I Never Wanted To Be A Villainess!!! Chapter 5: The Crown Princes Fiancé

Unfortunately for Rosa, her worst fears were met. Within the month, the king ordered Rosa to be engaged to the crown prince. This was to be announced to the rest of the nobility on the prince's tenth birthday, which was today.

“Hold still, sweetie, the maids need to finish styling your hair,” Rosa’s mother said, preparing her daughter for the prince’s birthday party. While she was happy that Rosa looked absolutely adorable right now, she was furious that her daughter was being forced to become engaged with that snot-nose prince.

Rosa herself wasn’t eager for this either. This morning she tried to feign being sick, but it didn’t work in the end. She knew the outcome if she became the prince's fiancé, and it was death. Though no matter what she did, she couldn’t figure a way out of this.

“Mother, do I have to go?” Rosa asked as the maid put a tiara on her head. She hoped that if it was her mother, she could use her curtness to convince her to let her stay home.

“I am sorry, sweetie, but for now, we have to obey,” her mother said to her, clenching her fist to help hold back her anger. If it weren’t for her husband interfering, she would have gutted the king and the prince by now. The royal family knew that Rosa didn’t have to be the crown prince's fiancé, but it was just another way to keep their family in check.

“For now?” Rosa asked, curious as to what her mother meant by this. Did they figure out a way for her not to become the crown princess?

“Yes, that’s right, for now,” her mother said, reassuring her. “Your father has no intention of forcing you into this marriage. He has made sure that there are conditions that the prince must follow to keep this engagement.”

“Conditions?” Rosa wasn’t certain what her mother meant by this. She knew her family was very dangerous based on the description in the game, but to set conditions for a royal engagement. Was it even possible?

“Come along, sweetie. I shall explain in the carriage,” she said, overjoyed to see how beautiful her daughter was. It was obvious why that foolish prince dared to desire, her, but he only saw what was on the outside, not the inside, and such was his greatest flaw.

“Yes mother,” Rosa said, taking her mother’s hand, allowing her to be led to the carriage. Only she and her mother would be going by carriage today. Her father was still discussing the terms of the engagement with the king at the castle, and her brother was forbidden from going, thanks to his temper.

The moment that Roland learned that the prince had forced this engagement onto his sister, he immediately grabbed his sword, ready to kill the prince. Because of this, Rosa’s father deemed it necessary to discipline him and keep him from causing any trouble.

“Rosa, it will be alright,” her mother said to her, seeing that she was looking down. She knew her daughter wanted nothing to do with the prince and hated that she had to go through this. “There is nothing to fear.”

“…Mother, I don’t want to marry the prince. I don’t like him,” Rosa said, unsure about what she should get out of this engagement.

“And you won’t have to. Your father has made sure of it.”

“He has?” Rosa didn’t understand. If she didn’t want Rosa to marry the crown prince, then why did she become his fiancé in the game? What had changed to make this happen? And was it really possible to escape him?

In the game, Rosa is never shown interacting with any member of her family besides Roland. Though in the game, Roland isn’t the sweet and kind brother that he is right now. In the game, he has nothing but disdain for her. The game takes place around eight years from now. Does something happen during that time that changes their relationships?

“He has,” Rosa’s mother said, reassuring her, pulling out a blank white mask. “But to make sure, I also have my own way of protecting you.”

“Mother? What is this?” Rosa asked, curiously accepting the mask from her mother.

“You may not know this, but our family holds a certain tradition. Once engaged, the female must wear a mask in front of everyone she does not see as family. It is only allowed to be removed upon the day of the wedding.”

“But why?” Rosa had never heard about this anywhere in the game. Why was it… wait, no. She remembered a scene where her brother was belittling her for not adhering to their family’s traditions. Was this what he was talking about?

“Rosa, love is something that cannot be forced on someone. Love is something that grows over time. As you may have noticed by now, the prince only desires you for your looks. How do you think that he will react when he can’t see your face?”

“Won’t that upset him?” Was this really alright? Was Rosa really allowed to ridicule the prince like this?

“It most defiantly will,” her mother said, gently taking the mask from Rosa’s hands and placing it on her face. “And you don’t have to worry about him taking this from you. Only yourself, members of your family, and the one who truly loves you can take this mask off.”

“But Mother, what if this isn’t enough?” Rosa asked, thinking that such a petty trick wouldn’t work on the crown prince. He could force her to take off the mask if he had to.

“Don’t worry, sweetie, your mother and father have thought of that…”

“That’s amazing!” Rosa yelled, excited after hearing what her mother had to say. She never thought that her parents would take such measures to keep her safe. It was a shame that the original Rosa never received their love, but she would make sure that she would never take her family for granted.

“I’m glad you agree, and once this pathetic excuse for a party is over, I’ll show you how to ignore the prince properly.” Rosa’s mother was happy, knowing that no matter what, the prince would never have what he wanted.

“Thank you mother!” Rosa yelled, hugging her mother without hesitation. This is exactly what she needed to overcome her fear of the prince.

“You’re welcome, sweetie,” her mother said to her, glad to see that she was happy. She wanted nothing more than to spend more time like this with her daughter, but unfortunately for them, they had just arrived at the castle.

