Chapter 2 MHC Vol. 1 Chapter 1 Part 2

The Villainess Lady, Letitia

“Hey, let’s just refuse. It’s too much of a pain, let’s just do that.”

“If you wish to make an enemy of the Barrow Ducal Family, please do so at your own discretion.”

“…That would be even more of a hassle.”

—It was the very day the Young Lady of the Barrow Ducal Family was set to arrive at my house. My resolve was still completely shattered.

Well, obviously. What kind of resolve do you need to face ruin? What kind of resolve do you need to start a loveless marriage from day one? It’s too damn much trouble! Are you kidding me? My six months of hard work is seriously going to be for nothing…

“Do not be so disheartened, my Lord. If we secure a connection with the Barrow Ducal Family, the Odrant house will be secure for a long time, indeed.” Sebas offered.

“Hahaha, Right…” Sebas couldn’t possibly know that this connection might be the very thing that leads to our ruin. It’s a nightmare… a complete nightmare…

“By the way, Sebas, what exactly did the Young Lady we’re about to meet do?” I remembered the Barrow Villainess Lady committed misdeeds in the fantasy novel. But I couldn’t recall the specifics yet. What was it? What did she do? Was it something really bad?

“I hear she embezzled taxes from the family territory and habitually invited young men into the mansion to indulge in scandalous activities.”

“Seriously…?”

“Furthermore, she is a colossal spendthrift who even dipped into the assets of the Bertoli family, her former fiancé’s house.”

“…Ugh.”

—Oof. I’m repulsed. She’s completely messed up. No wonder even the mighty Barrow family couldn’t cover for her anymore. A Duke’s daughter marrying into a much lower Baronial family is nothing more than a convenient way to get rid of a problem. Am I seriously going to have to spend my life with someone like that…? I have a bad feeling about this…

—Lost in those thoughts, the Barrow family carriage finally pulled up in front of the mansion. I had the maids lined up along the path and stood with my back straight, ready for the welcoming ceremony. And then—the carriage door opened, and a single woman emerged.

Long, beautiful silver hair, skin as pure white as snow, and blue eyes reminiscent of ice. Her demeanor was as elegant as a noble young lady should be, yet there was a cold, detached quality to her.

“W… wow…”

—She’s beautiful. That was my first thought.

I’d imagined some brat who would be screaming and cursing, throwing a tantrum. Some crazy girl who would kick me the moment she saw me. However, she showed no signs of panic or anger; instead, she was so perfectly composed it was almost chilling.

“Good day. Are you Baron Alban Odrant?” she asked formally.

“Ah, yes. That’s me.”

“I am Letitia Barrow. I will be in your care at the Odrant family starting today. Please treat me well.”

“P-Pleased to meet you…”

“…Is something the matter? Is there something on my face?”

“Huh? Oh, no… I just think you’re, well, beautiful.”

“…”

Ah, damn it. Did she think I was flattering her? Or did she think I was too arrogant for a Baron? There are plenty of people in this world who look down on those of a lower rank. The original Alban Odrant was one of them.

“Welcome, Young Lady Letitia Barrow-sama. I am Sebas, the butler. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

“Yes, pleased to meet you, Sebas.”

“You must be weary from your long journey. I shall escort you to your room immediately. And your personal maid is—”

“I don’t have one.”

“Pardon…?”

“I came here alone. Just show me the way, quickly.” Letitia walked right past Sebas and me, heading toward the mansion. The carriage, having dropped off a single large suitcase, drove away immediately.

—Sebas and I exchanged glances. The daughter of a Ducal house, being treated like this? Seriously? This is practically being disowned… It feels like the Barrow family is truly treating her as a non-person. Poor thing.

Sebas and I accompanied Letitia, giving her a tour of the mansion.

“This will be Young Lady Letitia-sama’s room. We shall call upon you for dinner later, so please make yourself comfortable for now.”

“Thank you.” She said only that one word before shutting the door with a decisive thud. She clearly wasn’t eager to converse with us.

“…”

“…”

Sebas and I walked away from the room.

“Sebas, what do you think?”

“She is a most beautiful lady, indeed.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

“Hahahaha, my apologies. …If I had to summarize it in a word, perhaps ‘odd’?”

“You think so too?”

“The reality is far too different from the rumors. That demeanor does not at all belong to a profligate daughter who indulged in wicked deeds.”

“I agree. If anything, she gave off an air of intelligence.”

“…It seems there is a hidden reason, indeed.”

“You catch on quick, Sebas.” I grinned, pulling up the corner of my mouth. “Dig into what happened to her. But don’t let anyone catch on.”

“Understood, Lord Alban”

“I’ll try to get information out of her myself. I want no part of being dragged into the Barrow family’s trouble.”

“I concur. …But I must say, this is fortunate.”

“Huh? What is?”

