I Choose The Villain Duke

While they were waiting for the cake slices to be served to them . . .

"Miyu, I want to apologize again. I'm really sorry for being so rude to you when we first met. I shouldn't have screamed at you. I'm really sorry," Euphemia said.

"Oh, it's okay. I understand. I'm . . . sorry too. I must have made him misunderstand for being too nice. I'll all part of the act though. Acting nice, talking in a cute way, and sometimes a certain fan would think you're being extra nice to him which isn't true at all. Still, I'm sorry for your death because of my fan," Miyu said.

"What was Hiro like with you?" Euphemia asked.

"Well, I didn't really know him that well. I just remember his name because he'd go to all my fan events and he'd give me expensive gifts which I just give to Hanako," Miyu said.

"Hanako?" Euphemia repeated.

"She was my manager. I didn't like the jewelries he gave and I didn't want to wear a fan's gift because I didn't want rumors of me dating a fan to spread so I just gave them to Hanako. That ungrateful bit*h," Miyu said.

Euphemia's eyes widened in surprise.

"Oops sorry. I think you were already here when my scandal happened. Hanako spread nude pictures of me and totally ruined my reputation so she's a bit*h," Miyu said.

"Omigosh," Euphemia gasped.

Miyu shrugged. "I'm glad I'm here in Aderlan. It's better than being dead."

"If it's okay with you, may I know how you died? Did Hiro murder you too?" Euphemia asked.

"No. I killed myself. I was pretty much ruined anyway. I was starring in lewd movies which I really hated but I was too depressed to protest, my ex-boyfriend was getting married, I chased my ex-boyfriend and learned that he never really loved me, and then I learned of Hanako's betrayal. It was just fuc*ing madness and I didn't want to be in the same fuc*ing world they were in," Miyu said.

"Oh," Euphemia could only say.

"Sorry, am I cursing too much? This is the real me. I think you deserve to get the real me. Not the showbiz Miyu that you must have seen back in our world and also the persona I'm using here also so people won't hate me," Miyu said.

"I don't think people will hate you for knowing the real you," Euphemia said.

"No one likes a celebrity who curses too much," Miyu said.

"Sometimes they do. Like Gordon Ramsay," Euphemia said, smiling.

Miyu's lips curved into a smile.

"I'll think about it. I'm still testing the waters here," Miyu said.

"I think you'll be just fine," Euphemia said warmly.

"Um . . . do you miss our old world or are you happy here?" Miyu asked.

"I'm happy. I like it better here actually. Back in our world, I was just a tool for my parents' business transactions. I couldn't break off my engagement with Hiro even though he was being violent with me because I would have nowhere to go or maybe that's what just I thought. I must have become used to the abuse and I thought I couldn't escape him even if I tried," Euphemia said.

"He was violent with you?!" Miyu asked.

Euphemia nodded.

"That fuc*er!" Miyu said. 

"I became stronger when I got here. I decided that I would live the way I want and I won't be forced by anyone anymore. I think this place gives us the opportunity to become the better version of ourselves," Euphemia said.

"I heard from Glenn that you chose to be with a Duke rather than the prince. How's the Duke treating you?" Miyu asked.

Euphemia smiled and blushed, remembering what they just did at the kitchen.

"He's treating me really well. He's been very kind. We're . . . dating now, actually. Well, we started from a contract engagement but we're umm . . . officially lovers now," Euphemia said, her cheeks still blushing.

"Wow! Good for you! I'm so glad. If he does anything bad to you I'll hit him for you. Oh, wait. I think those are our cakes. Oh. No. Oh. No. Wait. All of those?!" Miyu said her voice rising.

*

*

*

Euphemia didn't know what kind of face she was making right now as a cake tower with different flavors was being assembled in front of her right now. Several curious customers were staring in awe too at the spectacle. It was like a cake exhibition. There were now six floors of cake slices on the table and her head felt woozy because it looked like there were going to be more cake levels.

Euphemia looked at Miyu for help but Miyu was looking down with her eyes squeezed shut as if she was willing herself to disappear at that moment. Euphemia wanted to disappear too.

