The next morning, Anna headed to the arena for day two of the General Games.

However on getting there, she found a new beastman in Leon’s seat.

"Y-your highness!" The man jumped to his feet and did an excellent salute. "I am Commander Herenn, his majesty the king instructed me to be here on behalf of General Leon!" He took out an envelope and with shaky hands, held it out for Anna.

Anna’s eyes found those of Councilor Valor. "What’s going on?"

The councilor rose to his feet, a solemn look etched on his face. "The General is unwell."

"He was perfectly fine yesterday." Anna scoffed as she read the letter. "And last night too."

"The doctor said it’ll take a couple of days for him to get better."

Anna hid the smile blooming on her face.

He was sick huh? Served him right.

"It’s unfortunate." Anna replied with all the warmth of an ice cube. "In the meantime, the General Games will continue as planned."

"Your highness, pardon me for asking," Commander Herenn said as he stepped forward. "Do you have anything to do with the General’s ill health?"

A dark cloud covered the face of the morning sun, plunging the arena into mild darkness.

Anna blinked, her brows shooting up in surprise.

Commander Herenn failed to note the anger on her face. And in his ignorance, he went ahead.

"I’m sure most of us are aware of the growing animosity between the both of you. And while it is not my concern, as matters of marriage are, I believe it’s my place as not only commander but also a friend of the General to ask after his interests. So I ask, did you—"

Councilor Valor cleared his throat loudly and stepped forward.

"Forgive him, your highness. He spoke out of turn and in ignorance."

Anna blinked slowly.

It was then she realized how much her spores had darkened. And how silent the arena had gotten. All eyes turned to her, as if they could feel the growing rage in the pit of her stomach.

Ah, this is what the System meant.

She took calm steps towards commander Herenn. Councilor Valor stepped to the side, sensing the change in her mood.

Meanwhile, Anna was doing her best not to lash out.

"Listen up here," she started, plastering a curated smile on her face. One that didn’t hide her annoyance. "I’ve had the shittiest week of my life. And I know a lot of you are the General’s cock suckers. Now I honestly don’t give a shit what you do. But standing here and asking me dumb ass questions? You have lost your mind."

Councilor Valor choked on spit. I think we know who has lost her mind!

In the crowd of candidates, Kai had overheard everything she said. His face turned stormy. What’s going on? The Princess never used such fowl language. But on one hand, he was proud.

Commander Herenn turned red and quickly bowed. "I didn’t—"

"But you did." Anna cut in. "If I had a hand in his mysterious illness, so what? The fuck are you going to do, commander? Have me arrested? Punished?"

"N-no! I wouldn’t dare, your highness! I’m simply concerned for—"

"If you’re so worried about him, get out of here and stay by his bedside till he recovers."

He raised his head, worry and agony in his eyes. "But then I’ll miss the Games?"

Anna smiled sweetly. "Tough luck, Commander. Tough luck."

The commander looked around him, at his colleagues, then at Councilor Valor. The councilor pointedly avoided his eyes.

"Shall I have my guards escort you out?" Anna asked briskly.

"N-no, your highness."

"Get out."

He bowed, before hurrying out.

Anna took her seat, rubbing her temples and groaning in discomfort. "Fucking pissing me off." She grumbled.

Since last night, she had been irritable.

She got too little sleep, and even after using her spores on the strawberry plant, it still didn’t sprout. Anna still felt terrified from what Leon did to her, even more at the System’s warning.

Just as she thought of the system, a ding echoed in her head.

[+36,000 villain points!]

[+10,990 villain points!]

[Two plot reveals and five original memories awarded! Kindly check your space, hostie!]

[One original journal awarded! Kindly check your space, hostie]

[One temporary Charisma Boost awarded! Kindly check your space!]

[Hostie, if you call off the General Games, you’ll get 150,000 villain points. Do you want to do it?]

Anna sighed.

"Where are all these rewards coming from?"

[Your villainous acts throughout the day! You’re killing it. See? I told you. The manual was always inside you.]

