A Third-Rate Villain Tries Her Best Today 38

Chapter 38

“Master Evan Fritz.”

“……!”

As Sue cautiously addressed him, Evan flinched, his shoulders hunching like a startled hamster, and looked at her. His eyes were filled with anxiety.

“Y-you are…”

“Sue of the Byron Viscount family, at your service. Glory to the empire.”

“……”

Sue greeted him softly, trying to calm him down. He didn’t seem to remember her, even though she had greeted him earlier. She knelt down to meet his eyes, trying to show him that she meant no harm.

“Master Evan, you’re looking for Master Shina, right? May I escort you to where he is?”

Evan stared at Sue for a long time. He scrutinized her with wary eyes, as if dissecting her piece by piece. Sue endured his gaze patiently, waiting for his answer.

…But her patience was met with a cruel response.

“I don’t want to be escorted by an ugly girl like you.”

The viscount’s daughter and the grand duke’s son.

A plain-looking girl and an adorable boy.

“Hmph, what the… How rude.”

Evan scoffed, his eyes, which had been teary just moments ago, now looking down at her with disdain.

‘Are all these nobles two-faced?’

They become infinitely arrogant when they think they’re superior to someone.

It wasn’t like she didn’t know that, but it was still a strange feeling to experience it firsthand. Their cunning, disguised as innocence, was hurtful. Not that she was actually hurt.

“Hmph, get out of my way.”

Sue stepped aside silently at the arrogant boy’s command. Evan brushed past her without a word. Sue slowly stood up and watched him go. He strutted towards the center of the ballroom, putting on a show. Soon, servants rushed over to the lone Evan.

“Sigh.”

Well, it worked out for the best. Sue quickly averted her gaze, thinking that.

Sue gulped down her non-alcoholic wine. It was sweet.

‘Should I go over there now?’

The crowd around Enzhe was starting to disperse. Even when dealing with unpleasant people, Enzhe always maintained a serene smile. No one would know her true feelings.

Should I go or not? The debate didn’t last long.

“Lady Enzhe!”

“…Oh, Sue.”

Today, she was wearing a red dress with gold embroidery. The loveliest girl in the ballroom was even more beautiful under the chandelier lights.

Enzhe seemed perfectly fine on the surface. Her posture, with her back and neck straight, her hands clasped neatly in her lap, hadn’t wavered for over an hour.

I wish her insides were as calm as her appearance. Sue spoke, watching her nervously.

“You must be tired. Would you like to rest in the lounge? I’ll escort you.”

“….”

But Enzhe’s eyes, staring at Sue silently, weren’t smiling at all. Sue gulped, but she didn’t avert her gaze.

Enzhe was definitely exhausted, both mentally and physically.

If I can appease her now…

“Sue.”

“Yes, Lady Enzhe.”

Enzhe’s high-pitched voice trembled with an unsettling tone. Sue answered reflexively.

‘Ah, I’m screwed.’

She instantly regretted it.

Enzhe’s eyes, which were now fixed solely on her, were several times colder and darker than she had imagined. Her deep-set black eyes narrowed slightly.

“I don’t need the lounge. I have something to tell you… Let’s go to my room.”

Enzhe grabbed Sue’s wrist and pulled her along. Sue felt a sharp pain shoot through her wrist from Enzhe’s strong grip.

The nobles around them smiled warmly, watching the Lopetrefer young lady affectionately lead her friend out of the ballroom. None of them noticed that the ‘friend’ was frozen stiff.

‘Ah, this is worse than I thought.’

I should have just stayed in the corner.

But it was too late for regrets. Even if she had stayed in the corner, Enzhe would have still dragged her out of the ballroom.

She was reminded of the incident two weeks ago. Was this her fate, no matter how much she tried to appease Enzhe?

‘Well, I guess so.’

Sue, resigned to her fate, couldn’t even wince at the pain in her wrist as she followed Enzhe out of the ballroom.

***

“L-Lady Enzhe…!”

