Kill the Villainess [Novel] - Chapter 8

“You’re right. That child saved me, so I gave it to them.”

“See? I was correct, wasn’t I?”

“Still.”

“It would be more troublesome if you refused. Those earrings include the price for your silence.”

It seemed this would drag on forever, so I cut the man off mid-sentence. Regardless of his expression, I added something that had just occurred to me. I’d been planning to visit an information guild about a priest named Matheus anyway—this saved me the trouble.

“You probably don’t know who I am, but even if you find out later, keep your mouth shut. And… I’d like a recommendation for a trustworthy information guild.”

“I know one!”

“Quiet!”

The child shot their hand up eagerly. The man hastily pulled the child’s arm down and sighed, looking straight at me. A troubled expression flickered across his face.

Commoners had nothing to gain by mingling with nobles. After all, if they were used and then silenced with murder, no one would dare speak up.

“Sigh… My Lady…”

“If I mention my family name, you’ll have no choice but to comply, won’t you?”

“Then let’s just stick with ‘My Lady.’ My Lady, I apologize for this ignorant child bothering you, but we lack the means to fulfill whatever you desire. Please take pity on our poverty and incompetence and leave this house.”

With that, the man bowed deeply.

A remarkably polite and clever way to shoo a guest away.

Unfortunately for him, that only made me like him more.

Better polite than arrogant, better clever than stupid.

His desperate attempts to avoid entanglement were admirable, but I was the more desperate one. I plopped onto a nearby bed and crossed my legs.

“If I leave now, my family will assume you kidnapped me. Then even those children will be dragged in for interrogation. Is that what you want?”

“……”

“But if you agree to my request, I can create the opposite scenario—that you rescued me from a dangerous situation. What do you say?”

The child poked the man’s side impatiently. Their face clearly said, *What’s there to hesitate about?* The man rubbed his face in frustration before finally nodding.

It was blackmail with only one real option, but my conscience remained clear. Shouldn’t have dragged me into this in the first place. I met the child’s gaze and spoke.

“I need an information guild that’s tight-lipped and competent. Reliability matters more than skill—make sure they understand that.”

“There’s Father Sancy in the back alleys. He runs an information shop—very honest and dependable.”

“Good. Tell him to find out where Priest Matheus is.”

“What about the fee?”

“Oh? Confident enough to demand payment upfront? It’ll be trouble if he fails, you know.”

The child nodded in understanding.

I turned to the man still glaring at me.

“You look displeased.”

“Did you come here on purpose?”

His naive suspicion was almost endearing. Though disheveled from running, everything I wore was worth enough to buy this entire neighborhood.

Even if this were a trap, no one would go this far just to harass nobodies like them. If I wanted that, I’d have sent one of my family’s knights to rough them up.

“Hardly. Do I look so pathetic that I’d seek out strangers like you? I really was being chased.”

“Nobles don’t order commoners they just met to hunt someone through an information guild. What if we talk?”

Ah, *that’s* what he doubted. I stood on tiptoe and leaned in close, tilting my head to meet his eyes.

Eris was undeniably the second most beautiful woman in the kingdom, so I expected him to falter—but surprisingly, he didn’t retreat. He just lowered his gaze and stared at me.

“Because if I wanted, I could have you all dead before sunset.”

“……”

“You think humans fear threats from gutter rats? They’d just kill the rats and dismiss everything they said as nonsense.”

Even in modern society, the powerful crushed the weak like this all the time. Let alone in a world with an explicit class system—this was no flaw or hardship. That’s why he’d tried so desperately to separate the child from me.

Now hearing me, the child trembled in fear. Not that I planned to kill them if they kept quiet. That’s why I prioritized secrecy over skill… Smiling, I patted the child’s head.

“You people… don’t even see us as human lives.”

“Well, I’m not like most nobles.”

I shrugged as he muttered resentfully. How other nobles viewed commoners didn’t concern me.

Even in novels, they weren’t treated well.

But my cruelty wasn’t because of our difference in status. Sadly, it was because they weren’t real people to me.

Unless deeply immersed, no one empathizes with fictional characters. If a background character dies, it’s just text—no tears shed.

Immersion requires a compelling narrative, one that fosters affection.

*I wish this character I love wouldn’t die.* Unfortunately, in this clichéd novel, no character made me feel that way.

Everything I loved and cherished… existed in my original world. My family, friends, favorite songs and sceneries…

To reclaim all that, I was prepared to die. Pushing aside my thoughts, I whispered to the man:

“…Now take me back.”

He stared at me incredulously before removing his own shoes. Kneeling, he lifted my foot and slipped them on. Though loose, the tall boots wouldn’t fall off.

Given this household’s state, spare shoes seemed unlikely. Even with the fee I gave them, shops would be closed by now…

“If you give me your shoes, what will you wear?”

“I can’t let My Lady walk barefoot.”

He opened the door and waited silently for me to exit.

…Honestly, I didn’t want to go. Beyond that door, the story would resume. How much more of this predictable future must I endure? The novel spanned considerable time despite its short read.

I still wanted to run. But if I truly meant to escape, charging out impulsively wasn’t the way. The kingdom’s most powerful would find me without meticulous planning. Hiding here would get me discovered before dawn.

Besides, having resolved to die if necessary, it felt ridiculous to cower over a slapped prince or grovel over an uncertain future.

Had I posted this dilemma online, comments would’ve flooded in: *Just tear into him! Why so passive?*

Ah, what a relief. Right—why should *I* flee? Let’s kill the Crown Prince instead.

I wondered how this world—which spared me due to causality—would react if its male lead died.

* * *

When I returned unharmed, everyone just gaped at me, unable to scold. *You can’t spit on a smiling face.* So I smiled serenely.

“I needed some air—felt stifled.”

“But My Lady, you even shook off your escorts…”

“I returned safely—isn’t that enough? I’m tired and want to rest.”

Cutting her off, the head maid reluctantly ordered a servant to draw my bathwater.

As I bathed, I resolved to meet Hybris as soon as possible.

Backtracking now felt awkward—admitting I wasn’t from this world—but I blamed the crowd earlier. Surely the merciful High Priest wouldn’t ignore a lamb in distress?

I should’ve had my dress fitting yesterday—to prepare for the imminent knighting ceremony—but I lost my temper and fled.

Since Hybris frequented the Imperial Palace too, today I vowed not to run but go quietly.

Still uneasy, House Miserian assigned an unusually large escort—enough to catch me within ten steps if I bolted.

Upon arrival, protocol demanded greeting the Emperor first—but he was away on inspection today. The Crown Prince had finished yesterday’s fitting and was handling duties in his stead. *Good thing I stormed out yesterday.*

Purple fabric—one of the imperial colors—swayed elegantly. Despite the heat exposing shoulders and back, modesty required a high turtleneck paired with an off-shoulder design—an elegant compromise.

Though sleek and clinging, layered fabric lent it dignity.

The long train dragging behind would be a laundry nightmare…

“How… With such a beautiful lady by his side, all will envy His Highness.”

“Are you uncomfortable anywhere?”

Unwilling to engage, I stayed silent until the quick-witted seamstress changed topics. A vague nod later, she inspected carefully before helping me undress.

Changed back into my original clothes, she assured me with a bright smile that the dress would be delivered today.

Crossing the royal garden en route home, a familiar figure caught my eye—Hybris! Sensing this chance couldn’t be missed, I sprinted recklessly.

Though not as cumbersome as the fitting dress earlier, my current attire still tangled around my legs as I ran—until finally tripping and falling headlong.