Anna rose to her feet.

She turned to Councilor Valor. "The General Games is hereby postponed."

The Councilor shot to his feet. "What?!" He sputtered, his face white. "Your highness, I don’t mean to be rude but, this is important. The kingdom is not in a position to not have a General! Even a temporary one!"

"I know." Anna replied, folding her arms.

Councilor Valor looked around helplessly. Deep down, he knew it could get to this. The Princess was unpredictable, and the fact that she even agreed to supervise the Games should have been the first sign of danger.

Aside creating the weapons and detectors, she didn’t ally herself with the army. She said it very often that soldiers disgusted her.

So, Councilor Valor expected this. Still, nothing prepared him for it actually happening.

"Your highness," he said, his voice pleading.

"You can handle the judgment process yourself, if you’re so distraught." Anna replied coldly.

The System dinged in her head.

"I don’t have the authority to do that, your highness."

"Good." Anna replied. She turned to the candidates. Majority of them avoided her eyes, while some of them stared at her with open animosity.

Anna felt the pure hatred in their eyes.

And among the crowd, her eyes met Kai’s. He wasn’t smiling. Wasn’t moving. His eyes were focused on her so intently that she felt goosebumps down her spine.

She turned away and her gaze fell in Tristan.

Last night in the garden flashed through her mind.

He had seen her cry.

He gave her a flower.

The flower had an eye for a center, then it didn’t.

He’s strange. I shouldn’t associate with him.

With her mind made up, Anna cleared her throat and said just two words. "Go home."

Chaos broke out.

The soldiers from the army yelled, their voices high and full of their grievances.

"What did you do to the general?!" One of them yelled.

"You poisoned him!"

"She wants to kill him!"

"Wrong! She wants to kill us all!"

"Give us back our General! Give him back!"

"Give him back!"

"GIVE HIM BACK!"

Anna watched and listened, their taunts and shouts slipping past her.

A strange emotion coiled in the center of her chest like thorned vines.

I was right. They’ll die for that man. He has brainwashed them...no, it’s worse.

The shouts got louder and louder till Anna felt blood trickle down her ears.

[Hostie, you can use your spores to subdue them.] the System suggested.

Anna glanced at Kai. He wasn’t yelling, or joining in any of the ruckus. He just stared at her.

"Kai is among them. I’ll hurt him."

[Then use your Charisma boost. It’s a one time boost but it’s really powerful. If you give a command now, anyone under the sound of your voice will be forced to obey you. Unlike persuasive voice, the command won’t wear off and they won’t hate you.]

It was tempting.

Especially as one of the soldiers raised a rock, about to hurl it at her, but lowered it down as she let her spores flare a violent purple.

"I won’t waste it on his men," Anna said to the System. "They are not worth it."

[Spoken like a true villainess.]

Anna gathered her gown and turned to leave.

She’d barely taken one step before a heavy and oppressive feeling settled over her shoulders.

She felt like she was being watched, and whoever was watching wanted to rip her apart.

It was similar to the way she felt the night she was almost assasinated.

Goosebumps covered her skin and her ears stood rigid.

When she turned back to the angry crowd, the feeling was gone.

[Ding! +150,000 villain points!]

[Three surprise packages awarded! Kindly check your space, hostie!]

[Ten original memories awarded!]

[And as my personal bonus to you, a pack of special beans. Don’t say I never spoil you, hostie!]

Anna walked out of the arena, her head held high, each step purposeful, her spores on the verge of turning purple.

There’s no point fighting. The System wants me to be a villainess? Fine. I’ll be a villainess.

I need to get that goal change.

I need to leave this place.

I need to go back home.

But for now, I’ll get the points. I’ll get all of them. I’ll be the monster Princess Orchid was.

[Host! Danger! Your life is in danger!] the System blared in alarm.

A loud voice shouted from behind Anna. "Die you wicked princess!"

She turned to see a soldier, armed, his sword raised over her head.