Oneshot (1/2)

First published on Ainus.h.i.+

◇ Prologue

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was the bed canopy. It looked like an antique, the likes of which I had only heard about but never seen before, but the faded lace had a familiar hue. I was lying on the bed. And when I looked around, I saw my four cute little sisters, my two younger brothers and my mother shedding tears, while my father was standing, supporting my mother.

“Oh, G.o.d! Thank you, for not taking Margarete to heaven!”

With dishevelled milk-colored hair that closely resembles mine, my mother hugged me.

What on earth……

Does it have something to do with my painful, throbbing head?

“Josephine, look! Margarete is surprised. Margarete, how do you feel? Do you remember what happened?”

“Father…… uhm, that……”

c.r.a.p.

I don’t remember anything.

Rather, is it better to say that I remembered something completely different? Should I tell them that I had remembered something different? Father’s face, Mother’s face, my cute little sisters’ faces. Perhaps I was remembering something different from Father’s question.

“You know Big Sis… in the bakery… the iron plates fell.”

“And then… and then… you got hit. You were injured and you fell down.”

I stroked the heads of my crying younger sisters with one hand.

Ah, yeah.

I vaguely remembered that. I was busy since morning today at my part-time job in the bakery, as we had received a big request. It is true that it was my day off today, but because the store manager said that the wages will be increased, I went to work. Our family is poor even though we have the t.i.tle of Earl. So, even if the earnings are small, I have to work for our living.

So it seems that I was too busy. I kept on baking and baking as if the bread would not make it in time and kneading dough at full strength.

Maybe that’s the reason why.

It seems there was a person stacking iron plates on a shelf near me. Accidentally, my coworker had collided with the shelf and the iron plates which had been stacked on it fell with a clatter.

In short, I pushed my coworker away from the falling plates. If I had thought better, I would have created a barrier using magic. While I managed to save my coworker by pus.h.i.+ng them away… Well, the problem after that was me.

My coworker was saved, but the iron plate hit my head quite badly. And this was the result.

Probably.

Because my memories of this world were interrupted by the pain I felt immediately after I was. .h.i.t while saving my coworker.

From the way my mother looked, I had probably hovered at the border between life and death.

And I guess I am experiencing that cliche development.

Yes, cliche—Reincarnation into another world. And this is a world that closely resembles an otome game or a web novel.

◇ Check #1: Let’s organize the memories

First of all, I think I will check out the present situation.

For me to work this out properly, I’ll pacify my crying mother, and then have the worried family members leave the room first.

By the way, there are only two servants because we are poor. They’re an elderly couple who work and live in the house and prepare our meals. n.o.ble families usually hire several servants to serve exclusively per family member but we can’t afford to hire that many people in our house.

So after my family left the room, I was finally alone. I needed the time alone just to organize my mind. I got up slowly from the bed and stood in front of the mirror stand. The mirror showed me a girl that closely resembled her mother.

The hair with the same milk color as mother’s is arranged in fluffy and soft curls, and extends down to the chest. The big eyes with long eyelashes are indigo-colored, just like my father. I wonder where I got my smooth and fair skin. Both of them have beautiful skin, so it does not matter which of them I resemble.

The problem is this appearance and the position of Margarete Fondine.

When I woke up just now, I remembered the memories of my previous life. It was probably because I had hovered around the boundary between life and death.

In my past life, I was a female high school student in a country called j.a.pan. Back then, I liked otome games and web novels. Among the web novels I read, there was a romance novel called “A Villainess System”.

The villainess was a high school student who reincarnated into an alternate world of an otome game she liked in her previous life, who escaped from her destiny of destruction by making full use of the memories from her previous life. It could be called a template web novel, but the destiny of destruction and the means of escaping were diverse. I was fascinated by the different stories of each chapter, and I think that I read up a trifling amount of chapters exceeding three figures.

And now I, Margarete, am the heroine who appeared in that otome game.

Yes. Not the villainess, but the heroine.

But I want to wait. I wonder if I am really the heroine. Perhaps being reborn as the heroine is a sham and the villainess is actually the real main character. Won’t I become a stalking horse? [1] Having the wrong impression that I am the main character, I as the fake heroine approach the capture targets and in the end, I will inevitably suffer the consequences one after another.

Even though I was reborn, I don’t want to live such a life. I liked my family from previous life, but I also love my current family very much. I don’t feel like getting my family into trouble. But a.s.suming I am either the true heroine or stalking horse villainess, won’t I be dragged into the problems?

I mean, I’m already enrolled into the Royal Academy of the Kingdom of Diak, which was the stage for the otome game.

In the Kingdom of Diak,  most of the children of aristocrats and rich people attend this school. If you’re a n.o.ble, you are treated as a lower rank unless you graduate from this school. Both the prince and the villainess, as well as the other capture characters, are naturally enrolled there. As of this spring, it’s been two weeks since I entered and I have not encountered anyone yet. I cannot tell if I can stay in the school for the three years remaining till graduation.

