HYCBV 27

 Chapter 27

‘What is this crazy bastard even talking about?’

Fortunately—or unfortunately—there were no people around in the street at that moment.

“Frill! Why haven’t you been answering your communications?”

Lorena also ran up to me in a hurry.

“You didn’t reply even once. I’m really hurt! I told you before—that avoiding things the moment they get a little uncomfortable is your bad habit, remember?”

“Hey. Aren’t you going to answer? Do you think keeping your mouth shut will solve anything? You cheated first and then had the nerve to talk about compensation and alimony, huh?”

“Frill, hurry up and respond. Felix is angry.”

The two of them began interrogating and scolding me at the same time.

Just like during our academy days, when they would nitpick every minor thing I did.

My heart started beating slightly faster.

There were countless things I wanted to say, but my mouth felt stiff and wouldn’t move.

At that moment, a chirping voice pierced into my mind.

[Benefactor, benefactor! You shouldn’t face a mad dog with a normal mindset! Pipi will help you!]

Though my frozen body felt frustrating, I no longer felt as pathetic as before.

Thanks to Pipi’s passionate explanation, I now understood that this was a natural reaction—and that I was the victim.

Knowing that there was someone who could help me was simply a relief.

‘Yeah. Please help me.’

[“You too can be a villain ver.2” is now being activated! Please set the level of mischief!]

‘We’re outside, so set it to medium!’

At that moment, the breath that had been trapped inside me let out in a long exhale.

My shoulders, which had been hunched, straightened, and the tension throughout my body melted away.

I looked straight at Felix.

“Hey, Frill. Answer me. Huh? Did your mouth get stuck?”

“Shut up.”

“…What?”

Felix flinched.

“Even nonsense is only cute if you keep it within limits.”

“W-what did you just say?”

“So I cheated first? Hah. I’m not sure whether you’re brainless or shameless. Probably both, right?”

“Y-you… what are you even talking about?!”

Felix shouted.

I faced him directly without even blinking.

“Don’t you remember? On graduation day, you proposed to Lorena in front of everyone. Thanks to you, you kindly spread proof of your cheating all over town.”

“My feelings for Lorena only developed within two months!”

Felix rattled off his words as if he had been waiting for this moment.

“There’s no way someone like you could’ve been dumped by me and immediately started something with the Duke. You must’ve been doing something filthy behind the scenes long before—”

“That’s just what you want to believe. If I were the one who cheated first, then you’d come out clean.”

As if struck at a weak point, Felix’s eyes widened.

“But sorry to disappoint you—I really have nothing to do with the Duke. Unlike beasts who are blinded by lust like you people, I’m a rational human being who knows how to keep loyalty.”

“What? Beasts? You—!”

“And you.”

I cut him off and glared at him with contempt.

“Every time we meet, you keep trying to touch me subtly. If you do that one more time, I’ll cut your hand off.”

“Frill! Are you insane? Why would Felix try to touch you? That’s way too self-conscious!”

Lorena jumped in, looking dumbfounded.

A mocking smile spread across my lips as I retorted.

“Why else? He needs to siphon my mana to function as a human.”

“W-what… how do you…?”

Felix’s eyes widened as if he had been struck in the back of the head.

I let out a small scoff.

“Did you think I wouldn’t notice? How long did you plan to secretly keep siphoning off me like a parasite?”

Being called the same insult he had always used on me seemed to affect him deeply.

Felix’s face flushed bright red with shock and anger.

Before Felix could respond, Lorena stepped forward.

“Frill! How can you say something so shameless? Honestly, you’re the one who’s been leeching off Felix all this time! And how could Felix steal mana from you? You’re a completely empty shell with no mana at all!”

An empty shell. So that’s what they had thought of me all this time.

Well, it wasn’t particularly shocking anymore.

“Is logical thinking difficult for you, Lorena? You’ve got the cause and effect reversed.”

“What?!”

“Because he stole mana from me, I ended up as an empty shell.”

“What nonsense is that! Lorena, don’t listen to her!”

Felix raged like a heated seafood dish.

“Hey! I’ve heard enough of this nonsense! Got any proof? Do you have proof?!”

“Why bother searching for proof? It’ll all be revealed soon enough.”

I smiled brightly while looking directly at Felix.

“I’m curious. How long can a parasite function as a so-called magic swordsman once its host is gone?”

“Y-you crazy woman…!”

The moment Felix grabbed my collar—

Nearby shop staff began stepping out one by one, drawn by the commotion.

As attention gathered, Felix’s hand froze in panic.

I snorted and brushed his hand away—of course, without touching his skin, only using my sleeve.

“Then I’ll be going now. Let’s avoid acknowledging each other if we run into one another again.”

“Wait. F-Frill!”

Lorena stopped me.

What now? Did she still have more to argue?

Or was she… about to apologize?

I didn’t think that was likely, but I allowed myself a small expectation.

However, what came out of Lorena’s mouth was completely unexpected.

“Th… the Duke Kreutz… you really have nothing going on with him?”

…She’s asking that now? In this situation?

“Why do you want to know?”

Lorena gave an awkward smile.

“Why, you ask… it’s because… I’m worried you might be being used. Realistically… there’s no way the Duke would have any special feelings for someone like you.”

‘Someone like you.’

That was likely what she truly wanted to say.

While my brain froze in disbelief, my shoulders lifted on their own.

“Well.”

A smile that even I knew looked irritating curved at my lips.

“I can’t really confirm that.”

Lorena’s pretty face twisted for a brief moment.

‘Nice one, Pipi!’

To think it calculated the most impactful response to rattle Lorena the most!

If I left now, it would be perfect.

Just as I was about to do exactly that—

Clatter, clatter!

A lavish, extravagant carriage glided into the street and stopped directly in front of us.

“What—what is that?”

Felix stumbled back in shock at the imposing carriage.

‘Yeah… what is this, really?’

Why did it stop exactly in front of us?

Soon, the carriage door opened, and a man dressed in ornate formal uniform stepped out.

He scanned my appearance and attire once, then asked politely:

“Are you Lady Freesia Violet?”

“Ah… yes, I am.”

The man bowed respectfully.

“Her Majesty the Empress has invited you.”

…Pardon?

Who invited whom?

I stood frozen as if dreaming while awake.

Pipi’s glitching voice rang out in my mind.

[Be-b-benefactor… what kind of response should I output?]

Even Pipi had malfunctioned!

At that moment, Lorena stepped forward with her signature bright and courteous smile.

“Excuse me, sir. There seems to be some mistake. Are you sure you’re looking for Frill? This is Felix Roham, top graduate of the academy this year, and I’m Lorena Belmont, humbly chosen as this year’s academy’s top beauty.”

A clear implication: why would the Empress summon me instead of the two of them?

The knight glanced at Lorena blankly, then nodded.

“Yes. I am looking for Lady Freesia Violet.”

Lorena, briefly flustered, widened her eyes.

“Oh my. Did Frill do something wrong?”

“Pardon? No.”

The knight frowned slightly, as if irritated by the interruption.

Then he turned back to me and spoke once more, respectfully:

“Her Majesty the Empress has personally invited Lady Freesia Violet to the inner palace. Will you accept the invitation now, Lady Freesia?”

Felix and Lorena’s eyes widened as if they might pop out—

As though someone had just struck them hard on the back of the head.