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。)

I became a third-year, and Tia entered high school.

However, she had begun to avoid me.

Tia!

No, "avoid me" may not be quite right.

Tia.

The correct phrase would be "run away from me."

Because, you see, she did not possess the skills to quietly sidestep me,

Tia.

so she simply physically ran from me.

Tia.

It's possible that Miss Heronia's words that day were the cause of it,

but even if I asked, I'm certain that Tia wouldn't answer me,

so I've been intentionally abstaining from touching upon it.

But now that things have come to this, there is but one measure for me to take.

If she runs away, I have no choice but to catch her, right?

An Observation Log of My Fiancée Who Calls Herself a Villainess

Chapter 7

Observation Log of a Self-Proclaimed Villainess and Hatred.

Tia!

Whyever are you running from me?

Now then. All that's left is to guide her deftly.

Tia.

Tia.

Tia.

Tia. Tia.

Tia.

This is no good at all, Tia. If you run to a deserted back garden like this...

This is the legendary wall pin!

Wall Pin

"Wall pin"?

Isn't there an option to simply let me get away?

It's in the nature of male animals to chase fleeing prey.

I-I am not your prey!

But you do look delicious.

I-I do have a little extra meat on my bones...

but I am not delicious, so please don't eat me!

Meat?

Your Highness!

No, I wasn't looking.

I did not look at all.

Tia, when carnivores in the wild chase after their prey,

sometimes their goal is to play, you know?

P-Please don't treat people as playthings!

Objecting to being treated as a plaything feels quite late at this point.

You're as lovely as a doll, so I can't help wanting to play with you.

My! Y-You may flatter me, but I won't be fooled!

Based on her reaction, I'd say that she does have some attachment to me at least.

I had thought about asking the cause of this herself what it's all about,

but it would certainly turn into troublesome business.

I must keep my distance from you now, Sir Cecil.

There's roughly a year left until I am struck aghast and must say farewell.

The compelling forces have already begun their work.

By "compelling forces,"

you mean powers that try to return everything to the original scenario?

Yes.

Since it's you, Sir Cecil, I'll tell you.

The truth is that I...

have grown fatter.

Hm?

I said, I've grown fatter!

Ever since the end of the culture fair, I've been steadily gaining weight!

And so, I've realized...

this must be the work of those compelling forces!

There are so many things I want to point out, but first...

Why would your weight gain be connected to those compelling forces?

Because the Bertia in the original work is chubby!

A character trait I thought I'd changed is starting to change back!

So, because your outward appearance is nearing hers,

you think it's compelling forces.

She's very serious about this, so I shouldn't laugh about it, should I?

Tia.

I think the cause of your weight gain is probably what's in your dress pocket.

What?

You mean this gift?

Bertia has pulled out some sweets.

Sweets

Cookie x 5

Cupcake x 3

Marzipan x 5

Calorie Count: 300Kcal

I heard that after the culture fair,

you've started to receive a lot of sweets as gifts.

It's true that even people I'm not particularly friendly with have...

Could it be that even back then the compelling forces were...

It's not that.

At the culture fair, it became common knowledge that you are wonderful.

That's why the number of people

who want to be closer to you and gave you sweets increased.

No! That's the work of the compelling forces!

No, you merely need to reduce the volume that you eat, that's all.

But not eating them when others went to the trouble of giving them to me...

What if you shared them with your attendants?

My snacks?

You're aiming to become a first-rate villainess, aren't you?

And if you mean to become the best, then you'll need to stay by my side.

But why?

Sir Cecil, you're about to plunge into your lovey-dovey period with the heroine.

I have to try to prevent that and race down the path to becoming a villainess.

And that's the reason.

In order for you to become a magnificent villainess,

you must become desperate to keep me all to yourself.

Only then will you at last become someone who stands squarely in the heroine's way.

But if I become any closer to you than this.

in the end, when you treat me coldly and I have to leave...

I don't think I'll be able to endure it.

Oh, so that's why she's been avoiding interacting with me.

It's possible that letting her go here would be the best for her.

In that case, Tia, I won't treat you coldly, even at the end.

Is there a way to strike me speechless without that?

Of course.

Would you be willing to leave all of that to me?

In that case,

I'll work my hardest not to run from this feeling for a little while longer.

I am a first-rate villainess after all!

I'm sorry, Tia.

I have no intention of letting go of the one who brings so much color to my life.

But I will be sure to keep my promise.

A way to strike Tia speechless without being cold.

In short, I simply need to strike someone else speechless, don't I?

Say, Courtgain.

I hear that lately Heronia has been a frequent visitor of yours.

Yes, she is already irritating,

but lately, she's been asking about Lady Bertia and her family.

Asking if they've committed any wrongdoings, perhaps?

Yes. She's asked numerous times.

I thought as much.

The fall of House Noches and the "struck speechless" event are inseparable.

What's this? Are you discussing some fun, wicked plot?

She's caused me some unpleasantness as well, so I'll help you.

Now that he mentions it, she did quietly mention his womanizing to Miss Anne.

And when he's so earnestly devoted to just one woman, too.

If that's the case, then I'm the same.

When she bad-mouthed Silica, it made me angry.

I don't like ganging up on someone, but she's not my favorite either.

She's gotten in the way of my dates with Cynthia so many times!

Me, too! And she's always saying hurtful things about Miss Joanna.

Well, given her pushy approach, it's natural that they're all sick of it.

So, what's this sinister plot of yours?

You make me sound awful.

I'm merely thinking of a plan to defend my fiancée, that's all.

If we're defending against the same person,

then isn't working together the most logical thing to do?

Indeed.

All of us attacking a delicate lady together violates the laws of gallantry,

but if an enemy gets caught in a defensive trap,

then we must exercise our right to self-defense, mustn't we?

Courtgain, the next time she calls on you, don't affirm or deny.

Would you simply let her go on her way for me?

I shouldn't deny her unjust suspicions?

Tia and the marquis haven't committed a single underhanded act,

so there shouldn't be a problem, right?

I see. Astounding as always, Your Highness.

I was told that the struck speechless event would be at the graduation ceremony.

If she's going to make a move, that's the most likely time.

Well then. I'm looking forward to seeing how this turns out.

Tia's reason she keeps trying to pair me with the heroine must lie with me somehow.

And the most likely cause of them all is the fact that I'm from the royal family.

If the answer exists amidst the information passed down

orally from king to king...

It is rare for you to ask me to make time for you, Cecil.

I apologize for asking when you're so busy.

Dispensing with the formalities, Father,

do you have any idea what a "maiden of destiny" might be?

What a very romantic idea to express an interest in.

It's a phrase that appeared when I was researching a topic for personal reasons.

It seems to have something to do with the royal family,

so I thought you must know about it, Father.

I thought I might try to find out why you're asking such a thing,

but your smile is absolutely impregnable, isn't it?

The truth is, I've been given a rather nonsensical prophecy.

Someone has told me that they are my maiden of destiny who holds sway over me.

I'm sorry, but nothing specific comes to mind.

There are legends of saints and battle maidens involved with the royal family,

but there isn't anything specific to this.

Really?

Yes, really.

I don't believe that my father is lying.

I see. Then they must have been simply thoughtless words.

You're giving up quite easily.

Despite the fact that this prophecy sparked your interest.

A prophecy that sounds like nonsense.

But she's your maiden of destiny, isn't she?

I have Bertia, my fiancée.

Why are you so surprised?