Is It So Wrong that I Like Seeing the Villain Suffer? - Chapter 9

The scene in the room had completely changed.

The old furniture was covered with glossy fabric, and cute animal picture frames hung over the cracks in the walls.

‘What in the world is this….’

Vases filled with flowers were placed everywhere in the room — next to the bed, by the window, and in various corners.

And what shocked me the most was…

The bed decorated with fluttering pink frills and lace. Not just the sheets, but the bed also had flowing fabric hanging like curtains.

The room had been old and plain until I left, but now it looked like something out of a DiXney movie.

Though the furniture looked incredibly expensive…

‘This isn’t my style!’

The interior was very far from my taste.

The original room was old and gloomy, but I actually quite liked that distinct atmosphere.

‘Should I change it back?’

That’s impossible. How could I handle all that by myself?

While I was standing there dumbfounded, staring blankly around the room, I heard a voice behind me.

“Oh my, Saintess…!”

It was a woman in a maid’s uniform.

She looked familiar — looking closer, she was one of the employees I’d seen at the farm.

The maid bowed her head hurriedly and said nervously.

“I didn’t know you’d return so soon, I’m sorry. We were planning to finish everything before you came back…”

“Finish? Then perhaps this room…”

“We received permission from the master to tidy up the Saintess’s quarters. The other employees are still looking for more decorations. And the kitchen maids are preparing your meal…”

It seems I’ve found the culprit.

Or rather, the culprits.

“Thank you, but I’m fine.”

After thinking for a moment about what to say, I forced a smile and spoke.

“If you’re doing this because you feel sorry, you don’t have to. I really don’t mind.”

“…Saintess…”

The maid murmured, seemingly choked up.

“Ah, and could you call me Lize instead of saintess?”

That title really doesn’t suit me.

“…Yes, Lady Lize.”

“And I’d appreciate if you could return the room to how it was…”

“What? But the previous room wasn’t suitable for someone like you, Saintess— I mean, Lady Lize!”

The maid exclaimed with a shocked expression.

“We all agreed. Your quarters should be more… befitting of who you are.”

‘Just how do these people see me?’

Unaware of my thoughts, the maid bit her lip and continued speaking.

“…We’re all grateful to you, Lady Lize. And we’re sorry too. What you said at the farm was right. We were looking for someone to take our anger out on.”

“……”

“I don’t know if this makes up for it… but we want to help make your stay at House Cayenne as comfortable as possible.”

The maid placed a hand on her chest as she looked at me.

“That’s why we started by tidying up your room. The previous room was too gloomy for someone as noble as you, Lady Lize.”

I liked that gloominess! It was my style!

Haha, and noble…

These people would probably faint if they saw my old studio apartment from my previous life.

“I appreciate it but… isn’t this room a bit… too elaborate?”

“Everything is top quality. While House Cayenne has no low-quality items… the master gave permission to use only the most expensive and finest materials.”

The maid said proudly.

“From the sheets to the rugs, we made everything ourselves. In a way we thought you would like.”

The maid pointed to the puppy picture on the wall with an expectant expression.

“I chose that picture myself. I tried hard to imagine what you would like. Someone as pure as you would surely like this kind of thing, right?”

“……”

Yes, it’s cute. It is cute, but…

‘It’s not my style!’

And I’m not pure…

I like provocative things that are sexy and sinful and give off that wicked vibe. That’s why I liked House Cayenne’s original atmosphere…!

But now there’s a frilly bed and pictures of frolicking puppies…

‘Not all saints like that kind of thing, okay?!’

I held back those words that rose to my throat.

Still, they did put in effort for my sake, and it would be troublesome if things became awkward again.

“Haha… Of course I’m very happy. But I actually liked the original room too. You said it was gloomy, but I like that authentic House Cayenne atmosphere.”

You understand, right?

Come on, please return my preferred interior.

But when the maid heard my words, she slowly covered her mouth.

“…You truly are… an angel, Lady Lize.”

What?

No, I was just expressing my preferences…

Just then, other employees coming up the stairs spotted us. They each held something in their hands.

An expensive-looking doll, cushions covered in frills, baskets full of flowers…

‘…Please don’t tell me those are all for me?’

