As a Villain I Really Don’t Want To Be Pursued by the Heroine

34

“Next week is your Uncle Raymond’s birthday, and it’s time for you to make a long-overdue public appearance,” Karl says cheerfully, his voice filled with anticipation.

Roy understands the implication without further explanation.

Just like in his previous life where ‘real business is done at the dining table,’ the nobility’s banquets are never just about eating, drinking, and merrymaking.

In this society where information exchange is inconvenient, banquets are the most important social activity for the nobility.

At these gatherings, nobles get acquainted, assess various powers, and probe for all sorts of information. Especially for a young person like Roy, it’s not only a chance to interact with peers and build influence but also an opportunity to meet the great nobles as elders and plan for the future.

Whether it’s accumulating political resources, clarifying friends and foes, or simply recognizing who’s who in the circle, it’s all worthwhile.

Roy, the so-called ‘bad boy,’ was not only incompetent but also a troublemaker. Previously, when Karl took him to a banquet, Roy harassed a maid from another household, causing Karl to be the butt of jokes among his colleagues for an entire year.

In the Lionheart Kingdom, nobility may keep their misdeeds private, but they maintain a shiny facade. Roy’s public harassment of a maid was a disgrace to his family’s name.

Since then, Karl never brought his prodigy to any more banquets, leaving Roy with little knowledge of the kingdom’s nobility, aside from what he learned in “Angel’s Waltz.”

Frankly, aside from Charlotte and Roy’s fair-weather friends, he hardly knew anyone!

Seeing Roy’s stiff expression, Karl mistook it for nervousness and comforted him, “I know you haven’t been to such an event in a long time, but don’t be nervous. I’m on good terms with your Uncle Raymond; he’ll have someone look after you.”

Given Roy’s reputation, attending the banquet would inevitably lead to criticism and ridicule, but no one would dare cause trouble on the host’s turf.

“It’s just an ordinary banquet, Father. Don’t worry too much; I can handle it,” Roy shrugged.

Now that he had completely replaced the ‘bad boy Roy,’ it was natural for him to clean up the mess he inherited.

As a noble, he would have to engage in politics someday. Roy also wanted to reform and shed his bad reputation as soon as possible.

This task wasn’t as urgent as defying fate, but it was still part of Roy’s plans.

After all, who would want to be a despised bad boy?

Besides, he had made a promise to the princess.

Reforming isn’t just talk; this banquet was an opportunity to prove himself through actions!

Whether it was to escape his infamy or to honor his promise to the princess, or even just to live up to Karl’s trust, he had plenty of reasons to shed his bad name.

“I believe you’ll be fine,” Karl said, looking at him with affirmation.

“So don’t overthink it. Treat it as a simple gathering, a chance to make some new friends.”

“Oh, and by the way, royal family members will send representatives. If you’re lucky, you might even see the princess again,” Karl’s tone suddenly became teasing and suggestive.

Once this topic started, it couldn’t be stopped.

“You’re not getting any younger, and this is a great opportunity. The princess is extraordinarily talented; marrying her might be a bit beneath you, but I’m not asking you to achieve fame and fortune…”

Wait, why the rush to marriage all of a sudden?!

And even hinting that he’d be living off a woman!

Come on, Dad, you were once a fierce knight who fought dragons. Why set such low expectations for your son now?!

“Um, I’ve said before, the princess doesn’t feel that way about me,” Roy explained awkwardly, trying to cool down his father’s inexplicable enthusiasm.

Charlotte didn’t stay for the dinner that day, which was telling enough.

To call their relationship friendship would be an overstatement; it was more a simple sovereign-subject dynamic.

Moreover, “Angel’s Waltz” is a yuri game.

Logically, aside from Alice herself, who starts as a staunch straight woman, the rest of the harem should be yuri!

Even if he stripped and tied himself up as a gift to her, she wouldn’t be interested at all!

But Karl just shook his head, “Son, you don’t understand women.”

“???”

“Even if it doesn’t mean that now, in the future…”

Just as Karl was about to launch into a lengthy lecture on love to Roy, Anya, standing by, suddenly spoke up: “Master, your soup is getting cold.”

“Besides, the young master is not so young anymore; he has his own thoughts.” Anya’s smile was gentle, but her eyes inexplicably dark, emitting a cold light.

It made Roy inexplicably a little afraid.

No, was this always your character?!

Not just Roy, even Karl, the head of the family, seemed to lose his momentum: “…Anyway, I’m just saying, it wouldn’t hurt to get on good terms with the princess.”

“Master!”

“Cough cough, let’s end this topic here,” Karl said with a dry laugh, touching his cheek.

Little did Roy know, Karl was far less powerful than Anya in his youth.

The so-called “Iron-blooded” Marquis was actually trained by Anya with her fists and feet, and even now that Karl had become the master, the fear etched into his bones wasn’t so easily erased.

Seeing his father’s uneasy demeanor in front of the head maid, Roy wanted to laugh but didn’t dare, his mouth trembling.

Head maid, well done.

But the next second, she looked over: “The young master too, there are plenty of nice girls, don’t just focus on the princess.”

“If you really want to fall in love, perhaps you should start paying attention to those around you.” The head maid subtly glanced towards the blonde maid nearby.

“I will.”

He agreed verbally, but Roy was shaking his head inwardly.

The ‘contrary fate node’ on the panel was no joke. He only had one life, and he didn’t want to find out what would happen if he didn’t complete it.

Before cultivating Alice and thoroughly securing the support of the divine maiden, the little angel, Roy had no plans to consider marriage.

But his father was right, getting on Charlotte’s good side wouldn’t hurt.

Since ‘bad boy Roy’ repeatedly provoked Charlotte, eventually angering her and suffering the royal family’s wrath.

Why couldn’t he do the opposite, get on good terms with Charlotte, and lean on the royal family’s support?

Interacting with people is a skill, and although he had never been in love, Roy still understood moderation.

Keep oneself clean, maintain a distance, befriend her, but stop at the right point.

That’s called moderation.

————————————————————

The birthday banquet of Duke Raymond wasn’t a big deal, but it wasn’t a small matter either.

The Raymond family, like the Ainsworths, were brothers-in-arms who had bled alongside the royal family. As royalty, it was natural to give face to them.

But for Charlotte, the single princess, it was a hassle.

As a single princess, attending any banquet meant endless harassment from countless lower-ranking men, and she couldn’t leave her seat.

So when Lisa told her about it, Charlotte’s first reaction was to refuse.