Arisia Lives As A Villainess ✔

Season 1: Chapter 9

Season 1

Chapter 9

Arranged marriages in medieval eras are not rare. I know fully well that I will go through that. Isa itong malaking responsibilidad sa akin, lalo na at ako ay isang anak ng isang nakatataas. Still, I do not have any reason to refuse as long as my candidate partner is worthy of me.

“Pardon, Father?” Pag-uulit ko sa sinabi ni aking ama. Pilit akong ngumiti upang kumbinsihin ang sarili na mali ang aking narinig. Tumango sa akin si Joaquim, ang mayordomo.

“I have chosen candidates for your marriage.” Napatabingi ako. My lips formed a straight line and sat on the sofa.

“Father---” I was cut off when the door opened. It was Alluis, breathing heavily with a sharp look on Father. Mukhang tumakbo siya papunta dito.

“Who is marrying who, Father?” Matigas na sabi nito at umupo sa aking harap. I sighed.

He must have heard it from Hilda since she has sharp ears. Alam kong sadyang sinabi niya ito sa aking kapatid.

I mentally smirked.

There goes my considerate maid. Alam nitong hindi pa ako talagang handa sa usapang matrimonyo.

“Arisia will be the one to hold the final decision, Alluis.” Father removed his glasses and clasped his hands. Ipinatong niya ito sa mesa. Alluis looked at me with worry.

“You should refuse, Sister! You are still young for it.” My brother exclaimed out of his concern. Mahinhin akong napangiti.

“Thank you for the concern, Alluis. Do not fret, I anticipated this.”

“But---” I raised my hand to stop him from saying any further complaints.

“It is fine, really.” Sumeryoso ang aking boses. Hindi siya sumagot at bumaba na lamang ang tingin. He openly showed his rejection. “Back to the topic, do you have the list of the candidates?” I turned to my father. He gave his a butler a signal. A thin document was given to me by Joaquim. Tinanguan ko siya para bumalik sa kanyang puwesto.

“They are the finest candidates I have searched for now. Kung hindi ka interesado sa kanila ay hahanap akong muli mula sa ibang mga kaharian.” I gave him a nod and did a scanning.

“Yes...” There were less than ten candidates that was listed. Karamihan ay mula sa aristokratikong pangkatin, ang iba ay niyutral. Napatigil ang aking mga mata nang may pamilyar na nakasali sa listahan. “This is...” I shook my head. “Why is Davidron in the list?” Ginawa ko munang pamaypay ang papeles habang hinihintay ang sagot ng aking ama.

It may have just been a mistake. And even if it was intentional, I have no intentions of being wed to him.

“Why not? He is now a viscount. He also has connections with some powerful houses and can be useful in the future. Nevermind that, you are close with him even when you were younger. You will be comfortable with him.” Napabuntong-hininga ako at umiling.

“No.” I massaged my temple. “He is my knight. Remove him from the list, Father.” Pagtutol ko dito at muling ibinalik ang tingin sa hawak kong dokumento.

“I will, then.” I pursed my lips.

It is good that Father understands it.

Kumunot pa ang noo ko sa ibang mga nabasan. Namilog pa nang kaunti ang aking mga mata upang hindi ipahalata ngunit mukhang nahalata ito ni Alluis at hinilig ang ulo.

“What is wrong, Sister?”

“Nothing.” I shook my head and smiled at him. Napakagat-labi ako nang matapos basahin ito at ipinatong sa lamesa. Alluis was also curious and reached the document.

“Did someone caught your eye?” Napapikit ako sa tanong ni Ama.

“Yes, Father.” For example, some families under the noble faction were included. Is Father just expanding his connections to the other side or he has some other plan? “Starting tomorrow, I will visit each of them everyday.” Ani ko. Hindi ko na sinabi pa ang gusto kong itanong.

“Do as you please.” I excused myself after that and went straight to the library. Sinubukan kong magbasa ngunit hindi ako maibigay ang atensiyon ko roon at hindi pa ako nakakatiklop ng isa man lang na pahina. I sighed and closed the book in frustation.

“Mas mabuti kung itulog mo na lang.” Hilda told me an advice and smiled at me.

She is right. I should just sleep it off. I have matters to attend tomorrow in the morning so it will be better to sleep early.

Mabilis akong nakatulog sa kaiisip at maagang nagising kinabukasan gaya ng plano. Hilda attended me and helped me fix myself.

“Have you cleared your mind, my lady?” Tanong nito na may pag-aalala.

“Yes, thank you for asking, Hilda.” Ngisi ko. It was later than that when we departed. I left Alluis behind even though he insisted that he wanted to escort me. Tinanggihan ko siya ng maigi dahil alam kong maiirita lamang siya kung makikita niya ang kikitain ko.

We will be going to a count’s house. The man I will be meeting is the next head of the Leimera House. May kaunting pagkalayo ang lugar nila at nakarating naman bago mag-isang oras na nakakulong sa karwahe.

