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The Villainess’s Entrapment

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*****

「---It is simply too much to overlook.」

Dalistia Abacam, the daughter of the Duke, watched with a bitter gaze as Wellmy Lyloud—formerly Wellmy Ernest—caused a stir at the evening party with the same unrestrained behavior she had exhibited back at the Royal Academy.

Though Dalistia had never personally associated with her during their student days, she had heard the rumors often enough. Naturally, the majority were unfavorable. It was only to be expected, given how Wellmy had clung to the fiancé of her older sister, Iola, and conducted herself with a blatant lack of decorum for a lady.

As a member of the student council tasked with correcting public morals, Dalistia had attempted to lodge direct protests several times, only to be stopped each time by Crown Prince Leonir. Dalistia was his childhood friend. While she harbored no romantic feelings for him, she had spent a long time close to his side as a candidate to become his fiancée.

(That is precisely why I cannot overlook Wellmy’s current behavior.)

The girl had vanished from social circles for a time, but eventually began appearing at evening parties again, escorted by the Magus Lord, Eides. According to what Dalistia had heard, upon her return to society, Wellmy and her sister Iola had actually been invited to a private tea party hosted by the Queen.

Dalistia, who had not been invited to such an event for some time, felt a complex swirl of emotions. After all, hidden behind the rumors of Wellmy being favored by the Magus Lord, word was spreading that Iola—now Countess Ernest—was to be engaged to Leonir. The matrons and young ladies who brought these rumors to her ears always cast meaningful glances in Dalistia's direction. She ignored them, of course, but it certainly didn't make her feel good.

This only made Wellmy, the sister of the reclusive Iola, stand out even more.

The first incident occurred at an evening party hosted by the Royal Family. It was whispered to be an event intended to help Leonir select a marriage partner. Yet, on that very floor, Wellmy set the Magus Lord aside and danced the first dance with Leonir.

Iola was nowhere to be seen.

It was no wonder the entire venue buzzed with questions of "Why?" The Magus Lord who had escorted her said nothing, and word was that no formal engagement between him and Wellmy had been signed yet.

Furthermore, Wellmy—the center of all attention—had hurled abuse at a certain Baron's daughter whom Leonir favored, then practically dragged the girl out into the garden. That girl possessed silver eyes, a rarity even among magical lineages, which held a powerful hidden healing magic; it was said the Church desired her as a Saint. The girl returned alone in tears, while Wellmy strolled back later as if nothing had happened, sticking close to Leonir and chatting gaily.

From there, Wellmy’s conduct grew even worse. She was primarily escorted by either the Crown Prince or the Magus Lord. After dancing the first dance with one of them, she would approach a different young nobleman at every party and disappear with him into the shadows of the terrace or the garden. Afterward, for some reason, those men would begin clinging to her side just as the Prince and the Magus Lord did.

There was even a story about Wellmy and another nobleman being seen emerging from a private resting room together. Some of these men had fiancées, yet even when the aggrieved ladies voiced their complaints, the noblemen paid them no heed.

Then came the day Wellmy spilled wine all over Dalistia's dress.

「Oh my, my apologies, Lady Abacam. My hand slipped. Leo, it would be terrible if this stained, so please guide her to the back.」

「Right.」

Wellmy’s eyes narrowed into crescents as she gave the order to Leonir with a flourish, her behavior making it obvious it had been intentional. Dalistia was incensed.

(To order a member of the Royal Family about like a servant!)

「That won't be necessary!」

Dalistia raised her voice despite herself and turned to leave the venue. Just then, Leonir’s younger brother, the Second Prince... Prince Tygrim, a second-year student at the Academy three years her junior, spoke to her.

「Lady Dalistia. This way.」

Tygrim led her to a separate room and ordered the servants to remove the wine stain. Dalistia expressed her gratitude—and her grievances—to him. After a moment of deep thought, his face—so similar to Leonir’s but with silver eyes and a different air about him—turned serious.

「The Lady Lyloud’s behavior is indeed excessive. I shall speak of this to my brother.」

「I would be most grateful.」

By then, voices criticizing Wellmy were rising here and there from people other than Dalistia. However, because Leonir and the noblemen surrounding her were of such high rank, and because she was always in their company, there was never a moment to offer a direct admonishment.

At the same time, unsettling rumors began to circulate.

(Apparently, magical drugs and cursed artifacts that interfere with the mind are making the rounds...)

(No, surely not,) Dalistia thought. Wellmy had ingratiated herself with various gentlemen in just two months with unnatural speed.

(Could it be Wellmy...?)

Her suspicion turned to near-certainty shortly thereafter. Even Prince Tygrim, who had promised to warn Leonir about Wellmy... had begun to wait upon her as well.

Something was wrong. Dalistia carefully waited for a moment when Tygrim was alone and approached him.

「...Prince Tygrim.」

「Ah, Lady Dalistia. Was there something?」

Tygrim looked at her with eyes that were somehow very cold, making Dalistia’s breath hitch. Before she could say a word, he said, 「Excuse me,」 and walked away.

As she stood there in a daze, someone called out to her.

