I, the Villain, Want to Save Myself, But the Yandere Heroines Disagree - Chapter 82

Donny and Tyril had already been taken away for investigation. Regardless of whether they were ultimately found guilty or not, it was certain that neither of them would ever return to the Imperial Academy.

The accomplices who had assisted Donny and Tyril were punished as well, receiving penalties ranging from demerits to disciplinary probation, depending on the severity of their infractions. Justice had been served in their cases.

Within the Student Council, all members who had been bribed by Donny resigned and were replaced with a new batch of students.

Of course, while eliminating Donny did not rid the Imperial Academy of all problem students, the removal of such a major troublemaker significantly improved the campus atmosphere. The Disciplinary Committee found themselves handling far fewer incidents than before.

Today, Orson was on duty in the Student Council office when Olivia pushed the door open and walked in.

Her steps were light and cheerful, as though she had heard some good news.

“You seem to be in a good mood,” Orson said, immediately noticing her demeanor. He didn’t hesitate to ask directly.

“Well… I suppose you could say that.” Olivia thought for a moment before nodding.

“My father has approved our engagement, and he’s already confirmed it with your father. Both sides have no objections to the new arrangement.”

“I see.” Orson nodded. “So, you’re happy because you’ve become my fiancée, is that it?”

“…” Olivia froze for a moment, then turned away, her cheeks flushing red.

She hadn’t expected Orson to catch her off guard with such a sudden statement. She nearly failed to defend herself.

Taking a deep breath to calm her emotions, Olivia turned back to Orson with her signature enigmatic smile.

“Oh~ I’m just happy that Lianca has finally gained her freedom. Surely, Young Master Orson doesn’t think I’m so delighted because I like you, does he?” Olivia crossed her arms and glanced at Orson with a hint of mischief in her expression.

“I’ve been strictly adhering to the agreement we made earlier, Orson. But I must say, your reaction just now was rather cute.”

“Tsk…” Orson clicked his tongue as he watched Olivia effortlessly turn the tables on him. “So that’s really all it is, Miss Olivia?”

“Why don’t you take a guess, Orson~?” Olivia smiled as she shrugged her shoulders.

This woman… she was the most difficult opponent Orson had encountered in his life.

Even though she was about to become his fiancée, suggesting she must have some affection for him, Olivia had a way of deliberately tugging at his heartstrings. She would act as if she liked him, only to suddenly withdraw whenever he tried to confirm her feelings.

This behavior only fueled Orson’s competitive nature, making him all the more determined not to lose to her.

One of these days, he vowed to uncover this cunning woman’s true intentions.

“By the way…” Olivia pulled up a chair and sat down beside Orson’s desk.

Although Orson always returned the chair to its original position after Olivia left—his silent form of resistance—Olivia ignored his efforts each time and continued to sit next to him whenever she visited.

If Orson asked her about it, Olivia would always find a way to deflect his questions with impeccable defenses.

Over time, Orson gave up resisting. Though he still moved the chair back out of habit, he no longer felt as much resistance to Olivia sitting by his side.

“Orson.” Olivia twirled her fingers as she spoke.

“What is it?” Orson turned to look at her.

“Donny and Tyril—right now, they’re probably locked up and being interrogated, aren’t they?”

“Oh, them.” Orson nodded. “Probably. But I don’t really care anymore, since they won’t be returning to the academy anyway.”

“Was it really necessary to go that far? To utterly destroy them?” Olivia suddenly asked. “A light punishment would’ve sufficed; there was no need to set up such an elaborate trap.”

“Once forbidden magic was involved, the situation became much harder to resolve. With this, the relationship between the Stranik family and the Florence family has become irreparably strained.”

“I know.” Orson nodded again. “But, if you were in my place, Olivia, and you knew someone was constantly watching you with ill intent, would you just ignore them?”

“But the Napolis Duchy’s strength is not to be underestimated.”

“I understand that too. Still, I believe Giovanni will prioritize the greater good of the nation in critical moments. And even if the dukes really do turn against each other, the Emperor will intervene.”

“Really?” Olivia smiled and looked at Orson. “Do you truly believe everything will go as smoothly as you think?”

“Even if Duke Giovanni doesn’t act recklessly now, what about in the future, when Donny inherits the title? Will he prioritize the greater good?”

“And will the Emperor really step in to mediate disputes between dukes? Or will he sit back and wait for both sides to suffer before making his move?”

“…” Orson fell silent as he looked at Olivia’s smiling face. After a moment, he lowered his head. “I can’t say for sure. All I can do is hope for the best.”

“Hope, huh?” Olivia thought for a moment before continuing, “That doesn’t sound much like you, Orson.”

“Oh? Then what kind of person do you think I am?”

“Hmm…” Olivia crossed her arms and pondered. “You’re the type of person who would go to any lengths to protect the people around you. You’re not someone who would pin your hopes on others.”

“…” Orson chuckled. “You seem to know me quite well, Olivia.”

