I, The Villainess, Will Seduce All The Heroines Instead-Chapter 8: Do Not Meet Your Idols

A Conduitor is one of the most powerful beings in the world, chosen vessels of celestial power, acting as living conduits between the mortal world and the cosmic forces of the Zodiac.

They don't just wield magic; they enforce the will of the stars themselves.

Their power isn't cultivated through effort or training, it's granted, flowing almost directly from their bound Zodiac Sign.

In this world, magic isn't fueled by an internal energy pool but channeled through one's Connection to the Zodiacs.

A person's magical potential is set in stone from birth, dictated by their celestial alignment through their Natal Birth Chart.

No amount of training can change their core power, only their skill in wielding it.

And standing before her was Anastasia Velmont, one of the rare twelve Conduitors.

Verena had adored her.

Out of all the heroines, Anastasia was the one she admired most.

Shrewd, disciplined, and every bit the embodiment of a Capricorn.

A true girlboss before the term even existed.

That was until the love interest showed up.

What started as a slow-burn, love-hate romance ended in disaster.

Anastasia, once a force to be reckoned with, had crumbled into a simpering mess, her entire personality rewritten to orbit around her man.

Verena had hated it.

But this was still the first arc. This was before all that nonsense.

Which meant she could admire her all she wanted... right?

Everyone rose in unison, a wave of synchronized deference, except for Verena, who was too busy staring.

It wasn't until a few beats later that she realized she hadn't bowed.

You can't blame me. I'm meeting my idol!

But wait.

Why was the said idol... frowning at her?

Anastasia's face, always sharp and unreadable, was now visibly tense.

No. It was more than tense. It was heated.

There was something behind those red eyes. Something intense. Something almost like hatred?

The woman moved. But instead of striding toward some grand destination, she stopped.

Right in front of Verena.

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Verena's brain short-circuited.

"H-Hi?" she blurted out, voice cracking just a little. She tried to keep it together, but her lips twitched in barely restrained excitement. Why was her favorite heroine approaching her?!

Around them, the crowd collectively gasped. Students backed away, as if expecting a disaster to unfold.

Verena turned slightly to glance over her shoulder.

...Wait. Why was everyone acting like she was about to get smited?

Verena squeezed her temples, trying to summon some divine revelation from the depths of her memory to remember what hapened, but all she got was a dull headache.

She tried. She really did. But damn, eight books were a lot. Who in their right mind could remember every detail?

Meanwhile, Anastasia was still standing in front of her, arms crossed, exuding an air of quiet fury.

"You must be quite proud of yourself, Lady Verena," Anastasia finally spoke, her voice smooth but sharp enough to slice through marble.

"Huh?"

"To stand here so brazenly... I must commend your confidence."

"...Huh??"

"The sheer audacity to show your face after everything. Truly, it is beyond inspiring."

"...HUH???"

Verena quickly glanced around for help, but everyone else was very interested in the floor, the walls, the sky, anywhere but here.

Anastasia exhaled, slow and deliberate, restraining violent thoughts. "Tell me, was it ignorance or recklessness that made you think stepping into this academy was a good idea?"

Verena, now sweating: Ma'am, I have no idea what you're talking about, but I'd like to formally apologize anyway???

"D-Don't bully Verena!"

The voice was small. Timid. Trembling.

Verena barely had time to react before something soft and shaking latched onto her.

Evelyn had thrown herself against Verena's side, clutching her like a lifeline.

It was... adorable. But also concerning, because Evelyn looked like she was about two seconds away from passing out.

Anastasia actually paused.

Verena felt her pause.

The entire room felt her pause.

The great Anastasia Velmont, daughter of the most powerful duke, unshakable, formidable, terrifying, was stunned.

Her red eyes flickered from Verena to the small, trembling Evelyn who had her face buried in Verena's sleeve. Like a frightened rabbit.

"...Excuse me?" Anastasia finally said, her voice dangerously neutral.

Evelyn gulped, visibly regretting everything, but still managed a weak, "S-She's nice... s-so please don't be mean..."

Verena was trying very, very hard not to laugh. But, wow, was Anastasia's face something priceless right now.

Instead of escalating the situation, Anastasia simply huffed, straightened her coat with a sharp tug, and, to everyone's shock, muttered a curt, "My apologies."

Then she turned on her heel and strode away, regal, unbothered, and completely over it.

The tension snapped, but the students around them were still frozen, their mouths hanging open. It wasn't every day you saw Anastasia Velmont back down... to anyone.

Verena, on the other hand, was having the time of her life.

She turned to Evelyn, who was still clutching her sleeve like she just survived a war.

"Good job," Verena grinned, ruffling Evelyn's hair. "You actually stood up for someone."

Evelyn made a squeaky noise but didn't pull away.

"Do it more often, alright?"

The girl nodded, face burning, eyes still wide with shock and adrenaline.

[System Notification: Affection Update!]

[Target: Evelyn Ashbourne]

[+2 Affection Points Earned!]

[Debuffs have been removed!]

[SYSTEM NOTICE: The mission was successful!]

[You have made her question her life]

[Affection Points: 9]

She's honestly just like a kid....

Verena hadn't exactly planned for this outcome, but one thing was certain, she was now one death flag away from disaster.

Still, something felt... off. Like a missing puzzle piece.

"Evelyn..."

A new voice cut through the moment, smooth and deceptively warm.

Both Verena and Evelyn turned, and there he was.

Norvan.

The obsessive second male lead.

He stood there, smiling in that practiced, boyish way that made everyone think he was harmless. His features were all soft innocence, but Verena knew better.

And before she could stop him, he gently took Evelyn's hand and pulled her away.

If there was one thing truly infuriating about Norvan, it was how unnervingly perceptive he was.

A predator with perfect instincts, always knowing when and how to tighten his grip.

A textbook narcissistic abuser, spinning a web so tight his victims thought it was a safety net.

While Verena had clearly raised Evelyn's affection points, it didn't mean the girl was completely free. Not yet.

"You had me worried," Norvan murmured, his grip gentle but unyielding. "You shouldn't have drawn so much attention..."

Evelyn's gaze dropped, shoulders curling inward. "I-..." she hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper. "Sorry..."

And just like that, the girl was taken away.