Chapter 11: Chapter 10: Lecherous Alicia Caught Red handed!

Eli tiptoed out of her chambers and into the hallway.

She had little experience sneaking around luxury manors like this.

Her time as a child soldier had mostly taught her how to maneuver through towns or deserts—evading artillery strikes or assassinating American soldiers.

Her later experience as a U.S. assassin wasn’t much help either.

Back then, she was trained to pander to others—acting meek and obedient before slipping deadly poison into an unsuspecting target.

Still, Shadowstep wasn’t at war, so the manor had little reason to be heavily guarded at night. Besides, Alicia’s room was only a stone’s throw from Eli’s.

But it was against a lady’s etiquette to be up this late, so Elidranthia walked quietly across the corridor and into Alicia’s bedroom.

creak

Light seeped through the crack in the door and a warm yellow glow spilled out from within. For some reason, Alicia’s room was lit. Eli tilted her head. That shouldn't have been possible.

Rooms could only be lit by candles —which Alicia didn't have— or mana lamps, which were exclusive only to Eli and Count Shadowstep's room.

“Guhehehe…”

When Eli opened the door, she found Alicia massaging her chest like the lecherous pervert she was.

The floating flame of her magic hovered above her white nightgown, illuminating her hands as they moved across her chest, each finger measuring just how much she had grown.

Slowly, Alicia’s gaze shifted toward the doorway, locking eyes with Elidranthia—who stood agape, completely stunned. The creak of the door must’ve tipped her off, but she clearly hadn’t expected this particular midnight guest.

“Ah... I’m sorry…” Eli quickly closed the door.

She should have known better than to sneak into someone else’s room.

She’d never done this before—but she did remember having some roommates who played with their beads a lot, even at a young age. She had committed a massive blunder.

The door slammed open not even a minute later.

Alicia burst out, followed by the floating flame.

Elidranthia glanced at it curiously.

She had been so distracted by Alicia’s groping hands that she’d almost forgotten about the hovering flame.

“Ahem. Lady Elidranthia, may I help you?” Alicia asked, bowing slightly.

Her cheeks were flushed, clearly embarrassed to have been caught.

“I apologize. I was so impatient to speak with you that I chose to visit at this hour. May I come in?” Eli asked, her gaze drifting toward the flame behind Alicia.

"Sure, come in." Alicia gave an awkward smile. She was not masturbating! She was just checking her growth! She will become a beautiful girl later! She needed to take care of her assets!

As Alicia was making vain excuses in her mind, she offered her bed for Eli to sit on while she dragged a chair over to the table for herself. Eli had been expecting a casual girl’s talk, but the mood was ruined due to Alicia's antics. Nevertheless, she pressed on.

Alicia seemed carefree and unconcerned about status, but the awkward moment earlier still lingered in the air. Fortunately, Eli was especially adept at handling such situations. She quickly found a topic to talk about.

"I can’t help but notice this floating flame. How cool! Is this magic?" Eli said, slipping in a bit of praise. To her, praising children and getting on their good side was as easy as taking candy from a baby. She felt a little guilty for doing it—after all, unlike adults, children were usually more genuine in their feelings.

"Hm? Yes!"

Alicia raised her forefinger.

Another flame flickered to life just above it.

She puffed out her chest proudly, showing off her magical prowess.

Her whole posture screamed, Praise me more! I’m awesome!

Even among children, Alicia was more simple-minded than most.

"I see. I’m a fellow mage, but I don’t think I can manifest my magic yet…

I wonder if it’s because you’re more talented than me," Eli murmured, depreciating herself to draw sympathy.

"Well, you just need to train more! Don’t worry—you’ll be as good as me, or even better!" Alicia nodded, remembering how capable Elidranthia had been in the book.

Then she paused.

Hm? That’s weird. Eli was far more capable in the book.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Wasn’t she the one who taught the original Alicia magic? Why can’t she use it at all now? I understand I progressed faster because I’m a reincarnator, but that doesn’t explain her complete inability...

Doubt crept in.

Alicia began to wonder—was Eli truly a reincarnator?

That familiar foreboding sense returned.

The strange killing intent she had felt before bubbled up again, faint but insistent...

As if the world itself was giving her a sign.

As if it wanted Elidranthia dead.

"Thank you for your encouragement. You’re very kind, Alicia," Eli said with a nod.

To be honest, Eli was curious about magic, but there was nothing she could do until the proper tutor arrived next week.

Still, she wasn’t going to waste this opportunity—if she could butter Alicia up a little and learn a few tricks in the meantime, all the better.

But then—

"Eli... are you Sana? The reincarnator from Earth?" Alicia asked bluntly, with zero hesitation.

Eli froze.

She had planned to shower Alicia with compliments, maybe promise to study together, or even offer cookies or other bribes after this.

But that question blew everything out of the water. The mere mention of Earth made her petrified.

How does she know I’m a reincarnator? Wait… she said I’m Sana. But I’m not Sana. I am Laila. Did she mistake me for someone else? Was she looking for this Sana?

Eli considered lying.

But she realized immediately that she couldn’t—not when she had no idea who this "Sana" even was.

"Um... no. I’m from Earth, but I’m not Sana..." Eli admitted softly.

"Ehh? You’re not the sickly girl Sana, but another reincarnator?" Alicia blinked in confusion.

The reason Nathan had admired Eli in the first place was because Sana was a helpless girl—useless, just like his past self.

Now that Eli claimed she wasn’t Sana, all that sympathy dried up in an instant.

She was a stranger now.

