Mastermind: Genderbent Villainess

"Oh my… where are my manners?! Greetings, Countess…" Robert immediately lost his confident demeanour, straightening his back and almost jumping up as he realised who Tanya was. He had heard of the stunning beauty that had gained plenty of influence in the kingdom, already possessing a powerful 4th ascension powerhouse as her servant. 

Robert did not want to offend someone that could massacre his entire family on a whim.

"Haha… I am very sorry if I offended you just now…" 

Tanya waved her eyes upon Robert with a confident grin on her face, on the verge of showing something a tad evil. She came here for the sake of Diana and Yuri, so she wouldn't pull any punches when it came to even insignificant bullies. 

With a single stride, Tanya closed the distance and showed off her haughty aura.

"So you were the one that my poor little Diana was so worried about…" 

Robert swore that he just saw Tanya's eyes gleam a crimson tinge. He shuddered inwardly as he forced himself to stand still and refrain from stepping back.

"Countess Sera… This was my fault. I will humbly apologise to my sister for all of my wrong doings…" Robert's smile was crumbling but nevertheless he was still holding.

Robert turned to his sister and knelt on one knee.

"Diana, I am very sorry for all of my wrongdoings! Please forgive me!" 

"..." Diana couldn't help but stand still and just take it in. She had never received an apology from her brother or anything so emotional as this. Every time she had spoken to him, he had treated her as a lesser being, someone not worthy of speaking to him.

Yet Diana had finally achieved the upper hand.

"Mmm… you are kneeling on one knee? Are you proposing to Diana? Oh my, you are doing something quite taboo." Serena interjected, also enjoying this very much.

She was very much happy to see Robert being humbled like this, but she still desired more from the experience. So naturally, she added a spice of controversy to the mix.

"First you bully your sister, now you harass her." Serena chuckled.

The crowd finally began coming around. Their attention was immediately put onto Robert. The younger and older generations were all present, surprised at the scene taking place in their midst. 

Serena, the crown princess, had added so much fuel to the fire.

Diana was visibly sweating from her forehead. She was near the centre of attention and so many eyes were falling upon her. But this time she wasn't being looked down on, she was being empathised with.

Moreover, her brother was being barraged with doubtful gazes.

"Wai-wait! I-thi-this… you are being mistaken! This isn't a proposal… this is an apology!" 

The crowd was still doubtful. 

'I just love this~'

Tanya was basking in the drama. It had been a while since she had been able to participate in some fiery spectacles. As a countess, she had too much work to do. Unlike most noblewomen, she was the one that inherited the full title. Tanya hadn't married into nobility, so she had to deal with the majority of the administrative work.

Drama was something for the less busy spouse. However, none of Tanya's wives wanted to spend too much time without Tanya. Therefore, almost none of them had any spicy drama in the last month or so.

"So you dare to make a move on Diana right in front of me?" Tanya finally made her move.

She walked over to Diana and Robert, as dashing as ever. Her cool aura and her naturally beautiful appearance drew the crowds to her. Every word was as eloquent as the last, speaking like a pitch perfect note. 

No one was sure if she only appealed to a single gender. Anyone of similar age immediately watered from their mouths.

"Mr Jeanne, I'm going to have to ask you to take a step back." Tanya grinned.

Shivers went down Robert's spine. He immediately regretted inviting Diana and trying to use her to appear superior. Now he had to deal with the wrath of a lioness.

"Of course…" but his pride was beginning to kick in. There were too many eyes on him to be so submissive. He slowly began to halt, stopping. He feared Tanya but he also feared absolute humiliation.

'I will resist.' He thought. 

'Maybe I can be the underdog…' his desperation was clear but he couldn't give up when almost every noble on this side of the capital was here. His parents would disown him for bringing such shame on the house.

"Please give me some face…" Robert forced a smile as he looked at Tanya.

"Are you going to take a step back or will I have to make this worse?" Tanya asked. Her face quickly shifted until only apathy was present. A flicker could be seen if one stared into her eyes, but it passed soon after.

"You cannot just treat me like this even if you have a higher nobility rank than me."

"Fine then, have it your way." Taya finally made up her mind and then turned to Diana.

Diana had been silent up until now, still anxious. But as Tanya gazed upon her, she felt much calmer.

"I think your brother is rather inappropriate in proposing to you… since you are my woman~" Tanya rubbed her thumb on Diana's chin, smiling smugly at her purple haired lover.

"I think it was very uncalled for…" Diana murmured.

"But he refuses to stop his nonsense, not giving any face to our relationship~" Tanya's voice projected to the entire audience.

"He tries to pry you from me~"

"Such a terrible brother." A crowd member who was an older brother spoke from within the crowd.

"I would protect my sister not fall for her; disgusting."

Similar words were spoken by members of the crowd.

"Tanya, thank you." Diana whispered.

At this point, Robert realised that there was virtually no way to resist Tanya. Her words were so soothing that a rabid animal would sleep upon hearing her. She was so rousing that a monk would take up arms to fight for her. Tanya was simply invincible.

'My charm is [D+], so what is hers…?' Robert wondered to himself in his own despair. He was still kneeling.

"I mean, wasn't the whole idea of inviting Diana to come a ploy to make her feel less than you?" A voice echoed in Robert's mind.

'!!!' Robert jumped to his feet.

Tanya hadn't said a word but he clearly heard her voice. Something wasn't right, he knew what he heard.

Tanya simply winked at Robert, grinning evilly as she looked at the man who had as much composure as a dog.

At this moment, Robert realised something.

It was anxiety.

Tanya had been playing with his anxiety, making him hear things and do things as she wanted. He reacted in ways that made himself crumble, he tried to recover and failed. All of this was because he could not bear the pressure of Tanya.

Tanya was a monster. He finally snapped out of the trance.

The scene hadn't happened.

Tanya was chatting with the girls and Robert was still surrounded by his fans. He had returned to reality.

The scene he had witnessed seemed exaggerated and random. However, there was a meaning to it. 

When Tanya wills it, your world crumbles.

Nevertheless, he awoke again in the midst of a crowd. The scene was not in fact a fake.