Episode 35: First, I Decided on a Capture Target
I was thinking while looking at Ati’s sleeping face.
She’s a total angel. What’s with those round cheeks and tiny pink lips that are slightly puckered? She’s like a chick, unbelievably cute. Her drool is changing the color of the pillow, but that’s okay, it’s all cute, including that.
No, that’s not it.
I thought that if I could avoid the physical dangers to Ati, and if Ati could absorb various things on her own and become a rich human being, she wouldn’t become a villainess and could be happy.
But that’s not it.
There’s also pressure from the surroundings.
The background of the era, culture, customs──
She is bound and pressured by various things, her individuality is diminished, she is rendered powerless, and there was still a possibility that she would be ‘forced to walk the path of a villainess’ regardless of her own will.
When I got married the first time, I accepted that “that’s just how things are” to some extent.
For example, giving birth to a boy who would inherit the blood of my husband. I didn’t even resist it during my first marriage. I had a sense of “resignation and compromise” that if I did that, I would be free to do whatever I wanted afterward. As long as I could have children, that would be enough──I unconsciously thought so.
And I thought I was behaving well.
Now that Ati is by my side, I feel like I’ve woken up.
That’s not good enough.
I certainly had the thought that if she didn’t become a villainess, Eric wouldn’t break off their engagement, and there wouldn’t be any problems.
But that’s not enough.
‘We also need to anticipate the possibility of the engagement being broken off.’
That was also necessary.
Eric also has some freedom of choice. As the heir of the Duke’s family, he could properly consider things carefully, follow the proper procedures to cancel his engagement with Ati, and choose another woman. That possibility isn’t zero.
…I’m not sure if I could forgive Eric for making such a choice as abandoning Ati, but well, I want to respect Eric’s will. Now, I think Eric is cute too.
If the engagement with Eric is broken off, it would be bad if Ati had no other options.
It would be a problem if she was in a situation where ‘she hadn’t considered any other path.’
Even if Eric breaks off the engagement, I want her to have the flexibility to say, ‘Okay! I understand! See you then!’
And I want her to be in a situation where she can choose other options.
Those options aren’t simply ‘then another man.’
I don’t want Ati to think that ‘the only mission of noble daughters is to give birth to the other party’s children (boys),’ or that she has no choice but to live a life dependent on someone else.
I want her to know that there are other ways to live, and I want her to be that way.
For that purpose.
I can’t change the laws.
But isn’t it possible to eliminate the ‘assumptions’ of the people around Ati?
Of course, it’s impossible to change other people’s wills.
But if I can just make them aware that ‘it’s not a given,’ isn’t that somehow possible?
There are still more than ten years left. Wouldn’t it be possible to gradually reform their awareness?
Well, I can see myself being treated as an abnormal person.
‘Troublesome woman,’ ‘noisy woman,’ ‘woman who doesn’t know her place,’ ‘crazy woman.’
I can see myself being told that… huh? Is it just my imagination, or am I already being told that??
Well, whatever.
The more paths Ati has to choose from and live freely, the better.
I don’t mind standing in the line of fire for that purpose.
I’ve already been almost eaten by a Bear once. Nothing scares me anymore. …Probably.
First, I need to break down the thought patterns of the people around Ati.
Especially the Marquis and the Great Madam.
The most troublesome and the strongest enemies.
However, if their awareness can be changed, the benefits would be huge.
This is worth doing.
Let’s do it.
I firmly swore that to myself and gently combed Ati’s hair as she slept next to me.
“Your position has become quite bad, you know.”
It was Samuel, the tutor, who went out of his way to advise me.
He blurted that out when I was consulting with him about wanting to give Ati riding lessons in the future.
I know that without you telling me.
By the way, this is Ati’s room. Ati is stuffing her cheeks with cookies. Is she a squirrel? A hamster? She has such a small animal vibe! I want to hug her right away, stroke her all over, and smell her scalp! I won’t, though. Barely. Reason prevailed. Good.
“…I am aware. I was given a lecture by the Marquis-sama last night.”
I replied, and then slurped my tea.
The tutor, Samuel, made another indescribably subtle face.
“Why do you always have to stir things up?”
Samuel let out a huge sigh and adjusted his monocle.
Apparently, he had been eavesdropping outside the room during the great battle between the Great Madam and me. What a great hobby.
“I didn’t intend to stir things up? It’s the Great Madam who shouldn’t have said strange things.”
That’s right. In the first place, she was the one who said such a thing in such a place.
