A Third-Rate Villain Tries Her Best Today 14

Chapter 14

The three chatted for a while, the conversation flowing smoothly thanks to Melaine’s endless supply of new topics.

Just as their conversation was drawing to a close, Enzhe, who had been smiling pleasantly, uttered an unwelcome phrase.

“Come to think of it, I need to use the glass garden.”

Sue and Melaine exchanged glances. The moment the words ‘glass garden’ were spoken, a tense silence fell between them.

“Lady Enzhe, may I ask who the target is?”

Sue asked cautiously, praying with all her might that it wasn’t her.

Enzhe turned her head towards Sue. Her black eyes, as deep and alluring as black holes, drew Sue in. With a slight curve of her beautiful lips, Enzhe spoke, her words as tempting as those of a devil.

“Sue Byron.”

“…”

“…It’s not you.”

Sue’s body instantly went limp with relief. But she forced herself to keep her eyes open, fearing a repeat of the last time. She unconsciously ignored the cold sweat trickling down her back.

Enzhe stared at Sue for a moment, her gaze predatory, before revealing the name of the real target.

“Jade Raymon.”

“Huh?”

Melaine echoed the name, her eyes filled with bewilderment.

“Jade Raymon… you mean…”

She was referring to the fourth son of Duke Raymon, a fifth-year student at the academy. That’s why Melaine was confused. While Enzhe had no qualms about tormenting anyone who displeased her, she had never targeted anyone from a ducal family.

“It’s fine. Just do as usual. That’s all.”

Enzhe’s red lips curved into a smile. Some might call her an angel sent from God, but to Sue, she was nothing short of a terrifying demon.

“Let’s go to the glass garden tomorrow.”

“…That’s rather soon.”

Usually, after choosing a target, she would take a week to prepare. Enzhe was the meticulous type, even using barrier magic just in case.

“I want to get it over with as soon as possible. Once this is done, I want to rest for a while.”

 

* * *

 

The next day, Sue walked around with a worried expression on her face all day. Even Hanjee, who usually didn’t talk to her, asked, “Did you eat something bad?” with a hint of concern.

Normally, the situation would have ended with Hanjee’s teasing, but Sue had forgotten about someone who actually cared about her.

“Byron, is something wrong?”

During break time, Noel, who had taken the seat next to Sue, asked, his eyes shadowed with concern.

“It’s nothing.”

Sue, who had completely forgotten about Noel, quickly composed herself and replied.

“Really?”

“Yes. I had a bit of a stomachache last night. That’s all. I’m fine now.”

“Hmm…”

Sue smiled brightly, as if to reassure him. It was a shameless smile she could put on at any time, her specialty, so she could smile again and again for Noel, who kept questioning her.

After school, as promised, Sue opened the door to the glass garden.

Enzhe entered first, followed by Sue and Melaine. As soon as they all stepped onto the white marble floor, the door to the glass garden closed with a creak.

The only sound in the silent space was the gentle flow of the stream, proving that the world hadn’t come to a standstill.

The setting sun cast long shadows through the glass panes.

The flowers and trees, which would normally have looked beautiful, now seemed to be staring at them menacingly, and a chilling aura emanated from the cold floor.

An unsettling feeling crept over her.

In the center of the garden stood a statue carved from an old tree. The statue, about the size of a grown man, depicted the fierce form of a white tiger, the symbolic animal of the imperial family.

Jade Raymon was waiting for Lady Enzhe in front of the white tiger statue. His young face was flushed red.

“Young Master Raymon.”

“Ah… Lady Lopetrefer!”

At the sound of Enzhe’s voice, Jade couldn’t contain his excitement and called out her name. Enzhe tilted her head and smiled sweetly. Jade stared at her, mesmerized, as if admiring a work of art.

Seeing his smitten expression, Sue realized why Jade had been chosen as the target.

Of course, the main reason was probably Enzhe’s bad mood.

Enzhe led Jade to the basement in a gentle voice. Jade, completely infatuated with Enzhe, followed her as if he would follow her to hell.

Sue, the last to enter the basement, closed the door behind her and recalled Enzhe’s words from yesterday.

