Lady Olivia Mallory.

It was a name that demanded absolute awe and respect.

The Demon Commander, Duke Mallory's one and only precious daughter. Exquisitely graceful and blindingly beautiful. With excellent wits and a kind and generous personality. A real-life saint. The most eligible lady in the whole kingdom.

This was Lady Olivia Mallory. At least, what the Kingdom of Weiss thought she was. Behind the stage's glamorous curtains, Lady Olivia was a dishonest, devious, scheming villainess. The people's approval? The Crown Prince's heart? What use would Lady Olivia have with any of those? She wanted one thing and one thing only, the throne. It was a desire that belonged to that of a traitor.

Lady Olivia Mallory was a villainess through and through.

I was a huge fan of Lady Olivia as I played the game, but now that I've been reborn as her…

I gazed at my petite hands. A year had passed since I was born in this world. The world of 'A Commotion at Weiss,' an otome game praised for its brilliant storytelling and well-written characters. ACAW was by no means a mainstream or popular game, but it was loved by the community it had generated. Virtually every single person who had played it could only give it genuine praise.

And I was one of those people…

I frowned bitterly at the recollection of my old memories. I was more of a novel reader, but I had become so curious about ACAW that I decided to play it. It was a decision I ended up feeling ecstatic for making. After all, ACAW deserved all the praise it received.

But to think that I'd find myself in this world, and as the Lady Olivia nonetheless. A wicked and fearsome villainess who had everyone in the palm of her hand. Even so, her fate ended with a gruesome death.

I took a deep breath as soon as I felt another strong surge of fear and frustration coming. I focused my attention on the teddy bear in my hand instead. It was white as snow, and had diamond jewels as its eyes. I almost choked on my own saliva as soon as the maid opened the box this was in.

It was a gift from Count Arquette, who held the reputation of possibly being the wealthiest man in the whole kingdom for my first birthday. To think that he'd give a baby such an expensive doll, perhaps those rumors are true after all. Not even the other ducal houses presented me such an extravagant gift.

Not only did the teddy bear look luxurious, it was comfortable to cuddle as well. Whoever made this used the highest quality materials for sure. I rubbed my face against the teddy bear, taking in its flowery scent. If the me from my previous life saw this, she'd probably faint. This bear alone would be enough to pay my college fees.

Ah, I'm thinking about this again…

I shook my head vigorously. There's no point brooding about the sad past. I huffed. Right now, I have everything I ever dreamed for. A more than good enough roof to sleep in, and access to all the delicious food I could only dream of eating.

Really, if only I could avoid Olivia's eventual death, I wouldn't even think of escaping this house. But things aren't as simple as that…

I recalled discovering ACAW for the first time. A novel blogger who I followed wrote a post about it once. "A novel I'm glad was a game," the title said. I was confused at the odd statement, but understood immediately when I began playing out of curiosity.

ACAW indeed have such a deep and complex story enough for it to be a full-fledged novel, however the creators decided to tell its story in a different manner. The blogger had remarked, "I'm so glad I get to know what would happen had I chosen things differently. If this game was a novel instead, I would never know. And honestly, the thought kills me!"

To be able to know how things could have gone. This was undoubtedly the best thing about ACAW.

There were too many events surrounding the characters that no single route gave away all the information available. This meant that each of the routes did not feel repetitive as players learned something new each time. In fact, unlike many otome games, ACAW did not have a ‘true route.’

True routes exist to ‘tie up’ all the loose ends of all the other routes in the story. It makes sense total of everything, and answers all the remaining questions in the story. In ACAW’s case however, there was no such thing. Some would say that this was the only flaw in this masterpiece of a game. There was no scenario in which all loose ends are settled, and there was not a single ending where the main character becomes aware of the whole truth.

But maybe this was the developers’ plan all along. With still so many questions left to answer, several online theory communities dedicated to ACAW have been created. If they wanted to create intrigue within the player community then they succeeded. I myself had been a part of these communities, and I enjoyed reading about different unique theories many players came up with.

I used to be happy at the fact that ACAW had some unanswered questions because it kept people interested for a long time, but now I’m pissed just thinking about it.

I let out a frustrated sigh. Thinking about all of this was just making me hungry and I soon heard my stomach make a growl. I guess even the Lady Olivia could not escape an embarrassing stomach demanding for food.

“My Lady, you must be hungry. Please wait for a moment, I will prepare your milk.” As always, my maid was quick to react. This was the same girl who used to worry all day long about how I don’t cry enough. While I think that she’s excessively protective, I guess that only means that this house care greatly about the duke’s children.