「Are you all right, Lady Dalistia?」

It was Tsurgis Deltrate, the son of a Marquis. He was one of the few noblemen with no ties to Wellmy; he was often seen at parties with the Baron's daughter Wellmy had brought to tears, and they were rumored to be lovers. Given the status gap, he, as the heir, would likely never be allowed to marry her. Such stories of tragic love were discussed among the young ladies as often as they were dismissed.

A soft scent of a perfume she had never smelled before—like an unknown flower—wafted from him. At his kind words, Dalistia felt like she might cry. They moved toward the wall and spoke in low tones.

「...Are you aware of the rumors regarding cursed magic items that manipulate the mind?」

Dalistia gasped as Tsurgis spoke while glaring toward Wellmy.

「Could it be, Lord Tsurgis, that you also...」

When she implicitly asked if he shared her suspicions, he nodded with a stern expression. He stated that if there was some sort of malice at work, it had to be exposed. Dalistia agreed.

「Wellmy was whispered to have a once-in-a-generation mind for magic items. Though I also heard the truth was that it was her sister, Countess Ernest. ...It wouldn't be strange if one of them developed such things to control the noblemen at will...」

Tsurgis’s words were enough to confirm Dalistia’s doubts. It was definitely strange. Dalistia took courage in the fact that there was someone else who thought as she did and was willing to act.

「...What should I do?」

Since he had approached her, he must have a plan. Otherwise, he wouldn't bring this up to her when they had no prior connection.

「...Give this to Wellmy. It is a magic item used by the state to extract confessions; it induces a dazed state and makes it impossible to lie to questions.」

He handed her a necklace set with a gemstone. He told her that if she used it—hidden in her bag—to ask Wellmy, 『Are you using magic items to manipulate people?』 the truth would come out.

「She doesn't seem to manipulate the young ladies, but if I approach, I risk being brought under her control.」

Tsurgis gave his reason for entrusting it to her.

The place for the plan was the upcoming evening party at the Royal Castle, where it was said the Crown Prince’s fiancée would be announced. All the nobility and the King and Queen themselves would be in attendance. Since Dalistia had received no word, she knew she had been dropped as a candidate for Leonir.

And now, the most likely candidate was Wellmy Lyloud.

Perhaps even the rumored engagement to Magus Lord Eides Ormirage was merely a stepping stone for this. Tsurgis remarked that it was odd for the famously man-hating Magus Lord to suddenly fall for a girl. Dalistia thought he was exactly right.

Just then, she saw the Crown Prince walking toward them, and Tsurgis slipped away. When asked what they had been talking about, Dalistia feigned that it was nothing of importance. He was under Wellmy's control. Whether he sensed her rejection or not, Leonir did not pursue the matter further.

「...Do not lay a hand on Wellmy, Lady Dalistia.」

Being told that in such a warning tone only solidified her resolve. She would expose the crime of this Wellmy, who sought to manipulate the future leaders of the country and shake its foundations.

Waiting for the moment, Dalistia arrived at the Royal Castle wearing the necklace. After hearing the King’s opening declaration and watching the first dance of the King and Queen, she approached Wellmy.

「Lady Wellmy Lyloud.」

The noblemen surrounding her stepped forward as if to block her path, but she was already within range for the magic. Dalistia activated the necklace’s spell, catching Wellmy in it, and asked her question.

「Answer me. Are you using magic items to manipulate people?」

Wellmy’s eyes lost their focus, and she gave a short answer to the question.

「---Yes.」

At that response, the people listening nearby began to murmur. Amidst the whispers of "I knew something was wrong," just as Dalistia was about to hurl her righteous anger at Wellmy... someone’s cloak swirled around Wellmy, drawing her in.

Standing there was the Magus Lord, Eides Ormirage.

「Crates!」

At his sharp call, Earl Lyloud—a first-class curse-breaker—stepped forward quickly and touched his daughter Wellmy's eyes. Wellmy blinked as if coming to her senses and then smiled.

「---The enemy has finally shown their tail, hasn't it?」

Eides nodded at her words and looked down at Dalistia with eyes devoid of emotion.

「Answer me, Lady Dalistia Abacam. ...From whom did you receive that magic item?」

(They knew? Why?)

No, but Wellmy had answered "Yes" to the question about the magic item. If she just pointed that out...

As Dalistia gathered her strength, someone placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked up to see a familiar face.

「Brother...」

It was her brother, Malefident Abacam, the Special Commissioner, who had escorted her today. With blonde hair, golden eyes, and a tall frame, he maintained a soft smile while looking straight at Eides.

He was the head of the National Security Special Division—the department that cracked down on foreign spies, political prisoners plotting treason, and special crimes involving the smuggling of magical drugs and items.

Furthermore, he was the heir of House Abacam—a lineage connected to the previous royal family that had valued honor during the installation of the Lionel family, turning against the crown alongside House Ormirage and becoming the only bloodline spared from execution.

And—he was the other Magus Lord who had achieved as much in the field of magic as Eides.

「What is all this commotion about?」

At Malefident’s smiling inquiry, Eides replied with a contrasting lack of expression.

「---Someone is in our midst who attempted to frame a fiancée candidate in order to destroy the Crown Prince’s credibility.」

*****

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