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Chapter 25
At those words, my heart plummeted.
Maybe, deep down, I’d wanted to dismiss what I’d heard as a misunderstanding.
But in the end, I had been right.
Or rather—
the original story hadn’t been wrong.
The conclusion that Chester had never once loved me… was correct.
The original was right.
Then does that mean the ending for my family and me—death—still won’t change?
“…Is that… true?”
So it was true—his obsession with the heroine, just like the story had said.
Perhaps he hadn’t acted that way yet only because the time hadn’t come.
I already knew all this, so why did I feel so hollow now?
Why did it still feel like a shock—when it shouldn’t have?
It shouldn’t have been shocking. It shouldn’t have hurt.
But my head throbbed.
Why was I in pain—over mere words?
“Yulia.”
His gentle voice calling my name brought me back to myself.
It was a kind and tender tone—almost as gentle as when he’d told me he didn’t love me.
And at the same time, terribly serious.
“I said those words back then because that’s truly what I thought at the time.”
“……”
“But now… I do love you.”
“How can you be sure? Are you lying to me again?”
He shook his head slowly.
It meant he wasn’t lying.
Normally, I would’ve thought it was just another act.
But right now, he seemed… sincerely earnest.
So I decided to hear him out.
I’d listen to everything first—then decide.
“While I was on the battlefield, I thought about many things.
And all of those thoughts were about you, Yulia.”
“……”
“When you weren’t by my side, I felt empty.
When I couldn’t see you, I wanted to.
Not being able to see you frustrated me.”
He was nothing like the man described in the original story.
Or perhaps… this was exactly how he’d acted toward the heroine in that story.
Like when everyone still thought he was just a sub–male lead, before he was revealed as the villain.
Did the heroine feel like this too?
“And someone told me this feeling is called love.”
“…Who told you that?”
I couldn’t imagine who could’ve told him something like that.
It couldn’t have been the main male lead—I’d seen how the two of them were before coming to the capital.
And Chester didn’t have any friends besides him.
“The butler said so.”
“……”
“He said love is when you feel lonely without someone,
when you want to see them if you can’t,
and when you see their back, you feel like embracing them.”
He smiled softly—disarmingly harmless.
“And above all, the fact that you’re the beginning and end of my gaze…
there’s nothing more certain than that.”
I lost my words. My eyes wavered uncontrollably.
“If that’s true, then it means I’ve loved you from the very first moment I saw you.”
“…Really?”
“Yes. Really. And I mean it, Yulia.”
I blinked rapidly, too startled to hide it.
“Of everything I’ve said today—none of it is a lie.”
“…Truly?”
At my question, Chester let out a small laugh.
It was a smile that felt both like a devil’s temptation and a kind man’s warmth.
He took a lock of my hair in his hand and pressed his lips to it.
“Yulia. I have no intention of letting you go.”
“……”
“I won’t force you to accept me.
Just… don’t push me away.”
I couldn’t answer him.
I couldn’t even think of what to say right now.
This was the first time I’d ever felt like this—
and because it was all so new, no words would come.
So, barely, I whispered his name.
“…Chester.”
“Yes?”
“Do you really… love me?”
“Yes.”
“Really? Truly, truly… really love me?”
It was hard to believe.
That he, of all people—the story’s villain—was saying this to me.
And these were words that had never once appeared in the original.
“Do you truly… love me with all your heart?”
“If I don’t love you, then who else could I possibly love?”
“…You mean, it’s me? Just me, Yulia?”
“Yes. Just you.
Do I look like the kind of man who could love anyone else?”
“…You really love me?”
I stared at him.
It was the first time his eyes had ever looked so serious.
It felt strange—and yet, it made me happy.
Because it wasn’t pity, nor sympathy.
It was real love. And that alone was comforting.
Something in me wanted to make sure.
So I leaned forward—until my face was right in front of his.
I looked straight into his eyes, searching—
to see if he was lying, or if he truly meant it.
“Do you love me… emotionally?”
“…Yulia. You’re too close.”
“Answer me.”
“I love you emotionally.”
His eyes didn’t seem to lie.
They were filled with sincerity—so much that I could feel it.
