I'm a Villainess, But So What? Fuck Off.

How to Beguile Mr. Shrewd

"WHY?" My lazy and satisfied expression morphed into a cold and irritated one. All of the servants backed off a bit, scared.

"W-well, you see, Alice, th-the emperor of Anisen is f-f-forcing you in-into meeting h-his son."

My expression turned more murderous. I think that Al's expression was pretty murderous, too, becuase I could feel his body temperature rising and killing intent seeping out next to me.

Veins popped out on my forehead, and I grinded my teeth in chagrin. "The. Emperor. Of. Anisen. That emperor, your friend, Father?"

"Y-Yes, Alice dear."

My lips quirked up into a smile. Father shivered, because I only smiled like that when I was truly mad. "Hahahaha... how interesting... Father's friend is pressuring our dukedom into an engagement meeting... I should kill him... yes, I should kill him. He dares to make me go on a blind date... does he think I'm easily swayed? Yes, yes... kill..."

I looked up to face my Father and Mother. "Mother, Father, I'm planning on starting a coup in Anisen in about two months. It may not go completely as planned, but I know it will work out in some way. Do you wish to become Emperor and Empress?" I chuckled, completely serious. I'll need to stir up the commoners, first, to make sure that there is no public backlash against the new emperor and empress. That will require... Then I'll need to provoke the nobles into...

"Ali, no." Mother's harsh tone made me feel like a dog getting chastised by my owner because I was peeing on their bed. My killing intent dropped and I felt powerless.

"But Motherrr..."

"No!"

I whimpered. "Sorry, Mother..." I mumbled an apology and pouted. "I won't start a coup. I'll go and send assassins to the emperor, but not the empress, since she didn't do anything. If they fail, then I'll go with Ciar, and then I'll..."

"No!"

"But whyyyyyy???" I whined.

"A-Alice, I was lying." My father hesitantly piped up. My eyes slowly turned to his direction.

"Lying... you say? Father? What is your explanation for this?"

"I just need to do a favor for my dear friend! Is that so wrong?"

"So... you're doing this as a favor to the emperor?"

"Th-that's right, Alice."

"And... you're doing this because... you want me to kill his son when we meet in the palace? I can do that easily, just a little-"

"No!"

"Then... you're doing this because you want to take revenge on me? Well, then Father-"

"No, I'm not! I j-just..."

----

We sat down in the parlor and discussed it properly. I'm not getting engaged. Never. No. No. No.

"Ali, the emperor's son does not wish to get engaged, even though he is considered the perfect prince in the empire."

"So... he's a baby? Even though he has a responsibility to get engaged, he just doesn't want to and throws tantrums whenever the emperor speaks about it?"

"Ali, you have no right to talk."

"Oof..."

"Ali, you don't have a choice here. Either get engaged, or... we're going to ground you for five years after you get back from the academy."