I’ll Become a Villainess That Will Go Down in History

merely acting out of concern for me, and I can at least appreciate that.
It makes me happy knowing that you were worried for me.
So thank you,” I quickly add before Duke-Sama can say anything.
And after saying my piece, I slowly bow my head to him.

I’ve been reflecting on the words I said to him earlier.
I shouldn’t have been so harsh to someone who only meant well.
His actions have not harmed nor hindered me in any way, so I feel ashamed for having acted so carelessly.
I can only hope that these feelings of regret will reach him, as my thoughts often seem to.

But I have yet to lift my head.
I have no idea what sort of expression he’s making, nor if he realized my true feelings.
The only thing I know is that the growing tension and surprise feels like a tangible presence hanging in the air around all of us.

I see a shadow as Duke-Sama extends his hand towards my head.

“Oh, and one more thing,” I whisper into the ground.

Before Duke-Sama can touch me, I reach forward with one of my own hands and vigorously seize him by the lapels, jerking him towards me.
I must have caught him off guard, since he doesn’t even try to resist.
Though, even if he did, I’m confident that I could have kept him under my control.

….Though, I am a bit surprised by the solid feeling under my hand.
I am confident, but a man’s body is a lot heavier and sturdier than I was expecting.

Finally, I look up into Duke-Sama’s face and see round, astounded eyes looking into mine.
It appears that he hasn’t quite comprehended what just happened to him.

“You say you’ve been watching over me? If you wanted to do that, why didn’t you just tell me? I hope you weren’t thinking something foolish like remaining silent and taciturn would make you seem more attractive! Because you’d be sorely mistaken! If you don’t take the time to tell me what you’re thinking, then I’ll never know… Like with this.
I had no idea that you were watching over me all this time!”

Duke-Sama doesn’t say anything, he’s just staring at me stiffly.

One corner of my mouth arches up in a smirk.

“If it were me, I wouldn’t stop at just stealthily watching over you, either.
I’d make sure to stay near to you, to protect you right at your side!”

After finally stating my point, I slowly let go of my hold on Duke-Sama’s lapels.
Despite having been released, he doesn’t move.
He doesn’t sit back.
He just gazes at me utterly dumbfounded.

Everyone else in the dining hall remains equally frozen as they all just stare at me.
To think that this many eyes would be focused on me all at once….

While feeling their gazes on me like a palpable force, I walk leisurely back across the second floor towards the stairs.

Without missing a beat, I descend them, acting as if I have no idea that I’m the center of everyone’s attention.
Once I reach the ground floor, I’m about to make my way through the still open path between the students when I hear boisterous laughter raining down from the floor above.

Like a downpour, it sounds full and free.
It’s the first time that I’ve ever heard Duke-Sama laughing so unrestrainedly.

Slowly, I glance back in his direction.

His face is filled with mirth as he looks down at me, his elbows resting casually on the railing.
And those eyes that bore straight into mine are overflowing with delight and amusement.

“I’ll make sure to start telling you more of what I’m thinking from now on,” Duke-Sama calls out, a devilish smirk on his face.

Somehow, with that expression, his eyes no longer look so lighthearted.
Rather, they are staring at me like a fearsome beast eyeing his prey.

“I’ve never seen Duke acting like this before,” Finn-Sama whispers while scrutinizing Duke-Sama’s back.

That’s true.
I’ve never seen him acting like this either.

“Wow~ Ali-chan’s so strong~!” Curtis-Sama says, his shoulders shaking violently as he holds back his own laughter.
There even seems to be tears glistening in his eyes.

…..It’s not that funny, is it?

And I’m sure his words don’t mean much.
A lady-killer like Curtis-Sama is bound to say all sorts of petty things to any girl that walks his way.

I glare at them all sharply.

“And that strong girl said she’ll stay by my side and protect me.
It’s rather reassuring.”

“Lucky~ I want Ali-chan to protect me too~” Curtis-Sama laughs out.

“Alicia, they’re teasing you,” Gilles notes stoically, but he can’t fool my eyes.
I see that slight smile on his face.

Gilles, you’re also clearly teasing me! ….Is what I’d like to say, but I don’t.
He’d probably just laugh at me outright.

I think about sending one final glare towards the upper floor, but I stop myself from doing so.
I’m a little scared to see what Liz-san’s expression looks like right now.
Things might get out of hand if we were to lock eyes.
So I merely turn my back on them all and quickly retreat towards the door out of the dining hall.

Duke-Sama doesn’t say anything further either.

In an instant, the whole room is engulfed with excited, chattering voices, but I hardly notice them.
I’m too immersed in wondering what expression Duke-Sama might be making at the moment.

However, I refuse to look back at him under these circumstances.
I get the feeling that if I look back at him now, I’ll lose.
And I have plenty of self-constraint, so I’m not going to suffer a loss here.
At least not more of a loss than I already have….

Agh! Why did I even say that!? I can’t believe I said that I’d protect him! I can’t even use magic right now! Will I be able to keep my lack of magic power a secret from Duke-Sama for a whole week after saying something so reckless?

It feels like I just shot myself in the foot.
I basically aimed the gun at my own foot and willingly pulled the trigger.
I’m practically ensuring my own self-destruction with that.

For such carelessness, my villainess score is bound to plummet.

It only took me about two minutes after I had left the dining hall to realize that I had forgotten something.

…Ugh, I forgot to ask about Grandpa Will!

At the thought, I stop dead in my tracks and send a good, hard smack to the middle of my forehead before bowing my head in aggravation.
There were only two things I went there to do. Two! How could I forget something so important!?

I heave a heavy sigh and shake my head.

The caring look on Duke’s face as he watched Alicia walking out of the dining hall was so sincere and captivating that it fascinated all of the nearby students, regardless of gender.
Even Gilles who had looked back and saw it by chance froze for a moment, unable to look away.

Duke, of course, had eyes only for Alicia, however she never looked back.
She was the only one in the whole dining hall who missed seeing his face so filled with tender love and affection for her.