I, the Villainous Prince, Buy the Ruined Villainess with Money - Chapter 30-31

Chapter 30: Setting Up Tents

Alvis was a boss-like existence in the second part.

Naturally, since he was doomed, he did bad things.

One of them was bullying Agnes, the daughter of a count.

More precisely, it was supposed to take the form of punishing her for a blunder, like the one earlier.

But I could not remember the details of the event, so I had no choice but to figure it out through trial and error.

“Master, is that the type of girl you like?”

“What are you talking about? (I am devoted to my favorite only.)”

“No, I have been watching since earlier…”

“No, that is…”

“Do you like girls with big breasts, Master? I have some myself, though…”

What should I do? Even if I explained, I did not think she would understand.

On the other hand, I could not let my favorite misunderstand.

Then the two who had finished reporting came back.

“Your Highness Alvis, we have successfully gotten permission to form the group.”

“Hmm, good work. So, what should we do?”

“First we set up the tents, then gather ingredients. We will handle the tents, so Your Highness Alvis can relax…”

“What are you saying? That would defeat the purpose of coming here. Of course, I will help set up the tents too.”

If Agnes was connected to my ruin, it would be better to have high favorability.

Besides, in my previous life I had been in the Boy Scouts, so I did not dislike this.

Above all, I wanted to work together with my favorite.

“To think we would set up tents together…”

“Eee~! Even though you are royalty…”

“Hmph, that does not matter. Since I am here, even as royalty I follow the rules.”

“Master, that is just like you.”

When I turned around, Yulia was there with a smile on her face.

…Yes! My favorite praised me!

After that, we took the tools and began setting up the tents ourselves.

“So, where should we put it?”

“First, a spot far from water, without big trees. Then a flat ground without stones, and we should check the wind direction.”

“W-Wow… They said to consult adventurers if we got stuck, but it looks like we do not need to.”

“Hmph, this much is common sense.”

Who would have thought my experience from my previous life would come in handy here?

Agnes was impressed, of course, and Yulia too—it was killing two birds with one stone.

Next, we checked the tools and started raising the poles.

“Um, this is…”

“Yulia, you do it like this.”

I showed her how when Yulia could not drive the stake in well.

“Muu… It is hard.”

“You are hopeless. I will help.”

Then I noticed something, even though it was a bit late.

Helping meant putting my hand over hers.

Which in turn meant getting close.

“Master?”

“N-No, it is nothing. Come on, let us do it.”

“Ah… yes.”

I pressed close from behind her back and drove the stake into the ground together.

I could hear her heartbeat and my own.

For some reason, it felt like Yulia’s heart rate had gone up.

“There… done.”

“Well, that is about it.”

“Thank you.”

“Hmph, we have to hurry or the sun will set. (This guy is still the same!)”

I felt embarrassed and quickly moved away to where Arnold and Agnes were.

Then I saw the two of them grinning.

“What are you smiling about?”

“No, no, it is nothing.”

“Ehehe, you two are really close.”

“…Hmph.”

And so, after we successfully set up the tents, we moved on to the next task.

—

Chapter 31: It Seems I Unknowingly Broke a Ruin Flag

When I looked around, many groups were still struggling to set up their tents.

Knights and hired adventurers were helping them.

Then a large man came running toward us as we talked.

He was a handsome guy with a rugged face and short blond hair that suited him well.

“Lady Agnes! There you are!”

“Jeez! Stop it already!”

“Raidou, you are the same as ever.”

“Well, well, Young Master Arnold. Haha, my apologies.”

It seemed he knew the two of them.

But I felt like I had seen him somewhere… That is right, he was Raidou, the former commoner who won this year’s tournament for young knights only.

At the same time… he was a man who became Alvis’s enemy, the one my older sister often complained about.

A rare master swordsman who cornered Alvis along with the protagonist.

Now things were starting to make a little sense.

“That is Raidou, is it not?”

