The Villainous Lady is Inevitably Harassed

The entrance ceremony, the Headmaster’s address, the national anthem—those bothersome events were finally almost over. But why were Headmaster speeches always so long and tedious?

I wasn’t looking down on Headmaster Faust. I could sense his greatness. I understood the gravity of his words. But as a student listening to them, I simply couldn’t help but feel drowsy. It was a kind of curse embedded in the very setting of a Headmaster’s speech, truly…

“Ngh—still sleepy…” I yawned widely, sitting on a long bench in the courtyard.

…Still, I felt a lot of eyes on me.

“Is that the infamous Baron Alban Odrant…?”

“Did you hear? He supposedly beat up a teacher before enrollment.”

“There was the Duke Mauro incident, too. We shouldn’t get involved with him…”

Students watched me from a distance, whispering rumors. Sigh. Well, I guess I’ve become the Academy’s resident celebrity. As long as they don’t try to pick a fight, I don’t really care.

My ultimate goal in this Royal Academy was to “graduate without being ruined.” With Letitia, of course.

I still couldn’t recall the entire fantasy novel plot, but Alban Odrant definitely got ruined after losing a duel to the protagonist. That much was certain. I was supposed to be hit with the full combo: exit the story, expulsion from the Academy, and revocation of my title. The thought alone is terrifying…

But I’d befriended Letitia, the catalyst for Alban’s ruin, so the only remaining concern was the protagonist… I still couldn’t vividly recall what that protagonist was like. What was his face like? What was his title? Damn it, I can’t remember.

In any case, avoiding trouble was the best policy. If I could get through three years without incident, that would be ideal.

…Well, if some idiot does try to pick a fight—I’ll crush them utterly.

“Come to think of it, Letitia hasn’t come back yet… Where did she go?”

I had been with her until just a moment ago, but she’d said, “I’m going to go pick some flowers,” and hadn’t returned. Logically, she just went to the nearest restroom.

…But I had a bad feeling. I should go check. I just hoped she hadn’t gotten herself into trouble.

I got up from the bench and walked toward the nearest restroom. Then—

“Figures…”

Letitia was cornered against the wall by three female students. The atmosphere was clearly not one of socializing.

“Letitia Barrow, how dare you show your face at the Academy?”

“There’s no place here for a disgraced Duke’s daughter, is there?”

“Because of you, Mauro-sama…! How do you plan to take responsibility!?”

Letitia let out a weary sigh at the three girls’ words. “Mauro got what he deserved. Besides, where I choose to be is none of your business.”

“Hmph? You’re an eyesore, Letitia Barrow, just being in our sight.”

“That’s right! Get out of the Academy right now!”

—The girls were savagely harassing Letitia. What should I do with these girls?

Let me be clear, I have no intention of being kind to any woman but Letitia. While I know I should be courteous to women, anyone who harms my precious wife is a different story. Besides, I’m a villain, right? It’s not like I’m against hitting a woman, being a villain and all. Though, I’d at least hit her somewhere other than the face.

Thinking that, I prepared to step in and rescue Letitia. But—just then—

“Hey, you girls, stop that right now.” A male student stepped between them.

“Oh, really…?” I muttered, momentarily taken aback.

The student had short blond hair and sharp, earnest features. He was an undeniably handsome young man with a very positive air about him. Honestly, he might be better-looking than me.

“W-Who are you…?” one of the girls asked.

“I told you to stop. Ganging up and bullying someone… are you nobles, or what?”

“Y-You have nothing to do with this! Go away!”

“I refuse. If you continue, I’ll have to take appropriate action.”

“…Hmph, fine. Let’s go.” The trio of girls left, looking bored.

The handsome young man turned to Letitia. “Are you alright? Honestly, some students can be so spiteful.”

“I-I’m fine… Thank you very much for your help…”

“Don’t worry about thanking me. I just couldn’t stand by and watch.” The young man moved slightly closer to Letitia.

Ah, no. Don’t get any closer. “I think I might get jealous.”

“Eh?”

“! Alban…!”

I quickly rushed up to them, wedging myself between the two. “Thanks for helping my wife, handsome. But don’t get any closer to her.”

“Ah, oh, she’s your wife. My apologies.” The young man quickly backed away.

Good. He can read the room. A noble couple getting married at sixteen wasn’t uncommon. So there were bound to be married students at the Royal Academy. The young man must have realized that.

He studied my face for a moment. “…! Are you perhaps—no, you are Baron Alban Odrant, aren’t you!?” the young man asked, a flash of recognition in his eyes.

“Huh? Yeah, I am.”

“I knew it! You’re especially famous among commoners, so I recognized you instantly!”

“Commoners…?”

“Ah, well…” The young man looked slightly awkward. “I’m from a commoner background. I was admitted after passing the Honors Exam.”

“! Wow, that’s amazing…!”

—The Magdala Familia Royal Academy was a super-elite school where the student body was almost entirely composed of nobles. However, enrollment was possible for non-nobles. But in that case, unlike the nobles who were practically waved in, they had to take what was called the Honors Exam. As the name suggested, it tested the students on academics, morality, martial arts, and everything in between, requiring them to prove they possessed talent and character superior to the nobility, despite being commoners. Thus, only those of exceptional caliber could pass. I’d heard that over a hundred commoners challenged the Honors Exam every year, but only two or three passed. It was a fiercely narrow gate. In exchange, all enrollment fees and tuition were waived, making it an object of admiration for commoners.

To pass such a difficult exam… this young man might be quite competent.

…Hmm? Wait a minute? Doesn’t he seem vaguely familiar…? I feel like I’ve seen that face somewhere before, too…

Hold on. I distinctly remember that in the fantasy novel, the commoner student who was Alban Odrant’s contemporary was—

“You’re a legend among commoners, talked about as the Wise Lord who judged the crimes of the Duke who oppressed his people!”

“I-Is that so…? By the way, could I ask your name…?”

“Ah, how rude of me!” The young man quickly extended his hand. “I’m Leonil Hyland. Just call me Leo. It’s a pleasure.”

“P-Pleased to meet you…” I shook his hand.

In that instant—I finally remembered.

Leonil Hyland. That was the name of the fantasy novel’s protagonist.

The name of the man who would eventually ruin me.