The Villain Bought the Heroine

Chapter 1

“Hand over your daughter to me.”

“E-Excuse me?”

Ah, that statement could cause misunderstandings. Let me rephrase.

“Please hand over your daughter to me.”

“What on earth are you saying all of a sudden…”

With a cloth stained with dirt wrapped around her head, the woman welcoming me displayed a bewildered expression. Despite me explaining my status and the current situation when entering this house, the common folk still seem slow to grasp things.

“I will give you fifty gold coins.”

“F-Fifty…!”

She covers her surprised mouth with rough hands. Perhaps the sum of money is something she has never touched or heard of in her life.

Upon hearing the exact amount, the woman’s eyes dart around excitedly. She then clears her throat and looks at me with a somewhat serious demeanor. That gaze is not of a mother but of a negotiator.

“Um… if I may be so bold, could I inquire about the reason for wanting to take my daughter with you.”

Asking if it’s okay is already quite impolite. Anyway, what the girl wants is not just a sufficient sum of money. Judging by this, if the reason I give seems important, she might raise the price even more. To simplify that statement, it would translate to this.

– I… I apologize for saying this, but isn’t the amount offered by the esteemed Schughartz aristocrat somewhat lacking….

Yes, desire is a good thing. After all, when rookies exchange goods, their desires tend to come to light. Even though you don’t seem to have the talent of a negotiator, this time I will personally fulfill that desire of yours.

“I will give you 100 gold coins.”

“…!!”

“Now, finally, I’ll make my last offer.”

Presenting it in a declarative manner. As if it were truly the last chance.

“Hand over your daughter to me.”

And so the deal was struck.

***

Clatter.

Even though I had set up everything with magic, it still felt uncomfortable. Coming from an era where the smoothest rides were on paved roads, this carriage, touted as the best in performance, felt inconvenient to me.

The scenery outside passes by. The long stretch of road is visible. Despite being made to be smooth, it doesn’t compare to asphalt. It seems the issue lies with the road, not the carriage.

“….”

A woman sitting in front of me, huddled up and trembling slightly, catches my eye. Her eyes are cast down, staring at the floor, and her hands, clenched into fists, tremble, perhaps from the carriage’s jolts.

She, around my age, is unusually beautiful for a farmer’s daughter. It’s as if she was intentionally designed that way.

“Do you think I’d roast and eat you?”

Asking the trembling woman, her surprise at the unexpected question is evident. She’s undoubtedly smaller than a bean.

“Don’t worry. I’m not some pervert who enjoys human flesh, nor do I have any desire to understand such preferences. Are you still nervous?”

“….”

“You don’t seem to be answering. I’m about to become your master, and you’re ignoring me. I thought you were smaller than a bean, but it turns out you’re a lost cause?”

“N-No! …I-I’m sorry.”

The flustered woman bows her head in apology. Seeing her body tremble slightly, she seems to be holding back tears or growing even more frightened.

“Annoying little thing. I’ll tell you once, so listen carefully.”

I spoke lightly.

“From today, you will be my exclusive servant. I bought you from your mother for a hefty sum of 100 gold coins. Therefore, I won’t entertain any objections from you.”

“…Yes.”

The woman nods slightly.

“Your job is to attend to me and carry out the tasks I assign you. They won’t be easy tasks. But they will be far more valuable than what you’ve done so far.”

Given that she was exploited for labor by the one she called her mother.

Working under me will be a valuable experience for her in the future.

“The tasks I give you will introduce you to a world you’ve never experienced before. Hmm… Yes, there’s no need to hide it, so I’ll tell you straight. How much do you know about magic?”

“M-Magic, you say….”

“Ah, forget it. Don’t bother saying anything. Magic must be something unimaginable for you. But magic is not as far-fetched as you might think. Watch.”

⎯⎯Thud!

As I flicked my finger, a small flame appeared in the air, radiating warmth. Though small in size, it was a precise and dense fire.

“F-Fire…!”

“Simpleton, stop being so surprised.”

Seeing her genuinely shocked, I extinguished the fire and continued speaking.

“That was something nobles learn as a basic skill in their early years. It might be astonishing to a commoner like you, but it’s nothing special to us.”

I smiled. Now, onto the main point.

“You will learn magic.”

“Wha…?!”

…But that’s not all.

Precisely put, you must learn magic. For this world, for the academia. There are other reasons, of course, but most importantly, for me.

“How could someone like you….”

“Tsk tsk. Your self-esteem must be extremely low if you think you’re just a commoner. What’s the point of belittling your own worth? You lack the negotiation skills just like your mother.”

You don’t need to worry about such useless things at all. After all, you’re…

“You are a crazy genius.”

“C-Crazy genius…!”

“Yes, not just a genius, but a crazy genius!”

She makes a bewildered expression. It can even be seen as a loss of composure.

