Somehow, I’m the Otome Game Villain 22:

Somehow, I’m the Otome Game Villain 22:

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Wordcount: 2500

Commissioned by LordMarksman

…

After a lot of explaining and apologies to never do it again, my father relented and decided against keeping me in our territory for the rest of my life.

The signed document from the king and queen of the Holfort kingdom stating that I truly aided them and their nation helped a lot.

Now, while dad was nursing a stiff drink and I sat across from him with my brain buzzing from tiredness, he raised his hand and shook his head.

Time to actually talk, instead of just get talked at.

“From what I know of the Holfort people, they have had their eccentricities, but they have been a stalwart and strong people. However, from what you describe, those set to lead them in the coming decades are… madmen and their crown prince is comatose.” I’d done my best to give just the basics regarding that situation. My goal was to not shed a horrific light on our largest ally with whom we had the largest deals for strategic resources with and who had the most territory. Oh, right, they were also supposed to have the largest army and be the cavalry if we were put into a bind. “I’d be marching down to speak with the rest of council, if you didn’t manage to acquire a pair of Ancient artifacts under their noses.”

“Yeah, it’d be horrible if Luxion and Cleare fell into their hands. They’ve got a decent military, but honestly, it’s just… all being messed up by their political infighting.” Dad grimaced at that. There was bickering where he worked to. Families jockeying for power and influence. Those with Crests looming over those who didn’t. However, here, slavery was outlawed and there were enough decent people to kept the shitty people in line. Well, they were losing power and losing favor with the ‘tree,’ now. Ideal was all for ‘not sharing its power with the most worthless individuals amongst the worthless.’ “They’re with us now, though. They’re more than enough to make sure the Republic is safe.”

“That’s good. Well done on that part. The fact that you’ve secured one more Ancient vessel in perfect condition and its under our complete control is enough.” Father nodded decisively at that, before looking at me once again sharply. “How goes the production of additional vessels from that island that you’re managing? I’ve kept it secret as well as I could, in fact I didn’t need to do much. I don’t know how it's managed to acquire resources without being noticed.”

I couldn’t bullshit my father.

In fact, I wanted to tell him everything short of this life being based off of video games, so that I had less on my plate.

Ideal made the convincing argument that while my father could be trusted, the rest of Alzer couldn’t.

So, we waited until we had the power and strength to truly dominate the republic itself.

A nation inside a nation, basically.

“We’re acquiring materials by locating islands and exploiting them. They just need power and mass and they’ve got plenty of the former, so production is just really a matter of time. Right now, we’ve got two ships finished and they’re going to speed things up. All three are working together to make things better, too.”

“Better how?”

“Luxion classified itself as an Exodus vessel. A ship designed to take the Ancients away from the planet, establish humanity on another, livable planet through both force and science.” Luxion was more overpowered than Ideal by virtue of being in a harder game. Ideal was a transport ship, or rather a logistics ship armed and armored to the teeth that can manufacture and support assaults. Meanwhile, Luxion was cutting edge and designed to tear through the universe and its inhabitants in order to spread humanity across the stars. The crazy thing is that they both cost like a thousand yen in the in-game cash shop. Deploy a ship that can spit out an army for ten bucks! Find a livable planet filled with aliens? Spend a couple euros and eradicate it for humanity! “Ideal is a military manufacturing vessel designed to establish military bases and industry. Cleare’s meant to assist in research and development in biology.”

Father took it in and nodded decisively.

“I see, between all three, that covers most corner stones of a civilization. Can Cleare develop a means to destroy monsters or at least slow their propagation?”

“Apparently, elves were meant to be long-lived super-soldiers with innate magic that can cull monsters nonstop and process them for materials.”

“…And why are they not? Can the changes that made them different be undone?”

“I’ll leave that to you. I know it’s necessary to make that choice, but I’m a bit leery about it.”

“I understand. Don’t worry. You have a few decades before you have to worry about making those sorts of decision.” Father nodded and I sighed in relief. He leaned back and examined me again, while running a hand through his beard. He was fit for his age, wearing a suit with a waistcoat, and both his hands were in gloves. He had brown hair and a brown beard and sharp, but rugged features. Honestly, he looked like a lumberjack impossibly wearing a suit like second nature. Anyway, I just stayed content and calm in his presence. I’m sure that he knew that I was hiding something, but it was without a doubt I was working for our family and helping. “So, onto important matters: it would be best you take both Atlee and Regrave as consorts. Their fathers have already contacted me and they’ve little interest in remaining with Holfort.”

Okay, I didn’t expect that.

My mouth practically dropped from how much I didn’t expect that.

“I have also spoken with Marie, the girl turned commoner you’ve picked up. I’ve established her amongst our servants as your retainer and given her room and board. I understand that you’ve made no advances towards her and have no intentions on doing so?”

“N-no! Not at all. I really just employed her. And, Angie and Clarice are my friends. I helped them out—

Father cut me off with a scoff.

“I understand you’re trying to maintain their reputation, Leon, but they have no future with Holfort. There is nothing for them there, even if they are affiliated with you as allies and are untouched. You know this.” Father forced the truth on me, and I grimaced. His tone softened as he caught on to just how… gross I felt. He got up effortlessly from the chair and took a knee and raised my head up, before putting his hand on my shoulder. “I know that you look upon yourself too harshly, and believe yourself unworthy. I know not why, but I can see it plain as day that you don’t believe yourself noble and just and worthy of affection. Let me tell you this: you are wrong, and you are worthy, and you saved these two fine women and they love you for it. And, you are worthy of their affections.”

I took a long time to process his words, but I managed to nod.

“I want to hear you say it, Leon.” My father insisted and I took a shuddering breath.

