The Childhood Friend of the Villainess in a Romance Fantasy

Translator: Elisia

Editor/Proofreader: TempWane

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“What a wonderful bond you have.”

Amelia and Diane were deep in conversation when Adele quietly spoke to me.

“As someone from a knightly family, I’m envious.”

“R-Really?”

I felt embarrassed.

Of course, this embarrassment didn’t mean I disliked the situation. In fact, I felt quite pleased by the sense of connection between Amelia and me.

But aside from that, it was… how should I put it?

It was like the embarrassment you feel when your parents brag about you in front of someone else’s parents. You know, that feeling. It’s not necessarily unpleasant, but it inexplicably makes your face flush.

“Um, yes indeed.”

Diane, perhaps startled by the realization that Amelia and I were closer than she had thought, responded like that.

In the original novel, Diane… was described as beauty, but she wasn’t exactly a likable character.

Of course, being a character created to be a villain from the start, that made sense. However, even among villains, there are some who are fascinating. Diane, despite her somewhat significant role in the story, typically engaged in antics befitting a third-rate antagonist.

She would secretly tear the dresses of people she didn’t like or commission the information guild to dig up dirt on her enemies.

And true to her third-rate villain persona, she practiced the strong-bully-the-weak philosophy, unable to act brazenly in front of Amelia.

By the end, it was revealed that she was essentially being used by the information guild.

Despite all this, she was surprisingly popular. According to the “original” settings, she had wreaked absolute havoc, backed by the authority of Amelia, the daughter of the Grand Duke. But in the villainess novel I read, Amelia never turned into a villain. Moreover, Adele quickly became close to Amelia, so Diane never managed to harm either of them directly.

While she was certainly capable of despicable deeds when pushed, without someone enabling her, Diane was little more than a pretty but petty character. There wasn’t much reason to overtly dislike her.

The early incident of tampering with invitations crossed a line, though… Oh, right, Amelia later used that as leverage, didn’t she?

And the information guild as well.

Maybe that’s why people found her a bit pitiful in the novel.

“Indeed. I once heard that Lady Delkis faced off against His Highness, the Crown Prince, and won when she was younger. If someone who had already defeated Northern Barbarians at a young age lost to her, she must be truly exceptional as a protector.”

“…What?”

At Diane’s sudden outburst, I couldn’t help but make a noise.

And that sound attracted the attention of both Amelia and Diane, whose gazes turned to me.

“Is there something you’d like to share?”

Diane addressed me as if she were being friendly, but considering her character, I doubted her words were genuinely kind.

I was a baron’s daughter, after all. From the perspective of commoners, my status was lofty. Even among nobility without territories, a baron’s house was considered prestigious. Yet, from the perspective of a count’s family, it was still beneath them.

All things considered, it was evident that you couldn’t casually dismiss a baron’s family without exposing yourself as petty. But disregarding such considerations and looking down on someone would only earn you scorn.

“Ah… That is…”

I glanced at Amelia, but she showed no particular reaction.

It wasn’t that she was ignoring me. She probably thought whatever I said wouldn’t be a problem.

Even if I made a mistake, Amelia would cover for me.

I wasn’t scared of Diane as a character. I just didn’t want to get entangled with her and invite unnecessary trouble.

“I was just curious where you heard that story.”

When I asked, Diane’s eyes widened slightly, as if to say, “You didn’t know?” I tilted my head in confusion.

“Why, His Highness himself, of course. If you attend the banquets held occasionally in the royal capital, there are opportunities to speak with His Highness. During those moments, he often shares tales of his experiences in Delkis, and the story of Lady Delkis comes up each time.”

Ah.

I wanted to clutch my head, but with so many eyes on me, I couldn’t.

So… you’re saying that the idiot Crown Prince brought up that story every time he talked to someone?

I mean, I get it. As a nobleman—especially royalty—having an accomplishment worth bragging about is valuable. Defeating an enemy at a young age is definitely something to boast about.

