Please Bully Me, Miss Villainess!

Chapter 222 : A New Beginning

"Nyah nyah nyah~ Come and catch me~~~"

"Stop right there! Let's see if you dare to run!"

"Hehe hoo hoo haha~~"

The weather gradually grew warmer, as the cold days came to an end.

The snow blanketing the city had mostly melted.

"How peaceful..."

Having finished a day's work, Yvonne opened the window for some fresh air. Watching the children outside chasing each other and having snowball fights with the piled-up snow, she couldn't help but sigh.

"What's wrong? Is it not good to have some peace?"

Elsa laughed beside her. She brought over a cup of coffee, setting it on the desk before standing next to Yvonne.

"Of course peace is better than fighting all day long."

This precious tranquility, and the brilliant spring days soon to come,

It was almost unrealistically idyllic.

In any country, spring is an important time for people.

Spring symbolizes hope, a season of renewal and new beginnings, as well as the start of a new year.

"Ah, though being busy is a good thing, I still want to rest a bit more..."

After handling a large amount of paperwork, her eyes inevitably felt strained. Yvonne removed her glasses, rubbing the acupoints between her eyebrows, and complained to Elsa.

"Plus, sitting for so long makes my shoulders ache..."

As she spoke, Yvonne rotated her arms. Even this slight movement produced cracking sounds.

"Let me see... Does it hurt here?"

A pair of hands rested on her shoulders and neck.

"Mm~~~ Yes, right... there... Ah..."

Being treated so gently, following the rhythm of her fingers' pressure, Yvonne felt like she was in heaven.

"...Evie."

Elsa said with concern,

"Hmm?"

"While it's good to be dedicated to work, don't push yourself too hard. Working so hard will shorten your lifespan!"

"Hahaha... It won't. I'll grow old together with you, Elsa."

Though her hair had indeed been falling out a bit more lately, which troubled her.

"I'm really worried!"

Elsa was concerned not just about her health, but also the pressure from the outside world.

Using knowledge from another world, she had indeed brought many benefits and conveniences to this world.

But this hadn't brought her the recognition she deserved.

Like when small rodent-like magical beasts attacked the granaries, which was clearly caused by local residents over-hunting their natural predators, yet somehow it was twisted into the Smollett family arbitrarily deploying troops and disturbing them.

Not only that, but small-scale flu outbreaks, floods... anything remotely related could all be pinned on the Smollett family.

Sometimes even good deeds were portrayed as conspiracies.

Although Yvonne herself didn't mind, every time Elsa saw negative content in some third-rate magazines, if it weren't for Yvonne stopping her, she would have nearly rushed over in anger to flip the entire slanderous association upside down.

Personally pardoned by the King of Oz for treason charges, then benefiting from misfortune by gaining governance rights over the fertile and vast northern lands— Moreover, having close ties with the Leinster Guild, now the largest trading entity, single-handedly constructing the national teleportation network... Now, even supporting the new small folk lord's ascension, effectively controlling the largest magic ore vein in the southern region—

To outsiders, this Duchess of the Smollett family indeed seemed like a terrifyingly capable woman.

But... Only Elsa knew how desolate and barren North Kalos used to be, how many nights Yvonne had stayed up writing proposals for establishing the teleportation network, and how the Leinster Guild had gradually developed to its current state through the continuous development of new products.

Today's achievements were all earned through Yvonne's step-by-step efforts.

Precisely because she knew the hardships behind it all, Elsa didn't want those ignorant people to speak nonsense, baselessly slandering the person she loved.

But for some reason, Yvonne herself didn't seem to mind at all.

"That's just how the 'villainess setting' works. Don't get too hung up on it."

Yvonne took Elsa's hand from her shoulder, turning her head with a smile.

"Don't worry, those people are just talking. They can't do anything to me, after all, I have you by my side."

"Hmph, that's where you're cunning..."

As for why things had become like this today, Yvonne actually had a good idea.

In the past, the four great noble families of Oz Kingdom each controlled their own territories. Blessed by witches, they each had their own advantages, keeping each other in check and maintaining a delicate balance.

But now, after so many events, that balance had been completely shattered.

Whether it was the demi-humans or the small folk... There were even rumors that the reclusive elves were gradually drawing closer to House Smollett.

Without restraint, it would become an immeasurable behemoth.

The current House Smollett was terrifying to those nobles who originally belonged to other factions.

Of course, they couldn't openly oppose, as they also feared the power House Smollett now wielded.

So they resorted to trying every means to tarnish their reputation.

Countries with aristocratic centralization indeed had many drawbacks...

Although she wanted to implement reforms from the foundation up,

Making such drastic changes would certainly shake the foundations of those nobles' interests, causing national unrest.

It had to be done slowly.

"Evie... Is this really okay??"

"It's fine."

Yvonne grasped Elsa's hand in return.

"Besides, being too famous isn't necessarily good. Honestly, except for feeling a bit lonely not being able to reunite with family... I quite liked that period of exile."

Emerald Port must be beautiful on clear days this season.

The sparkling sea would be like jewels.

Just thinking about it brought back memories of that moist, salty sea breeze.

Of course, more importantly, there was her companionship.

"Elsa, when everything is over, let's go back to Emerald Port and buy a house... Then retire there?"

"Evie..."

Elsa squinted her eyes.

"Isn't saying things like that called raising a flag?"

"Ahem..."

Her grasp of modern vocabulary was getting better and better.

Yvonne cleared her throat.

"Right, today is the day to pay respects to the Princess at the palace. You should change your clothes quickly."

"Mm... Can't I just wear this~?"

As she spoke, Elsa twirled lightly in front of her.

"Hmm..."

Sitting in her chair, Yvonne rested her chin on her hand and began to examine her.

"...Is this the one I had custom-made for you before?"

"Yes! I really like this outfit, it's not too cumbersome and easy to move in~"

Of course, the most important reason was that this outfit was a gift from her.

As expected of the protagonist, she was a perfect clothes hanger.

Her slender, petite figure was well-suited for such minimalist designs, unlike Yvonne who had many restrictions when it came to clothing.

"Hmm... It's fine? Though I wanted you to dress up a bit more... But this natural look is nice too."

"Evie..."

Elsa was somewhat dissatisfied with this explanation.

"Although you put it tactfully, you mean it looks plain, right?"

A young woman's thoughts are quite delicate. There was no helping it, Yvonne could only smile wryly and explain further:

"Alright, alright... Our Elsa looks good in anything. But this pilgrimage isn't just for those nobles to see, it's most important for the common people to see."

Looking at her, she probably didn't realize just how popular she was among the commoners.

This time, Elsa Dorothy wasn't appearing as an unnamed lady-in-waiting by her side, but as the rising star of magic, ambassador of peace between multiple races, ender of civil strife, water goddess who brought down sweet rain, and commoner genius magician attending this spring festival ceremony.

There were rumors that the bestselling author White Knight's novels were biographical works based on Elsa, which made White Knight's books even more popular.

Probably no one would guess that the other female protagonist was herself?

"You should have some awareness of being a celebrity... Really..."

As she spoke, Yvonne turned her gaze to the window, where green buds were sprouting on the branches.

Spring had really come...

She couldn't help but sigh.

This year marked the eighteenth year since she had come to this world.

The villainess in the original story didn't live past her coming-of-age ceremony, but instead faced a final 'guilty verdict' near the conclusion.