If this is the story of the villainess, it’s fine. As long as I am the heroine, I will not frame-up various sins on the villainess and the unfortunate future from the web novel will not descend upon me first. In most villainess reincarnation novels, the heroine ends up irresponsibly ruining herself.

If this was really not a villainess reincarnation story but instead a story of the heroine of the otome game, it might be a bit more bothersome. After all, the heroine of the otome game is bullied by the villainess while she falls in love with the capture characters.

The heroine is not a peerlessly beautiful girl, but it is just that a lot of members of the opposite s.e.x who have status, honor and charm are attracted to her. There are even cases where the characters to be captured have fiancées and it is awkward if I fall in love with an engaged person. I like otome games, but I myself have never experienced romance. I absolutely cannot involve myself with someone with a fiancée, much less a lover. That’s because I am from a dest.i.tute Earl family and I only want to earn money to support my important family. Sorry for the extra baggage.

I think it is necessary to investigate first whether I am the heroine or not.

For the sake of not attracting my future destruction!

◇ Check #2: Let’s check the villainess and the fiancé

I, Margarete, am hiding in a corner of the corridor of the Royal Academy of Diak.

I am in the midst of tailing someone right now. Who is it, you ask? It is of course, the villainess, the daughter of the Duke of Levier.

Well, you know it’s that, that.

If she really is the villainess, her fiancé is most likely the idiot Crown Prince and that fiancé will fall deeply in love with the heroine. In the end, whatever false accusation it is, he will condemn the villainess in front of everyone at an event like a graduation party.

But in the long run, the false accusation will be cleared and the Crown Prince will be disinherited and banished from the kingdom along with the heroine.

……Ah, I don’t want to get involved. But for now, I’ll check the situation. For my own safety, okay?

As per my investigation, Levier-sama’s fiancé was indeed the Crown Prince. It was the First Prince of the Kingdom of Diak, Bertrut-sama. As of now, they haven’t yet been in contact with me, the heroine.

Ah! Levier-sama went into the student council room. Because I can hear a talking voice, I wonder how many people are inside. I sneakily eavesdropped in secret beside the door since I couldn’t conceal myself by the window.

The student council members consisted of naturally Levier-sama and Prince Bertrut, the son of the Prime Minister, the son of the commander of the knights, and the sons of dukes and marquesses.

Almost all the capture targets.

Yes, those very capture targets that I mustn’t be involved with.

……I want to join the student council, though.

But I’ll encounter the prince if I join. And I’ll come in contact with Levier-sama. If those who join must have excellent grades, then I, who is from an earl family and have excellent grades, could also enter, right? I’d like to join if Prince Bertrut and Levier-sama were not there.

Afterall, I’ve repeatedly said this about my family but we are very poor, possessing just the Earl t.i.tle in name only. Nevertheless, I could enter this royal academy because of my high magical power and exemption from school fees.

Maybe this is the heroine’s compensation since magical powers of the light type are in a different league. Because it is a great magical power, I want to be a member of the sorcery division of the kingdom in the future and have the duty of protecting this country. And since the sorcery division is under the direct control of the kingdom, the salary will also be good.

There’s also still my four cute younger sisters, and my equally adorable younger brother.All six of us have good appearances and characters. But they are weak in their studies and their magical powers are not very……

That’s why I have to earn properly! Whatever happens, I must not get caught up in the condemnation event and strive to become a member of the sorcery division. Although it would be advantageous during the interview for the Sorcery Division if I were a student council officer, I’ll give up.

“What are you doing in such a place?”

“Eh—?”

I heard a voice by my ear so I jumped aside due to surprise.

“Oh, did I startle you? Are you okay?”

“Y-Yes. It’s nothing really, nothing. I’m fine.”

It was a tall man. I have seen him in my past life before. He is the second son of a marquess and one of the characters to be captured; his name is Rufen Truffen. He doesn’t have the typical blonde hair, blue eyes combination that is common in this kingdom. Nor is he pink-haired, red-eyed or purple-haired which are all colours that are not uncommon. Instead he is a black-haired, black-eyed Adonis.

“You have an interest in the student council, don’t you? Please do not hesitate to enter.”

Smiling, Rufen-sama opened the door without warning and urged me inside.

Doing unnecessary things~~~~~~~.

Aaah, he’s here after all.

Prince Bertrut.

The Duke of Dargrim is also here. Ugh, is it just because all the capture characters aren’t gathered together yet? But now that I’ve met Rufen-sama, I have encountered three capture characters.

Please give me a break.

“This person is?”

“Ah, Levier. She seems to want to join the student council.”

“Well, is that true?”

