[3rd Person POV]

Returning from the arena, Alterisa made her way back to her waiting room with Fubuki resting around her neck, enjoying the scratches Alterisa was giving with her fingers.

And on the way, she coincidentally met Evelyn, who was making her way to the arena to prepare for her match, which would start after Wilhelm's that is currently ongoing.

Upon meeting gazes, Evelyn's expression lit up and she quickly hastened her steps towards Alterisa.

"Risa-sama~! Congratulations on achieving victory in your first match!"

"Evelyn~ Thank you very much~"

Alterisa smiled brightly before holding onto both of Evelyn's hands, eliciting a healthy blush on her face.

"Good luck on defeating Keith-sama, Evleyn! I'll be rooting for you!"

"Yes~! Please leave it to me~ I will also do my best against Wilhelm-sama! Let us meet in the semifinals, Risa-sama~"

"Uhn~ Of course! I'll also do my best to defeat Illya in the quarter finals!"

Evelyn clenched onto Alterisa's hands as they stared into each other's eyes for a moment.

There was an urge to hug Alterisa growing in her heart right now... Almost an unstoppable urge. But Evelyn held back. Now wasn't the time. She needed to concentrate on the tournament so that she could meet Alterisa in the semifinals.

She would've loved to meet Alterisa in the finals, but unfortunately, she was put on the same block as her. Alas, she still wanted to have a match against Alterisa and deepen their friendship through battle. So, she needed to work hard and blast away the obstructing boys in her way.

"Then, I shall be going and let you rest, Risa-sama. I shall also start preparing myself for my upcoming match."

"Uhn~! Good luck, Evelyn~!"

The two shared a short hug before Evelyn made her way to the arena with Alterisa watching over her as she walked away.

"Fufu~ A girl really does become more beautiful when she has a goal huh~? Do you agree, Fubuki~?"

"Kyuu~!"

"Mm~ I love hard working girls too~ I hope the boys get annihilated by them so we all can meet up in this tournament~"

Although she knew it was a low chance, given how absolutely broken the capture targets' talents were, she still hoped for it to happen.

And if it doesn't... Well, she'll just get revenge for her best friends and sweep the floor with the boys.

"Then, let's return to our room and get some nice re-!!!!"

Alterisa froze as if she was suddenly encased by the ice of her own making.

Before even coming out of the corner at the far end of the hallway, she had sensed the ever slight magical signature of someone she could never mistake for anyone else.

And when she turned the corner and faced her, chills ran down her spine.

Standing at the dark, far end of the hallway... The heroine of "Lovely Happening", Aria, glaring intensely right into her eyes.

Alterisa couldn't help but flinch slightly when she saw the intense glare from the literal bane of her existence.

And before she could recover, the heroine began walking up to her with quick, heavy steps, stomping her way through the hallways with the distant sounds of applause and cheers in the background.

Cold sweat flowed down Alterisa's back. Images and scenes of "Alterisa" getting stabbed by a sword through her heart, executed for treason, banished; all the short scenes that "Lovely Happenings" showed to tell the fate of the atrocious "villainess" during the heroine's "Happy End" flashed through her mind.

And as the heroine approached her, she felt an immense pressure that she shouldn't have felt from someone much weaker than her, almost pushing her to take a step backward in fear.

But before she could, Fubuki jumped down from her neck and enlarged into her true elemental fox's form that reached the height of her waist, and snarled.

"Grrrrrr!"

"Kkh!"

Seeing the supposedly small fox suddenly grow multiple folds in an instant, Aria flinched and stopped in her tracks, afraid that the rabid animal would suddenly pounce and bite her.

At the same time, Fubuki's action snapped Alterisa out of her shock and fear.

Calm down... Calm down Alterisa... You can do this...! You're much more powerful than her now. She can't do anything to you. You'll thwart whatever plans she has in mind.

Using the chance when Aria had her full attention stolen by Fubuki from fear, Alterisa stealthily took a deep breath and put on one of her "masks".

With her experiences as an actress and all the etiquette skills she had perfected, Alterisa was capable of wearing a multitude of masks without anyone realizing she was wearing one. She simply never chose to wear it during her private times or when she was with friends.

The only times she would wear a mask was during official events. She would wear a mask with a perfect, courteous smile that had captured the heart of many men and women, even towards those she disliked, to maintain her image as the daughter of a ducal household and the crown princess.

