Chapter 18
What did he just say? Hosquin Duke family? Wow. I never expected to hear about Evangeline's maternal family here. It wasn't detailed in the diary, and Kanna and Hena didn't know either, so I had nowhere to ask.
But look at him speak, this bastard. I thought he was just hitting on them, but he was badmouthing someone behind their back to build rapport.
He's insulting me and putting down Kanna and Hena too. A complete package. The nobles' art of conversation is terrifying.
'By the way, why isn't Gabriel coming?'
I wondered if I'd have to keep listening to them talk behind my back, but just then, Gabriel appeared from far away. Gabriel, hurry up and attack! Save Kanna! I was cheering earnestly, but Gabriel didn't budge. Rather, he seemed to be observing Kanna. W-what is that guy doing? Why isn't he stopping this?
Don't tell me he's acting like that because he fell for me instead of Kanna? No matter how kind he is only to his woman, he's a knight, so he should have some professional ethics, shouldn't he?
Gabriel showed no sign of intervening, Kanna had her head lowered as if hurt, and Hena was beside herself with anxiety.
I couldn't watch anymore and stood up. No matter that I possessed the body and this became a villainess possession story, isn't the treatment of the original female lead really too harsh?
"Let me out."
Maybe because I was annoyed, my voice dropped low. Noticing I was in a bad mood, Jelli, who had been watching cautiously, quickly opened the carriage door.
When the door suddenly opened, the coachman who had been tending to the horses in front collapsed in surprise.
"...W-why, why is the Young Lady?"
Right. If Evangeline suddenly popped out of an empty carriage, anyone would be surprised. I just took a werewolf taxi! I'm in a hurry, so let's explain later.
Jelli got out first to escort me. It seemed like he wanted me to mind the watching eyes since there were many nobles nearby. No matter how I think about it, he seems more like an all-purpose problem-solver butler than a reverse harem member.
After holding Jelli's hand and getting out, I opened my parasol. Jelli had good taste—the parasol was quite pretty.
Plus, Jelli was handsome, so people's gazes were already focused on us. Evangeline was also pretty enough to live up to her villainess name.
When the surroundings quieted down, Kanna and Hena turned around.
"...Young Lady."
"Miss!"
Hena looked relieved as if seeing a savior, and Kanna, who had been dejected, smiled brightly at me as if in full bloom. I walked over with long strides and stood before the two.
"...Rohanson Young Lady?"
Right. I'm the Rohanson Young Lady you were badmouthing so earnestly earlier! He stammered, apparently never dreaming the person in question would appear.
"Y-you came together? But why did you get out so late...?"
To interpret this in romance fantasy language: if I had gotten out of the carriage earlier and shown my face, you would have known I was there, so you wouldn't have talked behind my back, right?
"I was weak, so I was resting in the carriage for a moment. And you are...?"
"Ah, my apologies. I am Anullen Benzene of the Benzene Marquis family."
Damn. I thought he was just a random mob, but he's a marquis's son. What do I do! Evangeline is a count's daughter, so she loses in power! His status is higher than Evangeline's. Wait, why is Evangeline a villainess but not a young lady of higher rank? Ah, that's why the Duke family is her maternal family.
"But what were you discussing with my children, young lord?"
I don't know, I'm all in. The timing seemed late, so I decided to abandon the granddaughter-bonding-with-grandfather route, but I guess that wasn't right. It seemed like they were estranged, but I'll have to maintain some relationship going forward.
***
"I was trying to guide them since it seemed to be their first visit."
"Ah..."
Look at this, look at this backpedaling. I heard what you said, and you're boldly lying!
"I thought you were making a joke by lumping together the Rohanson Count family and the Hosquin Duke family."
Since the Count family was beneath his status, he brought up the Duke family too. Anullen seemed to realize I had heard the whole conversation, and his face turned pale blue. Anyone can talk behind someone's back, but consider yourself unlucky for getting caught.
"Well, are my clothes too shabby and unsuited for the temple too?"
I also came out wearing a simple dress without even buying new clothes, one that was stuffed in the corner of the dress room without any decorations. Looking at the people in the garden, their clothes were flashy, so only me and my kids stood out.
I dressed like this on purpose to shed the villainess image, but it annoyed me that, as Anullen said, it made the Count family look poor. I have money too!
"Your answer?"
Anullen Benzene trembled, apparently not expecting me to ask directly. Does he think I'll let it slide if he acts scared? I said I was escaping the villainess role, but that doesn't mean becoming a pushover. I absolutely won't back down until I hear an answer.
As I quietly stared at Anullen Benzene, Gabriel appeared belatedly from far away.
