The essence of a villainess

 Chapter 34

The existence of nobility and aristocracy is justified by one thing—power.

Be it physical prowess, intelligence, magical aptitude, economic clout, political influence, or productive capacity, nobility stems from a superior trait that elevates a family above the rest. To put it simply, when an individual's talent brings prosperity to their lineage, that alone becomes the seed from which nobility sprouts.

The hereditary nature of noble status stems from the logical belief that exceptional traits are likely to be passed from a gifted parent to their child. It is a straightforward rationale.

Thus, nobles are expected to continuously prove their superiority over commoners. Even if they do not inherit such talents, they must strive to be worthy of ruling others.

Unfortunately, very few noble sons and daughters actually devote themselves to this ideal.

Many ride the coattails of their ancestors' glory, deluding themselves into thinking their inherited titles and privileges are a result of their own merit. Some believe they are inherently superior, simply because they were raised with better education and resources.

But in reality, they’re nothing more than beasts—lacking noble pride, shirking their duties, and abusing their power to indulge in base desires. Despite their privileged upbringing, many are less competent and less principled than commoners who never had the benefit of an education.

The noble children I encountered during my academy days were living proof of the rot festering within the kingdom. And among them, Stephanie, daughter of the Offrey earldom, stood out as a textbook example of the worst kind of noble.

“All I’ve heard is that the Offrey family lost their title after Olivia and the others exposed their collusion with sky pirates. Their land and assets were confiscated, the family head and heir were executed, and the rest were exiled.”

That’s the extent of what I knew about her. Stephanie was someone I had no desire to associate with. Her downfall occurred after I left the academy due to my broken engagement.

At the time, the ducal house simply regarded it as another corrupt noble family—part of Marquis Frampton’s faction—self-destructing. I paid it little mind.

“Do you think a pampered noblewoman who lost everything could survive among commoners?”

“I managed just fine, since the people back home weren’t heartless,” Marie replied.

“You’re hardly a typical noblewoman, Marie-san. You’re not the best reference,” I noted.

“Both of you, quiet,” I said. “It’s almost poetic—someone who once despised Olivia-san for being a commoner ended up stripped of her status and cast out. I’m just as guilty, though. Back then, I chastised Olivia at the Offrey family’s request as their vassal.”

“Carla-san, I’ve long forgiven you,” Olivia said softly.

While my actions were limited to scolding, I’ve heard that Stephanie tormented Olivia with cruelty that bordered on the sadistic.

Some of the accusations that led to my broken engagement were exaggerated accounts of Stephanie’s misdeeds falsely attributed to me.

If that was the work of Marquis Frampton, it’s likely he orchestrated those atrocities through his subordinates, pinned the blame on me—as the royal fiancée—and then used Olivia as a political pawn to dissolve the royal-ducal bond and seize power.

In the end, Marquis Frampton and his entire family were executed—a fitting end, and poetic justice.

“So, who in their right mind would throw away the life they barely clung to?”

Based on what I knew of Stephanie, she didn’t seem like someone capable of playing a central role in anything significant.

Calling her a foolish noblewoman would be an insult to actual children—children who, at least, have the excuse of inexperience.

“Do you really think someone like her could pull off a noble kidnapping?” I asked.

“Idiots often act without thinking—that’s what makes them dangerous,” Leon said, clearly disgusted. “They flaunt their family names and push their incompetence onto others. They’re impossible to deal with.”

His words weren’t baseless; they came from bitter experience.

I’d heard stories from the recent war—nobles whose actions defied all logic, who operated on pure arrogance. Thankfully, many were stripped of their titles or punished. The kingdom is better off without them.

“So there’s someone pulling the strings behind her?” I asked.

“Without a doubt,” Olivia replied. “The noble kidnapping incident nearly succeeded. Had they made just one demand instead of several, they might’ve pulled it off.”

“The plan’s too intricate for someone like Stephanie to conceive,” Leon said. “There’s a planner—a cunning one—and an executor experienced in covert operations. The two roles are clearly distinct. But why involve Stephanie at all?”

