The Villainess Directs Rofan - Chapter 15

“You keep trying to seduce me, so why don’t you take a look at yourself first, Master?”

 

While my measurements were being taken at the costume shop, Leo fiddled with the nearby objects and asked casually.

 

It seemed like there was something dissatisfying.

 

I tilted my head.

 

“I didn’t seduce you, though.”

 

“Then?”

 

“Fan service.”

 

The costume shop staff who had taken the measurements had disappeared.

 

Upon hearing that the outfit was needed for tonight, they hurried to get things done.

 

‘That’s how much money I spent.’

 

I said this while looking at the display of brooches and hairpins while the staff was gone.

 

“That’s what performing arts need, right? Something that captivates people.”

 

Do idols do things like K-lives for no reason?

 

In a way, theater or musical actors are closer to idols than to movie or drama actors. 

 

That’s why communication with the audience is important.

 

Because they have to act while sharing the same space and breathing the same air. 

 

“…Is that beautiful?”

 

Leo asked cautiously, pointing to the hairpin I had picked up.

 

“Mhm.” 

 

“Then should I buy it?”

 

I frowned at the answer.

 

“You?”

 

I snickered.

 

Leo frowned.

 

“Are you hurting me?”

 

“….”

 

Oh my. What mistake did I just make in front of the future emperor? 

 

“I got paid for my performance, so I can afford to buy that much, Master.” 

 

“You volunteer to be a slave and give money to your master. How pathetic, slave.” 

 

The statement is something a revolutionary from Europe I knew would say if he were to rise from the grave.

 

I called over a nearby employee. 

 

“Give me this.”

 

I picked up a hairpin that looked quite expensive among the accessories I had been looking at.

 

The simple flower-shaped decoration didn’t suit me at all.

 

But it didn’t matter.

 

It wasn’t for me.

 

I handed Leo the hairpin that had been wrapped. I gestured to him with my chin and said,

 

“Money over there.”

 

Leo looked at me as if he was dumbfounded, looking at me buying a hairpin after refusing.

 

However, he handed over the money without protest.

 

‘Judging by how he had the money ready, he must have planned to buy something anyway.’

 

Well. Anyway, it was good.

 

“You do it.”

 

“You’re asking me to do this? Master, what do you really think of me…?” 

 

“No. If you find a woman you like, give it to her.”

 

For example, Elena Burbidge.

 

The Burbridge family will become Leo Pier’s guardian a year and a half later. 

 

It is also the Marquis Burbridge family that plays a major role in making Leo a royal knight and infiltrating the imperial palace. 

 

During that process, Elena Burbridge’s affection for Leo becomes a great help to him. 

 

The fact that Leo is the man loved by his cherished daughter also plays a role in the Marquis of Burbridge’s involvement in the terrifying plot of treason. 

 

So, in the end, as this guy said, the fact that he grew up so well is a big help in his life.

 

But the problem is that this damned male lead is terrible at love. 

 

He constantly denies his love for the female lead, rejects her help, and even ends up in a crisis because of it. 

 

“Eventually, you’ll come across a woman who catches your eye. Make sure to win her over as much as you can. And please… just do what she tells you.” 

 

I narrowed my eyes.

 

I needed to teach this guy who could flirt with me as easily as breathing, but couldn’t even properly flirt with the woman he truly loved.

 

Leo’s face, which had been staring at the hairpin, lost its expression at those words.

 

“So you’re giving this to me?”

 

His voice became mysterious.

 

‘Are you listening to me seriously?’

 

When that thought crossed his mind, Leo raised his head.

 

He was smiling brightly again.

 

“Okay. Then take this, Master.”

 

He held out a hairpin to me as if it were only natural.  

 

I can’t talk to this guy.

 

As a life mentor and original work reader, I’m giving some important advice. 

 

I walked toward the entrance with the feeling of not responding anymore. 

 

Let’s just look at the clothes.

 

It was then. 

 

Through the glass door, a woman with a stiff expression looked at me and then scrunched her face. 

 

She had jet-black hair pulled up high and was wearing a black dress.

 

‘For some reason, I think she looks familiar?’ 

 

The moment I thought that, the door suddenly burst open.

