Tia, I'm coming in.
Sir Cecil!
Thank you for troubling yourself to come and see me.
What happened?
I made a little blunder.
There were some things that needed to be carried out of the student council room.
But Lord Fannil was there with me, so that wasn't an issue.
Fannil Rhode, the son of a count.
I believe he's a member of the Society for Adoring Lady Bertia,
Fannil Rhode, Count's Son
but I'll have to have him thoroughly investigated later.
Once we'd finished our task and I was on my way back to the student council room,
a female student came up from behind me, and I bumped into her on the stairs.
And then, I...
B-But I'm quite all right!
Kuro quickly cast protective magic on me!
The perpetrator, or rather, the student's face... did you see it?
I was looking down, so I couldn't see it.
Then what about her hair, or her build?
Please tell me, Tia.
Her hair was pink-blonde...
and her build also greatly resembled that of Lady Heronia.
J-Just as I thought! The villainess must be in conflict with the heroine!
Now, Tia...
I simply cannot bring myself to leave this alone any longer.
Sir Cecil...
I don't know what this emotion is yet.
But when she was hurt, it was the first time...
I knew the pain of harm befalling something that I delighted in.
If you say that you are going to do as you like,
then I may take action of my own will as well. Agreed?
An Observation Log of My Fiancée Who Calls Herself a Villainess
Chapter 6
An Observation Log of a Self-Proclaimed Villainess and the Resolution of the Matter.
Well, everyone.
Would you be willing to assist in a little personal revenge of mine?
If it is Your Highness's wish,
I will, of course, assist you.
So our general has finally decided to make a move, then?
Yes, yes!
The rabble who would dare to hurt dear Lady Bertia...
must be shown that they will be swiftly dealt with.
Brother! Let's hurry and go to the baron's daughter Heronia and—
No. The perpetrator in this matter is not Heronia the baron's daughter.
What?
Her actions consistently aim to worsen Tia's social standing.
Lately, the incidences of direct harassment have increased,
and the finishing touch was this most recent incident.
So the real culprit is someone else?
Correct.
Who could it possibly be?
Ilynn Silbertz, a viscount's daughter.
Now, how shall we prepare this dish?
One Week Later
Lady Bertia!
Why is there a rumor going around that I pushed you?
Um, what do you mean?
They say you fell down the stairs,
but I just know you set it all up yourself, didn't you?
I'd expect nothing less from a villainess.
Your Highness, is that part of your plan as well?
A villainess will never be anything more than a villainess!
No, it's merely a coincidence.
However, it's quite convenient.
I can see right through you, you know?
Today is the day we carry out the plan.
My conspirators have already lured Miss Ilynn to this courtyard.
As to what exactly happened the day Tia was pushed,
I discovered everything when I had Fannil investigated.
It seems that he is the object of Miss Ilynn's one-sided love.
However, he is in the Society for Adoring Lady Bertia.
That was the reason for the bullying.
And on that day...
as she was following Tia in order to harass her,
she caught sight of the happy face of the object of her affections.
And so she gave in to her rage and pushed Tia.
That appears to be the truth of the situation.
Honestly. She has quite the nerve to do such a thing to my fiancée.
Don't pretend you don't know! This is all your doing, isn't it?
That's my fiancée.
Could you please cease your baseless accusations against her?
P-Prince Cecil?
Sir Cecil...
Your Highness! Lady Bertia is about to entrap me!
Oh dear. It seems it would be best not to get too close.
At least, that was my first thought,
but Kuro's defenses seem to be completely nullifying the effect.
That's impossible.
Out of consideration for everyone involved, we haven't spoken of it,
so she doesn't know that you're rumored to be the perpetrator in this matter.
Everyone, please listen!
I'm sure all of you are curious about the truth behind the rumors!
With regards to that incident, I'd like to resolve the matter here and now.
The one who pushed Tia... wasn't you, was it?
That's right! Of course I didn't!
Tia testified that when she was pushed down the stairs,
she saw a girl with the same hair color as you.
However, she never said that it was you.
That's right, isn't it, Tia?
Here, in this moment, if she declared that Miss Heronia had done it,
Tia would become the villainess she so longs to be, and yet...
It seems that someone has taken advantage of the way you clash with Tia.
I-I...
I'm not feeling well, so I think I'll...
If you're not here, nothing can begin, can it?
What?
Thank you, Fannil. You've been a great help.
There's something I very much wanted to ask the perpetrator.
The malicious act of foisting one's own crimes on someone else...
all that harassment against Tia...
was it truly so entertaining?
Was it, Ilynn Silbertz, viscount's daughter?
Wh-Whatever do you mean?
Lady Heronia did all of it, didn't she?
Lady Ilynn?
As a matter of fact, we've had you watched for the past week or so.
And while we watched you, Lady Ilynn, the strangest thing happened.
