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Were just walking through the school building normally, and yet were the center of attention. What a wonderful development. Its just like I imagined it would be! Everyone is throwing us puzzled looks and suspicious sidelong glances. I can already feel just how much were being disliked.

But, Im amazed, too. Rumors sure can get around quickly. Ill have to thank those girls for spreading the news about me so fast.

I heard that Alicia-Sama was abominably rude to a few of her upperclassman.

I heard that too. And did you hear about how frightened the one girl was? She was apparently quivering in fear to the point that the others had to support her.

I wish she wouldnt act so high and mighty just because shes a bit skilled at magic.

Exactly. And she even said terrible things to Liz-Sama, too!

I cant believe how different she is from her brothers. How can she be related to Albert-Sama?

Oh! Theyve already started to badmouth me behind my back? I really must be a genius after all; my aptitude for becoming a villainess seems to be off the charts.

Who is that boy that she came with anyway?

I dont know, but isnt he adorable?

I suppose, but still. Hes hanging around Alicia-Sama, you know?

Eek!! He glared at me.!

Its only being glared at Is that really something to shriek about?

The students in this academy are supposed to eventually take up powerful positions within the country, right? What is this world going to come to?

I glance over at Gilles to see his reaction.

Oh, wow. Thats quite the terrifying expression there. With a look like that, no one would dare call him cute anymore. Though, I would expect nothing less from a villainesss righthand man.

Wha.

Suddenly someone grabs hold of my arm and pulls on it. Hard.

Alicia!

The last thing I see is Gilles rushing towards me and yelling my name before Im thrown to a different place using transportation magic.

Who could it be?? That spell should only be acquirable after reaching level 80..

Slowly, I open my eyes.

Im now in a room surrounded by bookshelves with a large desk in the middle surrounded by a couple of couches.

Is this some sort of conference room maybe?

I look down at the hand thats still grasping my arm. It looks large, masculine, somehow beautiful.. Its how I would imagine a mans hand should look.

And, oh. Whats that? He seems to smell really good too.

Slowly I glance up into the face of the man who had grabbed me.

Duke-Sama?

No no no. I cant deal with being this close. Hes too sexy. My knees are turning to pudding. I feel weak. My goodness, was Duke-Sama always this tall? I feel like Im craning my head back just to see his face.

Ah, my heart feels like its going to explode.

Calm down. Get ahold of yourself, Alicia. A villainess wont become flustered just because of a proximity issue with a handsome man.

Where are we exactly? I ask, slightly breathlessly.

The student council room.

Ah, I see. And? What am I doing here exactly? I say, getting my voice more under control now.

Duke-Sama likes Liz-san, right? So then why would he suddenly run off with me to this sort of place?

Dont tell me, its because I said those harsh things to her earlier? The power of love is quite astounding. It makes people do some crazy things.

Wait. Could he be planning to kill me off? Just like that?

Why didnt you refuse my fathers request?

At his words, I freeze.

Request? Could he be referring to me monitoring Liz-san? But how does he know about that? No one was supposed to find out.

This isnt good. Did I mess up already?

Duke-Sama stares into my eyes, waiting. Searching. Trying to find the answer as if it was written in their depths.

If I try to make something up and lie here, Im sure hell figure it out right away.

Why do you know about that? I hedge.

If theres something that I want to know, then Ill find it out, no matter what it is.

As expected of a brilliant prince. His information network knows no bounds. I guess he must have had everyone whos come near Liz-san thoroughly investigated.

So? What did you bring me here for, Duke-Sama?

At my question, its his turn to freeze up.

Without saying anything, his eyes slowly trail lower, stopping to look at the diamond necklace laying delicately between my collar bones.

.He wouldnt say something like he wants me to give this back, right?

Well, even if thats the case, it really cant be helped. This necklace is super valuable after all.

Duke-Sama reaches for the stone, gently picking it up and rubbing it between his fingertips.

This pattern. Does this mean hes just going to rip it off my neck instead of bothering to ask for it back?

That would be great. Thats exactly what should happen in this sort of scenario between the prince and the villainess.

What an honor that Ill actually be able to experience such a notorious scene for myself.

But, if thats what is about to happen, then why does his expression seem so wistful.? Is he regretting giving the necklace to me?

Duke-Sama leans towards me slightly and lightly presses his lips to the gemstone.

Eh?

Without meaning to, I let out a little noise of surprise.

This action was so far removed from my expectations that my head is having trouble adjusting. My heart is also beating noisily in my chest and I can feel my face heating up.

Um. So. What was that just now? What was the meaning of that? Did he perhaps cast a spell on my necklace to keep me away from Liz-san?

But, thats not the sort of rationale that would bring him to kiss an accessory that he had given to me himself.

Come on, Alicia. You arent one of those idiotically dense girls that cant read the mood. You need to think about this calmly and collectedly.

Cute, Duke-Sama says, running a lock of my hair through his fingers.

Now thats just not fair. Is he trying to kill me?

He called me cute just now, right? I mean, Im the only other person here, arent I? Theres no one else who it could have been.

My hearts beating even louder now than it was just a second ago. I can hear each beat so clearly, it feels like its echoing throughout the room.

Wait, wait, wait, before that. When did he and I get so close?

Its hard to imagine Duke-Sama doing this with just anybody, so does that mean hes still harboring some good feelings towards me? That has to be it, right? You wouldnt act this way with someone you hate.

But then, what sort of relationship does he have with Liz-san?

Wait, that doesnt even matter. Isnt it bad for me to be sticking so close to him regardless?

As I come to this conclusion, my rationality starts returning to me.

Right, no matter what, Duke-Sama needs to be closest with Liz-san. So this, whatevers happening right now, cant happen. In any case, it will be terrible if it was known that the most evil villainess in the world was acting all chummy with this countrys prince.

Its not because of the request. My personality really is just that bad, I tell him and then flee. I fly out of the student council room as fast as my feet will carry me.

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T/N: I love how she says shes not dense. Honestly, I think shes rationalizing herself away from the truth. Like, she is using every ounce of her brain to come up with an explanation other than Duke likes me, not Liz. XD