Please Bully Me, Miss Villainess!

—People are born unequal.

Wherever people gather, there will be ‘class’ distinctions.

Children of nobles will continue to be nobles, children of the poor will remain poor.

This is the so-called ‘class society,’ where the vast gap between classes is difficult to bridge through effort alone.

As a commoner, Elsa had always been deeply aware of this point, and now—right beside her was someone at the pinnacle of this school… no, of this entire country.

“Good day, Lady Yvonne~ You’re early again today!”

“…Good day.”

As soon as Yvonne entered the classroom, the other young ladies in the class flocked around her, buzzing like bees surrounding the most vibrant flower, forming a stark contrast to the solitude around Elsa.

Elsa had no particular interest in this young lady who had become her desk mate.

After all, this duke’s daughter was just like the others, merely another young lady who enjoyed bullying her for fun.

Although her bullying methods were somewhat childish, the essence was still bullying.

In the end, she was still one of them. Although a bit strange, she was definitely not Elsa’s friend.

“By the way, Lady Yvonne’s hairstyle is so gorgeous~ I wonder how long it takes to style every day?”

Those symmetrical golden curls were clearly the result of meticulous grooming.

“…The servants do it for me. I’ve never really timed it.”

Her response was surprisingly nonchalant, but it sparked another round of flattery from the surrounding bee-like young ladies:

“Ah~~~ As expected of a duke’s daughter!”

“So noble indeed!”

However, just secretly listening to these high-class topics discussed by the young ladies gathered nearby made a feeling of envy well up in Elsa’s chest.

So this is what it means to be nobility…

Their daily lives must be far beyond her imagination.

“In comparison, I wonder how that commoner sitting over there managed to sneak in here.”

A sharp voice pierced Elsa’s ears, making her heart quiver slightly.

Those words were clearly directed at her.

“Indeed, she’s lowering the average standard of our school. I really don’t understand why the school would admit someone like her.”

“A commoner should know their place. How shameless to think they can learn the same things as us nobles—how thick-skinned can one be?”

“Lady Yvonne is really unlucky to have to sit next to someone like that.”

The mockery continued, and Elsa’s hand holding the book page trembled slightly.

At times like this, should she pretend not to hear, or quietly leave?

Just as she was struggling with these options internally, she heard a clear voice speak up:

“—Don’t say such things,”

Unexpectedly, Yvonne intervened to stop these harsh words.

“Without a noble background as a pass, the entrance requirements are very high. One must go through multiple rigorous tests to be admitted. She must have put in a lot of effort to enroll here.”

Is she… speaking up for me?

Elsa blinked in surprise, unable to believe what she was hearing.

“Instead of speaking ill of others, why don’t you try improving your own grades? If I remember correctly, none of you scored better than her in the recent exams, did you?”

“…Ugh!”

Hearing these words, the other young ladies were left speechless.

The words from her mouth were like a warm current flowing into Elsa’s heart.

This person… might not be the kind of person she had imagined.

⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱

“For the next class, can I borrow your Monster Studies textbook?”

“Uh, sure…”

Elsa was a bit puzzled.

“But, Yvonne, why do you need two textbooks?”

Her own textbook was still on her desk, so it wasn’t that she didn’t have one to use.

So why borrow Elsa’s? Was this bullying?

Does this count as bullying?

“—It’s bullying.”

She admitted it quite frankly.

As it was almost time for class, she didn’t seem to want to draw attention from others. Looking a bit troubled, she leaned in and whispered:

“Didn’t I say it before?”

“Ah, that…”

Elsa remembered. She had indeed declared before, ‘Since you’re sitting next to me, be prepared to be bullied.’

However, so-called ‘bullying’—is usually done for others to see, to demonstrate the power difference between the bully and the bullied, to gain admiration from onlookers, and thus obtain some kind of psychological satisfaction… That’s how it should be.

Up until now, the bullying Elsa had experienced was mostly like that.

Who ever heard of ‘bullying’ that asks for permission?

Although her mind was full of questions, Elsa still obediently handed over the textbook she needed for the next class.

Perhaps surprised that Elsa would give her the book so readily, Yvonne also looked a bit taken aback.

“…Thank you.”

After receiving the book, she looked as if she had completed some kind of mission, her face showing an expression of relief.

“Y-you’re welcome?”

…She even thanked me.

