Chapter 09
‘This time, it has to work!’
Despite her repeated failures, Serina didn’t give up and fired herself up.
3-2. The villainess hides or damages items the heroine treasures.
For her next plan, Serina thought about Helia’s usual habits.
She wore simple clothes without any accessories and carried nothing with her.
‘Princess Helia doesn’t carry anything on her. Then she must leave her precious things in her room! Just like I don’t take Tosun out of the room often because I’m afraid he’ll get dirty!’
Serina nodded.
‘The answer is clear!’
Pretending to be a detective, Serina decided that her next target would be Helia’s room.
‘Alright! Let’s hurry before the princess returns!’
With a determined expression like a marching hamster, Serina took off quickly.
Oliver spotted Serina wandering in the middle of the hallway.
Her twin pigtails, tied up like animal ears, seemed to perk up as she scanned the area.
Oliver tried to pass by without noticing her, but he couldn’t leave the troublemaker alone. He forced a smile and approached.
“Lady Serina, what seems to be the problem this time?”
“Oliver? Perfect timing!”
Serina smiled widely, as if she had found her problem-solver.
“Looks like nothing serious. Then I’ll be going.”
Oliver, sensing trouble, tried to leave. But Serina grabbed the end of his sleeve.
“Oliver, listen. It’s really nothing. But… where is Princess Helia’s room?”
“Princess Helia’s room? What kind of mischief are you planning now?”
“No! If people saw, they’d think I’m always causing trouble.”
“You do.”
Serina frowned and shook his sleeve.
‘See? But unfortunately, I’m going there just to look around.’
“Your way of playing is quite unique, so I guess it will be as expected.”
“No! I just want to see the room of someone I live with. Just tell me quickly!”
“Sigh… You can’t cause trouble. Didn’t you say you wouldn’t?”
“Yes! I did! Don’t you trust me?”
Oliver nodded.
He began guiding her, while Serina looked increasingly dissatisfied.
‘If she causes trouble this time, it’ll be on me.’
‘So this is Princess Helia’s room?’
Serina placed her hands on her hips and stood proudly in front of Helia’s door.
‘No one should be inside, right?’
She pressed her ear to the door and confirmed it was quiet.
She looked around. Not even an ant was in sight.
‘Alright~ Now, what could Princess Helia be hiding in her room!’
Excited, Serina flung the door open.
Inside, she moved her eyes around quickly, searching.
Helia’s room was originally a simple guest room, neat without any special decorations.
Serina had expected something more extravagant, but it looked the same as before—or even emptier.
‘What? Why is there nothing here? Only the essential furniture?’
A princess should live in luxury, right? Well, she must be hiding something.
Serina searched every corner of the room.
Under the bed, where people often hide things they care about.
On top of wardrobes, where you need to climb to reach things.
Anywhere not easily noticed by others, she checked.
‘There’s really nothing?’
Should I hide clothes instead?
Flustered, Serina looked at the wardrobe. Then an idea struck her. She rifled through the clothes and saw something golden shining in the gap.
‘Yes! I knew it!’
Her eyes sparkled as she grabbed it.
It felt like several strands of soft thread bundled together—like expensive silk fabric.
‘W-what… is this?!’
When she pulled it out fully, she was shocked.
It was human hair. More precisely, a well-maintained, shiny wig.
‘A wig! But why is it here? And so deep in hiding?’
Serina examined where she found it. A pile of many wigs was stacked there.
‘So that’s why cutting her hair didn’t hurt her! This was her way of comforting herself after my “accident”!’
Wait. Why does she even need wigs?
Since they were hidden in a corner, they must be important. Maybe she has hair loss…?
‘Should I hide this too?’
Serina stared at the pile of wigs.
‘No. Do you know what this is? Just leave it.’
It could be real human hair or a cursed object.
Taking it would feel wrong!
Serina gave up on the wig and searched for something else, but found not even a speck of dust.
‘Sigh… I can’t. Skip this! Time for the final plan!’
She hadn’t expected Helia’s room to feel so lifeless.
If it weren’t for the wardrobe, she might not have realized anyone actually lived here.
Serina quickly tidied up and dashed out of Helia’s cold room.
‘Now, it’s time for the long-awaited tea party!’
Serina used magic to levitate a cup-shaped water in the air. She imagined herself spilling tea on Helia like the villainess in the novel, grinning.
‘Hmm… but how do I invite her without the family noticing?’
If I get caught, I’ll… my mom will be furious like a demon! I almost got into trouble with the hairdresser game!
‘‘Since I couldn’t even attempt the “hide precious items” plan, the third plan must succeed!’
Serina thought ahead to remove any possible obstacles.
‘Yes! A secret tea party!’
If she went to Helia herself, the risk of being caught would be high. For a perfect crime, she decided to have Maron secretly deliver the invitation.
Since Maron already shared the secret of the romance novel, Serina didn’t worry about betrayal.
She shook the bell on the table.
Luckily, Maron came after hearing the sound.
“Were you looking for me, Lady Serina?”
“Yes! I’m holding a surprise tea party! I need to make invitations. Can you bring some sturdy paper?”
“Of course. Who will you invite?”
“Princess Helia! Just the two of us. Don’t tell anyone else!”
“Yes, understood!”
Maron smiled and promised. A few minutes later, she brought various colored postcards.
Serina picked a light blue one and wrote her invitation carefully.
[You are invited to Serina’s Secret Tea Party!]
It’s just the two of us, so don’t tell anyone!
Meet tomorrow at 3 PM in the garden tea area! I’ll prepare everything, so just bring yourself!
“Maron, this is a real secret between the three of us. Don’t tell anyone else, not even the princess! Make sure to tell her too!”
Serina handed Maron the invitation, wrapped roughly in a blue envelope with a yellow ribbon.
“Of course. Don’t worry! I’ll deliver it right away.”
Maron carefully put the invitation in her pocket and left.
‘Now… I need to ask the cook to prepare the snacks!’
Serina ran to the kitchen.
“Cook! By 3 PM tomorrow, cookies, cake pieces, black tea, and water! Fill the basket! We’re going outside to eat!”
‘Since the weather’s nice, I guess she wants a picnic.’
“Yes! But it must be a secret from Merrily! She’ll nag about cavities and health if I eat too much!”
Serina made horns with her fingers on her head and emphasized her point.
The cook laughed and promised with his pinky finger.
‘With the tea party ready, maybe I should review what the villainess did in the novel?’
Serina pulled out the novel hidden under her pillow. She crawled back under the covers just in case.
Even though it was still bright and the surroundings were noisy, she read intently, ignoring everything else.
‘Here, she acts like this… and says this line…’
Muttering, Serina analyzed the villainess’ actions.
After a while, she placed Tosun in front of her as an audience.
“Tosun, watch carefully! I’ll act it out! …We’re breaking up with my brother!”
Serina stomped and pretended to angrily spill tea.
‘Hmm… this feels too weak to finish it… Tosun, you think so too, right? What else can I add?’
The simple lines bored her. The novel had detailed descriptions that made it richer.
‘I’ll make my own version!’
Serina began studying new lines, referencing the villainess in the novel