“I genuinely expected some fool with whom conversation would be impossible to arrive.”

“….Me too.”

“However, Young Lady Letitia possesses genuine grace. Perhaps she is worthy of being Lord Alban’s wife.”

“I… I hope so.”

Worthy, huh? Alban Odrant, the lazy villainous noble. Letitia Barrow, the villainess lady. In the fantasy novel, they were the worst possible pairing. No, you couldn’t even call them a pairing; they despised each other. But what about with the current me? Will it be a perfect match, or will it still be… Well, we just met. There will be plenty to learn once we actually talk. We have time. I’ll make sure we converse properly, like a real married couple.

▲ ▲ ▲

Five days had already passed since Letitia’s arrival at my house.

Little by little, she seemed to be getting used to life in the Odrant family.

However, “Letitia, just a moment—”

“…”

“Hey, Letitia—”

“…”

“Leti—”

“…”

She simply wouldn’t speak to me. It felt like she was blatantly avoiding me.

I guess it’s not entirely unreasonable. The original Alban was notorious among the nobles, a real piece of garbage, right? The very image of a villain noble. Even if I lost weight and became good at swordsmanship, that reputation for villainy isn’t going to vanish instantly. Letitia probably sees me as the worst kind of Baron. She probably thinks if she opens her mouth, there’s no telling what abuse I’ll heap on her. I get it. …But it’s kind of sad.

I mean, she even stonewalls me during mealtimes! I’m doing my best, desperately trying to find an excuse to talk, but she won’t even look me in the eye. Even if I am the infamous Villain Noble, Lord Alban Odrant-sama, that’s still a blow to my ego.

“Can’t I get her to talk somehow?” I don’t even need us to be friends. Just let me talk to her. Even five minutes. Otherwise, I can’t figure out what kind of ticking time bomb she’s brought with her.

“I guess there’s no choice.” I—made up my mind.

“Letitia, can I have a word?” I knocked on her door.

‘…’

“Let’s go outside once in a while. Staying cooped up in your room all day is bad for your health, you know?”

‘…’

“Hmph…” Still ignoring me, huh? OK, OK, if that’s how she wants to play it— “This is a bit of a pain, but I guess I’ll have to act like the villain.”

SLAASH!

‘Eh?’

CRASH!

—I cleaved the door in two with my sword, then kicked the pieces wide open with a hard stomp. Alright, I’m in.

“Excuse me for barging in, then.” I strode into the room.

I’d briefly worried about her possibly changing clothes, but she was just sitting normally in a chair. Ah, good, good. I was one wrong step away from becoming a pervert.

“H-How could you…!” Letitia’s blue eyes widened in shock, and our gazes met.

“Relax. I’ll have a servant fix the door right away.”

“That’s not the point…! How dare you barge into a lady’s room! Have you no shame!?” Quickly regaining her composure, she raised her voice, looking utterly incredulous.

“Sorry, but I’m a good-for-nothing villain. If I feel like doing something, I’ll force my way into a woman’s room, too.”

“! Y-You brute…!”

“Call me whatever you like. But to get straight to the point, Letitia.”

I walked toward the cowering woman. Naturally, I sheathed the sword I’d drawn.

Then,  “Let’s go on a date.” I said.

▲ ▲ ▲

《Letitia Barrow: Side View》

—It was so sudden.

No sooner had he barged into my room and suggested, “Let’s go on a date,” than he dragged me out before I could even reply and practically flew out of the mansion. It felt like I had been swept away by a hurricane… Truly, a forceful and self-centered man. Just like the rumors said.

…But somehow, strangely, it didn’t feel violent. Perhaps it was his consideration to keep me from being afraid, but the smile never left his face. Perhaps to encourage conversation, he kept up a ceaseless stream of lighthearted small talk. And the hand of this gentleman, gripping my arm and pulling me along—it was incredibly strong, yet determined not to let me go, and it didn’t hurt me at all. It was as if he was carefully ensuring he wouldn’t even leave a mark on my arm. …Yes, I didn’t feel any discomfort, strangely enough.

This is different from the rumors. Different from the man I was told to expect. Alban Odrant was supposed to be the absolute worst Baron. An arrogant, insolent, hopeless man. That’s what I was told before I was forced to marry him. But after only five days here, that preconceived notion is already starting to crumble.

…Alban. What kind of person are you, really…?

▲ ▲ ▲

“Man, the outside air is great.”

“…”

“Don’t you agree, Letitia?”

“If I weren’t with you, I might have felt that way,” she replied sharply.

“Oh, right…” I slumped.

No, no, I can’t let that get to me. I quickly pulled myself together.

—The Odrant Territory was a quiet, rustic countryside rich in nature. Just a short distance from the town, magnificent natural landscapes stretched as far as the eye could see. While some might call it remote, I loved this scenery.

