I Favor the Villainess Chapter 2

"Rei, I've heard it? You caught Claire-sama's eye immediately after enrolling"

The one asking me in a mature husky voice is my roommate, Misha Yule.
With her composed atmosphere and adult beauty, Misha shook her long straight silver hair and sat down on her bed.

We're in Misha's and my room in the Royal Academy dormitory.
In a room the size of ten tatami mats there's a desk for each of us and a bunk bed, in addition simple furniture that doesn't take much space is arranged.
Although the atmosphere is considerably different from modern Japanese dormitories due to everything being an antique, the essence doesn't change.

「Revolution」is set in a prestigious school that's number one in the country, the Royal Academy, it's a boarding school.
In reality there are various factors like social standing or financial assets, but officially all students are treated equally, with every student assigned a double room.
Misha is my, the heroine's, roommate, the so-called best friend who's helpful one way or another.

"Caught her eye, rather, I had myself catch her eye"
"… What are you doing, you"

Misha sighed looking at me with astonished eyes.

"You shouldn't involve yourself much with François family. A commoner like you would really do anything"

Claire's family, François house, is this country's foremost noble house.
For generations, they've worked at the top of Ministry of Finance, after the King's and Prime Minister's houses, it can be considered the number three house of this country.
On the contrary, since many of them marry into the Royal Family, there's an evaluation that in reality they are on top.
With my origin as a commoner, I'm as insignificant as dust.

As for why a commoner like me attends a school with such a high-class person, it has to do with national affairs of this country.
Although the world of 「Revolution」 resembles medieval Europe, the government of Bauer Kingdom, where the story is set, has been showing the signs of corruption.
In this country, the important posts were hereditary among the aristocracy and high ranking officials were hired through personal connections.
The gap between nobility and commoners has steadily increased, and the growing dissatisfaction of commoners with the government became impossible to ignore.

Therefore, the King set forth to adopt meritocracy.
He devised a policy where assignments are based on the ability, regardless of social standing or financial assets.
Although various problems with it still remain, it generally got the support of commoners.

Scholarship system in the Royal Academy is a part of that policy.
If they have the ability, students who can't receive higher education due to financial problems are aided by the country with the enrollment into the Royal Academy.
And one of the students under that system is me, the heroine.

"But look, Misha. I like Claire-sama very much"
"That selfish lady? Rei has changed a lot. But, what do you plan to do about her antipathy? As far as nobles are concerned, we, the scholarship students, are intolerable upstarts"

Although the scholarship system gained support of commoners, it was badly received by nobles.
There's a pragmatic aspect of retaining vested interests, but more than anything, for nobles who sentimentally respect tradition and social status, it's unpardonable for commoners to attend the prestigious school called the Royal Academy.

Incidentally, Misha is also a scholarship student.
She's from a fallen noble house, the social standing of her house isn't that low even if they struggle with money now.
Due to experiencing downfall and its reality being visible to other nobles, she became very reliable.
Because she went to the same secondary school as the commoner me, she can evaluate me without bias.
It's just, regrettably, her worrisome, or perhaps I should say, caring nature is one of her few flaws.

"I don't mind being disliked. Rather, it's what I wish for. It's much better than being avoided"
"I think there's something really wrong with you"
"Hey hey, what's the best course of action to take to spend even a little more time with Claire-sama?"
"This child, I wonder if she's always been such a troublesome child…"

Although Misha held her head as if having headache, she soon said.

"Shouldn't you become someone who Claire-sama can't ignore?"
"What do you mean?"
"Isn't Claire-sama's pride high? She's the type unable to settle down if she isn't the number one. That's why, if you polish yourself and demonstrate your ability, I don't think Claire-sama will be able to ignore it"
"That's it!"

It's so simple.
If I behave like in game, Claire-sama won't ignore me.
The harder I try, the more intense Claire-sama's bullying will become.
Because Claire-sama is a person with guts, even if her bullying fails many times, she won't be discouraged.
Claire-sama can bully me, I can admire Claire-sama.
What a win-win relationship.

"Misha, thank you. As I thought, you are reliable"
"… I wonder why. You're grateful for being taught how to be disliked"

Misha seems unable to hide her bewilderment, well, it makes sense.

The current course is decided.
I'll do my best at the academic life and be bullied by Claire-sama.
No, rather, I'll get myself bullied with vigor.

"Being bullied by Claire-sama every day… What a bliss"
"Really, what's wrong with you…"

Chapter end