“Of course.” Olivia nodded. “After all, you’ve already proven it.”

Orson’s expression froze for a moment.

This woman… was she implying something?

“To think… I once believed I was helping you out of kindness, hoping to surprise you. But in hindsight, I realize I was just being used by you,” Olivia said, her tone tinged with a faint sense of grievance.

“That’s not true.” Orson awkwardly scratched his head. “I’ve never used you, Olivia. I’m truly grateful for your help in finding Anya to testify.”

“Well, I’ll take your word for it.” Olivia shrugged before adding, “But the matter of forbidden magic isn’t so simple, is it?”

“Do you know something more about it, Orson?” She smiled knowingly.

“…I can’t hide anything from you, can I?” Orson sighed and nodded. “Since you already know, why bother asking me?”

“Tell me—what do I need to do to ensure your silence? As long as it’s within my abilities, I’ll do my best.”

“No need for that.” Olivia shook her head.

Her response made Orson even more cautious.

Could she really be planning to use this against me?

“Let’s just use this to rebuild some trust between us.” Olivia extended her hand toward Orson.

“After all, now that our engagement is official, the Prussia Duchy and the Antica Duchy will be allies. No matter what happens elsewhere, I’ll always be a steadfast ally to you.”

And a lover.

Of course, Olivia left the latter part unsaid.

If she openly admitted it, her carefully orchestrated plan to make Orson gradually fall for her would fail.

Orson stared at Olivia’s outstretched hand, confused about why she was doing this. But he set aside his doubts, extended his hand, and shook hers.

“In that case, thank you, Olivia.”

Though he expressed gratitude aloud, Orson remained wary. He would continue to keep his guard up around her.

—

Elsewhere, Litte followed Virgil as they headed to an underground casino.

It wasn’t surprising that such establishments existed in the capital. In fact, the more prosperous a city was, the more prevalent its gray industries tended to be.

As hubs for social interaction, places like taverns, casinos, and clubs were ideal for building information networks.

Years ago, Virgil had been sent to Saint Roland City by Orson to lay down roots in advance.

No one could have predicted that the once-inexperienced teenager would rise to become the leader of one of the top underground organizations in the city.

“Master Virgil.” As Virgil arrived, the staff at the casino bowed and greeted him before escorting him and Litte inside.

“Senior Virgil, you’re amazing,” Litte said, her tone filled with admiration. “So many people listen to you.”

“It’s nothing,” Virgil replied with a smile. “As long as you have money, you can find plenty of people willing to grovel at your feet.”

The two continued deeper into the casino. Suddenly, Litte noticed a middle-aged man crying and shouting hysterically before being dragged out by security.

“What’s going on here…” Litte asked, puzzled.

“He probably lost all his money gambling,” Virgil said nonchalantly.

In a place like this, it wasn’t uncommon for gamblers to lose everything. Many even ended up in massive debt, forced to spend the rest of their lives as someone else’s servant—or worse, unable to live long enough to have a “rest of their lives.”

Having seen it so many times, Virgil had grown numb to it.

Litte stood frozen, watching as the man’s cries faded into the distance before she slowly caught up to Virgil.

This time, her steps were much slower.

As she walked through the casino, she took in the wide array of emotions displayed by the patrons—the joy of winners, the anger and despair of losers. It was as though something vital was being drained from everyone who sat at the gambling tables.

“Don’t look at that, Litte,” Virgil called from ahead, urging him to keep up.

Litte nodded and followed him into an office.

After dismissing the staff, Virgil sat at the desk while Litte nervously perched on a chair nearby.

“Young Master Litte.” Now that they were alone, Virgil reverted to addressing Litte more formally. “I respect your willingness to confront the darker side of society, but could you tell me why you want to learn about it?”

“I… I want to help Orson.” Litte lowered her head as she spoke. “Ever since I returned home, I’ve been causing trouble for him. Whether it’s studying or training, I’ve always lagged behind. Even at school, I’ve caused so many problems, and it’s always Orson who cleans up after me…”

“Mm.” Virgil nodded. He was well aware of Litte’s situation. Given the close bond between the two brothers, it was only natural for Litte to have such thoughts.

“I see. Well then, Young Master Litte, tell me—what did you notice while we were on our way here?”

“Alright…” Litte nodded and shared her observations.

“You’re very perceptive, Young Master Litte,” Virgil said with a nod of approval. “Yes, casinos attract all kinds of people—wealthy nobles seeking thrills, ordinary folks dreaming of overnight riches. That’s why casinos are among the best places for information exchange.”

“Do you feel sorry for those who’ve lost everything gambling?” Virgil asked.

“Of course… They’ve strayed down the wrong path. If there were no casinos, they wouldn’t have…” Litte trailed off, her tone suggesting some dissatisfaction with Virgil for running such an establishment.

“Young Master Litte, this is where you need to grow,” Virgil said, handing him a stack of documents.

The files detailed the comings and goings of casino patrons, their winnings and losses, their assets and fortunes, and their ultimate fates.

