Silent Fanaticism

Finally, fabricating an excuse about ‘needing to report to Father,’ I managed to escape the suffocating embrace of the S-class lounge.

As I stepped out of the lounge doors, re-inhaling the slightly cooler air of the corridor, an involuntary hand rose to my forehead.

The rough sensation of Beatrix’s fingertips still seemed to linger there.

Even more, the spot on my left hand where Ella’s fingers had intertwined felt faintly feverish.

‘…Honestly, why are all these young people so incredibly clingy nowadays?’

I muttered a soft complaint, smoothing the slightly wrinkled hem of my skirt, and consciously tried to reclaim the aloof aura befitting a ‘villainess noble daughter’.

The path ahead, however, would be the true trial.

To reach the carriage stop at the academy gates from the S-class building, I had to traverse the main thoroughfare.

Following the rock-shattering spectacle that had just captivated the entire student body, I was, undeniably, at the epicenter of the academy’s current tempest.

Taking a deep breath, I adjusted my glasses and stepped forward.

As expected.

It was indeed the peak dismissal hour, and the main thoroughfare was teeming with students fresh from the grand auditorium.

They chattered excitedly about the recent events, and a palpable restlessness permeated the air.

But the moment I appeared.

The clamor, as if severed by a blade, abruptly ceased.

The previously dense crowd parted swiftly and uniformly, much like the Red Sea before Moses, creating a path so wide a carriage could easily pass through.

I walked straight down the center of the path, my gaze fixed forward.

Though I maintained an outward composure, beneath the surface, a torrent of panic churned within me.

‘…This atmosphere is all wrong.’

Previously, their gazes had been filled with contempt, fear, or the smug satisfaction of watching a ‘villain on the verge of ruin’.

But now, those gazes had transformed.

Neither boys nor girls held any trace of mundane judgment in their eyes as they watched me.

Instead, an indescribable, eerie stillness had taken root.

It was akin to devout worshippers observing a divine idol being borne through the streets.

They held their breath, some even instinctively lowering their heads, afraid to meet my gaze, as if a prolonged look would condemn them to be consumed by my chaos.

‘Was it because I had destroyed that incredibly expensive stone?’

‘Did they perceive me as a madwoman audacious enough to shatter even a sacred church relic, fearing I might annihilate them as well?’

‘The more I considered it, the more plausible it became.’

‘After all, the rumors had just claimed I’d instantly devoured that glowing stone!’

To avoid further agitating these petrified herbivores, I resolved to quicken my pace and depart this troublesome locale without delay.

Just then.

‘Plink!’

Something landed by my feet.

It was a pink handkerchief, edged with delicate lace.

I halted.

A girl stood a short distance away—her uniform marked her as a student from the regular class.

She was visibly pale, her entire body trembling as she glanced from the handkerchief to me, clearly petrified.

She appeared to want to bend and retrieve it, yet her legs were so rigid with fear of me that she couldn’t stir.

‘…Am I truly that terrifying?’

A wave of helplessness washed over me.

While I might be a villainess, I’m certainly not an ill-mannered antagonist who litters.

I bent down, extending my left hand adorned with an obsidian ring, and retrieved the handkerchief.

The handkerchief was spotless, exuding a faint, sweet scent of peach blossoms.

Straightening up, I approached the girl and offered her the handkerchief.

“Your item.”

The girl abruptly drew a sharp breath.

She did not immediately reach out to receive it.

Instead, her eyes widened as she stared intently at me, then at the handkerchief in my hand that I had just touched.

Her cheeks flushed a vivid crimson with astonishing speed.

Her body, previously trembling from fear, now vibrated with an even more intense frequency, and even…

‘…a hint of bizarre excitement?’

“Tha…thank…thank you, Lady Lilliana!”

Finally, she extended both hands.

However, she didn’t simply take the handkerchief.

Instead, with a gesture akin to reverence, she carefully cupped it in her palms, her touch barely grazing my fingertips.

“I…I will cherish it for my entire life!”

Her eyes met mine, her voice trembling but resolute.

It was as if I hadn’t merely returned a dropped handkerchief, but bestowed upon her a golden pardon.

The surrounding girls let out suppressed gasps.

Within those exclamations, there was even…

‘…a hint of envy?’

‘…Are the people in this academy truly alright in the head?’

I found such a mindset utterly unfathomable.

Releasing my grip, I ignored the girl, who appeared to have ascended to some blissful plane, and swiftly turned towards my waiting carriage.

It was only when I settled into the enclosed carriage, with its plush velvet cushions, effectively shielding myself from the fervent, unsettling stares outside, that I finally felt a sense of relief.

