KFBRV Ch 112
- Mar 13
- 6 min read
She gave a bitter smile.
[Odette] "You have the roles reversed. It would be more accurate to say that you dislike me."
At her answer, Karin's face crumpled once more.
It wasn't merely because Odette was a villainess or because her nature clashed with Karin's moral compass.
The Brentano Ducal House and the Albrecht County were enemies, holding opposed political views.
In my past life, I never understood why she glared at me every time.
Now, she knew. She knew how actively Count Albrecht had assisted the Emperor fifteen years ago when he sought to exterminate the Brentano family.
It was her father who had stood at the vanguard, framing the Duke of Brentano for treason and entrapping him.
In return, he received half of the Brentano duchy's territory. Of course, the Count, with his disastrous business acumen, had long since squandered it all.
This meant her father was the reason the Brentano family had been reduced to paupers.
[Karin] "I... didn'thing wrong."
Karin spoke defensively.
[Odette] "I know. From your perspective, it is only natural to dislike me. It is justified, so I have no intention of blaming you, Karin."
She felt a bit bitter. After all, Karin had been a character she quite liked when playing the game.
[Karin] "That is not it—. Haa..."
She wore a hopeless expression, as if unsure where to even begin.
Silence settled between them again.
[Karin] "......"
Fortunately, she seemed to have calmed down somewhat.
Still... I should offer at least a minimum of advice.
[Odette] "Even so, do not join hands with Doly. Speaking coldly, that girl is not someone you should keep as an ally."
[Karin] "...Pardon?"
Karin looked at her with wide eyes, her expression slightly dazed.
[Odette] "I understand your dislike for me... but surely Doly is not the only person who dislikes me? Even if you wish to torment me, it would be far better to find a partner superior to Doly. That girl is cunning and deceitful."
At her words, Karin bit her lip, and her face turned pale.
[Karin] "Why. ...Why such advice..."
[Odette] "Because I am quite fond of you, My Lady."
[Karin] "You fond of me? Do not lie. If you liked me, you couldn't do this."
[Odette] "...Pardon?"
[Karin] "If you liked me, how could you assume I joined hands with that girl Doly?!"
Why, why is her voice rising so high?
[Odette] "Wait a moment, Karin. Please calm down—"
[Karin] "As I thought, Lady Odette hates me! My life is ruined!"
She began to shed huge tears again.
What is this? What is happening?
She did like Karin. However, since her words had no effect, perhaps stating objective facts would be better than expressing her feelings.
[Odette] "Lady Brentano, you are hailed as the finest lady in society. I am the worst villainess. Therefore, even if you are hated by me, your reputation will not suffer a single scratch."
[Karin] "......"
[Odette] "On the contrary, your reputation would likely improve. So claiming your life is ruined is a leap—"
She spoke calmly, but Karin glared at her briefly before bursting into wails once more.
This was driving her mad.
Was she originally this kind of character?
Karin's character collapse was making her dizzy. In The Only Savior, she was a mature and cool character.
A woman who willingly handed over the title of "Society's Greatest Lady" to Charlotte and exited the stage gracefully.
A rival who remained unshaken no matter how hard Charlotte tried to surpass her!
Where did she go... and why was only a crying child left?
Odette looked bewildered at Karin, who was sobbing as if her life were truly over.
I'm the one who wants to cry...
[Odette] "Umm. Lady Brentano. I am telling you, being hated by me is actually a benefit. I am a terrible villainess, and you are, after all, the greatest lady in society."
Even if her reputation had improved on Athena Island just now, the salon had a duty of confidentiality, so the capital society would still regard her as a villainess.
Furthermore, Karin was a giant of the social world, someone unreachable even if Odette completely restored her reputation—
[Karin] "Who cares about such a reputation. I didn't want to look pathetic to you, of all people."
[Odette] "...Huh?"
Good heavens. "You"?
Karin seemed to have abandoned even the minimum formalities.
