Please Fall in Love with Me! – A Villainess on Her Second Loop, using 'Seduction' to Avoid Ruin! - Chapter 2.11

Claude let out an utterly bewildered noise, clearly caught off guard by her unexpected answer.

“I-I’ve found someone I want to marry! That’s why… I realized I can’t stay the way I am. I need to change!”

It wasn’t a lie. If she wanted to overturn her fate, staying the same wasn’t an option.

“Hah…?”

Claude furrowed his brows, his expression showing just how little sense he thought she was making.

“Why would you need to go through all that effort? If you ask the Duke of Kishtaria, he could arrange a marriage for you in no time. There aren’t many people who would turn down the power and wealth of the Kishtaria family. …Unless this person holds a status that His Grace would disapprove of?”

“Huh? Oh, no, that’s not the case. He’s of appropriate standing.”

“Then…”

“B-But that’s not the point! I don’t want an arranged marriage! Didn’t I just say I want him to fall in love with me?”

“If you want someone to fall for you, wouldn’t seduction be the most effective approach?”

—What kind of logic is that?!

“Seduction is the most effective method with men.”

“That’s not what I mean! I want him to fall in love with me!”

“Then wouldn’t it be easier to make him addicted to your body?”

That’s not what she meant!

“I want him to fall for me—as a person!”

Claude gave her a look that said, What on earth is she talking about?

“Wait! That ‘you’re an idiot’ expression is completely unnecessary!”

“My apologies. As you yourself pointed out, I’m someone who has no problem saying no.”

Guh…! This guy…!

Seduction, huh…?

Not that she was bragging, but she had never done anything like that before.

Sure, in the game, the villainess Adelaide was characterized as being promiscuous.

B-But she wasn’t her!

Back in her past life, she had been too busy being a corporate slave to have time for romance (or any social life, really), and she had lived a completely pure life in her “first life” here, too!

“Look, they say that when a woman gets a lover, she changes, right?”

“I’ve never heard that before. Besides, by that logic, you haven’t changed yet. You haven’t even approached the person you supposedly want to marry.”

“Ugh…”

His counterargument was so painfully accurate that she nearly crumbled.

“A-Anyway! In order to marry him, I’ve decided to change! That’s why I need your help, Claude!”

“And what exactly do you expect me to do?”

Claude let out a sigh, picked up her ultimate presentation materials (thirty-five sheets of parchment), and gave a casual shrug.

“If it’s just about business, I’d be happy to help. Every idea here has the potential to make a fortune. But that other part? That sounds like a huge hassle. I have no interest in meddling in someone else’s love life.”

Okay, fair. He had a point.

But the problem was, while she was great at pitching ideas, she had no idea how to seduce someone!

That’s why she needed help!

She was about to clasp her hands together and beg—but then she froze.

Ah.

Right.

Claude loved money and making money. Appealing to his emotions was pointless—she needed to appeal to his wallet.

Smiling brightly, she slammed her hands down on the center table with a decisive bang.

“If I manage to marry him, I’ll give you a ten-billion-gold bonus!”

For reference, the currency in this world, Gold, holds the same value as the Japanese Yen.

As expected, Claude immediately dropped to one knee before her, placing his right hand over his left chest.

“This Claude shall dedicate himself entirely to ensuring my lady’s future.”

◇＊◇

The night breeze carried the fragrance of flowers.

Bathed in the quiet glow of the moon, Siegvard gazed at the envelope in his hands.

A vivid shade of purple, sealed with the wax emblem of the Kishtaria Ducal House.

Now that he thought about it, she had been wearing a similarly striking, elegant purple dress that day—the same color as his amethyst eyes.

“…No way…”

It couldn’t possibly mean anything.

And yet.

“Please, fall in love with me!”

She had looked straight at him and shouted those words.

What kind of joke had that been?

And then—during the Saintess’s awakening, she had distinguished herself with remarkable achievements.

Her actions had left everyone baffled, so starkly different from the rumors that surrounded her.

What was that all about?

And now—a formal invitation to a tea party, despite the fact that they had barely interacted before.

Siegvard stared at the envelope in his hands and murmured under his breath.

“Adelaide di Kishtaria… just what are you scheming?”