Thank me for what, for cooperating with her bullying?

But by doing this, did she want Elsa to not have a textbook and then be scolded by that strict professor?

Elsa began to mentally score this bullying attempt.

Hmm… As far as results go, it barely passes as acceptable bullying.

After all, that old professor was truly terrifying. If one didn’t bring their book to his class, they would likely be punished with triple homework and made to stand for the entire day.

But even so, she didn’t intend to resist. As a powerless commoner, she had no means to stand against nobility.

Honestly, compared to other more excessive behaviors, this kind of bullying from her was nothing.

But this duke’s daughter’s actions were always beyond her expectations.

“Yvonne, what are you…?”

After taking Elsa’s book, she quite naturally opened her own book and placed it between their desks.

Then she moved her chair closer, sitting right next to Elsa.

“Do I need to explain? We’re sharing a book, of course.”

“But… then why did you just…”

“…You need to understand,”

She said with a serious face,

“My ‘bullying’ is just taking away your textbook—as for the book itself, I’ll return it after class.”

?? What’s this supposed to be?

It makes no sense…

“What are you spacing out for? Come over quickly. That old professor lectures very fast. You definitely won’t be able to keep up without a textbook as reference.”

But under her persistent urging, Elsa could only move her chair a bit closer to her.

With this, the distance between them suddenly shortened to a minimum.

…Isn’t this too close?

So close that she could smell the fragrance emanating from her body.

Her golden hair, like a waterfall, slid from her shoulder onto Elsa’s hand. Even the slightest movement would make it tickle, but surprisingly, Elsa didn’t want to pull her hand away.

Being covered by her hair like this felt like touching sunlight, making her heart tingle.

Her golden hair was indeed beautiful, like ripe wheat swaying in the sunlight in a field. Although this comparison might be too common and not befitting her noble status, it was the most beautiful thing Elsa had ever seen in her childhood.

Elsa couldn’t help but imagine the scene of a personal maid arranging her hair.

But for some reason, in her imagination, she found herself seamlessly taking on the role of the maid caressing her hair.

…Strange, why would she have such thoughts??

Th-they touched.

Her hand holding the pen would brush against Yvonne’s with the slightest movement, each time making her feel startled.

But the other person didn’t seem to mind, as she was intently listening to the old professor’s rapid-fire lecture on the podium, taking notes.

…Unexpectedly, she’s the serious type.

“I’m turning the page.”

“Ah, okay!”

Her attention had unconsciously been entirely focused on Yvonne, and the sudden address startled her. She hurriedly withdrew her disrespectful gaze.

“…I’ve changed my mind,”

In the middle of class, she suddenly spoke up,

“I’ll keep your book with me for safekeeping.”

She wasn’t looking at Elsa, but rather seemed to be talking to herself.

“…Eh?”

Elsa didn’t quite understand her meaning.

Was this ‘bullying’ being upgraded?

However, what Yvonne wanted to do was slightly different from what Elsa had imagined.

“—Those boring people always like to pick on you, don’t they?”

She had noticed it when she received the book.

Even though it was a newly issued book, the pages inside were torn and tattered as if cut with a knife.

Although the damaged parts had been carefully glued back together by the book’s owner, one could still see the torture the pages had endured.

“It’ll be better if I keep it from now on. They won’t dare to cause trouble for me.”

So she had noticed…

“What’s wrong? Your face is quite red.”

“N-nothing.”

…Is she trying to help me?

But… why? And for what reason?

No matter how much Elsa thought about it, she couldn’t understand.

Someone born into such nobility shouldn’t want to have much contact with a commoner like herself—

She should be more disgusted, more disdainful…

But…

Why…?

“Don’t misunderstand—”

Her gaze remained fixed on the podium, but as she tucked her hair behind her ear, one could clearly see the blush spreading to the tip of her ear.

“…If others interfere when I’m bullying you, it would be troublesome for me.”

As if to emphasize something, she added:

“It’s really just because of that! Got it?”

She had never known that ‘bullying’ could become such a gentle word.

“…What’s your answer!”

“Ah, yes!”

Elsa hurriedly nodded, her head bobbing up and down.

…What should I do,

My heart is beating so fast.

Even though she’s a girl… why do I feel this way?

I wonder how she’ll bully me tomorrow?

She couldn’t help but start feeling anticipation in her heart.