Really interesting chapter, as usual. We're back on the Lapis train and Natalie is continuing her journey to recognizing that her feelings for Lapis are different from her feelings for everyone else. She finally says that exactly (that the good feeling she gets from Lapis is different than what she gets from The Prince and Diana). The two of them are in different kinds of denial about their attraction to each other. Lapis clearly cares for Natalie, as much as she tries to hide it and seems to deny it (terribly). She's a tsundere in that sense. Natalie's self-worth issues also rear their heads again. She really can't imagine that Lapis would care for her compared to her grand plans but hopefully, she eventually gets over that (and notices the obvious signs, that yes, she can and likely already does).

I also wonder about Lapis' true intentions and background in this version. The author is being too clear, with everyone assuming certain intentions, but there are many hints suggesting more to that story and it feels like we're being set up for something. I don't expect a full subversion--Lapis is likely still planning something bad or at least controversial--but why and how much will Natori be able to change her? She's changed her a lot already (got her blushing and thinking of her all day) but what will that lead to? And what sides will everyone take once things start? Really enjoy this manga a lot. Neko is great. I'm still eager to see these plans in motion, though. How long does this series intend to be?

last edited at Jun 1, 2023 8:30PM

I see we've stepped up the villainess ladder from "has a bad personality" to "wants to exterminate a political faction".

Yall team Diana FTW she's just too good

We're slow burnin'

Please Lapis...don't sacrifice/martyr yourself for the so-called [GREATER GOOD]...it would make the MC very sad....

Cat-boy mind reader is useful....but it not all powerful and has it limits...he can only read the surface thoughts judging from how he didn't realize MC's knowledge of the future is from the otome game or knows much about MC's personal life [meaning he needs hours to read more info from mind reading]..this is from him being a bit confused/fluster and not having a blue-screen of death questioning if he is not real/his very existence....

--> MY theory and probably some other people theory: Lapis fed cat-boy bullsh*t about her plans....lapis still has plans about sacrificing herself and even her family if needed...and maybe even some other nobles (Bad greedy nobles) to kill the [Anti-noble fraction] but she would preferred not to do that...but she is willing for the [GREATER GOOD] if needed...

The [Anti-nobles fraction] might be trying to fight for equal rights...but I estimated about only 45% doing it for true good intention, the other 55% doing it for selfish greed/more money/power...leaving those people alive is a bad idea...some lesser nobles are willing to help them for probably money/to gain more power...

Lapis please there is another route to take them down...MC's otome game knowledge could help, we need you for the 3-way poly-relationship of (Villainess X Office-lady X Protagonist)!!!

Note taking list of possible interest Chapter 1 to 9/summary notes:
[Chapter 1]:
There is hints that Lapis used to know someone with foresight/future sight and she seems happy to have someone with that ability to be her familiar. "So I didn't fail afterall"
Lapis is crazy perceptive too, noticing MC behavior just from MC's warning to stop protagonst's summon circles.-->> also lol ring on ringer finger contract XD

[Chapter 2]:
Lapis so-called disdained of the commoners, she notice the 'Commoners' of MC's world seem to be different and more civil.
MC still dense and dumb, not knowing why her hear going doki doki...
[Demon dragon used to be Lapis in-game familiar.]
Lapis gets angry at MC getting hurt. Implied flashback/hint that someone close to her died.

[Chapter 3]:
MC does not get morally wrong route of getting rid of Protagonist and starts to charm Protagonist...

[Chapter 4]:
We see hints of Lapis' little sister/imouto (non-blood related). She likely person who died. (unknown how she died??)
We see background info about [Anti-noble fraction]'s plans and spies academy base and royal palace security...RED FLAGS!!! Lapis claims [anti-nobles fraction] got some of the lesser nobles on their side.
[Cat-boy spy] is scared and fearful of Lapis 'plans'...
MC is 25 years old.
Little imouto had power of [Foresight]-but only few minutes into future.
Lapis orders MC to use her power to save herself if MC sees Lapis as a [Enemy]...
MC RIZZING LAPIS HARDER!!!

[Chapter 5]:
-meeting with the prince. Prince might be turning into a Yuri-fan...MC rizzing time!
[Chapter 5.5]
Lapis rizzing MC and headpat!!

[Chapter 6]:
Lapis rizzing MC, MC remember chapter 1 events of otome-game. MC and protagnoist bonding time/..they rizzing each other. Event of chapter 1 happening but due to protagnoist going yandere for MC a bit.

[Chapter 7]:
Chapter 1 otome-game events happen but changed slightly, prince going to be training Protagonist...Poor Protagnoist....I want an 3way-OTP/poly-relationship between the 3 of them XD

[Chapter 8]:
Protagnoist getting doki doki from MC.
The prince background and character growth, Lapis sees the prince/monarch as the player and herself as a chess-piece-->>claiming it impossible to preserve every piece when seeing the bigger picture. Drop black queen piece as symbolism of herself a chess piece
MC otome-game knowledge of the game's ending result=Prince and protagnoist happy ending.
Protagonist motive are definitely both [pure/impure] XD

Chapter 9:
The villainess and MC being doki-doki with each other near end of chapter yay!! XD

last edited at Jun 1, 2023 10:54PM

RandomFanZ: great summary of the plot so far! :) Really detailed too. Wow!

