How I Swapped Places with the Villainess, Beat Up Her Fiancé, and Found True Love Vol.2, page 14
Wait, didn’t Damiana claim to have turned down numerous proposals? Guess that was a lie.
Damiana glowered at Julietta, ignoring me. Yeah, that pretty much substantiated my hypothesis. Huffing, Damiana turned away from us and approached Embert. “Would you like to have tea at my manor, Prince Embert?” she asked in a saccharine voice, attempting to wrap her arm around his.
However, Embert slipped away from her advance. “Princess Julietta,” he said while still looking at Damiana impassively. “What did your cousin say about Ally?”
Julietta looked grateful for the opportunity to speak. “All right,” she said, fists clenched and brimming with anger. “Here’s every word of Damiana’s nonsense: ‘Regardless of what others might call her, Lady Alexandra isn’t very powerful, is she? I mean, what kind of holy woman is only capable of summoning such a tiny dragon? Oh, and what’s with that disgusting slime she carries on her shoulder? In the end, both of them are just monsters. Is she a witch rather than a holy woman, perhaps? If so, Prince Embert must be under her bewitchment. A woman like her isn’t worthy of such a fine man.’ And that about sums it up…”
Tears filled Julietta’s eyes as she recounted Damiana’s words. It was touching to see her get so angry on my behalf. I had a truly wonderful friend.
I wrapped my arms around her while she trembled. “Thank you for caring so much about me,” I said, rubbing her back consolingly. “I love you, Julie.”
Julietta hugged me back, crying even harder. “I hate being related to her. It’s so frustrating…”
S-So cute, I thought while tightening my embrace. After jumping on my head, Squishy extended part of himself like a tendril to pat Julietta’s head. All the while, Damiana glared at us disdainfully.
“Lady Damiana,” Embert said.
Damiana looked up at him with sparkling brown eyes. Hearing her name called, rather than mine or Julie’s, delighted her.
Her eyes are the same color as Julie’s, I thought. So why aren’t they the least bit cute?
“You seem to have been looking for me,” Embert continued. His expression was still as impassive as ever. At the same time, a foreboding sweetness emanated from his gentle voice.
However, Damiana seemed oblivious to this chilling contrast. “That’s right,” she said while beaming up at Embert. “I came to invite you for tea at my manor. Why don’t we leave together now?” When Embert remained silent, not responding to her invitation, Damiana continued, “You must have gone mad while under that woman’s spell, Prince Embert. You don’t truly love her, do you? After all, you’ve loved me for these past three years. Isn’t it suffocating being forced into an engagement with someone pretending to be a holy woman? Don’t worry—I’ll heal you of her bewitchment. So, shall we leave her behind and go to my manor? I’ll lead the way.”
For some reason, Embert was holding Custode in his arms. Although both radiated hostility, Damiana didn’t notice this as she blathered on haughtily.
Welp, this looks like the end for Damiana. Not my problem, though.
I observed Embert and Custode while still hugging Julietta. Neither of them seemed likely to stop even if I intervened. Besides, that idiot woman had made Julietta cry. What did I care?
Embert donned his most sinister smile yet. “Let’s take a walk outside, shall we?” he asked, radiating a terrifying aura.
Damiana giggled. “Just what I wanted to hear.”
How had she not noticed Embert’s terrifying aura? Even worse, she tried to wrap her arm around Embert’s with a jubilant expression. Right before she made contact, however, Custode growled at her.
“Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like you’ll be able to escort me,” Embert said. “My dragon is in something of a foul mood. Forgive me, but let’s proceed as we are.”
After regarding Custode like he was vile, Damiana turned her doe eyes on Embert. “Perhaps you should leave the dragon with that woman, Prince Embert.”
Custode growled again.
Likewise, Embert shook his head while still smiling wickedly. “Apparently, he doesn’t want to leave my arms. Oh, but don’t worry. I’ll hold onto him tightly so that he doesn’t escape.”
Realizing she couldn’t push the matter further, Damiana walked beside Embert. She turned back to me with a smug look on her face. “Well then, have a nice day,” she said with a titter.
