Just moments ago,
The situation in the banquet hall right after Lee Do-hee (as Kalisha) left.
The previously quiet banquet hall buzzed with murmurs again.
"Lady Kalisha... seems different somehow?"
"Hmm, she might actually have potential..."
"Was she hiding her abilities?"
"The bloodline of kings..."
"Blood will tell, it seems."
The nobles began whispering excitedly.
The Kalisha they just witnessed wasn't the reckless villainess they knew. For a brief moment, they saw the imposing figure of a female monarch overlapping with her.
Though only momentarily, they were undoubtedly overwhelmed by Kalisha's presence.
Truthfully, Kalisha never possessed such abilities - this was the fusion of Lee Do-hee's worldly experience and Kalisha's usual arrogance. Lee Do-hee alone couldn't have projected such overwhelming energy.
Thus, the banquet ended quickly as everyone processed their shock.
The image of Kalisha looking down haughtily at Lady Haindaz remained burned in the nobles' minds as they returned home.
Of course, public opinion wouldn't flip from a single incident - Kalisha remained the wicked villainess - but such is the way of the world.
Make 100 good deeds and 1 mistake? Fool.
Make 100 mistakes and 1 good deed? Genius.
The impact differs.
Meanwhile, the threatened trio of women regrouped in a secret chamber.
Three Crown Princess candidates!
The first was a dazed blonde woman - Haila Haindaz.
Daughter of Duke Haindaz and the woman thoroughly humiliated by Lee Do-hee earlier.
The second maintained her poker face with a sweet smile -
Her name was Elina Luminous.
The very reason for this Crown Princess competition.
The woman truly loved by the Crown Prince, who rose from a poor count's family.
She had wavy blue hair, lake-clear transparent eyes, and beauty anyone would call lovely.
The third woman was Keshira Hanover, sub-Tower Lord of the Red Magic Tower.
A red-haired mage.
Truthfully, she had little interest in this competition.
Her mind was filled only with wanting to return to the Magic Tower for research.
She'd only half-heartedly participated after her father promised to stop bothering her about marriage if she joined this event.
"Haila, don't worry. I have a solution regarding the honor duel."
At Elina's words, life returned to Haila's eyes.
"R-really? But with our family knights, that woman..."
"No need for only Haindaz family knights to participate."
"Eh? Now that you mention it..."
"Exactly. In honor duels for a Lady's sake, other knights can step forward. You've heard of the Black Knight system, yes?"
A rule created to prevent powerful families from oppressing others through sheer force in honor duels.
Anyone could stake their life to participate on a Lady's behalf as a Black Knight.
Monetary rewards were strictly forbidden - participation was only permitted for the honor of protecting the wronged weak, or for love of the Lady.
A knight staking his life for a Lady not of his family - how romantic!
Of course, in reality, self-preservation comes first, so Black Knights rarely participate in honor duels - but there's no rule against it here.
One could even claim the justification of punishing a villainess's evil deeds. Justification overflowed.
"But... would any strong knight truly step forward for me?"
"That's why I'm helping. Haila, trust me."
Elina's blue eyes curved like crescent moons. As if imagining something pleasant, her lips curled into a wide smile.
"This match will finish that bitch for good. Absolutely! Hohohohoho!!"
"......"
"Ah, ahem~ I got carried away being so happy~ Anyway, don't worry about that bitch anymore. I've waited so long for her to grow arrogant from her own incompetence~"
Elina's blue eyes sparkled.
Of course, Elina didn't know that the moderately strong Kalisha had been replaced by Lee Do-hee - an S-class Trial Hunter, sex-addicted dopamine dominatrix.
***
The next day.
Kalisha waking up and leaving her bedroom.
"Hurk!!"
A maid busily cleaning nearby gasped upon seeing me,
"F-forgive me, Your Highness!!"
Suddenly bowing deeply in apology. Probably apologizing for being startled by me.
I acutely realized anew how Kalisha was viewed as a villainess.
"...I won't scold you. Rise and continue your work. And have my breakfast prepared."
"Y-yes, Your Highness!!"
She scurried off looking like someone granted a last-minute pardon.
And Kalisha's mansion descended into chaos.
"What? Her Highness woke early? Shouldn't we call the royal physician, Head Butler?"