After all, the reason the Crown Prince visited Delkis as a prince was to create such a story.

So I couldn’t stop him from talking about his own achievements. But why did my story have to come up too?

“The white wolf His Highness raises was also a gift from Lady Delkis, wasn’t it? I’ve never approached it because it’s terrifying, but everyone in the royal capital knows how much His Highness cherishes that wolf. In fact, among those prominent enough to converse with His Highness in the social circles of the capital, there are hardly any who don’t know Lady Delkis. Of course, for those outside that circle, it might be news to them.”

For a fleeting moment, Diane’s gaze shifted to Adele, who stood beside me.

Adele had acted as though she knew nothing about me. Perhaps she really didn’t. Information like this tends to circulate only among those in the know.

I looked at Amelia, who shook her head as if to say she didn’t know either. This time, however, there was a hint of unease in her expression.

It seemed even she hadn’t expected the contents of the conversation.

No, no.

Wait—hold on a second.

Amelia had just debuted in the royal capital’s social circles.

The only proper ball she had attended was her welcoming banquet, and I was with her on that occasion.

Furthermore, since I was her escort at the time, very few people approached us directly.

It wasn’t as though we had no acquaintances in the capital, but meeting them was something we had postponed for later.

“Oh my, did you not know?”

Diane’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Was she trying to discern whether I genuinely didn’t know or was just pretending?

“Well, it wouldn’t be strange if you didn’t know. Few people would dare spread the Crown Prince’s words carelessly. Even if rumors circulated, they likely only spread among those who heard them firsthand, so it’s no surprise they didn’t travel outside the capital.”

“Indeed.”

Ah, oh no.

“If such rumors were to spread indiscriminately and lead to unnecessary ‘misunderstandings,’ Lady Delkis would be the one inconvenienced. Don’t you agree, Lady Hoover?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Diane maintained her composure and offered a proper greeting.

Ah, right. I saw earlier that the Crown Prince was heading this way, but I had forgotten.

“While it’s true I shared such stories, I’d appreciate it if no one misunderstood them further. I’ve noticed that some people tend to exaggerate my words. I hope, Lady Hoover, you aren’t one of them.”

“Of course not, Your Highness. If such rumors were to circulate, it could cause all sorts of trouble.”

“Hmm.”

Misunderstanding?

What misunderstanding—oh, right.

Back when I postponed the sparring match, I had made an excuse that was almost like a confession.

If the Crown Prince only mentioned “the story of sparring with me and losing,” then in his own way, he was protecting my honor. By the standards of this era, it would be ruinous for a woman’s marriage prospects if it became known that she confessed to another man.

Even if the Crown Prince hadn’t said anything of the sort, the fact that I had given him a gift no one else could acquire would naturally lead people to make assumptions.

“And the duel was something I proposed as a reckless child at the time. Losing was entirely my fault. The promise of another match afterward was likely made to protect my pride.”

The Crown Prince defended me with those words.

“Of course, Your Highness.”

Diane responded smoothly.

Was bringing up this topic her way of trying to curry favor with the Crown Prince?

And had her initial lack of hostility toward me been because she already knew I was someone close to him?

“By the way, Lady Delkis.”

But my train of thought was interrupted as the Crown Prince addressed me directly, pushing my musings aside.

“I’ve always thought the people of Delkis had little connection to magic. What brings you here? Have you come as a guard?”

There was no mocking tone in his words. Knowing his personality, it was unlikely that he would feign innocence deliberately. He must have genuinely been curious.

“Elsie also received an invitation,” Amelia interjected. “It said, ‘We humbly request your visit.'”

Good job, Amelia!

“Oh?”

The Crown Prince’s eyes narrowed as he looked at me.

He seemed as if he knew something, but there was no way I could pry it out of him.

…Maybe I should I have just stayed at home?

I seriously reconsidered my life choices.