As I watched her and Embert in silence, Julietta looked up at me with an anxious expression. “Are you okay with this, Ally?” she asked.
Is Julie some sort of Goddess? She’s cute even when she’s anxious.
“Yeah, it’s fine,” I responded with a sigh. “There’s no stopping Em now.”
“Huh?” Julietta asked with a puzzled expression.
She’s cute when she’s confused, too, I thought with a laugh.
I gave Julietta’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “Well then, want to go spy on them?” I asked.
I cast a concealment spell on Julietta. Afterward, we followed Embert and Damiana into the garden while maintaining a safe distance. Seeing Damiana speak to Embert excitedly filled me with mixed emotions. I felt uneasy, a little sympathetic, and a smidge of superiority.
Wow, that makes me sound terrible, I thought as we walked.
Eventually, Embert and Damiana stopped at the pond. Julietta and I hid behind a tree just close enough to hear the conversation. In all likelihood, Embert had noticed us following him. Thus, he’d chosen a place where we could find cover.
When Embert came to a sudden halt, Damiana looked up at him. “What’s wrong?” she asked. “My manor is still a short way ahead.”
“Oh, I have no intention of visiting your manor,” Embert replied, his wicked smile still not faltering.
The temperature dropped by several degrees. Embert radiated a chilling aura, his tone equally frigid. Julietta and I shivered at the cold. Despite our distance, I noticed Damiana’s cheeks twitch. Even she had picked up on the change in atmosphere.
“Oh?” she asked. “Wh-What’s going on, Prince Embert?”
When Embert didn’t respond, silence fell over the area. As I continued watching him and Damiana, rubbing my arms to stay warm, Embert finally spoke.
“You didn’t get very good grades in school, did you?” he asked.
That unexpected question caused Damiana to gape. Of course, Julietta and I were just as dumbfounded.
“The entire way here, I pondered how to get through that thick skull of yours,” Embert said.
Julietta and I burst out laughing. However, we immediately covered our mouths to stifle the sound. Fortunately, Damiana gave no indication of having heard us.
“Yet no matter how much I thought, I couldn’t come up with a solution,” Embert continued. “For now, I’ll be straightforward, but know this: If you still fail to understand, I may have to resort to using force.”
Tears filled Julietta’s eyes as she shook with suppressed laughter. Meanwhile, Damiana regarded Embert with a puzzled expression, still not grasping the situation.
“Prince Embert?” she asked, sounding genuinely confused.
With a soft sight, Embert turned his gaze from Damiana to me. “Allow me to speak briefly about my past,” he said. “As a child, I faced numerous assassination attempts. My father is a rather wise king. Oftentimes, avaricious nobles view wise kings as a hindrance. However, my father had the most powerful man in Gandolfin as his personal retainer. As a result, the assassins targeted me—a child—instead. After the birth of my younger brother, the attempts on my life continued, albeit less frequently. The masterminds probably intended to kill me and install my young brother as their puppet king. Well, thanks to those experiences, I grew strong enough to protect myself. Yet, at the same time, I lost the ability to trust other people. When Janus became my personal retainer, I no longer had to fear for my life. Even so, I didn’t regain the ability to trust others. I only trusted Janus and my family. When speaking to anyone else, I always wore a false smile.”
Embert’s eyes grew distant as he reflected on the past, his expression somewhat melancholy. A moment later, however, a gentle smile appeared on his lips.
“Around that time, an adorable angel appeared before me,” he continued. “After taming a rampaging magic horse, she enchanted me with her lovely smile. Despite being a highborn lady, she laughs, gets angry, and even blushes without putting on airs. Her ever-shifting expressiveness stole my heart. Because of her influence, I regained the ability to smile genuinely. Ever since then, she’s been my most precious treasure.”
While Damiana gaped at Embert, my face began to boil. Even Julietta placed her hands on her cheeks, her face just as red as mine. I thanked my lucky stars Cia wasn’t here. If Embert’s monologue had reached her ears, she would have teased me relentlessly. In any case, I fanned myself with a hand in an attempt to cool off. At the same time, Damiana wore a somewhat irritated expression, still not understanding Embert’s words.
