A Sweet Girl Won't Be Fooled By The Villainess - [Vol. 3] Chapter 29

[Vol. 3] Chapter 29: Where Are the People!

Watching Ifia’s spirited appearance, Amelia smiled and gave her an encouraging and affirmative look. Although her initial plan was to use magic to make people submit directly, since Ifia wanted to play, she decided to join in the fun. Besides, with Amelia around, Ifia wouldn’t get into trouble and could do whatever she pleased.

As Ifia quickly thought about showing off her cooking skills later, she became even more eager to try. In the morning, she had already tasted dishes from the Taric Kingdom, which, though delicious and authentic, didn’t involve overly complicated cooking techniques. Ifia felt like she was bullying a junior high school student in terms of culinary skills.

However, who cared! The princess of Taric Kingdom was trying to win Amelia’s affection, and Ifia wasn’t going to be bullied like a pushover. If someone wanted to flirt with Amelia in front of her, hmph, Princess Sissi’s efforts would be in vain.

Thinking of this, Ifia raised her head with a sly expression and glanced at Princess Sissi, who was still dancing with her sword. Sissi’s movements were incredibly sharp, and the tip of her sword seemed like it could pierce a corpse in the next second. Seeing this, Ifia couldn’t help but shrink her neck, but she continued to watch without conceding defeat.

Compared to combat strength, Amelia was much more formidable than Princess Sissi. Ifia wasn’t afraid at all! At worst, she could become Amelia’s personal accessory, sticking close every day. Ifia didn’t feel like she was backing down, she just had a clear understanding of herself. Self-consolation quickly took effect in Ifia’s mind, and she became spirited again.

She didn’t lose confidence until her gaze caught Princess Sissi’s attention. When those blue eyes looked her way, Ifia satisfactorily withdrew her gaze. Then, Ifia reached out and pulled Amelia along as they stood up to leave.

Amidst everyone’s focus on the sword dance, Ifia and Amelia’s departure went unnoticed, as it happened quietly and without drawing much attention. Even Jessica, enthralled by the graceful sword dance, looked on with amazement, completely forgetting about everything else. This left Austin, sitting beside her, shaking her head in resignation.

Looks like a friend is about to be swept away~

Glancing at the backs of the departing duo from the corner of her eye, Austin relaxed against the chair, wearing a somewhat amused expression. She knew her initial speculations were probably true. The combination of a duke’s daughter and a simple commoner was indeed interesting.

So, the Flower of Highpeak can also be plucked by someone…

Initially, Austin was very cautious and vigilant against Amelia Barlen. In the previous games, she discovered that the Duke’s daughter had extraordinary abilities, and people underestimated her capabilities. It could be said that as long as Amelia Barlen was willing, Prince Carloy was like an ant, easily crushed by her.

However, Amelia Barlen seemed uninterested in the throne of the Sith Empire. She remained cold and indifferent, seemingly impervious to the allure of power, wealth, or anything else. Yet, is there really anyone in the world without desires?

The more someone claims to be indifferent, the more abnormal it seems. Like the tip of an iceberg or a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, ready to unleash its poison at any moment. Just thinking about it was terrifying, creating an uneasy feeling as if a razor-sharp blade hung overhead.

After Amelia Barlen discovers her secret, Austin couldn’t sleep soundly on the ship. She would wake up from nightmares as if she had returned to the days when she made deals with demons. This constant anxiety and unease persisted.

However, with a closer observation of Amelia Barlen’s daily actions, Austin did manage to find some clues.

About the commoner girl Ifia!

Austin’s impression of Ifia was merely that she was adorable like a doll in a shop window. As for other aspects, she didn’t seem much different from an ordinary girl, perhaps a bit clumsy at most. However, despite being such a girl, she was greatly favored by Amelia Barlen. This attention had even transformed, surpassing the boundaries of a mere friendship.

In the Sith Empire, there were examples of same-sex love, although it wasn’t mainstream. During her time in the church as a nun, Austin had heard about relationships between humans and animals. Compared to that, same-sex relationships seemed trivial.

Moreover, considering Amelia Barlen’s status, position, and abilities, even if her connection with Ifia were revealed, it wouldn’t matter much. No one would question her decisions.

However, Amelia Barlen’s attitude toward Ifia could be described as indulgent. Even though she had affection for Ifia, she was very respectful, never crossing any boundaries. She patiently waited for Ifia’s response, as if standing still and silently waiting for Ifia to approach and embrace her step by step.

Clearly, as a noble with high lineage, Amelia Barlen could have her way with anything. Even using her power or wealth could easily make Ifia comply. For nobles, this was considered the right way to do things, as there was no need to waste too much time on useless commoners. True emotions and efforts were to be reserved for those of equal status, not for lowly peasants.

Austin scoffed at the traditional and conservative mindset of the nobility, perhaps influenced by her long career in the news industry, where constant exposure to various news reshaped her perspectives and made her thoughts somewhat unconventional. She did not adhere to many traditional beliefs.

However, when Austin first laid eyes on Amelia Barlen, she was certain that this woman was no ordinary person. Close encounters only strengthened her conviction. Despite the seemingly aloof and cold exterior, Austin perceived Amelia Barlen’s true nature as sinister, ruthless, aggressive, and predatory—a devilish attribute.

Thus, Austin believed that Amelia Barlen should choose coercion and plunder rather than exhibiting such gentle behavior. This was highly unusual!