“Here you are, My Lady. Please be sure to finish your milk so you grow up to be extremely healthy.” The maid smiled kindly. I was unfamiliar with this kind of affection. I felt a weird sensation under my skin and looked away.

…Hng, she takes good care of me at least. If I remember correctly, I think her name was Maddie?

Usually, villainesses have tragic stories such as being subject to abuse by their own families or being secretly harassed by the servants because they are illegitimate children. In Lady Olivia’s case, that doesn’t seem to be the case.

That’s not the case but…

As if on cue, the door to the nursery opens without warning. Standing by the entrance was a boy of short stature. He had raven hair, exactly like that of his father’s, and a set of deep green eyes that reminded me of a rainforest.

“Greetings, Young Master.” Maddie bowed immediately as soon as she caught sight of him. But the young boy didn’t even spare her a single glance.

He stood there for a moment with his back perfectly straight. He looked dignified and mature for his extremely young age. He stares for a brief second before striding in confidently and towards my crib. He looks down with a pressure that didn’t seem to belong to a mere 6-year old child yet here it was, making cold sweat drip down my back.

He opened his mouth slightly as if thinking of what to say. Then came the moment of truth. “She looks like a fish, sucking on her bottle like that. Are babies always this ugly?”

…This brat…

This boy has been praised several times by the noble society and is known to be a well-behaved child showing the dignity of the future heir of a dukedom. Many noble mothers have attempted to have their sons and daughters acquainted with this child as either playmates or study partners. This boy who is considered a genius — disciplined and reserved.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

But that’s utter bullshit. This brat is just a brat.

I shot him a glare and waved my arm to shoo him away. I was busy drinking my fill here, so I’d appreciate it if I could drink my milk in peace. But just my luck, the young boy only blankly stared at my small arms and then smirked. “You’re telling me to go away? That only makes me want to stay even more.”

There’s no winning against this brat. With a huff, I continued to drink from my bottle and shifted my body to slightly face away from him. Kids usually act up even more if you show them any reactions. It’s best to just pretend to ignore them and they’ll stop.

And besides, as soon as I don’t give him any attention, Dimitri just stays silent and watch. He’s still a brat but he’s more well-behaved than most.

As I was busy drinking to satiate my hunger, I felt it again. Anger and bitterness.

It passed by almost as quickly as it came. I looked up slightly towards the young boy standing by my crib. Green eyes looked down on me blankly. “What?” He asked as if the baby in front of him could answer. I looked away and went back to drinking.

Dimitri Ellen Mallory.

A name that symbolized both the sun and earth. A name that ordained everything the sun touched and the land held belonged solely to him. A name that befits a man meant to rule.

The young heir of the great Mallory dukedom. Genius. Prodigy. Wise. Monster. Dimitri is one of the villains in the world of ACAW, and a great force to be reckoned with. He was responsible for several deaths in the story, and supported his sister in her plan to take the throne.

He was a prominent figure in the political world of the Weiss Kingdom. Through his several achievements, he was able to solidify his position and power. Eventually, he became a trusted figure and was highly regarded by the royal family themselves. Of course, this was all according to his plan. To be able to avoid suspicion in the Weiss Kingdom’s most unstable period when several nobles have started to point fingers at each other…

Truly the perfect man to inherit the title of Duke of Mallory.

But I suppose right now he’s nothing more than just a kid.

The Dimitri the noble society knew of and the Dimitri I see at home were extremely different. People call him dignified and all that, but really he’s just a child who keeps on disturbing my peaceful days.

He usually visits me in my nursery more often than I’d appreciate and observe me. As if being constantly looked at wasn’t uncomfortable enough, he’d suddenly say annoying remarks most of the time. Apparently, to this dear older brother of mine, I am quite the ugly baby.

“Why is she making that face? She looks like a rat when she looks up like that.”

“She’s wriggling around like a worm. Make her stop.”

“What’s this? She looks like a frog right now. Hiccups? Do hiccups make babies look like that?”

“Are babies usually this… unseemly? I heard they’re usually cute.”

Ugly. Just say the word ugly, goddamn it.

I groaned as I recalled several of the comments this child had made. While I don’t care about his opinions of me, I disliked his presence purely because I could never get quite used to how he seems to eerily keep observing me. This kid says all types of insults yet he keeps visiting anyway. Does he like me or hate me? Make up your mind.

