Title: Possessive Protagonist

Summary: The Saintess's love transcends time.

I waited by the docks for the Partner to pull in with my Leon. I had little hope of him remembering who I was. Angie and Julius certainly hadn't when I had spent two weeks at the palace after citing that familiarizing myself with the capital and noble customs would have gone a long way in ensuring that Mylene's meritocracy program would succeed.

While my heart hurt from knowing that everyone precious to me wasn't here with me, I knew that this did not mean I couldn't reform my bonds with them. What's more, this was a chance to prevent much heartache from my first life's failings.

... Though, I partially felt guilty about clearing up the misunderstanding between Julius and Angie. While I loved my relationship with Leon and Angie (and Noelle), I wanted more time with my Leon. There were difficulties with so many wives at times.

At least I knew Angie was in love with Julius and that Julius cleaned up nicely when he was able to communicate properly. It was a shame he only felt stirrings of love after he had ruined things the first time around. This was an opportunity for the both of them.

It may have been selfish of me, but Angie would be happy and spared much heartbreak.

I would find a solution for Noelle later on, but that was for another time.

"I'm surprised to see you at the docks," a refined voice called out to me.

Looking back, I saw Angie with her hanger ons. I wondered why she was here but shook it off. Her being here was enough to rid me of my anxiety.

"Hello, Angie. I heard wind of a student who was recently promoted to baron for his success as an adventurer," I said as I enjoyed the wince Angie's followers showed.

"Oh! Bartfort's third son! I'm actually quite curious myself," Angie said excitedly while still hiding her true feelings.

Her deepest desire was to be an adventurer. Her only regret as a candidate as future queen was that her position had barred her from pursuing her dream. Angie probably idolized Leon for his stint at adventuring.

"Care to wait with me to greet him?" I asked.

Angie grew a hesitant look.

"I don't know. I'm not sure if it would be proper, and I doubt Julius would be keen on me waiting on another man."

"I doubt he would think ill of you now. If anything, I think he would want you to act a tad more freely," I said gently as I knew the multiple conflicting thoughts that were going through her head.

"Thank you, Livia," she said with a gentle voice.

I simply beamed at how at ease she was with me.

"Lady Angelica, perhaps we should go now and wish your fiancé good luck for the entrance ceremony?" one of the followers said. She had not been happy with how close I was to Angie.

Angie looked conflicted as she could feel the palpable hostility.

"Last I recall, Julius mentioned he was planning to enter the school with all of his friends. Why don't we let him spend some time with the boys? There are times when men prefer the company of other men over women," I said in an innocent tone.

After hearing my logic, Angie nodded and stood beside me much to her followers' chagrin.

"Oh, I bought some snacks from the plaza. Would you care to try some?" I asked while offering some sweets which Angie took quickly before her followers could disparage me.

The hum she made me smile. A quiet hum was high praise for Angie at this point.

As I stepped off the ship with my siblings, we collectively froze. My siblings because Angelica Rapha Redgrave stood before us. For me, it was because both villainess and protagonist were together.

Just what in the fuck happened? Was this some weirdass butterfly effect? Did my actions somehow cause the protagonist and villainess to meet early and become besties? What was going to happen to the plot?

Also, more importantly...

Why were they here for me?!

"Greetings, Sir Bartfort," the welcoming group said... well the villainess and protagonist said it. The girls in the back just scowled. It was likely that this was a recent change.

"Uh... Hello?"

The back of my head was slapped.

"That's no way to greet the future queen!" my sister snapped before turning to Angelica and bowing profusely as she apologized for my idiocy. Jenna also took the opportunity to toady up to the villainess who looked somewhat unamused by the act.

"My name is Olivia," the protag chirped as she stepped up close to me.

Her face was so close to me that I was able to admire how smooth her skin looked. I also noticed a fruity scent emanating from her. None of those fancies perfumes or shampoos the nobility liked. It evoked memories of those homemade smells some of the rural girls had after picking had after picking fruits during the summer.

She was the kind of girl I imagined I would have pursued for marriage before becoming a noble. A beautiful girl who could...

Oh wow. I could see how Olivia seduced the five so was easily if I was already imagining on marrying her, living on a farm, and raising a large family.

The scary part was that she hadn't done anything close to seduction. She simply was desirable in that innocently feminine way.

"Leon?"

"Ah, sorry. I'm just surprised you would know a simple rural baron like me," I stammered.

"How could I not know about you?" Olivia said with a head tilt.

"How do you know me?"

"Is it weird for me to be curious about the Kingdom's newest noble and knight?"

"I haven't actually received those titles yet," I said with a slight scowl as I realized the girl was definitely a gold digger.

