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

The dining hall buzzes with energy now that everyone's back from the trials. The atmosphere crackles with excitement, competitiveness, and anticipation. It seems like everyone's dying to see who's going to be crowned the king and the queen of the ball.

Apparently, it's usually third-years who win, and they compete too. For my part, I made sure to earn enough points to buy the necklace without counting on that extra percentage of points for placing in the top ranks. Though honestly, I'd challenge any third-year to beat us, since Ronan and I chose one of the recurring missions that gave the most points due to the dungeon's difficulty. Plus, Erika and her group already proved that even the best third-year students can't do what we can.

"There's something I don't understand," I ask once we've greeted everyone and sat down. "Wasn't the point ranking supposed to be for forming teams at the end of first year?"

I'm referring to the teams you train with during second and third year, where you compete to be the best and represent the kingdom in the games. There are other magic academies, but only this one—the royal academy—participates.

"Right," Lily answers from across our table, sitting next to her brother. She's the one who was gushing about how excited she is to see who gets crowned for the ball. "You see, if you're among the top five when first year ends, you'll be captain of your team for second year. Number one chooses first, selecting whoever they want on their team. They could even choose the number two from the ranking. Of course, that person would have to accept instead of captaining their own team."

"That's what I understood," I comment while spearing some vegetables with my fork.

"The thing is, in second and third year, there are both individual points and team points. For the ball, they compete using individual points. Both individual and team points count toward choosing who goes to the games. The teachers will explain how that works next year. I know because our big brother, who competed for the kingdom, wouldn't stop bragging about how amazing his team was."

"He was with Sol's sister, right?"

"Yes, she's his fiancée, and they were on the same team. You're going to be amazed by this, but she won first place at the end of first year. She wanted to choose him—he was second. And he refused! When it was the crown prince's turn to make his team, he chose her, and she said yes. Isn't that super romantic?"

What I think is that it's completely wrong. If she won and they wanted to be together, he should have accepted her as captain, since she'd beaten him in points for a reason.

I glance at Vincent. He's not the crown prince, but I don't see him having too much pride to refuse competing under my command. Let's find out...

"Well..." I shrug and turn toward my prince. "Vincent, if I beat you at the end of this year and choose you, would you come with me or do what your brother did?"

Lily stares at me strangely. Of course, she doesn't know what's between us. She'll find out when we make it official very soon.

"The truth is, Bianca, I, like my brother, being from the royal house, have the greatest obligation to defend this kingdom. That's why I intend to compete in the games two years from now, initially as leader of my team. I wouldn't mind fighting under your command if it weren't for the fact that your leadership skills aren't exactly... strong. Please don't take offense."

Oh. I wasn't expecting that. Karina—that clingy girl, who thankfully isn't sitting on Vincent's other side because he specifically saved the seat for me—bursts out laughing.

"That had to hurt, Bianca," she throws at me between cackles.

On top of that, Darius joins in and adds through his laughter:

"If you'd at least let Ronan lead, I'd sign up."

I glare at them, somewhat annoyed, until I notice that Vincent is dying to appease me but can't take such liberties until we make our engagement official—at least not in front of Lily, Karina, and the whole dining hall.

Alright, they're right. I'm not a good leader, but I'm improving. Besides, the goblins adore me. I didn't do so badly with them.

"Yes, it hurts, but it's true. I have a lot to improve if I want to be a good leader."

"And why do you want to be a good leader?" the princess wonders. "Since it's your brother who's going to inherit the county, you just need to make a good marriage and take care of supervising the household staff."

I bite my tongue. That sounds incredibly sexist. But I understand it.

I'm left speechless. I could tell her that with my potential, they have me marked for some position in the army, but she doesn't know anything about my other magics. Or that I want to join the adventurers' guild, but that doesn't exist in this world. Vincent and Ronan save me from the predicament at the same time, their voices overlapping, but I understand both clearly.

(Is this because of my intelligence stat increase?)

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"Bianca is a great earth mage. I think if she wants, she could get a high position in the army and have her own team to lead for clearing the kingdom's dungeons, helping prevent them from overflowing."

"My lady is a great leader. She just lacks experience, confidence, and assurance."

Wow, what a compliment Ronan just gave me.

For a moment, I feel like he wasn't addressing me, but someone else, someone wiser and stronger. A future me or one in a parallel reality, one who fights alongside her shadow wolf and commands an army of undead and goblins.

Wow...

I know if Vincent had said it, I'd be blushing right now for sure. But Ronan is Ronan. He's had me on a pedestal ever since he saw my stone slab and the divine beast. Despite everything, he doesn't usually lie.

That's why the compliment cuts so deep. I realize it was meant for me and that's how he sees me. I feel the need to thank him, to assure him I'm trying to become that leader, but I'm still speechless.

This isn't because of my chivalrous prince's attempt to help me, but because Ronan, after seeing me in action (I'm sure his undead minions passed him mental images of the fight with the ants), thinks this of me.

Karina whistles.

