Villains Are Destined to Die

Chapter 9

It was satisfying seeing the butler’s haughty expression waver uncertainly. I wiped the smile off my face and murmured, “And must I remind you each time that I don’t appreciate looking up at you when I speak?”

This was a roundabout expression often used by the highest-ranking aristocrats in the game, who seldom experienced being spoken to without the speaker first kneeling before them. This would include, for example, Duke Eckhart, who bowed his head to no one except for members of the imperial family.

“I-I’m sorry, my lady!” The butler seemed to quickly understand my meaning. He collapsed to the floor, his stiff legs seeming to turn to jelly.

“I-I grew careless in my haste and overstepped my bounds. Pray, forgive me...”

Seeing the man on his knees made me feel a little better. I’d been having a terrible day since the moment I woke up. I did wonder if I was being too harsh, as the butler was much older than I was, but I didn’t tell him to get up. No doubt this butler had done nothing but talk down to Penelope and ignore her these past six years.

“You know... I don’t think I’d appreciate seeing your face again any time soon,” I said, staring coldly at him as he kneeled. “I’m sure you feel the same?”

At last, I arrived at what I really wanted to say.

“If you need something from me, you needn’t come in person from now on. Send someone else.”

“But my lady, selecting the maids in this manor is my resp—”

“Yes or no,” I said, cutting him off. “I don’t want to hear any other response from you.”

“Yes... Understood, my lady,” said the butler, agreeing with great effort. It showed on his face how difficult it was for him to just defer to me.

“But first I should arrange dinner—”

“No. Get out,” I spat. I lay back down, my back turned toward him. I could soon hear his cautious footsteps retreating from the room.

Creak.

The door closed much more softly than it had been opened, and the room was plunged back into darkness. I was suddenly worried that the butler might go straight to the duke and tell him everything I’d said.

“Well, it’s not like I can do anything about it now.”

Let him do as he would. I couldn’t stop him, and I would do the same over and over again if it would help ease some of Penelope’s built-up resentment. Besides, I’d spoken quietly the whole time without throwing anything or screaming in his face.

Inside the game, you were meant to build a good reputation by improving your relationships with the other characters as the story progressed. This would later aid you in reaching various endings with each of the male protagonists. I had no intention of playing the game in an orthodox manner, though. I didn’t need to accomplish multiple endings, which meant any time I spent on irrelevant people was time wasted.

I’m busy enough keeping the affection scores from falling below zero. My reputation doesn’t concern me.

That was a luxury you could only afford when playing the game on a phone. Shoving aside my useless musings, I closed my eyes again. I hadn’t been able to sleep properly since I’d woken up as Penelope, and the butler had interrupted my nap. I needed more rest.

* * *

Penelope seemed to be quite the early bird for a villain. My eyes opened early in the morning even though there was no maid to wake me. I got out of bed and did a set of light stretches. Someone knocked on my door like they’d been waiting for me to wake.

Knock, knock.

I sat on my bed and stared at the door. I was curious whether yesterday’s warning had been effective. It didn’t seem to be the butler, that was for certain; the door didn’t fly open like last time.

“Who’s there?” I finally said.

“My lady, it’s me, Raina.”

Raina was the head maid. My new tactic had worked splendidly, and I was satisfied with the results.

“Come in.”

The door clicked open, and a middle-aged woman stepped inside.

“Did you sleep well, my lady?”

“What do you want?”

“I’ve come to speak to you about selecting a new personal maid. Do you happen to have someone specific in mind for the role?”

Of course I don’t.

I said nothing in response, but she seemed to have expected this. She didn’t suggest that I select another maid from the existing staff, either.

“If you have no one particular in mind, perhaps a new maid can be hired—”

“The one that was serving me before—what was her name?”

“You mean Emily, my lady?”

“Ah, yes. Emily,” I said, pretending to have forgotten. “Has she been kicked out of the manor?”

“No, she hasn’t, but—”

“Then what is she doing now?” I interrupted.

The maid looked suspicious at the question.

“She... failed to serve you properly. She faces three months of reduced pay and will work in the laundry.”

“Is that so?”

“But why do you ask, my lady?”

There was a faint flicker of unease in the maid’s expression, despite her composure so far.

I guess she knows what’s been going on.

Or perhaps she was the mastermind behind the whole plot.

I resisted the urge to laugh and said calmly, “Let her continue as my personal maid.”