“The Offrey family,” Carla said, “was already involved in shady dealings since the previous head. He was a former merchant who built his noble status by smuggling illegal goods. The sky pirates we captured were part of their network.”

“If I were a sky pirate,” Leon added, “I wouldn’t target nobles. I’d go after remote, poorly defended areas. Attacking nobles in the capital? That’s just asking to be caught.”

“Yes. Stephanie was interrogated, and both Carla-san and I were called as witnesses,” Olivia said. “Since the war’s end, there’s been a sharp increase in criminal incidents involving former noblewomen like her.”

“What do they have in common?” I asked.

“They either betrayed the kingdom during the war with the Fanoss Principality, fled and had their houses dissolved, or were involved in corruption even earlier. There’s no shortage of such cases.”

“So, we’re looking at people who refuse to reflect on their actions—and instead nurture resentment.”

“Well, some were simply caught up in it because they belonged to Marquis Frampton’s faction,” Carla said.

When it was revealed that Marquis Frampton—who had nearly seized control of the kingdom during the war—had colluded with the enemy, the nobility was rocked to its core.

After all, a key figure entrusted with safeguarding the realm had secretly worked to undermine the ducal house for personal gain.

The fallout was brutal. Those linked to him were relentlessly pursued, during and even after the war.

Anyone related by blood was executed or harshly punished without trial.

Others were thrown to the authorities by their own families, used as scapegoats for simply having ties to the marquis.

Typically, the head or heir of a tainted family was executed, while women and children had their titles revoked or properties seized. Many of those survivors undoubtedly still harbor deep resentment toward the kingdom.

In their frenzy to root out traitors and corruption, both the royal family and the ducal house went too far.

Since the conspirators had aimed to entrap the kingdom’s most powerful, the ensuing purge was so merciless that even nobles who tried to intervene were stripped of position on suspicion alone.

Eventually, the policy was revised to punish only the most culpable, but by then, the damage had been done—countless families destroyed.

With their dense web of personal connections and insider knowledge, disgruntled nobles could easily incite riots or unrest if manipulated.

Should such individuals become pawns of foreign powers, the kingdom’s foundations would shake. Even if Father were to seize the throne, ruling a destabilized Holfort Kingdom would be nearly impossible.

“When I met her,” Carla said, “Stephanie had lost all sanity. She didn’t even recognize me, her former subordinate. She just kept muttering nonsense—saying others like her were out there, and that the kingdom was already finished.”

“She’s a loose cannon,” Leon said. “That’s probably why she was used as a disposable pawn.”

“In short,” I concluded, “even if the throne is seized, the Redgrave family will be unable to govern amidst such internal chaos—especially if foreign powers are already involved. It’s possible that the feud between the royal family and the ducal house is being deliberately provoked.”

"Just as Lady Angelica says. In the worst-case scenario, it wouldn’t be surprising if another nation exploited a civil war to launch an invasion," Olivia remarked.

Her logic was sound.

Even if His Majesty Roland were to abdicate in favor of my father, there would undoubtedly be opposition among the nobility. Not only from royalists, but even from the neutral faction—currently content to observe from the sidelines—if they believed their interests were at risk, they would rally behind the royal family.

I glanced at the scar etched deeply across Leon’s face as he sat beside me.

Should the kingdom fracture in civil war, Leon, as the husband of a ducal heiress, would be expected to lead troops into battle. Yet even if he chose to side with the royalists, my presence would cast a shadow of suspicion over him. He could be branded a traitor or become the target of a political purge under some contrived pretext.

And should a foreign nation intervene amid this chaos, the Holfort Kingdom would collapse.

No matter how formidable our military, its strength hinges on unity. Once divided and weakened by internal strife, we’d be unable to resist an invading force.

The Alzer Republic managed to survive thanks to the Sacred Tree’s magic stone supply. But Holfort? Holfort would simply be devoured by another power.

“So then, how do we prevent the conflict between the royal family and the ducal house—and stop foreign powers from intervening?” I asked.

