How a Villain Defies Destiny Chapter 10

 

‘If I were to tell them that another saint with Nanna’s mark would appear after this week, he would never believe me.’

 

Realizing that no matter what I said, my words would fall on deaf ears, I quickly gave up trying to convince him and turned the conversation around.

 

“Or how about we renew it on the condition that you don’t tell anyone that the divine pattern appears?”

 

“I’ll refuse, I’m a paladin, and it’s my responsibility to inform the temple of a saint’s appearance.”

 

“Then give me a month, at least.”

 

“…”

 

“If no other saint appears in the meantime, we will publicize it.”

 

The silver eyes that met mine didn’t have the same intense rejection as before, but they looked confused, as if a very complex mix of emotions.

 

I’m not a perceptive person, so I couldn’t discern what exactly those emotions were, but it was clear that he had a lot to tell me.

 

Judging by the constant pursing of his lips.

 

With a sudden, deep sigh, Yves spoke, sounding somewhat defeated.

 

“For now, let’s say I will teach you about divine power in exchange for confidentiality. Do you have a new contract we can write?”

 

“Ah, a contract…”

 

There are two kinds of contracts in this world.

 

One written on a plain piece of paper with a witness and the signature of the contracting party.

 

This type of contract was usually recognized as an official document and could be legally enforced.

 

The second kind of contract involves the signatures of the contracting parties, without witnesses, on a piece of paper that has been authenticated by a temple.

 

‘It’s the perfect item to describe this world.’

 

A temple authentication contract was enforced immediately after signing, and the moment a party broke it, no matter when, where, or who was watching, they would be punished.

 

It was proof that the gods could wield great power in the human world.

 

Although the process of acquiring one was cumbersome and the price was higher than most luxuries, it did not need to be submitted to a temple or informed by a priest. 

 

So it was used covertly among nobles who, like Laura and Yves, needed to enter into a contract in secret, without revealing its contents to a third party.

 

‘I don’t think there were any spares in Laura’s memory.’

 

As I slowly rewound the scene to recall her memories, I remembered a priest telling her that the contract was one per person.

 

This must have been when she visited the temple in person to purchase the contract.

 

Since she was the one who prepared the temple’s authentication contract when they first signed, there shouldn’t be any left.

 

“No.”

 

“Tsk.”

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

Yves’s brow furrowed even deeper as she reflexively apologized.

 

“Never mind, it’s not your fault, and don’t keep apologizing. It’s offensive.”

 

No. That was too much for someone who apologized.

 

I recoiled again, but I was afraid of the silver eyes staring back at me, so I averted the gaze and answered timidly.

 

“Yes.”

 

“We can talk about the contract tomorrow, and then…”

 

The question that sprang up in my head tumbled out of my mouth before it could filter through.

 

“You’re still coming tomorrow?” 

 

I clamped my hand over my mouth just in time, but the air was already turning cold.

 

“We can’t stay like this forever.”

 

“Right.”

 

I nodded vehemently in agreement as he spoke, each word as if it were a command, and thankfully, he didn’t argue further.

 

“I’m heading back now.”

 

And with that, he stormed off without the slightest hint of remorse.

 

💫

 

‘I’m so bored, I think I’m about to fall asleep if I get my mind off this for a second.’

 

Sitting on the couch in the sitting room, I closed my eyes and fought the drowsiness that was creeping in.

 

I had been meditatively focusing on my breathing for several mornings because I knew that to work with divine power, I had to feel it in my body.

 

『1. Laura Laurus never reveals Yves Leblanc’s secret.

 

In exchange, Yves Leblanc guarantees Laura Laurus’s life and grants her one request.

 

2. Yves LeBlanc will not reveal Laura Laurus’s secret to the Temple for a month.

 

In return, Laura Laurus will learn from Yves Leblanc how to use divine power.』

 

It was a new contract, rewritten after a dramatic compromise between us.

 

Between me wanting to somehow get a sentence in there that said Yves wouldn’t kill me, and Yves insisting on something other than the obvious clause that didn’t need to be written down.

 

And item two…

 

After I kept refusing because I was not interested in learning the divine power, Yves, whose ailment had caused me to have a stomach ache, made me promise to learn the divine power. 

 

In exchange for not telling the temple that I had a divine pattern for a month.

 

At the time, I thought, ‘If I wait this week, the heroine will appear, and if I learn divine power, I’ll be able to use it somewhere,’ but now I regretted it immensely.

 

‘I knew Yves was sincere, but I didn’t expect him to be so passionate about teaching!’

 

Dutiful, Yves visited Baron Laurus the next day, and the next, and every day after that.