Nang makababa kami ay sinalubong ako ng isa sa mga kandidato na may ngiti. He is wearing fancy and formal clothes to appeal to me, so much for a baron. Pinaghandaan talaga ang aking pagdating dahil sa mga nakalinyang katulong. Sa likod nito ay isang matandang lalake, looks like it is this house’s butler.

“Welcome to my abode, Lady Arisia.” The man in front of me smirked and kiss the back of my hand. I smiled back. I can smell the arrogance from him already.

I can just refuse meeting all of the candidates and pick one but I want to expand my social standing. Hindi ako ngingiti sa kanya kung hindi dahil doon.

Pasimple akong umirap nang binigyan niya ng senyas ang mga katulong. Iginaya niya ako papunta sa loob. My eyes wandered a bit. The things inside looks new and shiny. Parang masisilaw ako sa kislap ng mga nakaladlad na ginto at mga batong may kulay sa daan.

My lips formed a grim line.

I do not like this even a bit.

Napansin naman nito ni Edgar, ang kasama ko. He tried to appease me by serving me high class snacks and foods. Lahat ng sabi sa akin ay puro mga puri. He is slowly revealing his greediness to make me his beneath his good-looking mass.

He is just good looking and that is all.

“I will see you again.” I smiled in relief. His eyes twinkled in a misunderstanding.

He must not be thinking that I am interested in him or I will send Hilda to make him wake up from his delusion.

“Yes, Lady Arisia!” Nakahinga ako nang maluwag ng nasa loob na ng karwahe. I even saw that man waving to me with a big smile. I did not bother to look out the window again.

He does not have tact. How annoying. When Father said the he chose the finest ones, I thought they should at least be decent. It seems like he did not consider the annoying personalities.

Alluis ran to me when we got back home. Alam kong kanina pa ito nakaabang sa labas para hintayin ang pagbabalik ko. I am used to his nature and I can even predict his actions well.

“Are you okay, Sister? Did that man said anything?” I chuckled of what he said to me.

“I am fine. As for the rest, he said the words a normal man would say.” I patted his head. Napapikit siya dahil dito at namula ang mga tainga.

“Then he must have said unprecedented things to you. He must have said that he wants to marry you because that is a normal thing a man would say to you since my sister’s beauty is unrivaled.” Napatawa ako.

“You say some funny things, that is cute.” He pouted of what I said.

He does not really like being treated like a child even though he is one.

“Spend time with me, you like that?” His eyes twinkled and he nodded a few times.

It is better to change the topic before I get annoyed, too.

The past few days have been the same for me. Meeting the men I must meet and establishing connections with them. Halos pare-parehas lang ang mga taong iyon. Some were decent enough but did not fit my standards. Asar na asar na rin si Hilda sa mga lalakeng iyon.

Ngayon ang araw na kikitain ko ang huli. I purposely chose the man I am meeting to be the last since he is from a house under the noble faction.

“Greetings, I am Arisia from House di Vonce.” Bati ko sa mayordomo na bumati at nagpapasok sa akin sa malaking bahay.

“Please make yourself comfortable, Lady di Vonce. Duke Kallon is now on the way here to meet my lady.” He explained while the maids are attending me, pouring me a cup of tea and bringing out the snacks.

“Yes? The duke does not know that he will be meeting me?” May kaunting pagka-irita sa aking boses.

Do I have to wait and re-schedule our meeting? I hate waiting the most. He must be the only man among them that does not value time.

I scoffed.

“Ipagpaumanhin niyo po. Ang duke ay may importanteng bagay na inaasikaso sa ngayon kaya mamaya siya makakarating.” My lips twitched.

“Is that more important than me?” I crossed my arms. He was startled and wiped his sweat.

Was I that intimidating?

Tumaas ang aking kilay at sumipsip ng tsaa.

The cup was quite good that I enjoy looking at it. Now that I look at the house more, the vibe was dark but cozy and mature that it gives me a comfortable feeling. It fit the feeling I was looking for that the others lacked. At least the Duke and I had the same preferences. I will commend him for that.

“I---”

“I was just kidding. I can wait a bit more.” He pursed his lips and thanked me for my understanding. Pinaalis ko muna siya at ang mga katulong sa aking harapan. I leaned at the back of the comfortable sofa and closed my eyes for a bit.

Ilang minuto pa ay narinig ko ang pagbukas ng pinto.

“---told you that I was busy and...” I opened my eyes and stood up.

That must be the duke.

Inayos ko muna ang aking sarili bago siya hinarap. I was a bit overwhelmed when I saw his ephemeral looks but I was more overwhelmed when I saw the one by his side. He totally caught my full attention. Napangisi ako.

Here I was, bored these days only to meet him here again. I should have gone here first. My judgment was wrong.

I saw how he was startled a bit when he saw me. Namilog ng kaunti ang kanyang pulang mga mata. I mentally grinned. Yumuko ako upang magbigay-galang.

“Greetings to the first star, Crown Prince Rionsky Hue Ronschwald, and Duke Lorves Kallon.” Rionsky did the habit of touching his glasses and avoided my gaze. He blushed.

It seems like he still cannot forget our encounter that time and how I teased him. How cute.

---

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