You would go into a changing room or restroom, Lady Heronia would come out,
and there was no one left inside.
It happened a number of times.
We witnessed this person who exchanged places with you
tamper with Lady Bertia's belongings.
Now, then. Is there anything you'd like to say?
They said that I disappeared from sight,
but it's possible that they mistook what they saw or simply misunderstood.
Besides, in the end, the perpetrator looked like Lady Heronia, didn't she?
I see. In that case, shall we present some physical evidence?
Nelt, if you would?
Yes.
K-Knowing that so many people are watching me makes me nervous.
No need to worry!
Simply speak to everyone in the same way that you always teach things to me!
R-Right.
So...
These are extractions
I made from moss and medicinal herbs. Masleet and alkalieh, respectively.
This masleet solution is colorless, transparent, and has no smell.
But when it's mixed with this alkalieh solution...
the color changes.
It does this due to a substance in the masleet solution found in the moss that—
It's like a switch has flipped for Nelt!!
L-Lord Nelt! That's enough for now!
What? Right.
Now, then.
For the last few days, we have taken this masleet solution
and sprayed it over a certain area in the girls' dormitories.
It was a place the perpetrator was very likely to visit—
Lady Bertia's personal storage closet.
Just so it's clear,
as soon as we realized a crime had been committed, we cleaned it up,
so it's impossible for anyone other than the perpetrator to have stepped in it.
Let's not delay. Won't you lend us your shoes, Lady Ilynn?
And just to be certain, Lady Heronia, may we ask for yours as well?
Of course!
If it will prove my innocence, I'll do anything!
Lady Ilynn? This is your chance to prove your innocence.
Or...
is there some reason you can't offer them up?
Lady Heronia and Lady Ilynn's shoes.
Lord Nelt, if you would, please.
Right.
Then, I'll start with Miss Heronia's.
No change.
Well, of course not!
Next, I'll apply it to Miss Ilynn's shoe.
The color changed quite beautifully, didn't it?
Now, we've provided evidence.
Do you still have something you'd like to say?
This is all a lie.
The whole student council conspired to protect Lady Heronia with tricks like—
What would be the point?
Protecting her and setting you up as the perpetrator...
What would be the point of that for us?
I've never seen him that angry before.
It's a completely natural reaction.
I suppose it doesn't matter.
When I think of what the future holds for you,
I suppose I can pretend I never heard the wild words you just spoke.
As an aside,
today is the day the dormitories get a thorough cleaning, isn't it?
If there were anything there that might serve as proof...
today is likely to be the one day that it couldn't be left there.
Is this something that is important to you?
Give it back! That belongs to me!
Yes. Exactly.
This...
D-Don't!
belongs to you!
A wig the same color as my hair?
I did warn you:
"If you take your little pranks too far, you'll end up all the worse for it."
Ilynn Silbertz.
Lord Fannil! I-It isn't what you think! This is...
I despise you from the bottom of my heart!
Well, now that we have that troublesome business taken care of...
Shall we go, Tia?
Just a minute!
I'm a victim here, aren't I? Why aren't you comforting me?
That isn't my responsibility.
And I have to make sure that Tia gets some rest.
This is all your fault.
Why are you dragging in rival ladies
and mediating between them and the capture targets?
Behave like a proper villainess and play the part of being hated!
Where Prince Cecil is concerned, I've made sure to—
Don't you understand?
The other capture targets are one thing,
but for Prince Cecil, if he isn't with me, he cannot find happiness!
You cannot replace me.
After all...
I am the Maiden of Destiny!
Maiden of Destiny?
Does that mean there's some reason the heroine and I must end up together?
This world exists so that I may shine.
And your prince will be mine someday, too!
I'm... sorry.
Tia!
I should have been much more attentive.
I think she's been constantly anxious.
She acted as though she was perfectly fine,
but since she was pushed down the stairs,
she doesn't seem to have been able to sleep.
She is too precious to lose.
She is one of the few in existence who can entertain me.
I must not let her exhaust herself like this.
Sir Cecil?
Everything is all right now.
This is a nice dream.
Tia, everyone is worried about you.
Wait, I...
You collapsed from a lack of sleep and exhaustion.
May I let everyone else in?
Everyone?
Come right in!
Pardon us.
Honestly, Lady Bertia! I've been so worried!
If you haven't been sleeping, just tell me!
I'll send you herb tea to help you sleep better!
If there's anything we can do, just say the word!
Bertia is very confused!
If you're feeling anxious about something, I'd be happy to listen.
Um. I don't... I...
Everyone here is on your side.
They just mean you shouldn't fret all alone.
Yes!
Well, I...
I'm going to work my very hardest!
No, the thing is...
First,
I will work very hard to understand why everyone is trying to cheer me up!
