Please Fall in Love with Me! – A Villainess on Her Second Loop, using 'Seduction' to Avoid Ruin! - Chapter 3.2

No, that wasn’t true. Things had progressed. At least now, he no longer hated her outright. This was a step forward.

Clenching both fists tightly, she nodded to herself in determination.

Lady Fiona watched her, narrowing her eyes slightly, as if dazzled.

“Lady Adelaide, you really are an unusual person, aren’t you?”

Claude immediately furrowed his brows at Fiona’s words.

“Are you referring to her mind?”

“Eh!?”

“You casually call your benefactor crazy, yet you still feel entitled to comment on someone else’s personality?”

“T-That’s not what I meant! Lady Adelaide, please believe me! That’s not what I was trying to say!”

Fiona flailed her hands in panic.

It was fine. She understood.

“Claude, don’t tease Lady Fiona. She is an honored guest—show some restraint.”

“My apologies.”

“And calling me a benefactor is far too much. I haven’t done anything special. I only did what was natural.”

“Hah? You rode in on horseback alongside knights, jumped straight into danger to save the Saintess, punched that worthless father of hers, lectured him, then took her in, cared for her, and personally educated her in both noble and saintly conduct. That is well beyond the realm of ‘natural.’ If it were me, I’d make sure she owed me for life and exploit it for all it’s worth.”

…Was he a debt collector?

If she looked at it from a purely transactional perspective, then no, this wasn’t just an act of kindness.

She was being completely self-serving—acting in her own best interest.

Because if this all went well, she might be able to avoid a tragic death.

That was why she refused to call herself a benefactor.

“Oh, that reminds me—Lady Fiona, when it comes to etiquette and noble conduct, I believe you’re progressing well. However, myths and Saintess legends are open to interpretation. Please don’t take only what I’ve taught you as absolute truth. Once things settle down, I recommend you seek guidance from the temple priests and research various records yourself.”

“Ah, I see. I understand.”

Fiona nodded, then regarded her with a curious expression.

“Lady Adelaide, you don’t ask people to simply trust you, do you?”

“It’s not that I don’t want to be trusted. But deciding who to trust should be a judgment made with one’s own eyes and ears.”

She had never been one to believe people who simply said, Trust me! without backing it up with actions.

“That’s why I want you to gain enough knowledge to hold your own in public. I want you to meet people, interact with them, and, using your own judgment, find someone you can trust with your whole heart.”

She wished she had more time to refine Fiona’s education, but keeping her in the Kishtaria Ducal House for too long was dangerous.

The imperial family and other noble factions might assume that Kishtaria was hoarding the Saintess for their own benefit. That sort of suspicion would be disastrous.

Besides, it wouldn’t be good for Fiona to remain isolated from the other key figures in her story.

Once her education reached an acceptable level, she needed to begin her own journey.

And, of course, she needed to begin her own path toward winning over Siegvard!

“Will I really find someone I can trust more than Lady Adelaide…? If possible, I’d like to stay here just a little longer…”

“…Huh?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

Fiona smiled and waved a hand dismissively, but then let out a wistful sigh.

“The tea party is tomorrow, right? I wish I could attend. A tea party hosted by you, Lady Adelaide, is sure to have all sorts of delicious treats and be absolutely delightful.”

“You’re the only one who thinks that.”

“There’s no way that’s true.”

No, it was true.

Fiona simply wasn’t aware of how terrible Adelaide’s reputation was in high society.

But in this “second life,” she had to change that.

Tomorrow’s tea party, with Siegvard as her sole guest, was the first step toward improving her image.

She needed to leave a good impression!

Steeling herself, she took Fiona’s hands and squeezed them tightly.

“Tomorrow is your first visit to the temple, isn’t it? Do your best! I’ll do my best too!”

Fiona blinked in confusion, her eyes fluttering.

“Uh… okay? But… is a tea party really something that requires this much enthusiasm?”

Of course!

Tomorrow was the first battle.

And she was determined to claim victory!

◇＊◇

“I DON’T WANNA! NO! ABSOLUTELY NOT!”

“Please don’t throw a tantrum. It’s exhausting.”

Claude sighed, looking as though he couldn’t be more bored of her antics.

No!

He was making it sound like she was just being difficult!

This wasn’t a tantrum, and it definitely wasn’t selfishness!

This was a completely reasonable objection!