The Villainess Who Looks Like a Little Girl Is in the Arms of the Ice Prince (Who Is Sometimes Cute) - Chapter 17

“Everything is Logier’s scheme! It has nothing to do with my kingdom!”

At the unbelievable statement, I nearly cried out, but Enzo instantly covered my mouth with his hand to stop me. In one fluid motion, he scooped me up and hid us behind a pillar.

“Milady, calm down.”

“That… that prince!”

“Fuhah. Sounds like a line I’ve heard somewhere.”

“Ah.”

I remembered my first meeting with Enzo as if it were just yesterday. Even though he was ragged and had nothing but the clothes on his back, he saved me from a robber without regard for his own life. I’ve trusted him ever since that day.

His narrow eyes, which always seemed to see right through everything, curved into a gentle arc.

“If we leave it to His Highness, there’s nothing to worry about.”

“But—”

“Not to worry. Your turn will come soon.”

“My turn?”

“Well, you’re the villainess, after all~. You gotta go ‘Kaboom!’ or something, right? Eh?”

He laughed cheerfully again with a “Nishishishi,” and my pent-up frustration subsided, at least for the moment. I felt utterly defeated, thinking how well he truly knew my personality.

“Logier’s scheme?”

Prince Folkhardt, not betraying a hint of the irritation he must have felt internally, continued the conversation calmly.

“Conspiring with the Witch of Time to topple the kingdom and ally with the empire! I demand you refrain from participating in such treachery!”

—Uh. What?

“Regardless, we bear no hostility towards my kingdom! I take my leave!”

Having been told this, Prince Folkhardt would have no choice but to investigate Logier. Marcel probably intended to use that stalling time to plan his escape to a backing faction.

But I wouldn’t let him get away with it.

“Is your plan to pin all the blame on Logier?”

As I stepped out from behind the pillar and blocked his path, Marcel flusteredly tried to cut off my words.

“Don’t interfere!”

Had my father anticipated this situation? Probably not. I hadn’t been told of any plans for if my position were exposed. He must have assumed I was colluding with the prince.

“Speaking from my position as the princess, I have something to say!”

“You have no right to speak!”

“I will not be silenced!”

“A mere duke’s daughter! This is disrespectful!”

“Oh? Did you say ‘a mere duke’s daughter’?”

The corners of Prince Folkhardt’s mouth were raised as high as they could possibly go. I’d never seen him look so pleased. He was like a hunter cornering his prey.

“It was a mishearing!”

If it was a mishearing, then that meant I was the princess.

“Then, as the princess—”

“You!”

Before I knew it, nobles had begun crowding around, wondering what was going on. Sensing the unrest, the royal knights had their hands on the hilts of their swords.

“As cheeky as ever~”

Marquess Iness, who had returned from dancing, clung to Marcel’s arm and gave me a smug smirk. As I glared back defiantly, she reached out her hand—

“Little mouths should stay closed, you know?”

(Huh? She’s not wearing gloves?)

While I was curiously staring at her fingertips, she stroked my cheek with the point of her sharp nail.

“Ouch!”

“Milady!”

“Lia!”

“Oh my, sooorry, it must have caught~”

When I touched the sore spot on my cheek, a slick, red blood came off on my finger. It was an act you couldn’t quite call outright violence, and everyone nearby hesitated.

It’s nothing serious. I wanted to say that, but instantly the wound began burning hot. My vision started to blur. Sweat burst from my forehead.

“Milady! Your lips they’re purple.Damn it, poison!”

“What?! Damn, call a medic!”

Over the panicked figures of Enzo and Prince Folkhardt, I saw Marcel and Iness walking away quickly, laughing.

To kill me, just to leave the situation unresolved and muddled? How cheap. How sloppy to think I’d lose to an amateur’s script like that. I won’t be defeated!

“Destiny, my foot…”

Whoosh.

A fireball, about the size you could hold in one hand, appeared in the air.

“Burn them to ash.”

As I wished, the flame flew and set the hair of Marcel and Iness, who had their backs turned, on fire.

“Gyaaah!”

“Eeeek!”

The waiters frantically threw drinks from glasses and water from wine coolers, but the magical fire was strong. In moments, their scalps and cheeks were scorched, and their hair turned to crisps.

Having hurt people in a fit of passion, I was truly the villainess. If things continued like this, I couldn’t change my fate. I thought desperately. Through my hazy mind, I recalled the words of the Witch of Time, who told me I could be reborn anew.

(That’s right, the Witch of Time…!)

I dropped to both knees on the floor, and in agony intense enough to make me faint, I pleaded with Enzo.

“Turn back time…”

“Hah!”

What Enzo pulled from his breast was the ‘Time Crystal Ball’ bestowed upon him by the Witch of Time, Castehelmi.

‘It can rewind time just once, and only slightly. With this, you can prove you are a ‘Disciple of the Witch of Time’,’ she had said. In Logier, one could be recognized as an attendant through magic alone without demonstrating it, so it had remained unused.

“Milady’s time! Turn back!”

◆

“Little mouths should stay closed, you know?”

(I’m back!)

Grasping the situation instantly, I desperately dodged the nail Iness was extending towards me.

As for Enzo, he reached past my shoulder and gripped Iness’s wrist. I looked up as if snapping my head around, and he gave one large, silent nod.

(Enzo came back with me!)

“What are you doing?!”

“It’s attempted assassination, you damn fool!”

Prince Folkhardt, his eyes wide at Enzo’s angry shout, made an immediate judgment.

“Guards! Restrain her!”

Marcel protested, frothing at the mouth.

“You ruffian! What are you doing to my fiancée?!”

I immediately signaled Enzo with my eyes. Of course, my attendant instantly understood my intention and acted.

“If that’s not the case, then you prove it!”

He forcibly twisted Iness’s wrist he was holding towards Marcel and made her nail scratch his cheek.

“Eek! What are you do… Huh?”

“Wha, what, what’s happening?!”

“Aah. It’s hot, I can’t… breathe…”

Looking down at the crown prince, who had dropped to both knees and begun foaming at the mouth, Enzo said with cold eyes.

“It’s a nerve poison. If you don’t administer the antidote soon, he’ll stop breathing and die. Nasty stuff.”

Iness’s eyes widened, and she shook her head desperately.

“I don’t… I don’t know! I don’t know anything! I just…!”

But Prince Folkhardt wasn’t about to accept that easily.

“It’s attempted assassination of the crown prince, caught in the act. Take her away.”

“No! I just scratched him a little! I was just told to! Nooooo!”

The royal guards, on Prince Folkhardt’s orders, used knives to cut strips from a nearby tablecloth. With that cloth wrapped tightly around her hands and held under both arms, Iness was dragged away.

I’d heard the Eastern Knights, who regularly guarded trade merchants, were a rough bunch. The interrogation would surely be harsh, but I felt no sympathy.

“Hah. For now, I’ve frozen him.”

Prince Folkhardt said dismissively, as if it were nothing. At his feet lay Marcel, frozen solid.

Seeing this, Enzo was immediately amused.

“Whew~! Freezing him will indeed stop the poison from spreading. How kind of ya.”

“As long as keeping him alive is profitable.”

“Eek! Strict as ever after all!”

Shrugging his shoulders, Prince Folkhardt began issuing brisk orders.

“We can’t just throw the crown prince in a dungeon. Lock him in a secure room! Arrange for an antidote! —Good grief. Under these circumstances, we’ll have to call it a night. Understood? Ria.”

Even at a time like this, Prince Folkhardt, who respected my opinion, made me—

“Yes. Hal-sama.”

—feel utterly grateful from the bottom of my heart, and wish I could stay by his side forever.