“Many of these people probably strike you as pitiable souls who could be reformed, don’t they?” Virgil shook his head. “I’m sorry to say, but the vast majority of them had gambling habits long before our casino existed.”

“Even without our casino, they would have organized private games themselves, and the gambling industry would have developed anyway.”

“Now, tell me—if there were no regulated casinos, would those private games result in violence or even death?”

In reality, Virgil’s casino was relatively humane. At least here, no one had to sell their limbs. If a debtor couldn’t repay their loans, they’d only be detained and made to work off their debts, and their families wouldn’t be implicated.

“Then… if gambling is so harmful, why doesn’t the city government shut down the casino…” Litte asked, puzzled.

Virgil chuckled.

“Because of money, of course.” He handed him a ledger. Litte saw that while the casino’s monthly revenue was substantial, a large portion of it was allocated elsewhere.

That portion went toward local taxes.

“Think about it: who benefits from this industry?” Virgil began to explain.

“To run such establishments, you need money and influence. Only nobles and wealthy merchants can afford to operate places like this.”

“It supports an entire chain of industries. Many of the gamblers hoping for a jackpot are ordinary people, aren’t they? Where do they get the money to gamble? The answer is: a whole network of loan sharks.”

“And then there are other gray industries, all interconnected—one move affects them all.”

“Those who can’t repay their debts end up working in taverns, clubs, or mines to pay them off.” Virgil laid out the grim logic behind the system.

“So, Young Master Litte, after realizing all this, are you still willing to face it and learn from it?”

Litte lowered her head, remaining silent.

Just as Virgil thought Litte might give up, she raised her head.

“Senior Virgil, has Orson ever done these things?”

“Of course.” Virgil nodded.

Back when he first started, Orson had personally advised him on how to manage these operations to ensure they ran smoothly.

The fact that Virgil’s gray enterprises were thriving so efficiently now was largely thanks to Orson’s guidance.

“Then I want to learn.” Litte’s voice was firm.

“…Alright.” After a long pause, Virgil nodded.

He could sense the shift in Litte’s demeanor.

He no longer seemed like the harmless lamb he once was.

—

Elsewhere, Orson had gone to the library for something. As he exited, he happened to run into Lianca at the entrance.

He was about to greet her, but Lianca turned and ran away.

Sensing that something seemed to be troubling her, Orson decided to follow and see what was going on.

He eventually found Lianca sitting by a pavilion near a lake, hugging her knees as she stared at the water.

Orson slowly approached and sat down on the edge of the pavilion.

“Lianca, you seem to have something on your mind?”

“Hah, you’re sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong.” Lianca’s tone was sharp, as if she didn’t want to be bothered.

“I was just a little worried about you, and besides, I wanted to let you know something.” Orson continued, “The engagement has been formally approved by both our families. You’re no longer my fiancée.”

Orson had thought that saying this might cheer Lianca up a little, given that she hadn’t liked him to begin with.

“So you came here just to mock me, is that it?” To his surprise, Lianca’s mood didn’t improve at all.

“Uh…” Orson was genuinely confused. Why was she still upset even after their engagement was annulled? “No, Lianca, that’s not what I meant. And didn’t you agree to this arrangement yourself…”

“Yeah, so now I’m not your fiancée anymore, huh? I’m not good enough for you, so you came all the way here to rub it in, didn’t you?” Lianca said, her voice tinged with tears.

“I know—I know I can’t compare to you! No matter how hard I try, I’ll never outshine you in the eyes of our teachers!”

“So just leave me alone, alright? Stop coming to me!” Lianca’s voice cracked, and Orson found himself at a loss.

How had he managed to make a girl cry when he hadn’t even done anything?

At that moment, a voice interrupted them. “Alright, Lianca.”

Turning toward the sound, Orson saw Olivia approaching.

She sat down beside Lianca, gently hugged her, and then looked at Orson, gesturing for him to leave.

Realizing he wasn’t welcome, Orson nodded and left the pavilion, feeling a bit dejected.

Once he was gone, Olivia began comforting Lianca.

“Ugh… Sister, I don’t understand. I gave up on him—so why does he keep showing up in front of me…”

“There, there, Lianca. Orson didn’t mean it that way,” Olivia said, stroking her sister’s head. “I’ve told you before, don’t worry about what others think. Just focus on being yourself.”

Lianca had been doing much better lately, her mindset improving considerably. But today, Orson’s unexpected appearance had dredged up unpleasant memories for her.

They say the one who ties the knot must untie it. Seeing Lianca like this, Olivia knew exactly what needed to be done to help her sister move on.

But the thought of letting Lianca and Orson interact more—especially if the two ended up developing feelings for each other—made Olivia hesitate.

After an internal struggle, Olivia decided she’d have to enlist Orson’s help.

Simply comforting Lianca on her own wasn’t a sustainable solution.

And besides, now that the engagement had been formally altered, even if Lianca wanted to change her mind later, it would be too late.