After realizing this, Austin shifted her focus to Ifia, intending to uncover key information from her. To get close to Ifia, she orchestrated encounters with Jessica, opting for a roundabout approach.

Of course, Austin had no intention of harming anyone and silently protected Jessica to prevent the unsuspecting girl from stumbling into trouble. However, as they spent more time together, Austin found Jessica to be an interesting girl, making their interactions enjoyable rather than agonizing.

Her plan proceeded smoothly, without arousing suspicion from Amelia Barlen. Could it be because she helped resolve the Jessica situation, eliminating the obstacle in Amelia Barlen’s eyes?

Regardless, it provided Austin with more opportunities to observe and indeed confirmed her suspicions. Ifia was Amelia Barlen’s weak spot, and it wasn’t a facade but a genuine connection. When Austin discovered this, she was initially shocked and couldn’t believe it, but the undeniable truth made her accept the reality. However, this revelation quickly dispelled her previous concerns.

Now that someone could effectively leash the fierce hound, the likelihood of any harmful incidents was minimized. With her worries dissipating in an instant, Austin felt relieved. She decided to silently observe, taking on the role of a spectator.

At this moment, after witnessing Ifia and Amelia leave, Princess Sissi, who had been performing a graceful sword dance, had a sudden change in expression. Instead of continuing her performance, she discreetly exited, taking advantage of the cover provided by other dancers.

Watching her hurried departure, it seemed like she might be chasing after them! A love triangle? How interesting!

“How come Princess Sissi left? She’s so skilled in swordplay, truly…”

Jessica, still immersed in the enjoyment of the sword dance, withdrew her gaze. With Princess Sissi gone, the other sword dancers merely imitated without capturing the same imposing aura.

However, as Jessica complained and looked to the side, she immediately scooted her chair in fear.

“Austin, why are you smiling so sinisterly again? It’s really frightening.”

Austin wasn’t unattractive, but her sinister smile made her look like a villain from a novel, causing people to keep their distance. Jessica missed her dear friends.

Thinking about it, Jessica lifted her head to look in Ifia’s direction. However, where was that huge Ifia? The puzzled expression on Jessica’s face indicated that she had finally noticed her friend was missing. Austin, instead of mocking her carelessness, was preoccupied and raised a suspicious hand to touch her own face.

“Is it really that scary?”

Soon after, Austin quickly regained composure. She swiftly rearranged her expression and raised an eyebrow at Jessica, insinuatingly saying, “Ifia and Miss Barlen just left. They must be off to do something interesting!”

……

After leaving the grand hall, Ifia was full of enthusiasm. Guided by Amelia, the two quickly arrived at the kitchen. It was still a large structure, with people bustling around, busy preparing the desserts for the upcoming meal.

Unlike the sweet baked goods in the Sith Empire, the desserts in the Taric Kingdom were various dairy products. They resembled milk tea in a way. However, getting closer, one could detect the smell of raw milk. It seemed that the milk hadn’t undergone any special processing, just simple seasoning with ingredients. This could only partially mask the taste, and overall, it wasn’t very enjoyable.

“Who are you?”

As Ifia, pulling Amelia, entered the kitchen and analyzed the dairy products being prepared, a cautious voice suddenly sounded. Following that, a middle-aged woman in a black apron walked over. Her robust physique was like a wall, and the arms holding the grilling rack were muscular. If it weren’t for the unmistakable feminine features, Ifia might have mistaken her for a man.

The middle-aged woman’s voice was loud, causing the people who were busy working to pause and look up one by one. Ifia and Amelia, with their outstanding looks, fair skin, and attire in an exotic style, stood out conspicuously among the wheat-toned crowd. They clearly did not look like people from the Taric Kingdom.

“Are these the foreigners? They look so weak. I really don’t understand why the royal family values them so much!”

“Look at that short one, she’s not even as tall as my eight-year-old daughter!”

“Do the people from the Sith Empire not have enough to eat from a young age, so they end up so frail?”

“The kitchen doesn’t welcome foreigners, get out quickly!”

Due to their aversion to foreigners, the people in the kitchen whispered among themselves. The resistance on their faces was evident, and the murmurs gradually grew louder.

If it weren’t for the royal family’s instructions not to mistreat foreigners, they would have already driven these two out of the kitchen!

“Hello, we are from the Sith Empire’s envoy, and we would like to use the kitchen.”

Despite the unfriendly attitude of the middle-aged woman, Ifia politely stated their request. After all, they were guests, and they shouldn’t be expelled, right…

Ifia felt a bit uneasy, squeezing Amelia’s hand tightly. Quickly, Amelia responded with a reassuring grip, gently pinching to indicate there was nothing to fear. With Amelia by her side, bolstering her courage as if ready to confront the world, Ifia eased her emotions.

Seeing the middle-aged woman’s frowning and wary expression, Ifia knew she wouldn’t easily agree. Understanding the reason, Ifia was well aware that the kitchen was a restricted area for outsiders. However, she had a plan and remained calm.

Before the middle-aged woman could speak, Ifia preemptively said, “We tasted Taric Kingdom’s dishes this morning, and to be honest, I was a bit disappointed. I didn’t expect your country’s culinary skills to be so ordinary.”

As expected, this stirred discontent among those present. Ifia wore a smile and continued, “So, I’d like everyone here to see just how skilled the Sith Empire is in the culinary arts.”