The Villainess Who Looks Like a Little Girl Is in the Arms of the Ice Prince (Who Is Sometimes Cute) - Chapter 7

“Ah! Found you! You’re Ria, right?”

One afternoon.

After finishing my meal in the dining room, I was walking through the detached palace’s corridors with Enzo when a boy suddenly called out to me.

Naturally, I ignored him. Unfortunately, I don’t possess the mental bandwidth to deal with rude individuals.

“Hey! Don’t ignore me!”

Tap, tap! The boy lightly overtook us and blocked our path. His hair was a distinctive platinum blonde, and his eyes were aqua blue.

“Ria!”

“…I don’t believe we’ve met. Only Lord Hal is permitted to call me Ria.”

“Why not? You are Ria, aren’t you?!”

For some reason, Enzo behind me seemed excited.

This rude boy must undoubtedly be His Highness Folkhardt’s younger brother. He said he was seven years old, the age matches. Indeed, we’re too different.

After letting out a big sigh, I looked him in the eye.

“The fact that you’re in the detached palace suggests you’re a member of the imperial family.”

The detached palace, located deep within the imperial castle, is a building that also houses His Majesty the Emperor’s bedchamber. Only a limited number of people are permitted to enter.

“Hmph, that’s right.”

I had no desire to understand why this boy puffed out his chest at my words. I completely fail to comprehend the urge to flaunt authority.

“Wouldn’t it be proper etiquette for a gentleman to introduce himself first? Now then, if you’ll excuse me.”

After giving a slight curtsy with a brief bend of my knees, I promptly walked down the hallway, leaving the dumbfounded boy behind.

This is a waste of time. I want to return to my room and continue reading the book on imperial political history that I borrowed from Lord Folkhardt. It’s a wonderful record of governing while annexing other nations without stripping them of their dignity.

“Ah! How rude!”

(Ignore, ignore.)

“I’ll punish you!”

(Huh?)

I stopped dead in my tracks and turned around. In my line of sight stood the boy, hands on his hips, wearing an arrogant smirk.

Grr—my anger leaked out.

Behind me, Enzo let out an amused “Eep!”

“For what crime are you punishing me?”

“Lèse-majesté!”

Hmph! The prince puffed out his chest again, and I felt like holding my head in my hands.

To accuse someone of lèse-majesté without even knowing who they are. What nonsense is this?

“…Lèse-majesté. Against the future emperor’s confidante?”

“Eh?”

“I shall lodge a complaint with Lord Hal. Good day to you.”

I turned on my heel. Talking to him is pointless.

It’s not just his age. Unlike Lord Folkhardt, I can only conclude he lacks proper upbringing.

“Wait, I said!”

“Kya!”

Suddenly grabbed by the arm from behind, I twisted my ankle and fell.

My small body has no muscle strength whatsoever. I couldn’t brace myself properly.

“Lady Ria!”

Enzo hurriedly scooped me up. Even a skilled attendant would find it difficult to guard against a seven-year-old prince. I instantly thought we must resolve this peacefully.

“Ouch.”

“!? Are you injured somewhere?!”

But if I were injured, it would become a serious matter.

“Anyway, to your room!”

Enzo began walking quickly while carrying me.

“Wait! I said wait!”

Over Enzo’s shoulder, I could see the prince biting his lower lip in frustration at being ignored even by the attendant, but I felt no sympathy whatsoever.

◆

“Ria, are you all right?”

“Yes. I only twisted it slightly.”

Lord Folkhardt, who had come to visit my room in the detached palace, was gently cooling my ankle with magic as I lay on the bed.

“Ice magic. How convenient.”

At my words, Lord Folkhardt’s eyebrows drooped.

“…My apologies for Etogal.”

“I cannot accept Your Highness’s apology.”

His translucent aquamarine eyes blinked rapidly.

“Unless the person himself acknowledges it.”

“Haa. You’re right. He’s my brother, thirteen years younger. He’s been spoiled too much.”

“Yes.”

“Unlike me, he’s charming.”

“So he’s been pampered, I see. He seems to misunderstand the position of being a ‘prince.'”

As Lord Folkhardt fell silent, I didn’t hold back my complaints.

“He didn’t even introduce himself, suddenly called me Ria. When I ignored him, he yelled ‘Lèse-majesté!’ and grabbed my arm. If we’re talking about lèse-majesté, shouldn’t it be me filing the complaint?”

“What?”

“Eh?”

“Etogal did that to you?”

“Eh? Yes.”

When I nodded in confusion, the room’s temperature seemed to drop sharply.

Moreover, I could sense Enzo getting excited again.

“Lord Hal?”

“That fool gave me some nonsense about accidentally bumping into you in the hallway.”

“What did you say?!”

This made me sit bolt upright.

That lie is beyond the pale.

“He grabbed my arm from behind, so I fell.”

“…I’ll kill him.”

A fierce, angry light radiated from Lord Folkhardt’s aquamarine eyes.

The shiver that ran down my spine wasn’t solely due to the ice magic.

“Um. Hasn’t this kind of thing happened before?”

“Ria?”

“Taking advantage of the fact that no one objects. If he says whatever’s convenient for him, he gets away with it.”

“That may be true.”

“Killing him is one option. But since he’s only seven, wouldn’t it be better to teach him a lesson?”

Lord Folkhardt smiled softly and no longer seemed scary. The room’s temperature also felt like it had returned to normal.

“You’re kind, Ria.”

“Am I?”

“I’ll give him a chance to start over. I’ll kill him after that.”

—Hmm, he’s lying. He’s still scary.