I Favor The Villainess Chapter 52

Chapter 52
Declaration of war

“I misjudged you”

The following morning, when I opened the door of my room, Manarisama stood there .
She stared at me with a displeased face .
I vaguely expected what I’d be told, but I pretended to be unaware .

“What is it?”
“Don’t play dumb . It’s about Claire”

Manarisama didn’t let me escape .
She’s glaring at me with intense eyes .

“Last night, she suddenly came to my room and cried for a long time . She didn’t say the reason, but I can mostly guess what happened”
“…”

Hearing Manarisama’s words, I couldn’t stay still .
I want to immediately rush to Claire-sama’s side and embrace her even if I’m hated .

But, that won’t be fulfilled anymore .

“Please take care of Claire-sama . Because, Claire-sama is lonely”

As I can’t stay at Claire-sama’s side anymore, I have no choice but to ask Manarisama .
It’s unpleasant to ask my rival in love for Claire-sama of that, but if it’s Manarisama I trust her enough to leave Claire-sama to her .
I bowed my head to Manarisama .

And, grabbing me by my uniform’s collar, she forcibly raised my body and slammed me against a wall .

“If you understand Claire that much, why won’t you try staying at her side!”

Manarisama tightened her grip on my collar with her light brown eyes burning with fury .
She’s censuring me .

“I lost to Manarisama . I also quit being her maid, I have no pretext to be at her side”

Listening to my complaints, Manarisama’s expression became more and more severe .
Her well-ordered beautiful face is tainted with icy anger .

“Will you give up with that! Are your feelings like that!”

Manarisama told me while breathing heavily, anger is gradually welling inside me .

“Are you the one to be saying this! The one who took Claire-sama from me is no one but you!”

I tried shaking off Manarisama’s hand that was grasping my collar .
However, Manarisama’s hand didn’t give an inch .

“I took her away? That’s wrong . You gave her up on your own . You’re just running away”

Manarisama’s voice carried a hint of provocation .
I snapped back .

“I also didn’t want to give up! I didn’t think of something like running away! If you weren’t here, I――”
“That’s wrong”

The tone of Manarisama’s voice dropped .
She continued in a quiet voice .

“Even if I hadn’t appeared, you’d still give Claire-sama up someday”
“What are you basing it on――”
“It’s fine if my feelings aren’t rewarded, it’s okay as long as Claire is happy – it’s because you’re saying such pretty things”
“!”

Manarisama’s words cut deeply into my heart .
However, I can’t accept it .

“What’s wrong with that! What’s wrong with wishing for the happiness of the person you love!”

I invoked water magic and threw ice fragments at Manarisama to drive her off .
I indeed must have caught her by surprise as she released her hand and stumbled a bit .

“Not wishing for reciprocation? How admirable . Do you intend to become a saint?”
“That’s not my intention!”
“I bet . You are scared of being hurt . You don’t want to despair that Claire doesn’t have feelings for you . So you gave up from the start . To ensure you always have a way out”
“Wrong!”

Though I denied, in the back of my mind I thought ah, that’s right .

Though I denied, in the back of my mind I thought ah, that’s right .

I love Claire-sama .
There’s no lie in this feeling .
But, is it true I’m not wishing for reciprocation .

Don’t I wish to have Claire-sama smile at me?
Don’t I wish to have her embrace me?
Don’t I wish to kiss her?

Don’t I wish for her to have feelings for me?

“No matter how I wish it won’t come true! Claire-sama is a woman . We have the same s.e.x . And, she has a person she loves”
“So you’ll give up . Without even fighting, you’re satisfied with only a shallow relationship? Do you think this one-sided relationship that doesn’t seek reciprocation will continue forever?”
“That’s fine with me! If it’s for Claire-sama, I’ll kill these feelings!”

While saying these words, something deep in my chest screamed .
In truth, I―― .

“It’s impossible . Such relationships will sooner or later break down . How do I know? Because it happened to me”

Saying so, Manarisama’s mouth twisted from how she torments herself over it .

“I dropped out of the succession struggle because I was exposed as a h.o.m.os.e.xual”

With these words, I recalled Manarisama’s “setting” .
Manarisama is a h.o.m.os.e.xual just like me .
She only loves women, and actually she fell in love with a maid .
She kept her feelings hidden at all cost, but one day she couldn’t suppress them and had a relationship with that maid .
It was a one-sided thing that used the difference in status between royalty and a maid .
After a short time, the maid left the royal palace .

That’s what Manarisama constantly regrets .

