I, the Villainous Prince, Buy the Ruined Villainess with Money - Chapter 16-17

Chapter 16: Tennis Trial

First, I head to the tennis club because it catches my interest… or more accurately, the outfit does.

But, as expected, a little trouble comes up.

Right in front of me stands a trembling fawn—no, the captain of the tennis club.

His name is Arnold, and he is the second son of Count Nord.

“Um, excuse me… Do you have some business with our club?”

“Hmph. It’s obvious I’m here to watch.”

“Huh? N-No way, Your Highness Alvis?”

“I don’t like repeating myself. I want to try it out, so prepare an outfit for me.”

“Y-Yes! Right away!”

I feel bad for them, but I’m desperate too.

In my previous life, I collected figures and photos, but I never thought I’d see it in real life.

…I know it’s creepy even to me, but please forgive it.

After I finish changing first and wait outside where the court is… an angel appears.

“H-How do I look? It feels really breezy around my legs…”

“…Guh!”

The sheer impact brings me to my knees.

The pure white tennis wear top and bottom looks innocent and refined, and the bare legs peeking from the short skirt are dazzling.

Her arms and legs are long, so it suits her incredibly well.

And since she isn’t used to the short skirt, she keeps gripping both sides of it the whole time… yes, it’s perfect.

“Master? Are you feeling all right?”

“N-No, it’s nothing. It suits you quite well (It’s an absolute feast for the eyes!)”

“I’m glad… You look good in yours too, Master.”

“I-Is that so…”

What is this sweet-and-sour atmosphere!?

Is this what youth feels like!?

…If so, it’s wonderful.

Then I notice the captain standing right beside us with an awkward look on his face.

“Um… May we begin?”

“Oh… Ahem, my apologies. So, what should we do?”

“Then I’ll be your opponent, and we can take turns.”

“Understood. I’ll go first.”

I step onto the court first and lightly serve the ball.

Thanks to memories of playing in my previous life, it lands nicely in the opponent’s court.

Since this world is based on a game, things like this are helpful.

“You’re good!”

“Hah, of course.”

“Heh… Well then, here I go.”

“It’s nothing.”

I elegantly return the ball that’s hit back to me.

Fuhaha! I get to show off in front of my favorite!

I’m in high spirits and keep the rally going.

After about ten exchanges, it ends.

“Wow, you’re really skilled. You seem like someone with experience.”

“Flattery gets you nothing. Besides, your returns were good.”

“Huh? …Thank you.”

“There’s no need to thank me.”

Good, I managed to pull it off in Alvis’s style.

Man, this guy is hard to handle even for me.

When I return to Yulia, her eyes are sparkling.

“Master! I didn’t know you were good at sports too!”

“Kuku, did you get entranced?”

“Yes, you looked really cool.”

“…I see.”

Aaaah! Now I’m the one who’s entranced!

Being praised by my favorite makes me feel like I’m ascending to heaven!

I focus all my nerves to keep from grinning.

Then I step back, and Yulia enters the court.

“Here I go~”

“Yes, please go ahead.”

“Then…”

“Ei… Huh?”

Yulia’s racket swings through empty air.

But that’s normal since she has little experience with exercise.

More importantly, the way her skirt flutters from behind is wonderful.

Even though she’s wearing shorts underneath, it still tugs at a guy’s heart.

“Kuku…”

“D-Don’t laugh!”

“No, it’s just…”

“Muu… Watch this.”

She says that and puffs out her cheeks.

What’s that! It’s so cute!

She keeps swinging the racket after that, but out of nerves she misses again.

Then Arnold stops the play.

“If you’d like, may I teach you the swing from behind?”

“…Please do.”

“Then, come this way— Hii!?”

“Is something wrong?”

“N-No! It seems His Highness Alvis will do it in my place!”

Kukuku, you just saved your life.

I almost let killing intent slip out.

I won’t allow some random guy to touch my favorite.

“Master will? …Muu.”

“W-Why do you look reluctant? (Do you hate me touching you!?)”

“It’s not that I hate it… Then please.”

“Ah, leave it to me.”

My heart takes damage, but I somehow walk without staggering.

Did I do something wrong? …I don’t know!

Anyway, I must not think impure thoughts and do this seriously!

I stand behind Yulia and first show her my own form.

“Listen, you can’t just look at your hands. Focus mainly on the ball, and keep your hands in the corner of your vision.”

“I see… Won’t you hold my hands?”

“What? (Which is it!?)”

“I think it would be easier to understand that way.”

“Y-You helpless girl (Aaaah! You’re toying with meee!)”

But—I don’t hate it.

I gently place my hands over hers from behind and swing the racket together.

Her hands are soft, and for some reason, instead of impure feelings, I feel a strange sense of excitement.

“Swing like this. Imagine scooping from below.”

“Scooping from below… I’ll try.”

“Yes, I’ll watch, so go ahead.”

Yulia nods… and on the first try, she beautifully returns the ball.

Then she immediately runs over to me.

Her face is wrapped in a beaming smile.

