I Became the Absolute Hidden Villainess Princess of the Academy

Chapter 23: One Step Back, Two Steps Forward (Wearing Cat Ears)

The Academy's School of Magic building.

Cheerful footsteps echoed throughout.

They sounded like the beating of a drum signaling the beginning of a battle.

Thump, thump.

‘Hehe. It was a lucky break, but honestly, I don’t mind.’

I had thoroughly confirmed that the person I suspected of being an immobile villain was actually aligned with the imperial family.

My steps back to the lecture hall felt naturally light.

Even those who crossed paths with me couldn’t help but be awestruck by my dignified presence.

Whisper, whisper.

“Huh? Isn’t that… Wait, what is that!?”

“So cute…!!!”

“There’s a rumor that the youngest daughter of the imperial family is so adorable that it’s reached even faraway lands across the sea. Truly, she deserves the reputation.”

‘Hehe. Look at them all stunned into silence, so moved. Is it that obvious how amazing I am?’

-Grinning widely.

Feeling slightly pleased by their reactions, I walked slowly with footsteps befitting royalty.

More and more people began gathering to witness the princess’s grand procession.

-Chatter, chatter.

“Whoa, is that the Third Imperial Princess who recently enrolled? I see now. It’s no wonder Stella’s smitten with her.”

“Professor? What are you doing here…?”

“Be quiet. Don’t interrupt my admiration.”

‘Oh dear, even the professors? Being too dazzling is such a burden sometimes.’

-Thump, thump.

With a dignified stride, as if I were on a fashion show runway, I walked through the crowd parting before me.

It almost felt as though the entire School of Magic had gathered here.

Before I knew it, I had arrived at the grand auditorium.

I felt like a pied piper princess, leading a multitude of admirers behind me.

-Creak.

“Hey, everyone! I’m here!!!”

‘I think I might look really cool right now!!’

I threw the door open with a flourish, fully absorbed in my self-confidence.

I wore a wide smile as if to say, “Look at me. Look at how amazing I am.”

And then—

“Lady Esti! You’ve arr—huh? Huuuuuuhhhhh!?”

“…?”

Schefor, who had been rushing toward me with a beaming face, came to a sudden halt.

Her eyes went wide as cookies, completely stunned.

But it wasn’t just Schefor.

Louis, Irene, and the other cadets were all staring at me with their eyes as round as saucers.

…What’s their problem?

I took a step closer to her.

‘Other commoners reacting like that is one thing, but why are you guys so shocked too?’

-Thump, thump.

“What’s wrong~? Did something happen while I was gone?”

I tilted my head curiously and took small, deliberate steps toward her.

Before long, I stood right in front of Schefor, who was gasping for breath like she was about to hyperventilate.

Then, as she faced me—

—she fainted.

“Huuuuh… Guh.”

-Thud.

“…!!!!? Schefor!?”

Clutching her chest as though she’d been struck by an arrow to the heart, Schefor collapsed onto her rear.

Her eyes fluttered shut naturally—it was clear she had genuinely passed out.

…In that unseemly position, completely unaware that her underwear was in full view from where I stood.

‘Seriously, how could a noble lady be so clumsy!?’

“Schefor!! What’s wrong with you!!!?”

-Tremble, tremble.

I quickly pounced on her like a cat, shielding the space between her defenselessly splayed legs with my knee so no one else could see her underwear.

I shook her shoulders frantically, and eventually, she slowly opened her eyes.

“Ughhh… What, what was that…? I just saw something… unbelievable…”

“Schefor, are you awake?!”

“…Huh? Huuuuh!!!!”

-Thud.

“….”

To no avail, she fainted again as soon as she regained consciousness.

Feeling dumbfounded, I turned my gaze elsewhere—toward Louis and Irene.

They were also staring straight at me.

“Why is she acting like that…?”

“Your Highness…? Uh, that’s an adorable headband you’re wearing…”

“Esti. What’s with those cat ears on your head? Did you get them from the Principal?”

“Huh?”

The two of them were saying things I couldn’t understand.

Absent-mindedly, I placed a hand on top of my head.

My fingers brushed against something fluffy—the cat ear headband.

“…Ah.”

‘Oh no. I forgot to take it off.’

***

I was sprawled over a desk in the grand auditorium, lost in serious contemplation.

What came to mind was the Japanese concept of seppuku.

A horrifying tradition where samurai, if overwhelmed by unbearable disgrace, would take a blade to their stomachs.

When I first heard about it, I thought it was foolish.

There are so many delicious things in the world—how could someone abandon life over a bit of embarrassment? How absurd.

But now, at this moment, I could understand their feelings just a little.

The idea of wanting to die from embarrassment wasn’t just a poetic expression...

I realized it could be taken literally.

‘This is so embarrassing…!!!!!!’

-Tremble, tremble.

Walking through the halls with people flocking behind me while wearing a cat ear headband?

That exceeded the limits of my shame threshold by a mile.

It might have been fine to wear it in front of just Father or the Principal. But strutting around confidently in the corridors while wearing it? Absolutely not.

Even I couldn’t handle being seen like that by everyone.

What’s worse, I hadn’t even realized it. I’d actually thought they were in awe of my charisma.

I’d strutted around, proud and poised, as if I were on a runway…

‘Embarrassing, embarrassing, so embarrassing…!!!’

-Flail, flail.

The more I thought about how I must have looked earlier, the more my legs kicked involuntarily.

