The Unsung Otome Villainess - or 'It takes someone listening to change things for good while being the 'bad' one' (Standard Otome Derailed by SI!Soul advising the villainess)
Anger, irritation, and utter contempt.
Those were all but the strongest feelings she was feeling at the moment. As a noble lady, heiress to her father the Prime Minister, Aurelia Belnadas was meant to keep some decorum when it comes to scandalous sights, but the view she got from the second floor's window that gave to the courtyard had her vexed and furious.
Here he was, her beloved Prince Marcus, crouching and tenderly grasping the hand of one of the newest students at the Akademia. A little rascal with sandy-blonde hair that belonged to the fields rather than staining the halls of this fine establishment with her presence. Eury-something.
Eurydice.
I don't need that correction!
The voice that spoke within her head was a 'benefactor of the other dimension', someone that died and ended up inside her mind earlier this year. John, that's how he introduced himself. No last name, no aristocratic title- just John. And while that should raise some suspicions for a potential possession, Aurelia knew already he was a helper- a reluctant one at that.
Months had gone by since they first met, and he had been giving her advice to foster a closer relationship with her beloved Prince. Not all of those worked, but most did, and she had been feeling quite optimistic over her progress as her own father would praise her by the letters replying to hers.
John still didn't seem to agree this was a good 'match-up' and it was always a matter for bickering between the two of them. It wasn't even a matter of jealousy, he was so blunt over his 'dislike for blondes', but he made it clear that the prince wasn't… 'her chosen one'.
That phrasing always left her in a wrong state of mind as it always alluded to her failing to secure a proper marriage with him. Early on, that suggestion fell on deaf ears… but now that was no longer the case.
Not with that peasant harlot trying to snatch him from her!
She had a feeling she would have been a threat, the girl being too polite and nice for her own good as she was tossed in a nest of snakes. It would be a mistake to assume life at the Akademia was as easy as it was by the concept that money was forwarded for good education.
It wasn't the teachers that worried, but the competitive students trying to show off and get set for recommendations and other positive comments to shape their future career by exceptional means. The fact a peasant girl got accepted just for her magical talent felt shifty and Aurelia knew that something had to be done against this brat before she had the chance to fully sink her teeth in her beloved Marcus.
Eurydice had to be dealt with as swiftly as possible!
That sounds like a good idea.
I don't want to hear- Wait, did you just say it was a 'good idea'?
This was the first time the soul spoke in a tune she could 'appreciate'. Removing an obstacle to eternal happiness. That sounded ideal. But she had a feeling the Soul's reason was different than the one she had in mind.
It was no novelty, not when the Soul had a tendency to disappoint even when delivering some smart responses on why he preferred a course of action against another. And why she always felt like her scheming was being subjected to twice the scrutiny many nobles her age would, with her father's letters being a standard issue while John's own watch making her extremely conscious of any stupid ideas turned against her.
It was really unpleasant at first but… it was a waste of time to just get irritated by chit-chat with a disembodied voice. And John didn't disappoint on this occasion either as he raised a few fair points that had her think a lot of the potential ramifications tied to this romantic rival of hers.
Eurydice represents a threat not just to you, but your father, the aristocracy, and anyone that owes their position to nepotism. If she was to 'snatch' that silly boy from your clutches, then she could as well start a revolution for the low classes without doing much but being a loving idiot for that fool of a fiance you got.
H-He is not a fool!
Her rebuttal felt more curt than needed, but that was because Aurelia was thinking of the other words he used in his reasonable concern. A peasant becoming a princess? Maybe in a fairy tale. But considering how dangerously close the female pig was to her beloved Marcus, Aurelia wasn't willing to ignore that chance.
Which meant she will have to stopping her by-
Befriending her.
Yes- Wait, no! What?!
Preposterous! Why would she want to befriend her enemy?
Standard rule in engagements: you keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. The girl is a frightened brat, one that is looking at anyone to latch on for assistance. The prince is cute, but girls prefer other girls to rely on when it comes to simple things. A romance can be useful in the long run, but she will need a friend. Someone with connections. You.
Why? Why would I expose myself like this if that could demean my reputation?
A loud sigh came through and she knew she just stepped on a trap.
What's more important, missy, reputation or the prince?
She bit her lower lip in frustration at that bold question, the foul bastard knowing already what she had to do despite her opposition to this stupid idea.
Stupid, stupid, stu-
"Hello there."
Eurydice Melana jumped a bit as she realized that someone had approached her as she rested just by the courtyard's entrance. Her wide eyes trailed to find the source of the greeting and for a moment her gaze found… pink hills.
A blink, then her cheeks reddened as she swiftly moved her gaze away from that impressive cleavage she just witnessed. She knew that noble ladies were beautiful, but was it really so normal for girls their age to have these sorts of curves?!
"H-Hello."
A pleasant giggle beckoned her shy blurting, so regal that it made her extremely… warm inside.
"Well, look at you, are you… alright?"
Eurydice lowered her gaze to the ground. "I am… a bit lost."
"I see, I thought that the Prince would have helped you beyond healing your injury," The beautiful lady commented, almost sounding concerned and surprised. "Oh well, I suppose he was busy with something."
"Y-Yeah, he had to get back to classes."
"Yet he could have stopped to assist you and excused himself for turning up late due to this being quite a situation," The blonde mentioned before tensing up and appearing sheepish. "Oh, I am so sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Duchess Aurelia Belnadas, daughter of Prime Minister Modus Belnadas and fiancee to Prince Marcus."
…The Prince's fiancee. He has a fiancee?!
Eurydice felt deeply mortified by this. She had been seen by the fiancee of the prince while he helped her healing. Not only that but she held his hand and squeezed it- with his fiancee looking.
"I-I am so sorry."
"And for what, Eurydice?" The young woman inquired, surprising her by using her name so suddenly, but her reaction was so that the noble lady explained why she was aware of it. "I know of you through the unusual reason you were enrolled. An incredible magical potential to develop. That's… unique."
Something felt odd about the way she said 'unique', but Eurydice saw no reason to distrust her good will. In fact, she felt like this could be what she needed to find. A friend. Someone that wasn't a boy to talk about private girl things.
"T-Thanks, you're pretty too."
And that plan crumbled due to her dumb mouth, her palms snapped to shut her trap as her eyes widened… right as Aurelia broke in renewed giggled. Once again her worries soothed by that melodious sound, almost like a simple and soothing song that shredded any form of dread in her bones.
"Oh my, thank you. You are… cute yourself."
Eurydice preened a bit at that flattering compliment.
"So, how about I help you find your classroom? I suppose you need to catch up to your first lessons."
The little blonde tensed up. She completely forgot about it and… and then her worry died as easily as just moments ago, this time because she saw Aurelia reaching out by offering her hand.
"Come on… you may end up turning up really late for it."
Gulping nervously, Eurydice nodded as she couldn't just stand idle and let herself be a fool again. But as she grasped that delicate hand, she felt a wave of warmth that went beyond the mere gazing.
It made her heartbeat pick up as she felt a knot to her chest. It was a soft hand, one of the softest hands ever. She even shuddered a bit as she was literally dragged around the classroom, ignoring the tired huff coming from her newest friend.
There was no way she was going to let go of this wonderful and beautiful woman.
AN
I have played, read and watched countless Otome-related games, mangas and animes- I know what are the worst cliches, what to avoid and what to add to create an unique experience.
Also, the SI is the 'Soul/John'.
