As soon as they entered the royal castle, Dylan was summoned to the audience chamber.

He had no time to change his garments, but he didn’t seem bothered and started preparing.

“His Majesty the new King seems to be quite impatient. Diplomatic etiquette doesn’t seem all that important to him.”

“Indeed. It’s standard everywhere for a tea party to be arranged in advance for the entire delegation. The same should apply to the Kingdom of Claughton.  For only one representative to suddenly be invited to an official venue is unusual.”

Avril, who wasn’t that knowledgeable about diplomacy, learned many things in preparation for this visit. When she recalled the sequence of events delegations follow when visiting foreign countries, she found the discrepancy in procedure strange

The new king is someone Prince Lawrence had contact with in his childhood, and still has issues with… He sounds like a difficult individual to deal with.

In that case, it was necessary for the villainess to take the initiative. What would her stepsister, Corinna, do in this situation? There was only one answer.

“Lord Dylan, let me accompany you.”

“Huh?”

Glancing at the perplexed Dylan, Avril went on calmly.

“I’m a villainess. I will act oblivious to everything happening and will accompany you wherever you go, causing trouble… Is what I’d like to say.”

“But?”

The one who asked wasn’t Dylan, but Chris who was listening from behind for some reason. He urged her to continue.

“We don’t know much about His Majesty the King, so I feel like it’d be dangerous to jump into action… I won’t go with you, and will watch over you from here…”

“That’s good. Please do so.

Dylan, who had been needlessly nervous, breathed a sigh of relief. At almost the same time, there was a knock on the door to the waiting room.

“Yes?”

“An audience with His Excellency Dylan Sherard of the Kingdom of Branwill is requested.”

A civil servant from the Kingdom of Clauhgton appeared before Grace.

With dusty blonde hair and grey, cloudy eyes, he was about the same age as the previous duke. The deep wrinkles on his brow made him look grumpy, yet his straight back exuded a sense of dignity.

Did he come all the way here?

The stern man was basically a central figure in the nation’s government. Why was someone like him asking them directly? Avril tilted her head in confusion.

Normally, a mid-ranking civil servant would’ve come instead. Even though he was an official guide for a delegation, it seemed a little strange.

Despite Avril’s discomfort, the man bowed respectfully.

“I apologize for you just arrived, but I have come as His Majesty the King is waiting.”

“…Yes, I’ll be right away.”

Dylan, who seemed to have the same question as Avril, naturally responded. She noticed that his eyes sharpened slightly. At that moment, the civil servant—an important figure—said something unbelievable.

“His Majesty the King has requested that you bring along your companion.”

…Huh? By companion, he means me, right?

As Avril blinked at the unexpected situation, Dylan stepped in.

“No. The only one invited to the audience chamber by His Majesty the King of the Kingdom of Claughton is me. My companion shall wait here.”

“It’s His Majesty’s personal request.”

“But—”

“There is no mistake, he requested for a meeting right away.”

Dylan declined, but the civil servant was surprisingly stubborn. Although he was smiling, he showed no sign of backing down. He met her gaze gently and held out his hand, as if to encourage her. Avril froze.

She knew that as a villainess, she had the important task of winning the heart of the king.

However, as she’d just mentioned to Dylan and the others, causing trouble as a villainess so soon upon arrival would be odd.

This is up to Lord Dylan…!

She glanced over to her side, and Dylan nodded after pondering for a few seconds.

“Okay, I’ll let her join us.”

“Come this way.”

I don’t have a problem joining them, but… Is there some special reason for my being summoned so suddenly?

As she was sent off by an anxious-looking Grace and a dubiously smiling Chris, Avril turned on her inner villainess switch for the first time in a long while.

And so, she left the waiting room.

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