Fuck it poly let natori win both Diana and lapis Diana is way too cute to lose

Yes. Good. Embrace the poly.

Indeed, all hail to the greatness Polyamory!

Indeed, all hail to the greatness Polyamory!

"You like . . . parrots?"

Oh yes Lapis, let's the yuri flow through you

I don't really have a problem with Diana and gran getting together, he seems like a nice guy, he supports lapis and Natori, his back a forth with Diane is fun and kind of cute, also is pretty much a fact that if Diane had not meet Natori she would have fall in love with him. Besided Natori already stated that her affection for Diane and gran is different from the one she has for lapys, also there isn't any evidence that lapys has or will develop any kind of romantic feeling for Diane so there's really not a lot of potential for a poly ending

last edited at Jun 2, 2023 3:17AM

Surprise cat boy maid.

I wonder if his power can now be wielded in a way more impactful way then the original storyline?...

But we don't need mind reading powers to see what the real treasure is.

My guess is that Lapis' original plan was to massacre the anti-noble faction for murdering her imouto friend when they were kids. However, accidentally summoning Natori has awakened feelings other than anger and desire for revenge in her, and she is now struggling to reconcile them. What the Cat Boy Maid saw was the insides of her head before meeting Natori, i.e. the Lie That She Believes (a.k.a. her Want), whereas loving and being loved (by Natori, with or without Diana involved) is her Need, a Truth that she must realize to make her character arc a positive one. Of course, she could still reject it in the end, resulting in a negative arc (the Fall).

She can fix her.

I'm fully on board with the polyamory faction.

I see we've stepped up the villainess ladder from "has a bad personality" to "wants to exterminate a political faction".

God forbid women do anything...

last edited at Jun 2, 2023 5:02AM

Now these were some very interesting events.
1. The villainess' plan is some what revealing, maybe
2. The villainess is showing affection, or is she?
This character who is supposed to be the villainess -- do you support her when all her actions are pointing towards genocide or so you try to fix? Can you even fix her? How do you even fix her?

last edited at Jun 2, 2023 6:43AM

Aww, just look these two useless lesbians... ^_^

Now these were some very interesting events.
1. The villainess' plan is some what revealing, maybe
2. The villainess is showing affection, or is she?

Yeah, good question. Her affection for Diana is probably forced, at least somewhat. For Natalie, it's real since we've seen her show affection in her private moments. She's tried to hide her face when she blushes, or thought about Natalie in the carriage car, or here when she's lost in her own train of thought while trying to explain why she can't stop thinking about Natalie etc. In comparison, Lapis has only shown affection for Diana and the Prince in public, so it's hard to know how much of that is fake. The Prince alluded to being privy of her plans though.

last edited at Jun 2, 2023 9:37AM

Low key hoping Lapis is actually an evil villainess and not the typical misunderstood villainess. Would be more interesting take to see if Natalie would still decide to follow her around or not.

Whether Vino is a boy or not idc, I just want em, and I want em NOW!

Lapis cute

last edited at Jun 2, 2023 4:02PM

there isn't any evidence that lapys has or will develop any kind of romantic feeling for Diane so there's really not a lot of potential for a poly ending

If Natori openly dates Lapis and Diane, but Lapis and Diane don't date each other, that is still poly. There is no need to close the triangle.

As another comment mentions, Vino's mind reading seems to be really surface level, and I'd assume that to glean any information that lies deeper than that really would require some more thorough reading, so while I don't think they're lying or wholly mistaken, I do think that they do not have the whole picture, or perhaps that what they did see in Lapis' mind was only relevant at that point in time but not anymore. It is hard for me to actually read Lapis as a ruthless, calculated villain, especially after very she's clearly been softening up in front of and thanks to Natori. There is a method to the madness, and there are obviously things we the readers do not know yet, and I look forward to learning them.

But more importantly than that, holy fucking shit Lapis was adorable. Natori, please, open your eyes. "Just what is the thing you treasure the most?" Hello! The answer is rather clear! A bit more seriously, though, there is a clash between the things she remembers from the game and hears about Lapis against the things that happen in front of her eyes, and I do want her to learn more about Lapis and see her connect that dots. In other words, gib more Lapis and Natori fluff, please.

As an aside, I wanted to throw in an 'in vino veritas' pun at some point here but it is 5 am and I am too tired for that.

last edited at Jun 2, 2023 10:28PM

Whether Vino is a boy or not idc, I just want em, and I want em NOW!

Gender doesn't matter when you're cute and have cat ears.

In case anyone didn't notice during Natori's inner dialogue, but those are fox ears, not cat ears.