“But you should have heard such words countless times before. Why now…”
Well, I can understand what Samuel is saying.
Certainly, I’ve heard it countless times from various people in various places, to the point where my ears are calloused. So, I’ve always let it go each time. Yes, until now.
“Because Ati was there. I couldn’t let the Great Madam’s words pass by in front of Ati. That would be affirming them.”
If I affirmed those words in front of Ati, it would mean that I was making Ati affirm them as well.
How could I do that?
“Your husband has suddenly entered a honeymoon state and is in that condition, but you might be divorced due to the pressure from the Great Madam, you know?”
The tutor, Samuel, warned me.
Hmm. I don’t mind the divorce.
“Then, I’ll kidnap Ati and run away.”
“Are you planning to get caught?”
I was immediately retorted when I said that.
“Hmm. If I have any regrets about this house, it’s only Ati. I wouldn’t hesitate to become a criminal rather than leave her in this house of horrors.”
When I said that casually with a cool face, Samuel made a very unpleasant face. What? What do you want to say?
Seeing me drinking tea with a cool face, pretending not to regret or reflect at all (which I wasn’t), Samuel made a slightly difficult face.
“…By the way, were those words sincere?”
Samuel muttered in a slightly lower tone.
“Those words?”
Which ones?
“That Ati should inherit the Family Headship.”
Ah, that.
“They are sincere.”
I don’t know yet, but if Ati is good at politics and enjoys it, then Ati should do it.
When I affirmed that immediately, Samuel hid his mouth and started thinking about something.
…This guy has a criminal record in the Otome Game, so I’ll put a nail in it.
“Don’t think about taking over the Marquis household by making Ati a Puppet.”
“Do you think I would think of such a thing!”
I don’t know about that. You were a full-fledged villain in the Otome Game. You were even more wicked than the Villainess, Ati.
“But it’s not like there’s no possibility, is there? The engagement with Eric isn’t absolute. It wouldn’t be strange if you canceled it, married Ati, and became her husband.”
Because Ati is cute. Everyone, regardless of age or gender, will fall in love with Ati when they see her. Even the tutor, Samuel, can’t be trusted.
“…I don’t have such a hobby.”
Samuel looked at me with contempt. What’s with that look? It’s annoying.
“That’s now. But you might think it’s okay twenty years from now, when Ati is an adult.”
Ati as an adult will be a goddess. Everyone who sees her will prostrate themselves, she’ll be so divine. Absolutely. Everyone will fall in love with her.
Well, I’ll definitely stop him from becoming her husband, though.
“Can I marry Samuel?”
Ati, who was holding a glass of juice with both hands, looked up at me and Samuel with a cute face.
“Well, I wonder? We don’t know the future, do we?”
If Ati really wants to, I’ll bite my lip off and endure it. And I’ll keep watching Samuel from the shadows to make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid. I wouldn’t hesitate to assassinate him.
That’s when I dodged the question.
Ati’s rosy cheeks turned even redder.
…Huh? Could this reaction mean…?
No, that’s no good. If I pointed that out here, in front of her, Ati might get hurt.
But.
Ati’s first love might be Samuel──
When I thought that! This mother! Can’t help but cook red rice!! I can’t cook it though!!!
Ah, I want to say it! I want to confirm it!!
But I can’t! At least I can’t ask here!! Ugh! I want to ask!!!
“What is it? How disgusting…”
The words almost escaped my lips, but I somehow managed to hold them back and fidgeted, only to be met with Samuel’s strange gaze.
From this, it seems Samuel hasn’t noticed? Which means Ati hasn’t told him. I see! That’s right! It’s embarrassing, after all! I want to cherish that feeling! I understand!!
“Please, don’t mind me. It’s just palpitations and shortness of breath.”
I somehow regained my composure and cleared my throat.
Ah, but still.
If Ati continues to like Samuel, I want to support her.
…Even though this guy is a scummy villain.
He’s already an adult, so I can’t brainwash—no, educate him like Eric.
Hmm. What should I do?
“No, maybe starting with Samuel might be a good idea.”
That’s right. The closest adult male to Ati, who is guiding and educating her, is Samuel. Samuel’s way of thinking and doing things will greatly influence Ati.
So, it’s best to start by攻略capturing him first.
“…Your inner voice is leaking out all over the place, you know.”
Hearing my words that I unintentionally spoke aloud, the tutor (Samuel) was completely horrified.
While looking at him, I began to plot various ways to攻略capture him.