Villainesses Have More Fun

Chapter 4

I waved my hands around. Her hands moved in time with mine. I leaned into the mirror. She moved in unison and stared back at me.

Ms. Goddess! Why do you keep copying me? As I pieced together her face, I was reminded of the villainess from the novel I’d been reading the night before. She had violet eyes and long black hair, and she was hailed as one of the great beauties of this world. Her physical description matched the goddess I was looking at.

I laughed incredulously.

Is this the so-called “trapped in another world” trope? How could this be happening? I tried to make sense of the situation as the lady in the mirror faked a grin. I get it. This is a lucid dream. I became so invested in the story that I’m dreaming about it.

“Are you awake, my lady?” A maid opened the door and walked into the room. I normally would have kicked my feet around to wake myself up, but I decided not to. Why should I when I can live the extravagant life of a villainess born with a silver spoon?

I’m going to thoroughly enjoy this dream until I wake up! What should I start with? First, I’ll leave the two lead characters behind and get my own happily ever after. The female lead hadn’t raised an eyebrow until Reilynn got involved, so I’ll let her fall in love with the crown prince while I spend all the money I can get my hands on.

“I’m glad to see you’ve risen already, my lady. I came to wake you up early for Count Auswen’s party today,” Becky, the maid, said.

“Never mind, I’m screwed,” I muttered.

Becky gave me a strange look. Here I was grumbling to myself while clutching a mirror.

I’m so screwed. This is a disaster. Why did my dream have to begin after Reilynn had already tormented the female lead? Is it my job to clean up the mess she’s made? I had only flipped through the passages with Reilynn in them, but for some reason, I actually remembered this particular scene. On this day, Reilynn had grabbed Iris by the hair at a party hosted by Count Auswen’s wife. Why did she do that again?

“It’s time for your ablutions, my lady,” Becky said. She pulled me into the washroom as I struggled to remember the reason.

Was it because their dresses had been too similar in color? No, that had happened before this party. Was it because she’d discovered the crown prince’s secret love affair? No, when that happened, Reilynn had slapped Iris.

Wait, I remember something. At the party, Reilynn had called Iris a gold digger and a tramp. Tell me, Reilynn. Why would you have said something like that? You’d just been looking for a fight, hadn’t you? Iris won’t bother me if I keep to myself today, will she? All I want to do is blend into the background and treat myself to whatever money can buy in this world. But don’t worry, Reilynn. I won’t even make a dent. You’re a billionaire, remember?

The maids scrubbed my body clean before lathering me in a sweet-smelling lotion. The massage was relaxing. It was strange to have someone else wash and massage me while I was totally naked, but when else could I indulge in such luxury?

I must enjoy it while it lasts. Is this how the other half lives? I’m prepared to be dazzled by the lifestyles of the rich and famous.

“Pretty...” I whispered as I admired Reilynn’s beauty in the mirror.

“Of course, you are, my lady,” Becky answered with a smile. “You’re the most precious jewel in all of high society.”

Well, you certainly know how to flatter someone. After dressing, the maids led me to the manor’s main entrance. A horse-drawn carriage was waiting for me. I couldn’t stop smiling as I walked through the manor.

Every sight—the paintings on the walls, the statues in the corridors—screamed wealth and elegance. Even I, who knew nothing about art, could tell they were priceless antiques. As we reached the carriage, my jaw dropped in surprise. It was drawn by four white horses and was nothing like what I had envisioned.

The passenger compartment was spherical and adorned with intricate patterns. I was overwhelmed with excitement when the coachman helped me into the carriage, but the excitement vanished as soon as we started moving. The carriage bumped and rocked around on the uneven dirt road, making for an incredibly unpleasant trip.

I feel nauseated. Are we there yet? It’s all right. It’s almost over. I absolutely refuse to pass out until I’ve had a good look around the banquet hall. I’ll check out the handsome suitors and flirt with the most attractive ones. Now that I have a beautiful face and a fancy gown, it wouldn’t be wrong to indulge in a one-night stand, right? This is all just a dream, anyway.

We arrived not long after we departed. I guess Count Auswen’s estate can’t be far from the villainess’s. A maid escorted me to the banquet hall. I strode in confidently as they announced my arrival. Everyone turned to look at me. A few people clicked their tongues and averted their eyes, while others stared at me like I was a zoo animal. Then a group of young ladies approached me.

“Lady Reilynn, you’re here! We were worried when you didn’t show up to Marquess Morens’ birthday celebration the other day,” one of them said.

“We heard you were ill. Are you all right now?”

“Don’t overwork yourself.”

I quickly recognized them as Reilynn’s followers, the ones who despised her yet stayed by her side to benefit from her family’s power. It was clear what they were up to. They claimed to be worried, but none of them had come to visit Reilynn. They were only trying to persuade her to leave the party.

“I feel fine now. Thank you for caring,” I said, smiling.

They returned my smile, which left a bad taste in my mouth. If they wanted to take advantage of Reilynn’s wealth, they should have learned to conceal their true intentions better. They were still wet behind the ears, but they’d learn.

Oh, Reilynn. You should have taken more care with your followers. A young woman suddenly pushed her way through the crowd. She was wearing an ivory dress with gold beading and had long, wavy pink hair. I immediately knew who she was. If this dream’s setting is the web novel I was reading, there can only be one person with pink hair.

“It’s been a while, Lady Reilynn,” she said.

It’s usually the villainess who approaches the female lead first. Why have the roles been reversed? Did this happen in the novel? I tried to recall what I had read, but nothing came to mind. Well, damn. I shouldn’t have skimmed the story.

“I see you won’t even return my greeting,” she continued.

I looked at the petite girl in front of me. Her cheeks were flushed like her pink hair. She frowned prettily as if my refusal to greet her had hurt her feelings. I found myself feeling guilty, even though I hadn’t done anything wrong. It was infuriating.

“I knew you wouldn’t want me to speak to you,” she said demurely. “But I took the liberty of approaching you because I felt I owed you a response to the question you posed.”

Oh, now I remember why Reilynn grabbed the female lead by the hair.

“So, how do you find my dress today, Lady Reilynn? Still detestable?”

I get it now. This girl came over to boast about her dress. At a previous tea party, Reilynn had asked her, “Is that the only gown your poor viscount family can afford? It’s even worse than my night dress. Well, I guess you can’t help it.”

Meanwhile, Reilynn had been dressed in a diamond-encrusted gown. Reilynn is incredible. To think she’d get so dressed up for a tea party. She really is loaded.

Mielle, one of Reilynn’s followers, had hosted the tea party. When she’d heard Reilynn’s remark, she’d immediately jumped in and said, “I’m afraid I can’t allow you to join our tea party in that dress, Ms. Iris.” The tea party had been planned to humiliate Iris and they had succeeded.

After that, Iris had sat beside the fountain in the public square, letting her tears join the water in the basin as sobs wracked her body. But one of the many male leads had come to the rescue. He’d gone to a famous atelier that tailored gowns for dukes and marquesses and asked—or rather threatened—her for a gown, which he’d gifted to Iris.

“This time, don’t put yourself down,” he’d told her. “Put that wench down instead.”

“Lady Reilynn?” Iris asked, interrupting my thoughts.

What should I do? I understand why Iris wants vengeance on Reilynn, but why should I be the one punished? Please, just let me live my life!

“It looks nice,” I finally spoke up.

“Pardon?” Iris tilted her head as if she had misheard something.

I don’t have time for this. I’m not going to fight you when I’m just about to start having fun.