The Crazy Villainess in This Area Is Me

Blushing like a ripe apple, I covered my face with my palms. Should I teleport again or just leave the gift behind? My panicked mind couldn’t make a clear decision.

“I-I-I’m sor…”

I couldn’t recall ever being this flustered. My usually confident speech stumbled uncontrollably.

“…

I’ll leave.” Finally, I sighed heavily and managed to speak properly.

“Lady Lobelia.”

“…Don’t say anything. I’ll just teleport…”

“I’m dressed.”

Frinel’s large hand gently pulled away my hands, which covered my face. Relieved by his words, I slowly opened my eyes, which I had kept tightly shut.

“

, what is this! You said you were dressed!”

“I am.”

He was dressed, if a bathrobe counted as being dressed.

“Tie it up. Tie it up properly!”

My face flushed as I fastened Frinel’s loosely tied bathrobe. Only when I made sure no skin was showing did I exhale a relieved breath.

“You’re really mischievous.”

“I can’t help it. There’s only a bathrobe to wear here. And you’re the one who suddenly appeared while I was bathing, right?”

“That’s true, but…!”

“Scared you’ll fall head over heels for me?”

He tilted his head lazily, his hair dripping water. Perhaps due to the steam and warmth around, my mood lightened.

I swallowed dryly and turned my head aside. “…Really, it’s not funny at all.”

“

let’s get out. If someone catches us alone like this, you’ll have no choice but to marry me.” He pushed my shoulder, guiding me out of the bathroom.

As soon as we stepped outside, I first looked around for a wardrobe.

“Why?”

“To get dressed…”

That’s when it happened.

“Frinel.”

Bella’s voice from outside made both their eyes widen.

“Hide.”

“Where…!” My eyes frantically scanned the room.

“Frinel?”

At that moment, Bella called his name again and opened the door. Frinel quickly grabbed my hand, and we both hid behind a curtain.

I whispered in panic. “Y-Your Royal Highness doesn’t need to hide…!”

“She must have come to chat. I don’t feel like dealing with her today.” He winked playfully.

At the same time, Bella entered Frinel’s room. She seemed to have come to deliver something he was asked for. She looked around the room curiously for a while.

My eyes, which were tightly shut, slowly opened. What I saw first was, unfortunately, his broad, fair chest. I bit my lips. I definitely had tightly fastened his robe, but perhaps because of hasty movement, it had loosened again. Now, it almost seemed as if I was embraced by him.

His calm breathing was even felt in my ear. I wanted to twist away or at least fasten the chest part, but moving would surely make the curtain flutter. Unable to do anything, I just waited for Bella to leave.

“

I’ll just leave this here then. Where did he go after asking for it?” She left a pile of documents and exited the room, smiling strangely.

We popped out from behind the curtain like popcorn as soon as the door closed. My face couldn’t get any redder. I managed to speak nonchalantly, avoiding looking at Frinel’s face. “…Get dressed first.”

“Yes. But why did you come? Did you miss me?”

“No. I came to give you something…” I fiddled with the clutch I had brought hesitantly.

“What is it?”

Frinel, now in pants and a shirt, peeked beside my face. More than a third of the buttons on his shirt were undone.

“Again, again! Why are you going to walk around so casually like this?” Scolding him, I started buttoning his buttons.

* * *

Watching her, Frinel smiled softly. His platinum lashes fluttered as she focused on the buttons. Even such a trivial act seemed to deepen the feelings in his heart. Lobelia was too beautiful.

He soon smirked and spoke. “Feels good, you know?”

“What?”

“Being restrained by you.”

“Who would like being restrained?” She retorted tartly as she finished the last button.

“Of course, it’s unpleasant. But Lady Lobelia is different.”

Only then did her gaze slowly turn upward.

“Because you’re the person I love.”

Their eyes met slowly. The noise around them seemed to vanish. Her eyes, shining like moonlight on a lake, trembled. His heart felt ticklish. He wanted to kiss those lips declaring love, his mouth dry with desire. He was irresistibly drawn to her as if she was his true destiny.

“…Always so quick whenever you get the chance.”

But Lobelia pushed down her overpowering emotions and lightly pushed him away.

“What?”

She then nonchalantly looked at the pile of documents. “What is this?”

“

… that is…”

Frinel’s face crumpled in embarrassment.

* * *

“What’s wrong with you?”

His reaction was odd. I quickly blinked and picked up the documents.

“No. Don’t look!”

Frinel snatched them back swiftly, but I had already clearly seen the words on the front page.

“A list of unmarried noblewomen?” My eyes narrowed.

He shook his head in confusion. “Just for assessing the situation…”

“Right. In society, marriage is like a contract between families for political and economic purposes.” I spat out the words without taking a breath.

Feeling jealous over a mere stack of papers would make me terribly selfish. Yet, despite knowing this, the flames of jealousy in my heart refused to die down.

“Lady Lobelia?”

“…Well, it’s better to form connections with other families besides the Gracie family to become the emperor.”

“Lady Lobelia.”

“Grandfather is already on your side…”

“Look at me.” Unable to listen anymore, Frinel interrupted me, turning my face towards him. “I’m not getting married.”

His blue eyes shone quietly. I felt an irresistible emotion flow in. His eyes were so beautiful I wanted to prioritize my feelings and forget everything else. But I smiled lightly, restraining my swirling emotions.

“…You should.”

“You mean you’ll accept my proposal? I don’t plan to marry anyone but you.”

“…I can’t.”

“Because you have to avenge?”

“Your Royal Highness.” My slightly crumpled face turned towards Frinel.

“It was also an excuse that Bella was annoying. I just wanted to be like this with you.”

Yet his face grew more earnest. I couldn’t ignore or deny his feelings any longer.

“You can still get revenge while dating me. No, you’ll gain even more power. I’m going to be the emperor.”

His voice echoed plaintively.

“I love you so much, Lady Lobelia…!”

He clamped his mouth shut, the atmosphere turning heavy. He then spoke again. “…Sorry. I didn’t mean to burden you.”

He scratched the back of his neck, smiling ruefully, then gently curled his reddened eyes. “Don’t mind it. It’s… a feeling I have to deal with alone.”

“Your Royal Highness.”

Though he confessed, he looked as if he had committed a crime, his head drooping. Watching him like that, I clenched my fists.

I had to admit it. I was irresistibly drawn to him. I couldn’t keep hiding and denying it. He had told me to use him as I wished, but my actions were torturing him. Whether it was for revenge or Merilly, I had to do it decisively if I was to refuse.

I pondered, lowering my gaze.

What would have happened if I had failed to use my holy power just like last night? I would have deeply regretted not being honest with my heart.

I was already in love with Frinel.

I looked up at him again.

His back, drooping like a sad puppy, looked so endearing I wanted to embrace him. I stepped close to him.

My heart raced, looking at his face. Like him, I struggled with the ever-growing feelings.

Finally making up my mind, I gently grasped his sleeve with trembling fingertips.

“Your Royal Highness.” Then, I slowly continued. “Become the emperor.”