Please Fall in Love with Me! – A Villainess on Her Second Loop, using 'Seduction' to Avoid Ruin! - Chapter 4.4

Huh…?

“No doubt about it. Isn’t it because her second son was chosen as a Knight of the Round?”

“Ah, that makes sense… Does she want to make her son emperor? Even though he renounced the world and became a priest?”

“Even if the son has no lingering attachment to worldly affairs, that old woman clearly does. She probably wants to become the Empress Dowager.”

Their words dripped with nothing but malice and scornful laughter, making me instinctively furrow my brows.

Peeking cautiously down the hall, I saw a group of young noblemen smirking as they chatted amongst themselves.

“And that wicked woman—what is she aiming for, pretending to be an intellectual?”

“She’s probably just trying to attract men. What else could it be?”

That wicked woman… they’re talking about me, aren’t they?

Hiding behind the corner, I let out a quiet sigh.

Their words were unpleasant, but I didn’t feel particularly angry. Given Adelaide’s past behavior, it was hardly surprising that people spoke of her this way.

Still, this was a problem. As long as they kept talking there, I couldn’t return to the salon…

“Honestly, I almost burst out laughing, watching her speak with such a smug look on her face.”

“She’s never been praised for her intelligence before, so let’s give her a break.”

“Yeah, someone should pat her on the head and say, ‘Good job remembering all that! You’re such a clever little girl!’”

It seemed they were getting carried away, as their insults became more and more vicious.

“And that demure dress—she couldn’t look more out of place in it if she tried.”

As I debated what to do, one of them made a sneering remark about my dress.

That caught me off guard—I inhaled sharply, my face flushing hot.

Today, I was wearing a lovely blue princess-line dress that Lady Fiona had praised just the other day.

It still felt a little unnatural to me, but that was probably because I associated Adelaide too strongly with the image of a villainess. Besides, Claude—who had no reason to flatter me—had also said it suited me. I had thought it was fine, but…

So, it really didn’t suit me after all…?

Did everyone else think the same thing?

A wave of embarrassment washed over me.

What should I do…? Even if they leave, how am I supposed to return to the salon after hearing all this?

“—This is unbearable to listen to.”

As I stood there hesitating, a deep, smooth, yet sharply authoritative voice rang out.

I gasped, my eyes widening.

That voice…!

“Is there anything more disgraceful than mocking and degrading others like this?”

“L-Lord Siegvard…!”

The young noblemen’s voices were filled with panic.

Peeking cautiously from behind the corner, I spotted him.

There he was—Lord Siegvard, striding slowly toward them.

“W-Why are you here…?”

“You weren’t attending the salon…!”

“…I am here at the request of Duke Smaragd. Is that a problem?”

Lord Siegvard halted, fixing one of the young men with a piercing glare.

“Are you saying that just because I did not attend the salon, I have no right to correct your rudeness and lack of decorum?”

“…N-No, not at all…!”

Just one sharp look from him was enough to make them tremble, hastily bowing their heads.

“O-Our sincerest apologies… Lord Siegvard…”

“…You are apologizing to the wrong person, are you not?”

His voice was ice-cold, entirely unmoved by their hollow apologies.

“That… um…”

“But I suppose it would be equally distasteful to force Lady Kishtaria to listen to such contemptible remarks. Very well. Say nothing more, conduct yourselves properly, and from now on, do not approach her again.”

“…W-Wait, that’s…!”

One of the young noblemen—the one who had mocked my dress—gritted his teeth, his expression twisting with frustration.

Lord Siegvard turned his frigid gaze upon him.

“What’s the matter? Do you have an objection? Or could it be… that despite claiming she is nothing more than a pretentious woman using knowledge as a tool to seduce men, you are the one who cannot let go of your attachment to her?”

“…! Th-That’s not what I meant…!”

The nobleman clenched his jaw but, realizing he was outmatched, finally closed his eyes in resignation.

“…I understand.”

“Good. You should return to the salon now. Oh, and one more thing—”

Lord Siegvard swept his gaze across the group, a smirk of utter disdain tugging at his lips.

“I’ll also overlook your insults toward Duchess Smaragd. But I advise you to watch your tongues. You wouldn’t want the Duke of Smaragd challenging you to a duel, would you?”

“…! N-No, of course not…!”

The noblemen blanched, then scrambled away, practically tripping over themselves as they rushed back into the salon.

Ah… now that Lord Siegvard has handled things, I can finally return.

Just as I let out a sigh of relief—

He turned his gaze directly toward me.

Our eyes met—perfectly.

Flustered, I hastily ducked behind the corner.