I Woke Up as the Villainess's Friend. I Don’t Want to Be the Next Dark Queen

We're at the high-end boutique, trying on our dresses.

Mary's golden yellow dress fits her like a glove now that they've had it adjusted around the chest and hips. Mine already fit well before, but they've hemmed it so I won't trip over it anymore. When I try it on again, I'm fascinated once more by how beautiful it is, and especially by that perfect dark red shade. The truth is, looking at both of us reflected in the mirror, we both fill out the chest area very well. Beatrice would have killed to have and show off this bust size. Nothing like my real self back on Earth—not that I was flat, but Bianca and Mary definitely had me beat by a landslide in that department.

"I hope the dresses are to your taste, ladies," the owner says, watching us expectantly.

"Yes, they're perfect," Mary replies with a smile. "When my mother sees me, she won't believe it."

"Because of how pretty you look or because her daughter is wearing such an elegant dress?" I ask, referring to the fact that she comes from a farming family.

"Both."

"So, may I have your approval to send these dresses to the academy, along with the accessories?"

"Yes, thank you so much," I tell her.

The owner nods and leaves the room. Her assistants stay behind to help us take off the dresses. Maybe I should have brought Berta along.

Once we leave the shop, the bodyguard steps back a couple of paces to give us space.

Yes, I still have one. Yes, he accompanies me to Solstar (he rides outside the carriage, sitting next to the coachman). Yes, he stays outside the pastry shop and the other stores I enter. Yes, he's a pain in the ass, and yes: I ignore him.

I've actually developed this ability to act like he's not there. In fact, I've developed it so much that I manage to forget his presence. He's like an annoying noise that you feel relieved about when you finally manage to tune it out and forget it's there.

At least when Mary and I sat in the park earlier, he was far enough away to not hear anything.

A few meters from the dressmaker's shop, I comment to Mary:

"Your parents must be dying to come see you, right?"

"My mother misses me terribly, and my siblings, and I miss them too. My parents are coming. I sent them a simple dress and suit, but appropriate for the event. At first they didn't want to accept them, but I told them it's money I can make easily clearing dungeons."

"And they accepted?"

We start walking toward the inn.

"They almost had a fit, according to what one of my little brothers told me in a letter. Imagine... in my village, going out to fight and level up is something very dangerous. Only soldiers do it, and the village hunter. Nobody else. And here I am telling them I go into dungeons full of monsters and then sell my share of the loot."

"I imagine you'd reassure them by letting them know you not only have healing light magic but also attack magic. And that we're by your side to protect you."

"Yes. I told them about Ronan."

At moments like this, I'm grateful I'm not eating. I definitely would have choked. Instead, I stop dead in my tracks.

"About Ronan?"

Does she like Ronan now? Enough to talk about him to her parents? About Ronan, not Theodore. Though with how much the boy takes care of her, she wouldn't lack reasons.

But since for me Ronan is still the pale, gaunt young man I met in those first days at the academy, the one who followed me through the halls while I avoided him, well, I'm not very objective. If I try to be, I can see that now that he's gained color, flesh, and muscle, the guy could even be considered attractive.

"Yes, I don't understand why you're surprised, Bianca. If I leveled up in the pyramid dungeon, it was thanks to him and how he used his creatures to provide me with easy prey. And with Emmy Oakley's kidnapping, you can't imagine how much he's helped me. Or the sweetness and understanding with which he treats his dead friends. Did you know he's tried to get Bob and Joe to go back home to live like before everything happened? And they don't want to, because for them Ronan is more of a friend than a master. And Ronan has told them he'll make their appearance as human as possible. We've even talked about creating that resurrection spell by combining our magics. Can you imagine if, since their souls are here safe thanks to Ronan, we could actually bring them back to life for real?"

She tells me this excitedly, with parted lips and eyes shining. She doesn't see me, or the street where we've stopped. I'm sure she's visualizing herself with Ronan, fully reuniting Bob's family at his parents' farm, as if they had never been murdered.

And I don't see why not. If anyone can develop a resurrection spell, something that darkness and light alone can't do, it's those two.

As a gamer, I found it curious that the light school, at advanced levels, didn't have those spells. However, it makes sense. Light can restore the body but the soul, once it has left it, is a matter of darkness. And so far I only know one necromancer who can re-link those souls to a body: Ronan.

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"That would be wonderful, Mary." I smile at her. "I know, with all my heart, that someday you'll be able to do it."

And with Ronan, that wouldn't mean having a time margin to resurrect someone recently deceased, before the soul leaves this world. It could even mean being able to resurrect an ancient soul if he has it in his soul inn, like Myrthaxya.

That—bringing back to life people or creatures who have been dead for a long time—could have a high social impact. What happens if you resurrect a king and he wants to rule his kingdom again?

I shake my head, I'm going off on tangents again.

Mary has come closer and gives me a hug. She seems excited by my support and that I believe in them.

That girl is genuine and loves helping. She's definitely a good influence on Ronan.

Oh... speaking of Ronan, are his parents going to the ball too?

Because I don't want him to kill them. Not if I think that murder could have been the triggering event for his route as the final boss.

"Hey, Mary," I ask once we're walking toward the inn again, "do you know if Ronan's parents are going to the ball?"

