A Villainess Should Be Strong

Ridiculous.

This situation was so ridiculous to Estelle.

Exactly what did she owe the world? Why did she have to put up with all these pretenses, all these conditions, everything that made up the being named Estelle Clareste?

Her background, the tasks she had to fulfill- ones that if she refused to execute, would threaten her livelihood.

There were so many things that she wanted to complain about.

Sometimes, she envied normal people.

Because of their normality? No.

Because in truth, they had a different set of freedom.

Not like her.

One could say that a powerful and important person would definitely garner a lot of freedom.

There was truth in that saying.

But there was another continuation.

If you are strong.. then you have responsibilities to follow.

Those things, they are just the same as restrictions, chains that bounds you down to your inescapable fate.

Fate.

That word made Estelle puke. She felt sick.

What fate?

Why did she have to follow her fate if all that was in there for her, waiting patiently for her was suffering and even more suffering?

Gone were the days that she could truly be 'free'.

Until when did she have to endure?

Until she toured the whole world and solved her duties?

And then what?

More duties because she has reached the 'pinnacle'?

More responsibilities?

How could you expect someone to withstand all the heavy responsibilities without rest?

She would be broken before that.

"I... I didn't want it to happen," Minerva huffed, her eyebrows forming a crease as she spoke.

Estelle was on the very edge of her heart tipping towards the negative side.

But she suppressed it.

Because she knew that if she was the one who broke out in anger, it would be her loss.

Her victory that she had maintained until now, her hard work, wouldn't it be meaningless?

That was the truth of Estelle's psyche.

Scared and frustrated at her own fate, yet accepting of it because she wanted to see it until the end.

People would always have conflicts brewing inside their minds. Whether it was over small matters, or life turning subjects.

Estelle, who has always pushed through the raging currents that went against her wishes never gave up.

But the thought of giving up was always silently laying in the corner of her mind, waiting for the right time to jump out.

To take over her body and decisions.

"Then, what the hell do you want? Or.. do you expect me to believe that you knew nothing of Heine's plans? Couldn't stop him, couldn't tell anything to him before he did it?" Estelle laughed, scorning Minerva whose attitude was growing to be more and more submissive as seconds passed.

[It's alright.] Estelle assured herself.

[I'm not the one in the wrong here.]

[Don't let your emotions control you too much.]

"It's not that," Minerva gritted her teeth. "It's really not that, Estelle,"

"It's not that, it's not that. What an easy phrase to say. I'm really curious, whose side are you on? Hm?" Estelle asked calmly with a charming smile on her face, as if the situation wasn't tense at all. As if nothing had happened, and Estelle held no negative emotions towards any of these. "Could you just spit out what you want to say without saying useless stuff? I'm quite busy.. you see,"

"And.. oh, with matters of myself, of course. Unlike some group of people who like to care about others' matters more than their own. Aren't they foolish?" Estelle giggled. 

"Estelle, listen.." Minerva fiddled with her fingers as her breathing got heavier.

Estelle tapped on the table's surface.

"Can't you see that I'm listening? You see, others say that.. I'm quite a splendid child. Kind, and polite, won't you say? I wouldn't dare do such an improper thing like ignoring a certain Lady Witch's words," Estelle waved her hand in the air.

She couldn't understand it.

At this rate, one would take a look at the scene and form their own interpretations.

With how Minerva was acting, wouldn't she be painted as the villain?

When she was actually the sane one, the one who did not even do anything in particular?

Her actions were always a result of defense. Never once did she attack on her own motive's basis.

It was always either because she was cornered and had no other choices but to retaliate, or because she was asked to perform a certain thing for another of her 'acquaintance'.

It clicked inside her head.

[Oh.]

[So this is what they meant by I'm the villainess?]

[I just have to take everything, swallow anything hurled at me down.]

[Because I'm meant to do that.]

[Is that right?]

Estelle's mind was running wilder and wilder as time passed.

Luckily, a savior soon came to extend his hand to her.

A man walking with a refined posture, approaching the table with silent steps.

Estelle's head turned towards the man's way, followed by Minerva.

"...Aleksei," Estelle called out to the man, who waved lightly as a greeting.

Aleksei reached Estelle's table and raised a brow.

"May I ask.. who might this be?" The man's gaze landed on Minerva, who immediately looked away.

"Ahh.. she's," Estelle chuckled. "Someone irrelevant, someone who likes to drag things out much longer than what its supposed to be,"

"Estelle, you also have to consider-" Minerva stood up, her long hair fluttering in the wind as she replied to Estelle's words.

When her gaze met with Estelle's emotionless ones, Minerva found herself at a loss on what to do.

"What did you say just now? I couldn't hear it," Estelle asked with a large smile, releasing a hint of pressure.

At this moment, she was already quite pissed. The farther Minerva tried to poke her, the worse she felt.

By the side, Aleksei seemed to have caught on quickly. His gaze towards Minerva changed, as if wanting to dig deep into the woman's identity and intentions.

"I..." Minerva mumbled.

"Aleksei, you've come back, which means.. You tracked Neil down?" Estelle decided to not pay her mind to Minerva anymore and move straight to their ongoing business.

Her challenge was still in effect, despite Minerva's sudden visit.

"Ah, right. I've gotten the intel, Neil is indeed around my sister right now. They are doing official duties," Aleksei responded.

"Then, shall we go now? I was slowed by an unexpected intervention, but we can proceed freely now," Estelle stood up, asking Aleksei as she began to walk away.

"I suppose so. I will lead the way," Aleksei followed suit, surpassing Estelle's location with hastened steps.

The only person left behind was Minerva, who had her fists curled up into a ball and clenched. Words could not express the blizzard of emotions she was undergoing right now.

Taking a sharp breath, she activated her spiritual connection with her sister Yulia.

On the other side, Yulia quickly picked up the signal and received Minerva's input.

"Sister, our target may be way too deep," Minerva's eyes started to water up. "Estelle is most probably gone,"

"...Really? We came too late?" Yulia's nervous voice spoke up.

"I'm sorry," Leaving that short phrase, Minerva cut off the connection and sat back down, entering a contemplation session.

She took her mind off the busy world and closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation of nature. But that did not let her forget about what she had done, and what she couldn't fix.

"I'm sorry," she repeated. "I'm really sorry,"

Tears started to drip off Minerva's eyes. She covered them, sobbing in a small voice.

Regret washed all over her. Her sins. How it impacted others.

What she told people and what she did not tell.

Estelle might have thought that Heine was the biggest wrongdoer because of the scenes exposed to her.

But the truth might not be that way. The hidden truth might be much more disappointing once it has all been revealed.

_________

Estelle and Aleksei walked peacefully along the corridors, headed towards the Queen's Chambers.

Shirley preferred to perform her duties there, so she would normally gather around the necessary officials to finish the matters in the chamber's dedicated room.

Today, too, she was reportedly there with her attendants.

Aleksei looked at Estelle, who seemed to be so deep in her thoughts that she was walking without looking at the road carefully.

Her mind was not intact right now.

Aleksei decided to start a conversation.

"Estelle, don't forget. The purification.. may disappear. And once it does, you will face harsh pain, akin to that of your body being ripped apart because of the rebound," he warned beforehand.

Hearing his words enter her ears, Estelle looked up at the man.

"..En, I understand. Instead, could you look for a permanent method for me?" Estelle asked. "You don't necessarily need to find one at all costs. But if you did find one, then please do inform me,"

"Alright. I will try my hardest to find a suitable method," Aleksei smiled. "But what is the identity of.. the element that invaded you? I seem to not be familiar with it,"