Be careful what you wish for.

The employees started placing items one by one at my feet.

“We’re so sorry, Saintess.”

“We made these ourselves for you. House Cayenne only has such ominous items, but we couldn’t possibly put those in the Saintess’s room…”

The maid who had been talking with me spoke up.

“Everyone, stop. We all failed to understand Lady Lize’s heart. She says she liked the original room.”

Yes, that’s exactly it…!

Just when I thought someone finally understood my preferences correctly, she spoke with tears welling up in her eyes.

“She said she likes House Cayenne just as it is. She’s being considerate of us who have lived in House Cayenne, worried we might feel embarrassed…!”

Her trembling voice seemed genuinely moved.

Looks of emotion began appearing on the other employees’ faces as well.

“How could this be… even though we committed such wrongs…”

“We will serve Lady Lize with all our hearts while she stays in Cayenne.”

The employees murmured “Lady Lize…!” one by one as they bowed to me.

‘…So this worked out well in the end?’

It was absurd, but I had to accept their interpretation.

“Thank you everyone. I’m tired and would like to rest a bit, could you finish tidying up later?”

The employees nodded at my words.

“Please call us anytime if you need anything.”

“We’ll completely transform your room, Lady Lize! We’ll leave these items outside your door for now.”

That’s really not necessary.

I silently smiled and nodded in greeting before entering the room.

Even until I closed the door, the employees were giving me such affectionate looks that it felt burdensome.

It was as if they were looking at the most delicate and pure being in the world.

“Haha…”

I awkwardly laughed as I closed the door.

A room full of brilliant frills and lace greeted me.

“……”

I don’t think I had this taste even when I was seven years old…

‘I’ll have to ask Juan to change it later.’

I flopped down on the bed and stared at the ceiling.

‘I should take a short nap and then start preparing…’

Actually, from the moment Arkle accepted the proposal, he basically had to grant my request.

Making the deal with Gillian Moril succeed — isn’t that too easy?

I grinned and gently closed my eyes.

Sorry Gillian, but you’ll have to be the sacrificial lamb.

That’s what you get for trying to commit fraud.

❖ ❖ ❖

In the dusky evening.

Gillian Moril entered House Cayenne and looked around the mansion.

‘As expected… this is much bigger than the rumors suggested.’

Though startled by the size that seemed to rival the imperial palace, he showed no sign of being shaken as he took off his coat and handed it to a maid.

“Then I’ll guide you to the dining hall.”

“No, I’m supposed to meet Young Master Cayenne first.”

“Do you mean Master Arkle?”

“That’s right.”

Gillian nodded and took a step forward.

The maid tried to follow him, but,

“That won’t be necessary. I was given directions. He asked me to come alone as we need to have a private conversation.”

The maid looked at him for a moment before nodding and withdrawing.

As he climbed the stairs, Gillian sneered.

‘How stupid.’

There had been no such request.

The very claim that he was supposed to meet with Arkle was a lie.

House Cayenne was historically famous for being extremely difficult to enter. When Arkle first sent the invitation, not just Gillian but everyone in House Moril was surprised.

Now that he had gotten in, Gillian intended to thoroughly observe House Cayenne.

There might be some unexpected gains to be had.

Fortunately, the employees seemed busy with dinner preparations and were nowhere to be seen.

After climbing the stairs and reaching a corridor, Gillian looked around while muffling his footsteps.

‘Nothing special here… What’s that?’

An enormous pile of odds and ends was stacked in front of a room at the end of the corridor.

Upon closer inspection, there were flower baskets, cushions with flowing lace, dolls wearing dresses…

‘Strange. Was there a young girl in House Cayenne?’

As far as he knew, there was no one in House Cayenne who would like such things.

‘Then why…?’

Unable to contain his curiosity, Gillian grabbed the doorknob. He tried turning it just in case, and surprisingly, the door actually opened.

As Gillian carefully peered into the room, his eyes widened.

In the brilliantly decorated room, sitting on the edge of a frilly bed was a woman he knew well.

“It can’t be…”

The shimmering silver hair rippled as Lize Allenheim turned her head.

“This is impossible!”

Gillian rushed into the room and embraced her tightly.

“So this is where you were, Lize!”