Chapter 3: The "Evil" Plan Backfires

Days passed, and Elara was getting desperate.

‘Why is nothing working?!’ she thought, staring at her reflection in the mirror. ‘I glare, I shout, I act arrogant... but everyone just thinks I’m “charming” and “strong-willed”! Even the Prince is following me around like a puppy!’

She glanced out the window. Sure enough, Prince Kael was walking in the garden below, looking up towards her window with that annoying, handsome smile.

"No! No more romance!" Elara declared, turning away. "I need a bigger plan. A classic villainess move! Something that cannot be misunderstood!"

She snapped her fingers. "Ah! I know! The Tea Party Incident!"

In every story, the villainess invites the heroine to tea and either spills hot tea on her, accuses her of theft, or brings out expensive things to humiliate her.

"This time," Elara grinned evilly. "I will definitely succeed!"

That afternoon, Elara organized a grand tea party. She invited all the noble ladies, and of course, she specifically invited Lia.

Elara prepared everything. She wore her most expensive, sparkling dress. She placed the most delicate, expensive teacup in front of Lia.

‘Plan A: I will "accidentally" spill this very hot tea on her dress. She will cry. Everyone will see how cruel I am. The Prince will hear about it and finally hate me!’

Lia arrived, looking shy and nervous as she sat down. "Th-Thank you for inviting me, Lady Elara..."

"Hmph!" Elara crossed her arms, looking down her nose at Lia. "Don't get the wrong idea. I just wanted to show you how different our worlds are. Look at this tea set! It costs more than your entire house! You probably don't even know how to hold a cup properly, do you, you peasant?"

‘Yes! That was perfect! So mean! So villainous!’

But instead of crying, Lia’s eyes went wide with admiration.

"Wow! You are so elegant, Lady Elara! And you speak so confidently! It's like watching a movie star! You are so cool!"

The other ladies nodded in agreement. "Yes! She's so charismatic!"

Elara almost choked on her own saliva. ‘Is "cool" the only word these people know?!’

"Enough talk!" Elara stood up. "Time to drink!"

She reached for the teapot, pretending to lose her balance on purpose. "Oops! My hand slipped!"

She tilted the pot, aiming the hot stream of tea directly towards Lia’s dress.

‘Goodbye, Heroine status! Hello, exile and peaceful life!’

SPLASH!

...But at the very last second, Elara’s instincts kicked in. She couldn't actually bear to burn someone!

She twisted her hand violently, and the hot tea splashed... directly onto her own beautiful, expensive dress instead!

"AHHHH!"

"Lady Elara!" Everyone screamed.

The tea burned slightly against her skin, and the beautiful silk dress was ruined. Elara stood there, dripping wet, looking like a sad wet cat.

"Oh no! Are you hurt?!" Lia jumped up, frantically trying to help wipe the mess with a handkerchief.

"I'm fine! Don't touch me!" Elara shouted, tears of frustration pricking her eyes. "I did it on purpose! I wanted to ruin the dress! See? I'm wasteful! I'm bad!"

"You must have done that to protect me!" Lia cried, genuinely moved. "You were going to spill it on me, but you changed your mind at the last second and sacrificed your own dress! You are so selfless! You are an angel!"

"I AM NOT AN ANGEL!"

Just then, the doors to the garden terrace burst open.

Prince Kael stood there, looking elegant and tall. He had apparently been waiting outside, and had seen the whole thing.

Elara’s heart leaped. ‘Finally! He saw me being violent! He saw me wasting money! He will definitely punish me now!’

She puffed out her chest, ignoring the wet stain on her dress. "Well? Are you happy now? I'm a terrible person! I almost hurt her! Expel me! Send me away!"

She waited for his anger.

Kael walked slowly towards her. His expression was unreadable. He stopped right in front of her, ignoring everyone else in the room.

He looked at her wet dress, then at her angry, flushed face, and then... he laughed.

It wasn't a mocking laugh. It was a deep, warm, genuine laugh that made his eyes crinkle at the corners.

"You really are something else," he said, shaking his head.

He took off his own royal cape, which was made of the finest velvet, and gently draped it over her shoulders to cover her wet clothes.

"You tried so hard to be bad," he whispered, leaning close to her ear so only she could hear. "Yet you still couldn't bring yourself to hurt anyone. You burned your own dress just to save her, and you're still trying to claim you're a villain?"

He pulled back and looked into her eyes.

"Elara, you are the purest, most adorable person I have ever met. Even when you are trying to be evil, you are just... cute."

He turned to the stunned crowd and declared loudly:

"Anyone who says Lady Elara is 'mean' or 'bad' can leave this Academy right now. In my eyes, she is perfect exactly as she is."

Then he took Elara’s hand.

"Come. Let's go get you changed. And then... you can tell me what other 'evil plans' you have for tomorrow. I want to help you execute them."

"H-help me?!" Elara stammered, completely brainwashed by his sweetness.

"Yes," Kael smiled mischievously. "Because if you're going to be a villainess... I want to be your loyal sidekick."

‘My life is over.

I tried to be bad.

I burned my own dress.

And now the Prince wants to be my partner in crime?!