"U-um, are there more cakes?" Euphemia asked, stopping a staff from putting another cake on the table.

"Yes, Miss. Twenty more, I believe or was it thirty. I will have to check," the staff said.

"No! You don't need to! Just um, wrap up everything you haven't put here yet and perhaps you could take the half of these too please? If you would be so kind. I'm afraid I almost can't see my friend with this cake tower blocking our view," Euphemia said.

"Of course, Miss," the staff said, sighing a bit because she had to painstakingly remove the cakes she had already placed on the table.

After a while, they were left with a dozen cake slices on the table.

"So, can you tell me what that was all about? I didn't know that we were going to have a cake exhibit," Euphemia said smiling in amusement.

"I'm so sorry!" Miyu said.

"Maybe they made a mistake. How many did you order?" Euphemia asked.

"I thought there were only seven cake flavors. I didn't know they had like dozens of cakes in their storage. I'm really sorry!" Miyu said.

"It's fine. I'm sure it must be a mistake. You surely must not have told the staff to give you all of the flavors in the store, right?" Euphemia said, chuckling.

Miyu paled.

"Oh."

"It's Glenn's fault. He's a real big spender and I thought it was cool when he did it so I tried it too and now I'm regretting it a lot."

Miyu looked so apologetic, Euphemia felt she was being too hard on her.

"It's alright. If you want, we can have it distributed to the crew," Euphemia said.

"Crew? What crew?" Miyu asked.

"The crew members who are part of my play and if you're still interested, the crew that you will be a member of too," Euphemia said.

Miyu's eyes lit up.

"Omigosh. Are you offering me a spot?" Miyu asked.

Euphemia nodded smiling.

"I brought the script with me. Tell me if you're still interested after reading it or if you want some changes in your role," Euphemia said, handing her the script.

Miyu was so delighted, her eyes quickly ran over the script, trying to speed read already.

Euphemia started eating what looked like a peach mango cake. She closed her eyes, enjoying the delicious flavor.

"I'll take it," Miyu said suddenly.

"Take what? Oh, do you want this cake too? Here, I'll give you a slice," Euphemia said.

"No, I mean the role. I'll take it. I want to be the Moonlight Princess," Miyu said, grinning.

Euphemia looked like she was in deep thought and stared at Miyu for a while.

"If the spot is still available please," Miyu said.

"Yes, it is but I would like to make some changes. What do you think of being the main character instead?" Euphemia said.

"Isn't the Moonlight Princess the main character here already?" Miyu asked.

"Well, her screentime is really short. She's more of an extra actually to make the Sun King learn about love. But what about the Moonlight Princess' story? All we know is that she went missing and at the end, she's getting married to a farmer. I think it's time for her story to be told and you're perfect for the role," Euphemia said.

Miyu was surprised.

"Are you sure? I mean, you don't need to do this for me just because of umm . . . when you shouted at me. I really don't mind now," Miyu said.

"I'm not doing this to make amends. I believe that you're a great actress and I would like everyone to see that," Euphemia said.

It was true. She had watched Miyu's films back when she was still in their original world and she could see why she had so many fans. Including her own fiancé who became crazy enough to kill her when he felt frustrated because he couldn't marry Miyu.

"Thank you. I'll do my best!" Miyu said happily.

"I'm sure you will. I'll send you the new script once our writer finishes making it," Euphemia said.

"Yes, please. Thank you," Miyu said.

"I'm sorry. This became like a business transaction. I'm not used to this. I don't usually hang out with girls my age even back in our world," Euphemia said feeling quite embarrassed.

"It's okay. Me too. What do girls usually talk about, anyway?" Miyu asked while taking a bite on a cake.

"Um . . . boys, tv shows, makeup?" Euphemia said looking unsure.

"So what's your hobby?" Miyu asked.

"Watching anime and imagining that I was going to make my own in the future. There's no anime here so I'm stuck with making a play but I like it," Euphemia said.

"We're back to talking about work. We should talk about boys. So, tell me about yours. Why did you choose the Duke instead of the prince?" Miyu asked eagerly.