I, the Villainous Prince, Buy the Ruined Villainess with Money - Chapter 18-19

Chapter 18: The Indecisive Crown Prince

…Damn it! What a terrible thing happened to me!

My body was covered in mud, and my stomach still hurt a little.

People around me were snickering, and that felt unbearably humiliating.

But as the crown prince, I could not scold them for it.

“What on earth is going on?”

The Alvis I knew always picked fights with me.

Whenever there was a chance, he called me a half-breed or said I was unfit for the position of crown prince.

Seeing that made me even more determined to hold firm as crown prince.

“And yet, now he suddenly says he is dropping out of the succession race… and even that he is renouncing his claim to the throne.”

I heard it from Father, and apparently it was for Yulia’s sake.

The Alvis I know would never do something like that.

There must be some other motive.

“He is arrogant and insolent, and he should not care about anyone else. After all, he looked down on me, and he looked down on commoners and other nobles too.”

That is why I could not believe it when I heard the news.

For starters, why did he help Yulia?

Was it really just to spite me?

“Well, even I felt that keeping someone as a slave was pitiful…”

But I never intended for things to go that far.

Events moved quickly before I knew it.

I thought about stopping it, but Leila was against the idea.

She even said she would break up with me if I interfered.

“Well, from Leila’s point of view, she was bullied, so it is understandable.”

I think it is true that they bullied Leila.

Yulia always had an unreadable expression and never made excuses.

She was like a doll, and I did not particularly like her.

“That is why I broke off the engagement…”

But what was with her behavior earlier?

She was smiling so much, and her whole atmosphere was completely different.

We had been together since childhood, but I had never seen her smile like that.

“If she had been like that in front of me too… what am I even saying?”

I chose Leila and broke off the engagement.

I chose the cheerful and fun-to-be-with Leila over the academically excellent, quiet, doll-like Yulia who was perfectly beautiful.

I chose Leila, who could walk beside me as an equal rather than behind me.

But lately, even Leila had been in a bad mood.

“It seems she did not like that Yulia was bought by Alvis.”

Every time we met, she told me to hand Yulia over to Lord Guftaf.

Personally, I think there is no need to do that.

“No, that is not the issue right now… This is bad. My thoughts are getting all tangled up.”

Just what has happened to Alvis?

Unable to understand Alvis’s intentions, I stood there frozen.

—

Chapter 19: Shock

…What a wonderful day it was.

I sat in the chair in my room and savored the events of the day.

Fun tennis, then trying basketball and the art club.

Unfortunately, cosplay… no, that’s not it.

Unfortunately, the uniforms for the tea ceremony club or the naginata club were expensive and could not be borrowed.

So, I decided to exercise my authority.

“Sebas, prepare everything I am about to list right away.”

“Understood.”

“Do not spare any expense. Get the finest quality.”

“Then I will arrange it at once. However, the money…”

“I will pay from my personal funds. Use that as you like.”

“Is that so?”

Sebas withdrew with a slightly complicated expression on his face.

Indeed, my personal funds were money I had originally gathered to secure the position of crown prince.

I used it to save Yulia.

Now that I had no intention of becoming crown prince, there was no point in hoarding it.

Later, before going to bed, Yulia visited my room.

She wore red pajamas and looked incredibly adorable.

“What is it? Let me say this now—I will not accept night crawling (if you come next time, I do not have the confidence to refuse!).”

“I-I would not do such a thing… But if it is you, Master, then maybe… Just, it would be better if you took the lead…”

“Hm? I could not hear the last part.”

“I-It is nothing!”

“I-I see.”

She scolded me! Did I say something wrong!?

Hmm, I still do not understand a woman’s heart at all.

“Then, what did you come for?”

“Well, I thought I would like to talk a little.”

“Oh, what a troublesome girl (yessssss!).”

“Your face is twitching… Was I bothering you?”

“No, that is not the case (I am just holding back a grin!).”

At this rate, the conversation would not progress, so I concentrated all my nerves to fix my face.

I had to show my favorite girl that I was a reliable man.

“Then I am glad. So, today was fun… I came to thank you.”

“Hmph, how conscientious (good! I had fun too!).”

“I think it was the first time I moved around like that or laughed so much. I was surprised that I even had those kinds of feelings.”

“…From now on, you can do as much as you like.”

Good, she really had been suppressed.

Then I needed to keep making efforts so she could continue to enjoy herself.

“…That is true. I just hope the crown prince does not come like he did today.”

“If he comes, I will deal with him, so do not worry about it.”

“But… I have not repaid you anything. I am already causing you trouble.”

“Who said you were trouble? You are my maid, which means you are mine. I will not forgive anyone who lays a hand on you, no matter who it is.”

“Master… Then I will become a maid worthy of you.”

“Hmph, I will wait without expectations (do not push yourself!).”

“Hehe, understood. But before that… I really want to thank you. Is there anything you would like me to do?”

Her eyes were not the dead eyes of someone here for night crawling, but eyes that looked a little apologetic.

She really minded receiving service without giving anything back… For me, as long as my favorite girl was happy, that was enough, but making her anxious was not good.

Then… it should be fine for me to receive a small reward.

“Alright, I understand. Then sit there.”

“Y-Yes!”

Yulia smiled and sat in the prepared chair.

I did not sit, but put tea leaves and hot water on the simple stove in the room and turned on the heat.

“Eh? W-What are…”

“Hey, do not move.”

“B-But…”

As always, the flustered Yulia was cute.

That alone was already a reward.

In the meantime, I added milk and was careful not to let it boil.

After waiting two or three minutes while stirring, I poured it into cups.

I finished by adding honey.

“Here, hot milk tea.”

“Is this… for me?”

“Of course.”

“Why?”

Because I want to serve you!

If anything, I want to be the butler!

“Sometimes a master should understand how the servants feel.”

“…I see. That is admirable.”

“Hmph, of course (yes! She praised me!).”

“Then, thank you very much… It is delicious.”

“Naturally. I chose decaffeinated, so it should not interfere with sleep.”

Aaaaaah! Her smile is precious!

And I felt incredibly happy!

Then Yulia let out a big sigh.

“Haa… You see right through everything, Master.”

“Hm?”

“You thought that after all the excitement today I would not be able to sleep, so you specially made this for me.”

“N-No… (I just wanted to serve my favorite girl?)”

“No, I understand. It is warm… and it warms my heart too.”

…I did not really get it, but I decided to stay quiet.

Yes, that seemed better.

After that, a quiet time passed.

It was not awkward, but somehow comfortable.

“Phew… Thanks to you, I think I can sleep now.”

“Then hurry up and go to bed (sleep well!).”

“Yes, I will. But next time I will definitely make you accept my thanks.”

“Hah, if you can, then try it.”

I have already received thanks!

Man, serving my favorite girl is fun.

“Then, for now—”

“Hah?”

“G-Good night!”

Wha… wha… a kiss on the cheek!?

From the sheer shock, I remained stunned for a while.