I Was Reincarnated as the Villain Who Confines the Heroine in an Eroge World, But for Some Reason I'm the One Getting Confined by the Heroine Instead - Chapter 12: Villainess

Chapter 12: Villainess

After all my investigations, one thing became clear: Safira was acting so outrageously that no one could complain even if she got her comeuppance.

She kept breaking engagements, threw her authority around the academy, started buying up small and medium wineries to create huge farms, and was running so wild I wondered what the duke himself was even doing.

“Hey, protagonist.”

“What? It’s already bedtime.”

“Wanna talk about love for a bit?”

“No way. I’m not a girl.”

One night, I went to Luxol’s room. He made a sour face but still let me in.

I sat on the chair across from his bed. The layout was still the same as always. While I was looking around, Luxol made some tea. He’d been the big brother figure at the orphanage, so he was surprisingly domestic.

His expression, though, was anything but welcoming.

“You think you can do whatever you want with me, don’t you? Whenever things get awkward with the duke’s daughter at school, you come running to me like I’m your escape route.”

“Sorry about that. I’m doing it on purpose.”

“Give me a break. I don’t have enough hearts to survive this.”

“I’m the one whose heart can’t take it.”

He muttered that with distant look in his eyes.

“Don’t dump it on me. And I’m not doing love talk.”

“What? You got someone you like?”

“…No.”

Luxol looked away awkwardly.

That reaction was suspicious. Who on earth did he fall for?

In the original game, the story changed depending on which heroine he picked.

The Safira route was basically impossible at this point, so the most likely one was probably the saintess route.

But I hated that route—the vineyards all got burned to the ground. It basically said grapes were more important than people’s lives.

“So who do you like, Ask?”

Since we were on the topic of love, Luxol turned the question back on me.

“No need to even ask, right? It’s the duke’s daughter.”

“Don’t put words in my mouth. The only thing I love is wine.”

No one can beat me when it comes to loving wine.

“But you’re still underage, aren’t you?”

“Age has nothing to do with the weight of love.”

“Sure, whatever. So what did you want to talk about? Ninety percent chance it’s the duke’s daughter.”

“You got me. Listen to this, protagonist.”

I told the exasperated-looking Luxol everything I’d found out.

“In other words, Safira’s a full-blown villainess.”

“I don’t really get it, but you want someone to stop her rampage, right?”

“Pretty much. What should I do?”

“How should I know? I’m not your all-knowing teacher.”

“But you’re the protagonist.”

“Stop calling me that!”

Unlike a mob character like me, Luxol was the actual protagonist. I wanted to dump the problem on him and let him solve it, but things weren’t going to be that easy.

Still, he was a good guy at heart. He sighed and muttered,

“I guess the only thing you can do is talk to her.”

“Talk?”

“Yeah, lay everything out on the table. Misunderstandings, what each of you is thinking—if you don’t say it straight, it won’t get through.”

“That’s true.”

“Instead of sneaking around investigating, just talk alone together. Most things get solved that way.”

“That’s true!”

“

“After that… yeah, eat a ton of good food together. When your stomach’s full, it’s easier to be honest. You also learn stuff like each other’s likes and dislikes that you never knew. Back at the orphanage we always ate together to get closer. Just try it.”

“Thanks! As expected of the protagonist!”

“I told you I’m not the protagonist!”

But he totally was.

Everything he said was so protagonist-like.

All I could think to do was sneak around and gather info.

Facing things head-on—that’s what made a protagonist a protagonist.

“Alright, tomorrow I’ll invite her to eat.”

“Don’t do it in the cafeteria where everyone’s around. Pick a place you two can be alone.”

“Is there such a place?”

“Well… each other’s houses, that kind of thing.”

“Got it. Then I’ll invite her to my house.”

※

【Side — Safira Hearts】

“Is she back yet? Still not?”

It was the middle of the night, probably the time when almost everyone was asleep.

I was kicking my legs on the bed, waiting for my maid Lavanda to return.

Today, too, I had her investigating Ask-kun.

—I actually want to see everything with my own eyes.

But as the duke’s daughter, I had duties. I couldn’t just show up whenever I wanted.

Next month’s social season preparations and the vineyard development plans were piling up—I hadn’t had a moment to rest lately.

“Still? Not yet?”

Unable to wait any longer, I hugged my pillow tight. Finally there was a knock.

“My lady, I have returned.”

It was Lavanda’s voice.

I almost jumped up, but I couldn’t let a maid see me acting giddy, so I somehow kept calm.

I cleared my throat and spoke.

“How did it go?”

I asked coolly. Lavanda began reporting in her usual flat tone.

“After classes, Master Ask spent the whole time in the library. Then he ate alone and went to Master Luxol’s room. They talked for about an hour.”

“Talked? You’re absolutely sure it was just talking?”

“There is no issue. Not a single suspicious sound.”

“That actually makes it more suspicious, doesn’t it?”

“There is no issue. In my judgment, Master Ask is an abnormal person whose only interest is grapes.”

“Are you trying to make me angry?”

“No. I am simply your loyal maid, my lady.”

“…Right.”

Lavanda was shockingly sharp-tongued for someone who looked so meek.

She sometimes slipped in casual insults, which made her a failure as a maid, but since I didn’t trust anyone except Ask-kun, I didn’t really care.

The problem was Ask-kun.

“He’s talking with Luxol again… Unforgivable.”

“Which one, my lady?”

“Luxol, obviously. That guy’s been walking around lately with the saintess in tow, hasn’t he?”

“Yes. Everyone from the church is generally abnormal.”

“Sometimes I worry about the reliability of your reports. You’re not mixing in personal opinions, are you?”

“There is no issue. My lady is already has considerable distortions of her own.”

I glared at her on reflex, but Lavanda didn’t even flinch. Her relaxed attitude just made me angrier, but I could fire this maid anytime.

I’ll endure for now.

“But what should I do? I want Ask-kun all to myself, yet he keeps deepening bonds with everyone but me. Lavanda, isn’t there any way to stop this?”

“There isn’t.”

“You’re my maid—figure something out!”

“…………”

Lavanda let out an obviously annoyed sigh and spoke as if she couldn’t believe this.

“Wouldn’t it be better to just talk to him directly? I’m tired of investigating.”

“There’s no way I can say it directly. If I asked him to let me confine him, he’d be totally grossed out.”

“But you’re actually planning to confine him, correct?”

“…………”

“He might surprisingly accept, you know—if the confinement comes with its own vineyard.”

“Really?!”

I took her words at face value and let my imagination run.

A detached cottage with a full view of the vineyard from the window.

A bed just for Ask-kun.

Ask-kun restrained with handcuffs.

And me, right beside him, monopolizing his sleeping face.

“This is perfect!”

“My lady?”

My heart was racing harder than it ever had in my life.

Alright, it’s decided.

—I’ll confine him.

As soon as possible.

A week from now would be best.

No, three days.

Actually, tomorrow.

Tomorrow. Tomorrow. Tomorrow.

Yes, that’s perfect.

And so I made up my mind to confine him.