Episode 37: Townsperson A Saves the Villainess

The season of the wintry winds had arrived. The trees were stripped bare of their leaves, and the people on the streets had fully transitioned into their winter wardrobes. As usual, I was busy enjoying my life as a background ornament, but the stage for the final showdown was steadily drawing closer.

I had assumed we would head straight into Anastasia’s Condemnation Event once final exams were over, but it turned out there was one more hurdle I had to clear first.

It was a classic otome game trope: the protagonist suffers a string of petty harrasment from the villainess and her cronies—things like having her belongings hidden or destroyed—until the escalation finally peaks with the protagonist being pushed down a flight of stairs.

Unlike in the game, however, Anastasia was showing remarkable restraint. Even her circle of followers, Margaret included, seemed to be keeping themselves in check.

I wasn’t sure why their behavior had deviated so far from the game’s script. Neither Anastasia nor her sycophants seemed like reincarnators who shared the meta-knowledge Amy and I possessed. If they were, they’d surely be acting with more finesse.

Regardless of the reason, if I could just derail this one template event, Anastasia would be completely innocent of any actual villainy.

There was one other significant deviation from the game: Anastasia’s relationship with the Crown Prince. Ever since the incident at the Cultural Festival, their relationship had utterly collapsed. It had soured to the point where they didn't even speak when they crossed paths.

In the original game, this was the state of affairs they were meant to reach after the template event, once the Prince had officially reprimanded the villainess for her cruelty.

I’d been sensing this since summer vacation, but Anastasia seemed to have moved past the point of being obsessed with the Crown Prince. Perhaps she figured she would simply become a queen in name only to ensure the country’s stability. Is that all that's left in her head? I wondered.

She should just dump a guy like that and go find her own happiness.

The fact that I was even thinking such things was probably proof that I’d grown quite soft toward her.

Now, just to be clear, even if Anastasia’s engagement were to be peacefully annulled, there was absolutely no scenario where I’d get a shot with her. In the first place, I wasn’t even permitted to address her. If the engagement were broken, marriage proposals would surely pour in from every noble house and foreign royal family looking to form a connection with House Ramslett and a girl of Anastasia’s status.

Unfortunately, there was no room for me to wedge myself into that picture. I liked to think I had a firm grasp on reality. Besides, my primary objective was to protect my mother and the people who had looked after me. That was the one thing I could never compromise on.

Anyway, the event was supposed to trigger on a cold, rainy day, so I decided to keep a discreet eye on things until then.

Three days later, I arrived at the classroom to find the girls gathered early, huddled together in hushed conversation.

I strained my ears to listen. Apparently, Amy had been the victim of a targeted attack in the girls' dormitory; a cherished pen of hers had been burned. Amy had reportedly gone straight to the Crown Prince, claiming Anastasia was undoubtedly the culprit.

Having swallowed the story whole, the Prince had summoned Anastasia and hauled her out into the hallway.

Since I was, of course, a background-ornament-slash-stalker, I slipped out of the room immediately. I activated 【Stealth】 to hide my presence and went searching for them. I happened upon the scene just as the Crown Prince, Amy, and the other capture targets were cornering Anastasia.

"Anastasia! Enough of this!" the Prince barked. "What were you thinking, harassing the kind-hearted Amy by burning her belongings?"

"Your Highness, I have done no such thing," Anastasia replied coolly. "Furthermore, I have strictly forbidden my friends from engaging in such behavior."

"Given the circumstances, it couldn't have been anyone but you."

"He’s right, you know, Lady Anastasia," Prince Claude added, his tone mocking and condescending as he backed the Crown Prince. "No matter how cute Amy is, jealousy is an ugly look on you."

Anastasia met the six of them with a frozen expression, letting out a heavy sigh. Meanwhile, Amy cowered behind the capture targets. When she caught Anastasia’s eye, she let a provocative smirk slip across her face.

Ah, I see. A classic frame job.

Without her expression twitching even slightly, Anastasia spoke in a voice like ice. "It is quite troubling to be accused when there is no evidence. I have a class to attend, so if you will excuse me."

She gave a curt bow and tried to walk away, but Leonard grabbed her arm, stopping her by force.

"Wait. We aren't finished," he growled.

"Leonard von Jukes. I have not given you permission to touch me," Anastasia said. "You are the son of a viscount; do not lay hands on a daughter of a duke without leave."

"Shut up! I’ll let go once you admit to what you've done!"

"Is that a threat?"

"It’s your own fault for not confessing! Who else would bully Amy if not you?"

"..."

Anastasia didn’t flinch. She simply stared Leonard down with a chilling gaze. If I had to guess, I’d say the emotion buried deep in her eyes was pure contempt.

Still, this was getting dangerous.

I deactivated my concealment and approached the group, intentionally making my footsteps as loud as possible.

"Pardon me for interrupting your conversation!" I called out, then immediately knelt in a formal bow. "It is nearly time for the morning lecture to begin!"

"Tch. Whatever. Let’s go," the Crown Prince spat.

At his command, Amy’s reverse-harem troop shuffled back toward the classroom.

"Allen, you—" Anastasia started to say.

"Lady Anastasia, it is time for class," I interrupted.

Without giving her a chance to say another word, I turned and hurried back to the classroom.