I swear I am not a Villain

Amos once again found himself seated across from Evelyn. He was starting to think that having tea with the princess was becoming a bit of a routine. Whether that was good or bad, he still hadn’t decided. Evelyn raised her cup.

“There is something else I should tell you now that you have decided to join in.”

Amos immediately became cautious.

“What?”

“The Fredias Youth Society will be holding a gathering next week.”

Amos waited.

“What kind of gathering?”

“A masquerade.”

Amos blinked.

“A masquerade?”

“Yes.”

She placed her teacup down.

“It will be held next Friday evening.”

Amos leaned back slightly.

“Why a masquerade?”

“To make things more interesting.”

Evelyn smiled.

“It is actually for a more practical reason.”

She continued.

“All attendants will be required to wear masks.”

“Required?”

“Yes.”

“What kind?”

“Simple ones.”

Evelyn touched the edge of her own cup.

“They must carry a minor appearance-distortion enchantment. Nothing powerful. They simply alter the wearer's appearance enough that people won't immediately recognize who they are.”

Amos considered that.

“So nobody knows who anyone is?”

“Not unless they reveal it themselves.”

“That sounds dangerous.”

“It is meant to prevent discrimination.”

Amos looked at her.

Evelyn explained,

“If everyone knows that the person standing in front of them is a princess, a duke's daughter, the heir to a great house, or a commoner with exceptional talent, they may treat that person differently.”

Amos nodded slowly.

That made sense.

“By hiding everyone's identities, everyone has to interact with each other without knowing their status.”

“Exactly.”

“It encourages people to actually talk to each other.”

“And form relationships based on their interactions rather than their family names.”

Amos glanced down at his tea. It was, he had to admit, a rather clever idea. He’d spent enough time among nobles to understand the problem—people often believed they knew who someone was long before learning anything real about them. A masquerade stripped that away, at least for a while.

“When is it?”

“Next Friday night.”

Amos nodded.

“I'll be there.”

Evelyn looked slightly surprised.

“You're accepting that quickly?”

“You invited me.”

“Yes.”

Amos took a sip of tea and slowly smiled. It actually seemed rather pleasant. Evelyn watched him quietly.

“You look pleased.”

“I am.”

“Why?”

Amos thought about it.

“That means I can offend just about anyone.”

Evelyn smiled.

“Then I'll see you next Friday.”

“You will.”

He raised his cup.

“To a night of anonymosity.”

Evelyn raised hers.

“To that.”

Amos took another sip.

He was beginning to think that perhaps joining the Fredias Youth Society hadn't been such a terrible decision after all.

I need to get a mask.

***

The next afternoon, Amos headed toward the third-year classrooms with one goal in mind—shopping. More specifically, finding the perfect mask and outfit for the upcoming masquerade hosted by the Fredias Youth Society. He’d already made up his mind:

There was no way he was going to look ridiculous.

And since Elena was the person he trusted most with this sort of thing, he had decided to drag her along.

He stopped outside her classroom and leaned against the wall.

A few students passing by immediately recognized him.

Whispers followed.

"That's Kyros."

"Why is he here?"

"Is he waiting for someone?"

Amos paid them no mind, lost in thought over whether a black mask would make him seem mysterious, suspicious, or maybe both. Soon, the classroom doors swung open and students streamed out. That’s when he spotted her.

Elena stepped out calmly, her long black hair falling neatly down her back, her expression as unreadable as ever.

She spotted him almost immediately.

"Young Master."

"Elena."

He walked toward her.

"You're coming with me."

Elena blinked once.

"Where?"

"Shopping."

"For?"

"The masquerade."

She considered this for a moment.

"Ah."

"You'll help me pick something."

"Very well."

"Excellent."

Amos turned immediately.

"Let's go."

They had barely taken three steps.

"WAIT!"

Amos stopped.

A young man emerged from the crowd behind them. His academy uniform was flawless, but the expensive watch, jeweled tie pin, and fine quality of his accessories made his status clear. He glanced at Amos, then at Elena, his expression tightening.

"You."

Amos pointed at himself.

"Me?"

"Kyros."

Amos glanced over his shoulder, but no one was there. He turned his gaze forward again.

"...Me?"

The young man reached into his coat. Elena was already sighing. He pulled out a white glove, and Amos stared at it. Without a word, the young man tossed it, and it landed right at Amos’s feet. Amos looked down, then up, then down again, his mind slowly piecing together what had just happened.

He had seen this before.

In books.

In stories.

A duel challenge.

Amos opened his mouth, but no words came. He glanced at Elena, and she met his gaze.

"..."

Amos's jaw remained open.

Elena waited patiently. After a few moments, Amos finally found his voice.

"Is this real life?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"He wishes to challenge you."

"Huhhhh?????."