“So it is him after all.”

“Yes, he is said to be the strongest among the young knights. He has a promising future, but he serves Agnes’s family?”

“Hmm… I see.”

The flow was probably something like this.

Alvis got some kind of blunder from her and bullied Agnes.

Then Raidou, angered by that, turned against him.

But would that alone make him enemy enough to get killed?

Against a prince, no less.

“Master?”

“No, it is nothing.”

No good, no good. I was making my favorite uneasy.

If he was going to turn against me, I just had to avoid it.

Thinking that, I approached the three who were talking.

“You seem to get along quite well.”

“Th-This is rude of us! Raidou, you have to greet His Highness first…”

“It is Your Highness Alvis…”

What? He was already showing hostility?

No, considering Alvis’s reputation, that was natural.

Still, he had some real guts.

“Oh? Do you have something for me?”

“R-Raidou! No, you must not!”

“Raidou! His Highness Alvis is a good person!”

“Young Master Arnold, Lady Agnes, please step back. I have to see for myself… Would you care to spar?”

“Hmph, very well.”

I held Yulia back as she tried to step forward and stood in front of Raidou.

I readied my sword, and he readied his.

Then silence took over—and we clashed.

“Ha!”

We stepped in at the same time, and our positions switched.

I somehow managed to deflect his sword, but without Sebas’s special training, it would have been dangerous.

“Oh, impressive as expected.”

“No, you too… I did not think you would block my sword.”

“So, have you accomplished your goal?”

“Yes… Please, take this head.”

He said that and knelt, offering his neck to me.

That meant he wanted me to cut it off.

“What is the meaning of this?”

“For my disrespect toward Your Highness, I will atone with this head. I do not wish to trouble the count’s family. Above all, that was no way to treat the savior of my sister’s life.”

“What? …Explain it properly.”

“Yes, actually… the mother and child who appeared in front of Your Highness’s carriage before were my sister and nephew.”

…Huh? Those were the mother and child from that time?

What a coincidence? No, perhaps… that was it?

“Oh, so that is how it was.”

“My sister said Your Highness saved her, but I could not believe it. That is why I thought crossing swords would make it clear.”

“I see, and now you admit your mistake and offer your head…”

Ah… that was close!

If this had been Alvis before he regained his memories, he probably would not have forgiven the mother and child.

Even though legally I would have been in the right, Raidou would surely have felt anger.

And if on top of that he bullied the young lady of the house he served… it would not be strange for him to explode.

“Yes, Your Highness’s sword was straight and true.”

“A-Alvis Your Highness!”

“P-Please…”

Arnold and Agnes looked at me with pleading eyes.

Yulia… was smiling for some reason.

Anyway, there was no option to cut this guy down here.

“Raidou, your sword was splendid. As expected of the winner of the knights’ tournament.”

“Your Highness? What are you…”

“I thank you for the practice you gave at my request. Continue to train hard as a knight.”

“…What magnanimity…”

“Come on, stand up quickly. Otherwise, everyone will get unnecessary misunderstandings.”

I touched Raidou’s shoulder and forced him to stand.

I felt strong resolve in his eyes.

“Your Highness Alvis, this debt… No, never mind.”

“Hmm, that is fine.”

“Then I will take my leave. Please take care of Lady Agnes.”

He said that, bowed, and left.

The onlookers who had been watching also seemed relieved once they understood what happened.

After that, Arnold and Agnes thanked me over and over.

It was embarrassing, so I told them to stop after a while, and I stepped away to lean against a tree.

“Phew…”

“Master, that was masterful handling.”

“Hmph, what are you talking about? More importantly, Yulia… thank you.”

“Eh? Why me…?”

“No, never mind.”

If Yulia had not been there that time, I might have punished the mother and child.

That could have led straight into a ruin flag.

Good grief… owing my favorite like this was putting the cart before the horse.

From now on, I had to repay her even more.