When the Villain Joined the Knights to Avoid Doom Flags, but Somehow the Heroines Started Approaching Him - Chapter 35: Thinking About Him

Chapter 35: Thinking About Him

Even though she couldn’t attend the academy, it honestly didn’t have much of an impact on her personally.

Before enrolling, she had already been thoroughly taught by a private tutor—everything from academics to horseback riding, table manners, magic, and swordsmanship. She was well-rounded in all of it.
Still, attending the academy wasn’t something she could simply skip.

The main reason was building connections. Relationships formed during youth tended to last a long time, as long as they weren’t broken. The academy offered the best opportunity to establish ties with people who might support the kingdom in the future, more so than any party could.
That’s why she couldn’t afford to miss even a short part of her time there.

Besides, there was a simpler, more personal reason—a desire unique to the young. The curiosity of experiencing what academy life would be like.

Could she make friends who didn’t care about profit or status? Would she be able to study together with others? Could she spend time after classes playing with kids her own age? Those kinds of thoughts crossed her mind.

Well, in the end, prioritizing her safety meant she ended up isolated in the villa instead. Not that she was particularly depressed about it.
After all, she wasn’t selfish enough to risk her own life or the lives of those around her for such whims. But more than that—

(…What should I do? Lately, I haven’t had the chance to properly talk to Sir Yulis.)

In her assigned room, Fia let out a deep sigh, her lustrous golden hair swaying gently.

From the open balcony, a cool breeze flowed in, offering a glimpse of the moonlit lake, its surface shimmering under the night sky.

It was a breathtakingly beautiful scene, yet Fia’s heart felt heavy.

Part of it was likely due to the danger to her life. But more than that, she was frustrated with herself.

(This should be the perfect chance to build a closer relationship with Sir Yulis…)

Fia wasn’t the type to stay down after a setback.

Even in a situation like this, she wasn’t content to just sit and cry—she wanted to turn it into something positive. 

That’s why she’d decided to deepen her connection with Yulis, someone she had been interested in for a while.

Yulis Blanche wasn’t just an asset to the kingdom—he was someone the royal family should make sure to keep close.

Despite his young age, he possessed incredible talent, the kind that could even surpass adults. 

He was brimming with potential, a prodigy whose abilities and promise for the future were unmatched. 

If his true strength became widely known, it was likely that many nobles would try to win him over.

In fact, Lieselotte, a certain young girl, was already trying to get close to him—perhaps with some personal feelings involved.

Fia couldn’t afford to lose.

As a princess, she had to establish the strongest bond with him, more than anyone else.

The ideal outcome was clear: a marriage. 

In other words, she wanted to become romantically involved with Yulis.

This shared-roof situation should have been the perfect opportunity. 

She needed to make her presence known, to ensure Yulis noticed her—even if it meant stepping outside her comfort zone.

However—

(Whenever I see Sir Yulis’s face, I just can’t stay calm.)

When she talked to him, her voice would waver.

When she heard his voice, her heart would race.

When she saw his face, warmth would rush to her cheeks.

And just being in the same space as Yulis made one particular thought echo endlessly in her mind.

“Listen to me. I’ll protect you, no matter what… I’ll make sure you can smile and enjoy your life at the academy!!!”

Fia’s cheeks flushed lightly again as she remembered those words, even though she was alone.

But she quickly took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.

(I need to get it together… I don’t fully understand what these feelings are, but I can’t let this chance slip by.)

Fia had never experienced love before.

As a princess, her future partner was always meant to be chosen “for the sake of the kingdom.” That expectation had been with her since she was a child.

Because of that, she didn’t know. The princess—the heroine—was unaware.

Unaware of the emotions she would eventually realize, thanks to the protagonist.

However, she wouldn’t have the luxury of time to figure it out just yet.

“Hey-hey! Things got a little intense on my end, so I decided to drop by uninvited, Princess~♪”

The view from her balcony suddenly changed, the shimmering scene now encased in a thin layer of ice.

CRASH! BOOM!

The ceiling of her room came tumbling down with a deafening roar.

“Man, I tried to come inside, but everything was covered in this giant block of ice… Could it be you’re not a fan of surprise visits?”

Amidst the rubble stood a girl with black and pink hair.

Her cheerful, charming face was in stark contrast to the overwhelming aura of hostility she radiated.

Fia’s sense of caution shot up instantly.

“…Who are you?”

“Umm, let’s see… a girl who loves a good thrill? I don’t really do introductions much, so I’m not sure what to say.”

With a playful shrug, the girl with streaked hair—Ronye—grinned ferociously.

“Because, you know…”

Her voice turned cheerful yet unsettling as she continued.

“Everyone’s always dead before I get the chance! I’ll do a proper introduction one day, up in the sky, under the sun, so look forward to it!”

Just then—

“Hahaha! Alright, revenge time! I’ll settle the score from last time, you little brat!!!”

Before she could even finish, there was a loud crash.

Iris burst through the side wall, wielding her segmented sword, and sent the small girl flying straight off the balcony.

“I’m thirteen, and my favorite hobby is taking care of my master! Since I’m not planning to head to heaven anytime soon, I’ll give you a proper introduction right now!”

“Are you stupid, big sister? Everyone eventually goes up to the sky! If you want, I can send you there right nowwwwwww!!!”

The two girls disappeared from view as their fight spilled off the balcony.

Watching this unfold, Fia quickly assessed the situation.

(That girl must be one of the dark guild’s children… which means, according to Sir Yulis’s prediction, there’s likely another one coming.)

Just as she thought that, the door to her room suddenly swung open with a bang, and Lieselotte stepped inside.

“Lady Fia, this way! We’re escaping the villa!”

There was no reason to argue with those words.

Fia turned her back on the balcony and hurried toward Lieselotte.

“What about Lady Celia and Sir Yulis?”

“Yulis is currently welcoming quite a crowd of ‘guests.’ As for Senior—”

♦️♦️♦️

The villa’s hallway, now filled with chaos, suddenly gained an unsettling presence.

A girl appeared as if out of nowhere, her presence feeling out of place in the scene.

Hearing the echo of a distant crash, she let out a small sigh.

(Ronye… you’re being way too flashy.)

Then again, in a way, it might have been for the best.

The more distractions there were, the better.

The guild’s members charging in from the front, her sister making a flashy entrance—it was all meant to create openings. If either she or her sister managed to eliminate the princess during the commotion—

“Hmm… it seems I’ve drawn the short straw this time.”

Click.

The sound of heels echoed down the hallway where the girl—Chloe—had been standing.

From the dimly lit corridor, another figure emerged slowly, deliberately.

Celia stepped forward, her presence unmistakable as shimmering threads extended from her fingertips, gleaming faintly in the dark.

(…How did she know?)

Despite Chloe’s sudden appearance, somehow the enemy was already there.

Was it just a coincidence? 

The question lingered in Chloe’s mind as she stared down the mysterious woman.

“Whether it’s wood or stone, I can weave my threads through without causing much damage. If any unexpected vibrations occur, it signals an intruder. Of course, this only works within the confines of this villa.”

It was as if Celia had sensed Chloe’s unspoken questions and decided to provide an answer.

With that, the idea of it being a mere coincidence vanished from Chloe’s mind entirely.

“…Who?”

“Let’s just say I’m one of those girls harboring a lot of pent-up frustration. A rematch wasn’t in the cards, so now it’s time to blow off some steam.”

And just like that, the spark of another battle—one never written into the scenario—was quietly ignited.