Reincarnated as a Mob in an Otome Game, but the Characters Were Worse Than I Expected, So I Crushed Them All and Destroyed the Story - Chapter 23: The Villainess Begins to Distort (Charlotte’s POV)

Chapter 23: The Villainess Begins to Distort (Charlotte’s POV)

(Haa… What in the world is happening to me…?)

The day after I delivered my father’s message to that commoner—

I returned to my room after class and let out a deep sigh.

Normally, at this hour, I would be enjoying afternoon tea with Lisa, who always prepared it for me.

But today, she had some business to attend to, so we parted ways.

It was unusual for Lisa to leave my side.

Since she rarely asked for personal time, I granted her permission, but I couldn’t help but wonder what she was up to.

Yet, even more troubling was the undeniable fact that something within me had changed—so much so that I could no longer ignore it.

(This is clearly wrong… When I realized that man wouldn’t be ordering me around anymore, I felt… disappointed. Why? That doesn’t make any sense. I am a duke’s daughter, and he is nothing but a lowly commoner. I am the one who should be giving orders, not the other way around…!)

This had never happened before.

All my life, hierarchy was everything to me.

I despised it—loathed it—when someone below me acted out of line.

More than just my duty to my house, my efforts were for myself.

I had fought, endured, and bled to ensure that I would never be bound by anyone. That I would never be commanded, never have to bow my head to anyone.

That man… he was far from incompetent.

But compared to me, his status was laughably inferior.

So this feeling—

It had to be a mistake.

(Haa… Maybe I should have some tea and take a moment to relax… It’s been a while since I made it myself…)

As someone who is expected to be a suitable First Lady, I have undergone extensive bridal training.

Brewing tea is nothing difficult for me.

Just as I began heating the water, a knock echoed through the room. Knock, knock.

(…? Lisa?)

I turned off the heat for now and walked toward the entrance.

Placing my hand on the door, I channeled a bit of magic into it, causing a section of the surface to turn transparent.

This was a security feature exclusive to noble residences—a magic tool embedded in the door that allowed the occupant to see who was standing outside.

Of course, it only worked one way. The person outside wouldn’t be able to see in.

(Lisa… and that commoner?)

Standing at the door wasn’t just Lisa. That man was with her too.

Why? The question filled my mind, but with so little information, I couldn’t jump to conclusions.

Though I could come up with several possibilities, none of them were certain.

Since Lisa was with him, I reluctantly decided to open the door.

“Ah, good afternoon, Lady Maxwell.”

“Hmph. And what exactly are you doing here? This is not a place someone of your status can just casually waltz into.”

“My apologies. However, I was invited—by her.”

He gestured toward Lisa.

Lisa, for some reason, turned slightly red and lowered her gaze.

“You…! You didn’t do anything to Lisa, did you!?”

“I didn’t. She simply came to me for advice, and I answered her.”

“…Advice?”

I couldn’t think of a single reason why Lisa would consult him about anything.

But if she was the one who invited him, then no matter how much I despised the idea, I had no choice but to let him in.

Lisa had her own room, of course, but by my command, she lived in mine.

Since she had been given permission to invite guests, I couldn’t refuse—though I hated every second of it.

Still, I didn’t want anyone to see this.

If word spread that I had invited a man into my chambers, it would be an absolute disaster.

With that in mind, I quickly ushered them both inside.

“So? What exactly do you want? If someone sees us, I can probably get away with an excuse, but you? You’d be executed on the spot.”

“W-Wait! Lady Charlotte…!”

“Lisa?”

As I pressed the man for answers, Lisa suddenly stepped in between us.

Her eyes shimmered with a hint of moisture as she spoke.

“Please… just spare a little of your time. It won’t take long.”

“…Eh? Well… I suppose that’s fine.”

“Thank you… Excuse me for a moment.”

Lisa picked up a small bag and quietly left for her room.

Now, only the two of us remained.

Silence filled the air.

Alone in the same space with him—

The very thought made my stomach churn.

“You… If anything happens to Lisa, don’t think losing your life will be the worst of it.”

“I have no intention of making an enemy out of you, Lady Maxwell.”

“Hmph… We’ll see about that.”

This man—

I couldn’t figure him out.

I had no idea what he was thinking, and that alone made him unsettling.

Five minutes passed after Lisa disappeared into her room.

As I quietly sipped my tea, the sound of a door unlocking echoed from behind me. Click.

“Ah, Lisa. You’re bac— …ha…?”

I turned to greet her—

Only to freeze at the sight before me.

No.

Not Lisa—her outfit.

She wore a pair of dog ears on her head, a maid outfit with an indecently low neckline, a collar around her neck, and—

Even a tail attached to the back.

Her face was flushed bright red, her eyes shimmering with tears, as if she was about to cry.

“Wh-What…! Why are you dressed like that!?”

“T-This… This is my punishment for being unable to do anything the other day… So please… Don’t stop me…!”

“D-Don’t stop you? But—”

Before I could process any of it, the man grinned and slowly stepped toward Lisa.

She pressed her legs together in embarrassment, rubbing them against each other as her entire body trembled.

“This girl couldn’t stand the thought of going about her day as usual while you had to endure humiliation. So, for today only, she will be a dog-eared maid.”

“So it is your fault after all…!”

“I only suggested it. She was the one who came to me for advice. All I said was, ‘Wouldn’t it be fair if she experienced something even more embarrassing than her master?’ That’s all. I even put in the effort to get a tail for her—makes her feel more like a proper pet, don’t you think?”

I turned to look at Lisa again.

There was no denying that, from an outsider’s perspective, her outfit was utterly humiliating.

But… just a few days ago, I had been forced into something similar.

The only difference was that I hadn’t worn a tail.

The moment I realized that, warmth spread across my cheeks.

“…I’m jealous.”

The words slipped out before I could stop them.

Panicking, I clamped a hand over my mouth.

Fortunately, my voice had been too quiet for Lisa and him to hear.

But it didn’t take long for me to process what I had just said.

(Jealous? Of this? This is degrading—stripping a person of their dignity. There’s no way I should ever feel jealous…!)

“Now, go on. Greet your master and me properly.”

“Y-Yes…”

“That’s not the right way to respond, is it?”

“…W-Woof…”

Lisa let out a soft, embarrassed whimper.

At that moment—

A sharp heat surged deep in my stomach.

Why…? Why wasn’t I the one standing there instead?

Why wasn’t I the one being ordered?

(No, no, no… I don’t want this… I don’t… but… just like Lisa…)

I wanted to be broken apart.

I wanted to be treated roughly.

I wanted to experience even greater humiliation.

Watching Lisa stirred something deep inside me.

If it was with Lisa, then no matter what it was—

It had to be fun.

Even something this mortifying—if it was with Lisa… together…

“I… I want to…”

“…? What did you say, Lady Maxwell?”

The man tilted his head in confusion. Even that reaction irritated me.

But at this point, I could no longer hold back.

“I want to… be a kitty too…!”

The moment those words left my lips—

I knew there was no turning back.