I Awoke as an Imprisoned Villainess-Chapter 19 - ...Sophia

…Sophia

“Eh…..”

While I was bewildered by Claude sama’s remarks, Claude sama said again, “It was already you when you woke up in this tower, wasn’t it?”

“Violet hates flowers…especially, violets. She also said what’s the value of flowers which only fall apart delicately. …She wouldn’t ever say they resemble the color of her eyes”

I opened my eyes in surprise as he suddenly believed the body swap.

I was surprised and puzzled, and Claude sama raised his eyebrows at me in distress.

“I should’ve listened to your side earlier. I did something unforgivable, treating you like a criminal and strongly blamed you when you must have been discouraged as you swapped bodies with a person you don’t know in an unknown place”

He’s blaming himself so much.

Seeing Claude sama’s frustration, I opened my mouth in a hurry.

“T-That’s not true. In the first place, was I even treated like a criminal…?”

“…Although you certainly seemed to be enjoying yourself for some reason, but-

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I properly imprisoned you like a criminal, conforming to the rules” Claude sama said with a complicated face.

Somehow, my feelings of sorriness overflowed, seeing that expression.

“I was certainly confused at first, but the food was delicious, Claude sama was kind, and prepared a lot of medicine herbs for me so I was content every day! I wasn’t discouraged at all. In fact, I rather enjoyed being able to eat together and being able to devote myself to medicine”

I enjoyed my life in the prison so much I that I think I disqualified as a prisoner. I think the punishment is strange from the first place  though…

“That’s why please don’t mind it and stand up…!”

Saying that, I desperately begged Claude sama to get up. He still had a face as if he hadn’t knelt enough, but reluctantly stood up.

~~~~~

“…I should’ve introduced myself before asking a lady her name. My name is Claude Bradley. I’m the second son of Marquess Bradley House, and I’m serving as a commander of the first order of knights under the direct command of His Highness, the crown prince”

I bowed in the manner of a lady and introduced myself while thinking Claude sama who ritually introduced himself was a noble as I had expected.

“I’m Sophia Alcott, the eldest daughter of Count Alcott House”

“Sophia… you’re the young lady of Count Alcott House?”

Claude sama nodded as if he was convinced. I’m sure he got an idea of why I was so distraught earlier.

“Sophia…*Miss Sophia. So that’s your real name..”

“Ah, please just call me Sophia”

When I said that, Claude sama raised his eyebrows as if he was slightly surprised, then cautiously opened his mouth.

“…Sophia”

The way he called me was so gentle that I felt a little embarrassed. I think it’s the first time someone other than my mother has ever called me so preciously.

I looked at Claude sama with my mouth relaxed, and for some reason, he was holding his mouth.

When he noticed my gaze, he quickly averted his eyes and said, “I’ll report this to His Highness immediately”

“Unlike me, His Highness is a flexible man. I’m sure he will listen. I’ll then seize Violet who is in your body, and ask her the circumstances in front of His Highness himself. Then, I’ll somehow get Violet back to normal. I’m sure you will be able to return to your body before long”

“Back to my body….”

I was about to put my hand on my mouth and think about what Claude sama just said.

At the worst timing, my stomach growled right then.

“…Let’s go and eat first”

Seeing my boiling red face, Claude sama smiled wryly in a worry.

I nodded and said, “Yes” while thinking this is what it means to want to go in a hole if there’s one.

~~~~~

“….you have been treated like that?”

Claude sama is angry.

While eating together, I was asked, “Why did you sleep on the floor at first, and call a small meal a feast, though you’re a count daughter?”, so I hesitantly told him about my life in my birthplace, blurring the details.

I told him I had been distant from my family ever since my mother died, stepmother came, and Julia was born. I told him my meal was more frugal than my family, and that I kept medicinal herbs and reagents on the bed as my room was small.

Even though I told him vaguely because I thought it would be too much to tell the truth and make the mood gloomy, it was still apparently unforgivable to Claude sama who has a strong sense of justice.

His face is scary. It’s very impactful when a beautiful person gets angry.

I shook my head in a panic and followed up that it’s okay.

“I had a lot of time to make medicines! So the conclusion’s okay or rather-”

“No, it’s the worst thing to do as a human. It’s definitely not forgivable. …I’m not going to forgive Violet for making you take the punishment in her place like this, but I must say, I’m glad I’m able to learn of your plight in this way”

With that grim look on his face, Claude sama said bitterly, “Still, to be able to make such a family become so exhausted…”. I’m of the same opinion with him in this case.

“I wonder what kind of magic she used to get them to let her make a social debut….”

With that said, I recalled the first question that came to mind before.

“…why did Violet sama switch places with me?”

At first, I thought it was because I was a hikkikomori. Maybe she heard my rumors and thought she would be able to live freely doing whatever she pleases, and it would be harder for her to be found out about the swap if I was a hikkikomori.

But it’s said that Sophia Alcott has recently started showing her face. And that she is going to hold a ball for her social debut in two and a half months to coincide with my release.

At the same time, I opened my mouth again, thinking of the letter hidden in the bracelet.