“We plan to present the intelligence we’ve gathered to both factions and push for reconciliation. At the same time, we’ll restrict foreign visitors and tighten internal security. Since public safety has been deteriorating since the war’s end, many nobles already view this as a pressing issue. I believe we have a fair chance of securing their support,” Olivia explained.

“And what about funding?” I pressed.

“We intend to allocate part of the war reparations from the principality. The kingdom is already impoverished, and reward distributions have been delayed. Forcing the nobility to shoulder the full financial burden would only breed discontent,” she replied.

“…You didn’t come up with this all on your own, did you? Who helped?” I asked pointedly.

“The data was verified by those associated with the Sacred Tree in the Alzer Republic, as well as archivists from the Holfort Kingdom’s records office. Three of them worked together to authenticate the intelligence. Also, His Highness Julius and Jilk-san assisted with policy planning,” she added.

My expression soured at the mention of those two names—names forever linked to the betrayal that led to my broken engagement.

Leon cast a wary glance at Olivia.

They may no longer behave like the corrupt nobles who once smeared others to climb the ranks, but I hadn’t forgotten. Not how they schemed, sabotaged my engagement, or tried to lure Leon away from the ducal house with money and influence.

Honestly, just knowing they were involved made me want to reject the plan entirely.

But I refused to let personal grudges cloud my judgment.

I had to look at the broader picture.

So I turned to the one person whose opinion I valued most.

“Leon, what do you want to do?” I asked.

“Me?” Leon blinked, caught off guard by the sudden question.

“Why are you asking for my opinion?” he asked, almost sheepishly.

“You’re the lord of the Bartfort territory,” I said plainly.

“Wouldn’t your judgment be more reliable, Angie?” he countered.

“No. I’m merely your wife. Whatever you decide as the head of our house, I’ll support it,” I replied without hesitation.

“Even if it means going against the ducal house?” he asked seriously.

“…Yes. I married into the Bartfort family. It comes before the Redgrave name I was born with,” I answered.

Though my heart still held affection for my birth family, my duty now lay with Leon, our children, and the people of Bartfort. I refused to let a decision made without thought drag our domain into ruin—or put Leon’s life at risk.

Above all else, I didn’t want to be the reason Leon marched to his death.

My deepest wish was for him to live—a peaceful life, far removed from bloodshed and politics.

“If your father does manage to seize the throne… what happens to me?” Leon asked.

“If the Redgrave line becomes the new royal family, you’d at least be granted the title of marquis. Given our marriage, you’d likely be elevated to duke. As the king’s son-in-law, you’d receive lands and authority worthy of your station,” I explained.

“And our children?”

“Lionel, as the king’s grandson—or nephew—would almost certainly become a duke. Ariel might be married into a powerful noble house or even a foreign royal line. Either way, our children would be high-ranking nobles with succession rights—true members of the new royal family.”

“…Would that make you and the kids happy?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted softly. “But I want to prioritize your happiness, more than anything.”

“My happiness is our family’s happiness. Even if I’m granted a title I don’t deserve, I’ll find a way to bear it—as long as you’re by my side, Angie.”

“Then… are you against my father becoming king?”

“If it would bring prosperity to the kingdom, I won’t stop him. The problem is how much blood would be spilled in the process. My only condition is that none of it is yours,” I said firmly.

“I’d fight if it’s to protect our family,” he responded.

“I don’t want you to fight. I want you to live—and stay with me, always.”

“Then you decide, Angie. I’d be annoyed if someone else made the choice for me. But if it’s you, I know it’s the right one.”

“…Take some responsibility yourself,” I chided, half-exasperated.

I thought I heard someone sigh dreamily nearby, but I chose to ignore it.

If it weren’t for all of you bringing up this mess, we could’ve spent these days peacefully—together, as a family.

So endure our flirting a little.

Regardless, we don’t have much time.

Issues of this magnitude demand careful consideration, not rushed decisions.

It was agonizing to be pressed to make such choices so quickly.

Even now, as I weigh cold logic against the emotions surging in my heart, no perfect solution comes to mind.

