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Chapter 23
When I slowly turned my head, my eyes met the villain’s. His expression clearly showed he was displeased.
“…I was just on my way back from a trip.”
“Is that so.”
Alive. He’d actually come back alive — and not only that, but he’d turned what was supposed to be a losing war into a victory in just six months.
There really was no other word for him but monster.
“I’ll escort you.”
“I can go by myself just fine.”
“I’d like to go with you. I need to see His Majesty as well.”
He extended his right hand toward me. Judging by what he said, it didn’t seem like he’d gone straight to the imperial palace upon returning.
But how on earth did he know I was here?
“…How did you know I was here, anyway?”
“I saw you on the way.”
“…”
Lies. It was an obvious lie.
This place was quite a distance from the Duke of Zikbert’s mansion — and also far from the imperial capital.
And above all, there was no trace of blood on him, only the clean, crisp scent of soap.
Which meant that after returning to the capital, he’d gone home, washed, and even changed into fresh clothes.
“I have to go to the palace as well, so I’d like to go together with Your Highness.”
“…”
“Isn’t it fate that we happened to meet like this?”
I glanced over at the young duke behind me.
“Lord Blair, it looks like I should be going now…”
“You don’t have to worry about me.”
“I’m sorry. Maybe later, when there’s time…”
I almost said, let’s meet again, but closed my mouth.
The villain was right behind me, after all.
No matter how close the two of us were as friends, saying something like that in front of him felt like the kind of thing that would get my friend killed on the spot.
I couldn’t let an innocent person die.
Just as I was about to say something else, the villain’s voice came from behind me.
“Do not approach Her Highness again.”
“I only met Her Highness by chance — unlike you.”
“Then you mean I didn’t meet her by chance?”
If I left them like this, it felt like they’d start fighting any second.
Wait… weren’t you two supposed to be friends? Why are you growling at each other like dogs?
“Let’s go.”
I took the hand he’d offered. He looked down at our joined hands, then smiled faintly.
“Very well.”
At least he backed down easily. That was a relief.
Originally, the imperial carriage was supposed to come for me in the evening, but that plan had gone off track.
I’d intended to wander around the capital for a bit before heading back — but my plans were now in ruins.
All the peace and happiness I’d felt during the trip vanished in an instant, replaced by the throbbing headache that always came with this man’s presence. Just seeing him was exhausting.
“Yulia.”
“…”
“Meeting other men is out of the question — but especially not Lord Blair. Don’t ever get close to him.”
“…Why? Weren’t you two friends?”
They were still friends, weren’t they?
The rift between the villain and the male lead only began after they both fell for the heroine.
“Well… I wouldn’t say we’re not friends, but he’s not someone who’s good for you to be around.”
From my point of view, you’re the one who’s bad to be around, Mr. Villain.
“I’ve missed you, Yulia.”
That smile—why did he even smile like that? It suited him, yet didn’t.
A handsome man smiling like that should have been a sight to behold, but remembering who he really was sent chills down my spine.
Because I knew that same smiling face could just as easily harm me.
“Did you enjoy your trip?”
“…It was nice.”
It had been so peaceful, so happy, that I hadn’t needed to think about anything at all.
I hadn’t remembered a single worry. But now, with all the worries I’d forgotten starting to surface again, it felt like reality had come crashing back.
Even if the story had deviated from the original, there was no guarantee the ending would change.
The ending where the heroine and hero end up together — that would stay the same.
But what about my ending? Would I still die? That uncertainty terrified me.
“Is that so? I’m glad to hear it. So, what did you like the most?”
“…Pardon?”
“I thought you enjoyed going out and about.”
“I… I don’t know.”
“Then let’s travel again after we marry. Or even before, if you’d prefer.”
“I’d rather travel alone…”
I liked trips where no one could interfere — just me, by myself, enjoying the world quietly.
If I went with the villain, who knew what might happen? How could I possibly relax?
“And… getting married right away feels a bit much…”
I cautiously glanced at him. If I actually signed the marriage papers, there’d be no turning back.
And it wasn’t as if he loved me — all the sweet words he’d said before were nothing but pretense.
“Um… let’s just get engaged first. You might change your mind later.”
“Yulia.”