I wasn’t believing him because I wanted to.
I was certain—he really meant it.
And finally, I could smile.
“Yulia.”
“Yes?”
“Only smile like that in front of me.
Don’t ever show such a pretty smile to anyone else.”
“…Not even my father and brother?”
“Let’s say… to no men outside your family.”
“…But from my point of view, you’re still technically not family.”
“I’m the exception.
We’re about to be engaged, and then married.”
“That’s true, but…”
“Yulia. Shall we move the wedding up sooner?”
His words snapped me back to reality.
Even if his love was genuine, marriage needed to be approached carefully.
Things were already straying far from the original,
but he still hadn’t met the heroine yet.
And besides, there was another reason.
“…Two years. Let’s marry after two years.”
“If that’s what you wish.”
“I just… want to spend more time with my family.”
Because I still couldn’t let them go.
My family was precious to me—
people I didn’t want to part from, who made me want to be loved.
And for now, they came first.
“…Is that all right?”
“Yes. I completely understand.
You’d want to stay with them as long as possible.”
Chester had lost both his parents when he was young.
If he hadn’t been the villain, he would’ve been a tragic character.
But right now, he wasn’t a villain. Not yet—not even a sub–male lead.
Even without any reason, I simply wanted to do this—
to hold him. Just because I wanted to.
“…Yulia?”
I wrapped my arms around him.
He seemed startled at first, then quietly returned the embrace.
And that alone made me feel safe.
The sound of his heartbeat in my ear soothed me.
Though… something about the position was a little uncomfortable.
“Chester.”
“Yes?”
“Was it only your left arm that got injured? Your legs are fine?”
“Yes. You don’t have to worry—”
Before he could finish, I quickly sat on his lap.
“Ah—Yulia?”
“…You don’t like it?”
“It’s not that I dislike it.”
“Then is it not allowed?”
Was it not okay? I stared up at him from his lap, uncertain.
Or maybe—
“…Am I too heavy?”
“It’s not that you’re heavy.”
“Then why?”
It wasn’t that he disliked it, nor that it wasn’t allowed, nor that I was heavy—
so what was it?
And why was his face turning red?
“It’s just… I actually do like this,
but right now, it’s a little… hard to control.”
He raised his right hand to my cheek, his eyes filled with warmth.
Then he stroked my face gently.
His touch was… so kind. So tender.
“Yulia. Should I come to you, or will you come to me?”
“…You’re hurt. I’ll come tomorrow.”
“Then… shall we go out tomorrow?
There’s a place I’d like to show you.”
“Where?”
He chuckled softly.
How could a person smile so alluringly?
He was like a devil born to tempt.
“It’s a bit far.”
“…How far?”
“Far enough that you can have lunch with your father first.”
“How long will it take?”
“Hmm… let’s see. I’m not exactly sure myself.”
“How can you not know that?!”
He kissed my cheek lightly.
“Yulia. Just remember this—
you are the beginning and end of everything for me.”
“……”
“And that I love you very, very much… Yulia.”
It was an uncharacteristically sweet confession—too sweet for Chester.
“I was going to just leave quietly,
but I don’t think I can anymore.”
“Why not?”
“Because you’re so beautiful, I feel like I could devour you.”
Though I had been sitting on his lap,
suddenly, my back was against the bed.
Surely my shock wasn’t showing on my face, was it?
My heart pounded nervously.
Even my voice trembled when I spoke.
“Chester…?”
When I said his name, he smiled languidly—
and then, in an instant, captured my lips.
His hand cupped my cheek gently,
his touch brimming with affection, and I closed my eyes.
Like a man dying of thirst,
he parted my lips, his tongue exploring relentlessly.
When our lips finally broke apart, I gasped softly.
“Haa…”
Our eyes met—his crimson gaze locked on mine.
Before I could even breathe in the cool air that entered my mouth,
his lips found mine again.
His tongue slipped between my lips, tangling softly with mine.
But when his hand slipped beneath my dress,
I came to my senses and hurriedly stopped him.
“Chester! We…”
“Yulia?”
“…Until we’re married, we only kiss.”
