I Like Villains, so I Reincarnated as One
After that, Aegis became so flustered that we decided to let her rest in a separate room until she calmed down. I felt bad for Niall, but since things were hectic, I sent him home. Rosalia also gave me an absurd misunderstanding, saying, “I never thought Weiss-sama would become the kind of man who makes girls cry…” I’ll have to clear up that misunderstanding later.
A little while later, I heard from Rosalia that Aegis was calling for me, so I knocked on the door of the guest room and called out.
“Are you alright, Lady Aegis?”
“Yes, I’ve calmed down now. You can come in.”
When I entered, she blushed deeply, clearly embarrassed about her earlier agitation. The traces of tears still lingered on her face, looking somewhat painful.
“That… I’m sorry… Weiss…”
“No, no, don’t worry about it. Unexpected things happen, and anyone would be shaken. But while I’m glad you trust me, you should be careful. After all, there’s always the possibility that I could be lying, even if I say otherwise.”
She must have been mentally cornered, but I warned her not to blindly trust people too easily—it could lead to trouble later on. In the game, such blind trust eventually led to her fall into darkness… However, she shook her head at my words.
“You’re… kind. But there’s no need to worry about that. I want to choose who I trust… Besides, at the very least, you genuinely believe that your treatment has some effect, don’t you?”
“Well, yes… but wait, Lady Aegis…”
Her unwavering conviction made me feel uneasy. In the game, magic that could only be used during battles might have other practical applications in daily life. Could the same be true for her skills? As I was thinking this, she gave me a faint, sorrowful smile.
“Yes, I have a skill called ‘Mind’s Eye.’ It allows me to tell whether someone is lying based on their movements and expressions. My apology earlier wasn’t just because I caused trouble—it was also because I’m sorry for not trusting you sooner. Everyone else gave up so quickly, I didn’t think you were seriously trying to help me…”
With that, she bowed her head sincerely. So that’s why she didn’t resist when I pushed her into the shadows in the courtyard earlier—she realized I meant no harm.
“Oh, but… my Mind’s Eye doesn’t work unconsciously, so I can’t always tell if someone is lying. That’s why…”
“It must have been tough for you, Lady Aegis. I’m sure that ability has caused you a lot of trouble.”
Thinking about her situation, those words slipped out unintentionally. Being able to see through lies must be incredibly cruel, especially in the world of nobles where facades and hidden intentions are everything. Even in the game, she wasn’t particularly skilled at reading between the lines or navigating political games. For someone like her, this ability might have been the root of distrust towards others.
And… given her mother’s current situation, many opportunists must have approached her with ulterior motives. Thinking about it made me feel a deep sense of unease.
“Eh…? You’re not disgusted by me… No one’s ever said something like that to me before… Thank you.”
Her wide-eyed surprise at my words made me realize that her cold demeanor toward strangers might be a way of avoiding disappointment. After all, if she trusted someone and they turned out to be a liar—or if she kept being betrayed—it would make sense for her to shut people out completely.
That must be so painful! Thinking about what I could do to help her, the words came out naturally.
“Not at all. I just thought it must be hard to carry such a burden. We’re close in age, so if you’d like, I hope we can get along well from now on.”
“Fufu, you really are strange, aren’t you?”
She smiled—a radiant smile I’d never seen even in the game. She looked so cute… I couldn’t help but feel my heart skip a beat.
Still, I had no idea her Mind’s Eye had such an ability. In the game, it was just an annoying skill that increased evasion during battle, but it turns out it has powerful effects in daily life too. Similarly, my shadow magic has practical uses outside of combat, like fetching things. It seems that in this reality, magic and skills have everyday applications beyond what the game showed.
“By the way… if we’re going to get along, I have one request. Is that okay?”
“Yes, as long as it’s something I can do, I’m fine with it.”
“Then… um… would you be my friend?”
She asked hesitantly, her voice trembling slightly. Her face was bright red, and it was clear she had mustered up all her courage to ask.
In the game, she never opened up to anyone, so this was completely unexpected… but it made me incredibly happy.
“Of course, Lady Aegis. If you’re okay with me, I’d be honored.”
“I see… thank you. Then, call me Aegis. And… if you ever need help with anything, don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll do whatever I can.”
“Alright, I’ll count on you. Aegis.”
And just like that, we became friends. We chatted for a while longer, and I felt we grew closer. To my surprise, she actually enjoyed talking and shared a lot about herself. I learned that she spent most of her time training with her father in swordsmanship, that she loved fighting but also enjoyed cooking, especially making sweets—details I never knew from the game. It was heartwarming to see her open up to me like this, and I was genuinely happy.
Eventually, her escort arrived, and she prepared to leave.
“Well then, Weiss, I’ll come visit again.”
“Alright, I’ll be waiting for you, Lady Aegis… Huh? Your mood just took a nosedive.”
For some reason, she pouted unhappily as we said our goodbyes. Did I do something wrong?
“You said not to use honorifics… and to call you Aegis…”
She glared at me, pouting. Seriously?! I glanced at the servant from the Bloody family, who gave me a wry smile and nodded. Guess I should follow her wishes.
“Alright, Aegis. If there’s any progress on that matter, I’ll contact you.”
“Okay, thank you. But are you sure? This was originally our problem, so I’ll lend you some of our soldiers.”
“No, it’s better to keep the group small since monsters will appear. It’ll just be me, Rosalia, and Niall. Don’t worry, Rosalia is ridiculously strong.”
As I proudly reassured her, she suddenly frowned. What was wrong now?
“Niall… that sleazy guy, right?”
“Yeah… why?”
“Then I’m coming too. Let me know when you’re about to leave. I’ve been trained by my father, so I won’t hold you back.”
“Wait… seriously?”
Without answering, she climbed into her carriage with a troubled expression and left. What was going on?
Could it be… was she sulking because I planned to take Niall but not her?
