I Am a Villain, So What?-Chapter 142: A Villain with rifle

"...what exactly is going on over there?" Celestia pointed a fork at Lucien. "Why is the Marigold Heiress trying to fuse with Cadet Ashborne?"

Kael sighed, rubbing his face.

"It’s a long story, Your Highness."

"I have time."

So, Kael recounted everything. The Shadow Stalkers. The ambush in the sewers. The explosion. The "Demon Summoner" incident.

As Celestia listened, her usually indifferent expression cracked. Her blue eyes widened.

"A Demon Summoning ritual... right in the Capital?" she whispered. "And you fought it?"

"We tried," Bordon admitted, scratching his cheek. "But honestly, Lucien did the heavy lifting."

Celestia turned her gaze to Mariella, who was shrinking into her seat.

"So," Celestia said softly. "The news in The Daily Aurelian... about you overloading a Magic Stone and causing the explosion... that was a lie?"

Mariella nodded, tears pricking her eyes.

"Y-Yes, Your Highness. We... we couldn’t let the public know about the demons. It would cause panic. The citizens would lose faith in the barrier. So... a false narrative was made."

"What about your family?" Celestia asked. "The Arlon Dukedom takes pride in their magical control. Taking the blame for such a reckless accident..."

"My father is furious," Mariella whispered, gripping her skirt. "My family has become a laughingstock in the noble circles. They say I’m incompetent. I... I’ve been grounded for a month, except for classes."

The table went silent. It was a heavy sacrifice for a young noblewoman.

Suddenly, Celestia stood up.

She faced Mariella and bowed her head slightly.

"Princess?!" Mariella gasped, flustered.

"As a Princess of this nation," Celestia said, her voice firm, "I show my gratitude. You placed the peace of the citizens above your own reputation and family interest. That is true nobility, Mariella Arlon."

"P-Please don’t do that, Your Highness!" Mariella waved her hands frantically, her face red. "I just... did what was necessary!"

Celestia smiled gently and sat back down. Then, her gaze shifted back to Lucien and Clara across the hall.

"Then what’s with Clara?" Celestia asked, her eyes narrowing. "Why is she sticking to him like a burr?"

"Well," Elisha spoke up, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Lucien saved her life when she thought she was going to die. She must see him as her Knight in Shining Armor. Or her Prince Charming on a dark horse."

Elisha stabbed her salad with unnecessary force.

"Whatever. She’s deluded."

Celestia chuckled softly, looking at Elisha.

"My, my. Why do you sound jealous, Elisha?"

"Hah?!"

Elisha slammed her fork down. Violet sparks flared around her.

"Who is jealous?! Me? Of that trash? Don’t make me laugh!"

She glared at Lucien, who was currently trying to peel Clara’s fingers off his blazer.

"I am just annoyed!" Elisha hissed. "That guy... he gets so much attention for doing the bare minimum. And he is a two-timing bastard! First he hooked up with Ariana, and now he’s got another girl to play with?"

Her eyes glowed with mana.

"Man... I really want to destroy his balls."

"...!"

"I should just shoot a [Fire Arrow] right at his crotch. Explosive tip."

Kael and Bordon unconsciously clamped their legs together. A phantom pain shot through their lower regions.

They looked at each other, communicating silently with their eyes.

’Women are scary, Kael.’

’Terrifying, Bordon. Absolutely terrifying.’

****

[After School - The Streets of the Capital]

"Lucien! Wait up!"

I walked faster.

"Lucien! Look at this dress in the window! Wouldn’t I look cute in it?"

I walked even faster.

"Lucien! Let’s get ice cream! My treat!"

My headache was evolving into a migraine.

Ariana was still MIA, presumably being lectured by Lena on the "virtues of a noble lady" and "proper communication protocols."

That meant I was defenseless.

Clara skipped alongside me, ignoring my cold shoulder. She was persistent.

"You know," she said, twirling a lock of pink hair. "I heard the Ashborne estate has a lovely garden. Can I see it?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because it’s private property."

"But I’m a guest! I’m the heiress of a Marquis!"

"You’re a stalker with a pedigree," I corrected.

We arrived at the gates of my mansion. I sighed in relief. Finally, sanctuary.

"Goodbye, Lady Clara."

I opened the gate and stepped inside.

"Wait!"

Clara slipped through the gap before the gate could close.

"I’m coming in!"

"Hey—!"

I turned to grab her, but the front door of the mansion opened.

Alicia stood there. She wasn’t wearing her usual welcoming smile. She was holding a broom, but the way she held it suggested she was ready to use it as a spear.

Her crimson eyes locked onto Clara instantly.

Tsk.

Alicia clicked her tongue loudly.

"Another pest," she muttered.

Clara froze. She looked at the silver-haired maid, sensing the overwhelming hostility radiating from her.