But this time, she didn't wear the mask of a perfect noble lady. Instead, to stand against Aria, she wore the mask of pure indifference.

No smiles. No frowns. Nothing... Not even a shred of emotion was present in her face. A mask without a crack or flaw. The ultimate defense.

Suddenly feeling a chill down her spin, Aria looked up and shuddered upon seeing Alterisa's expression.

There was a multitude of expressions she expected to see on Alterisa. Fear, shock, surprise, anger, frustration. But she never expected to see... Nothing.

Her body trembled unconscious as fear began to swirl within her heart. But the heroine kept up a brave front out of sheer pride, and smirked.

"Heh, so this is your true face, huh?"

"How may I help you, Lady Aria?"

Unlike her usual voice filled with warmth, happiness, and elegance, there was frigid coldness as Alterisa spoke in a chillingly calm manner.

Like the silence as the waves receded far into the sea, a calm before the storm, Alterisa showed no signs of anger, agitation, nor fear. There was simply nothing...

On the other hand, Aria's body began to visibly tremble as she narrowed her eyes and glared intensely, clenching her teeth and fists.

"How about you fall dead right now? That might be a good start."

Alterisa closed her eyes and replied calmly.

"I will pretend I didn't just hear you saying something that could easily be considered lese majeste towards the crown princess of this kingdom, Lady Aria. Is there something else you wish to talk about?"

Seeing not even a sign of agitation or fear, Aria began to feel more and more frustrated. She wanted nothing more but to just jump at her and slap that annoyingly beautiful face and disfigure her for daring to be more beautiful than herself, who is the heroine of this world.

But with the fox standing in between them and snarling at her, she could only leave it in her imagination. So instead, she used her venomous mouth.

"You know they're destined to be with me, right? They're the capture targets, and I'm the heroine! No matter what you or your minions do, you're destined to die or live in hell while I have this kingdom all to myself!!! So just give up, already!!!"

Alterisa didn't even flinch as she watched the girl before her raised her voice and yelled things that could easily get her executed if known by those in charge. And strangely... there was no fear in her heart.

Looking at Aria act this way, the ever so terrifying heroine had been reduced to nothing more than a deranged woman. She felt... strangely calm. If there was anything else she's feeling, it would only be boredom as she listened to her bullshit.

Huh... Is this because I'm wearing a mask... or am I just... over it?

Alterisa entertained the thought for a few moments, before she sighed inwardly. She was getting tired of being shout at by the crazy girl before her, and decided to end the farce.

"Once again, I shall ignore all the treasonous words and actions you have committed this time. If you have no other business, then I shall excuse myself."

"Tch! Where are you going? Hey! Come back here! Are you deaf?! Remember this! I'll make sure to put you in your place, you bitch!!"

Alterisa walked past her silently, ignoring her existence completely, as Fubuki kept watch over the deranged woman in case she lost all reason and struck her master.

And after Alterisa was already far enough, Fubuki made her way back to her master and walked by her side, still in her enlarged form.

Panting after venting her frustrations, anger, and hatred all on the "villainess", Ariai kept glaring at Alterisa's receding figure in silence.

I swear... I'll make that pretty face not want to show her face anymore in this kingdom... Well, after I showed her how her beloved fiance groveled at my feet for my love, that is...

--------------------------------X--------------------------------

Once Alterisa was back in her room, she slumped down into the couch. She let her mask fall away as Fubuki shrunk into her usual size and jumped into her lap, nuzzling to her.

She smiled softly and began petting the little fox.

"Are you worried about me, Fubuki?"

"Kyuu..."

"Fufu~ Don't worry. I'm fine. In fact... I feel a bit lighter now. She's... not that scary anymore. I used to be scared of her, but now... She looks just like a crazy girl."

"Kyuu? Kyuuuu~!"

"Hehe~ I'm glad too~ Now, I can focus all of my attention to this tournament and not be scared of her anymore. Let's do our best okay, Fubuki~"

"Kyuuu!!!"

Fubuki rose up to her two hind legs and slumped the upper half of her body onto Alterisa's breasts, rubbing her cheeks against her chest, as Alterisa stroke her head.

"We can do this... No more being scared of the heroine... This isn't the otome game anymore. Things are not as they are anymore. I can do this.'

She looked down to Fubuki in her embrace, continuing to pet her.

"Yes... I can do this."







AN: I hope you guys enjoy this chapter~! Please vote and comment your thoughts~!