The Guidebook for Villainesses

Demian―a war slave with no parents and no name. His 24-year life was full of struggles. He fought to eat, he fought to sleep, he fought to learn, and he fought to grow up.

At a certain point, he found out that he was talented in fighting. He was stronger and faster than others. He could imitate a skill that others had learned over months just by watching. He learned to fight by wandering around the battlefields in the Tarragon Empire. He learned the spearmanship of a noted knight, the strategy of a respectful admiral, and the swordsmanship of a mercenary that was worth a hundred men. Sometimes there were people who recognized his talent. But Demian did not settle down anywhere, he knew that he lacked something.

There was no excitement in his chest.

He did not get drunk even when he drank. He was not attracted even when he saw a beautiful woman. He did not care about money, power, or honor at all. There was nothing he desired, nothing he wanted to do, and nothing he wanted to achieve. He lived without much thought. If someone gave him money, he would follow that person and wield his knife for that person. If someone messed with him, he would not have a second thought and just started fighting.

‘But I didn’t expect someone would buy me for 2 gold.’

Even though Demian deliberately slouched and had posed himself strangely, he was still visibly tall and had long limbs. When he used to keep his hair tidy in the past, women always followed him. He just covered his hair in case something too bothersome happened.

But who would have thought I would be treated like this.

2 gold―it’s not even enough to buy a useful long sword, he was at a loss for words. After returning to the room assigned by the concierge and waiting in there for a long time, a maid approached him. It was the maid of the woman who bought him for 2 gold.

“H-hey, you there, I mean, your name is…”

The maid stood far away and barely talked to him.

She must be scared of me.

Demian was used to it. He was used to those who belittle him, feared him, or indulge in him.

“Demian.”

He said.

It was a low, deep, and dark voice. It was also rough and cracked. The maid gulped so loudly that it could be heard by anyone in the room. She quickly spoke her words.

“I, I see. You are now the mighty warrior of my lady… So take this!”

A heavy box was delivered. Demian paid attention to the fact that there were four workers who brought that box. They barely managed to put the box down when they patted their backs, saying that they thought they were going to die carrying that box.

Demian was about to ask what was in that box, but the maid screeched and ran away.

“See you next time!”

Demian slowly got up. He straightened his slouchy back and naturally stretched his tense shoulders. After sweeping up his shaggy hair with one hand, a man with a completely different atmosphere emerged. Demian easily raised the box left behind by the workers and put it on the table. Then, he opened the lid without hesitation.

“Ha.”

Real weapons and armors were in the box. Not decoration fleuret or a tight suit, but armor and weapons made of real iron. Even at a glance, it was obvious that it was an expensive weapon made by a fairly talented blacksmith. As if telling him to eat and gain weight, sandwiches that were full of meat and other various assorted meats were beautifully packaged on one side.

“That woman…”

He tried to recall the woman who was sitting next to her maid. The maid was the one who offered 2 gold during the auction, but it must be that woman who ordered her to buy him. Demian, whose eyesight and memory were far better than others, began to recall the situation at that time in great detail, it was as if he was painting a picture in his mind.

A red dress, and scarlet eyes that carried excitement, and hair that looked fragrant as if it was a wet tree that was torn vertically.

He remembered.

When he was annoyed and thought of running away after killing everyone in the prison, she was the only woman in the arena who stared at him on alert.

It was weird.

When he thought of her, his heart rumbled. His chest was ablaze like a thundercloud and sank. A dry flame burst out of his heart.

It was really strange.

He wanted to know her name. He wanted to ask why she came to the arena, despite looking like she had no interest in it at all? Why did she stare at him with such wary eyes? Why had she only sent her maid instead of coming in person after winning the auction on him that no one wanted to buy? Why did she feel so familiar even though this was their first time meeting?

Why did she look at him as if she knew him?

He was going insane with curiosity.

He wanted to meet her right now.

He had never felt this way before.

That woman was digging up inside his head with her bare hands. Then, a fire was ignited in his heart that he did not even know existed. His body was getting hot, but his spine got the chills.

He needed to know her.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

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The next day, Lara sat in the drawing-room with the painter who came to paint her portrait. She was observing her maids who were cleaning the room. In her previous life, she was the idol of her maids.

There was no better employer than someone who was gullible, naive, and generous.

“Milady, you’re like an angel.”

“The prince will be the happiest man in the world. Because he is receiving the love from someone as kind as milady.”

“I really like milady. Don’t forget us when you become a Queen later. Okay?”

Lara would listen to words that were sweet enough to melt her ears. Those maids were the ones who spent the most time by Lara’s side from morning to night. They were quick-witted and skillful at lying.

“Milady is so kind and elegant.”

“Milady is really beautiful and lovely.”

“I really like milady. Milady is the best.”

“Milady is all I need.”

It felt like all the pretty words in the world came through the mouth of those maids.

So she was deceived.

She was bound to be deceived.

Whenever she was in a good mood, she handed out jewelry to them, she raised their salary and she promised them to enter the royal palace together. When she knew that a maid could not be the lady-in-waiting in the royal palace, Lara thought they would understand her.

“That stupid thing! She ruined it. I was really looking forward to it since she said it as if she was sure that we would enter the royal palace!”

“I feel bad for the prince. He has to live with such an ignorant b*tch as the saintess. How frustrating would that be?”

“Is she really a saintess? All she knows how to do is just to sit still and pretend to pray.”

“If something like her could be a princess consort, even I can do it.”

Lara was shocked when she found out their true feelings. Her face heated up and her heart beat like it was going to explode. If there was a rat hole, she at least wanted to hide her head and cry. It was like that back then.

“Milady, we have finished cleaning up.”

Lara was lost in thought when her maids approached her and gently bowed their heads.

“Get out if you’re done.”

“…pardon?”

“Get out. You said you’re done.”

The maids were flustered and looked at Lara.

Before this, when they told her they were done with cleaning, she would tell them to come and sit down with her, she would then give them a share of snacks. Sometimes, she handed over pocket money and kept them with her on purpose so they would not have to do dirty work in another place.

Lara said.

“What are you doing? Everyone except Konny, get out. Don’t just hang around here.”

“Yes… Milady.”

Has milady always been that expressionless?

She was not an attractive beauty but she had a sweet personality. She was so naive, just like a fool. It was so easy to use her.

‘What’s wrong with her all of a sudden?’

The maids exchanged their thoughts with their looks and left the room.