Please Fall in Love with Me! – A Villainess on Her Second Loop, using 'Seduction' to Avoid Ruin! - Chapter 1.7

How Do I Escape This Fate?

What should I do?

How can I avoid another tragic death?

I was deep in thought when—

Knock, knock, knock.

A gentle tapping on the door pulled me from my thoughts.

The moment I looked up, the door opened, accompanied by a polite voice.

“Excuse me.”

“Huh…?”

The maid who entered—Sheska, with her round glasses and neatly cut bob—paused the moment she saw me sitting on the sofa.

Her face turned pale, and she bowed so fast and deep it looked painful.

“I—I deeply apologize! I’m terribly late!”

“What?”

I glanced at the clock on the mantelpiece.

The hands pointed to nine o’clock sharp.

“You’re not late. You’re right on time.”

“B-But I made you wait, my lady…!”

Sheska kept her head lowered, her voice trembling.

“…?”

Why was she so terrified?

Sheska had been my personal maid.

She was always cheerful, always smiling. Her boundless optimism had often lifted my spirits.

She was honest, sincere, and full of life.
She loved tea, sweets, and cute things, just like me.
We were only a year apart in age, and we had always been close.

So why… why was she acting like this?

Then, it hit me.

That was in my first life.

Of course.

This was still the beginning of my second life.

I hadn’t rebuilt my relationships yet.

To everyone here, I was still the villainess Adelaide di Kishtaria—a spoiled, tyrannical noblewoman who used her power recklessly.

“…!”

A sharp pain clenched at my chest.

The Sheska who had once adored me no longer existed.

No—she was still here.

She was still alive.

But our bond… was gone.

I would have to start over.

And yet… that realization still stung.

“…Sheska.”

At this moment, she wasn’t even my personal maid yet.

She had only been in this estate for six months—a mere rookie servant.

I remembered it well.

In my first life, the day before my awakening, the former Adelaide had thrown a violent tantrum over something trivial, brutally punishing her previous maid and driving her out.

(Just to be clear—that wasn’t me. It was the original Adelaide, before I took over.)

With her impossibly high pride, elitist mindset, and erratic temper, no one wanted to serve her.

So, out of necessity, Sheska was assigned to me—essentially forced into the role.

I looked straight into her eyes and gave her a warm smile.

“I’ll say it again—you’re not late. You arrived exactly on time, so there’s nothing to be sorry for.”

“Huh…? B-But…”

“The only reason you thought I was waiting is that I woke up earlier than usual. That was my choice. It had nothing to do with you.”

Sheska hesitated, her gaze flickering with uncertainty.

I understood why.

If this were the Adelaide she knew, I would have been furious, screaming, and throwing things by now.

But I wasn’t her.

I had never been Adelaide.

I was an introverted otaku—shy, overly considerate, and terrible at asserting myself.

I wasn’t someone who could throw tantrums or demand attention.

I wasn’t someone who could even raise my voice in anger.

I struggled just to ask for help.

I wanted her to see that.

I wanted her to know me again.

I wanted to be friends with Sheska again.

“What tea do we have this morning?”

I smiled again, trying to ease her nerves.

Sheska fumbled as she glanced at the tea cart beside her.

“Ah… um, we’ve prepared Cardinal tea today, my lady.”

“Straight?”

“Y-Yes. The young lady does not take milk or sugar, so…”

Ah, right.

The original Adelaide avoided anything sweet, obsessing over her figure.

But I was different.

I loved the milk tea Sheska used to make for me.

“Thank you. Pour it, then you may leave.”

“Eh…? Ah… Y-Yes, my lady.”

Sheska still seemed flustered, but she quickly prepared my tea.

“Please inform the head chef that I won’t be needing breakfast today. Also, I’d like to be alone until lunch.”

“A-As you wish, my lady.”

“And, if possible—
I’d like you to bring my morning tea again tomorrow.

But this time… can you make the milk tea from your hometown?

The one where the tea leaves are simmered in milk—with honey?”

“Wha—!?”

Sheska’s eyes widened in pure shock.

“H-How do you know about that!?”

“I know you’re from Berenty, the westernmost region of the empire.”

I clasped my hands together and tilted my head playfully.

“So? Would it be too much trouble? It sounds delicious.”

Sheska stiffened for a moment before shaking her head frantically.

Our second friendship had just begun.