 

“Louisa Messena. Now you don’t even say hello to your aunt.”

 

Fortunately, she introduced herself.

 

Ah. Louisa’s aunt.

 

Her face looked familiar somehow.

 

I remember seeing her at the auction house. After buying the Messena estate, she was so excited that she even cheered. 

 

‘Father! You looked down on me as a collateral branch! Yet, I have bought the estate!’

 

Catherine Herotia.

 

She, as a collateral member of the Messena family, played a significant role in the downfall of the Duchy of Mesena. 

 

She involved her husband’s family, the Herotia household, in business with my grandfather, the former Duke, resulting in massive debt. 

 

I understand that the current Count Herotia has clung to the Emperor as a close confidant and regained his former influence. 

 

‘Despite that, when all of the Emperor’s closest allies were executed, only the Herotia family secretly fled abroad and saved their lives.’

 

I, no, Louisa, are dead. 

 

She is a hateful character in many ways.

 

But she might still be useful.

 

“Hello, Aunt. It’s been a while.”

 

I quickly made my judgment and greeted her politely.

 

During my Grand Tour, where I spent a lot of money traveling around Europe while studying, I had learned a few noble etiquettes. 

 

“Of course, it’s been a long time since we last met. You must have been too busy bringing disgrace to the House of Messena to remember me or any of our relatives, right?” 

 

“Are you talking about the auction? You were the one who was most excited about buying up the inheritance at that auction, though. I also saw you pestering the servants, saying, ‘You should buy it when it’s cheap,’ when something was being sold for a low price.”

 

I asked absentmindedly.

 

Then Catherine’s face crumpled. She quickly changed the subject and attacked me.

 

“Is it just the auction? I’m talking about how you spread rumors about an affair with a male actor at the theater my father cherished! How can you not be ashamed, living in your fiancé’s mansion as an unmarried woman?” 

 

“Ah… That’s what you’re talking about. If that’s the case…”

 

I nodded indifferently.

 

“I’m definitely busy.”

 

I nodded to Leo, who was sitting behind me.

 

As if to tell him to come over.

 

Leo was looking at Catherine with an unknown light radiating from his golden eyes.

 

Did he recognize our ‘aunt’ too?

 

If you were one of Callinan’s associates, there was a reason for him to burn with anger. 

 

I pulled Leo towards me fiercely and laughed.

 

I said it as if I was bragging.

 

“Isn’t it pretty? I bought it.”

 

“What… what?!”

 

Catherine’s face was filled with shock.

 

At the same time, a hint of exhilaration was also noticeable.  

 

Catherine assumed that she would naturally inherit the position of successor after the death of her brother, who was my father and the heir.

 

But Grandfather chose me. 

 

Catherine suffered from an inferiority complex all her life because of that choice.

 

Even though she regained power, the reason she went to such lengths to acquire the main assets of Messena, which were not easy to obtain, must have been for that very reason. 

 

The joy Catherine is showing now must come from the fact that I, the only heir of my grandfather, have ended up with such a mess of a situation. 

 

She is a strangely twisted person.v

 

“As expected, my father had no eye for heirs. He foolishly believed in a stupid b*tch as his successor until the end…” 

 

What do you mean ‘stupid b*tch’…

 

Before Messena’s downfall, it was something a collateral branch would not dare say to the Duke’s rightful successor.

 

Now, there’s no reason to stop such remarks.

 

Still, if I were the real Louisa, I would have lost my temper in this situation, become violent, and been kicked out, giving the Duchy’s citizens one more amusing gossip.

 

But I didn’t think so.

 

“Still, you know. Handsome men are money makers. I might be rich again soon since I earned quite a bit from the ticket sales this time!”

 

I said with a bright smile.

 

I felt Leo looking at me from the side, but I didn’t react.

 

Catherine laughed in vain at my words.

 

“So you’ve changed. You weren’t this cheerful before.” 

 

Then Catherine said with a face that visibly had something planned.

 

“You really have a flower garden in your head. Even though the Duchy is in this state because of you, all you’re thinking about is hanging out with men like these.” 

 

Catherine stretched out her hand to me, putting on a bad act. 

 

She stroked my cheek.

 

I took back what I said earlier about contact being okay.