*‘I want to rest for a while.’*

In other words, once they dealt with Jade Raymon today, she wouldn’t have to see or experience this kind of thing for a while.

She didn’t know what would happen if Enzhe had another mood swing, but she didn’t have time to think about that now.

*Yes, just endure today.*

*As long as Jade Raymon cooperates.*

Once they entered the basement, it became Enzhe’s world. No matter how big or strong someone was, no matter how skilled they were in magic or martial arts, they were all powerless before Enzhe.

The Lopetrefer grand duke family was renowned for their mastery of offensive magic.

And Enzhe was the child born from the Lopetrefer family’s pursuit of ‘even greater heights’. The result was a failure.

But that didn’t mean Enzhe was incapable of reaching ‘greater heights’. Her talent was superior to anyone else in the Lopetrefer family, and her magic capacity was greater than anyone else in the empire.

She had difficulty controlling that much magic power, but she had managed to rein it in. For Fritz, and for this basement.

Enzhe handled the ‘task’ with ease this time as well. Hours of verbal abuse that bordered on torture, and physical violence that could break bones.

The victim was just a young boy who had admired Enzhe. The fact that he couldn’t even fathom the reason why he was being subjected to this treatment only added to his despair.

“Ahahahaha!”

Enzhe laughed loudly, like a child enjoying a new toy, as she punched Jade in the temple.

Once the ‘task’ was done, the cleanup was once again Sue’s responsibility. Melaine, supporting Enzhe as they left the basement, glanced at Sue and offered a sympathetic look.

A heavy silence fell over the basement after Enzhe’s departure.

Sue looked down at Jade. He was someone who stood far above her. But now, he was lying helpless beneath her.

The Lopetrefer family servants would be arriving soon.

They would silence Jade. And they would silence the Raymon family.

Jade Raymon would be absent from the academy for a while, citing illness.

Duke Raymon, even after seeing his beloved son beaten to a pulp, would keep his mouth shut. It had already been decided the moment Enzhe chose Jade Raymon as her target.

The Raymon family wouldn’t say a word to the Lopetrefer family, who stood at the pinnacle of Atlantis. They wouldn’t spread any rumors.

Even if whispers circulated within and outside the academy, Enzhe’s name would never be mentioned. Occasionally, Sue’s name might come up, and people would pity the ‘noble lady with the strange maid’.

This routine, repeated countless times, wouldn’t change overnight.

*…Even if I manage to prevent Halo and Fritz from interacting after she enrolls in the academy next year… will I have to keep repeating this endlessly?*

Sue clenched her fists and took a deep breath.

*…But at least I can survive for now. If I keep doing this.*

She took a green potion from the inner pocket of her uniform.

Then, she reached out to touch Jade’s shoulder, intending to give him the potion.

“D-don’t touch me!”

Suddenly, Sue’s hand was swatted away. At the same time, the glass bottle in her hand fell to the floor and shattered into tiny pieces. The odorless green potion spread across the grimy basement floor.

Sue stared at him, her eyes wide with surprise.

“Eek!”

Jade, his swollen face contorted with terror, mistook her surprise for anger and frantically begged for mercy.

“P-please don’t touch me! Don’t touch me! N-no… Please spare me… Please… Sob… Please…”

“…Alright.”

As he wished, Sue stood up and climbed the stairs leading out of the basement. The door was already open. She ran into one of the Lopetrefer family servants who was about to enter and instructed him to take care of the cleanup. Then, she left the glass garden.

Sue headed to the infirmary. Hella was waiting for the ‘delivery’. She always had to stay late whenever this happened.

“Why are you so late?!”

Hella snapped the moment she saw Sue. Sue briefly explained the situation to Hella, who sighed in exasperation.

“Honestly, I can’t understand the ways of these nobles.”

Sue suddenly wondered what Hella’s definition of a noble was.

A group of people with an arrogance that compelled them to trample on those beneath them?

Cold-blooded individuals who wouldn’t hesitate to kill others for power?

A cowardly lot who admired and idolized such a life?

Whatever the answer was, it was laughable.