PMZ 012 – The Lady has no idea that the first machine was named Alice.

So, a month later, I became a commoner at last.

Instead of my usual high-class dress, I wore a soft cotton navy blue dress, put on a wide-brimmed hat and my hair was set in a loose braid, and personally, I think this look is neat and pretty.

I picked up my bag and said, “Thank you for everything.” On a side note, it seems that my parents are taking this easy.

My mother even said that “I’d like some pudding from the pâtisserie on the corner of local market street for a souvenir.” 

They were treating this as if I was going to vacation….

But it’s alright, My brother patted me on the head for the first time on my life, Lav cried and sent me off, and Luke bit his lip and gave me a hug with a face that looked like he was going to cry, making me confused about what to do.

Luke was so clearly saying he didn’t like me before this, I guess his rebellion phase is finally over, I’m glad for him.

Well, I guess this is goodbye to the Duke’s family that I’ve known for so long.

Although it brings tears to my eyes, it’s natural for girls in this world who graduated from the academy to get married and leave her home.

I can’t stay as child forever, so I need  to steel my mind and think about my new journey.

I live on 15th Street, away from the aristocratic district, it’s the area where the so-called middle-class citizen lives. Lav’s house is also located around here, this is a place where nobles rarely come and go, moderately classy yet lively and full of people. Anyway, It’s the perfect place to hide my identity and live comfortably.

My new home is a small, two-story white house on the guard patrol route, it’s in the safer part of the city that already relatively peaceful.

I sold a lot of my dresses to buy this.

Thanks to that, I can still live comfortably for the time being, but I need to find a way to be independent as soon as possible.

I brought that ‘fan’ with me as a good luck charm, but the luxury fan made of gold and silver embroidery and lace is a bit too unsuitable for me to carry around as commoner, so I keep it hidden under my pillow and can’t use it.

From today, my name is Alice, and I don’t have a family name.

I came to Capital city from the countryside in search of a job. That’s the setting I goes by—

“that’s impossible.”

For some reason, Hayato, who was in this new house before me, said so.

“Why did you think so? And why are you at my house?”

“Chaperone, your father asked me to do it. He wanted you to get used to this life, so at least until then, I will live here.”

“Aw… Father…”

“He also said that I could take you as my wife.”

“Father!”

Are you stupid! You’re gonna make me play the role of villainess again! I don’t want to go through that trouble ever again!

“Hayato, I’m sure you’re busy, so please go home. I’ll take care of things on my own.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“My sister and her husband also asked me to do this. Moreover, they have paid for my service.”

“Paid for…Why did you take it!? I’m sure you don’t have monetary problem, and you have the rights to choose your job. You didn’t have to go to the trouble of taking care of a selfish ex-daughter of noble.”

“It was a payment I couldn’t get anywhere else……”

Huh? Don’t tell me… the payment is the first magic cart?

I passed it in a vacant lot when I was on my way here.

I was wondering why it was parked there when it shouldn’t be out for sale yet. So it was yours.

It draws a lot of attention, and the kids were climbing up and down on its wheel. I hope it won’t be damaged.

“Yeah, …Well, I can’t blame them. ……”

“…I don’t think it would make any difference anyway. I did get paid, but even if I didn’t, I’d still be here to see how you were doing.

We had a promise, I told you to count on me, even if you are no longer noble.”

Oh, he smiled. As expected of the target of the attack, the expression alone is enough to make me forgive him.

“We did do that, aren’t we?”

But this is just a businesslike relationship.

It’s a shallow friendship, he comes to watch over the selfish young Lady of the Duke’s house because he owes me a favor for saving his sister.

If that’s the case, then I shouldn’t have to carry the villain role on my back anymore, right? I could just do nothing and watch his romance with the heroine from the side.

…

I don’t like it.

The heroine is THAT Maria, right? Then no way. not possible. I won’t acknowledge it.

I forgot all about Miss Maria until now. I don’t know why my brain didn’t remember, or rather why it refuses to remember her.

No, I probably wouldn’t have cared if she is truly a heroine with good personality.

If she can make a happy ending in my place then I would support her as much as I could.

But not her, not Maria!

I assure you! That girl is bad news, very bad one at that.

I might be a bad girl (villainess) too, but she’s on another level!

Think about it, if you make a reverse harem in real life, you are a cheater (adulterer), even in the game I have never gone down on harem route, that’s also why I know nothing about Hayato route! I only know his face from an online bulletin board.

Maria is no good. I won’t acknowledge her as a heroine!

— I’ve decided!

I’m really gonna get in your way this time. I’m a villainess after all! It’s decided! Just you wait, I’m coming at you!

Since I decide that, I need to gather information. I wonder if Hayato already met with her.

“By the way, Hayato-san. Have you met a girl with pink hair recently…?”

“Pink haired girl…? I don’t know if I ever met one or not. and, what the hell with that Hayato-[san]?”

“I don’t mean anything by that.”

I wonder if Hayato have met with her or not, even if he did, it doesn’t seem like she left much of an impression.

“I feel like a newlywed when you call me using [san]… it’s kind of cute, care to repeat that once again?”

“Will you stop teasing me?”

I feel like being targeted by bird of prey right now.

Well since the person involved say he didn’t know anything, then I probably won’t get anywhere by asking him. I think I will need to do my own research.