"That couldn't be. The Grand Temple will always welcome the Young Lady."
"Sir Gabriel!"
"Young Lord Benzene."
Anullen Benzene called out gladly.
So he didn't save Kanna and just watched, but when I came out, he appeared? I even sent a letter asking him to take good care of the kids!
"I didn't know you would come together."
I also hadn't planned to come, but it's good I did. Gabriel is truly disqualified as a male lead. Of course, he was disqualified from the moment he fell for me instead of the female lead!
"Ah... are the two of you acquainted?"
"Yes. I invited her, saying I would guide Young Lady Rohanson. It seems Young Lord Benzene was attending to her because I was late. Thank you."
"No, not at all. If I was of help to you, it's an honor."
Anullen Benzene groveled and then quickly seized the opportunity to flee. I won't forget this grudge. I was staring at Anullen Benzene's retreating figure, resolving to wait and see, when Gabriel drew my attention and spoke.
"Did you come to see the paintings?"
Gabriel's attitude was still polite. If I hadn't seen the scene where he stayed silent while the female lead was being humiliated just moments ago, I would have thought he was a truly sincere character.
"No. I was worried about sending just the two of them, and I was curious about the Grand Temple too. As you know, my health is poor, so I've received quite a lot of help."
Come to think of it, it's not Gabriel's fault. He didn't set his own character settings. It's just that he was built as a stoic knight who's only warm to his woman. Right, what free will would he have?
I think I got too invested. Thinking that way, I calmed down.
Originally, if we're assigning blame, it's my fault for stealing the route—my fault, not Gabriel's, who's love-struck and has fallen for the villainess while ignoring the original female lead.
"May I offer prayers while they look at the paintings?"
So let's appeal above. I came all the way to the temple, so I should at least pray. If I'm lucky, I might even have a conversation with a god as a possessor's special bonus.
***
The door of the Rohanson Count family's carriage opened. Hena was astonished at the appearance of Young Lady Evangeline from a carriage that should have been empty. Receiving an escort from the monster called 'Jelli' by the Young Lady, Evangeline Rohanson set foot on the ground.
A white parasol, pure white hair, wearing a pristine white chemise dress—Evangeline Rohanson was entirely white.
Sunlight scattered over Evangeline's head. Even though the sun was shining down from the sky, it suddenly felt like night had fallen. All senses disappeared, and only Evangeline Rohanson remained vivid.
"Miss!"
Kanna called out to Young Lady Evangeline in joy.
Appearing while drawing everyone's attention, Young Lady Evangeline walked with long strides and stood before Hena and Kanna. As the Young Lady approached, the sneering eyes that had been mocking them vanished completely. Instead, people were busy holding their breath to avoid catching the Young Lady's eye.
I don't know why the Young Lady, who had said she wouldn't come to the temple, changed her mind and appeared, but Hena bowed silently with gratitude for her timely arrival.
If the Young Lady had been just a little later, Anullen would have... Hena shook her head at that thought. There's no way her sibling would do such a thing.
Kanna had only grown up at home and didn't know the outside world well, so she was ignorant of how to deal with nobles and probably just acted rudely. What power does Kanna have to try to harm a man? That couldn't be possible.
***
"My name is Yuriel, Young Lady."
"Yuriel will guide you to the prayer room."
The Young Lady said she would offer prayers instead of touring the temple. The sight of the Young Lady praying felt somehow sacrilegious in one sense, yet also like a masterpiece painting in another.
The Young Lady separated, guided by a knight named Yuriel that Gabriel had assigned.
"I will guide the two of you."
Gabriel guided Hena and Kanna as well.
The Grand Temple is extremely magnificent. Perhaps because it's set against the equally splendid temple, Gabriel in his white uniform looked particularly refined and ornate. Or maybe it's just that his presence was overshadowed while he was beside the Young Lady, and only now that his presence has faded does it reveal itself.
Hena watched Gabriel's back as he walked ahead, clenching and unclenching her fists in tension.
Just moments ago in the garden when everyone was bursting into laughter, Gabriel had been watching Kanna. It seemed Gabriel had also noticed something was off about Kanna. That's why he volunteered to guide us instead of the Young Lady.
The Young Lady had mentioned her past illness with Evangeline and said she would pray, and at least during the roleplay of coming to the temple to pray, she wouldn't take any rough actions.
"How is the progress coming along?"
"I said I was devoting all my strength to it, but I'm sorry to say there's been no progress. Rather, it's spreading through word of mouth, so..."
"Then did those people also come to see the paintings?"
"Yes, most of them did."
Following Gabriel's guidance, they stepped inside the Grand Temple.