The Villainess with a Blank Slate

When I finally stepped into my room with Edda trailing behind, the weight of the day bore down on me. Closing the door softly, I turned to her with a question that had been swirling in my mind. 

"Edda," I began, leaning back against the door, "what was I like before all of this? I mean, before… this whole mess?" 

Edda froze, visibly uncertain about how to answer. After a moment, she clasped her hands tightly, her voice careful. "My lady, you were… confident. Perhaps too confident. The nobles, especially in the upper circles, didn't view you favorably. They thought you were… arrogant and childish." 

That hit me like a punch to the gut. I blinked at her, processing her words. "Arrogant and childish, huh? Wow. Did I… I mean, did Seraphina have any friends at all?" 

Edda hesitated before nodding slightly. "There was Ruth Etheniel, the daughter of Count Maxwell. She was… perhaps your only close companion. But…" 

"But?" I pressed, sensing there was more. 

"Well," she continued reluctantly, "Lady Ruth's intentions were questionable. She was ambitious and sought the crown prince's favor. You seemed to trust her, but I always felt her loyalty was more about convenience. You used to say your charm stemmed from your family's power and your beauty." 

I groaned inwardly, running a hand down my face. "That sounds exhausting already. Go on." 

Edda's tone grew more cautious. "Last year, during the Harvest Ball, everything shifted. Lady Vivienne debuted, and the nobles began siding with her. That night… there was an incident." 

I squinted at her. "What kind of incident?" 

Edda winced. "You spilled wine on Lady Vivienne's dress in front of everyone. Many believed it was deliberate. The nobles turned against you, especially after Lady Vivienne garnered sympathy. She joined a group of Count's daughters that defended her that evening. You returned home in tears, promising revenge and swearing you'd ruin her." 

I gaped at her, stunned. "Wine on a dress? Really? That's so cliché. If I—I mean, if Seraphina wanted to be a proper villainess, she could've at least been creative. This is embarrassing." 

Edda continued, her voice soft. "Since then, your reputation has been in shambles. People see Lady Vivienne as kind and graceful, while you…" She trailed off, clearly trying to soften the blow. 

I pinched the bridge of my nose, sighing heavily. "And now I have to fix this? Great. Where do I even begin? Seraphina was a walking disaster." 

Edda glanced at me cautiously. "Reputation in the noble circles is hard to repair, my lady. Especially since they aren't easily swayed by power alone." 

I inhaled deeply, letting her words settle. "Okay, fine. System or not, I'll handle this myself. I survived worse back in my world. If Seraphina thought this was tough, she clearly never dealt with endless exams or national Olympiads. I'll show her how it's done." 

Edda gave me a concerned look. "My lady… are you feeling well?" 

I laughed, startling her. "Oh, Edda, I'm fine. Just… rallying my inner strength. Don't worry about me." 

Her concern deepened. "Should I call for the doctor, my lady?" 

I grabbed her hands, a sudden burst of energy surging through me. "Doctor? No need! We're celebrating. Sometimes, you just have to embrace a bit of madness to clear your head. It's a shortcut to creativity, trust me." 

Edda stared at me like I'd grown two heads. "If you say so, my lady…" 

I patted her shoulder reassuringly. "Don't overthink it, Edda. Just remember—everything will pass. We'll figure this out, and by the end of it, even the nobles will have to admit that Seraphina—no, I—am more than capable of turning things around. Let's just take it one step at a time." 

She nodded hesitantly, and as I let go of her hands, I couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope. It wouldn't be easy, but I was determined to set things right, one challenge at a time.

I walked over to my study desk, letting out a long sigh. The empty notebook I grabbed would have to do until the ones I requested from Father arrived. After a deep inhale, I exhaled sharply and started writing, quill scratching furiously on the paper.

"Okay, suspects… Vivienne, her supporters, her family. The noble ladies. Ruth Etheniel, who might discard me if I'm no longer useful. Oh, and my own family… considering how awful I was before, not impossible. Let's not forget the Crown Prince and Emperor—fantastic. So many people want me dead."

My head hit the desk with a thud, hair scattering everywhere in frustration. "Relax, Noah, you've got this. Start small. Edda mentioned Seraphina ignored the town people—perfect. Step one: win them over. The toilet project will help. Then schools and clinics. I'll need fieldwork. And tutoring from Mother. Wow, I'm incredible."

I couldn't help but laugh at my plans, lost in the moment until a knock on the door startled me. "You seem to be in high spirits," Father's voice called from the other side. "Your speech about taxes was impressive."

I jumped, nearly toppling off my chair. "Father! Don't sneak up like that—I almost died!"

He chuckled as he entered and settled onto the sofa. I scrambled up, still laughing. "Sorry if I embarrassed you earlier. I didn't mean to sound rude in the meeting."

"You didn't embarrass me," he said with a shake of his head. "If anything, I've grown tired of the nobles' constant demands for higher taxes. But your idea silenced them immediately. That toilet project of yours is brilliant."

My heart swelled at his praise, and I grabbed my notebook, flipping it open. "Actually, I was about to tell you more, Father."

I showed him the pages I had scribbled on. "I want to take charge of this project. Could you assemble a trustworthy team? I'll start in our region and, if it works, present it to the Emperor for expansion. Then schools and free clinics, including remote areas. Also, how many medical schools do we have? I want to train doctors and nurses for these clinics. What do you think? Too ambitious?"