“The term ‘crazy’ doesn’t mean your mind has gone astray, but rather emphasizes that you’ve surpassed the usual genius. That’s the level of talent you possess.”

At the current age of both her and me, we are 16. Despite her delayed start in learning magic compared to me, who received elite education from a young age, she not only caught up but even exploded with talent under such adverse conditions, overwhelming everyone in Academia.

“So, don’t worry unnecessarily. Just trust me and follow along.”

The most crucial character, the heroine of this novel I’m possessed in, ‘Alicia,’ who is a supporting role in Academia! By chance, she discovered her talent through a pilgrim at the church and showed unbelievable genius upon entering Academia.

But the problem is, she will become a huge obstacle in my future.

That’s why I vowed to make her my ally before she obstructs my path and immediately put it into action. The result is the current situation.

—I have turned the most crucial character and heroine, ‘Alicia,’ into my ‘exclusive pawn.’

Is my action dirty? If you have money and power, you ought to use them. Isn’t it foolish not to? I’m a nobleman and a villain. Moreover, it’s still a delicate time when her talent hasn’t even fully revealed itself. Would I miss such an opportunity of a genius like her?

“Any other questions?”

“…”

“Silent again, I see.”

“Ah, um. Th-there is! It’s, it’s here!”

In a rush, she revealed the handkerchief she had been hiding in her heart. The contents inside were miscellaneous items that she cherished for reasons beyond comprehension.

“…How is your mother doing?”

“Your mother, seeing herself profiting from your misery, doesn’t seem to want to see a good outcome. Fine. If you wish, in a very dirty and lethal way, I could take all her property…”

“That’s not it!”

The woman urgently interrupts. It’s the first time I’ve heard such a forceful voice from her. It piques my interest.

“…Is that so? It’s uncomfortable to interrupt, but right now, more than that, I want to hear more of what you have to say, so forgive me and ask.”

Well, what are you going to say?

“My, my mother is…”

Her large pupils glisten with moisture.

“My mother, besides me, is a lonely individual without any other family. …Once I’m sold, my mother will be left alone in a desolate place with no one… Oh?!”

Tap tap.

As if knocking on her forehead, I pressed a few times.

This action was born out of not understanding what nonsense she was talking about.

Eyes filled with questions about my actions gaze at me.

“Oh, I was just checking something in the item I purchased today. You don’t need to worry.”

“…??”

Her eyes, surrounded by her hands where I hit her, are full of question marks.

I’m sorry, but I have question marks too.

Strange. This is strange.

When I checked(?) it, there seemed to be no problem. This weird talk and all. …Oh, could it be.

Having a slight hunch, I let out a sigh.

I took a long breath.

“Surely, are you genuinely worried about your mother?”

“…Yes.”

“It’s unbelievable.”

Truly unbelievable.

I had a rough idea of Alicia’s personality. After all, she was the heroine with the most lines among the heroines I’ve read in novels. Consequently, a lot of her emotions were well expressed.

But, to think she was this naive.

Talking to her directly feels different.

“You were sold to your mother. Have you forgotten that?”

“…I know.”

“Knowing that and still acting this way, it seems ‘crazy’ doesn’t refer to talent but to one’s mind.”

“… “

She speaks cautiously. Bowing her head is very polite.

“May this humble woman dare to make a request to the esteemed Duke’s heir?”

“And if I say no?”

“…If you say so, I will not show any more disrespect.”

Oh, look at this.

“Speak. Although I am not inclined, I shall forgive your disrespect.”

“Thank you… for your vast generosity…”

“No need for flattery. Get to the point.”

“…Yes.”

She lifted her head. In her eyes, once filled with tears, determination was now visible.

“Please, allow us to visit our mother… even once a year. If you do that, I will comply with any request.”

Any request.

She said she would comply with any request. It’s important to confirm once again.

“You clearly stated… that you would comply with any request? There is no falsehood in your statement, right?”

Well, worst-case scenario, I can always kill her.

“There is no falsehood. If you grant my request, I will carry out any command.”

“Is that so…?”

Unintentionally, a smile forms on my lips. It seems like things will resolve more easily.

“…!”

I suddenly approached her.

Our faces were inches apart, our breaths almost mingling.

“… “

Next, I removed the thin gloves I was wearing and grabbed her chin, pulling it towards me. Even the warmth of her neck was transferred to my hand.

We drew even closer, as if our lips were about to touch.

Truly, her smooth skin is hard to believe for a farmer’s daughter.

The warmth of her cheek is intense.

Was she taken aback by my sudden actions?

I passed her lips and reached her fair ear.

And then, he softly murmured,

“I accept your proposal.”

◈Clank◈

The carriage came to a stop.

The place we arrived at was the grand mansion where I lived.

As the servant who came to greet us opened the carriage door, I stood up in the sunlight and turned around to see Alicia sitting hesitantly.

“Welcome. This will be your home from now on.”

Now, tell me. Alicia.

The future me.

Whether I will kill you or save you.