 

I feel like vomiting.

 

“Still, since I feel sorry for my young niece, I’ll tell you something that might help. I’ll be hosting a grand party at the Messena estate soon.” 

 

As expected.

 

I knew this would happen.

 

In the original work, Catherine frequently held parties at the Messena estate after purchasing it. 

 

She wasn’t someone who would wastefully use the estate she had bought with great effort, especially since her daughter was currently looking for a suitor. 

 

Catherine, who was vain, would probably want more nobles to come to her party.

 

And she would think that it would be better to use me for that.

 

“Wow, really? Then do you think there are a lot of handsome men there?”

 

“Yes, yes. So, I’ll give you an invitation too.”

 

Catherine, with a look that clearly said, “I caught you,” spoke as if doing me a favor. 

 

‘You’re the one who’s fallen into the trap.’

 

The party Catherine is hosting has a candidate for an ‘actor with star quality’ that I’m looking for. 

 

“You can come with your fiancé… but I think it would be even better if you brought along that actor you care so much about. It’d be even better if you performed a play while you’re at it. You know how stiff Count Arno can be.” 

 

It was an obvious request to come with a male actor instead of your fiancé.

 

It was obvious that her intention was to make a mockery of me, but— 

 

‘I’d rather like it.’

 

It would be the best condition to be able to show the kind of play I want to do in front of that ‘actor’ candidate.

 

I held back on saying that I would go and subtly backed out.

 

“Well… I suppose it would be better to buy another dress. But I haven’t received my payment yet, so I’m short on money. It would be hard to show you a play without a dress.” 

 

“Huh?”

 

“Ah, as expected, I can’t go—”

 

“I, I’ll pay!”

 

Catherine spoke hurriedly with a slightly stiff face.

 

It seemed like she really wanted to invite me.

 

‘The play was definitely a hot topic.’

 

I said with a slightly more pitiful expression.

 

It must have been a great performance, in contrast to Catherine.

 

“So, what about the cost of Romeo’s costume here…” 

 

“I’ll pay for that too!”

 

Just as Catherine was about to respond angrily,

 

Leo spoke right next to me, wrapping his arms around my waist gently.

 

“I don’t think you should expect such things from the lady. It seems like your finances aren’t in the best shape.” 

 

After saying that, Leo looked straight at Catherine.

 

“Right?”

 

It was an obvious provocation. So now—.

 

‘Are you helping me?’

 

He realized I was trying to strip the outfit from Catherine and started ‘acting.’ He even used the techniques I had taught him. 

 

‘Look at your partner actor before you say an important line, and look at the audience when you say an important line. Eye contact is a great technique.’

 

I almost ended up complimenting him, as his movements seemed to have naturally internalized my direction. 

 

Soon, Catherine answered with a trembling face.

 

“I’ll pay for everything. Unlike Messena, Herotia has a strong rope.”

 

A strong rope.

 

I laughed inwardly.

 

That rope will break in a few years.

 

Anyway, it’s good that the costumes are fixed.

 

* * *

 

As expected, most of the actors were late when we headed to the stage.   

 

Except for one person.

 

“Benvolio?”

 

I said, looking at the actor playing Benvolio, who was mumbling to himself while holding the script.

 

A gentle face with pink hair.

 

‘I don’t remember his original name.’

 

He was startled and fell backwards.

 

“Ah, P, Princess! I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to come early and practice…! That wasn’t my intention!”

 

“I think I’m the one who’s late?”

 

The other actors were even later.

 

I looked at Benvolio, whose face was red with embarrassment.

 

I sat down, watching the guy who opened his mouth as if he had something to say.

 

What, just say it.

 

And the words that came out of the guy who opened his mouth were quite unexpected. 

 

“P… please treat me harshly!” 

 

While I was frozen, a sigh came out from behind me.

 

“You’re being cheeky. Should I kill you?”

 

The owner of the cold voice was Leo.

 

Come to think of it, this guy will become a Sword Master later.

 

I frowned as I remembered something I had forgotten.

 

“Don’t kill him. The play will be disrupted if there is no understudy.” 

 

“Ah, that’s not what I meant! I… I…! I want to become an actor!”

 

Who says it like you do?

 

I frowned.