“Since you’re the Young Lady of the Barrow house, I figured you’re used to city life, so maybe this kind of nature feels refreshing?”

“I… won’t deny that.”

“I’d be happy if you liked it even a little.”

“…”

She was still on high alert. God, I have zero credibility. Then again, if I were in her shoes, I wouldn’t trust a person named Alban Odrant, either.

“When we get through this mountain path, you’ll see an even better view.”

“W-Wait a minute… I’m not used to walking on mountain paths.”

“Oops, tripping would be a disaster. In that case—”

I slipped my arms under her legs and behind her back, lifting her entire body. The classic princess carry.

“H-Hya—ah—!?” she gasped.

“This way you won’t sprain your ankle, right?” I said.

“D-Don’t touch me!”

“I told you I wouldn’t do anything barbaric. It’d be too much of a pain,” I assured her.

“Ugh…”

Carrying Letitia, I continued along the path. Her body was incredibly light. Like a feather. Of course, that was probably only because I’d trained my body so hard with Sebas’s lessons. Just this brief moment made me feel that the last six months hadn’t been a waste.

Emerging from the path, we arrived at the top of a small hill.

“Wow…!”

“Beautiful, isn’t it? This is the best spot to get a panoramic view of the Odrant Territory.”

What lay before us was a small town, a river, mountains, and a grassland that stretched to the distant horizon. The Odrant Territory on a clear day was magnificent. Even the usually sullen and expressionless Letitia looked slightly moved.

“I wanted to show you this. Because this is the land you and I will protect together.”

“…”

“Your thoughts?”

“…I’ll concede that it’s a suitable spot for lunch.”

“That’s high praise.”

It seemed she was at least somewhat pleased. And now she was finally talking to me properly.

Man, Letitia’s body is soft. And she smells nice, too. I felt like the atmosphere was getting kind of moody… If I was lucky, maybe I could just—

“…Your ulterior motives are all over your face.”

“Eh, seriously!?”

“Oh, so you were really thinking that.”

—Aha! Did she just trick me with a leading question!? Mmph, you’ve got guts, Letitia Barrow… to outwit this Alban…!

“Can you put me down now?”

“A-Ah, sure.”

As she asked, I slowly lowered Letitia to the ground. For the first time, she looked me directly in the eye.

“…You are quite different from the rumors. I was told Alban Odrant was a far more arrogant, insolent small-time villain.”

“You forgot ‘lazy.’ And I’m not a small-time villain.”

“A great villain, then?”

“You got it.”

“Hmph. Don’t villains usually deny that they’re villains?”

—Letitia finally let her lips curl into a smile.

She finally laughed.

▲ ▲ ▲

After Letitia had fully enjoyed the magnificent view, I escorted her to a waterfall spot in the mountains, figuring it was time to rest her legs. It was a place overflowing with clean air and cool refreshment, featuring a small waterfall and a shallow basin.

“The water… it’s cold and feels good.” Barefoot, she lifted her skirt and dipped her feet into the waterfall basin. The water was only knee-deep at most, so there was no danger of drowning.

“And the air is incredibly clean. It’s so nice to breathe…”

“It’s a feeling you can only get out in the country, right?” I asked.

“Oh my, are you that happy to put one over on a city girl?”

“That wasn’t my intention.”

“Just a joke,” she replied.

Letitia chuckled softly. Ooh… she’s finally throwing out witty jokes. I felt like we had closed the distance a bit. I was genuinely glad I forced her into this date.

“Hey, Letitia, how about we introduce ourselves properly while we have the chance?”

“Introduce ourselves?”

“We still don’t know anything about each other. I think we should at least know each other’s favorite foods and hobbies.”

“I’m… not particularly interested, though.”

“Well, I am interested.”

“Hmph. Fine,” she conceded.

Letitia gave in. “I am Letitia Barrow. My favorite foods are tea and scones. My hobby… if I had to name one, would be playing with children.”

“Oh, you like kids?”

“I don’t dislike them, at least.”

“That’s a nice hobby. It’s lovely.”

“Hmph… Your turn.”

Letitia handed the baton to me. Now it was my turn to introduce myself.

“I’m Alban Odrant. My favorite food is high-quality steak, but I’m cutting back for my diet. My hobbies are sword practice, and generally just slacking off.”

“I can’t tell if you’re a hard worker or a layabout.”

“I wonder the same thing. But I’ll take pride in the fact that I pulled my flabby body into shape.”

“Oh my, perhaps I should take a page from your book.”

“I kind of like you just the way you are, though~” I teased.

“That’s a sexually harassing statement,” she stated flatly.

“Ah, my bad.”

We shared a soft laugh. This was actually enjoyable.

Just as we were having a good, lighthearted conversation—

‘Grrr…!’

A beast’s growl came from somewhere. And with heavy, thudding footsteps, a single black giant appeared.