Rosa and her mother slowly left the carriage, drawing the attention of many people. This was mainly due to her mother’s unparalleled beauty, but also the mask she was wearing. Despite feeling embarrassed, Rosa continued to walk forward, glad no one could see her face. The mask comforted her, almost as if it protected her.

“Relena, it has been far too long,” a woman in a gaudy dress covered in gems said, walking over to them. She looked arrogant to Rosa, and the expression she gave sickened her. “And this must be… your daughter? Oh my, while it was rumored that you were overprotective of her to think that you would hide her face. Perhaps her looks are tainted because of her-”

“Madam Gospel. I do implore you to mind your tongue,” Relena said, refusing to let anyone speak ill of her daughter. She knew of the rumors that were spread about the capital about her daughter, and she refused to let her hear any of them.

“My word, as always, you don’t know how to carry yourself in a mere conversation. To think that someone as crude as you could ever become the Duke’s wife. Both of you were nothing more than ugly insects getting in his way, distracting him from the butterfly before him.”

“I do believe that you mean annoying moth. It’s obvious by your current attire that you are still trying to hide the truth under a veil of gems and thick makeup. And before you even dare to mention anything else, remember who it was that kept that ugly moth from, being squashed. Despite what happened in the past, my husband made his choice.”

“Hmmph! I see that there is no use continuing conversing with a brute like yourself. You and that hideous child aren’t the main attention today anyway. It’s time that I start conversing with actual nobles.” Madam Gospel stormed away arrogantly, though Rosa could see her blushing from embarrassment.

“Pfft~!” Rosa couldn’t help but laugh. Her mother was truly the best.

“Yes, it is quite funny, isn’t it?” Relena said, leading her daughter to the side. “Most nobles are arrogant just like that, unable to hide their true selves even under a mountain of makeup or fancy clothes. The prince is just like that. The royal family is filled with the most arrogant people in the kingdom, and eventually, they will all make fools of themselves.”

“Even the prince?” Rosa asked, hoping to see the prince be humiliated in front of all his subjects. While she had no intention of becoming a villainess, she couldn’t forgive what he did to the original Rosa. Plus, she deserved a bit of justice for how he treated her before.

“Yes, even the prince. Now we-”

“Excuse me, Madam Dawn, the king would like a word with you and your daughter before proceeding to the party,” an older-looking gentleman said to them.

“You must be Howard, the head butler. We’ve been waiting for you.” Relena said to him, already aware that someone would come for them. “Come along, Rosa, it’s time.”

“Yes, mother.” Rosa held her mother's hand tightly as they were led to the king’s office, where the entire royal family and her father were waiting for her.

“Finally get to see you… why? Why are you covering your face?” the crown prince asked, seeing a white mask covering Rosa’s entire face.

“We great the royal family,” Relena and Rosa said at the same time, giving a small courtesy. While it was a rush job, Relena was glad that her daughter learned quickly.”

“Please sit,” the king said, taking notice of the mask Rosa was wearing. “I can see that you already came prepared.”

“Why certainly, your highness,” Relena said, placing her daughter between her and her husband as they sat down. “One must always be prepared for any scenario, don’t you agree?”

“Of course you are,” the king said, hiding his true feelings behind a smile.

“Father tells her to take off the mask,” the crown prince said, angry that a girl who was to become his bride would dare to hide her face from him. “I don’t like it. Take it off!”

The prince’s sudden outburst scared Rosa, causing her to grab her mother’s dress, but because of her mask, it looked like she didn’t react.

“Julian, watch your tone,” the king said to his son. “She is to be your fiancé.”

“Then tell her to take it off! It’s ugly! I want to see her face!” Julian yelled, pointing his finger at Rosa like a spoiled brat.

“Julian, as Duke Dawn had just finished explaining, Rosa shall wear that mask until your wedding day. This is her family’s tradition.”

“I don’t care! She’s my fiancé, and that means that she belongs to me! Take off the mask!” Julian yelled, unaware that his current statement almost cost him his life. If Rosa weren’t around, Relena and her husband wouldn’t have hesitated to kill him. How dare he claim that he owns her. She was not an object for him to possess!

“Your majesty, I do agree,” the queen said. Her golden blonde hair made her look like an angel, and her voice sounded so kind that Rosa almost tricked herself. However, the moment that Rosa looked into her eyes, she could see nothing but hatred. “It is rude of her to dare hide her face in front of her fiancé. Don’t you think that such actions are childish?”

“If our traditions are so childish, then I believe we are done here,” Rosa’s father said to the king, getting ready to stand up. To think that he had given the king this chance only for him to waste it.

“Wait! Duke Dawn, I apologize for my wife’s and son’s statements. The mask shall stay on,” the king said, unwilling to give up on what he could gain from having his son marry Rosa. There was too much for him to lose if they left now.

“But father, she’s mine!”

“That’s enough!” the king yelled, losing his temper. “Now apologize.”

“I’m sorry,” Julian said, not meaning a word of it. Once he had the chance, he wouldn’t hesitate to tear that mask off and make her learn her place.

[The crown prince gave you a half-ass apology and doesn’t see you as a person, teach him a lesson]

[Shake your head at him without saying a word (+5)]

[Tell him that he’s a fool to think that he could ever possess you (+10)]

[Humiliate him (+20)]

[Please choose in the next 30 seconds of face punishment.]