It reached the point where Manarisama, desperate to not repeat the same mistake, hid her social status and frequented brothels .
As she only had physical relationships based on money, she thought it wouldn’t cause any future trouble .
However, someone recognized Manarisama’s ident.i.ty and reported it to the royal palace .
The result being, Manarisama was driven out of the royal palace .

“The feelings that don’t seek reciprocation always distort . A human’s heart, is not that strong or pretty”

“The feelings that don’t seek reciprocation always distort . A human’s heart, is not that strong or pretty”

It was a quiet voice, but without a doubt it was filled with the pain she’s enduring .
It looks like Manarisama also anguished over the weakness and dirtiness of her heart .

Just like me now .

“… About what Manarisama has been saying since a while ago… What are you saying I should do”

I’m dumbfounded, I have no more words to say, I’m simply at a loss .
To such me, Manarisama spoke without answering .

“If you stubbornly intend to give Claire up , I will comfort myself with Claire”

What, did she just say…?

“Claire has a liking for me . There’s a gap to take an advantage of . Of course, I’m aware her liking is of a different type than ours”

“What… are…”

What is this person saying…?

“Claire resembles the person I love . I will cherish her to my utmost as a subst.i.tute”

Saying so, Manarisama sneered .
Her beautiful face looked uglier than any human that I’ve seen .

“Are you seriously saying that?”
“Of course I’m serious . Have you forgotten why I was banished? I played with women too much . I have nothing to lose at this point . I’ll enjoy myself”

Kukuku, Manarisama laughed strangely .
However, her eyes aren’t smiling .
Dark… Her bottomless, dark eyes are seeing something other than me .

Manarisama is serious .

“I won’t let you do that!”
“Oh, how? What can you, who lost to me, and stopped being her maid, do?”

Manarisama said in a ridiculing tone .

Think, me .

Manarisama said in a ridiculing tone .

Think, me .
I can’t hand over Claire-sama to this person alone .
Such a person is not suitable for Claire-sama .

As for me, if I could make Claire-sama happy――!

“There’s Amour’s Festival, right?”
“At the end of the month”
“Are you aware of the practice of using the love scales there?”
“Yup . I’ve heard about it . The depth of feelings is measured”
“Let’s have a match with it”
“Hmph? Not bad”

But, Manarisama continued .

“I won one match . I can’t accept without getting anything “
“Then, what should I do?”
“If I win this match, you’ll give yourself to me”

So it came .

“Good”
“Oh, is it okay to make such a promise lightly? Beyond becoming my thing, you will completely give up on Claire-sama?”
“I don’t care . I won’t lose”
“Aren’t you confident . Nice eyes”

Manarisama showed a satisfied smile .

“Then, it’s a match . Show me how you struggle to your utmost”

Saying so, Manarisama turned back .

“…”

Seeing off her back, I resolved myself .
To win this match, I will do anything .

“Claire-sama, please watch me”

