Though I Am an Inept Villainess (ふつつかな悪女ではございますが ～雛宮蝶鼠とりかえ伝～)

KOU CLAN MAIDEN - KOU REIRIN

It's so hard... to breathe.

The fever isn't unusually high.

Lady Reirin, are you feeling worse than usual?

Are you saying she was behaving normally while having this high a fever?

Kou Reirin has never been absent from a ritual.

Not even Noble Consort Shu, who complimented her,

ever mentioned that she was this frail.

Medicine.

Which one is the medicine?

Which is it?

Medicine!

This is absurd.

Why, even after the swap, am I feeling miserable?

You must help.

You must help me, Kou Reirin!

THOUGH I AM AN INEPT VILLAINESS

SHU CLAN MAIDEN - SHU KEIGETSU

Leelee sure is late.

I'm going to go return the hairpin to Lady Gayou.

SHU CLAN COURT LADY - LEELEE

No, Leelee.

Huh?

I will go settle this dispute.

Please let me go!

Right now, you have a really scary look on your face,

like when you massacred the pests in the shed!

Huh?

Then...

I-I'll see you later.

Take care.

But in any case, Lady Seika of the Kin clan ordered my harassment?

I had thought she was a proud, upright individual.

I was so desperate to get in good shape...

that I perhaps was not able to have meaningful interactions with everyone.

On the other hand, in Lady Keigetsu's body,

I don't have to focus so hard on not passing out.

I don't run out of breath from getting excited.

The body's so healthy, I'm jealous.

This is not good!

If Her Highness the Empress were to see me like this, she would be astounded!

The day I first stepped into the Maiden Court, I took it to heart.

EMPRESS - KOU KENSHUU

Oh, Reirin.

There is only one thing I seek from a Maiden.

Take it to heart.

GRIT

The only reason Her Highness chose me as Maiden was because I "had grit."

I must hold myself together.

This is Lady Keigetsu's body.

Ultimately, I am still Kou Reirin.

Kou Reirin!

Is that you, Lady Keigetsu?

That's right.

You seem to be having quite a tough time.

My fever isn't going down at all...

and I can't breathe.

Do something about it right away!

Cant' breathe.

How is it difficult to breathe?

Don't make me repeat it! I just can't!

I keep trying to inhale, but it's still painful.

You must be hyperventilating.

You'll be all right, Lady Keigetsu.

You are not properly exhaling right now.

Not exhaling?

I told you... I can't inhale, didn't I?

Your body is not understanding that it is properly exhaling.

Now, Lady Keigetsu, cover your mouth with both hands.

I'm in pain, and you want me to cover my mouth?

You're fine. You can talk this much, after all.

Now cover your mouth.

Listen. Until I say it's okay, keep breathing out.

Slowly.

Exhale.

It'll be all right.

That's right.

Now breathe in.

And slowly breathe out again.

Have you calmed down?

If so, mix together medicines number 9 and 15

from the top left part of the medicine cabinet and inhale it later.

What kind of body do you have?

Huh?

This is impossible.

You're so frail. There's not even one moment of health for you!

It's absurd!

I-I'm terribly sorry.

That was everyday life for me, so I had gotten used to it.

You know...

why don't we cancel the swap now?

I feel terrible about troubling you with that body, Lady Keigetsu.

You've gotta be kidding me.

Why are you trying to act nice to gain an advantage?

That's not what I mean--

I couldn't enjoy this rewarding situation until now.

Even then, this situation where everyone is serving me is the best.

Even that conceited Kin Seika brought over an incense burner as a get-well gift.

Lady Seika did that?

Um, perhaps that is an item that you shouldn't accept without suspicion.

Is that sour grapes?

Serves you right.

You can be jealous of my current self like that.

As the sewer rat Shu Keigetsu with no beauty or talent,

that nobody takes notice of.

You don't have to say you're lacking so much.

Lady Keigetsu, you have such a healthy body.

Huh? What good does that do?

That body lacks any of the talents necessary for a Maiden.

Beauty, luck, a man whispering his love,

a friend that is worth trusting,

parents who protect...

That's right.

My parents didn't give me anything that was essential for me.

However, they have given you such a wonderful name.

Huh?

Lady Keigetsu, what did you wish the star for

on the night of the Double Sevens Festival?

Huh?

I made two wishes.

One was, of course, to become healthy.

I was wishing for that each and every day.

Figures.

Actually, I didn't believe in making wishes much before that.

Now that we've swapped and I gained health, it makes me think...

that perhaps that comet really had the power to make miracles happen.

And that has something to do with my name?

The character used for "Kei" in your name, Lady Keigetsu,

KEI

is the first part of the word "comet" combined with the character for "heart."

What a majestic, beautiful name.

I feel gratitude towards you.

You are, in fact...

my miracle comet.

Wh-What are...

What are you talking about?

That's so stupid!

You are saying I am like a star.

Lady Keigetsu...

can we meet in person and have a chat?

You said it was unfair that I was the one that gets all the blessings

and that we swapped to make things right.

However, I am only having a good time after the swap.

And if we can have a proper chat, I'm sure some new winds may blow.

I refuse.

Once my physical condition recovers, I'll have no use for you anymore.

Lady Keigetsu.

Having a good time as Shu Keigetsu?

I'll look forward to seeing how much longer you can make that claim.

Lady Keigetsu, please hold on--

Lady Keigetsu!

Leelee.

You were waiting for me?

Huh?

Then you figured out that I came back

and quickly put the fire out, didn't you?

It's so obvious.

Welcome back.

Tasty!

Were you able to successfully return the hairpin?

Actually, no matter how long I waited, she didn't show up at the rendezvous spot.

Perhaps she is already preparing

to bring me in front of the Eagle Eyes Captain.

If so, they would be here to apprehend you already.

The fact they haven't

means that the other party decided it was dangerous to continue dealing with you

and decided to break it off.

Then, I'll think about it that way.

I'm going to completely break off as well--

-What are you talking about? -Huh?

It means that the score couldn't be settled among the court ladies.

That means their masters, meaning myself and Lady Seika,

should settle it all, don't you think?

Come again?

It just happens that we have the Ghost Festival in three days, yes?

We do, but...

If we participate in the ritual, we will as a result be able to meet Lady Seika.

But Noble Consort Shu said you didn't have to participate.

If I "don't have to participate," it also means that I can participate.

Huh?

But, Lady Keigetsu, in your current circumstance,

the upper court ladies will refuse to accompany you.

A Maiden with nobody in accompaniment--

If I have three days, I can beautifully sew a blazing scarlet garment,

so it will be all right.

Right, upper court lady Leelee?