It must’ve been a great spectacle for anyone watching.

A grown woman of noble blood walking around with a cat ear headband on, acting all dignified.

Even I would’ve grabbed popcorn to watch something like that.

But that grown woman was me.

I was so mortified I couldn’t lift my face, pressing it flat against the desk instead.

“Your Highness, it’s okay. You were absolutely adorable.”

“Yes, yes!! I swear on the name of House Vernone, you were incredibly cute!”

“…”

Irene and Schefor tried to console me, one on either side.

It didn’t help at all.

‘Schefor, you don’t even know I saved you earlier!!! You shameless pervert with your slightly racy panties!!!’

-Tremble, tremble, tremble.

My shoulders quivered as I seethed, questioning the point of even having friends.

…They’d be just as embarrassed if they had to wear a cat ear headband and walk through the corridors. But since it wasn’t their problem, they were treating it so lightly.

My cheeks, which were squished against the desk, flattened even more.

-Rub, rub.

‘This is supposed to be the life of an absolute villainess…? What if I’m actually just a pathetic pushover…?’

The embarrassment was so overwhelming it made me question my very existence as a villainess.

Sensing that I was truly crestfallen, their voices grew soft with concern.

-Whisper, whisper.

“She really was cute… Why is she like this?”

“Ah… Do you think it’s because of Lord Louis?”

“Oh my, now that you mention it…”

“There’s no way Her Highness didn’t realize she was wearing that all the way here, right? She probably pretended to ‘accidentally’ wear it for Lord Louis’s sake.”

“But then he reacted indifferently, and now she’s embarrassed… Hmm, that makes sense.”

The two of them whispered back and forth.

…I could’ve eavesdropped if I wanted to, but I chose not to.

Why bother listening in on a private conversation between two women?

If it were Louis and Irene talking, maybe I’d consider it.

So instead, I pressed my burning cheeks even harder against the desk to cool them down.

-Squish, squish.

‘Yeah, I’m just a useless mushroom… The only thing I’m good at is pretending to be cute….’

“...Huh? Me? Do what?”

I heard Louis’s voice.

It sounded noticeably flustered.

But—

“It’s for Lady Esti’s sake, so I believe you’ll do it. If you have any sense of decency, that is.”

“Lord Louis, you’re quite adorable, so I think it’ll suit you perfectly!”

-Twitch.

‘What?’

The moment Irene said, “Louis is adorable,” my ears twitched involuntarily.

…What’s going on? What’s with these two?

The embarrassment I had been wallowing in just moments earlier vanished instantly, replaced by my inner Cupid mode.

-Twitch, twitch.

“…Like this?”

“Tsk. It suits you quite well. You’ve got a cute face, after all.”

“Hehe. You’re as adorable as Her Highness! Truly, Lord Louis, you’re too cute!”

“…I’m a guy, though. Haah.”

‘What kind of lovey-dovey festival is going on right now?!!’

I desperately wanted to know what Irene had done to prompt all this praise for Louis.

My curiosity was so overwhelming that I almost got up to ask them directly.

So the moment I felt someone tapping my shoulder, I immediately lifted my head.

-Tap, tap.

“Hey, Esti.”

“What’s going on!!!?”

-Sparkle.

Even before my flattened cheek could fully peel off the desk with a soft pop, I was already glancing around with sparkling eyes.

And then—my eyes widened slightly.

“L-Louis? That…!”

“This, uh… It’s so you’re not embarrassed by yourself. Hmph.”

‘Louis… is wearing the cat ear headband!!?’

The headband that had given me such a mortifying experience was now perched on Louis’s head.

Louis, already standing at about 158cm, with his androgynous and adorable features, wore it surprisingly well.

The bright red blush on his embarrassed face made the whole look even more striking.

I stared at him blankly for a moment before my eyes widened in realization.

‘…Wait a second. Did Irene ask Louis to wear it?! And Louis actually agreed?!’

Louis wasn’t the type to do something so cute on his own.

But if Irene asked him, saying she wanted to see it, he probably grumbled and complained but still obliged.

Of course, he could also justify it as being “for my sake.”

…And now they’re using this opportunity for this kind of lovey-dovey moment?

Unable to hold back, I darted toward Irene and wrapped her in a hug.

“You did great, Irene!!!”

-Hug.

‘You didn’t let my embarrassment go to waste!! You two really are the ultimate couple!!!’

Unlike Louis, who couldn’t initiate physical affection unless prompted, Irene’s proactive nature made me admire her even more. I gave her a genuine, heartfelt hug.

And just to be fair, I pulled Schefor into the embrace as well, squeezing both of them tightly.

The two women burst into cheerful laughter.

-Mumble, mumble.

“She’s really into it. I guess it feels nice when your boyfriend does something like that for you. Hehe.”

“H-Huff… Huff…!!!”

Louis, scratching his cheek awkwardly with embarrassment, also gave a faint smile.

-Mumble, mumble.

“I’m the one wearing the headband, though… Well, they are a couple, so.”

I couldn’t help but smile too.

-Grin.

‘What’s this, what’s this? Are they already that close!?’

What could’ve been an incident that only deepened my humiliation had instead brought Louis and Irene closer.

A monumental occasion indeed.

***

The four of us continued chatting and laughing until, before we knew it, the next class was about to begin.

“Alright, we will now measure your magical power.”

‘It’s here…!!!’

The core event of the academy.

The moment where the rankings among cadets would be determined had finally arrived.