"W-we must! Of course we must!!"
"Hey, did you hear? They say Her Highness woke early today and asked for breakfast~"
"Really? Nothing bad's happening, right? I'm so scared..."
'I can hear everything, idiots.'
I'd focused Divine Power in my ears to catch any spies or suspicious individuals, but only heard exaggerated fussing.
My face flushed slightly with embarrassment.
'Why must I feel ashamed for this?'
Thus began the villainess Kalisha's day.
The hastily gathered maids gently bathed me.
The key word being gently.
Absolutely no vigorous scrubbing.
Breasts handled gently.
Inner thighs even more gently.
"Hng... Ha, ngh. Mmm..."
Pussy and backdoor cleaned very delicately.
"Hnnn... There, a bit more."
Even receiving breast massages.
'Being a villainess is the best...'
My body felt deliciously melted.
Checking memories, Kalisha had moaned similarly during these baths. So I stopped feeling embarrassed or holding back.
Come to think of it, the bathing maids seemed specially treated - they showed no fear of me.
They said nothing about the womb tattoo or breast milk, as if fully aware. Like how entering a Trial changes perceptions to accept this appearance as normal, those who'd seen me naked before seemed unfazed.
Of course, being discovered by others would bring tremendous shame.
After having every nook cranny secretly washed and breast milk pleasantly expressed, I enjoyed a lavish breakfast. Slightly sweet dishes.
The menu catered more to Kalisha's tastes than mine, but I ate without complaint.
With my stomach full and no morning schedule, I headed to train while preparing for the duel.
"Huh? You wish to train?"
The guard captain spoke for the first time at my words.
Lazy Kalisha never trained. The mansion went berserk at this sudden change.
Buzzing. Whispering. Rustling.
Breaking news~
Villainess displays abnormal behavior~
"Sigh... Fine, all of you attack me together."
"Goodness, Your Highness. How could we point weapons at you?"
"Hmm, wouldn't you rather fight than die?"
Thus I spent the morning beating up perfectly healthy guards. Being praised for training thanks to the villainess's infamy.
Of course, their losing to me didn't mean they were weak.
'Just below Sword Master level.'
When the captain and three lieutenants teamed up, even I struggled. Thinking about it, my doting father wouldn't assign weak guards to his only daughter.
For reference, Kalisha's father was currently at their territory due to border disputes.
"Phew... Magnificent, Your Highness. Were you hiding your skills?"
"Yes. Correct."
Obviously not, but I couldn't explain anyway.
"At this level, we guards needn't intervene in the honor duel."
"Speaking of which, what are the honor duel rules?"
"Ah, here comes someone who knows. I'll ask."
The Head Butler who'd rushed over worried when hearing I was training.
"We've agreed on standard duel format."
The honor duel rules were simple.
A 3v3 consecutive match.
Each side fields three candidates, with winners continuing to face the next opponent.
"Surely they won't send weaklings?"
"Of course not. Doing so in an honor duel would make them social pariahs."
This should handle at least one supporter.
'The problem is that blue-haired bitch...'
My memories remain vivid.
Truthfully, I barely remember other candidates - only overflowing hatred for that blue-eyed, blue-haired woman.
Elina Luminous.
This woman built her reverse harem like a true romance fantasy protagonist.
Alongside the Crown Prince, she'd won favor from the Magic Tower Lord, Mercenary King, Wolf Knight, Back-Alley Overlord - every capable man under heaven as if the world itself protected her.
Of course, Kalisha hadn't discovered this herself - the Crawford intelligence department barely uncovered it.
'This is partly why Kalisha couldn't give up the Crown Prince.'
She clung to the slim chance Elina might choose another man.
Seen this way, it's deeply unfair.
Kalisha wanted only the Crown Prince, while Elina could choose anyone.
And the Crown Prince seemed the most valuable prize - especially since the kingdom's most prominent princess desired him. How thrilling to steal him away?
'Choosing men like picking good cars... I'll never forgive you. And I'll destroy those fools enchanted by that vixen too.'
Though this Trial seems to involve multiple players, it's truly a one-on-one battle.
The villainess Kalisha, hated by all,
versus
Elina, beloved by all.