As much as it made me feel like a heel for imagining a girl could take an interest in me, I had to admit that it was a clever ploy. Target the guy with proven success but no chance at picking up a noblewoman due to still being too low ranking and minimal assets. An easy mark. A realistic choice too.

This was going to be problematic. She was supposed to bag one of the five heirs in order to save the Kingdom.

"So you're technically a commoner still?" Olivia said while pressing her pointer fingers together in that dangerously cutesy manner.

This girl was dangerous. It also sounded dangerously flirtatious. Did she invest all her points into charisma.

"True. Unfortunately for me, I'll still be expected to fulfill my noble duties," I said evasively to gently send her the message that I wasn't interested in anything with her. It wouldn't do to accidentally take the role of the villainess.

"Ah, are you troubled by the shift in expectations?Then, would you care to join me in my etiquette lessons with Angie? She'll certainly be able to help fill you in on what you need to do."

Persistent.

"Would Ms. Redgrave even be open to such an idea?"

"She's rather kind, and I'm sure you could wrangle some lessons with her. Offer to be her guide for the spelunking lessons," Olivia said sweetly while using one pointer finger to touch the side of her lip in a thinking pose.

Seriously, she's just hitting all of my strike zones.

Pausing to pretend I was contemplating the offer, I then said, "As gracious of an offer that is, I do believe that the etiquette expected of men and women are significantly different."

Olivia then sidled up next to me, looped her arm in mine, and dragged me towards the villainess. The total invasion of my personal space shocked me so much that I didn't resist the small girl.

"Nonsense. Angie is quite familiar with both sides and often reminds Julius of the details," Olivia gushed.

"I see Livia has decided to latch onto you as well," Angelica tittered with a somewhat amused look.

"As well?"

"She's somewhat hard headed when it comes to deciding what's best for those around her."

"Well you can't just expect me to watch quietly on the side as you and Julius danced around your issues," Olivia cried defiantly.

"You shouldn't air out such things," Angelica tutted in disapproval.

"I'm sorry," Olivia said with a hurt expression.

"If it helps at all, I was already somewhat aware that there were issues," I interjected quickly.

Goddamn it all. Olivia's expressions were just too much for me. She already had me wrapped around her finger even though I actively disliked her. Damn those charisma checks.

"So my troubles were that obvious," Angelica said in a vibrant and shameful blush.

"But that's all in the past now! Julius and you are on much better terms now!" Olivia hastily jumped in.

"You're right. Thank you for that."

Well, I guess Julius was out. Plus, I don't think I had it in me to break this girl's heart. Would be a real dick move to separate Angelica from her fiancé after she had resolved the issues.

Looking at the protagonist, I came to one conclusion. She would not break any engagements and would likely try to fix them instead. Perhaps a smarter move for a gold digger like her. Being on friendly terms with the heirs and their fiancées would certainly net more favors and wealth in the long run than breaking them up.

But playing friends with the heirs would not solve the inherent issue of averting the apocalypse. She needed some royal/noble dicking to save the world. There was really only one option.

Brad was going to get the protagonist.

AN

1) Left in a state that could go as fluff, comedy, or drama as Olivia becomes progressively more unhinged in trying to convince Leon that she loves him.

2) Could also the divergence from plot as is with Julius and Angelica not breaking up as a means to keep Olivia feeling guilty or sad that her relationship with Angelica is not longer the same. Alternatively, could turn this into a situation in which Olivia finally confesses her guilt and desires to Angelica, have the relationship accepted, and then Julius challenges Olivia for Angelica.

3) Leon just being Leon and trying to focus on the plot. Also, I kind of wanted to play on his mentality that Olivia was a sly girl as a reason why he denies his and her feelings of attraction.

Review Response

lupus23: While I may put another chapter, it would very much be completely different in concept. Honestly, I'm more likely to make an actual fic of it rather than put a second chapter for it since putting the effort to write a second chapter would just basically require me to come up with a full story for it anyways.

desropter: Interesting idea, but I feel that Mylene kind of already does this to some degree in canon. You would have to put her pre canon, and by that point other issues somewhat arise that makes her constantly failing not seem reasonable.

dawnwatch: I mean both Jilk and Brad got off pretty cleanly. Lucky for them that they poked the safer topics.

Monkey D. Conan: I can't help but feel as though this plot has already been written somewhere. I just can't remember where. Perhaps this feeling of Deja vu is because of the stuff I've written feasibly being mashed together as that same idea at one point.

Guest101: I actually have something about that in my backlog. Basically the premise is min-maxing stats with Olivia choosing charisma. I was debating between a max charisma build or strength build.