“I’m... sorry?”

“It’s inconvenient, having no one around to serve me. Whoever we hire will be a new maid, and it’ll take time for her to learn the work. I prefer someone already experienced.”

Penelope would never have provided such a detailed explanation. But since I needed the maid’s cooperation for my own ends, I decided to play nice.

“You understand what I’m saying, correct? Send her up, please.” I smiled at the maid, whose jaw was hanging open.

She seemed shocked by the change in me, and after some thought, she said cautiously, “B-but my lady, she committed a dire offense against you, and her punishment was ordered by Lord Reynold himself.”

“So what? Are you refusing to do as I say?” I said, interrupting her excuses.

“...”

The maid clammed up immediately. This was good. Though it was only my second day in the manor, I’d already seen that no one ever did as Penelope asked the first time.

Has it always been like this?

The hierarchical societies I’d seen in movies and books had never allowed for servants questioning those of higher status. Besides, the servants that had cared for the heroine in normal mode were endlessly accommodating which indicated that whatever this was, it wasn’t normal. My good mood was replaced by irritation in less than a minute.

“Do as I say while I’m still asking nicely.”

I’d even said please. Did I have to act like the real Penelope?

“I already told you finding a new maid is inconvenient. Send her up as I instructed, unless you wish to attend to me yourself?”

“In that case, I shall bring the matter to the duke first, my lady.”

The head maid was refusing to do as I asked. I laughed, incredulous at her confidence.

“No, there is no need. In fact, I’ll go see him right now.” I stood abruptly. “While I’m at it, I’ll give him all the details of what happened yesterday and tell him that I’ve forgiven Emily.”

“...”

“Where is Father?” I asked, starting to leave.

“M-my lady!” The maid’s eyes had gone wide.

Things had ended somewhat peacefully with only one maid demoted, but if I told the duke the truth, things could rapidly get out of hand. The maid had abused the duke’s daughter, and the duke’s second son had witnessed it to boot.

“Th-the duke left for the palace early this morning,” she stammered.

“Really? All right. I’ll tell him when he—”

“I shall bring Emily right away!” the maid interrupted frantically, apparently afraid that I would set out in search of my father. “It’s my age, my lady. It’s making me fretful. I didn’t understand how generous your intentions were. Please forgive me.”

It didn’t please me so much as make me feel bitter to see the head maid now bowing her head. I had no intention of improving my reputation by being nice to the servants, but this felt like I was eating away at what little reputation I already possessed.

“Shall I bring her right now, my lady?” the maid asked, looking fearful.

“I don’t want to repeat myself to you ever again, Raina,” I said, my tone somewhat mournful. My day was already ruined beyond repair. “Get out.”

* * *

The head maid must have done as I asked. Emily immediately came to my room with breakfast.

“M-my lady... I-I shall prepare breakfast for you...”

Her hands were trembling as she set out the plates under my watchful gaze. She seemed to have had a difficult time after being dragged away the day before. The insanity of actually eating the rotten food apparently hadn’t been for naught. The food she served me this time looked palatable; it was fresh salad and a juicy-looking steak.

Looks edible, at least.

The stress from the day before hadn’t dissipated just yet. I didn’t really feel like eating. I stared at Emily deliberately, who was standing stiffly to the side, as I slowly ate.

She didn’t dare meet my eyes, of course.

Maybe she feels guilty.

No doubt she was busy trying to figure out why I’d chosen to keep her on as my personal maid. I hadn’t even finished half of my food before I was putting my fork back down.

“Emily.”

“Y-yes, my lady!” she said, her voice much too loud. She’d no doubt been caught up in her thoughts.

I held out a hand.

“Hand me the needle, would you?”

“I’m sorry? What do you—”

“The needle you poked me with every morning,” I said affably.

She gasped. My friendly tone seemed to confuse her. After a moment, she suddenly went pale and fell to her knees.

“M-my lady! I’m sorry! Please forgive me!”

Thump, thump.

Her forehead banged against the floor as she begged.

What? If she was going to buckle so quickly, why did she do it in the first place?

I was surprised to see how timid she seemed. My mood worsened at the confirmation of my suspicions: someone else was behind the abuse. Any desire to wheedle what I wanted out of her vanished, and my voice turned harsh.

“Didn’t the head maid tell you? I dislike having to repeat myself.”

“M-my lady...”

“Give me the needle.”