The landscape is shifting too fast—what seems right today may become wrong tomorrow.

Still, with a quiet sigh, I keep searching for the best path forward.

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“…There are a few conditions for our cooperation. If you can accept them, we’ll offer our support.”

My voice, though carefully composed after long deliberation, trembled faintly as it left my lips.

I gently took Leon’s hand, seated beside me.

The decision I was about to make could mean betraying Father—

Or sending Leon to his death.

The weight of the path I was about to tread pressed down on me again, sharp and unforgiving.

“First, even with our cooperation, the chances of stopping Father are extremely slim. In fact, the more people involved, the greater the risk of a leak.”

“How slim, exactly?” Olivia asked.

“Less than ten percent. Our involvement won’t significantly improve those odds,” I replied.

“That low?” Leon echoed, visibly stunned.

Honestly, ten percent is generous. The odds are so poor that, in truth, I’d rather not be involved at all.

“Next, you must remember—we’re aligned with the ducal faction. If forced to choose between the royal family and the ducal house, we will stand with the latter.”

“Then why cooperate at all?” Olivia pressed.

“To prevent the kingdom from fracturing and plunging into chaos. Conversely, if the throne passes peacefully from the Holfort royal family to the Redgrave family, I have no reason to oppose Father.”

“So, not allies—just collaborators,” she clarified.

“Precisely. But let me be clear—we are first and foremost members of the Bartfort family. We’re no longer mere vassals of the Redgrave house.”

“Then... you might side with us, under the right conditions?” Olivia ventured.

“If you want us as allies, offer the Bartfort family incentives greater than those promised by the ducal house. Then, we’ll naturally lean toward your side.”

I’m well aware how disingenuous this sounds.

Should this plot be exposed, and the ducal house questions our actions, I can claim we acted solely to prevent civil war.

If forced to choose between me and the ducal house, Father would not hesitate to choose the ducal house.

Likewise, if I had to choose between Father and Leon, I would choose Leon—without question.

Perhaps it’s not even about the Bartfort family.

I’m simply choosing my husband over my father.

It seems I’m a far more devoted wife than I ever realized.

“Lastly, I need to ask about your resolve if the plan fails. To be frank, the chance of success is dismal. It would be far safer—and more advantageous—for us to throw in our lot with the ducal house now.”

Father’s true aim in pairing my brother with Olivia is merely to exploit the temple’s power and the Saintess’s authority.

He likely holds little regard for Olivia herself—perhaps even resents her as the cause of my broken engagement with His Highness.

In that case, aligning early with the ducal house might actually offer Olivia more protection.

“Would that reduce the bloodshed?” Olivia asked.

“It’s unclear. It might even worsen the violence. Or the royal family could surrender outright, believing even the temple has turned against them.”

“With foreign intervention looming, would that truly work?” she pressed.

“Unlikely,” I admitted.

Our neighboring nations are watching, hoping for conflict between the royal family and the ducal house to further destabilize the Holfort Kingdom.

Public morale is already brittle after two wars.

In such conditions, even a spark could set the kingdom ablaze.

“Then I’ll fight to prevent the conflict. I may be a Saintess in name only, but I’ll resist with everything I have,” Olivia declared.

“…Very well. That’s all I needed to hear. The Bartfort family will cooperate—as long as doing so doesn’t bring about our own ruin. Leon, are you alright with that?”

“Yeah. But are you okay with it, Angie?” Leon asked.

“I’d prefer the kingdom not fall into civil war. More than that, I just want to raise our children and govern our territory in peace.”

Grand ideals mean little to me if they come at the expense of Leon and our children.

Perhaps it’s marriage to him that made me crave stability so much.

“Let’s move on. I’ve noticed a few flaws in the earlier plan. Let me offer some suggestions.”

“Please do,” Olivia said.

“First, regarding reconciliation between the royal family and the ducal house—don’t initiate formal talks right away.”

“I thought opening dialogue early would help,” Olivia replied.

“Don’t frame it as reconciliation—approach it as negotiation. Without concrete leverage, Father won’t even come to the table.”