[Karin] "I just want to disappear..."
She tried to rub her teary eyes vigorously with her hands. Odette snatched her hands away immediately.
[Odette] "Karin!"
In her urgency, she called her by name, a habit from her days as Han Suwan. She had to stop that action at all costs.
If she rubbed her eyes, they would swell and reveal that she had been crying. Then Odette's reputation would plummet to hell.
[Odette] "Do not rub them. It will show that you have been crying."
At those words, Karin paused, looking surprised.
[Odette] "Let me touch your face for a moment."
She gently lifted her head. Then she opened the window. Exposure to cool air would help reduce the swelling.
[Odette] "Karin, I have never once thought you were pathetic."
[Karin] "Huk, heuk. Really?"
[Odette] "Of course. You are evaluated as a giant of the social world. That is far more impressive than the evaluation of being a 'Flower' like me."
[Karin] "Not evaluations... your thoughts..."
Why are you curious about my thoughts when you dislike me...?!
She could not grasp Karin's emotions at all.
Was this a scheme...? Or acting...
It was the first time since her regression that she felt this flustered, leading her to such thoughts.
[Odette] "That is my thought as well. Because I knew better than anyone what a wonderful lady you are, Karin."
Through the game, that is.
[Odette] "And I know how much intense effort was required for that. Knowledge, culture—these are not easily obtained just because one is born into a good family, are they? Furthermore, even now, when you lack funds, you are reducing taxes for the estate residents who suffered from the disaster."
She spoke while busily fanning Karin's face with her hand to prevent swelling.
[Odette] "I think you are cool, Karin."
It was then.
[Condition Met! Would you like to check the 'Past Life' of 'Karin'?]
YES / NO
[Viewing will grant a reward!]
[Reward: Invisible Sincerity (Dagger)]
Once again, a notification that didn't exist in The Only Savior rang out.
Following Karl, it's showing a character's past again?
Moreover, it specifically said "Past Life." How could it show events that didn't exist?
It was bizarre. Furthermore, didn't it feel like this status window was evolving the more she used it?
After viewing Karl's past, the functions of the status window became drastically more diverse.
Feeling uneasy, just as she was about to press NO to refuse.
[This is a choice you will regret in 4 months. Please choose carefully.]
She froze in surprise.
Four months from now. Wasn't that the day Charlotte was scheduled to reappear? The day Odette planned to complete her revenge.
To specify exactly "4 months later"—unless the status window could see the future, it could not display such a notification.
Moreover, was it not asserting it would be a "choice you will regret"?
That was something one could only say if they fully understood her goals, intentions, and emotional state.
At that moment, with a static beep-beep-beep sound, the letters 'NO' on the status window shattered and changed into different letters.
[YES / YES]
It seemed she had to retract her hypothesis that this necklace was the same as the status window from the game.
If it guesses my emotional state in the future, it is not on the level of a game's status window. It is something that far transcends it.
While she was lost in thought, the status window emitted a beep sound, urging her on.
Giving me two YES options. What am I supposed to choose?
She had no choice but to accept.
Eventually, she pressed YES. Simultaneously, her surrounding vision changed.
All education in the Empire begins with Brentano.
From the moment she was born with that name, Karin had to be a giant of the social world. A girl who had to be a flawless model from the moment of her debutante.
[Duke] "Do not lose to Albrecht, at the very least. You must never lose!"
The Duke of Brentano, who had lost the family fortune to Albrecht's schemes, raised Karin with extreme strictness.
Adding the fact that the Count was a fool for his daughter, the Duke made defeating Odette her life goal.
He wanted to hurt the Count, even if only through this method.
[Karin] "Yes, Father. I will do so."
Fortunately, she possessed both ambition and talent for etiquette. Though money was lacking, the Brentano family still overflowed with talent.
It would be enough to win. Against the daughter of the uncultured Albrecht, certainly.
Then she saw her, Albrecht, who was always slightly more perfect than herself, from head to toe.
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