Unfortunately, I'm an Evil Villainess

Chapter 49 - The Third Male Lead

The end of January approached quickly. I was getting ready for my exams, but I wasn't the only one. Zoe brought the news to me first thing in the morning.

"My lady, Nathaniel Seaton arrived last night."

"Excellent. He's at the manor?"

"Yes, my lady. Treated as an important guest, like you said."

"Tell them I'll be over for lunch."

My presence was an honour granted only to the worthy, but the future high priest was all about kindness, caring, respect disregarding classes, all those saintly things. Thus, as a show of my humility, I would stoop to visit instead of summoning him. It disgusted me just to think about it.

What to wear? A humble, light yellow dress with little jewellery. Winning Nathaniel over was just as important as being the saint, since in the novel, these two events were inexplicably tied. He told the crown prince about his theory that Catherine was the saint, because of how kind she was, which first made him interested in her.

I had eliminated that threat, but he would still have plenty of influence in the future as the youngest high priest ever with an immense amount of holy power, though far less than Catherine's, of course. Despite my annoyance, I was excited to meet him as I walked into the sitting room where he waited.

"Good day, Mister Seaton."

Nathaniel was a year younger than me, the same age as Catherine. A skinny boy, not as well fed as the noble children I was used to, wearing simple but good quality clothes that House Avington bought for him. His skin was tanned, his hair brown, his eyes hazel, and his features matched the description in the novel, soft and gentle, like a sweet puppy. He stood up to greet me, awkwardly bowing.

"Good day. Are you Lady Valentina?"

"Yes, and please rise."

He straightened, though I could distinctly see his commoner background. It was in the way he carried himself, his tone, and the tiniest gestures, lacking the confidence and poise of aristocrats, and too easily readable. He was shorter than me right now, but he had the face to be a male lead.

"Shall we go to lunch?"

"All right."

The boy, who was supposed to be the warm spring and sincere friend to the heroine, was being awfully shy. He didn't offer his arm to escort me like a gentleman, but I wasn't expecting him to. The dining room we were using was close, so we didn't talk on the way.

At the table, he seemed at a loss with all the cutlery, and he certainly didn't use them properly. As the food began to be served, I started a conversation.

"How were your travels, Mister Seaton?"

"It was really nice. Thank you for all the kind arrangements you've made for me, Lady Valentina."

"You can call me Valentina. That's what friends do."

"Ah... yes, Valentina."

For some reason, it was like he was backing away from me. I had thought my innocent smiles and status as saint would be enough to make him instantly like me, but apparently not. He didn't even acknowledge my offer of friendship, and it was my amazing self control that I didn't jam my table knife into his eye.

I was an expert at socializing, and I certainly wasn't giving up against this peasant boy.

"You've lived at the Avington castle for a while now before coming here, right? Is everything to your liking? Are you getting used to things?"

"Everything and everyone are wonderful, and I think I'm settling in. Thank you again."

"Oh, you're very welcome. Please don't hesitate to ask for anything."