Sue’s terrified scream was ignored, and the sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed through the room. Sue’s head snapped back.

“This is so frustrating. So frustrating.”

Enzhe slammed her fist against the wall. Her delicate body seemed to possess an incredible amount of strength, the impact vibrating through the wall.

“I wish they were all dead. Don’t you agree?”

“Yes, I agree, Lady Enzhe…”

Sue replied, trying to stay calm. Enzhe’s beautiful face was right in front of her. Her deep-set black eyes seemed to be spinning like black holes.

Without any change in expression, Enzhe slowly wrapped her other hand around Sue’s neck. Sue felt the coldness of her touch. She tilted her chin up, looking down at Enzhe’s long fingernails digging into her neck. She wanted to move back, but she was already against the wall. Then, a sharp voice rang in her ears.

“That damn successful product was born, and I’m already in a bad mood. What are you doing?”

“…”

“…Haha, does this even make sense? I’m stuck at that stupid ball, dealing with those stupid people, and you’re leisurely sipping wine… Do you think I wanted to be there?!”

Was she watching me?

Before that thought could even form, Enzhe slapped her across the face. Another sickening thud echoed through her body. It felt like her skin was tearing. Sue’s left cheek swelled up, red and throbbing.

“I apologize, Lady Enzhe.”

But even with such an absurd reason, Sue had to lower her head. That was her purpose. It was her fault for not properly gauging Enzhe’s mood.

“And why were you chatting happily with Evan?”

When did she even see that?

“Master Evan was looking for Master Fritz…”

“That’s why! Why do you even care?!”

Enzhe cut off Sue’s hurried explanation. Her earsplitting screech sounded like nails scratching a chalkboard.

“I’m! Bowing down to Michaela, the one I want to kill!”

Enzhe bared her teeth. Her breathing became ragged with excitement. She was angry beyond comprehension.

“Ugh…!”

Sue’s head was whipped to the side again. She gritted her teeth, suppressing a moan. There was no reasoning with her.

“Ha… Ha… Please don’t make me angry.”

After a while, Enzhe let go of Sue, her hair tangled messily in her hands. Sue, finally released, clutched her waist, watching Enzhe stumble, unable to stand properly.

She didn’t feel any movement from her waist. There was no strange nausea. Only after confirming those things did she feel a sliver of relief.

She’s not using the snakes.

Sue, oblivious to her swollen cheek, felt a glimmer of gratitude towards her master. It seemed like her efforts two weeks ago hadn’t been entirely in vain.

Such a merciful, merciful master.

Enzhe, staggering, sat down on the edge of the bed, her head hung low, and began to run her fingers through her hair frantically. Her slender shoulders trembled with suppressed rage.

“Lady Enzhe…”

Sue mumbled her name helplessly. There was nothing she could do. She was Enzhe’s punching bag, not her therapist. It was even more so now, considering Enzhe couldn’t even control her anger with Fritz present at the ball.

This is what Enzhe was like when Michaela was born.

…But why is she so stressed?

Even in ‘Beyond the Tiny Droplet’, Enzhe’s emotions weren’t clearly depicted. She was simply portrayed as a villain, an evil woman. Her feelings towards Michaela were even more unclear.

In the story, Enzhe’s focus had always been on Fritz. What he was doing, what he liked, who he liked. She had been investigating those things every day and eliminating any threats.

But she didn’t know about Michaela. Enzhe was a sadist and a psychopath who enjoyed inflicting pain on others, but she was particularly sharp when it came to Michaela. She didn’t even seem to enjoy taking out her anger on her as much as she did with others.

Right now, Shina Fritz was in the ballroom. But Enzhe’s current stress stemmed from Michaela, not from Fritz’s presence. Today, her priority was Michaela.

“Why was that thing even born…? I hate it. I just hate it. From the core, I hate it. Just looking at her round face makes me sick. But why does Shina…”

Enzhe whined, almost on the verge of tears.