The Villainess Is Annoyed by the Male Leads Again Today - Chapter 1.8

***

And from the next day, an unexpected great ordeal befell me.

“What? Why?”

“My lady, you can’t. Everyone does at least this much management. Even if not a lot, you should do the basics too.”

I thought the biggest ordeal would be meeting some weird guys at blind dates, but a torturous time a hundred times more painful than that was waiting for me.

It was the ban on snacks, diet control for weight management, and receiving two hours of skincare from the maids every day. It was truly a terrible thing.

My greatest joy since coming here had been eating delicious food, and to give that up just because of Lindel’s blind dates!

Moreover, spending this precious time wasn’t enough even lying still on skincare.

This was absurd.

“Here, my lady. This is today’s meal. Please eat.”

In front of my eyes was placed a plate of salad that looked like nothing but grass no matter how I looked at it.

It was very different from the luxurious diet I had until now.

“Do we really have to do this?”

“Yes! The Count and Countess gave special orders to manage thoroughly.”

Irena answered firmly and placed a fork in my hand.

As I nibbled on the salad, I thought.

I wouldn’t let Lindel off the hook.

Since he was the cause of all these ordeals, I burned with the resolve to deliver my revenge to him once it was decided that I would leave this house.

After enduring all sorts of hardships for several days like this, the first meeting with a young noble was set.

***

A cafe in the bustling district.

Sitting across from me was a handsome man with brilliant blonde hair and blue eyes. He was someone who knew how to use his good looks well, and his curved lips and eyes gave a favorable impression.

If only it weren’t for his infuriating behavior.

“My lady, so what will you do?”

As he spoke to me, he tried to wipe off the cream that had gotten on my lips while eating cake.

There was no warm-up. They had put in a properly chosen guy right from the first batter.

When I frowned and turned my head away, he smiled contentedly.

“Heh, a woman’s charm comes from not accepting a man too easily. But don’t make me pine too much.”

And then he made my expression even sourer.

Limpe Delman. This second son of the Derman Count family was famous for playing around recklessly in social circles.

Moreover, his family wasn’t even a central nobility. They were a count family in name only, with a small and barren territory far from the capital.

In fact, I could understand why he was going around seducing women like this.

For the second son of a noble family with nothing but a name, being sold as a son-in-law at the highest price was the best choice.

He was in the same situation as me.

“How rude. It’s impolite to touch others carelessly.”

He still gave me eye smiles despite my serious tone.

“It’s a man’s heart to want to pluck a beautiful flower when he sees one.”

What are you saying?

“Please choose me, my lady.”

Judging by the way he spoke, it seemed like the second son was enjoying himself regardless of his circumstances.

“I only came out because my brother forced me to. I understand your intentions, but I don’t like you.”

Despite my cold rejection, he kept spouting nonsense with a fresh smile, but he finally dropped his smile at my continued icy expression.

He put on a resigned face and spoke seriously.

“But wouldn’t it be troublesome for you too if we left right away? I won’t flirt anymore, so give me this one day for my sake.”

His somewhat serious demeanor was fairly tolerable. But I still didn’t like him.

“No.”

At my refusal, he gestured towards the window with his eyes.

“It seems there’s surveillance from the Epine Count’s family too.”

Looking outside, I could see people watching me. They were so blatant about it that it was strange I hadn’t noticed until now. It must be Lindel. If I left right away, he’d surely find fault with it.

“Sigh.”

“It would be troublesome for me too if we left like this.”

He smiled brightly. But there was something odd about his eyes. Could it be?

“Did you act like that on purpose?”

“I’m under surveillance too.”

He gently closed his eyes and tried to touch my hair again, and I swatted his hand away in disgust.

“Fine. But don’t touch my body.”

“Understood.”

He rubbed the back of his hand where I had hit him and grinned.

***

Time with Limpe Delman, when he wasn’t flirting, was more fun than I expected.

He knew how to match people’s moods. He wasn’t ashamed to enjoy things that women liked and willingly participated in.

For example, like a cafe tour.

This date was the first free and exciting time I had since coming to this world.

“Ahaha- My lady, you’re really fun. How do you keep coming up with such interesting ideas?”

“It’s all thanks to my brilliance. But you, young noble, you’re more thoughtful than I expected.”

“More than expected?”

“Think about how you were earlier today.”

“Haha, there were circumstances for that.”

“But why do you pretend to be a scoundrel?”

If he did a little less of that, he could find a better match than being an illegitimate child of a count family.

“What about you?”

“I wasn’t pretending, I was real.”

“Oh! I see. Did something change your mind?”

“Don’t change the subject.”

“It’s because I’m the second son. Life gets tiresome for a second son who’s too outstanding.”

He said with a smile, but couldn’t completely hide his bitter expression.

“I see.”

We walked quietly for a moment. Then suddenly, I spoke to him.

“Don’t worry too much. The world changes quickly, so if you live diligently, won’t other options appear? Think carefully about a method.”

“Hahaha. Thank you.”

He opened his eyes wide at my words and then laughed.

“I’m serious. Well, it’s up to the person receiving the advice whether to accept it or not.”

As we talked about various things, we had suddenly become close friends.

The occasional flirting had completely disappeared. We continued our delicious dessert cafe tour, and when the sun started to set, we even explored the night market held in the civilian area.

People sent from the family were still following behind us.

“My lady, I really enjoyed today. Will you let me escort you until the very end?”

“Gladly.”

It was time to end the date, and unlike at the beginning, I had taken a liking to him, so I readily agreed.

Neigh-

“Oh-!”

While riding in the carriage to the Count’s residence, we spent time silently lost in our own thoughts or looking out the window.

Just before the carriage stopped, Limpe spoke with a complicated expression.

“You’re the first person I’ve felt comfortable being quiet with like this.”

“That’s good. It’s not bad to have at least one comfortable person in this harsh world.”

I answered, taking my eyes off the window.