“! A monster…!?”

“Oh, a Killer Bear.”

What appeared was a monster known as a Killer Bear, with black fur and an enormous body. It had thick hide that a normal blade couldn’t scratch, and sharp claws that could easily rip a human apart. It also had an extremely ferocious temperament and a habit of attacking immediately upon spotting a person.

“These bears sometimes pop up in this forest. It’s a pain because they wreck the crops.”

“W-Why are you so calm!? We have to run…!” she yelled.

‘GRRROOAAH!’ The Killer Bear immediately charged, attempting to pounce on Letitia.

While I couldn’t deny she probably looked tastier—

“Just some pest,” I muttered, laying my hand on the sword at my hip. “Don’t come near Letitia.”

I instantly closed the distance to the Killer Bear, drew my sword from the sheath, and slashed.

‘GUHGYAA…!’

A single stroke, perfectly bisected. The Killer Bear’s massive body was sliced cleanly in two and instantly died. It stained the waterfall basin the color of blood.

“Aww, man, I was just enjoying the clean water, too. Can you stand up, Letitia?” I offered my hand to her, who was sitting dumbfounded in the water.

“Y-You… you cut down a monster that big with a single strike…!”

“I told you, sword practice is my hobby,” I reminded her.

I picked Letitia up again and carried her to shore. I seated her on the rock where I had been sitting moments before.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“N-No, I’m fine…” Letitia was still in a state of shock. Well, being attacked by a monster was probably a first for a Duke’s daughter.

“Good. Glad you’re safe,” I said.

I gave her a reassuring smile. In times like these, it’s best to offer some comfort, right?

“…Thank you. For saving me.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Hey, Alban…”

“What is it?”

“Why are you so kind to me?” Letitia suddenly asked.

“…Why, you ask—”

“You’re a victim of a political marriage, forced to marry me against your will.”

“I’m aware.”

“Then I don’t understand even more.” Letitia’s hand was still trembling slightly as she looked down. Her expression was somewhat vacant. “You could just secure the support from the Barrow family and leave me alone. Why are you doing this?”

“It’s because I want to get all lovey-dovey with my cute wife! …Is what I’d say publicly.”

“Tell me the truth.”

“You promise you won’t get mad?”

“Just tell me!”

“Fine, then,” I conceded. “Truthfully, I want to know what you did and who you earned the hatred of.”

“…”

“If I stay clueless, I’ll be caught off guard and end up dealing with a massive headache when the time comes.”

“It would be better for you not to know.”

“No can do. Either way, I’m not uninvolved anymore.”

Regardless of the process, I was now tangled up in the Barrow family’s internal affairs. Whether I liked it or not, I had already thrown myself into a political maelstrom.

“No, you can still stay uninvolved. So please, don’t take any interest.”

“You talk as if I absolutely shouldn’t get involved with you.”

“…Yes, that is exactly right. You shouldn’t get involved with me.”

After saying that, she looked me directly in the eye.

“I’ll give you a warning, in deference to your gentlemanly conduct. …If you want to protect the Odrant family, you must persecute me.”

“—What did you say?”

“Play up a complete and utter estrangement. It will be better for you.”

“…”

I was shocked. That was an incredible thing to say. You must persecute me, she said? What kind of situation makes someone say a thing like that? This was a sign she was holding onto more than I thought.

But… one thing was crystal clear.

“…I see. I understand.”

“That’s good. I won’t stop you from taking a mistress, so feel free—”

“I know now that you’re absolutely not a wicked woman.”

“—Huh?”

“I heard you embezzled taxes, indulged in scandalous things with young men at the mansion, and were a spendthrift who dipped into your fiancé’s assets. But I can say now that was all a lie. There’s no way you’d do something like that.”

Letitia, a profligate woman of wicked deeds? No way. She was a gifted woman with both kindness and intelligence. She would never commit an evil act.

“I refuse to persecute you. I see no reason to.”

“You…! Didn’t you hear my warning!?”

“Then explain it to me. What exactly did you do?”

“…………I can’t tell you.”

“Then I can’t take your warning seriously.”

I turned my back to her and shrugged. “Well, it’s fine if you don’t tell me. I’ll just find out everything myself anyway.”

“…You’ll regret it.”

“I never regret anything. It’s too much of a hassle.”

…Frankly, I had a pretty good idea. Most likely—no, definitely, she was framed by someone. And the result was her being expelled from the Barrow and Bertoli families.

But they made a mistake sending her to my house.

“Hey, let’s make a bet.”

“A bet…?”

“I’ll investigate everything about you. I’ll find out exactly what happened. If, after that, I genuinely don’t regret it, then you have to be nice to me.”

“…And if you do regret it?”

“I guess I’ll want you to comfort me?”

“What is that? That’s not a bet at all!”

“Of course not. Because rigging the game is a villain’s specialty.”