The three were just about to pass by the alley, but heard.

"I will help you all. I promise."

Aristia couldn’t help but feel that the voice was familiar.

She signalled to the two with her to follow her.

Quietly, they walked into the alley.

"And how exactly will you help us?" Someone asked with a snort. From the voice, Aristia and the others could tell that it belonged to a boy.

As they walked closer, they saw the people there.

There were a group of boys, about five or six in number, all older than them, looking like they were eleven or twelve, a bit thin.

But Aristia and the others couldn’t see the girl they were speaking to from where they hid behind a stack of useless objects.

"I am a part of nobility. I will do something to help you."

Someone sneered. "We know you’re from nobility. You’re all a bunch of liars. You’ll help us? No one here has been helped for years!"

The voice that had first spoken earlier was female. The female voice said again.

"Don’t worry, I’m not lying. I will really make sure I help you." The voice trembled a bit.

[Wait... That voice!]

Just as Aristia thought that, one of the boys in front moved, revealing the person standing there.

Aristia’s eyes diluted. [The heroine.]

Suddenly, she remembered again that she was the villainess in this world. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Nope. She wouldn’t risk staying here.

Quietly, she gestured to Vivian and Owen.

[Let’s leave.]

The two moved their attention away from the scene to her. But they nodded, turning around quietly to leave.

Aristia didn’t want to get involved with this heroine. She would avoid her at all costs!

But the words of the boy earlier had sent a wave of agitation through the group.

They had only taken a few steps when she heard one of the boys say in a sinister tone.

"You can’t help us. But since you’re a part of nobility, I think you can." A sinister tone creeped into his voice.

Suddenly, they heard a shrill scream.

Aristia couldn’t help but turn around midway. [Damn it!]

She saw one of the boys going towards Carolyn with a sinister expression on his face.

[Stupid, stupid, stupid!] Aristia felt like cussing at Carolyn.

Was this heroine really just a dumb bimbo? Not only did she walk into the slums dressed in those clothes, but she openly stated that she belonged to nobility. Did she not understand what danger meant?

Not only would these boys be irritated at her, a little girl, talking about helping them when the adults had promised and failed, but the thought that she was someone who lived a lavish life while they suffered would enrage them.

Who knew what they wanted to do to her.

But Aristia turned back around to leave.

[I wonder why these boys haven’t fallen for the Heroine’s charm. Oh yeah, the heroine will also face troubles and challenges. Maybe this is part of it. Apart from having a main villain, also known as myself, there should also be small villains.]

But she didn’t see any mention of this, nevertheless, there was no mention of the heroine ever being assaulted or violated, so it was safe to say that Carolyn would be fine.

Another reason why Aristia wouldn’t take any action was that...

[One of her male leads will come to save her. That’s how this kind of plot goes, right?] So there was no need to do anything. One of the prince charmings would step in and save the damsel in distress.

Even though Ivan was far away in the Academy, there was still Wade. And Aristia had an inkling that there were other male leads.

Suddenly, she remembered the dream she had about a girl being surrounded by boys. Thinking about it now... that should be Carolyn Cornwell.

[The males were abut five or six? So I can guess that they are male leads. Counting off Ivan and Wade leaves three or four leads.]

Maybe they would appear here.

She thought like this because there was no way the book would allow its heroine to be in serious danger. Someone must save her. And it wouldn’t be her.

The possibility of any of the other male leads coming here was high.

This caused her to pause.

Owen and Vivian paused again, not understanding what was happening.

When Aristia asked them to leave, they had followed. But she suddenly stopped and turned around. They almost thought she was going to do something when she turned back around.

Now, they were finally leaving the alley when she stopped again without warning.

The two exchanged glances before looking back at her.

But Aristia only felt excited. [This is a chance for me to see any of the other male leads!]

She went back to hide behind the garbage, quietly watching attentively with bright eyes.

Looking at the approaching boys and Carolyn, she thought of what they wanted to do.

[Hmm, will they try to take her money? They’ll definitely try to take her money. Is she holding a money pouch? I can’t see clearly from here.] She stretched her neck, trying to get a clearer look.

But when the boys finally appeared in front of Carolyn, unlike what Aristia thought, she saw the boys exchange a look before reaching out to grab Carolyn’s clothes.

A look of horror appeared on Carolyn’s face.

Aristia was both speechless and appalled. [They really want to...]

One of the boys laughed. "You can help us. This dress of yours must sell for quite a good sum, right? We’ll sell your dress and have an easier life."

Hearing this, Aristia couldn’t help but release a small sigh of relief. Thankfully, it was not what she thought.

They just wanted to... just wanted to... take her clothes off to... sell.

Meaning she would be naked in an alley in the slums.

As the hand came closer, Aristia gritted her teeth.

[Where’s the prince charming?! Is he waiting till she’s stripped bare?] She thought.

Finally, just as the hand grabbed Carolyn’s dress, Aristia couldn’t take it anymore. She gritted her teeth, looked around and saw a pebble on the ground.

She picked up the small stone and moved to step out when her hands were held.

She turned around to see both Owen and Vivian holding her, their faces full of worry and hesitation.

"Nothing will happen." She whispered.

They still didn’t fully agree with her going, but after a few seconds, they let her go.

Aristia clutched the pebble and stepped out.

Then she threw the stone out.

The stone rolled in the air, falling and hitting squarely the wrist of the leading boy.

"Ow!" The boy winced slightly, a small scowl on his face as he turned around. "Who did that?!"