An Observation Log of My Fiancée Who Calls Herself a Villainess (自称悪役令嬢な婚約者の観察記録。)

Sir Cecil!

Wake up!

Sir Cecil! Sir Cecil!

If I don't pick you, then you're just a clever doll and nothing more!

Yes, what she said was true.

Back then, I was a living doll with no emotions.

But that's precisely why there was exactly one thing I wished for...

Someone who would spark my interest... Someone I would cherish...

I wanted someone who would draw those emotions out of me.

That was not my Tia.

The scene I just saw was shown to me, like a dream, by the light spirit.

It wasn't reality. I know that.

And yet, that vivid sensation of being emotionless, like I was then...

As I spent time with Tia, I gathered the warmth known as "emotions" to me,

and I feel as if it's being stolen from me.

I hate this! I don't want to go back to those days!

An Observation Log of My Fiancée Who Calls Herself a Villainess

Chapter 9

Observation Log of a Self-Proclaimed Villainess and a Doll.

Who could have imagined that so many would die from this epidemic?

Even though we know that luona leaf is effective against it,

it isn't something we can grow at this point in time.

Right now, there isn't anything we can do.

Your Majesty, I beg of you!

It's the only thing that can save my wife!

Please share some of the luona leaf from the royal stores with me!

Marquis Noches?

His wife has contracted the disease.

Lady Bertia wrote of it in one of her letters, didn't she?

Oh, now that you mention it...

Someone in his family has contracted the illness, yet he still approaches the king?

I wonder if he means to bring the kingdom to ruin.

Marquis, please understand.

When so many of our people are suffering,

I cannot give preferential treatment to my retainers.

Please reconsider! I'm begging you, Your Majesty!

No... Caine!

My wife... Mertia seems on the brink of death.

I'm asking not as your vassal, but as a friend. Please! I'm begging you!

I'm sorry, Douglas.

I can't give you luona leaf, but let's do everything else that we can.

Please, hold strong.

Father.

Oh, Cecil. It's you.

Father, you're doing the right thing.

If the king were to show favoritism toward a vassal,

it would breed discontent among the people.

That's true.

As the king of a nation, I believe I've made the right choice.

However...

I've lost the right to be his friend.

Being correct as the king...

Could anything be more important than that?

Mother...

Marquis Noches. Miss Bertia.

Your Highness.

My deepest sympathies.

If you would permit it, I am ready to be of use to you at any time.

Please, tell me anything you may need.

I have devoted everything to the royal family, and this is the result.

Father?

Bertia, you must become the queen, no matter what.

That way, no matter what may happen, they will protect you above all else!

To ensure that happens, I will...

My legs have turned to doll's legs?

Just now, that was the "future" we supposedly changed.

The me that was there couldn't understand my father's anguish.

She lost her mother, so I put on a sad face and offered indifferent words.

Those scenes were also no more than images shown to me by the light spirit.

But just as you don't realize you're in a dream when you're dreaming,

the current me overlaps with the me from the future that could have been.

I hate this. That isn't me.

My warmth... the emotions I finally obtained...

Bertia...

Please don't take them away from me.

What do you think, Lady Bertia?

You look quite sweet and lovely.

I don't like it.

Are you trying to make His Highness's and my debut into society fail?

I can't be seen in front of everyone like this!

What's wrong, Bertia?

Father!

That maid is just awful! She was trying to embarrass me!

Oh, was she? You poor thing.

You are finished as of today.

Never show your face in front of us again.

Whoops!

I'm terribly sorry!

Prince Cecil!

Hello there, Miss Bertia.

Something seems to have happened to your maid.

Oh, she's been careless, so we fired her. That's all.

Since his wife died, the marquis has become a different person.

Miss Bertia is the only one he shows any affection.

I heard that she grows more arrogant by the day, but...

Never mind all that. I'm just so anxious about our upcoming social debut.

But I am looking forward to you escorting me, Your Highness!

Are you?

Miss Bertia, you need not worry about a thing. Just leave everything to me.

Then I'll do just that!

Well then. I will see you some other time.

Of course!

For the moment, she's submissive to me,

so as long as she doesn't cause any major issues...

And it would be difficult to break off the engagement anyway.

There's nothing to be done.

Lately, it seems like the light is always dim.

The weather seems fair and clear today.

It does.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry! I'm sorry!

But I promise you'll be able to be happy!

Your Highness, I believe it's time.

Yes.

Zeno, did you prepare the bouquet?

With no difficulties at all.

I'll likely be bored if I go,

but if I skip my fiancée's tea party, it will only create problems later.

Wait!

Please fly a little slower for me!

Honestly. You shouldn't fly too far away from me.

That's unusual.

Instead of keeping the bird in a cage, she's letting it fly free.

Are you a new student?

What?

You mean me, don't you?

Y-Yes!

You're not going to a tea party?

I've come here from the countryside, so I don't really know anyone.

That's why Pii-chan and I are exploring the school together.

Pii-chan? Is that the bird's name?

Zeno.

Of course.

Then, allow me to celebrate you.

Congratulations on your enrollment.

Th-Thank you.

For Your Highness to show an interest in someone is quite unusual.

Is it?

I simply found the bird and the frolicking young lady unusual.

But I suppose this is one type of interest.

This is a good place to pause. Shall we take a break?

In that case, what do you think of looking at the roses in the courtyard?

I've heard that the academy director's wife likes them.

I've never given any thought to my preferences regarding flowers.

The gardeners try to make beautiful flowers bloom and look after everything,

so it's only logical that they create magnificent gardens.

It's no more than the expected result.

Why is everyone always so grateful when they observe the flowers?

You there. You shouldn't sleep here.

Just a little longer.

Huh?

What?!

It seems you're awake.

A lady shouldn't show her defenseless sleeping face, you know?

It was warm and felt so nice I couldn't help nodding off.

I'm terribly sorry for such a disgraceful display!

Not at all. Thanks to you, I was able to see something unusual.

What?

A young lady scrambling backward at full strength.

Did you come to see the roses, too?

Yes! I finished going all the way around and paused to rest under the tree.

What's your name?

My name is Heronia. Heronia Inderon.

I am Cecil Glo Alphasta. It's a pleasure, Miss Heronia.

Lord Cecil? That's the same name as the crown prince!

Actually, isn't that the crown prince's full name?

Yes, that's who I am. I gave a speech at the entrance ceremony, didn't I?

Please forgive my disrespectful behavior!