I Failed to Oust the Villain!
Chapter 10

Reinhart’s cold, impassive face quirked into a smile. “It’s been a long time, master.”

“Hmm, yes...” Valeta said, averting her gaze. She closed the door behind her and started walking away. Reinhart, apparently having no intention of entering the office, started following her. “Didn’t you have something to do?”

“Yes, I think so,” he said.

“Oh, I see...” Valeta didn’t understand. He either had something to do, or he didn’t. What did he mean by that? She glanced at him with narrowed eyes, then returned to the second floor.

“Master.”

“I’m not your master anymore.”

Please, just forget about me, Valeta thought. She knew that everyone in this household would be murdered because of the way they mistreated Reinhart. However, she thought that was a little unfair. No, she thought it was really unfair. She did her best to give the boy his freedom. She’d even put the marble in his hand and had given him the directions so that he could get out. Not just the directions. I even gave him a map because I knew the roads would be difficult to navigate.

But Reinhart was the one who refused her help. For an entire year, she’d gone as far as to treat him kindly in an attempt to win his favor. But eventually, she’d given up. No matter what she did, his cold gaze and feigned smile never changed.

That was when she resorted to begging her father to get rid of him. Of course, all those plans were shattered, the pieces all over the floor like scattered garbage.

“I feel like you hate me, master.”

“Not particularly.”

If she was being honest, she would have gladly given up an arm and a leg for him—had she not known anything else about him. It was not that Valeta inherently despised good-looking people, but rather the fact that she had a thing for people with soft smiles.

“Why is that?”

Reinhart’s voice came from directly behind Valeta, bent at the waist and whispering into her ear. He was standing slightly too close for comfort. She swallowed hard.

When did he get so big? Valeta was caught off guard. Ever since she started distancing herself from Reinhart, she rarely had the chance to be this close to him.

“I’ve never done anything to you, master.”

Although he called her “master,” the tone of his voice suggested that he considered her no more important than a speck of dirt. Reinhart’s hand started brushing along the nape of Valeta’s neck. She stiffened, his touch sending chills down her spine.

“No matter how hard I tried to win your affection, you always push me away.”

The voice that was so close to her ear now sounded far away. As Valeta slowly turned around, Reinhart looked down at her, his usual smile plastered on his face as if he hadn’t just invaded her personal space.

“I’m sorry. There was some dust on your neck, so I took the liberty of removing it for you. Now, I must attend to my master.”

“Oh… I see,” Valeta said as she covered her neck with her hand.

Reinhart gave her a quick bow before descending the stairs again. She leaned against the wall and bent her head. I think I’m going crazy.

* * *

“One, two, three! One, two, three! Excellent. That was very well done, Lady Valeta.”

“Thank you,” said Valeta. She bowed to Lady Joshua as the dance lesson came to a close.

It had been another boring session. As the wedding date grew closer, Valeta’s etiquette lessons were becoming more frequent and rigorous. She was set to marry the prince three months after her birthday, but she didn’t see why her lessons had to be scheduled back-to-back, hardly giving her any time to breathe.

She would rather have gone back to her senior year of high school in her previous life when she had had to study for her college entrance exams. These days, since she was to marry the crown prince, Valeta’s number of social engagements had increased. There were many gifts to receive, tea invitations to accept, and even more meetings with the crown prince.

Despite her initial reluctance, Valeta found that the prince wasn’t arrogant or unkind. But that didn’t mean she had started developing feelings for him. Instead, she just thought of him as a decent person. She was, however, still incredibly skeptical of this arranged marriage.

“Lady Joshua,” Valeta said.

“Yes, my lady?”

“Do you know what the date is by any chance?”

“Since it was your birthday a week ago, today must be December 22.”

Valeta nodded nervously at Lady Joshua’s response. Her birthday really had passed, and the massacre that was supposed to take place on her birthday had never happened.

