I Became the Absolute Hidden Villainess Princess of the Academy

“…Ahem. The weather’s nice.”

I didn’t know why Louis suddenly turned his gaze away, but it probably wasn’t important.

Feeling pleased, I beamed.

“Anyway, that means we’ll be taking classes together from now on!”

“It seems so, Princess.”

“Yeah.”

“Then… as a friend who will be with us at the Academy from now on, I have a question!”

“…Huh?”

And with that smile still on my face…

—I hit the core question.

“Irene, why did you come to the Academy?”

‘Of course, I already know the answer, though.’

I asked Irene why she came to the Academy.

As a devoted reader of the original story, I already knew the answer. But I still wanted to hear it directly from her.

Of course, I couldn’t reveal that she was a witch just yet.

However, with my unique ability to win the favor of others, I was sure she’d tell me her true reason.

My confidence proved correct.

— Ding!

[Irene’s favorability has been adjusted.] 

[Current favorability: 50 (+5)] 

[Due to favorability effects, the likelihood of earning the other’s goodwill is ‘moderately’ increased.]

“…Because I want to live.”

‘As expected. It’s just like in the original.’

Irene — the final witch who, if unsealed, could destroy the world.

Her only wish, as the most infamous and fearsome witch, was…

To live an ordinary life.

That’s why I couldn’t help but support her. 

Her small yet earnest wish was so sincere that I felt compelled to root for her.

With that in mind, I rubbed my cheek against her arm a little more.

— Squish, squish.

“Yeah! That’s a good reason!”

“Huh? Aren’t you going to ask for more details? Like my situation or anything?”

“Why would I? That’s reason enough. Yep!”

“……”

These were words I had always wanted to tell her when I read the original story.

Hearing them, Irene’s eyes widened briefly, as if she hadn’t expected to hear such words.

Soon after…

— Ding!

[Irene’s favorability has been adjusted. Current favorability: 60 (+10)]

— Thud. Pat, pat.

“…Princess, you’re really a kind person.”

Irene began patting my head.

With favorability at 60, I had officially reached the ‘friend’ level.

Smiling brightly, I rubbed my cheek against her arm once more.

“Hehe. I don’t do this for just anyone, you know? My cheeks are soft and warm, and my sisters are always praising them!”

“Pfft. That’s not what I meant, but okay.”

The mood grew warm and pleasant in an instant.

Beneath that warmth, Irene’s gaze shifted to Louis, who had been turning his head away since earlier.

— Stare.

“…Anyway, for that reason, I’m going to do my best from now on.”

Her gaze at Louis’s side profile held a hint of determination.

‘Oho, what’s this?! What’s with these two?!’

“Yeah! I’ll cheer for you all the way!!”

I didn’t bother asking Louis why he came to the Academy.

After all, he’s like a chick following its mother hen — if I’m going, he’s coming too.

As a result, the final gaze of the two turned toward me.

Why did the Third Princess come to the Academy?

Why did the Imperial Family’s cherished youngest daughter come to a sweaty place like this?

To that question, I replied playfully.

— For world peace.

Of course, they both laughed, calling it nonsense.

— Thump, thump.

“It wasn’t a joke, though.”

That night, I snuck out of the Academy alone, muttering quietly to myself.

“It wasn’t a joke. That was my true intention.”

My breath turned white in the cold night air.

Then…

I slowly released a spell.

It was a perception-disrupting spell that prevented anyone from noticing me as I left the Academy, where leaving was strictly prohibited.

The fact that the spell had been fully released became immediately apparent.

— Thud.

“…Lady Esti♡”

A woman appeared before me, bowing deeply, as if she’d been watching me the entire time.

She quickly slipped her hands under my arms and lifted me up.

I didn’t bother resisting.

If the Imperial Family is my backer as a princess…

Then she is my support as a hidden villainess.

She’s my loyal servant and a contracted ally.

— Dangling.

“Crow. It’s been a while.”

“Ah, it’s been far too long… Ahem. Everyone’s been waiting for you, Lady Esti, so I’ll take you there immediately♡”

— Flash!!!

After that, she leaped forward with almost instantaneous movement.

To the depths of the empire’s underworld — the darkest, most hidden place.

She finally set me down inside an abandoned cathedral in front of an opulent throne.

— Swish. Plop.

“We’ve prepared refreshments in advance, so please take a seat♡”

“Mm. Thanks.”

Crow treated me like a holy relic as she sat me on the throne.

I picked up the drink next to me and crossed my legs leisurely.

Just like a true hidden villainess.

“I’ll remove your shoes for you♡”

— Swoosh.

“…Huh? Is that necessary?”

“Your soles are surely covered in dirt from the journey♡ I’ll clean them and return them to you, spotless♡”

“……”

‘Then why are you taking the socks too… Tsk. I guess that’s just how devoted servants are.’

For a moment, I was dumbfounded as Crow swiftly took my shoes and socks, but whatever.

Then I looked down.

Before me, a crowd of at least a thousand people were bowing low.

— Ahh, ahhh…!!

— Lady Saint, you’re as cute and beautiful as ever today!!

— Crow, you’re so unfair, keeping her to yourself!!

— Heh.

‘Truly, they never change.’

As always, they were going on about “Lady Saint” this and “divine beauty” that.

These people were my greatest force as a hidden villainess — the TS Brigade.

Seeing them after so long made me smile without realizing it… but that smile didn’t last long.

Taking a big, hearty sip of my sugar-replenishing milk tea, I raised my eyebrows to their peak.

“…How exactly have you all been doing your jobs?”

“L-Lady Esti…? Are you perhaps… angry…?”

“Do you have any idea how much Irene suffered because of you?!”

Thus began my scolding session for the sake of world peace.