Father studied my notes, his expression unreadable. Finally, he nodded. "Ambitious? Yes. Impossible? No. This could transform not just our region but the entire kingdom. But be prepared—many will resist."

"I'll handle it," I said firmly, meeting his gaze. "I've made it this far."

He smiled, ruffling my hair. "You've come far indeed. Keep going, Seraphina. I'm proud of you."

His words filled me with determination. This was just the beginning.

The next morning after breakfast, Mother smiled warmly at me, her eyes brimming with a mix of pride and amusement. "Your tutor has arrived, Seraphina. Lady Vanessa is waiting for you in the study."

A tutor? Just the thought sent a groan rumbling through me, but I hid it behind a polite nod. "Of course, Mother. I'll head there shortly."

But first—a stroll in the rose garden. An alibi, yes, but who could resist the gentle fragrance of freshly bloomed roses? As I wandered amidst the blossoms, my eyes caught sight of Father in the distance. He wasn't alone. A tall, muscular man strode beside him, his posture oozing authority. My curiosity ignited like a spark to dry kindling. Who was this man?

I could almost feel my inner fangirl clawing her way to the surface, eager to observe and speculate. But before I could indulge, Edda's sharp voice pierced through my musings. "My Lady! What are you doing here? Your lesson starts in five minutes!"

"I'm gathering inspiration!" I said, flashing her my most convincing smile.

"Inspiration?" Edda huffed, crossing her arms. "You're supposed to be on time. Nobles are punctual."

"And yet, here we are, wasting precious seconds debating it," I quipped, grinning cheekily.

"Let's go!" She grabbed my wrist, dragging me back to the study. I laughed the whole way, much to her dismay.

Once inside, I was greeted by a young woman with a graceful demeanor. Lady Vanessa stood as I entered, bowing slightly. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Seraphina. I've heard much about you."

"All lies, I'm sure," I teased, offering my hand. She chuckled politely before gesturing for me to sit.

Our lessons began with the geography of the kingdom. Vanessa explained that the realm was divided into four great Houses: House of Arden—Father's duchy; House of Reginald, under the Emperor; House of Lysandre, and House of Eowen, known for its fertile lands and trade. I jotted down every detail in the notebook Father had gifted me the previous evening.

Six hours flew by like minutes. Vanessa's eyes widened slightly as I absorbed each concept with ease, even throwing in a few clever questions that made her pause. "You're quite perceptive," she admitted, a note of admiration in her voice.

"Comes with the territory of not wanting to fail," I joked, earning a soft laugh from her.

Over lunch, I decided to test the waters with my toilet project. "Lady Vanessa, I've been working on something... unconventional. It might sound absurd at first, but hear me out."

Her brows furrowed slightly as I explained, but the skepticism in her eyes faded as I laid out the details. By the time I finished, she looked genuinely impressed.

"Your idea is... groundbreaking," she admitted. "Though implementing it will require strategic planning."

"That's where you come in," I said with a grin. "For instance, how long does it take to travel between towns by carriage? And could mana crystals expedite the process?"

Vanessa tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Mana crystals are rare and expensive. While they could cut travel time significantly, it's not sustainable for large-scale projects. Carriages remain the most practical option, though transporting porcelain for the toilets will require careful coordination."

We spent the next hour brainstorming logistics. "Heavy goods are typically transported by reinforced carts drawn by teams of draft horses," she explained. "But reaching remote areas, like mountainous regions, poses a significant challenge."

"What about the people?" I asked. "Are they healthy? Prosperous?"

"Not entirely," Vanessa admitted. "Harvests can be unpredictable, and winters are especially harsh. Starvation and illness are not uncommon."

I frowned, my resolve strengthening. "Then we'll fix that too. Clinics in every village, schools to educate future doctors, and efficient systems to distribute food during lean seasons."

Vanessa smiled faintly, her initial doubts about me seemingly erased. "You're ambitious, Lady Seraphina. If anyone can pull this off, it's you."

Lady Vanessa tapped her pen against her notebook, the rhythmic sound syncing with my racing thoughts. "To truly understand the conditions in these areas, we'll need to conduct a field survey," she said, her tone thoughtful. "But we'll need approval from your parents first."

"Leave that to me," I declared confidently, feeling a flicker of excitement at the idea. "I'm sure Father won't mind if it's for the greater good."

Vanessa gave me a wry smile. "Let's hope your charm works as well on them as it does on me."

We mapped out the plan meticulously: visiting remote villages, counting families, assessing resources, and understanding their struggles firsthand. The fieldwork was set for next week—pending parental approval, of course. My role would involve observing and questioning, gathering insights that could shape my plans for improved sanitation and healthcare access.

Later that day, I approached Father in his study. He looked up from his papers, his brows lifting slightly. "What brings you here, Seraphina?"

I launched into my pitch, detailing the need to visit the outskirts. "If we're going to help these people, we need to understand their lives, their challenges. We can't just plan from a desk."

Father listened intently, his expression unreadable. When I finished, he leaned back in his chair. "You're determined, I'll give you that. Very well, you have my permission—on one condition."

"What is it?" I asked, leaning forward eagerly.

"You'll take sufficient protection. The roads can be dangerous, and I won't have my daughter taking unnecessary risks."

"Deal!" I grinned, already imagining the possibilities.

The following week couldn't come soon enough.