The Villainess Wants to Indulge in 'Moe' to Her Heart's Content! - Episode 2.5

Rashid scowled as if to say he was thoroughly displeased.

“…Nox’s loyalty is just as strong as Asim’s. That’s exactly why he disappears.”

Selva chuckled at Rashid’s indignation, gesturing toward Asim, who stood by the door.

“When danger approaches his master, Asim stands as a shield, throwing himself forward to protect him.”

“That’s right! That’s what an attendant should do!”

“But Nox—he is my sword. He eliminates threats before they reach me. And he does so without my knowledge.”

“…!”

The words took Rashid by surprise. He inhaled sharply.

Letizia, too, widened her eyes as she stared at Selva.

She recognized this conversation.

“If it’s for my sake, he will gladly live as a shadowed assassin. That’s who Nox is. So it’s fine. When he disappears, I know he’s working for my benefit.”

This was the very scene—the very conversation—that served as the foundation for the protagonist’s encounter with Nox, one of the romanceable targets from Vetel.

It was happening just as it did in the game.

The only problem—the protagonist wasn’t here.

Instead, Letizia was.

“…Ah…”

A wave of cold washed over her, draining the bl00d from her face. Letizia raised a trembling hand to cover her mouth.

(No… This is bad. This is really, really bad… isn’t it?)

The conversation that was supposed to set up the protagonist’s first meeting with a romance target had taken place without her presence.

Given the nature of the discussion, it was unlikely that Selva and Rashid would have the exact same conversation again in front of the protagonist.

Which meant—had she just erased the opportunity for the protagonist to meet one of her key love interests?

“Shut up! Stay out of this! And why are you even here?! It’s because of you that nothing is going right! Just go away!”

Marina’s furious words from yesterday echoed in her mind.

Letizia swallowed hard.

She had assumed Marina’s outburst was mere frustration, but…

Had she, without even realizing it, actually interfered with the protagonist’s journey?

If that were the case, then Marina’s overreaction made perfect sense.

And so did her growing hostility toward Letizia.

(Could it be that… I’ve actually been fulfilling my role as the villainess perfectly all along?)

Without even meaning to… was she steadily, inevitably walking the path to her own ruin?