The Villainess's Guide to Winning the Male Lead

Chapter 25

“Huh?”

“Yeah.”

“Suddenly?”

“Today.”

“Really, just like that?”

I nodded. I had created an opportunity for a date; they should be thankful. I wondered why Finley would react this way.

“What about Selena? What did she say?”

“She’s getting ready now.”

“What’s this all about?”

Finley, looking flustered but unable to suppress a grin, seemed to be pleased. Oh well.

I handed Finley the tickets.

“And you’ll be Selena’s partner for the ball entrance. Good luck with that.”

I patted Finley’s shoulder in an encouraging way and left the office, leaving him in a daze.

[OnlyFinley has donated 1,000 points!]

– You’re the best

[PleaseShakeACarrot: Lucky Finley lol]

[asdf: This will be fun]

[Gold2: Aren’t we going to watch?]

“Of course, we are.”

[AsparagusCharm: I thought you were sending them alone?]

“Starting the shadowing broadcast now.”

[Manager: ?]

[asdf: Wow]

[Stress: This is great lol]

[Manager: What are these exclamations? Are you out of your mind?]

The manager appeared in the chat after a while, immediately starting with complaints. But they had a point.

Of course, that didn’t mean I was going to listen to the manager.

“I should take Bates with me.”

Having died once, I had learned to be cautious. Now that the resurrection points had risen to 40,000, dying again would be too costly. I needed someone to protect me.

I had given Bates a day off after a while. It was regrettable to call him back, but what could I do? If it was an escort job, it had to be done.

I went to Bates’s room and knocked on the door.

“Sir Bates―”

I called out cheerfully, but there was no answer from Bates.

Knock, knock.

Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock.

I almost banged on the door, but still no response.

‘Is he asleep?’

Just as I was about to try opening the door, urgent footsteps approached.

“...What’s the matter?”

There was Bates, not in his uniform since it was his day off.

He seemed to have rushed over; his tie was flipped over his shoulder.

“Did you come running because you knew I was looking for you?”

“That’s not it. I thought I had a day off, what’s the matter?”

“I’m giving you a surprise vacation.”

I had anticipated this and even got extra tickets for the performance for Bates and me.

When I showed him the tickets, Bates’s face was painted with confusion.

“...Are you saying we should go?”

I nodded. Bates seemed to have a lot to say but chose not to.

“Are you going?”

“If I say I don’t want to, will you not go?”

“No.”

“I figured...”

Bates seemed resigned, almost as if he expected this. Then, he murmured to himself,

“When have you ever listened to me, my lady?”

He had gotten used to this side of me.

* * *

We proceeded as planned and shadowed Selena and Finley. We were now in the bustling city center.

I had to hastily secure the tickets for today’s show, so it ended up being at a venue in the bustling area. I could have spent more money, but I wasn’t in a position to ask for an allowance, so I settled for what was available.

We hid behind a wall and watched Finley and Selena looking at a pamphlet.

“Wow.”

He was just as uninteresting as the manager.

As I looked at him with pity, Bates seemed a bit annoyed.

“You don’t do much on your days off either, my lady.”

I couldn’t argue with that. I wasn’t particularly fond of going out.

Thinking back on my previous life, I didn’t really have days off. I was too busy earning money to have any time to rest.

I wondered if Bates was the same, always devoted to his work. Thinking that made me feel a bit sorry for him.

I chuckled and suggested,

“How about we make going out our hobby from now on?”

“......”

Bates didn’t respond. He didn’t seem particularly keen on the idea.

“Didn’t you enjoy today?”

“I suppose.”

“Say you had fun.”

“...I had fun.”

“Let’s do this more often.”

“Yes......”

Pressed by my status, Bates reluctantly agreed. This way, I was gradually getting closer to the twelve thousand points.

* * *

For the rest of the time, I let Finley and Selena enjoy themselves, and Bates and I returned to the duke’s mansion. I wanted to respect their time together. Though, considering we had already followed them around, this courtesy might be meaningless now. It was the last bit of conscience I had.

Bates offered to escort me to my room. On the way there, he asked me,

“What are your plans for the entrance, Lady?”

Right, I had decided for Selena, but hadn’t thought about my own.

Now that I too was attending, I needed a partner.

“Well, maybe I should enter with father.”

The Duke Erpeso might not like it. But that wasn’t my concern. I had no other options now.

“......”

Bates hesitated. It seemed he had something to say but couldn’t.

“What’s wrong?”

Bates cleared his throat before speaking.

“If it’s alright with you, Lady, I would like to accompany you for the entrance.”

Bates?

It didn’t bother me, but I couldn’t understand why Bates, who usually seemed to avoid being with me, would make such an offer.

I asked him, half in doubt.

“Is this a confession?”

“Please.”

Bates grimaced as if to say ‘give me a break.’ Apparently, that wasn’t the case.

“With the ball being such an event, there are many dangers involved. I prefer not to leave your side.”

That was overprotective.

He had been nagging me all day to be careful. Now it seemed he planned to do the same at the ball.

Seeing my slightly irritated look, Bates explained,

“You do get involved in accidents quite frequently, Lady.”

That was true. Sometimes I deliberately caused trouble, but often I just happened to be involved.

It was a blessing for a broadcaster, but for a commoner, and especially for my escort knight, it could be worrying.

‘The Landon family, what’s their title?’

Considering he boldly offered to accompany me, he must be proud of his family.

Being part of the Grand Duchy and immediately assigned as an escort knight, his family must have a considerable standing.

Curious, I looked at Bates.

“So, Sir Bates, which family does your household belong to?”

“Pardon?”

“Your domain.”

In this world, commoners didn’t have surnames. Only nobles with a household had a name after theirs.

“The Landon family doesn’t exist.”

“Pardon?”

I stared at Bates and asked, perhaps in doubt,

“...A fallen noble?”

“No.”

Bates replied nonchalantly.

“The Landon has never been an existing family to begin with.”