“Hey, she’s finished drinking that.” Dimitri speaks and points at the bottle in my hand without glancing at the maid. Instead, he meets my eyes as I gazed up at his profile. It was no wonder how he grows up to become one of the most eligible bachelors in the kingdom. Even at a young age, Dimitri’s features were nothing to scoff at. He was not only born with a golden spoon, he also had the looks to match with his wealth and status.

If only this guy wasn’t a villain meant to die, I’d say he’s blessed by the Lady Luck herself.

As I was lost in my thoughts, I began to see it once more. A hint of that bitter look he sometimes gives me. I wanted to observe his expression, but he turns around in that instant and leaves the nursery. Just as randomly as when he came in.

…At least close the door. What was he even here for anyway?

Days as a baby were painfully long and boring. My daily life consisted mainly of sleeping, eating, and staying awake for a few hours meant for playtime. I had thought that I would have no interest with toys, but perhaps it was because I was in a baby’s body, I found myself getting amused by some of them from time to time.

Maddie, the maid in charge of me had noticed that I was much more fond of hanging toys and stuffed dolls than things like the rattle. She was quick to accommodate my interests as well, making sure to give me the brightly-colored toys which always managed to interest me. Colorful objects looked oddly beautiful through a baby’s eyes.

Today as well, Maddie had prepared colorful toys and stuffed dolls for me. I am able to crawl now, so Maddie had allowed me to crawl around on the floor. I would originally be hesitant crawling around on the carpet, but just a few days ago, the old carpets were changed into a brand new one. Not to mention, this new carpet was extremely soft and comfortable.

I had to wonder if they had the carpets changed just to accommodate a single baby. I didn’t want to think so, but the fact that this is the Mallory House, it might just be possible. No, I’m almost certain it’s because of me. Throughout the time I have been here, I realized a few things.

First, the servants of this house hold Lady Olivia in high regard. I was initially surprised, as I had expected them to look down on me because of the matters surrounding my birth. Lady Olivia was actually an illegitimate child. However, this fact didn’t seem to matter to the people of this house.

Second, this house really didn’t pull any punches when it came to serving the duke or his children. Once, the pollen from the tree right outside my window had irritated my nose and caused me to sneeze uncontrollably. By the next day, that tree was no more. Maddie’s behavior was also similar. She was quick to get rid of toys I didn’t show the slightest interest in, and made sure to supply me with similar toys to those that I did.

Third, although the servants of this household treat me so well, it’s completely unlike what you often see in novels or comics where they dote on their young miss. While some servants are indeed quite fond of me, how should I say this? It felt more like they’re doing what they do because it’s what’s expected of them. The servants of this household were responsible and quick to act. It feels like they know exactly what to do no matter what happened.

It’s kinda eerie now that I think about it. But I guess I shouldn’t expect any less for this household. Of course they’ll only hire competent people.

“Ah, I left the drinking bottle in the kitchen…” Maddie mumbled under her breath. She had a troubled look on her face. There was currently no other maid, and she couldn’t just leave a baby, much less the daughter of a duke, alone in a room. Maids in this world sure have a tough life.

“What should I do? It wouldn’t be good if the Young Lady drink her milk late. It’ll only be quick so it should be fine…” Maddie clasped her hands together and faced me. She handed me my favorite doll, as if attempting to keep my attention on it. “My Lady, I will go get your milk so please play with this for now, okay? It will only be for a short while, I promise.”

Don’t be worried too much. It’s not like anyone would just barge in here.

I pretended to be distracted with the doll and giggled as I took it from her grasp. Maddie lets out a short breath and hastily left the nursery.

Well, let’s not cause any trouble and just play quietly like a good baby.

I begin to crawl around the nursery and grab all the blocks I could find. There were plenty all around the room, so this should make as good practice. I began to stack up a few blocks and attempted to align them perfectly.

Hm? I was sure there are 20 of these, so where’s the last one?

I began to scan the room and noticed one of the blocks under the table. I must have missed it a while ago. It was quite far away from where I was, but it was just perfect for me. I had always hated how it was hard to move around in a baby’s body, but being able to crawl around like this is great. Now that I’m able to crawl so well, does this mean I can finally be able to walk soon enough? Enthusiastically, I crawled to the direction of the block.

“So you’re able to lively crawl around now? I’ve heard the maids talking about it before but this is the first time I’ve seen you crawl.” A young boy’s voice suddenly came up from behind me. Startled, I swiftly whisked my head up to the voice’s direction.

This was a bad decision. Unable to properly carry my weight at the quick movement, I lost my balance and fell back. Even worse, I hit the foot of the table and the books placed at the top’s edge came tumbling right unto my forehead.