Levier-sama looked at me with a gentle expression. Oh, this . . . is this the domain of the villainess and not of the main character? If she is the real, malicious villainess, I think an ordinary girl like me will be disregarded with a grunt of dismissal. The Levier-sama in the otome game is served upon by her followers like a queen. I, the heroine from a poor earl family, was picked on every time an event occurs.

But this is different from that. I don’t know when I’ll be caught up in trouble, so it’s best to escape from the student council.

“Uhm, I stopped because I heard a pleasant voice. I never wanted to join the student council……”

“Huh? Is that so? It seems like you have been standing outside the student council room for a very long time.”

Wait a moment, Rufen-sama. Since when have you been watching me?

“If I’m not mistaken, you are Margarete Fondine, an earl’s daughter, right?”

“Yes. Bertrut-sama, are you familiar with my name?”

“Of course. You are an important student in this school. Also in your case, you are often talked about because of the strength of your magical powers.”

Wow, I became a hot topic? Noo! I don’t want to stand out.

“I see… You are the rumored Margarete. There could be nothing more rea.s.suring than if a person with excellent grades like you enters the student council.”

Ah, Levier-sama. Please do not smile so delightedly. Am I not unconsciously being charmed by her? Although her stern looks are like that of a villainess, her almond-shaped eyes narrowed as she smiled and the atmosphere became lighter right away. The smile of the beautiful Levier-sama is such a feast to my eyes that I’d like to instantly join the student council… but I can’t. I just can’t! Because Levier-sama, her fiancé Bertrut-sama and also the other capture characters are there. Because I would like to live as much as possible.

“N-No, I don’t think that someone like me can do that……”

I don’t want to say anything that will erase Levier-sama’s smile, but it can’t be helped, you know? I don’t want to be ruined.

“I see…………”

At my words, Levier-sama’s shoulders drooped dejectedly. She had a cat-like look usually, but now she somehow resembled a puppy. Ah, I’m sorry.

“Then how about this? We’ll let Margarete enter the student council as a trainee.”

Huh?

What is the son of the duke saying all of a sudden? What is a trainee? Is it similar to a probationary employee?

“Dargrim’s suggestion is good. You must be nervous to be an officer right away. So get used to it as a trainee.”

Wai—Rufen-sama, what are you talking about!? If I become a trainee instead of becoming a student council officer, isn’t it just the same as joining? Encountering the villainess, the Crown Prince and the capture characters… I don’t want to recklessly throw away my life. Give me a break!

I threw a gaze at Bertrut-sama, searching for help. The only one who can stop these two here is Bertrut-sama.

“What will you do, Margarete? Even if it’s just training, will you join the student council? To be honest, there is a lot of work. And it would help us greatly if there are even just a few extra hands……”

If you say it that way, I cannot refuse. In terms of both hierarchy and emotional appeal.

Because the sons (of n.o.bles) that come to this school will be involved in managing their territories as well as the nation in the future, the students partially operate the school. Like running the country and the territory, the school may be smaller in scale but provides very important learnings about the world.

Many papers are still stacked in front of the prince. Looking at it, I can see that Levier-sama, the prince and the others were handling them themselves and not pus.h.i.+ng the work onto the employees.

Everyone here has a higher position than me so they should have more pressing matters to attend to compared to me. Even if it’s just the odd jobs, I would like to help if I could.

Ah, really!

“Uhm, then if I could help you with anything.”

“Oh, Margarete! Are you sure?”

Levier-sama grabbed my hand, her face s.h.i.+ning suddenly. Eeh, are you that pleased?

“Aren’t you glad, Levier?”

Ah, Prince Bertrut directed his best smile towards Levier-sama. So he asked me in order to please Levier-sama, didn’t he?

Then it is already confirmed that I am not the true heroine and I am definitely the spoiler [2] in the villainess story. No matter how I look at it, the prince is not a fool. He loves Levier-sama without a doubt.

I felt somewhat relieved. If I am the spoiler, then it is absurd for the capture characters to fall in love with me. As long as I don’t abuse my knowledge of my previous life and force situations, I should be safe.

When I made my decision, I spoke quickly.

“Will you please instruct me about my work? I will learn it as best as I can.”

“How dependable.”

Dargrim-sama nodded and brought some doc.u.ments to me. Ah, these are the test papers of the surprise mini test from the other day.

“The teachers are also busy. So, we will have to check these.”

“…………Yes.”

Are you kidding me, teacher? Whatever the circ.u.mstances may be, aren’t you depending too much on the students?

“Margarete, can you check these against the answer sheet?”

“If it’s her, she knows all the answers.”

Why does Rufen-sama immediately answer Levier-sama’s proposal? Well, I know the answers, though.

I stopped thinking too much, moved to a small table in the student council room and focused on checking the answers. By the time I finished checking, the sun had already sunk in the western horizon.

