The Villainess's Stationery Shop — Chapter 2

M-MY LADY!

I AM NOT SURE WHAT THAT IS, BUT...!

IT IS A NEW BUSINESS, AM I CORRECT?

COME TO THINK OF IT, THEY MIGHT HAVE GENERAL STORES HERE, BUT THERE AREN'T ANY STATIONERY SHOPS FOR CHILDREN.

THAT MEANS...

...THIS IS A BLUE OCEAN!

BUT IF SHE'S STILL TRYING TO STOP ME,

THAT MEANS SHE THINKS I'M GOING TO FAIL THIS TIME TOO.

IF YOU FAIL THIS TIME, MY LADY,

YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO WEAR YOUR FAVORITE SATIN DRESSES ANYMORE!

THEY'RE UNCOMFORTABLE ANYWAY. IT DOESN'T MATTER.

YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO EAT THE LAVISH MEALS MADE BY THE CHIEF CHEF FROM THE IMPERIAL PALACE!

WHAT IF YOU HAVE TO EAT THE OATMEAL AND RYE BREAD THE COMMONERS EAT?!

I LIKE OATMEAL AND RYE BREAD.

DON’T WORRY SO MUCH.

BUT...

BUT WHAT IF DUCHESS HILDEGARD TORMENTS YOUR LADYSHIP AGAIN?!

MY LADY, YOU HAVE FALLEN VICTIM TO IT EVERY TIME...

PLEASE BE CAREFUL.

DON’T WORRY,

I’VE ALREADY THOUGHT OF A PLAN.

HILDEGARD BABELLOA...

...IS MAKING A HUGE MISTAKE IF SHE THINKS I'M THE SAME MELDENIQUE OF THE PAST.

YOU NEVER KNOW, THIS COULD END IN AN INTERESTING WAY.

MY LADY...

I'LL SEND FOR YOU IF THINGS GO WELL.

Episode 2

ROSALINE HOPES THAT I'LL STAY SO I CAN AT LEAST KEEP THE PROTECTION OF MY FAMILY'S NAME.

BUT I'LL DIE IF I CONTINUE TO STAY HERE.

I HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE FOR NOW.

BECAUSE BECOMING AN OBSTACLE TO THE LOVE OF THE LEAD CHARACTERS...

...AND THEN DYING WOULD BE REALLY ANNOYING.

OF COURSE IF THEY BOTHER ME, I WON'T JUST STAND AND TAKE IT EITHER.

IS SHE FINALLY BEING KICKED OUT?

IT'S WHAT A VILLAIN DESERVES...

THAT'S RIGHT, IT'S IN HER BLOOD ISN'T IT? SHE HAS A CURSED BLOODLINE.

MELDENIQUE'S BIRTH MOTHER...

...WAS THE LAST OF THE DIRECT BLOODLINE OF MARQUIS KINNOA, WHO WAS SAID TO CARRY THE CURSE OF THE DRAGON.

PERHAPS BECAUSE OF THIS, MOST OF THE DIRECT DESCENDANTS OF MARQUIS KINNOA DIED AT AN EARLY AGE.

AND MELDENIQUE'S MOTHER WAS NO EXCEPTION TO THIS.

EVEN SO, WHAT MAKES THEM THINK THEY CAN TALK LIKE THAT?

NOT ONLY DID DUKE AND DUCHESS BABELLOA NEVER DEFEND ME, THEY HATED ME EVEN MORE.

THEY DROVE ME EVEN FURTHER INTO A CORNER.

THEREFORE, THE SERVANTS WERE NEVER PUNISHED FOR SLANDERING THE DUKE'S DAUGHTER,

NOR DID THEY HOLD BACK FROM DOING SO.

WHERE TO, MY LADY?

TAKE ME TO THE SLUMS.

IS SHE GETTING INTO THE CARRIAGE WITHOUT AN ESCORT?

OH MY... HOW INDECENT.

I KNEW SHE WAS IGNORANT.

EVERYONE,

PLEASE GO TO HELL.

I'M NOT GOING TO BE INVOLVED WITH THESE PEOPLE ANYMORE, WE'RE GOING OUR SEPARATE WAYS.

THEY CAN ALL GO TO RUIN.

I'M GOING TO LIVE A HAPPY LIFE ALL BY MYSELF!

NOW THAT I'VE LEFT OF MY OWN WILL,

HILDEGARD WILL GLEEFULLY MARRY OFF SHERIA TO DUKE HESSMAN.

BUT IN ORDER TO PREVENT FUTURE TROUBLE, SHE MIGHT COME TO TRY AND GET RID OF ME FOR GOOD.

PASSING MEMORIES

IT'S ENTIRELY POSSIBLE.

SO I SHOULD HIRE A KNIGHT TO PROTECT ME BEFORE I OPEN THE STATIONERY SHOP.

GOOD THING I ALREADY KNOW WHERE TO FIND THE EMPIRE'S GREATEST KNIGHT.

TAP TAP

I'LL GET OUT HERE.

EXCUSE ME?

MY LADY, ARE YOU SURE THIS IS WHERE YOU WANT TO STOP?

YES.

BUT THIS IS...

THIS IS EXACTLY WHERE I WANTED TO GO.

IT IS?!

IT'S ALREADY DARK...

BUT GHOSTS MIGHT SHOW THEMSELVES HERE, MY LADY!

I KNOW THAT TOO.

HERE'S YOUR PAY.

THEN,

PLEASE BE CAREFUL, MY LADY.

HOW CAN I BE SCARED OF GHOSTS WHEN I'VE COME BACK FROM THE DEAD MYSELF?

TECHNICALLY, I'M A GHOST TOO.

THIS GRAVEYARD NEAR THE SLUMS IS DESERTED BECAUSE OF RUMORS THAT SAY GHOSTS COME AND GO HERE.

THIS IS WHERE THE EMPIRE'S GREATEST KNIGHT CAN BE FOUND.