I even seeing right now?”

—“Is this a dream…?”

“…That was way too easy.”

“I’m all dressed! Alright, Irene, let’s go see Louis right now!”

I swiftly grabbed Irene’s wrist and pulled her along.

For some reason, the servants were covering their mouths, staring at me like they’d seen a ghost.

‘What’s the big deal about me wearing a skirt?’

Feeling like a food delivery courier on a mission, I dashed through the mansion.

Finally, I flung open the door to the guest reception room.

—Bang!

“Louis! You’ve been waiting, right?!”

‘Look quickly before it wears off! Irene’s looking absolutely gorgeous right now!!!’

“Esti… Wha—WHAAT!!!?”

For some reason, Louis was also shocked the moment he saw me.

But it’s probably nothing to worry about.