"I think so. I've asked him to introduce me to them. I haven't told him anything, but I plan to tell them how terrible I think the way they raised him was. At the very least, they owe him an apology."

Oh, shit... I was hoping they wouldn't go. But since Ronan is powerful and doing so well at the academy, I imagine they'll want to show off in front of other nobles for being his parents.

"I agree, but they don't seem like the type who apologize."

"It's incredible that their son turned out so well with how they've treated him."

Oh my gosh! I can see that Mary is really outraged. It's curious, I don't see her so invested when she talks about Theodore, and he's the one she's going to the ball with.

"Well, don't feel bad if you can't manage it. The important thing is that Ronan isn't alone with them."

"Why's that?"

"Imagine if he does something stupid and they punish him."

Mary becomes thoughtful. The street, one of the most central and well-maintained in Solstar, is fairly busy. Since it's very wide and cobblestoned, carriages pass through the center without us having to move aside.

"You're right, I'll try to give him support, poor boy. Of course I have to dance and enjoy the evening with Theodore, but I'm not going to leave Ronan abandoned. Do you know he still doesn't have a partner for the ball? I think he plans to go alone."

"Well, either that or he puts a dress on Tom," I joke.

"Bianca," Mary is horrified. "This is serious, don't joke around."

"Mary, Ronan has barely socialized his whole life. I don't think he feels like looking for a ball partner, just like that."

"Yes, because most of the female students would reject him if he asked them. It's because of the necromancer thing and those false rumors. Poor thing. It's not fair that they discriminate against him like that."

"He has us. He has you."

"Yes, you get along really well with him. You spend a lot of time together."

"He's a good friend. And you'll agree with me that, given his past, he needs someone to guide him, to make it clear what's morally right and what isn't."

"Totally agree. You know you can count on me to help you with that."

"Thanks."

We turn the corner and enter another street, equally wide but less commercial and with more residences. We're close now.

"Although, Bianca..." she continues with a hesitant tone. "At first I thought you'd be a good influence on him, but now, since I've spent more time with Ronan, I'm not sure who's the more sensible of the two."

She says this so calmly, not realizing that it stings a little. Just a little.

I sigh and burst out laughing.

"Him, obviously."

What choice do I have but to accept reality!

"Yes, right?"

"You don't have to twist the knife."

"Bianca, there's nothing wrong with being impulsive. It's part of your charm," she smiles at me sweetly.

No, I can't feel annoyed with her. Back on Earth, if Beatrice had said something like that to me, the nasty comeback I would have given her... But Mary doesn't say it to needle me.

We walk a bit more and reach the entrance to the Steel Falcon inn, the highest-end one in the city.

We enter. The wooden door, which was open, gives us access to a very spacious room with many tables and chairs that, at this hour, outside of meal times and in the morning, is quite empty. There's a bar at the back. We head there.

I find it curious that instead of having a reception like in a hotel, the owner or manager receives you from behind what looks more like a tavern bar.

At least it's clean. That must be why it's the most expensive in the city.

"Good morning," I say to the middle-aged woman on the other side.

"Good morning, are you looking for accommodation?" she asks us, puzzled.

Because I'm wearing a dress but Mary is in her academy uniform.

Since I don't have pockets and didn't feel like carrying my backpack, I have the pup inside a smaller handbag that matches my outfit, closed. Except for a little while when I took him out in the academy carriage and the little rascal went to Mary's lap, he's been there quietly without causing problems.

"No, I'd actually like to know if Marco Lacor is staying here," I answer the woman.

"One moment," she tells us, searches under the bar and pulls out a book that she places on top of it.

She turns a couple of pages before telling us anything.

"We received word that he's going to stay here, but he's not expected to arrive for a few days."

"How many days?"

"Ladies, he's coming just on the day of the academy ball."

"Thank you very much." I pull out a silver coin. I know it's way too much, but I want to make sure she does me the favor. "If he comes earlier, send someone to the academy to let me know. I'm Bianca L'Crom."

The coin quickly disappears between the woman's calloused fingers.

"Consider it done. Any message for Lord Lacor?"

"None, thank you."

We leave the inn.

"Well, it looks like you're going to have a hard time. Your fiancé is taking his time with the journey."

I shrug.

"Yeah. I'm not thrilled about having to tell Vincent I can't talk to Marco before the ball."

"Don't worry, the prince will understand." She comes closer and lowers her voice. "Hey, how did the confession go? Did you guys kiss?"

"How nosy."

And why do I turn red as a tomato remembering his lips and the touch of his fingers on my face?

"Oh, that means yes."

"What about you and Theodore?" I counter-attack.

"No. Berta didn't give the poor guy a chance," she laughs.

Berta is more imposing than the guard following us several steps behind. Totally agree.

After all, he didn't stop Vincent and me from kissing. Though I think the queen must know by now.

We keep walking, slowly since there's no rush. We'll arrive with plenty of time to eat at the academy. When we leave the more luxurious area and wander through some streets to stop by a cheaper store where Mary ordered some earrings for her mother, everything happens suddenly.

Too fast.

One instant we're chatting relaxedly and the next I hear the guard shouting while I feel someone grab me by the chest and pull backward while intense pain shoots through my neck and throat.

And I can't even scream.

They throw me to the ground.

With my throat slashed, they leave me for dead.