“Our wartime achievements should count for something,” she said.

“Don’t confuse military success with political capital. If your only bargaining chip is strength, your only path forward will be conflict.”

“If we explain ourselves sincerely, I’m sure the Duke will understand,” she offered.

“If explanations alone were enough, there’d be no war in history. The moment the other side senses you're trying to talk them down, all negotiation breaks down.”

The true root of this rift was His Highness breaking our engagement without warning.

To act on emotion and later preach reason is a slap in the face.

Dialogue is only possible when both sides regard each other with mutual respect.

“You also need to limit how much information you disclose. Better yet, filter it through a neutral third party unaffiliated with the ducal house.”

“Isn’t information vital to understanding the full picture?” Olivia asked.

“That’s precisely the issue. Father’s hardline stance stems from the royal family’s growing weakness. If you hand over too much damning evidence, he may take it as a justification to seize the throne. Withholding some information keeps him cautious. In politics, uncertainty is a deterrent.”

“But surely the Duke already knows most of the kingdom’s internal affairs?” she argued.

“All the more reason he might present the royal family as unfit to rule. If the kingdom’s vulnerabilities are laid bare, neutral and royalist nobles alike may defect to the ducal faction.”

Deep down, I still believe that transparency might be the best way to avoid bloodshed.

But my first priority is the peace of the Bartfort territory.

If betraying Olivia and the others would protect that peace, I’d do so without hesitation.

The only reason I refrain is because Leon wouldn’t approve.

Olivia processed my words with the poise of someone pure and virtuous—wholly unsuited to the shadows of political maneuvering.

In contrast, I’m undeniably the villainess.

“As for your proposed solution... it’s not bad,” I admitted.

“Then—” Olivia began.

“Not bad… is all I said. I didn’t say it was good,” I interjected.

“What’s wrong with it?” she asked.

My voice came out sharper than intended.

Something about her always throws me off balance.

It was because Leon sat beside me. Though he listened attentively to our conversation, I couldn't shake the feeling that his gaze lingered more on Olivia than on me.

Leon… I’m your wife, aren’t I?

Why are you letting another woman distract you?

“Your plan is fundamentally sound,” I said, keeping my tone even. “There’s no inherent flaw in moving forward as it stands. But—separately—you’ll need bait.”

“Bait?” Olivia echoed, puzzled.

“Yes. As I said earlier, resolving this crisis doesn’t necessarily require the Holfort royal family. The Redgrave family stepping in to stabilize the kingdom during a time of crisis wouldn’t raise eyebrows. Nobles have little loyalty to the Holfort line specifically.”

“So, what should we do?” Leon asked.

“You need additional policy initiatives—ones that give nobles a tangible reason to support the royal family,” I explained.

“Money?” Olivia suggested.

“That’s one way. But beyond funding, you need to consider security, land rights, titles, labor, and preferential treatment. The kingdom is exhausted after the war. Rewards have been postponed. The nobility is beginning to lose faith in the crown.”

It would take years to heal the kingdom’s wounds.

And to rebuild national strength, you need capable individuals—and an environment where they are willing to serve.

“Olivia, do you know the current national budget?” I asked.

She shook her head. “No.”

“Does His Highness know?”

“Julius-sama has been pushed out of the court’s inner workings, and state finances are classified. There’s almost no way for me to access that information,” she replied.

“I see. The data I have about the Holfort Kingdom is more than five years old. I can’t say how accurate it is after the war. So the only one who might have reliable numbers now is…”

“Mylene-sama,” Olivia said, finishing the sentence for me.

“Can you approach her directly?” I asked.

She hesitated, then lowered her gaze. “I don’t think I can.”

To Mylene-sama, Olivia remains the woman who brought about the annulment of Julius-sama’s engagement and jeopardized his claim to the throne.

Any past collaboration between them was purely circumstantial.

“As expected. And besides, for the Saintess to intervene in royal matters would be seen as the temple interfering with state affairs. It’d give those bloated clerics a pretext to further consolidate power.”

“I’m not that important a figure,” Olivia murmured.

