“I’ll just live as a villain.

Chapter 17

Chapter 3: Change (1)

I returned to the mansion on the back of a wyvern, carrying the unconscious Lionel and the knights injured by the wyvern’s tail attack. The knights looked dazed even after arriving at the mansion, as if they didn’t know what had just happened. I had deliberately returned on the wyvern to show that I could fully control them.

‘Then the expedition that came to Erel to kill the wyverns will go back too.’

Due to its geography, Erel had very little contact with the capital. Once the expedition left, there would be no need to deal with the troublesome Catherine faction unless I went to the capital myself.

‘But wyverns are actually really useful as transportation.’

I never considered it because they were monsters that killed people. But after riding on one, I realized they could carry someone quite stably. And their speed was incredible.

Transportation in this world was, frankly, terrible. Horses and carriages were the main options. Railways had just started, but they were slow and had very few stops.

‘In this world, a wyvern is like an airplane.’

The thought of an airplane naturally triggered a memory I had tried to forget: the explosion, the shaking, the screaming, the alarms—the last memory from my previous life.

Before becoming Ibria, I had worked at a trading company. I was in charge of the South American market because I studied Spanish, and that required frequent long-distance flights. I never imagined the plane I boarded routinely would crash.

‘They said a plane crash is less likely than being struck by lightning. And yet I got that unlucky chance.’

If I were going to be the protagonist of such a rare disaster, I would have preferred winning the lottery. But my luck led to tragedy, and waking up in Ibria’s body was proof of just how unlucky I was.

‘Was it fate that the last book I read before the crash was Lady Catherine, and that’s why I ended up here?’

If I had known, I would have read a storybook where everyone lived happily ever after. At least then, even with my bad luck, life would have been smooth.

While I was petting the wyvern and lamenting my misfortune, an unwelcome voice called me.

“Lady Oberon, may we speak for a moment?”

It was Ridon, the most tiresome of Catherine’s faction. Given the circumstances, there was only one topic for discussion.

‘He must be here because of the wyvern.’

As expected, Ridon couldn’t take his eyes off the wyvern, which was sitting quietly. Considering the massive beast was curling up like a neighborhood cat, it was understandable.

“I’ve never seen a calm wyvern before.”

Ridon muttered to himself, then cautiously addressed me.

“The Frost Knights’ report says you tamed the wyvern. Is that true?”

He was pointing toward Lionel, who was regaining consciousness, and the knights receiving first aid. Ridon had apparently heard a rough summary of the situation before coming to me.

“Do you need confirmation? You can see for yourself.”

I shrugged and deliberately stroked the wyvern. Ridon flinched and drew his sword, but the wyvern remained calm. Its large eyes blinked at him, and Ridon awkwardly lowered his sword.

“Wyverns are impossible to tame. Even the Royal Knights failed when trying to train captured wyverns. And yet a single noblewoman accomplished it? How?”

The truth was simple.

‘I made a deal with the wyvern leader that can understand human speech.’

But to tell Ridon this, I’d have to explain how I met the wyvern leader—which meant mentioning Harry. He was the start of everything.

And I couldn’t tell anyone about Harry. That left a gap in the truth.

‘And Ridon Jeraint isn’t the type to believe a truth with gaps.’

So the only option was to act boldly. I was confident in being calm and shamelessly assertive.

Most people with trade experience like me would be the same. Negotiation was the foundation of commerce. To negotiate effectively, you needed analytical skills, smooth speech, the ability to hide weaknesses, and unwavering confidence.

‘In short, I’m confident talking my way through this.’

Plus, I had experienced this world entirely through books.

‘I know exactly what the other person wants.’

It was an advantage I could not lose.

“That’s a secret.”

“What?”

“A secret. It’s my property.”

“You mean the wyvern is your property?”

Ridon frowned, giving me a sharp look.

“That’s blasphemy. All monsters belong to the royal family.”

“I know. The wyvern can’t be my property; it belongs to the crown.”

As Ridon said, all monsters were crown property. Technically, the crown monopolized resources gained from killing them, like bones and claws for weapons or troll blood for potions. Anyone caught stealing faced severe punishment.

“But what about the ability to tame wyverns?”

“My ability to tame wyverns?”

“Yes. Surely you’re not claiming even that talent belongs to the crown?”

Ridon looked stunned, as if hit on the head. I smiled and shrugged.

“Some people are good at painting, others at swordsmanship. Those talents are someone’s property.”

“You mean…?”