Following the original story, Elina would win overwhelmingly - but that won't happen now.
Until the duel, I spent time planning at the mansion.
Gathering information about this kingdom from viewers, brainstorming with the Head Butler, guards, and intelligence team.
Seeing me - not completely, but noticeably changed - they worked with fiery enthusiasm.
Strangely, the mansion servants never insulted or ignored me despite Kalisha's past villainy.
***
Before I knew it, the day of the honor duel arrived.
At the grand dueling arena entrance.
Peering outside through iron-barred gates.
'They've really set the stage.'
The final day of the Founding Festival.
All nobles gathered, with even non-hereditary nobles attending as the Crown Princess competition officially began.
This marked the start of formal evaluations.
Though not quite the Colosseum, an enormous crowd packed the sizable dueling arena.
The best seats with clear views held the Emperor, Empress, Crown Prince, and all royalty.
Even for an honor duel, such turnout was unprecedented.
But this involved the Crown Princess competition and perfectly capped the festival.
Moreover, both sides confidently expected victory.
They'd heavily promoted coming to watch their opponent's humiliation, ensuring massive attendance.
Of course, our influence was negligible - 99% came through their connections.
I'd wondered what gave that Haindaz woman such confidence - now I saw Elina's harem members had fully mobilized. The standby fighters' aura felt ominous.
After the Emperor's address concluded, the duel properly began.
"Now!! Finally, we begin~~ the Founding Festival's grand finale!! The fierce battle between two women vying to become Crown Princess!! Which side will the goddess of victory favor?!"
They'd even hired an announcer-clown amplifying his voice through magic tools.
'How utterly ridiculous.'
Clearly planning to mock me relentlessly if I lost.
"First match! For House Crawford - none other than herself!! The Empire's most notorious villainess, Kalisha Crawford!!"
""Boooooo~~~""
"She's an evil bitch!!"
"Boo~! Trash!!"
Pfft.
I laughed incredulously.
'This might be more fun than I thought.'
Though factually correct, they'd framed this as absolute good versus evil.
I wondered what expressions they'd make when the villainess slaughtered their righteous champions.
'Just for today, I'll play the villainess role properly.'
I'd planned to go easy, but after this cheap opening move, I'd punish them severely. Time to show them the taste of Darkened Lee Do-hee.
The announcer introduced my opponent.
"He who cannot tolerate injustice! Shows no mercy before evil!! Here to defeat the wicked villainess!! Her opponent is~!! The continent's greatest Mercenary King, acting as Black Knight for delicate Lady Haindaz!!! Behold~~~ Luke Erikson!!!"
Clearly differentiated introductions. The crowd went wild.
"Wooooow!!!"
"The Mercenary King! So cool!!"
"Luke Erikson fighting!"
"Teach that evil bitch a lesson!"
"Slay the villainess!"
"Now!! Let the match begin!!"
Clang!
With the starting signal, the opposite iron gate opened.
A handsome, rugged man wearing leather armor reinforced with steel plates and wielding a greatsword appeared.
Amid tremendous cheers, he entered leisurely with a smile.
Though not romance fantasy protagonist material, he looked like a proper supporting character. His charm points were wild masculinity and tanned muscular physique. In a 19+ version, he might have an enormous Cock.
Anyway, seeing his smug face worsened my mood.
I'd go all out.
No holding back anymore.
[Haste]
[Strength]
Both stacked fivefold.
Following Straight Heart One Spear's principles, I spread Divine Power throughout my body to enhance it.
Kwaaaaang!!
The ground cratered where I pushed off as my body shot forward like light.
It happened instantaneously.
Just as the Mercenary King's eyes widened slightly -
Splurch!!!
My spear pierced through his head, bright red blood spraying in all directions.
The Mercenary King's head split open on my spear, completely exploding from the impact and scattering brain matter everywhere.
Fwoooosh...!
The audience.
Especially the three Crown Princess candidates in front-row seats directly behind the Mercenary King, now splattered with blood and brain fragments. Still smiling, they hadn't even processed what happened.
"Huh...?"
The cheering abruptly ceased.
Without anyone prompting, thousands fell silent simultaneously.
The announcer stood dumbfounded, mouth agape, unable to declare victory.