In disbelief that it had passed so uneventfully, she’d started asking people every chance she got for the date. She must have looked like a mad person. But the answer she received was always the same. Her birthday had indeed passed, and since it was her birthday, a grand party had been thrown at the imperial castle.

It was only natural as she was to become the next crown princess, but also because she would be the first noble alchemist. Of course, she’d been forced to turn herbs into potions as a party trick, as though she were a dolphin performing in an aquarium. Honestly, she didn’t know who the party was really for. She was utterly miserable, but what could she do? It was what Count Delight wanted. And until she was out of his reach, it was more beneficial for her to keep following his orders. She didn’t want to be starved or hung upside down, not at this age.

“Until next week, my lady,” Lady Joshua said, snapping Valeta out of her thoughts.

“Oh, yes. Thank you for today’s lesson.”

“Not at all. You’ve always been so refined, my lady. It makes me want to devote myself to bettering myself. It’s like you were meant to be the crown princess,” Lady Joshua trilled.

Valeta gave an awkward smile at the older woman’s praise. All of her instructors were first-rate and, at the same time, members of high society. Naturally, they were eager to make connections with Valeta.

A few of her instructors had already become prominent figures in high society just by having a hand in her education. Although they didn’t make it obvious, it was clear that they wanted to hear some news about the crown prince.

“Thank you for your kind words. This is my last lesson for today, so I’m afraid I will turn in for the day now.”

“Oh, dear! I’ve kept you for too long. I’ll be going now.”

“Yes. Until next time, Lady Joshua.”

After bidding her goodbyes to Lady Joshua—lengthy only for the sake of formality—she let out a long sigh. She slowly made her way to the second floor, accompanied by a maid who was puzzled by Valeta’s dawdling. Once in her room, she washed up and changed into more comfortable clothes.

After changing, she was unable to leave her room. She didn’t want to risk running into Count Delight and being scolded for it. That was also why she always took her meals in her room.

“My lady, will you be having dinner in your room again?”

“Yes, please bring my meal to me.”

“Yes, my lady.”

The maid bowed. As she turned to leave, Valeta suddenly opened her mouth again.

“Um...”

“Yes, my lady?”

“What has that slave been doing these days?”

“That slave?” The maid blinked once before saying, “Oh.” She cocked her head. “Are you... talking about Reinhart?”

“That’s right. How do you know his name?”

“We weren’t fond of him at first, but we learned that he’s a sweet-tempered lad. Most of the maids like him now. Of course, I can’t say the same for all the attendants.”

Valeta nodded slowly while listening to the maid. It was good to hear that Reinhart was doing well, but hadn’t his powers awakened by now? What was he still doing here? Why hasn’t he left for the tower?

“He’s been serving the count, cleaning the stables, and doing other chores around the mansion,” the maid continued.

“Really?”

“Yes, but, well...” the maid faltered. “It seems... that the count has been mistreating Reinhart recently.”

Valeta, who was still nodding along, suddenly froze. She forced herself to turn her stiff neck. Who’s mistreating who? Is he crazy? “What do you mean by that?”

“Well...” The maid hesitated. “Um, it seems that count tried to force him to do something... sexual, but Reinhart refused, so...” She trailed off, her voice growing smaller.

Something sexual? That crazy b*stard! To whom? The madman? So why didn’t he just run away?!

“I saw him not that long ago,” the maid said quietly. “His cheeks were swollen like he had been beaten.”

“When was that?”

“I think it was the day before your birthday, my lady.”

Valeta was shocked. Thoughts raced through her mind. This damned house. I need to run away. No. How do I do that? No. Why is he still here, enduring such torture?

Did that mean the Delight Manor Massacre wasn’t going to happen? Did the story change? Or did Reinhart have a change of heart?

Valeta’s head was spinning, but she couldn’t come up with any answers.

“I’ll have your meal ready for you.”

“Mmm, thank you.”

After the maid left, the girl threw her hands up into the air. Valeta plopped down on the bed and muttered to herself.

“My birthday... did pass, right?”