“I’ll… I’ll do my best and make sure that they’re happy.”

“Hmph. Decent enough, I suppose.” He rolled his eyes and shot me a grin, enough to make me blush and muster up a response.

“Oi, don’t act like you’d be losing your mind, if two lovely ladies are suddenly interested in you!”

“Fortunately for me, son, I never went out of my way to perform heroics that would invite such troubles into my life. I earned your mother’s love and that’s enough.”

“…so, you’ve got nothing?”

“You’re going to need a wife from Alzer, too.”

“That’s worse than nothing!”

…

Marie’s jaw dropped while both Clarice and Angelica blushed.

“W-what!? Both of you!? How does that even… I mean, he’s strong but… both of you are just too great.” Marie felt woozy and steadied herself. Both her two dau-friends helped to a chair where she did her best to catch her breath. She felt like the world was spinning for a bit, but soon enough it faded with a few breaths. Then, the righteous anger came. “No! You’re both too good for him! Heck, just one of you is too good for him!”

Marie fussed without a hint of hesitation, while both Clarice and Angelica looked at one another.

Probably thinking it was finally all clear that she had no intentions towards Leon.

“I understand that you care for our well-being and want to see us happy, Marie. In fact, I’m very flattered and happy that you do.” Angelica spoke, and it was like a spike through Marie’s heart. Faint memories of her plans to pin Angelica down with blame resounded in the back of her mind. Thankfully, she was able to remind herself that she hadn’t done it. She was all clear from guilt. “But this is for our well-being and happiness. Our fathers may have only cared for the former, but the latter is most certainly assured as well.”

“Y-yeah, Leon’s great. He’s nice, kind, and he’s always done his best to keep us as friends.” Clarice said simple and Marie wanted to tear out her hair. If they knew all that, why not take the chance to go and be with guys that’ll be one-hundred percent with them!? What’s with this shift to being the second and third lady to somebody’s wife!? She wanted to tear her hair out. These were two great girls and they were meant to be happy! “No one else was there for either of us, then he came and helped us without asking for a thing. And, well, I know that he likes me, even though he’s done his best to keep away.”

“He kept away because he thought it’s the right thing to do. It was the right thing to do. Leon gave you both options.” Marie sighed and shook her head. She scowled as she realized exactly why this was happening. “But you couldn’t take it, could you? Holfort’s not going to last long. Is it?”

Some part of her wanted to blame the system in Holfort. The same thing that would’ve let her ascend to the role of heroine and make the kingdom her own. It was a society that elevated people to the highest of highs by devaluing others. It was a place where a woman could have multiple male slaves and a husband solely to fund her proclivities and desires for the middle portion of nobility, but before that system it was the opposite.

Men took what they want with the power that they had, kept beautiful slaves, and lived and died by the sword whenever they fancied what belonged to another man. The change towards women having the role of men was in the Academy, amongst a specific portion of the nobility, and everything else remained the same above and below that singular spot where the protagonist could exist.

Thus, her two friends were going to have to do this for the sake of their futures and for their families.

Marie’s shoulders slumped in defeat.

“He’ll be good. I’ll make sure that he’s good to you both. You both need to tell me, if he’s not.” They shared glances at each other and nodded. Marie cursed her status, since they thought she was only his employee hired out of concern. However, that wasn’t the case. She was a reincarnator just like Leon. She had knowledge of the setting… and more. Luxion and Cleare would both listen to her, and Ideal would as well. All three of the AI entities would be able to help her balance out the power dynamic. “Swear it. If you ever feel unhappy, if you ever feel sad, you’ll come to me and I’ll help you as much as I’m able.”

Angelica and Clarice both gave her small, thankful smiles and nods.

Not thinking that she could do more than just yell at Leon or complain at him on their behalf.

Marie, however, looked at them both and steeled her heart.

She’s been working off good graces this entire time, basically riding on Leon’s coat-tails, but no longer. From what she knew back in the old world, she’ll get her advantages, get wealth, and get influence in her new life. Her old family wasn’t a problem anymore. She had a solid income and a place to live, and finally time to spare as she was no longer attending the Academy. It was time for her to use the rest of her past life, and even everything she’d prepared, to get all that she could to protect her people.

Leon was a good person and he had the benefit of a doubt, but what about in ten years, twenty, or thirty?

When everything is solved and he’s the strongest man in the world with all that he could ever want?

Would he be good to Clarice and Angelica or will he break their hearts?

Marie, for a second, paused as her intuition told her that he’ll barely have a spine to use against the two of them and basically be at the mercy of all the women in his life.

However, could she really leave that up to chance?

The answer, she found as she grimaced at her last memory of her previous life with the pain and coldness that came thereafter, was no.

At the very least, just in case, she wanted to have enough clout and power to spirit her friends and family away if needed.

And, of course, they couldn’t be completely reliant on him.

“Clarice! Angelica!”

“Yes?”

“Hm?”

“We’re going to start a business. Something that’ll give the three of influence and power all our own.”

“Oh, I see. That would soothe your worries immensely, wouldn’t it, Marie-chan?’

“I understand. I’m willing to work on such a thing.”

Clarice and Angelica seemed to lack enthusiasm, but that was fine. She didn’t have anything yet, but in time she’ll make them both business partners. The least she could do was make sure that they had an out, that they weren’t beholden to Leon completely. If everything went fine, if nothing wrong happened, they’d just have additional money and funds for their family. If things went wrong, they’d have the funds to get out and try to live a normal, happy life.

Marie thought hard for a moment, before coming to a realization.

The one thing she barely could get enough money for, which everyone squabbled over nonstop in this world were cosmetics!

With a little bit of elbow grease and a lot of time, she’ll be able to set something up that should give her some peace of mind.