The young man stepped forward.

"I have endured enough."

Amos slowly turned toward him.

"Endured what?"

"Your tyranny."

"...My what?"

"You have deceived her long enough!"

Amos’s eyes went wide. He glanced at Elena, then at the young man, and back to Elena again.

"What is happening?"

Elena whispered quietly to Amos.

"This is Lord Caelan."

"Who?"

"Third son of House Varell."

She paused.

"A marquis house."

"Uhuh."

Then he looked at Caelan again.

"Why does the third son of a marquis want to fight me?"

"For me, I guess."

"He has been pursuing me for approximately two years."

Amos froze.

"...Two years?"

"Yes."

Amos slowly turned back to Caelan, his expression shifting. It wasn’t anger, just a look of pure disbelief.

"You have been chasing Elena for two years?"

Caelan straightened proudly.

"I have never abandoned my feelings for her."

Amos stared.

Then he glanced toward Elena.

"You never told me."

"You never asked."

"Still"

Caelan stepped forward.

"Ever since we first met, I have sought to win Lady Elena's heart."

Elena's expression remained completely blank.

Amos looked at her.

"You rejected him?"

"Repeatedly."

"How many times?"

"I stopped counting."

Amos stared at Caelan.

The young nobleman's confidence remained intact.

"I know that she has been manipulated by you."

"..."

Amos's eye twitched.

"Manipulated?"

"You must have kept her under your control for years."

"Years?"

Caelan pointed accusingly.

"You make her follow your orders. You make her accompany you. You have taken advantage of her loyalty!"

Amos slowly looked toward Elena. She was standing there with the same calm expression she wore while discussing homework.

"Elena."

"Yes?"

"Do I make you do things?"

"Frequently."

Amos nodded.

"Do you consider that taking advantage of you?"

"No."

"Good."

He turned back.

"See?"

Caelan looked horrified.

"She is clearly too used to it to realize it!"

Amos stared.

"..."

What the hell is this guy's delusional mind.

This was going to become troublesome. Caelan stepped forward and pointed dramatically at Amos.

"I challenge you to a formal duel!"

Amos glanced at the glove, then shifted his gaze to Caelan, and finally to Elena. His jaw still hadn’t fully recovered.

"You're serious."

"Completely."

"What exactly happens if I accept?"

"If I win, you will no longer take advantage of Lady Elena."

That was possibly the stupidest wager he had heard in his entire life.

"Do you accept?"

"Yes."

Amos crouched and picked up the glove. A few nearby students instantly began whispering. It wasn’t something you saw every day. He held the glove delicately between two fingers.

"But I have one condition."

Caelan narrowed his eyes.

"What?"

"If I win you stop bothering Elena."

It would be cruel a wager to have him expelled. I guess this is enough.

Caelan looked stunned.

"You would wager that?"

"Yes."

"You expect me to abandon my feelings for her?"

"No."

Amos shrugged.

"Feel whatever you want."

He tossed the glove lightly from one hand to the other.

"But leave her alone."

"You have spent two years chasing someone who rejected you repeatedly."

Amos's voice remained calm.

"That's enough."

I am helping you out here, She won't accept your feeling bro.

Caelan clenched his fists.

"And if I win?"

Amos raised an eyebrow.

"You already said it."

"I will ensure you no longer take advantage of Lady Elena."

"Sure."

He handed the glove back.

Caelan took it, their eyes locking in an instant. The surrounding students fell completely silent, and then, without warning, Amos turned to face Elena.

"Anyway."

"Shopping. Let's go."

Caelan stared at him.

"We just agreed to a duel."

"And?."

"You are not going to prepare?"

"No."

"You are not taking this seriously?"

Amos looked genuinely confused.

"I am."

He gestured toward Elena.

"But I promised her we'd go shopping."

Elena looked at him for several seconds. Then calmly turned toward the corridor.

"Let us go."

Amos immediately followed.

"See you at the duel."

Caelan stood frozen in place.

Amos walked beside Elena.

After several seconds, he glanced at her.

"So."

"Yes?"

"Two years?"

"Yes."

"You really rejected him that many times?"

"Yes."

"How did I not know about this?"

"You were not here."

"...Right."

Amos thought about it.

"Elena."

"Yes?"

"How many other people have confessed to you?"

Elena was silent.

Amos stopped walking.

"...Elena."

She continued walking.

"Young Master."

"How many?"

"It is not relevant."

"That means there are too many."

"Probably."

Amos stared at her back.

Elena continued walking without comment.

Amos hurried after her.

"Wait! I need numbers!"

"No."

"Elena."

"No."

"Five?"

Silence.

"Ten?"

Nothing.

"Twenty?"

She finally glanced back.

"Would you like to go shopping?"

Amos immediately straightened.

"Shopping."

"Good."