Living Up to Your Expectations - Chapter 1

“Feli, this is truly amazing. Finishing your Crown Princess education three whole months early.”

The afternoon sunlight streamed softly through the lace curtains by the window.

“Hehe, thank you, Via. Now I can finally spend the rest of my school days relaxing with all of you.”

Saying it out loud made it feel real.

It seemed peaceful, tranquil days had finally returned.

“Both Laila and I get so bored without you around.”

“My, how flattering. But surely there’s no such thing as boredom at the academy? There’s never a shortage of topics.”

As I responded, Via’s smile faltered for just an instant.

Was something wrong?

“Did some interesting rumors start while I was away?”

When I asked, she paused slightly before speaking quietly.

“…There is one. Though it’s more infuriating than interesting.”

“An infuriating story? Hehe, that sounds entertaining.”

Via gave me an exasperated look.

“Oh, Feli, you’re impossible. Listen carefully now. Apparently, we’re being called ‘villainous noble ladies.'”

“Villainous noble ladies?”

“Like roles in a play?”

“No. In real life. Like the arrogant, mean noble ladies who bully the heroine in those popular novels lately. It seems we’ve been cast in those ‘roles.'”

“My!”

As I gently set down my cup, I couldn’t help but smile.

“For the details… ah, perfect timing. Laila should know.”

The door opened quietly as Laila entered with perfect grace and bowed.

“Lady Felicia, Lady Olivia… My apologies for being late. But I’ve brought some interesting news.”

I smiled at Via’s “told you so” expression.

“Would this interesting news be about us being called ‘villainous noble ladies’?”

“Oh? Oh my… How disappointing. You both already knew?”

My expression softened naturally as I sipped my tea.

“I was the only one out of the loop. Laila, you’re familiar with these ‘villainous noble ladies’?”

A somewhat amused smile played on Laila’s lips.

“Yes. They’re a staple in the popular novels these days. ‘The high-ranking noble lady who bullies the heroine.’ They serve as the typical ‘villain’ from the readers’ perspective, meant to provoke their anger.”

“And that’s us?”

At my question, Laila nodded quietly, her movement filled with certainty.

“Yes, that seems to be how the story goes.”

Rumors always spread faster than truth and take root in people’s minds. How troublesome.

Via spoke as if remembering something, her gaze distant.

“I can think of a reason. That baron’s daughter. If that girl who keeps getting too close to my fiancé is the ‘heroine,’ then I must be her ‘villainous noble lady.'”

Laila chuckled at her words.

“Lady Olivia, you’re absolutely right. The commoner-raised lady who suddenly gains ‘noble life’ after being revealed as a noble’s illegitimate child working earnestly at the academy until the young lords notice her pure efforts. But fate is cruel. The one who resents her is none other than the high-ranking lady engaged to one of them. Jealousy and pride clash, beginning the ‘trials’ called bullying. Eventually, the young lord realizes who truly deserves his love. The engagement is broken, and he finds ‘true love’ with her, finally grasping happiness. Well, I’ve read many novels with that plot.”

There was something theatrically amusing about her delivery.

“Unpleasant, but probably accurate. Sigh… And here I’m the one tired of my fiancé.”

Via’s voice dripped with sarcasm and a hint of weariness.

“A lady who gets along with engaged young lords is the heroine? That’s a rather odd story.”

Isn’t that improper? The ones in trouble should be that heroine and the young lords.

“Hehe, that’s just how stories are, Lady Felicia.”

Laila smiled knowingly.

“Laila, what’s your ‘role’ in all this?”

“Me? Well, the classic ‘mean older sister.’ The poor, unfortunate heroine is taken in by her real father, the marquis, and becomes his daughter. There, she meets her older half-sister, who resents and bullies her. Eventually, the sister’s misdeeds are exposed to the family and her fiancé, leading to her downfall sent to a convent while the earnest heroine lives happily ever after with the sister’s former fiancé. Curtain falls.”

Again with the fiancés!?

“If anything, you’re the one being wronged.”

“Indeed, Lady Olivia. Though I prefer to think of it as mere ‘nuisance’ rather than malice.”

Laila looked weary.

“What about me?”

I wonder what kind of “villainous noble lady” I am?

“Ah, Lady Felicia. You know how the ‘Spirit Maiden’ was recently chosen?”

“Yes. That commoner girl who knows nothing of nobility. The Spirit Maiden brings prosperity to the kingdom. By His Majesty’s order, Crown Prince Lucius is looking after her.”

She’s staying at the palace under royal protection until a noble family adopts her.

“That’s the one. A romance with the crown prince, the most classic of classics.”

“But a commoner and the crown prince?”

My genuine surprise prompted an immediate response from Laila.

“Precisely because of that. A pure commoner overcoming adversity through hard work. But the crown prince’s fiancée interferes out of spite. Eventually, the would-be crown princess is exposed for her ‘misdeeds’ and exiled. The crown prince discovers love for the first time, and they marry after overcoming hardships—a true Cinderella story.”

“My! What an entertaining tale. I’d love to know how a commoner overcame the rigorous Crown Princess education. Laila, if you have the novel, could you lend it to me later?”

“Of course, with pleasure!”

Even I took years to get through it. Impressive.

“Honestly, Feli, this isn’t the time for that! We’re the villainous noble ladies in this scenario. If everyone’s impression of you stays negative, how will you become crown princess? The academy is having fun superimposing us onto the villains in their novels.”

Hehe. How idle of them.

As if Prince Lucius would ever forget his position and lose himself in love.

Now then, what to do?

I set my cup down gently and smiled mischievously.

“If this is what everyone wants, why don’t we give them exactly what they expect?”