I will not die a Villainess's death

"You are right. We need to follow after him. Let's hurry up and follow him right now."

That was an idea and a half as the trio followed after Victor without making any noise. He was really fast and meticulous with what he was doing.

The way he opened the doors and used magic left no apparent residue and it was also faint enough that it was bound to disappear in minutes.

Had the three not seen Victor loitering around these parts, they would have never known that he was even there to begin with.

"Hey, I know this is a little questionable but isn't he heading toward Elysia's bedroom? I'm pretty sure that area is off-limits to him…..don't look at me. I only know this because the maids told me all that."

Sorias stared hard at Enma before giving him the benefit of the doubt.

He had forgotten for a second that the maids liked Enma because he was from the temple and he did not like Elysia.

In their eyes, an enemy of my enemy was a friend.

And not to mention, he was a royal guest for now and that also warranted this royal treatment. It annoyed Sorias but not as much as it used to in the beginning.

He was slowly getting used to it.

"Why is Lady Dirac's tutor looking for her in her room at this time of the day? Does he want to create rumors about her? Won't it put him in a weird situation?"

Lady White was right to say that. As a nobility, Elysia was more likely to get a slip on the wrist and be let go than Victor.

But Victor was smart enough to know that and he had still come to this chamber out of his own will. That must mean that he had a plan.

"I don't trust this man and anything he does. I am going out to confront him and…"

"Shhh, wait here. Look, he is putting something in front of Lady Dirac's room. We should wait for him to leave before investigating what it is."

Sorias did not want to wait but even she saw the wisdom in Lady White's words. It would be better to stop Victor than to catch him in this act.

"But I still don't like this man being this near Elysia's rooms. I will inform Lucas about….Now, what is that man doing here? Who is he anyway?"

Sorias hissed as a black-haired man walked toward Victor as well. From this distance, that man looked vaguely like Lucas did but they had different eye colors and different ways to carry themselves.

The servant that was trailing after that black-haired man looked annoyed but also used to it.

"I want to hear. I will cast a spell on us for now so do not make any noise."

For the first time since Sorias had known her, Lady White managed to prove her worth. Her spell made their hearing much sharper than before and it also managed to pierce through the spell that was woven over the area.

Sorias turned around to give Lady White a thankful look but she turned her head around. There was a strip of red around her cheeks which was adorable but in a kid's sense of the way.

"See, I can be of help to you…."

Lady White was saying something but Sorias's attention snapped toward the two men in front of him.

They had seen each other as well and Victor looked startled to see this new person. Fear and excitement flashed in his eyes before he gave a low bow of greeting.

"Your highness, the crown prince of Akatsuki, Chrome Akatsuki. It's a pleasure to meet you."

____________________________

'Fuck this. How is this my life now? '

Enma cursed his luck as his eyes fell on the pair in front of him. Out of everyone he expected to see in the Dirac manor, the Crown Prince of their neighboring empire was never a choice.

"Your highness, the crown prince of Akatsuki, Chrome Akatsuki. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Those cursed orange eyes narrowed toward Victor's location before they turned toward the vile on the ground and then back up.

The servant who was running behind the crown prince panted as he tried his best to keep up with the younger.

He looked annoyed but also resigned to his position. Enma could not help but feel sorry for the servant who had to take care of such a willful crown Prince.

"It's a pleasure for sure. But, ehh, who are you again? Do I know you?"

Chrome Akatsuki had been a fascinating character in the light novel. He was only second in popularity when it came to the main cast and was liked for his milk manners.

As far as villains went, he was decent but powerful. He was the one who started a lot of messes that could end the world.

And now that very person was in front of Enma's eyes.

"My lord, he's Lady Dirac's tutor, Lord Victor. I am sure we went over all this before."

The servant whispered in Lord Akatsuki's ear but the crown prince seemed to not care much for it.

"Oh, I see. Sooo, what do I do with this information now? I don't care much for this useless man and I don't want to waste my time here. I just want to know if Elysia is in here or not."

'Shit. How does this man know Elysia? Had their alliance been formed already? But why? As far as I can see, Elysia does not need to do that.'

It was the truth. The original alliance had been made because they both wanted to separate the royal couple and it was so far into the story that it did make sense.

But as things went, Lord Chrome had not even met Eve so there was no way he could have fallen in love already with her.

And Elysia also had a good relationship with the royal couple and she did not look in love with Prince Adam.

So their alliance did not make sense.

"I had no idea your highness knew Lady Dirac. Is your highness interested in Lady Dirac as well?"

'He asked the question! Victor freaking asked that question!'

Enma could not help but gasp out loud as soon as he heard those words. And he was not the only one to do that either.

Lady White looked excited at the prospect of hearing this juicy gossip while Sorais looked ready to murder both men in front of him.

As for Lord Chrome? He just looked amused and snickered at the question.

"Me? Liking Elysia, huh? Well, Elysia is young and beautiful. She also had a pure heart and is not afraid to do what she needs to do. So I guess I do like her after all. Why? What is it to you?"

Enma stopped Sorias before he could jump out and harm Chrome Akatsuki. That confession had come out of nowhere but it did not sound fake.

The tone Lord Chrome had used might have been amused but there was a note of sincerity in his tone as well.

'Shit. How did this happen? Why are all these big shots going for Elysia Dirac, the villainess, and not the Main character, Eve? How is this world deviating so much?'

Enma no longer knew what would happen next. But the world did not give him an answer for his troubles.

"I s-see. Then my lord likes Lady Elysia too. I will keep that in mind."

"Too? Why? Does someone else like Elysia as well?"

Victor panicked at the question and even Enma could hear the lies his next words were.

"N-No. I mean, a lot of people must like Lady Dirac because of her status. A-And her powers are also very nice...And would you look at the time? I should get going now."

Victor made a haste exit from the corridor, leaving the vile behind on the ground.

Lord Chrome picked up the vile and inspected it. Neither of the three people shadowing him knew what he discovered but he turned toward his air with a serious face.

"Get that man killed as soon as discreetly as possible. Make his death seem natural so that people do not complain and get it done today."

"B-But my lord, you should not say that all out aloud. What if someone hears you talking?"

"Then they would hear me talking about killing a good-for-nothing man. And I am sure they would keep their mouths shut if they know what is good for them."

Enma knew for sure that they had been discovered already. But they were being given a chance to save themselves and he was not going to look a gifted horse in the mouth.

Sorias would keep his silence for a different reason since he wanted Victor gone. And as for Lady White? She did not care for anything that was happening so she had no reason to babble.

That was how their first encounter with the Crown Prince of the neighboring nation went.

And all Enma could think was - villains are scary when they get going. Thank god I did not make Elysia angry at me yet.