 

To teach me about the Divine Power.

 

And today was no different.

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

Inside the sitting room.

 

A heavy silence fell between us.

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

All I could hear was my breathing.

 

I kept thinking in my head to keep from dozing off.

 

‘I shouldn’t be dozing… I’m breathing…’

 

As my consciousness faded, I heard Yves’s voice, ghostly aware of my condition.

 

“Lady Laurus, are you concentrating?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Then how come you’re not?”

 

“Because you are.”

 

I shouldn’t have glared at him like that.

 

‘You know, I’m trying to take this class seriously and work hard.’

 

I may have dozed off a bit, but I wasn’t trying to cheat.

 

Still, I couldn’t feel anything.

 

I wondered, ‘Is there really an effect at all?’

 

It was so frustrating that I began to question the fundamentals.

 

“I do have divine powers, don’t I?”

 

“Are you doubting me?”

 

“Of course not, haha.”

 

My expression must have given it away already, but I knew I’d only piss Yves off if I admitted it, so I quickly let out a dry laugh and averted his eyes.

 

‘That stings. It stings.’

 

I broke out in a cold sweat at his unseen stare, and when it became too much to bear, I asked him outright.

 

“I’ve been wondering, is it a habit of yours to stare at people?”

 

Yves’s eyebrows arched at the question.

 

‘Why, what, why, what are you going to do.’

 

Ever since there was a clause in the contract that guaranteed my life, I’ve occasionally gone on strike, like today.

 

Besides, it’s better to be blatant about it than to hide it vaguely when it’s all on my face. 

 

And Yves didn’t seem to mind my timid rebellion.

 

“Lady Laurus wears her emotions on her face, especially when something pricks her… or not.”

 

He was trying to drive me crazy.

 

“I’ve noticed it since last time, but I think it’s a very bad habit to stop talking in the middle of a sentence!”

 

“I’ll take note of that.”

 

For a moment, Yves winced and listened, but then answered soullessly.

 

‘No. I’ll tell you what I’ve been meaning to say!’

 

It bothered me that I couldn’t stop thinking about it before bed.

 

I pouted my lips and vented my frustration, and Yves, who was watching me, sighed softly.

 

“You seem to have lost your focus, so I’ll call it a day.”

 

At the same time, the nagging thought in my head stopped.

 

‘Finally, it’s over!’

 

I exclaimed, rising to my feet to see Yves off, feeling the relief of being free of a tedious class.

 

“I’ll come back tomorrow.”

 

“Can’t we take the rest of tomorrow or something?”

 

“Do you have any other appointments?”

 

There was nothing.

 

I could have laid around all day if I had to.

 

‘But as an introvert who expends energy every time I talk to a person, alone time is precious.’

 

I wanted to spend at least one day in my room without seeing anyone.

 

“I think I need a break.”

 

“I see. I hear what you’re saying, Lady Laurus, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

 

“No, wait…”

 

Finishing off my sentence, he picked up his pace and strode off, leaving me to stare in disbelief at the familiar back of his head.

 

💫

 

“Hold out your hands.”

 

“What?”

 

I asked, dumbfounded by the abruptness of his demand, but I held out my hands anyway.

 

“I’m going to channel divine power into Lady Laurus’ body, so remember to feel.”

 

Yves’s white-gloved hand clasped mine tightly.

 

My gaze lingered on the gloves he always wore to hide the curse.

 

‘I wonder if there are snake scales under these.’

 

It was only once, but Laura remembered seeing the back of Yves’s bare hand.

 

With intense disgust.

 

It made her realize that as much as she liked Yves, she hated being touched by him.

 

So much so that the day I first possessed Laura, she told him not to take off his gloves, even in bed.

 

Of course, I was the only one naked that day, and Yves rarely took off his clothes, so it was nothing out of the ordinary.

 

So it was only after I went back through Laura’s memories that I realized.

 

‘She looked pretty in the game’s CG, but in real life, she’s kind of creepy.’

 

While I was lost in my thoughts, a burst of white light came from his hand.

 

“Can you feel it?”

 

A warm, gentle aura.

 

“Is this divine power?”

 

“Yes.”

 

I was fascinated.

 

‘It’s similar to the infrared irradiator I used in physical therapy, but different.’

 

The warmth and energy flowed directly into my body, instantly relieving my fatigue.

 

“How does it feel?”

 

“Well, I feel warm, soft, and energized.”

 

“Well, if you use it on someone who isn’t sick, it can also help with fatigue.”

 

I had a moment of joy that I was right after all.

 

Then Yves stepped in through an unexpected opening.