“Thank you for your time. Please come to the student council room when you have time. Next time, I will prepare delicious sweets.”

Levier-sama smiled softly, glad that the number of girls has increased. Ah, mm. The student council officers are all male except for Levier-sama.

“Margarete, is this time all right?”

“Time…? Ah—!”

I remembered something when I heard Rufen-sama. My part-time job at the bakery!!!!

Today was supposed to be my first day back at work after having slept for three days as I wandered around the border between life and death.

“I-I’m sorry. I remembered an urgent task. Please excuse me, I will leave first.”

“Do you have plans? I’m sorry that I troubled you to a.s.sist us with these.”

“No, Levier-sama. If I run, I will make it in time. Well then, goodbye.”

Casting any semblance of a lady’s elegance aside, I left the student council room and ran out of the school building with all my might.

The bakery is located in the royal capital. Fortunately, it is close to the school. Yes, I can make it in time if I run at full speed.

Good enough!!

“Wait for me. I’ll send you in a carriage.”

Rufen-sama, who approached me suddenly from behind, took my arm. The unexpected pull on my arm made me lose my balance and fall forward.

“Oh, my apologies.”

Rufen-sama caught me in his arms as I was about to fall.

But, wait. Send me in a carriage?

Give me a break. I am not going home, I’m headed to my part-time job.

“Uhm, about the words you said……”

“Let’s go.”

“Huh—?!”

Rufen-sama pa.s.sed through the school gates, forcibly dragging me, and pushed me inside the waiting high-speed, magical carriage of the marquess family.

No, no, no, no, please wait.

I won’t make it in time if he sends me home. If I am absent without notice, my salary will be deducted. Or worse, I’ll be fired?!

I don’t know how to enrich our territory and our Earl family is poor, all right? Also, our tenants are seriously suffering and the tax we collect is the lowest in the kingdom. So even though I am the daughter of an earl, the dresses and uniform that I use are second hand articles.

If I get fired from my part-time job, then even the salary we need to pay the old servant couple is at stake!

“Please go to the Louver Bakery in the east district.”

Rufen-sama instructed the destination to the driver, and somewhere in my heart, I became confused. Eh, why does he know about the bakery?

“We will make it in time, so don’t worry.”

I nodded repeatedly at Rufen-sama’s declaration. I want to ask him how he knew but it is true that there is no time. Since this is a high-speed magical carriage, we will arrive soon.

Rufen-sama and I both remained silent. When I stole a glance at him, our eyes met. I avoided looking at him outright and secretly averted my gaze.

The high speed magical carriage arrived at the bakery. As expected from a high-speed carriage, though it would take me twenty minutes to run to this place. It didn’t even take ten minutes.

“Thank you for sending me.”

“If that’s how you feel, won’t you show me your sincerity?”

Huh?

For a moment, I didn’t know what he meant. He stopped after he escorted me when I alighted from the carriage.

In the first place, I was delayed due to Rufen-sama. Ah, no, I guess that’s wrong. It was I, who volunteered to work in the student council today. I also lost track of time while working. Moreover, if I was not reminded by Rufen-sama, I might have forgotten about it completely.

“What kind of sincerity should I show you?”

“Hmm, let’s see. You like bread, right?”

“Yes, I do.”

There is an employee discount here in the bakery. It also applies to part-timers. Besides, they also distribute excess breads and trial products occasionally. The bread that I receive will become my family’s breakfast and everyone will eat it with relish.

“Then, this talk is over. Starting tomorrow, please make my lunch.”

“With the bread?”

“Correct.”

Rufen-sama, you say it with a serious expression, but are you really serious? It is rumored that the meals at the school cafeteria of the Royal Academy of Diak, made by the best chefs are quite delicious, so it’s better for you to eat there.

Ah, I always take a lunch box though. Although the school meal seems delicious, the three-silver coin meal is too extravagant for my family’s financial status.

……Perhaps, Rufen-sama’s Marquess of Truffen family is actually poor?

“Are you thinking very rude thoughts right now?”

“Nooo, I’m not thinking about anything at all.”

“Are you sure?”

“It’s true, I was only thinking about what kind of lunch I would make, yes.”

Can he read my mind?! No, I guess there’s no such kind of magic.

“Then that’s good. I am looking forward to tomorrow.”

Suddenly smiling, Rufen-sama got on the high-speed magical carriage and left. Aaahhh, what should I do about tomorrow’s lunch box?

“Margarete-chan?”

While I was in front of the store, holding my head, a voice called out to me. It was my colleague, Polm-chan.

“Thank goodness! Because you were late, I was wondering if you still didn’t feel well.”

Hugs~!

Polm-chan hugged me with teary eyes. Hey, hey, what’s the matter? She has always been an affectionate kid but is she hugging me all of a sudden because…

“Are there too many advanced orders today?”