Ten minutes before meeting my father’s closest confidants, my heart was brimming with joy.

‘I’m going to see dad and participate in the hunting competition, I’m excited!’

Bouncing with the maids, I ran towards the carriage.

My little legs were no slower than the muscular maids. I felt happy, hopping around like a tiny kitten or a white snow bunny.

“Our adorable Miss Sien.”

“She’s like a baby deer!”

The muscular maids seemed a bit teary.

‘Hmm, silly sisters! A baby deer, indeed! I am as fearsome as a lion cub!’

But I didn’t voice that. If the maids got scared, it would backfire.

Truthfully, I did look a bit threatening, so I had to avoid making threatening remarks. I had to restrain myself, feeling like a villain hiding his strength.

“Are you excited about going to the hunting ground?”

“Yep!”

For the maids, I giggled and hopped all the way to the house, pretending to be a small, ordinary child.

I could see people gathering outside about a hundred steps away from our house, adorned with beautiful roses. They were far off, not entirely clear, but seemed to be my father’s friends.

It would be good to present myself well to my father’s friends. After all, they were on my father’s side. I had to make sure they were firmly on our side.

But I didn’t understand why my heart was pounding so much.

It felt like I’d had coffee, or like I had a bad premonition. Perhaps I was nervous, I reasoned, pressing my chest and repeating to myself,

‘Don’t be scared, Sien Mirmod. You’re going to be a villain!’

Puffing my cheeks out fiercely like a pufferfish, I kept peptalking myself.

The maids standing by my sides looked at me in confusion.

But I couldn’t spare a moment for them now.

I checked my attire again, just in case.

Twin braids painstakingly made with fern hands, a small red ribbon pinned next to my forehead, rosy cheeks over my white skin.

‘Phew, I look too kind! I should look intimidating as well.’

I had brought a skull hidden in my pocket, but that might not be enough.

I smirked wickedly, thinking of other items.

I had many items, especially health supplements for the maids, essential for controlling them. I shook the health supplement in my hand and spoke,

“You know, sisters!”

“Yes!”

Gulp.

I could hear them swallowing.

Thud thud.

I could almost hear their eyes rolling.

I chuckled inwardly.

‘These sisters, they’re coveting the health supplements!’

Placing my soft arms on my waist, I looked at each of them.

‘You must be nervous about meeting new people too, right?’

Though they were people who didn’t care about anyone’s eyes and swung their fists, they could be ignored somewhere… possibly.

“You know, if dad’s friends ignore you, tell me!”

“Huh?”

“I’ll protect you!”

“Uh, could you……”

“……Are you considering us?”

My trademark mercenary skill was starting to shine.

The maids knelt down on the dusty floor and hugged me tightly. Their ironlike strong arms were patting me.

This is the perfect time to give a definite answer when they’re touched.

“Yes! I always think about you, my sisters!”

The maids nodded seriously. I could see their loyalty increasing.

I tucked the health supplement into the maid’s pocket, chuckling like a villain.

A true villain knows how to take care of his followers well.

“Now, let’s set off in the carriage!”
I decided to make a desperate dash out.

‘Father had few friends in our village. I hope the people we meet this time will be good people. Surely, they would be, right?’

In fact, it wasn’t that he had few friends, but none at all.

Father was too busy taking care of me.

I didn’t know what kind of people his associates were, but birds of a feather flock together, so they wouldn’t be much different from Father. They would be incredibly naive, easily deceived, and foolish.

‘I must protect my small and kind father and his pure friends!’

The thought of having another responsibility to protect after Father weighed heavily on my shoulders… or so I thought…

Instead of rushing out shouting ‘Dad!’, I walked calmly, preserving the dignity and grace of a count’s daughter.

I kept my face lifted and stood with confidence until Father found me.

By the time my pale face sparkled under the sunlight, Father discovered me and quickly walked towards me.

“Sien?”

Seeing Father’s innocent yet pitiful smile, reminiscent of an iris, I bowed politely, extending my hand.

“I greet… no, Count.”

Father whispered fondly.

“Our Sien, you’ve learned manners, you’re remarkable.”

I leaned back and greeted gracefully.

And I looked around, curious about Father’s friends whom I was seeing for the first time.

Where were the naive and cute friends of Father that I had to protect…

“Huh.”

In my bewilderment, I darted my eyes from side to side, unable to decide where to look.

‘What, what is it? Are they really Father’s friends?’

About ten people appeared in my line of sight.

They all looked like towering giants over two meters tall. Moreover, they had strange leather draped over their shoulders and, above all…