I Reincarnated As A Villainess, But Why Did I Become A Cat Butler Instead? - Chapter 309

Chapter 155.1

Not long before the horse racing event, I sent Coco to deliver a message to Renée.

“Do you think you can seduce the Emperor, Renée? I’ve got a plan.”

Renée, who was determined to take revenge on Nigel, listened to my plan and agreed to go along with it. I gave her instructions on how to seduce the Emperor. In the novel, I knew exactly how Rowaine had caught the Emperor’s attention and the reason he had fallen for her.

I thought Renée could also seduce the Emperor if we used that.

‘As long as Renée follows the plan.’

I couldn’t let her be locked up forever.

Seducing the Emperor was undoubtedly a frustrating and risky task, but if she succeeded, she would gain more freedom and wield the power to influence him.

‘I didn’t expect her to succeed so quickly, though.’

To be honest, I was quite worried that Renée, with her shy and timid nature, wouldn’t be able to seduce the Emperor well, even if she knew how. The Emperor preferred bold, daring women, and she was far from his usual type.

For this to work, she had to embody someone completely opposite to her usual self.

‘Although Coco told me everything was going well, I honestly couldn’t believe it. To think she could play the role so perfectly.’

I was truly astonished.

Renée’s determination to do whatever it took to exact revenge on Nigel was undeniable. Because of that, she ended up being a tremendous help to me.

Today, I had to convince Iris that I was so blinded by jealousy over Elaine because of Herman that I lashed out at her. I needed to appear as though I was aligning with Iris’s interests to lower her guard. However, while figuring out how to protect Elaine from harm, I decided to bring Renée into the plan.

“Renée, I need you to show up and pick a fight with me while I’m arguing with Her Highness the Princess.”

Even though it was something I had instructed her to do, I never expected her to play her part so flawlessly.

‘It’s truly unexpected.’

While I silently admired her performance, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for Renée, who was reluctantly acting coquettish by the Emperor’s side.

‘For Renée’s sake and for Elaine and Cadis, I need to finish everything quickly.’

The plan was to stage a fake argument with Elaine in a private setting, share the next steps of the plan, and part ways. As long as Dimitri could keep Herman distracted, Iris would undoubtedly believe I had a heated fight with Elaine.

I was confident everything would go according to plan today.

And that was why I let my guard down.

̊ · : * ✧ * : · ̊

At the same time, Renée was struggling to resist the urge to brush away the Emperor’s hand as he toyed with her fingers.

She had promised to help Rowaine, no matter what it took.

Who would have thought she’d ever join forces with Rowaine, who had tormented her for so long? Life had a way of twisting things like that. Then again, making a deal with her enemy somehow felt less tragic than being betrayed by the husband she once trusted, only to be sold off to the Emperor.

Renée’s expression grew cold.

It was a new expression she had never shown before. The timid look she once had was nowhere to be found on her face anymore.

‘Be strong, Renée. Get through this, reclaim your freedom, and find happiness again.’

For that goal, she could endure this moment.

Renée stood by the Emperor’s side, feigning happiness with a bright smile as his eyes lingered on her with hunger. It was unfolding exactly as Rowaine had said it would.

“Whatever you do, Renée, don’t get physically involved with him. Keep the Emperor entertained, but stand your ground. Make him restless. It might sound odd, but that’s the way to win the Emperor’s favor.”

Perhaps it was because Rowaine had been his lover in the past. She knew the Emperor’s preferences and personality inside and out.

“When the Emperor walks past the Rose Palace, open a window and sing a song. The cruder the lyrics, the more likely you’ll catch his attention.”

At first, she thought the idea was absurd. Who would do something like that? It sounded like something only women from brothels might resort to. However, a song that Rowaine had hummed in the past while making a mischievous face appeared in her mind.

It was a song they had learned from their singing teacher, though Rowaine often added crude and playful lyrics, belting it out however she pleased. Her sister would sing such songs without a care in the world.

Remembering that, Renée took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and tried to imitate Rowaine.

That night, as if drawn like a moth to a flame, the Emperor actually came looking for her.

“When the Emperor visits, find a way to keep his interest. Don’t let him take charge or do whatever he wants. Keep him entertained on your terms.”

Keep the Emperor entertained? How on earth was she supposed to do that?

With no other choice, she begrudgingly resorted to the one thing she was best at.

It was a shadow puppet show.