Once inside the room, it was clear things hadn’t been properly prepared. The maids were neglecting her, which was understandable, considering Penelope’s dwindling influence.
Then again, she kind of brought it on herself by treating them like garbage. Now, bruised and cornered, she was getting a taste of her own dicine.
’Probably better not to ask... to protect her ego.’
Right on ti, Saphira slithered out from Verena’s sleeve and coiled lazily around her shoulders.
"ACK! I-Is that a snake?!" Penelope gasped, nearly tripping over herself.
"Oh no! Is that a snake?!" Saphira mocked with an exaggerated hiss.
"Seriously, Saphira?" Verena sighed.
[SYSTEM UPDATE: NEW CHANIC UNLOCKED!]
[FRIENDSHIP EVENTS]
[You’ve unlocked a new relationship path: Friendship Events with the villainesses!]
[While Descent Points fuel your path as a feared villainess, unlocking dramatic power boosts, intimidation perks, and story-breaking choices, Friendship Points grant practical, everyday buffs that apply to any route.]
[These include:]
[Enhanced charisma]
[Faster recovery from debuffs]
[Bonus skill growth]
[Congratulations! You have successfully secured your first friendship]
[New Ally Target: Penelope Vexian]
[Friendship Points: 1]
Is that so?
Right now, she had plenty of Descent Points stacked up that were untouched and burning a hole in her taphorical pocket. And as much as she disliked Penelope... this girl was now part of her story, whether she liked it or not.
[SYSTEM NOTICE: Friendship Event – "Servant’s Justice"]
[Objective: Get back at the maids for mistreating Penelope!]
[Description: For the first ti, bonds are being ford outside the boundaries of scripted romance. This isn’t about affection. It’s about loyalty, dignity, and defiance. The villainesses are no longer alone. Verena has chosen to rewrite their fate, one friendship at a ti.]
[Ti: 1 Day]
[You are now recognized as a friend of the Villainess. Handle with care.]
Why now?
They might’ve been "friends" before, but only now, when Penelope truly had no one left, did the chanic trigger.
Verena showing up at just the right mont had changed sothing. She had changed sothing.
"Penelope..." Verena took a steady breath. "Let see your bruises."
"W-What are you saying?" Penelope gave a weak laugh, the kind ant to wave things off. But the cracks in her mask were obvious now.
"Let see."
Eventually, she gave in. They sat side by side on the bed as Penelope slowly slipped off her sleeves, revealing her back.
It feels like my eyes just got flashbanged...
Even now, bruised and battered, Penelope looked like a painting carved by moonlight.
"Those pieces of ssssssssssssshits!!!" Saphira hissed, tail thrashing.
"Language!" Penelope snapped, scandalized.
Really? She still had the energy to care about foul words right now?
"What?! I’m not the one gawking like a pervert like Verena!" Saphira shot back.
"I’M TRYING TO HELP, DAMMIT!"
After a chaotic minute of snapping, screeching, and untangling who was mad at who, Penelope finally broke down and spilled everything.
"The maids gave spoiled food on purpose."
"They didn’t clean the stairs... I slipped and fell."
"My father’s been ignoring more, which made them bolder."
"They even planted sharp objects in my clothes."
"Everything was made to look like an accident."
Verena’s eye twitched.Okay. Ti to raise so hell.
Originally, she just wanted to hang out with the girl a little more—keep the friendship warm and toasty. But now? Oh, this was going to be fun.
"Alright, go change. I’ll hit the bathroom," Verena said casually.
Once inside, she locked the door and summoned her interface with a dramatic flourish.
[SKILL STORE: VILLAINESS INTERFACE]
[User: Verena D’Auvergne]
[Current Balance: [Descent Points: 540]
[Welco, Villainess. Power is not inherited. It is claid. Select a path.]
[➤ Whispered Lies (Tier 1)]
[Cost: 70 DP]
[Effect: Plant subtle doubts and falsehoods during conversations.]
[Upgrades: Affect multiple targets, deepen confusion.]
"I’ll take that," Verena grinned.
[✔ You have used 70 Descent Points! You now have 470 DP remaining!]
[✔ New Skill Unlocked: Whispered Lies (Tier 1)]
[Duration: 1 Minute | Cooldown: 5 Hours]
[Effect: Subtly plant lies and doubts in people’s minds during conversations. The more you use this, the harder it becos for others to detect the truth.]
"...One minute? Five-hour cooldown? What is this, a trial version?"
Still, whatever. She wasn’t here to be patient. She was here to wage war.
[✔ You have used 150 Descent Points! You now have 321 DP remaining!]
[✔ New Skill Unlocked: Mind Whisperer (Tier 1)]
[Effect: Communicate telepathically and subtly influence thoughts.]
[Duration: 1 Minute | Cooldown: 5 Hours]
...
[✔ You have used 50 Descent Points! You now have 271 DP remaining!]
[✔ New Skill Unlocked: Silver Tongue (Tier 1)]
[Effect: Increases your ability to persuade, deceive, and charm others with ease. Slightly lowers the chances of others noticing you’re manipulating them.]
[Duration: 1 Minute | Cooldown: 5 Hours]
[Extra Note: Skill Tier go up with each heroine reaching 100 Affection Points.]
...
When she stepped outside, Verena was greeted by a skeptical-looking Penelope. She’d never seen the girl this ssy, this hurt, defenses up but barely holding.
"Tell ," Penelope said warily. "Why are you really doing this? Surely, you have so twisted motive... like I did back then."
"Don’t worry," Verena smiled sweetly, taking the girl’s slender hand. "I’m simply here for friendship."
And also, trying very hard not to die, obviously.
They were seated in the garden under a wrought-iron tea pavilion, one of those dainty, flower-covered canopies nobles sat under to gossip and pretend they didn’t commit murder by manners.
The signs were already there.
Penelope’s side was practically invisible. She wasn’t served at all, while Verena was showered with attention.
"Lady Verena, would you like so tea?"
"Lady Verena, the pastries are here."
Not a single word to Penelope. When a maid finally tried to serve her, she managed to splash tea all over Penelope’s dress.
"I-I’m so sorry, Princess Penelope!" the maid gasped, her shock as fake as her surprise.
Usually, Penelope would snap about respect, but this ti, she simply smiled. Why? Because she knew she didn’t have the luxury to lash out.
"It’s alright, it’s alright!..."
God, she sounded so pathetic right now.
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