“Yes?”
Was he about to refuse? My fingertips trembled in nervousness.
I hurried to add,
“It’s just that, once I marry, I won’t have much time to see my father or brother…”
“…”
“So… until then, I’d like to have more time with them. If I can…”
I wasn’t sure if he’d believe me, but it wasn’t a lie.
I did want to be with my family — for as long as I could.
He smiled faintly.
“If that’s what you wish, then so be it. But my feelings won’t change.”
“…Really?”
“Well, I didn’t say I wouldn’t marry you.”
“…”
“If we’re engaged, we can postpone the wedding as long as we like. The ceremony should be grand — something worthy of history, don’t you think?”
“…I’ll talk it over with my father.”
“All right.”
I rolled my eyes away from him, pretending to study the passing scenery.
He kept staring at me so intently that it was uncomfortable — but I couldn’t exactly tell him to stop.
“Yulia.”
“…Yes?”
“Call me by my name.”
“Ah…”
“How long are you going to keep using stiff titles? If you’ve forgotten my name, I’ll remind you. From now on, call me Chester.”
“…”
“Yulia. Go on. You used to say it just fine.”
I stayed silent. I didn’t have the courage to meet his eyes.
“At this point, pretending you can’t say my name feels a bit late, doesn’t it? From now on, every time you don’t call me by name… I’ll kiss you.”
“…Chester.”
I fixed my gaze firmly on the scenery outside the carriage window and reluctantly whispered his name.
Why did my face feel so hot just from saying his name?
I forced my tone to stay calm, detached. “There. Happy now?”
“Keep calling me that from now on, Yulia.”
“…”
“Won’t you at least look at me? I’ve missed seeing your face.”
“Don’t say things you don’t mean.”
Because I already knew — it was all an act. I didn’t know what he wanted from me, but none of it was genuine.
“I thought of you constantly, even on the battlefield, Yulia.”
“I know a sugarcoated lie when I hear one.”
“…Excuse me?”
“The things you said — that you loved me. They were all lies, weren’t they?”
“…Did you really… think they were lies? All this time?”
“I think they could’ve been. I never really expected anything anyway.”
Though truthfully, I had been shaken.
By the way he’d acted — as if he truly meant it.
No matter how many times I thought about it, I couldn’t believe I’d actually fallen for it, even for a moment.
But those lies had been so convincing that anyone — not just me — would’ve wavered.
“…I don’t intend to break our promise. I’ll marry you, as we agreed. But I want to extend the engagement period.”
“…Yulia. Who told you that? That my words — that my saying I loved you — were lies?”
“…”
I stared blankly out the window. The familiar scenery told me we’d reach the palace soon.
“Was it Idrian?”
Why was the male lead’s name suddenly coming up?
Well, I had overheard it secretly — there was no way he could know that.
“You said it yourself, Chester.”
“…”
“You were the one who said it — that you weren’t the kind of man capable of love.”
I wanted to see how he would respond.
What kind of look he had in his eyes.
But I couldn’t bring myself to check — I was too afraid.
“Yulia, you’re misunderstanding.”
“Of course you’d say that. Everyone says no, you’re wrong.”
“…At least believe this — my love for you is real.”
Such an obvious lie.
Someone who could say that to his friend’s face wasn’t someone capable of love.
And hearing it now didn’t make it any more believable.
Was this lie supposed to convince me?
If he’d at least come up with a better excuse, I might have believed it.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Yulia.”
The metallic tang in the air had grown stronger.
The scent of blood, faintly mixing with soap.
I didn’t have any wounds that would bleed.
And since there were only two of us in the carriage, that left only one possibility — him.
I slowly turned from the window to look at him.
There’s no way he’s injured… right?
“…Did you happen to kill someone before coming here?”
That sharp, iron scent tickling my nose — it was definitely blood.
He shook his head slowly. “No.”
Well, his clothes were spotless — too clean for someone who’d just killed.
If he had, he must’ve cleaned himself up afterward.
So the smell should’ve been only soap… but the fact that blood lingered too—
It really didn’t suit him at all, but I had to ask.
Because he’d only been using his right hand this whole time.
“…Are you hurt?”
My eyes drifted toward his left arm.
