Chapter 4 : The Villainess’s Bonus Points

Because of the professor’s persistent request, I dragged my tired body to the dining hall.

Lucy had disappeared somewhere, saying she had a prior engagement.

Does she have friends?

That’s unlikely.

No noble would befriend a commoner.

Then where did she go?

Following Eve, I arrived at the dining hall and saw a huge building.

Each class has a separate dining hall they can use.

When I entered the dining hall for Class A, a waiter greeted us.

“I’ll guide you to your seat.”

Sitting at the table, I checked the menu, and the prices were no joke.

The prices were similar to those of a high-end restaurant in the city.

Is the academy really trying to make money?

But if they’re going to charge, is there a need for different dining halls for each class?

It’s not like they’re giving it away for free.

After ordering, we waited for a while, and the food started to arrive one by one.

The speed was impressive.

I sliced a piece of the fragrant steak and put it in my mouth, and it melted instantly.

It’s expensive, but it’s worth it.

“It’s delicious.”

“The food seems fine.”

After finishing our meal, we had some free time, so we took a walk in a nearby park for digestion.

In one part of the park, I saw a few female students surrounding someone.

Getting closer, I saw a familiar silhouette.

It was Lucy, the protagonist of the novel.

Led by Eclair Solace, two other female students were saying something to her.

“The school rules clearly state that eating in the park is not allowed. Don’t you know? Or are you deliberately disobeying?”

“I-I really didn’t know.”

“Then what is this?”

I saw a piece of bread on the ground with a bite mark.

Is the reason she refused to go to the dining hall with me because of money?

Breakfast and dinner are provided free of charge in the dormitory, but lunch is not.

She probably took some bread from breakfast to eat for lunch, but unfortunately, she got caught eating it in the park.

I can’t help it.

“Let’s go.”

“But Miss, it might cause political problems.”

If I, a member of the Theres Dukedom, confront the Solace Dukedom, it will definitely cause problems.

Eve is worried about that.

“It’s okay, trust me.”

Taking the uneasy-looking Eve with me, I approached them, and Lucy and Eclair looked at me with surprised eyes.

“What is it? Are you going to take the side of a commoner who broke the school rules? And be at odds with me?”

“Me? Of course not.”

Then, I naturally wrapped my arm around Eclair’s waist, and she let out a strange scream.

“Hiii!?”

“Oh my, you’re taking good care of yourself.”

Touching Eclair’s slender waist, I joined in attacking Lucy.

“Did you refuse my offer because of bread? And even broke the rules? I’m disappointed.”

“I didn’t know it was forbidden to eat in the park! I really didn’t!”

Looking at Lucy, who looked like she was about to burst into tears, I turned my head and looked at Eclair.

I looked at her with a ‘Look! I’m on your side!’ expression, and her face turned as red as a ripe apple.

“Wh-what are you doing?”

“What do you mean? I’m taking your side. Oh, wait a minute.”

I brought my face close to hers, and she freaked out and backed away.

What a shame.

“You don’t have a single blemish. How do you take care of your skin? Can you tell me in detail next time? If possible, come to my room.”

“Y-you! Are you mocking me right now!?”

“Of course not. Come closer. You smell good too.”

At my behavior, she freaked out and ran away, saying “Just you wait.”

What a shame. I wanted to see her up close more.

“Miss…”

When I made a V sign at Eve, who was looking at me with cold eyes, she sighed.

Why is she like that?

Then I heard a small voice.

“Um, Aria. Thank you for helping me…”

“Me? When?”

“Didn’t you do that on purpose to help me?”

“No?”

“……”

When I looked at her with a puzzled face, she finally said, “Please don’t tease me,” our Lucy.

Then I saw the bread that had fallen on the ground.

If I offered to buy her lunch for free, she would refuse.

In times like this, I have to act like a villainess.

“You, work for me.”

“Y-yes!?”

“Miss!?”

I thought Lucy would be surprised, but surprisingly, Eve’s reaction was more surprising.

“If you work as my maid from now on, I’ll provide you with lunch in addition to your salary.”