"Well, well, Edran's little sister—how quiet you've kept all these years about aspiring to join the army. I don't know if your parents will have a fit. I mean, being a high-ranking officer would be better than being married to some baron, but if you could get something better..." She looks at me mockingly and slides her gaze from me to Vincent.

Yes, she's aware of how possessive I am with the prince, and there have been some jokes about this in our group. And I'm also aware that she wants him too.

"Oh, don't look at my brother, Karina," Lily intervenes with a mischievous little smile. "He's a heartbreaker. You can't imagine how many girls sigh for him and he never returns their feelings."

"Little sister, I'm right here," the subject protests. "Besides, that's only because I needed to find the right one."

"Needed?" Theodore raises an eyebrow while shooting a glance toward where Mary is sitting.

"Relax, Theo. They had some kind of date but just as friends," Alistair tells him.

Mary blushes.

"Good grief, is everything public domain here?" I protest.

Poor Mary.

Besides, that supposed date was my idea, from when I wanted her to have her chance to win him over too.

"Considering how close you and Vincent have been lately," Darius intervenes, glancing at the prince, "it's one of two things: either it's a way to get close to Ronan so he'll let you ride a giant scorpion or bear, or there's something here you're not telling us."

"Yeah, the weird thing is you're not going to the ball together. Honestly, I was expecting it," Alistair nods.

"That's because he's going with me," Karina announces triumphantly.

What?

I don't even care anymore about the pride thing over Ronan seeing my potential as a leader. This just blows my mind, leaving no room for anything else. What am I saying, my mind—my heart.

Doesn't he want to be with me anymore?

I stare at Vincent, who looks at me apologetically, with a look of resignation.

"You should have gone with me, Karina," Darius states. "I asked you first, and Vincent only accepted because, as a prince, he can't go alone."

Before my eyes, Karina half-rises from her chair and punches Darius in the shoulder. One so hard that if she'd given it to someone with less constitution, it would have seriously hurt them.

"You're a brute and you don't think before you speak," she reproaches him, offended.

"Just like you," he laughs.

I feel relief. I'm being silly. For a few moments I'd gotten scared. I need to have more confidence in myself, as Ronan says. And in love, too.

As for what I just heard...

Darius and Karina together? Ugh, that would be as overwhelming as the two fire mages who are the girl's ducal parents.

But thanks to Darius, now I understand. I was being naive imagining he'd go alone while I go with Marco. As a member of the royal house, it makes sense that he can't go without an appropriate companion. That would be like slapping social status in the face. Besides, Karina is high nobility, so since he can't go with me, she's a suitable alternative.

My gosh, we need to make our engagement official as soon as possible. I don't want her getting her hopes up.

By the way, well done, Darius! And not just for taking away my silly fear, but for making it clear to that girl that the prince isn't interested in her.

Right now, I feel a sensation of discomfort, as if I'm being watched or talked about maliciously. I raise my gaze beyond my table, straight to Sol's.

Okay. So that's the way it's going to be. If I can't be his ball partner, better Karina than Sol.

The young woman is looking toward us with a smug smile on her face. I don't know what she's talking about with Caroline and Ashe, but all three are laughing. Their laughter isn't loud like Karina and Darius's. It's more refined and elegant, but I can still hear them if I strain my ears. They seem triumphant. That, combined with how they're looking at Vincent and me, doesn't give me a good feeling.

How I change my mind sometimes—suddenly I almost think it's fine that he's going with Karina to the ball. Better that than going alone and letting that harpy Sol try to sink her claws into him.

The court, with the different magical affinities, must be quite a spectacle. Nothing like the etiquette that might have existed on Earth in the Middle Ages, since here fire mages don't hold back at all. But there are things, like those three's laughter, that I imagine don't change no matter what world you're in. They're the laughs of deception and scheming. I don't know what they're plotting, but I'm plotting something too. I just have to be faster than Sol in executing it.

Tomorrow is the ball.

Tomorrow we'll see.

I'm staring at her intently, completely ignoring my table. She notices and, seeing my knowing smile, frowns.

It's Vincent who brings me back to reality, gently tugging my sleeve while whispering:

"Leave her be. She's not worth it."

Lily and Karina haven't missed the exchange of glances. The first seems to live for this drama. On Earth she'd be a great influencer, and here, I think, a perfect noble. As Vincent said, I don't know why she insists on overcoming her fears and being good with a sword in real combat against monsters. The second, who unlike Sol doesn't seem to have hidden agendas, is clearly considering whether our rivalry is something she can use to her advantage.

I'd tell her not to even try, but it doesn't matter. She can't do anything anyway. I'm about to make my engagement with the prince official, start a beautiful romantic relationship, and I don't intend to base it on jealousy or distrust.

As long as Vincent says he likes me.

Period.

I focus on other conversations at the table, joining the chat Mary and Theodore are having about his mother. Dinner ends without further incidents, with everyone eagerly wishing tomorrow would come because, naturally, the points and rankings will be posted on the announcement board in the classroom hallway.

Ah... like on Earth, there are things that never change.

I like it.