‘Hah…’

I removed my glasses and wearily massaged my temples.

“What a…truly magnificent coronation ceremony, Sister.”

A sweet, mirthful voice suddenly emanated from the seat opposite me.

My movements froze; I snapped my eyes open.

On the seat that had been utterly vacant moments before, a diminutive figure now sat.

Chloe.

She held a cup of black tea, procured from an unknown source, its pattern identifying it as one of my carriage’s spare amenities.

She sat with one leg crossed over the other, gazing at me with an air of utter contentment.

“When did you get in here?”

I asked, a note of exasperation in my voice.

My carriage was clearly equipped with a magical lock, yet this individual had entered as casually as if it were their own backyard.

“Just when you, Sister, were exuding your regal aura outside, captivating those little girls until they were utterly disoriented.”

Chloe giggled, setting down her teacup.

“Indeed, the academy is now abuzz with tales of your divine miracles.”

“Divine miracles?”

I rolled my eyes.

“Are you referring to the crime of ‘destroying public property’?”

“No, no, no.”

Chloe wagged her index finger.

“In their eyes, that was the collapse of the old order.”

She leaned closer, a spark of exhilaration dancing in her violet eyes.

“The Church’s authority, the Prince’s judgment, the very absoluteness of light…all of it, beneath your single touch, crumbled to ash.”

“Now, in the hearts of all, you are no longer merely a villainess noble daughter.”

“You are…the Chaos Witch, capable of devouring even light, transcending all rules.”

“…That sounds more like a villain destined for the pyre.”

I retorted dryly.

“Don’t worry, you won’t be burned alive.”

Chloe propped her chin, her eyes narrowing like a cat’s.

“Because…the Church has already decided to suppress the news.”

“Huh?”

I froze.

This was the most pressing concern on my mind.

“Suppress the news? Then…what about the compensation for that stone?”

“Compensation?”

Chloe burst into laughter, as if I had uttered the most amusing jest.

“Sister, you’re concerned about that? Hahahaha!”

She laughed until tears welled in her eyes, finally managing to compose herself enough to wipe the corners.

“How could the Church possibly dare to demand compensation from you? Admitting a sacred relic was drained by a mere student would be tantamount to admitting their deity is inferior to you, a devastating blow to the Church’s prestige.”

“So, their official statement is that the Holy Appraisal Stone was damaged due to natural weathering over its long age. As for the anomaly at the time, that was…ahem, a divine revelation.”

“Therefore, there’s no compensation, and no punishment. Furthermore…Prince Alexis has even been confined to reflect by His Majesty the King because of this farce.”

Upon hearing the words ‘no compensation needed’.

I felt the Sword of Damocles that had been suspended above my head finally vanish.

‘That’s wonderful…’

I unconsciously exhaled a sigh of relief, my entire body slumping against the seatback.

‘As long as my allowance remained untouched, they could call me a witch or a demon lord for all I cared.’

“Seeing Sister’s expression—that ‘as long as the money is safe’ look—it’s truly…adorable enough to tempt one to mischief.”

Chloe observed my money-loving demeanor, the amusement in her eyes deepening.

Suddenly, she abandoned her seat and, like a lithe black cat, clambered over to my side.

“So then…Sister, for this reassuring news.”

She straddled my lap, her hands braced against the seatback, trapping me within an incredibly narrow space.

Her exquisite, doll-like face drew close to mine.

The sweet, berry-like scent emanating from her, mingling with the carriage’s inherent aroma of black tea, became intoxicating.

“Should I…collect a little reward?”

Her gaze fell to my lips, then slowly drifted lower, settling on my collarbone.

There, due to my earlier relaxation, my collar was slightly loose.

“Last time, it was just a lick of your finger…”

Chloe’s voice grew husky, and she ran the tip of her tongue over her dry lips.

“This time…I want to taste something deeper.”

“Like…here?”

Her fingertip, through my clothing, lightly tapped the area over my heart.

There, my heart was racing uncontrollably, spurred by her proximity and the dangerous aura she exuded.

“The chaotic magic…it’s most concentrated here, isn’t it?”

She lowered her head, her twin violet pigtails brushing against my chest.

“I won’t hold back, Sister.”

The carriage continued its steady journey, its curtains obscuring the outside world.

Within this enclosed, swaying space.

I gazed at the information broker nestled against me, feeling her cool breath permeate my skin through the fabric.

I sighed, yet made no move to push her away.

‘…Fine, consider it the processing fee for saving that enormous compensation.’

But…

‘Was this processing fee a little too wet?’