For the record, I made it clear that rejection is not an option, and I extended my hand to Lucy, who was on the ground.

“If you take my hand, you accept.”

“That’s not fair… How can I refuse a noble’s hand…”

Smirking, I helped Lucy up and patted her bottom to dust it off.

It’s soft.

“W-wait a minute, Aria!?”

“Stay still. You have a lot of dust on you.”

Feeling the soft texture, I dusted off her bottom and was about to pick up the bread that had fallen on the ground, but Eve had already picked it all up.

Of course, with a scolding look on her face.

“Are you sulking?”

“Of course not, Aria.”

Eve, who usually calls me ‘Miss,’ only calls me by my name when she’s sulking.

To tell her not to sulk, I stroked her head, and she made a strange expression.

It’s funny.

“Ahaha! Your expression is funny.”

“……”

Realizing that a person can curse with their eyes, I decided to stop teasing her.

Then I took Lucy back to the dining hall.

“Aria, where are we going?”

“You didn’t have lunch, did you? I’ll buy you lunch to celebrate you becoming my maid.”

“Th-that… I haven’t done anything yet, I can’t accept…”

“Ahem! In times like this, you should say ‘thank you’.”

I bought lunch for Lucy, who hesitantly thanked me, and it was the best thing I’ve done since entering the academy.

When she took a bite of the steak after clumsily cutting it, she had an expression that said she had never tasted anything like it before.

It was so cute that I almost wanted to bite her.

She munched like a hamster, and it was so cute that I was in trouble.

Our Eve doesn’t change her expression even when eating delicious food, so it’s not fun to watch.

I poked Eve’s cheek, who was sitting next to me, and she cursed me with her eyes again.

While eating, Lucy, who kept glancing at us, asked a question.

“You two seem really close.”

“Of course. We’ve been together for 10 years, you know? There’s nothing we don’t know about each other.”

“Miss…”

“This is a secret, but our Eve’s three sizes… Mmph!!”

“Miss!!!”

She covered my mouth with both hands.

She looks innocent but is quite shy.

That’s what makes her cute, though.

But I’m starting to run out of breath.

I wish she’d let go.

I’m dying…

I headed to the changing room to change clothes for the Magical Combat class.

Our protagonist Lucy didn’t even have clothes, so I bought her one.

In the original story, it was briefly mentioned that she had a hard time adjusting to academy life, but I didn’t know it was this bad.

“Th-thank you, Aria.”

“What for? You’re going to be working as my maid from now on, so I have to do this much. Of course, our top maid, Eve, will teach you well.”

Lucy asked if she could ask me something she was curious about, and I covered my chest and answered.

“I think it’s a bit early for three sizes between us…”

“Th-that’s not it!”

Her reaction is so good that I can’t help but keep teasing her.

I should restrain myself.

But what is she curious about?

“Um, may I ask what the difference is between a maid and a handmaiden…?”

“Ah, that. Think of a maid as a commoner and a handmaiden as a noble.”

It’s not a sin to not know. You can learn.

Explaining the difference between a maid and a handmaiden, I changed my clothes and went out to the training grounds.

Some students who arrived earlier were playing around.

Eclair is over there.

“You were here.”

“Hiii!?”

I suppressed my footsteps and approached her from behind, then whispered in her ear.

She freaked out and backed away.

“Hmm, calling you Eclair feels a bit distant. Can I call you Ecle?”

“No!”

“Then how about clay?”

“You weren’t like this before!? How did you change so much!?”

At that, I fell to the ground with a shocked expression, and she didn’t know what to do.

“W-was it that shocking!? I’m sorry!!”

“Then I’ll call you clay.”

“You tricked me!?”

Her reactions are so good every time I tease her that I can’t help myself.

I wonder what she’ll be like at night.

While I was soothing clay, who was angry and snapping at me, I felt a chill run down my spine.

Instinctively sensing danger, I quickly stepped back, and the professor looked at me with an interesting gaze.

“Oh, you’re the only one among them who noticed my killing intent. What’s your name?”

“Aria Theres, Professor.”

“I’ll give you extra points.”