It's Not Like I Want to Play the Role of a Misunderstood, Good-for-Nothing Prince in a Villainess Story! - Chapter 59 – Wait, You're a Quasi-Knight Baron's Daughter?

“……!”

Stella devoured my apple pie single-mindedly.

That’s top-class apple pie made by the palace chef, couldn’t you savor it a bit more?

“Here, some water.”

Finally, she drank down the water Misty offered and let out a “puhaaa…” breath.

After taking a deep breath, Stella looked at me, then at Misty, and gasped in shock.

“Eh, Prince Zeke and Lady Misty the Marquis’s daughter?! Why? How?!”

She was so focused on the food that she only just noticed.

“Ah, th-thank you very much! I’ll repay this kindness someday—”

“Ah, it’s fine. It’s just that much.”

I watched her warily while feeling slightly put off.

She was Stella Warden, a viscount.

In the game, with her lovely appearance and black-hearted personality, she manipulated many men behind the scenes, performed countless harassments on Misty, and while establishing her position as Zeke’s good confidant on the surface, she was far more wicked than Misty, who was ostensibly the villainess.

She constantly surveyed her surroundings and cornered Misty with her insight and acting ability… that was the setting.

“…………”

As far as I could see, there was no sign of any of that.

Also, why was this girl collapsed from not eating?

“Um, you’re Viscount Warden, right?”

“No, my father is a quasi-knight baron though?”

“Eh?”

Quasi-knight baron? Isn’t that the rank that’s a noble yet not a noble, the closest to commoner while still barely being nobility?

And unless you get promoted within one generation, you can’t become a true noble.

Plus, it’s slightly below knight baron, so the treatment is lower than knights.

“Eh, wh… why?”

“I really want to ask ‘why’ myself. My parents got me into this school by taking out loans and such for my sake, but the tuition fee left my family with almost no money, so I haven’t been able to eat much… I’ve been getting by with just water for lunch sometimes, but today I reached my limit. Really, why? I should have been a viscount’s daughter originally.”

“It’s true, I thought you were a viscount’s daughter too, so why?”

“Eh, is Stella-san actually supposed to be a viscount?”

Misty tilted her head curiously.

“Yes yes, originally she… huh?”

“Wait?”

Hold on, why does this girl know Stella’s original position?

The moment I realized it, Stella was also looking at me with a surprised face.

Could this girl possibly—

“Misty.”

“Yes?”

“Go back to the classroom first. I need to talk to Stella for a bit.”

“Eh… but…”

She glanced at Stella.

Was she worried about my safety?

But even if Stella’s act was fake and she tried something, I didn’t think it would amount to much.

“It’s fine, so please.”

“…Understood.”

After confirming that Misty quietly entered the school building from the courtyard, I turned back to Stella.

“It’s fine now. You don’t need to use honorifics either. I understand.”

“That’s a relief. So it’s that kind of thing, right?”

“Well, yeah. You’re the same too, right?”

“Yes, the same as you.”

I thought so. I had that feeling.

That I was the only one in this world… could such a thing be?

While surprised, I was also somewhat relieved.

Then Stella leaned in close.

“Hey, actually, listen! I’ve been having such a hard time.”

☆☆☆

Stella’s Perspective

When I first came to, an editing settings screen appeared before me.

It was about my own settings.

Things related to the body of Stella Warden that I was about to inhabit.

The moment I thought the name Stella seemed familiar, several names appeared, and I immediately realized this was ‘Prism Lovers,’ a game I had played in the past.

However, I didn’t understand why I was in this ‘PriLove’ world and why it had been decided that I would become Stella.

What happened to my original self? Did I die?

I didn’t understand anything, but I thought it was good news that I could go to the world of a game I liked.

The problem was that this character Stella was a villain who would meet a miserable end along with a prince named Zeke.

Well, I was the one inhabiting her.

If I didn’t get close to Zeke and didn’t bully Misty Claudia, there would be no problem.

Rather than that…

Could I raise Stella’s rank and such?

I tried to fiddle with it right away, but—

“Huh? Eh, why?”

For some reason I didn’t understand, it was already edited.

Moreover, I couldn’t even view the details.

I haven’t touched anything yet, so this makes no sense.

But well, I figured that’s just how it was and completed it, then my consciousness immediately faded.

When I woke up, I had become Stella Warden.

W-well, I couldn’t edit it, but a viscount is nobility, so it’s fine.

Until then, I’ll enjoy noble life to the fullest.

That’s right, maybe I should have a romance too.

I’ll secretly make the conquest target that Misty Claudia doesn’t choose my husband.

Which person should I pick? My preference is Kasal-sensei, but he didn’t warm up until after graduation, right?

Then until that time, maybe I’ll play around with other people just for my student days.

The desert noble is sarcastic and his boasting is annoying, so pass… who else was there?

I was thinking leisurely like that, but I was made to realize that was a mistake.

First of all, I wasn’t a viscount’s daughter.

A knight baron’s daughter. And with “quasi” attached.

One step away from commoner.

Also, my father’s rank is too low?!

Why? How come?

A shabby house and meager meals.

On Father’s days off, I ended up helping with farm work for the friendly landowner farmers living nearby along with my parents.

“Stella-chan works so hard… Take a rest and eat some fruit.”

I was happy that the elderly farmer couple in the neighborhood was kind to me, but!

I’m a noble lady! I’m a noble lady, so why!

After that, even before I entered school, it was a continuous series of hardships, and I almost gave up so many times.

☆☆☆

I was told about Stella’s hardships up until now.

How should I put it… maybe I was actually on the fortunate side?

Even though I was hated all over the palace.

Even though I was on the verge of disinheritance.

“But why were you a quasi-knight baron anyway?”

“How should I know! It’s strange, isn’t it? Why do I have to suffer so much… I’m fundamentally a good girl! I just thought about maybe making Kasal-sensei my husband since Misty Claudia probably wouldn’t choose him! Also, a reverse harem is kind of a dream, right… I thought about that too.”

“How about that?”

Isn’t this girl evil in a different vector from the original Stella?

Maybe I should just leave her alone?

Putting aside such jokes.

I was a bit put off, but the tales of misfortune that came up throughout the conversation had content that made me involuntarily sympathize, so hmm.

“Hey, tell me about yourself too. You also somehow ended up in this world, right? Also, why are you so close with Misty Claudia?”

“Let’s see, I’ve had my share of hardships too, though not as much as you, so shall I talk about what’s happened so far? But lunch break will end soon, so do you have time after school?”

“Yes, that’s fine. Let’s exchange information.”