“I did it! I got it!”

“T-!? Ah… I was watching properly.”

“Hehe, now I can play with you, Master.”

“Hmph, if that’s all it takes, I’ll play along.”

I can’t hold back and turn away… that smile is precious.

That’s right, she has been through hard times… so she should enjoy herself.

Anyone who gets in the way of that, I’ll remove them myself.

—

Chapter 17: Ridiculous

After that, they lend us a court, and I rally with Yulia.

It is nothing special, yet it turns out to be a very happy time.

Even though we are not doing anything particularly extraordinary.

“You’ve gotten better!”

“You’re the one who’s good, Master!”

“Kuku, who do you think I am?”

“An arrogant and haughty prince.”

What’s this! It’s fun!

I see! This must be what youth is!

Afterward, since using the court too long would be bad, we wrap up at a good stopping point.

“Arnold, sorry for using it so long.”

“N-No, it was empty, so it’s no problem.”

“I see… Hm? Now that I think of it, are you injured?”

His movements were good, so I hadn’t noticed, but he has a supporter on his right leg.

“I slightly damaged a ligament… That’s why I’m currently just coaching without pushing myself.”

“I see. Then—Heal.”

“Huh? W-What… It doesn’t hurt! I can move!”

“Hmph, of course, since I used recovery magic.”

“W-Why would His Highness Alvis use recovery magic… No, why on me in the first place?”

“What, just think of it as thanks for teaching us.”

Thank you! Thanks to you, I got to see my favorite in tennis wear!

After that, Arnold thanks me over and over.

It seems there is an important tournament coming up soon.

Then, after changing back into our uniforms, we sit on a nearby bench to rest.

“Hehe, another good deed?”

“I merely paid what was due. I don’t like being in debt.”

“I see. Let’s go with that.”

Yulia smiles happily.

It seems I made a good impression… It makes me shy.

“More importantly, it was good exercise.”

“Hehe, yes… It’s been a while since I moved this much.”

“Come to think of it, you didn’t have much stamina.”

“My father and mother raised me to be ladylike, saying that walking behind a man is a lady’s grace. So I lived a life far from fighting or exercise.”

As I thought.

Because she grew up in a repressive environment, she might not know how to express her own opinions.

That may have led to the broken engagement.

Even so, from what Sebas investigated, she has no fault.

Skipping details, my guess is that my older brother’s capacity was just too small.

“I see. How boring.”

“I’m sorry for being a boring woman…”

“N-No, that’s not it! (Alvis, you idiot! There’s a better way to say it!)”

“Um…?”

“I said that way of thinking is boring. There’s no obligation for a woman to obey a man just because she’s a woman, and it’s fine if she’s better than a man.”

Somehow, seeing Yulia’s situation clearly makes my irritation grow.

She probably deliberately kept her abilities low on purpose.

That was likely because of her parents or that older brother.

Then, I need to become strong… so this girl doesn’t have to put herself down.

“…Hehe, you’re still a strange person as always.”

“Hmph, mind your own business.”

“But I’m happy. So that means you don’t hate women who fight or smart women, Master?”

“I don’t hate them at all (I actually like them!)”

In my previous life, I liked knight princesses and capable beautiful women too.

The so-called cool-cute type.

Then Yulia lets out a relieved breath.

“What’s wrong?”

“No, it’s nothing. So, where do we go next?”

“Mmm, that’s a tough choice.”

From what I’ve checked, since this world is based on a game, there are many clubs I know.

Pretty much all typical high school clubs from my previous life exist.

Among them, tea ceremony, naginata club, or kendo club catch my interest.

“What club would you want to join yourself, Master?”

“No, I… (I just want to see the costumes!)”

“What’s wrong?”

She says that and tilts her head cutely.

Aaaah! So cute!

At that moment, an intruder enters my vision.

“That’s… the crown prince.”

“Tch, what’s he here for?”

“There you are! Our talk isn’t over yet!”

I see, he wasn’t satisfied with that.

But I have no intention of getting involved.

Right now, I’m enjoying youth with my favorite.

If he interferes—be prepared.

“Earth, freeze. Ice Road.”

“U-Uwaaaah!?”

He slips on the ice path I made and tumbles with a pathetic cry.

It is ridiculously funny, and I can’t stop laughing.

“Fuhahaha! How ridiculous!”

“Wait… Is that okay?”

“Something like this is fine. Finishing blow—take this, ha!”

“Guhé!?”

I serve with a nearby racket and slam the ball into his solar plexus.

My control is impressive, if I do say so myself.

In the meantime, I take Yulia’s hand and leave the scene.

“Now, since it’s troublesome, let’s go.”

“B-But, doing something like that…”

“What, I didn’t even injure him. He should be grateful I let him off that easily.”

“…I’m a bad person. That actually made me feel a bit refreshed.”

“Kuku, fitting for the maid of an arrogant and haughty prince like me.”

“…Hehe, that’s true.”

Then she smiles quietly.

If I can see this face, it was worth it.

If he comes again, I’ll brush him off casually next time.