Yes, I suppose that's a good thing for her to work toward.
As I thought. This is what it should be like around Tia.
It's because of this atmosphere that I just can't stop observing her.
Roughly Two Months Later
Now, everyone!
At last, we will begin!
I-In the name of student council president, Shawn Turquoin Alphasta,
I declare the first Halm Academy Middle School Division Culture Fair open!
Today is a day for making memories,
Lady Cynthia's Martial Arts Class
Passed down by Lord Vald
and the day of the "culture fair" proposed by Bertia.
Since I've been invited, I'll have to make sure I find some amusement.
But it won't be the culture fair that you're enjoying.
It will be watching Lady Bertia enjoy the culture fair, won't it?
Ow!
What's this? I thought Your Highness might come here, as well.
Miss Joanna.
Did you come to see my younger brother cut a gallant figure?
Indeed! Prince Shawn's opening declaration was quite adora... magnificent.
May I join you until our respective partners are free?
Of course. Please do.
Allow me to give you a further report regarding Miss Ilynn.
The stairs incident is being treated as attempted murder,
so the judiciary has stepped in.
She's currently in a prison cell while her further crimes are being investigated.
An entirely reasonable result.
To tell you the truth, when I first met Lady Bertia, I felt quite uneasy.
If someone so kind was faced with Your Highness's disinterested manner,
wouldn't she feel hurt?
But when I saw Your Highness at the tea party,
I saw my fears were unfounded and felt much more at ease.
I think that compared to your past self, your current self is far more charming.
Please make Lady Bertia very happy, won't you?
Of course. I have every intention to.
What is that?
A polling station.
Tomorrow, at the closing event...
to finish out the fair, they'll be deciding on the Best Couple.
There is a middle school enrollment requirement.
Since Lord Charles and Lady Anne are both in the high school division,
they're disqualified, which is unfortunate.
That seems like a plan which will stir up quite a lot of excitement.
Sir Cecil!
I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting.
You've been so busy. Not being able to see you has made me quite lonely.
At last, we can relax together, my darling Tia.
I-I... Um...
I've bought some delicious sweets that they were selling at the culture fair.
Sweets?
Tia, you have some cream on the corner of your mouth.
Th-Thank you!
I'm looking forward to tomorrow.
Tomorrow?
And Now, the Closing Ceremonies.
Well, our fun culture fair has come to a close.
I will now announce our Best Couple!
We'll start with third place.
In third place we have two couples!
Lord Vald and Lady Cynthia!
And Lord Nelt and Lady Silica!
Next, in a very close second place...
we have Prince Shawn and Lady Joanna!
And our grand prix winners...
Prince Cecil Glo Alphasta and Bertia Ibil Noches, marquis's daughter!
Wait...
What? What?!
Wh-Wh-What's going on here?
"When Prince Cecil wiped cream from Lady Bertia's mouth with his finger,
the sweet atmosphere between them was such a delectable treat!"
That was just one of the opinions shared with us!
Since you were kind enough to introduce me, I've made an appearance.
And here we have Prince Cecil!
Lady Bertia! Please pull yourself together!
Being celebrated as Best Couple like this makes us very happy.
To live up to your kind expectations,
we promise to build a wonderful relationship
where we hold each other in high regard.
Her whole body is bright red.
How enterta—No. How adorable.
I'll leave the rest to you, Shawn.
Of course, Brother!
That was mean!
Next year, at the graduation party, I'll have the tables turned on me,
and Sir Cecil, you and the heroine will have your happy ending!
Before that, I wanted to make some nice memories,
but it's now a painful event that will make me think of you, Sir Cecil!
I'm sorry. I was just so happy that you and I were picked as Best Couple.
Do you feel differently?
No. It made me happy, too.
To be honest, I made an appeal to those around us with those intimate gestures.
I hoped that it might make the uneasiness she's been displaying of late disappear.
Everything's all right, Tia.
I won't allow our memories together to turn into something painful.
Translator: Elanor Sakamoto Timer: Edgar Cruz Editor: Salem Alabanza Quality Control: Alicia Ashby Final Quality Control Michelle Tymon
Side Story
Are you worried about something, Tia?
When we announce the opening of the culture fair,
I thought that launching fireworks would be showy and get everyone excited, but...
Fireworks?
Oh. You launch a sphere of gunpowder into the sky and it explodes.
It looks like colorful flowers blossoming in the sky. It's really beautiful!
To use gunpowder in such a manner...
How intriguing.
S-Sir Cecil! You mustn't become obsessed with gunpowder!
Viva peace, you know?
Viva peace! Viva, viva peace!
Bertia shouted for world peace!!
I wonder what she's saying.
Chapter 7 Observation Log of a Self-Proclaimed Villainess and Hatred.
"Observation Log of a Self-Proclaimed Villainess and Hatred."