A baby’s body was extremely sensitive. Of course, this applied to things like pain. My body immediately burst with pain. My back felt like it was burning even though I simply fell back. And my head was throbbing way too much for me to handle. Before I knew it, tears started to well up in my eyes and pained cries left my mouth.

I felt warm hands lifting me up and setting me on the couch. Through teary eyes, I could see that it was Dimitri. He fumbled around his clothes in search of something. He finally took out a white cloth and I realized that he had been looking for his handkerchief.

He gently placed it on my forehead as he held my hand, drawing circular patterns on it with his thumbs. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I surprised you, didn’t I?” He said in the gentlest tone I’ve ever heard from him. I couldn’t believe my eyes and ears. Never have I seen Dimitri lose his cool before.

I glanced at the hand that was holding mine. He was still drawing circles on it with his thumb. Right now, is he trying to soothe me? For a moment, I wondered if this was the same boy who would blankly look at me from outside my crib.

I heard the door open and saw that Maddie had returned with another maid. They both gasp as soon as they saw me. Before they could say or do anything however, a dark feeling enveloped the room. Dimitri was glaring at them. “What are you doing just standing there? One of you hurry and call the doctor!”

The maid with Maddie immediately followed his order without any further questions. Meanwhile, Maddie looked to be in shock with her arms on her mouth. “My Lady…”

“Who? Who were the maids in charge with her right now?” Dimitri’s cold voice resonated within the room. He didn’t even raise his voice, yet the pressure it gives off was no joke. And to think that this was coming from someone who was still 6 years old.

“T-that would be me and Elena, Y-Young Master.” Maddie stuttered as she squeezed out a reply. Her hands and legs were shaking and she looked to be in fear.

“Two maids. Yet when I came in, there wasn’t a single one of you present? I would have let it slide, but just leaving books at the edge of the table like this… Did you not think that an accident like this may have happened and that those heavy books would fall on her?” Dimitri was extremely angry. Even I could tell without having to look at his face. I could hear it seeping from his voice.

“I-I have no excuses, Young Master! Elena was called by the head maid so I was left alone with the Young Lady. However, I realized that I had left her drinking bottle in the kitchen and went to quickly retrieve it. I was thoughtless and didn’t consider that something could happen with the Young Lady in that time!”

“So not only do you admit that you were careless, but you’re saying that due to your mistake, you went ahead and left your Young Lady all alone without considering that anything bad could have happened to her..?” The small hand that was holding mine slightly trembled.

“I-I humbly apologize, Young Master! T-this lowly servant asks that you punish her thoughtless actions accordingly!”

…This is bad! At this rate, Maddie will..!

“Uwaa!” I let go of Dimitri’s hand and reached my arms out towards Maddie. Tears were still falling down from my eyes and sobs were escaping my lips. To the both of them, it would probably seem like I want Maddie to carry and comfort me.

If Dimitri sees that I’m quite fond of this maid, then maybe he won’t do anything to her. I always thought that he didn’t care much about his sister, but if what I think is true…

“Y-Young Lady…” Maddie hesitantly came near. Her eyes darted back and forth between me and her Young Master. When she sees that Dimitri didn’t react, she slowly stepped in and carried me in her arms. She slowly patted my back and tried to calm me down. “There, there. The doctor will be here soon.”

Dimitri stayed silent for a moment. I could feel his eyes piercing through my back as he observed the both of us. Then finally, “It seems the Young Lady trusts her maid, even though I myself have witnessed how careless she is.” Maddie stiffened at his words and closed her eyes bitterly.

“However, since the Young Lady has grown quite attached to her, she might throw a tantrum if this maid is taken away.” He sends a glare towards Maddie. “I’ll turn a blind eye to this for now, but there won’t be a next time.”

“I thank the Y-Young Master for his kindness!” Maddie quickly bowed her head, but Dimitri seemed disinterested.

“Be sure to have her thoroughly checked when the doctor comes. And have the other maid report to me afterwards. Don’t leave this room until the baby is fully checked up.” Dimitri gives out these instructions before leaving. As soon as he was out of sight, Maddie’s legs gave away and she falls to the ground.

Maddie… she must have been extremely afraid…

I thought to myself before I felt a sudden wave of drowsiness wash over me. It may be because I spent much of my energy on crying, but I suddenly felt tired. “Young Lady?” I heard Maddie call out but I was too exhausted to look up at her face. Soon enough, I found myself defeated by sleep.