"Uh... hello?" Clara waved nervously. "I’m Clara. I’m Lucien’s friend!"

"Master has many ’friends’ these days," Alicia said coldly, stepping onto the porch. "It seems I need to invest in stronger pest control."

She looked at me.

"Master. Shall I dispose of it?"

"She’s a Marquis’s daughter, Alicia," I sighed, rubbing my temples. "We can’t dispose of her. Just... don’t let her inside."

"Understood."

Alicia stood in the doorway, blocking the entrance like the Gatekeeper of Hell.

Clara pouted.

"You’re mean! Both of you! I just wanted to have tea!"

Just then, a sleek black carriage pulled up to the curb. The crest of the Marigold Family—a golden flower—was emblazoned on the door.

Four burly knights in formal armor jumped out.

"Young Miss!"

The captain of the guard spotted Clara and looked like he was about to cry with relief.

"Lady Clara! We’ve been looking everywhere! The Marquis is worried sick!"

"Ugh," Clara groaned, her shoulders slumping. "Busted."

She looked at me with puppy-dog eyes.

"Save me, Lucien? Kidnap me?"

"Goodbye, Clara," I said, waving.

The knights gently but firmly escorted the pouting heiress into the carriage.

"I’ll be back tomorrow!" Clara shouted out the window as the carriage rolled away. "Don’t miss me too much!"

I watched the carriage disappear into the sunset.

"Finally," I exhaled.

Alicia walked up to me, dusting off my coat.

"Master," she said, her voice stern. "If you bring home another stray, I am going to start charging rent."

I looked at my frenzied maid and smiled weakly.

"Let’s just eat dinner, Alicia."

*****

[Marigold Ducal Mansion - The Study]

The grandfather clock in the corner chimed midnight, the deep, resonant sound filling the silent room.

Marquis Henry von Marigold sat in his high-backed leather chair, a glass of amber whiskey untouched on the desk. The fireplace crackled softly, casting long, dancing shadows against the walls lined with books.

Click.

The heavy mahogany door creaked open.

A tuft of pink hair poked through.

"I’m home~!"

Clara slipped inside, trying to tiptoe toward the stairs. She looked cheerful, but her dress was slightly rumpled, and she smelled faintly of cheap street food and... gunpowder?

"You’re late, Clara."

Henry’s voice was calm but carried the weight of authority.

Clara froze mid-step. She turned slowly, offering a sheepish grin.

"Ah, Father! You’re still awake? You should sleep early for your skin!"

"I was waiting for my daughter who decided to vanish after school," Henry said, narrowing his eyes. "I heard you were... socializing."

"I was just hanging out with friends, Father."

"Friends?" Henry picked up a piece of paper from his desk. "Or Lucien Ashborne?"

Clara blinked. Then, instead of denying it, she beamed.

"Yup! We had a great time! well, mostly him trying to run away, but it counts!"

Henry sighed, a long, weary sound that seemed to age him ten years. He rubbed his temples.

"Clara... do you know who Lucien Ashborne is?"

"A misunderstood genius? A handsome rogue? My savior?"

"No," Henry slammed the paper down. "He is the Trash of the Academy. The Shame of Nobility. A scoundrel who bullied commoners until the Princess herself had to intervene."

Henry stood up, walking around the desk.

"It was bad enough that my beloved daughter was involved in that... explosion incident. But now? You are publicly clinging to the most notorious pariah in the Empire."

He looked at her sternly.

"Clara, your father disapproves. Lucien is a stain on the aristocracy. He is arrogant, cruel, and dangerous."

Clara’s smile didn’t falter. She walked over to the sofa and flopped down, kicking off her shoes.

"A demon in human skin? A loser? A pup? The epitome of annoyance?" she listed off, counting on her fingers.

"You know well," Henry frowned. "Yet you act this way."

"I’m an Academy cadet, Father. How could I not know?"

Clara looked at the ceiling, her eyes darkening slightly as she recalled the past.

"I saw him found the ’Violence Circle’ in the first week. I saw him torment innocent commoners just for breathing the same air as him. I saw him mock professors and waste his family’s fortune."

She turned her head to look at Henry.

"I know the rumors better than anyone, Father. Because I was there."

"Then think!" Henry pleaded. "Commoner cadets were forced to drop out because of him. You’d find a better gentleman among the sewer rats! Why him?"

"Because," Clara whispered, her voice losing its playfulness. "The rumors are outdated."

Henry opened his mouth to argue, but stopped.

He looked at his daughter. Her eyes... they were different. They weren’t the eyes of a naive girl anymore. They were the eyes of someone who had seen the abyss and been pulled back.

"Don’t tell me," Clara said softly, "that you haven’t investigated him closely, Father. And I don’t mean the gossip columns."

"...."