Reincarnated As Both The Villainess And Heroine...?

The Beginnings of Two

"Those with their hair dyed in red are interesting, wouldn't you agree?" the prince revealed his preferences without much concern for the well being of my heart.

At the crack of dawn, a certain unwanted guest came barging into my room, demanding my immediate presence in accompanying His Highness for...whatever it was that he wanted.

Running my fingers through my sloppily combed hair, I muttered coldly, "Are you still keeping that girl from yesterday in your thoughts? I do not mind, but perhaps reconsider Your Highness' position before spouting intentions of infidelity with a commoner."

I really wasn't in the mood for this. Between the oddly bright morning sun and this incorrigible brat, I was about ready to collapse and go straight back to sleep. In the first place, why were we walking!? Aren't nobles supposed to, I don't know, take carriages or something?

Well, I suppose I will admit admiring this uniquely ancient architecture of the capital city was somewhat of a treat...

"The girl from yesterday? What are you talking about?" although his words appeared genuine, his superficial expression gave him away. "I'm not talking about that girl, you know. Perhaps you are the one who is overly interested in her."

Our exchanges barely went past the double digit count, yet this brat was already getting on my nerves...

"Now, now. No need to look at me like that," the prince chuckled indifferently. "I really am trying to hold a serious discussion, you know. No jest at all."

Really now? You are, prince? You of all people?

"It really is about a person with red hair. Not the amusing little girl from yesterday, but a living legend I met on the streets a good month or two ago."

I swallowed any retorts I had, instead praying that His Highness would lose interest quickly. Whatever it was he wanted to say...it sure as hell wasn't going to be good.

"I heard that woman is going to be our instructor."

"What?"

That's news to me!

"Indeed. She is a...being of legend. It was rare to see her among civilization, and even rarer for her to accept such as a position in Ouroboros Academy. Her life as a 'hero' must have been quite tiring, hm?"

Oi! This is the first time I'm hearing of this! What sort of reveal is this!?

In the first place, the "instructor" of the class Elizabeth and the prince were in was never outright discussed. Being an otome game first and school life simulator a very distant second, I never thought twice about it. After all, the instructor wasn't going to be someone important, right? Then the common sense was to not talk about her...

But I was set up!!! This was all the damn developers' fault! Hiding secret details beneath the surface of the script! Outrageous! Unreasonable! What sense did that make!? Damn you...! I was set up!!!

She was going to be some appalling character, wasn't she? I bet she was the type to be secretly responsible for some of the major events of the story, too. Knowing the developers, it wasn't too far fetched. That didn't make it okay! 

"And who might that be?"

It's not too late yet. I might be able to gather some last minute information on her. Perhaps she was indeed mentioned somewhere in the game...

"The daughter of a mercenary...and a saintess," the prince muttered as he gazed up at the brilliant morning sky. "While the girl who you pitied on possessed hair of a gorgeous red, our instructor's hair was unique in its own way. It's poetic...and perhaps even prophetic."

"That did not help in my identification of her at all," I was this close to having a mental breakdown.

The prince smirked at me, an expression which I so desperately wanted to vandalize, "Do you not realize, Duchess candidate Bathory? You can be quite dense when it comes to matters that do not involve you. Or perhaps it is indifference?"

The prince nodded his head towards the west, causing me to shift my gaze in accordance. As he raised his flawless fingers to point towards a distance location, his guard parted naturally, as if perfectly understanding His Highness' intentions.

"She is as much of a hero as I am a commoner," the prince giggled as he stared at the towering form of the grand cathedral. "A mercenary and a saintess? Such an union is unheard of. Taboo in some places, but shun in all. She may have accomplished great deeds...but such an individual will never be truly accepted. Such is a problem of nobility, after all. Troublesome bunch."

I chose my words carefully, "Such words is only trouble when uttered in front of nobility."

Despite his prideful exterior, the prince hid...dangerous ideas beneath his mask of lies. But to think it extended all the way to his childhood...it surprised even me. In a way, his route was the most progressive, yet the darkest.

The prince burst out in laughter, as if genuinely finding my comment amusing, "If it's you, Elizabeth Bathory, I'm sure it's fine. After all, I'm sure you're smart enough to realize that exposing me implies your own doom as well, my dear fiance. Well, that and you're quite unsociable."

Aw, I'm glad that you think of me as that trust—Wait, are you making fun of me!?

"It was quite the pleasant conversation, Bathory. It seems we have arrive at the schoolhouse without noticing. Here is where we part...until we meet our new instructor, that is," the prince winked. "For now, let us go settle the final processes of our enrollment, hm?"

"It has been my pleasure, Your Highness," I did a curtsy, despite my inner frustrations.

Well, I suppose I could find out more about her at a later date...Still, I already had my own suspicions about our "instructor".

"Ah, hold on a minute. Bathory," the prince called out to me just as I was about leave.

I turned around with a slight tilt of my head, but I was only further confused when I noticed the expression of concern on His Highness' face.

"Where has your servant gone today?"

"Lily? She's taking a break. She requested it of me, and I granted."

"So she's moving already..."

Could the prince have caught on this soon...?

The brat shrugged uncharacteristically, "Well, it doesn't matter. Bathory...No. Elizabeth, we should speak at length regarding several complicated matters at some point in the future."

"Not as fellow nobility, nor as couples of a political arrangement. But as individuals," the prince's brows knitted together. "Individuals who share similar circumstances...in regards to our respective families."

Huh. So he could be cool and serious at times. His gaze of gentle compassion made my heart skip a beat...

"With that, do enjoy this grand academy. Ah, but don't put on too much weight. You're having trouble keeping up with my pace as is."

...At least it would have if he wasn't such a brat all the damn time!