Though I Am an Inept Villainess

INNER COURT PALACE OF THE GOLDEN QILIN (KOU PALACE)

-That embroidery is magnificent, Lady Reirin.

This evening everyone else will

be captivated by its beauty as well.

-You give me far too much credit, Tousetsu.

Oh!

- -

-That said, don't push yourself too hard.

You'll give yourself a fever.

I'm taking care of myself.

I promise.

I already brewed my medicine for the day

and took the first dose.

I can't miss the Double Sevens Festival.

I hear there's going to be a comet this year

and a meteor shower.

It's a perfect opportunity for wishes to come true.

INNER COURT THE MAIDEN COURT, SEVENTH PAGODA

EMPEROR - EI GENYOU

EMPRESS - KOU KENSHUU

CROWN PRINCE - EI GYOUMEI

GEN CLAN MAIDEN - GEN KASUI RAN CLAN MAIDEN - RAN HOUSHUN

KIN CLAN MAIDEN - KIN SEIKA

SHU CLAN MAIDEN - SHU KEIGETSU

Oh, look at that!

The crown prince with Lady Reirin!

They're perfectly matched in beauty.

-They call her His Highness' favorite butterfly for a reason.

Little doubt who he'll choose when the time comes!

-Is the Maiden Court's purpose not to train future consorts

to earn the title of Empress?

Why must we drag this out if he already knows?

- The captain of the Eagle Eyes

will hear you!

SHIN-U

Don't look now,

but there's the court's sewer rat.

Always refusing to spare His Highness

her wanton gaze.

-Lady Keigetsu. So boorish.

Garish, too.

She's no taste in makeup or fashion.

And to think, she's the maiden chosen by Noble Consort Shu.

Second in authority only to the Empress.

It's truly baffling.

Look, everyone.

We're blessed by shooting stars and a comet.

Oh, my.

-You loathsome, accursed wench!

Begone! -

Where am I?

I see you're awake.

Tousetsu.

-How dare you address me with such familiarity

after what you did, Lady Shu Keigetsu?

What?

-You hurt the flower of the court.

Lady Reirin has been in pain all night!

You'll pay for that sin with your life!

What? No!

Tousetsu, I'm not...

I'm Lady Keigetsu?

But how?

What happened?

At the festival, when she came up behind me,

did we trade bodies?

Impossible.

-Tousetsu. Um, I understand this is difficult to believe,

but I--

I'm Reirin!

Lady Keigetsu and I swapped bodies!

I don't understand.

No matter how I try to explain, the words won't come out!

You can't even attempt to make an excuse.

How pathetic.

What can I do?

How do I tell her who I am if I can't say I'm Reirin?

Tousetsu, listen. -

-I know that you have a fondness for sweets.

- -Mooncakes in particular!

With runner bean filling!

Your favorite fish is horse mackerel!

And you have a younger brother. He and I are the same age.

That's why shortly after you began attending me in

the Maiden Court,

you insisted that I think of you as my elder sister!

-Silence. -

-You evil, repugnant villainess!

Tousetsu.

You'll not fool me.

I've already been warned that you stole Lady Reirin's diary.

Huh?

What is she talking about?

I don't even have a diary!

My lady is unwell.

A terrible fever.

But despite her struggles she found the strength

to tell us of your crime!

She feared the details in its pages could be used

to hurt those close to her.

And now you try to do just that!

Did you think it would work?

That you could impersonate my lady by reading her diary?

You are sorely mistaken!

But I'm the real Reirin!

The gall!

You're not even fit to envy Lady Reirin!

Lovely, wise, and benevolent

like an angel come down from the heavens

to grace us with her presence!

A--angel?

Oh, come now. Don't you think that's going a bit too far?

-You dare ridicule a soul as pure as hers,

you filthy sewer rat?

-I am! I am a sewer rat!

Oh! She was so intense,

I couldn't help but agree with her!

What should I do?

She's so loyal to her mistress,

she can't see that her mistress is standing before her.

Per the law,

your guilt shall not be assumed

until you stand trial by way of the Lion's Judgment.

Lion's Judgment?

-The accused is caged with a hungry lion.

Survive and you're deemed innocent.

Die and we know the truth of your guilt.

However, the law dictates that

the victim must stand witness and that would be a sight far

too gruesome for my lady to watch,

as she told me herself.

Her sensitivity and compassion are boundless.

I appreciate your devotion.

But is the commentary really necessary?

-For you. A gift from Lady Reirin you don't deserve.

Her mercy.

This is poison.

-The trial shall begin within the hour.

By the time this candle is out,

I implore you to atone for your sins

Tousetsu.

I stand accused of my own attempted murder.

And the punishment is to be my death?

- -

-It's poetic, isn't it? -Huh?

-How's the dungeon treating you?

I hear there are enough rats and bugs crawling around,

most women would go mad in mere hours!

Might as well put yourself out of your misery.

What?

Surprised?

Fire's the faithful servant of the Shu clan.

And more faithful to me than anyone else.

Through the art of the Flame Mirage,

I can manifest in the smallest of embers.

-The Shu. That must mean you're her, aren't you?

The real Lady Shu Keigetsu.

Well, I was.

But I switched places with you.

And now you are the court's sewer rat.

All it took was a bit of forbidden magic.

You're a sorcerer?

-Just like that, you've become the villainess who tried

to murder Kou Rerin.

-But why would you... -

To balance the scales.

To do what?

You heard me.

Can't you see how unfair it is?

You were born with nothing but blessings.

The niece of the Empress,

she who has the most power in the inner court.

You're Prince Gyoumei's favorite,