Declaration of war I misjudged you The following morning, when I opened the door of my room, Manaria sama stood there . She stared at me with a displeased face . I vaguely expected what I d be told, but I pretended to be unaware . What is it Don t play dumb . It s about Claire Manaria sama didn t let me escape . She s glaring at me with intense eyes . Last night, she suddenly came to my room and cried for a long time . She didn t say the reason, but I can mostly guess what happened Hearing Manaria sama s words, I couldn t stay still . I want to immediately rush to Claire sama s side and embrace her even if I m hated . But, that won t be fulfilled anymore . Please take care of Claire sama . Because, Claire sama is lonely As I can t stay at Claire sama s side anymore, I have no choice but to ask Manaria sama . It s unpleasant to ask my rival in love for Claire sama of that, but if it s Manaria sama I trust her enough to leave Claire sama to her . I bowed my head to Manaria sama . And, grabbing me by my uniform s collar, she forcibly raised my body and slammed me against a wall . If you understand Claire that much, why won t you try staying at her side Manaria sama tightened her grip on my collar with her light brown eyes burning with fury . She s censuring me . I lost to Manaria sama . I also quit being her maid, I have no pretext to be at her side Listening to my complaints, Manaria sama s expression became more and more severe . Her well ordered beautiful face is tainted with icy anger . Will you give up with that Are your feelings like that Manaria sama told me while breathing heavily, anger is gradually welling inside me . Are you the one to be saying this The one who took Claire sama from me is no one but you I tried shaking off Manaria sama s hand that was grasping my collar . However, Manaria sama s hand didn t give an inch . I took her away That s wrong . You gave her up on your own . You re just running away Manaria sama s voice carried a hint of provocation . I snapped back . I also didn t want to give up I didn t think of something like running away If you weren t here, I That s wrong The tone of Manaria sama s voice dropped . She continued in a quiet voice . Even if I hadn t appeared, you d still give Claire sama up someday What are you basing it on It s fine if my feelings aren t rewarded, it s okay as long as Claire is happy it s because you re saying such pretty things Manaria sama s words cut deeply into my heart . However, I can t accept it . What s wrong with that What s wrong with wishing for the happiness of the person you love I invoked water magic and threw ice fragments at Manaria sama to drive her off . I indeed must have caught her by surprise as she released her hand and stumbled a bit . Not wishing for reciprocation How admirable . Do you intend to become a saint That s not my intention I bet . You are scared of being hurt . You don t want to despair that Claire doesn t have feelings for you . So you gave up from the start . To ensure you always have a way out Wrong Though I denied, in the back of my mind I thought ah, that s right . I love Claire sama . There s no lie in this feeling . But, is it true I m not wishing for reciprocation . Don t I wish to have Claire sama smile at me Don t I wish to have her embrace me Don t I wish to kiss her Don t I wish for her to have feelings for me No matter how I wish it won t come true Claire sama is a woman . We have the same s.e.x . And, she has a person she loves So you ll give up . Without even fighting, you re satisfied with only a shallow relationship Do you think this one sided relationship that doesn t seek reciprocation will continue forever That s fine with me If it s for Claire sama, I ll kill these feelings While saying these words, something deep in my chest screamed . In truth, I . It s impossible . Such relationships will sooner or later break down . How do I know Because it happened to me Saying so, Manaria sama s mouth twisted from how she torments herself over it . I dropped out of the succession struggle because I was exposed as a h.o.m.os.e.xual With these words, I recalled Manaria sama s setting . Manaria sama is a h.o.m.os.e.xual just like me . She only loves women, and actually she fell in love with a maid . She kept her feelings hidden at all cost, but one day she couldn t suppress them and had a relationship with that maid . It was a one sided thing that used the difference in status between royalty and a maid . After a short time, the maid left the royal palace . That s what Manaria sama constantly regrets . It reached the point where Manaria sama, desperate to not repeat the same mistake, hid her social status and frequented brothels . As she only had physical relationships based on money, she thought it wouldn t cause any future trouble . However, someone recognized Manaria sama s ident.i.ty and reported it to the royal palace . The result being, Manaria sama was driven out of the royal palace . The feelings that don t seek reciprocation always distort . A human s heart, is not that strong or pretty It was a quiet voice, but without a doubt it was filled with the pain she s enduring . It looks like Manaria sama also anguished over the weakness and dirtiness of her heart . Just like me now . About what Manaria sama has been saying since a while ago What are you saying I should do I m dumbfounded, I have no more words to say, I m simply at a loss . To such me, Manaria sama spoke without answering . If you stubbornly intend to give Claire up , I will comfort myself with Claire What, did she just say Claire has a liking for me . There s a gap to take an advantage of . Of course, I m aware her liking is of a different type than ours What are What is this person saying Claire resembles the person I love . I will cherish her to my utmost as a subst.i.tute Saying so, Manaria sama sneered . Her beautiful face looked uglier than any human that I ve seen . Are you seriously saying that Of course I m serious . Have you forgotten why I was banished I played with women too much . I have nothing to lose at this point . I ll enjoy myself Kukuku, Manaria sama laughed strangely . However, her eyes aren t smiling . Dark Her bottomless, dark eyes are seeing something other than me . Manaria sama is serious . I won t let you do that Oh, how What can you, who lost to me, and stopped being her maid, do Manaria sama said in a ridiculing tone . Think, me . I can t hand over Claire sama to this person alone . Such a person is not suitable for Claire sama . As for me, if I could make Claire sama happy There s Amour s Festival, right At the end of the month Are you aware of the practice of using the love scales there Yup . I ve heard about it . The depth of feelings is measured Let s have a match with it Hmph Not bad But, Manaria sama continued . I won one match . I can t accept without getting anything Then, what should I do If I win this match, you ll give yourself to me So it came . Good Oh, is it okay to make such a promise lightly Beyond becoming my thing, you will completely give up on Claire sama I don t care . I won t lose Aren t you confident . Nice eyes Manaria sama showed a satisfied smile . Then, it s a match . Show me how you struggle to your utmost Saying so, Manaria sama turned back . Seeing off her back, I resolved myself . To win this match, I will do anything . Claire sama, please watch me