“What are you talking about?” she asked.
Well, what else did I expect from her?
However, Embert continued his monologue, uninterested in answering her directly. “Over time, my newfound treasure lit a fire in my soul. Before long, my tender affection transformed into a love that verged on madness. I will do anything for her. I will eliminate anything that harms her. Likewise, I will protect everything she loves. These are my innermost feelings. In other words, anyone who speaks ill of her is my enemy. It’s my duty to eliminate any such person.”
Despite everything Embert had said, Damiana still looked puzzled. In response, Embert’s lips twisted into a sinister smile.
“Therefore, you are my enemy, Lady Damiana,” he said decisively.
Damiana cocked her head, still utterly clueless. “Your enemy?” she mumbled.
No matter what you say, she’s never going to understand, I thought.
Nevertheless, Embert continued, “You’ve spoken ill of my beloved Ally, Lady Damiana. You’ve called her a witch and accused her of bewitching me. Another woman who attempted to torment Ally said similar things. That alone is punishable by death. Do you really think Ally lacks strength as a holy woman? Do you really think this dragon is a mere hatchling?”
Custode extricated himself from Embert’s arms, spread his wings, and hovered in front of Damiana’s face.
“I considered this foolish girl’s prattling beneath my notice,” the dragon said. “However, your mockery of Ally changes matters. Behold me with those filthy eyes and decide if I truly am a mere hatchling.”
Custode exploded in size. Within moments, he was large enough to cover the entire pond. Overcome with shock, Damiana fell onto her backside.
“This is my true form,” Custode said. “I would reduce your manor to smithereens simply by flying over it.”
As Custode roared with laughter, the blood drained from Damiana’s face.
All right, this has gone a little too far, I thought before dispelling my concealment.
“Custode, that’s enough,” I said, walking over to him.
“Couldn’t you have waited a little longer to spoil the fun?” he asked.
Of course, Custode had been aware of my presence since the beginning. In any case, he returned to his smaller size and settled into my arms.
Conversely, Embert didn’t cease his attack. After crouching down next to Damiana, he whispered something in her ear. From where I stood, I couldn’t hear his words. Based on his sinister grin, however, he was definitely threatening her. When her face turned from pale to ashen, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. As I debated whether to intervene on her behalf, Embert finished and joined my side. Meanwhile, a handmaid raced over to Damiana, who still couldn’t stand.
“What the heck did you say to her, Em?” I asked. “She’s as white as a ghost.”
On top of her deathly pale complexion, she was also shaking like a leaf. While Custode’s explosive growth had contributed to that, Embert had delivered the finishing blow. When I glared at him for taking things too far, he kissed my cheek, not showing the slightest remorse.
“I simply explained to her how wonderful my treasure is,” he responded with a chuckle.
Liar. You definitely said something else.
Even so, I didn’t expect him to tell me. Judging from her appearance, Damiana probably wouldn’t talk smack about me anymore. In fact, she seemed too terrified to ever say my name again. Although I felt somewhat sorry for her, Embert wouldn’t harm her further if she left me alone.
To my surprise, Julietta looked satisfied. Does she get along that poorly with Damiana? I wondered, taking her hand again. As we walked back to the castle together, Embert trailed behind us in high spirits. I couldn’t help but laugh at him.
🦊 🦊 🦊
☆☆ Embert’s Point of View☆☆
HOW can I get through to this woman? I pondered while walking beside Damiana. Honestly, I doubt that words alone will be sufficient, I finally concluded.
“I could just burn her to a crisp,” Custode said telepathically, still nestled in my arms. His thoughts were even more extreme than my own.
“If possible, I would love to do the same thing,” I replied telepathically. “Unfortunately, she belongs to the royal family of a friendly nation. That complicates matters.”
Custode snorted. “Well, does this area work for you?”
“Yes, I believe so.”
