||

As soon as I get home from the Royal Palace, I hole myself up in the library. My goal is to throw myself into practicing magic so that I can keep elevating my rank.

Though unfortunately, the progress these days has been extremely slow. Ever since reaching level 80 its been quite difficult to raise my level further. Could I be experiencing a slump..?

Nothings happening, Gilles notes cheekily, looking up at me in curiosity. He had kindly agreed to tag along with me to the library for my magic practice, but instead of cheering me on, hes been sitting next to me with his nose stuck in a book this whole time.

Why isnt this going well? Its not working at all, I sigh, frustrated.

I dont know. But I think its already plenty amazing to have reached level 80 at your age.

This isnt nearly enough! The saintess has finally appeared! Who cares if Im level 80 at 13. My abilities need to be awe-inspiring for me to even have a chance to overshadow her mere existence, I complain loudly.

Gilles looks at me for a moment, amazed at my outburst. Then he sighs.

If thats how you feel, then fine, do whatever you want. Just dont even think about forcing your way up to level 100 just cause things are moving too slowly for you.

I know. I know.

I still remember what Grandpa Will had told me. Jumping levels could mean that I might never be able to use magic again

I need to make sure to level up just one rank at a time. I know.

And with that understanding in mind, Im about to resume my magic practice when another thought strikes me. Something that Gilles had said at the Royal Palace pops into mind.

Hey, Gilles..

What?

Is it true that the saintess is supposed to marry the next king?

Thats what I read in a book, he tells me and then he walks off somewhere.

Hm? Where could he be going right in the middle of our conversation like that..

Huh. Oh well! I also need to concentrate on getting stronger anyway.

I try to focus completely on my magic practice again. Taking in a slow, deep breath, I clear my head and calm my heart. And then I imagine it.. I imagine myself turning into a lion.

Im currently trying to attain magic that will allow me to shapeshift into animals. Because, for some reason, shapeshifting is lumped in as one of the specialties of darkness magic.

Honestly, the more I learn about magic, the more confused I become as to how the divisions between elements were decided. Why does darkness magic, which is supposedly based around destruction and healing, also contain shapeshifting?

.Sigh.

As I thought, its just better not to question it. Thinking about it is literally pointless.

But you know, the further I delve into magic, the more Im convinced that darkness is a good-for-nothing, everything-but-the-kitchen-sink element. Its like those stupid gamemakers just threw all the leftover spells that arent particularly useful into one element and called it a day. I can completely feel their love for darkness magic in their total disregard for spell continuity.

But its fine. This is what I have to work with. Ill just have to turn this trash element into something actually useful! I can do this. No, I will do this! And now, Im going to break through to the next level!

I concentrate all my senses on myself. Trying to feel my body and imagine it shifting. And just when I manage to shut out everything else around me and focus..

Ali~ I hear Gilless voice calling for me. Im snapped out of it once again in an instant.

For my concentration to be interrupted this easily, as a villainess I still have a long way to go it seems.

Uwagh!! What the hell!? Why do you look like that!?

The moment Gilles sees me he jumps nearly a foot in the air in surprise.

Look like that? What do I look like?

I walk over to the floor length mirror that I had placed against the bookshelves. I seem to be walking like normal, so what could have changed for him to.. What the heck!

My ears, nose, and mouth have all become like a cats! And are these. whiskers? I even have a tail!

When I finally see my reflection, my heart feels like its been given a shock.

So this sort of thing can happen when magics been interrupted? Only a couple parts of me have become like a lion.

My new ears are pitch black in color. does that mean that your hair color designates what color fur youll have when you transform?

.But, fur color aside, I still look way too human. From this travesty I can tell just how lacking my magic abilities are.

This look is kind of familiar.. Ah! I look like Im cosplaying!

Cospuraying? Gilles asks blankly, tilting his head to the side in confusion.

Oh yeah, cosplaying isnt a thing in this world.

Its nothing. More importantly, what did you want to tell me?

Gilles is staring at me hard. Is my appearance really that absurd? Its like hes so distracted by it that my words arent even registering to him.

Gilles? I say a little more loudly. At the same time, I also undo the transformation spell.

He flinches, his breath hitching in surprise, and finally his eyes flick to mine. After a moment more of just looking at each other, he finally remembers that he had been in the middle of telling me something.

A-ah. Right. Its written in here, he says, walking over to me with a book in his hand. He flips open to the page that he had marked by shoving his finger into the book. Right here.

I read the paragraph that he is pointing to.

The saintess exists to marry the king and bring peace to his country.

Oh. So its true.

Wow. Thats the whole reason that the saintess exists? I guess the heroine and Duke-Sama really are fated to be together then.

To be unable to change your fate I almost feel bad for her now.

If the saintess and the king didnt get along, how awful a life would that be? Especially since Im not so sure that Liz-san and Duke-Sama are actually seeing eye-to-eye at present.

