Hey, Cecily, do guys usually cry after getting dumped nowadays?

[There’s no way that’s true.]

I guessed as much…

Somehow, I couldn’t forget the scene I saw yesterday.

Why was Eivind Dahl, the popular boy, crying after being rejected by the transfer student? Also, what’s with him? Was it already ingrained in his nature to pounce on every girl he met for the first time? Not to mention, he also had the tendency to treat those who didn’t interest him like air. No way, did he finally get a taste of his own medicine? Did Hana mercilessly reject him?

He got rejected by Hana… Just like me!

“What’s the matter, Cecily Travasta? Is there something you don’t understand?”

By the way, I was currently in class. The lesson was history. We were studying about the [War of Destruction] that took place 800 years ago. Despite its grand name, the world wasn’t really threatened during that war. It was a time when conflict was constant across the continent due to epidemics caused by miasma and natural disasters. The war itself, however, broke out because of poverty and food shortages.

Ultimately, the root of it all, the Incorrigible Villainess, Nora Noz, was sealed away. The savior who restored peace to the world was the King of Wisdom, Hiel Von Nouwen.

According to history, the Incorrigible Villainess was jealous of her own fiancé, King Hiel, due to his sharp wit and multitude of talents. One day, a saint who was on par with the king appeared. Nora grew resentful of the saint and committed evil deeds. They even created an alternative name for that war, [The War of Broken Hearts].

How laughable.

Anyway, the teacher who sensed that something was ailing me was commendable. Such competence. Therefore, as a student, I was obliged to respond to his kindness.

“Hey, Teacher, if you ended up crying after being rejected by a girl, how would you wish to be treated by your female friend?”

“…Ask questions like that after school.”

Just like that, the bell rang. Today’s lesson has ended!

Well, tomorrow was the actual performance for the freshmen… Time for a rehearsal!

“Okay, Anita, I’ll go to my club—”

—When I was about to greet Anita with such enthusiasm, Eivind Dahl, with a very ominous smile on his face, slowly approached me.

“…Do you have a moment?”

…I was dragged to the rooftop.

“I didn’t get dumped by that girl!”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself. Everyone will experience heartbreak once in a while. A good-looking guy like you isn’t an exception.”

I see, I see…

Even Eivind, who was usually so haughty, was probably embarrassed at being turned down…

He’s still a boy, after all. How cute. I’ve never seen this side of him before…

When I stared at him with the compassion of someone who was 800 years his senior, he scoffed.

“…Besides, didn’t I mention that I only have eyes for you?”

“For the Incorrigible Villainess, Nora Noz?”

I could feel his hesitation at uttering that phrase. When I pointed that out, he gave me a somewhat somber look.

“…Is that title true?”

“You don’t believe it?”

“That’s not the case. Being honest with you, I think that you’re strange, but I don’t think you’re the type of woman who deserves that sort of title.”

In other words… I guess ‘did you really do it?’ Was what he wanted to ask.

I smiled at his question.

“What good will it do to learn about the truth from 800 years ago?”

Nobody will rejoice about it. Yes, nobody.

Nora Noz was a witch who tried to destroy the world because of her broken heart. It was written as such in the textbook. The people from that era wanted it to be that way.

That’s fine with me.  

I, who was born 800 years ago, had no right to meddle in the history that had been weaved until now.

I clapped my hands together.

“Well, my story aside! I’m busy today, but I’ll have time if I finish tomorrow. I’ll even lend you a shoulder to cry on!”

“Like I said, I didn’t confess to her, let alone get dumped!?”

“Then what were you talking about?”

Looking at how adamant he was, I decided to ask him. However, Eivind hung his head.

When he looked up at me, there was a glint of resentment in his eyes.

“…It’s a secret.”

***

Now, it was time to prepare for rehearsal.

As a newbie, I have to work harder than everyone else!

Cecily suddenly spoke to me, which was uncharacteristic of her.

[Nora, are you okay?]

Ooh, you’re finally calling me by my name!

[…If you’re going to say something so mean things, I won’t call your name anymore.]

I smiled a little at my adorable, pouty soulmate.

I answered while checking the props in the wings of the actual stage.

I’m alright. Cecily, I want to apologize to you.

[What for?]

I apologize as the Incorrigible Villainess for having possessed you.

Incorrigible Villainess… My timid girl friend must’ve been terrified by that title.

When I apologized, Cecily chuckled.

[I’m actually kind of enjoying this ghost life.]

Hmm, I see.

She probably isn’t satisfied with the current situation.

I wanted her to recover. I wanted her to take advantage of me to recuperate as much as she wanted.

I only appeared in the last act. Until then, I had been assigned to do behind-the-scenes work such as helping with changing clothes and managing the props.

“Ah, a fan is missing, so I’ll go find one!”

“Got it.”

I called out to a freshman nearby, before making my way back from the wings of the stage. We were working in empty classrooms until the last minute. The academy being an aristocratic school didn’t mean that the club had ample funding. Part of the education program was making ends meet with last-minute tuition and supplies. That way, the students would learn some financial independence in the process.

As I hurried back to the classroom—

—I heard something from another classroom, one which was supposed to be empty.

“She’s just a baron’s daughter, yet she completely got casted as the lead! She must be sleeping around!”

“There’s also a third-year student among the performers… A lot of strange things are happening this year…”

The angry people were… two first years with red ribbons. Were they aiming for the main role? I couldn’t imagine the manager, who straightforwardly professed his devotion to his fiancée, would succumb to temptation.

Besides, she’s a really good singer… As for me, the aforementioned ‘third-year student’, sorry if I’m a bother…

Well, badmouthing others behind their backs was probably path of youth too, right?

So, I nonchalantly entered.

But then, they started saying outrageous things.

“Let’s lock her up before the actual performance… Then maybe, one of us will be selected as a substitute.”

Oh, you just said something that can’t be ignored.

I quietly listened until the end, before opening the door.

“Okay, besides the fan, what else did I forget?”

I smiled at my juniors.

Now that they know I heard everything, they’ll give up on their plan…

---

***T/N: It’s time for Nora to take the stage as girlboss again.

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