If we kept walking, the little birds following us wouldn’t have a place to hide. Thus, I stopped and began discussing my past. I spoke to Ally rather than Damiana. Originally, I hadn’t intended to share my tragic past with Ally. Nevertheless, I wanted her to know everything about me. No, that wasn’t quite right. Of course, part of me wanted her to know my past. At the same time, her concern over the attempts on Giusto’s life irritated me. As such, I spoke out of petty jealousy, hoping to convey how much I had suffered as well.
I’m truly helpless when it comes to Ally, aren’t I?
Despite my self-mockery, proclaiming my love for Ally gave me great satisfaction. I could see her flushing bright red even from this distance. While suppressing a smirk, I crouched next to Damiana, who’d fallen on her backside. For one moment, her expression brightened, as she probably expected me to help her up.
“See now?” I whispered in her ear. “My Ally can tame a full-sized divine beast with just a few words. Remarkable, isn’t she? Someone like you could never hope to compete with her. If you ever speak ill of her again, I’ll punish you myself. Frankly, I would prefer to cut you down here and now. I’m only restraining myself because you belong to the royal family of a friendly nation. Oh, and keep this in mind: I show no mercy to my enemies, regardless of whether they’re women.”
Damiana seemed to understand my words this time. The shock of seeing Custode’s true size had caused the blood to drain from her face. Now, she was as white as a ghost, her entire body trembling. Chuckling, I walked over to Ally, who was glowering at me.
She’s cute even when she’s angry.
When I reached Ally, she immediately scolded me. Even so, I couldn’t help but smile and kiss her on the cheek.
“Honestly,” she complained.
That said, she didn’t pursue the matter any further. After taking Julietta’s hand, she began walking back to the castle. That, too, was such an adorable sight that I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face.
🦊 🦊 🦊
☆☆ Alexandra’s Point of View☆☆
“CAN’T sleep,” I grumbled.
The moon shone with a pale glow high in the night sky. Despite the late hour, I was too excited to feel the least bit tired. At dinner, my friends and I had discussed our plans to explore the city during tomorrow’s Founding Festival.
You’re acting like a child the night before a field trip, I chastised myself.
That didn’t help me feel any more tired. Thus, I gave up on sleep and went for a short walk. Custode and Squishy were sleeping like logs in my bed. Not wanting to disturb them, I slipped out of bed as quietly as possible. However, if anything were to happen, I knew they would come to my aid immediately.
I loved summer nights. A cool breeze occasionally swept past me, unlike during the day. Faint lights illuminated the maze in the distance. Unconsciously, I found myself drawn to its somewhat eerie yet mysterious ambiance. The trees surrounding the maze were as tall as me with my hand raised straight up. Despite the moonlight filtering through the leaves, it was still dim.
Um, yeah, this is actually kind of scary.
Even so, my feet kept moving forward. Since I’d completed the maze before, I reached the goal without getting lost.
“Wow,” I mumbled upon seeing the gentle illumination.
Many small, spherical lights were wrapped around the gazebo’s roof. That must have been done for the Founding Festival, as I hadn’t seen them before.
“It’s like Christmas,” I said with a laugh. I stared at the lights in silence for a short while, feeling somewhat nostalgic. Christmas didn’t exist in this world, after all.
Suddenly, I recalled Embert’s story from this afternoon. I hadn’t known assassins had targeted him throughout his childhood. As a result, he’d lost the ability to trust other people. Despite facing such terrifying experiences from a young age, he continued to fulfill his princely responsibilities. He must have suffered a great deal back then, but even so, he’d grown into an upstanding crown prince.
“Em really is incredible,” I muttered to myself.
Reincarnating and swapping places with Alexandra seemed trivial by comparison. Em is always the one to embrace me, but if he were here right now, I would console him in my arms.
As I marveled at the beautiful lights, a familiar voice reached my ears.
“Found you.”
A gorgeous man stood in front of me, his silver hair glowing palely in the moonlight.
“Em,” I replied.
“Yes indeed,” he responded cheerfully, sitting down beside me. “What a beautiful sight.”