Hes already changed his fate, though? Duke, I mean, Gilles says smiling. He seems to be watching me particularly closely as he says this. Although you didnt do anything, Alicia, you still slept in the same room as him, you know?

Was that really such a bad thing?

Gilles sighs heavily as if he cant believe that I have to ask about something so obvious.

You know, Alicia? For someone so smart, youre really dumb sometimes.

Whatever. Just hurry up and explain what you mean.

Youre not denying it, Gilles laughs, gaping at me in mock surprise.

Just tell me, I say while glaring menacingly at him.

Do you even realize that youre a young lady belonging to one of the five great noble houses?

Ohh! So thats what you meant.

Do you really understand what Im trying to say?

Yeah, of course. But, isnt everything fine? Its Duke-Sama were talking about, you know? Im sure hell explain everything properly to everyone. He wont let there be any misunderstandings.

Gilles gapes at me in actual disbelief this time. If his eyes were to open any wider than that, his eyeballs would be in danger of falling right out.

So thats how it is, huh? Alicia, youre actually just really dense, Gilles mutters as if he just had an epiphany.

.Dense? Thats the one thing I dont want to be called the most.

Agh, what a lousy feeling. I cant believe Gilles would call me dense. Me! Of all people!

Dense!? Ill have you know that I at least realized that Duke-Sama has romantic feelings for me. But, if hes fated to marry the saintess, then theres nothing that can be done about it, I snap while glaring daggers at him.

Some people might criticize me for getting so angry with a child much younger than me, but I dont care. Villainesses are supposed to have short tempers. Moreover, he dared call me dense! Im not dense. Its the heroine thats dense!

You dont have to get that mad about it. I was just trying to say that I think Dukes actions were premeditated, thats all, Gilles says. He doesnt seem to be cowed in the slightest by my big show of anger.

..Premeditated? Like, he had me sleep in the same room as him because he already knew that the next king and the saintess would be expected to get married in the future?

No way. Are you telling me that hes been thinking from one step ahead this whole time?

So, do you understand my point now? Gilles asks me, peering up into my face.

This might actually become a huge issue. If Duke-Sama and I were to get married, then wont that mean that Liz-san will never listen to me again? I mean, Liz-san likes Duke-sama, right? If we get married, forget being able to confront her, shell probably end up just ignoring me completely!

Thats the equivalent of me not being able to pick a fight with her anymore! I cant let that happen. Its precisely because I can stand opposite the saintess that my evil deeds as the villainess will be able to shine!

Wouldnt this sort of development completely shatter my chances of making my dream come true?

.Dont you dare try to mess with me on this! I am going to show this whole world just how splendid of a villainess I can be.

Duke-Sama may have already made it loud and clear through his actions that he harbors romantic feelings for me, but he has yet to say it out loud that he likes me.

So for now at least, I should be fine!

.Right?

||

T/N: Lol, I love how defensive Alicia gets when Gilles calls her dense XD And Gilles, bless him, he knows just how to push her buttons. He truly is MVP of this story hahahaha!

Ch. 102 Poll Results:

Which is a great segway into the fact that literally 100 people chose the option that Gilles is the true saintess from last chapters poll XD Oh my word, you guys are hysterical. You made my day hahahaha. Thats 13.7% of everyone who voted!! Do any of you actually believe that? Or was that option just too funny to pass up?

On a more serious note, I was surprised by how many people think the whole saintess thing is just a load of crock! 318 people, 43.6% of all voters, said the saintess is just made up. I wouldnt be surprised if that was the case with the flimsy reason for her existence that was written in the book in this chapter, but still. Thats a huge plurality. Even if we put the 70 votes from the people that are pretty sure that Liz is the saintess, and the 70 votes from people who are adamant that she is the saintess for plot purposes together, that doesnt come anywhere near 318. Its not even half. Even if we add the 129 votes for Alicia being the saintess in we are still short 49 votes. Its Gilless votes that finally shove the scale over the edge XD Again, what an amazing result HAHAHA!

As for write-ins, quite a few people think that the true saintess might be Rebecca (the girl from the impoverished village). That would a super cool development! Though Im still heavily shipping her with Henry. Sorry Gilles x Henry fans lol. Another idea I saw a couple of times was that there might actually be more than one saintess! I feel like that really gives food for thought. And a third idea that made me laugh every time. Its obviously Duke., You thought it is Liz? It is I, Duke!, Plot twist: Duke is the saint. He marries himself lol. The image of him marrying himself. is just too funny hahaha! And as a bonus, maybe imagine the wedding with this in mind: Alan is secretly a genius and the true saintess. He will reveal his master fall plan of how he pretended to be incompetent. What do you think of Henry Alan x Duke!? Hm? Hmm? XD

Theres a lot of different theories floating around and I for one would love it if the stereotypical ones werent true for once! But only time will tell~ Thanks again for playing!