“My ability to tame wyverns is my property. No one else in the kingdom can do it. Isn’t that precious? Why should I share it?”

“I have the duty to understand everything related to this wyvern hunt. That includes knowing that you tamed it.”

“I understand your position, Your Highness. But you should understand mine too.”

I exaggerated a sigh to emphasize my point.

“My method is a secret. Tell you, and it’s no longer a secret. Then its value drops.”

“You mean I should pay if I want to hear it?”

“Of course not. Do you think I’d sell my talent?”

The Oberon family’s wealth was famous, as was the queen’s ambition to get it—even arranging Ibria and Cassian’s engagement. Everyone knew it.

“I just don’t want to share my secret, Your Highness.”

Ridon went silent, eyes sharp and wary like when he looked at the wyvern.

“…What are you scheming this time?”

“Scheming?”

“Isn’t it obvious what Ibria Oberon would do? Something harmful to innocent people, right?”

Ridon sneered, pointing his sword at me. The blade glinted sharply, and the Frost Knights nearby tensed, unsure whether to intervene or let the prince act.

[Shall I suppress him?]

Harry wagged his tail and growled low at Ridon.

“I don’t know how she tamed it, but if she threatens people’s safety, I won’t allow it. Better not even think about it.”

Ridon gripped his sword tighter, ignoring Harry.

“Speak. What scheme are you—”

“Yaaaaah!”

Ridon’s cold voice was drowned out by a clumsy, strange yell from Lionel, running toward us with his sword.

Ridon watched, speechless, as Lionel ran—slowly but with all his effort.

Reaching Ridon, Lionel wildly swung his sword. Ridon lightly dodged, and Lionel, unable to control his speed, rolled dramatically on the ground.

“Lionel!”

The Frost Knights gasped in shock—not out of concern, but because he swung a sword at the prince.

Attacking royalty could be considered treason. And if a Frost Knight of Oberon did it, it could be interpreted as a rebellion by the Oberon family. Yet who would dare accuse the Oberons?

Everyone drew their swords in panic. Lionel, covered in dust, stood up straight.

“The lady isn’t a bad person!”

Lionel shouted, trembling, guarding me with his sword. His arms and legs shook, yet he held his ground. Surprisingly, his shaky stance felt dependable.

But that thought lasted less than a minute.

“Even if she sneaks out at dawn, or threatens to cut off fingers if you don’t obey, she’s really a good person!”

Lionel’s cry echoed into the sky. Even I agreed—it sounded suspicious and cruel. Harry seemed to think so too.

[…Is he doing this on purpose?]

But his firm lips and determined expression showed no malice. If he meant to embarrass me, I could have coerced him.

‘The scary part is that he’s really trying to protect me.’

There was no controlling someone acting with pure intent. I held my head as knights looked at me, silently asking for explanation.

‘Where do I even start?’

Too many things needed handling: Lionel’s weird statements, him attacking the prince, the potential accusation of Oberon’s rebellion…

Harry’s voice rang in my mind.

[Contractor, first let’s get rid of the cause of this chaos. Don’t know what he’ll say next.]

A relief. I agreed enthusiastically.

[Good. How?]

[Simple.]

Harry gave the wyvern a signal. It flapped its wings and lifted Lionel into the air.

“Uuuuh!”

Lionel’s scream faded as the wyvern rose, disappearing as a tiny speck in the sky.

‘I didn’t mean to remove him like that…’

[…What did you say to the wyvern?]

[I didn’t say anything. Just gestured. The wyvern probably didn’t like him either.]

[Will he be okay?]

[After a few laps over the forest, he should be fine.]

Harry yawned casually, but I was far from calm.

[The atmosphere is worse now.]

Even the Frost Knights’ neutral gaze turned hostile—they had just seen their comrade “kidnapped” by a wyvern.

‘Who can I blame?’

It was all my fault for trusting Harry.

‘Trying to fix one problem, I made another.’

I sighed and called Ridon, who was watching the wyvern disappear into the sky.

“Your Highness, can we talk somewhere private?”

Ridon turned his sharp eyes toward me—like Cassian’s, but even sharper.

“Will the knight be safe?”

“Probably. He’ll be nauseous and vomit, but otherwise fine.”

After a few laps over the forest, he’d have thrown up everything he ate today.

“Consider that punishment enough for pointing a sword at you. I doubt you want a feud with Oberon anyway.”

“I accept that suggestion.”

Ridon sheathed his sword, steady despite the chaos.

“Follow me. I also want to get out of this messy situation.”