Isn’t Being A Wicked Woman Much Better? - Chapter 98

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————

Chapter 98
The Social Club was created for unity and camaraderie, yet here they were, publicly blaming each other for their failures. As the leader, Philaf would face considerable embarrassment.
Indeed, his neck flushed crimson as he squeezed his eyes shut, and the veins on his forehead bulged prominently.
‘And he’ll have to endure interrogations from the senior members on top of everything else. This is only going to get messier.’
Naturally, most of those attending the seminar were clicking their tongues at Aracron’s pathetic display.
“Everyone, please calm down. Who exactly spread false evidence to Emmanuelle?”
Philaf’s eyes widened as he belatedly attempted to contain the situation, but I quickly interjected.
“Aracron as a whole participated in slandering me, and now you have the audacity to cover your tracks?!”
I sharpened my gaze intensely.
“Emmanuelle clearly stated at the beginning that there was ‘public opinion’ criticizing my position as Academy top student.”
I scanned each member of Aracron, and they flinched as if they’d encountered a viper emerging from the brush.
“That public opinion was undoubtedly fabricated by them. How much must they have gossiped about me behind closed doors for everyone to become suspects in spreading false evidence?”
The atmosphere had already tilted in my favor, so everyone nodded in agreement with my argument. The Fifth Princess joined in as well.
“Cowardly. You claimed one of our members plagiarized a thesis at last year’s Academic Conference, yet you spouted accusations without proper evidence.”
She fixed Emmanuelle with a sharp, piercing gaze from her golden eyes.
“Is this how Aracron operates—gathering in groups to tarnish others’ reputations?”
“I’m disappointed in Aracron.”
“For one of the four major clubs, this is pathetic.”
Even members from other clubs who had been watching with interest began adding their commentary like spectators munching popcorn. As her club’s honor faced ruin, Emmanuelle, who had been quick to blame others, hastily opened her mouth.
“I regret last year’s incident. And I also regret proceeding recklessly with unclear evidence.”
‘Regret? That word choice is rather contemptible.’
Faced with her cunning attempt to minimize her own wrongdoing, I could only suppress a bitter smile. Then Isidore spoke.
“Regret? You accused Deborah of having her subordinates manufacture magical artifacts that she personally designed by coercing them.”
His voice was as cold as ice.
“Moreover, you presented false evidence and ruined both Deborah’s presentation and the atmosphere of our Epsilon’s Academic Conference. This isn’t merely a matter for a polite apology—it warrants discussion of material compensation.”
Isidore methodically enumerated her transgressions. Cornered to the edge of a cliff, Emmanuelle’s eyes reddened. Her glistening eyes brimmed with indignation and fury at this predicament.
Emmanuelle’s lips trembled as she bit them, then she finally spoke.
“I acted without due caution. However, I believed it was necessary to prevent a flawed thesis from being presented at an official venue, so I stepped forward as a representative with courage!”
She addressed the audience in an imploring tone.
“I misunderstood after witnessing how harshly Deborah treats her subordinates.”
I knew the character assassination was coming. As if her own character hadn’t already been completely exposed.
“I hope you’ll all understand that my intentions weren’t malicious.”
Finally, Emmanuelle swallowed the last bait and self-destructed.
“No malicious intent?”
I pressed her further.
“Blinded by a sense of justice…”
“Do you truly believe I would accept that? Emmanuelle, having your subordinates orchestrate such contemptible schemes is hardly a one-time occurrence.”
As I raised new suspicions, the Academic Conference Hall erupted in chaos, and Emmanuelle’s eyes widened in shock.
‘She never expected me to suddenly draw my blade and strike.’
From the start, the risk of exposure that came with spreading false evidence wasn’t solely about attacking Emmanuelle and her faction.
“Emmanuelle, what are you saying? Are you suggesting I had my subordinates commit such dishonorable acts?”
Watching Emmanuelle stammer, I withdrew a single document—the accounting ledger of Naria that had been embezzled by a servant working under the Bruno Guild.
“You had your subordinates manipulate the accounting records.”
“Manipulate the accounting records? Surely you’re not suggesting I attempted tax evasion?!”
“Good heavens!”
“My goodness.”
As Emmanuelle’s illegal conduct became publicly aired—she who bore the refined epithet of Magnolia—the hall erupted into chaos. The atmosphere had shifted into a new phase entirely. Now the spectators would fixate upon judging Emmanuelle’s true character.
‘All the more shocking given her typically aristocratic image. Unlike me, whose reputation was already tarnished.’
It was the same tactic Aracron had employed last year when they seized upon the private affairs of an Epsilon presenter.
