I Became the Absolute Hidden Villainess Princess of the Academy

Chapter 13: Locking Down the Absolute Hidden Villainess Princess (1)

Louis looked ready to explode, so I temporarily left the reception room.

After enough time had passed, I headed back to the reception room — two keys in hand.

‘Hehe… If I propose cohabitation now, he’ll definitely pretend to give in and accept it, right?’

While I had been away, I wondered how much closer the two of them had grown. The thought made my heart swell with anticipation.

Clutching the keys tightly against my flat chest, I opened the door with my other hand.

— Creak.

“Louis~ Irene~ Did you wait long?”

‘Louis, this is a gift from your big sister!’

With a dramatic entrance, I threw the door open with gusto, embodying the essence of a hidden villainess.

Their gazes turned toward me, and I quickly scanned them as well.

Inside the wide reception room, for some reason, the two were standing face-to-face. The height difference between them was just right, making me think, ‘What’s this? What’s this? What’s going on between these two?’

To top it off, Louis was wearing an expression so dashing that it looked as if he had just confessed his feelings.

My eyes widened. Could it be that he succeeded on the first day?

But that thought didn’t last long.

Their expressions soured at the same time, as if they’d eaten an orange after brushing their teeth.

“E-Esti. Why on earth are you dressed like that?”

“…Princess, did you change your clothes just now?”

“Huh?”

Both of them pointed out my outfit, which I had just changed into.

…It was because Louis looked like he was about to have a meltdown, so I quickly changed into pants. What’s their problem?

I tilted my head, puzzled.

“…This is just how I normally dress, isn’t it? Why?”

“No, it’s just… Earlier, you were definitely wearing a dress…”

“That’s right, Princess. You even said you’d match outfits with me…”

‘Ah, right, I did say that.’

But I soon nodded, thinking it wasn’t that strange for them to feel that way.

After all, I had just changed clothes and came back. It was natural to wonder if I had spilled juice on myself or something.

Plus, I had promised Irene that we’d wear matching outfits.

To clear up their confusion, I gave them a wide smile.

“Ah, about that… Hehe. I just thought dresses didn’t really suit someone like me. Didn’t you have a bad look on your face too, Louis?”

“Wha-What…?”

‘…There he goes again. Why is his face getting worse?’

My smile was met with Louis turning pale as a ghost.

Irene, meanwhile, was glaring down at Louis with sharp eyes as if scolding him for something.

She leaned down slightly and whispered in his ear.

— Whisper, whisper.

“Young Lord Louis, tell her she was the prettiest in the world. Right now. Quickly.”

“……!!!! Ah, no!! Your dress earlier suited you so well!! It was beautiful — beautiful enough to be the prettiest in the world!!!”

I had no idea what Irene had said to him, but Louis suddenly began showering me with delayed compliments about my dress from earlier.

…Why are you complimenting me when your girlfriend is standing right there?

I let out a sigh and shook my head.

I made a mental note to personally teach him about women later.

‘Tsk tsk. Complimenting another girl in front of your girlfriend? You really don’t understand women at all, do you? I’ll have to teach him a thing or two later.’

“…Forget it. Dresses suit girls like Irene far more than they do someone like me.”

“Ah, ah…”

Louis’s face turned ashen.

His face looked ten times more contorted than Father’s had when I’d told him I didn’t like rubbing my cheeks against his beard because it was prickly.

It was clear he had just realized the mistake he’d made.

— Mutter, mutter.

“Haa… It’s going to be rough.”

‘Sorry, Irene! Our Louis is a good guy, but when it comes to this kind of thing, he’s completely clueless. Please be patient with him, okay? You’re an angel, after all!’

“Hmph…”

The two girls’ sighs echoed below him.

After the brief commotion over my outfit, I handed Louis a key.

“Since the mansion is so big, let’s live together. It’ll be even better than a single dorm room.”

“That’s right, Young Lord Louis. It’s nerve-wracking to be alone in such a large mansion with only the Princess and me. If someone as reliable as you were here to protect us, we’d feel so safe.”

‘Ohh?! What’s this, what’s this!? What happened between them for Irene to suddenly support me like this?!’

I proposed cohabitation with Louis under one roof, and Irene even backed me up with enthusiasm.

Our combined attack finally made Louis nod his head.

“True. If it’s just two girls living together, people might get suspicious…”

“Louis?”

“Nothing. Anyway, I get it. I’ll be your shield and protector.”

“Ooooh…!!!!”

‘Louis can actually say something cool sometimes?! Calling himself Irene’s shield and protector… What’s with these two already?!’

With a resolute expression, Louis took the key from me.

Afterward, he directed an intense gaze at Irene, so intense that it made me internally squeal in embarrassment.

— Mutter, mutter.

“…I’m just a fool who only causes trouble if I interfere. I’ll stay quiet and just protect them. Take care of Esti, Irene.”

‘He’s muttering to himself again? What’s up with him?’

I didn’t know what he was mumbling, but it probably wasn’t anything significant.

Anyway, after handing the key to Irene as well, we all gathered around the reception room’s sofas.

We sat facing each other. 

Irene and Louis sat on separate sofas so they could face each other. 

If I sat next to Louis, Irene might not like it, so I sat next to her instead.

In other words, it was arranged so that Irene and I faced Louis.

‘It would’ve been best if those two sat together, but no need to rush. This subtle tension is nice at the start.’

“Um, wouldn’t it be better if the Princess sat next to Young Lord Louis?” Irene suggested.

‘She’s still feeling the weight of our status, huh?’

“No, Louis wouldn’t want to sit next to me.”

“…”

“Haa….”

This arrangement wasn’t ideal for everyone, but at least it wasn’t the worst.

None of them seemed to have major complaints.

I took the lead and started the conversation.

“Anyway, now that the three of us are living under the same roof… Irene and I are both applying to the Department of Magic. How about you, Louis?”

I asked because I’d assumed he’d apply to the Department of Knights. I hadn’t bothered to ask until now.

But his unexpected answer caught me off guard.

“…I applied to the Department of Magic too.”

“…Huh? Not the Department of Knights?”

“I’d just end up fighting with the professors there and winning. No point going there. It’s better to broaden my horizons in the Department of Magic… Plus, I heard you’d be there.”

“Ah.”

‘Come to think of it, Louis… He’s a skilled fighter even our Knight Commander acknowledged.’

My eyes, which had been round in surprise, naturally shifted toward Irene.

‘This is my chance to hype him up!’

“Heh~ Isn’t Louis amazing?”

I decided to praise Louis to restore the favorability points Irene had probably lost due to that dress comment earlier.

It seemed to work, as Irene nodded with a satisfied look.

“…Yes. As expected of a Young Lord.”

“Right~? Louis is incredible!”

— Grab, snuggle.

Feeling proud, I hooked my arm around Irene’s and rubbed my cheek against her arm.

Our Irene had gone through so much hardship, but in just one day, she’d already opened her heart to Louis. It made me think, ‘As expected of a couple I’ve chosen.’

— Swoosh.

“…Ahem. The weather’s nice.”

I didn’t know why Louis suddenly turned his gaze away, but it probably wasn’t important.