“Whether you believe it or not, you are the Saintess of national salvation, and the public adores you. If you remain unaware of that, you’ll only be used.”

The temple was already using her. So was the ducal faction.

If she were just an ordinary girl, none of this would have happened.

The role of Saintess doesn’t suit someone like her at all.

“So, what kind of policies should we pursue?” Olivia asked.

“I don’t know,” I admitted plainly.

She looked taken aback.

“I’m not trying to be difficult. I genuinely don’t know. There’s not enough information.”

The knowledge I once possessed—as a former candidate for queen or from my time aligned with the ducal house—has faded.

Life in the Bartfort territory flows slowly, peacefully. Meanwhile, the capital evolves rapidly. I’m out of touch.

I’m in no position to offer effective strategies right now.

“Could you reach out to Mylene-sama once you return to the capital?” I asked.

“No chance,” Marie answered from the side, cutting in sharply.

“There are eyes on Olivia-sama—both from the palace and the temple. Even today, some of the knights escorting us are here to monitor her,” she explained.

“So it won’t be as easy as when you summoned me?” I asked.

Marie shook her head. “It took immense coordination just to meet you discreetly. Finding a moment when the surveillance relaxed was a nightmare.”

“…Then, I’ll take your plan to Mylene-sama myself,” I offered.

“Huh?” Olivia gasped.

Everyone turned to me, startled.

“It’s impossible for the Saintess and the Queen to meet in secret. But a queen visiting an old friend in the countryside wouldn’t raise too much suspicion. I have a history with Mylene-sama. I can approach her,” I explained.

While I encouraged Olivia and the others with kind words, my mind was already calculating how to extract intelligence from Mylene-sama about the capital’s current state.

Father hadn’t shared any details with me.

Not out of paternal concern, but because he likely intends to use me as leverage—to force Leon’s cooperation once his plan becomes irreversible.

If that’s the case, I need to do everything I can to shield Leon and our children.

I’ll use whoever I must—the queen, the Saintess, anyone.

“The decision’s yours, Olivia. If you don’t trust me, keep the information to yourself. My involvement won’t dramatically improve your odds of success anyway.”

Something dark stirred within me.

I knew full well my words were calculated and manipulative.

But I want to protect what’s precious to me.

Even if it means falling into hell—I’ll do it to shield my husband and children.

No matter how many lies I tell, no matter how much blood is shed—so long as they are safe, I can live with it.

“…Understood. Please, Angelica-sama,” Olivia said at last, bowing her head deeply.

A heavy silence fell over the room.

“Are you sure?” I asked, almost coldly. “I might pass this information to the ducal house.”

“If I’m betrayed, then so be it. I know you don’t like me, Angelica-sama.”

“Then you should reconsider.”

“The person who gave me this information said they wanted to do everything they could. So I will too—whatever it takes,” Olivia replied with a shy but resolute smile, looking every bit the ideal Saintess.

Seeing her like that, something writhed within me—something dark.

I can’t live like her, upright and pure.

I will protect the ones I love, even if it means sullying my hands.

Hiding that ugly resolve behind a calm smile, I took Olivia’s outstretched hand—feeling irreparably stained.

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Authors Note

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Angelica and Olivia, temporarily allied.

In the original story, Olivia doesn’t become the Saintess and is emotionally expressive toward Lion and Angelica. In this work, Saintess Olivia is more detached and otherworldly. In contrast, Angelica is portrayed as someone who’ll use any means to protect those she loves, embodying a villainess-like quality. In the original, Angelica was protected by Lion during the duel incident, but here, she still harbors some of the raw, dark emotions from the first volume of the original story.

Addendum: At the client’s request, illustrations were commissioned from freedomexvss-sama and Chizo-sama. Thank you very much.  

- freedomexvss-sama: Pixiv  

- Chizo-sama: Skeb  

I’d appreciate any feedback or impressions to motivate future work.

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Translator Note

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With this 2nd arc is over . I will start the translating 3rd arc from next Sunday! So yeah 1 week later 25th may.