“Emmanuelle surely craved being the center of attention at her one and only debutante ball, and managing numerous connections would require considerable funds. I understand that much. But creating illegal slush funds crosses a line entirely too far!”
I returned her own words to her verbatim. Her hands trembled visibly as she fluttered the ledger I had presented.
‘She cannot deny it. The Bruno Guild is managed by the Selig Duke Family, after all.’
From the moment I discovered the connection between Serig and Bruno, I had been waiting for an opportunity to bring them both down in one stroke.
‘But I lacked justification.’
Yet Emmanuelle, bless her, had graciously avoided offering a direct apology and instead, in a fit of misplaced pride, handed me the very ammunition I needed.
“I was unaware of this!”
“So you claim ignorance again, just as before.”
I stepped forward toward Emmanuelle.
“Then how do you explain the substantial sums of gold coins within that ledger that flowed toward the Selig Family?”
Emmanuelle’s lips merely quivered.
“There is evidence that you oversaw the Bruno Guild. There are letters exchanged between Bruno and the Duke himself. Shall I have the judiciary investigate the matter immediately?”
At my words, Emmanuelle’s lips trembled violently before she managed to speak.
“It means I had no involvement in the accounting manipulation. Bruno, as the guild master, must have acted on his own initiative to curry favor with Serig.”
“The Bruno Guild, operated by the Selig Family, has stolen business models and recipes from small shops, created illegal slush funds, and even falsely accused a competitor’s food of containing hair—a matter currently under judicial investigation. Will Emmanuelle simply deny all knowledge?”
When their profits plummeted, Bruno and his associates, cornered, sent people to Armand to cause a scene, claiming hair had been found in their cake. The proprietor of Armand had suffered considerable headaches attempting to resolve the matter.
“I understand Emmanuelle will be presenting on political leadership at the upcoming Aracron Academic Conference. Is that correct?”
I already knew the contents of the thesis Emmanuelle, a political science major, would present. A large faction meant many allies, but it also meant her plans could easily leak to the outside world.
“Your silence suggests I am correct.”
“….”
“Yet Emmanuelle has been blaming others incessantly. Does such irresponsible evasion of accountability truly embody the qualities a leader should possess?”
Under the piercing gazes of the spectators and my relentless questioning, Emmanuelle finally lowered her head and offered an apology. Once the matter of internal slush funds was raised, she had no choice but to apologize to me.
“I trust you will restore my reputation, which you have undermined behind the scenes. Emmanuelle.”
After issuing this warning to her trembling lips, I opened my mouth to address the silent audience.
“My presentation concludes here.”
* * *
“You completely demolished Emmanuelle, and she’s second to none when it comes to connections. You truly live up to your reputation.”
As Thierry clicked his tongue in admiration, the Fifth Princess let out a soft laugh.
“I didn’t fall for her without reason.”
Deborah Simour must have been planning this from the very beginning.
‘That false evidence was surely a trap….’
Using tactics from military strategy for when one is outnumbered—so that’s what he meant by telling me not to worry about being more cowardly than him.
“It would have been nice if Lea, who gave up her thesis presentation last year because of Emmanuelle, had attended today’s academic conference.”
“Indeed. I’m quite satisfied as well.”
Thanks to this group academic conference, the Epsilon members who had harbored doubts about Deborah Simour’s membership were now seeing her in a new light.
Of course, they still found it difficult to approach her, but when news arrived that the Aracron academic conference held two days later had been thoroughly ruined because of her, everyone celebrated as if it were their own victory.
* * *
The Serig Duke Family ruthlessly severed ties with Naria and the Bruno Guild, the largest dessert shop located at the Academy West Gate. Naria’s corruption and abuses had been exposed in public, and since the conference attendees—primarily nobility—formed their main customer base, continuing operations would have been a significant loss.
And thanks to this, I was able to easily decide on the location for Armand’s second branch.
Naria, the most prestigious and famous dessert shop at the West Gate—it would now become Armand’s second location.
‘How amusing.’
I had proceeded with the plan aiming to eliminate a troublesome competitor all at once, but…
“It actually worked?!”
Since the shop had failed due to negative rumors, I was able to purchase the Naria building at a price far below market value.
‘The second branch should definitely be directly operated.’
I grinned wickedly like a villain, imagining myself sweeping up money, thinking that living as a villainess was truly convenient.

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————