Eli noticed Alicia’s gaze grow colder with disappointment. There was a flicker of scorn in her eyes—subtle, but unmistakable.

Alicia was a vain girl with double standards.

If Eli was just another NEET like her—no tragic past, no real hardship, simply reborn into nobility with magic and money—then Alicia couldn’t accept it.

How could I suffer as the poor daughter of a lowly knight…

while this girl got it all? Sure I got a little bit more magic, but John's family was basically beggars!

Sensing the shift in Alicia’s expression, Eli quickly launched into her story.

A blend of truth and lies—just enough to sway the heart.

"Well… I don’t know who this Sana is.

But I was a paraplegic in my previous life.

All my life, I wanted to walk.

For more than seventeen years, I was bound to a wheelchair.

It was painful.

I had nothing.

Students bullied me.

I was alone.

Until one day, a bully pushed my wheelchair as a prank.

It rolled out into the street... and then a sedan slammed into me.

When I woke up, I was here—as Elidranthia, the daughter of Count Shadowstep."

Eli let out a soft sniffle as she narrated her half-lie of her fabricated story.

She had been trained to cry on cue—and now she summoned those crocodile tears, weeping gently in front of Alicia.

"Oh... I’m sorry."

Her plan had worked.

She had gained Alicia’s sympathy—even though she wasn’t this “Sana.”

Now that she had an opening, she pressed the conversation further.

If Sana was someone important to Alicia, then Eli had a potential advantage.

"I’m sorry… Are you looking for Sana?

I can ask my father to search for her.

We may just be border-town nobility, but he actually has connections to the duke. A count might not be the top, but it was pretty high."

"No. Sana is a character from a webnovel—The Reincarnated Villainess Assassin Only Wanted Friends," Alicia said, waving her hand dismissively.

Eli froze.

Cold sweat trickled down her back.

She had assumed Alicia was just a simple, gullible girl—but clearly, she’d been wrong.

She wouldn't underestimate her again.

Who knew what Alicia had been in her past life?

Maybe she was another discarded agent like herself. If she was, she might create a fictional character to test my honesty.

That was dangerous. Thank god I didn’t lie. Was she testing me? Was she an agent? I need to be careful now.

Eli then thought up questions. If she dismissed it too quickly, it might tip her hand.

Better to play along—to ask questions.

That way, she could learn more and confirm whether Alicia was truly what she seemed.

"Character from a webnovel?" Eli repeated, tilting her head innocently.

People didn’t normally ask if fictional characters showed up in real life... unless they knew something.

"Well, you see…" Alicia began, eyes sparkling."I just found out that we’re inside a webnovel world titled 'The Reincarnated Villainess Assassin Only Wanted Friends.'"

She dropped the bomb.

Unbeknownst to them, on another plane of existence, a god was quietly crying, wondering how the hell to continue the plot now that the fourth wall had cracked wide open.

"Huh?" Eli blinked. Even though she hadn’t played many games or read light novels, she’d encountered plenty of civilians who had.

Then it clicked.

"Ah, you mean we’re… inside a book or something?"

"Yes! We’re in a world inside a webnovel called The Reincarnated Villainess Assassin Only Wanted Friends. You’re the villainess—Elidranthia Shadowstep. Then there’s Claire, the time-looping princess who shows up later. And the royal siblings: Heracles, Ludwin, and Charlotte."

"I see..." Eli frowned slightly.

This girl was far more important than she had thought.

She wasn’t just a mage—she was a reincarnator.

And more than that, she knew about this world.

Eli had learned from Brexford and Laure just how ruthless politics in this world could be.

Assassinations were common. Even more common than even on Earth.

One could simply accuse someone for disobeying a king and they would get executed for it.

If she wanted to navigate this world and survive, she’d need Alicia’s help at all costs.

"What do I become in the future, according to the webnovel?" Eli asked, but she was interrupted.

"But there are a lot of inconsistencies," Alicia said, frowning.

"I don’t remember your father being that arrogant in the book...

And since you’re not Sana, but someone else, that’s already a major difference."

"Eh? You’re right. I’m not Sana..." Eli nodded.

That confirmed it: Alicia’s knowledge wasn’t perfect.

Still, the fact that she knew the names of the princes and princesses—Heracles, Ludwin, and Charlotte—was no small thing.

Knowing a local lord’s name wasn’t strange, but a peasant girl casually knowing royal names?

And even a foreign princess named Claire, whom not even Mr. Brexford had mentioned?

That couldn’t be ignored.

If Alicia's claim about this being a webnovel world was true, it could give Eli an edge—but she needed to stay cautious.

Alicia’s knowledge was valuable, but not infallible.

"May I know your name? Your name from your previous world?"

"I’m Laila. But please don’t call me that... I’m not fond of my past life," Eli said with a gentle smile. "What about you?"

"I’m Na… Nathalie," Alicia lied smoothly. Or not so smoothly. Eli knew she was lying.

There was no way she could tell Eli she used to be a man.

Eli would run in the opposite direction at light speed.

She had promised herself to live this new life to the fullest—as a girl.

"Well, nice to meet you, Nathalie.

Should I still call you Alicia, even in private?"

"Yes. I don’t really like my old name either. Hehehe... My past wasn’t as tragic as yours, though," Alicia admitted with a giggle.

Then Eli leaned forward and hugged her.

"Thank you, Alicia. You’re the first friend I’ve ever had."

"You’re welcome. I promise I’ll be your best friend—just like in the original!"

Eli smirked as Alicia hugged her back.

It all went according to plan.