How a Villain Defies Destiny Chapter 11

 

“So I guess you don’t need a break with this.”

 

“What?”

 

“From now on, whenever you feel tired or exhausted, I will heal you with my divine power.”

 

It wasn’t physical fatigue I wanted to rest, it was mental!

 

‘No. But did he do this because he thought of me in his way?’

 

Given his demeanor up until this point, he seemed pretty averse to touching Laura, and yet he imbued it with his divine power.

 

In any case, it must indicate a closer relationship between us.

 

As I was thinking about it, I realized that I had also been touched by Yves’ hand and had not resisted.

 

Laura would have vehemently rejected it.

 

‘Well, Yves doesn’t seem to mind, and besides, I’ve shown him my true colors many times, so I guess it’s okay.’

 

This time, perhaps, Yves would consider her to be a remorseful, reflective, reformed Laura Laurus.

 

The sound of a wake-up call brought me back to reality, and before I knew it, his hand had already been withdrawn.

 

“I think that’s enough for today.”

 

“Yes!”

 

“Is it that good?”

 

Why does he ask when he knows everything?

 

Instead of answering Yves’s question, I smirked and stood up.

 

To see him off.

 

But he stayed in his seat.

 

Normally, he would have walked out without looking back.

 

‘What’s he doing sitting there?’

 

I asked Yves in a curious voice, noticing that he had stayed in his seat even though the class was over.

 

“Do you have something to say?”

 

Then Yves’s face grew more ethereal.

 

Somewhat offended, but also somewhat defeated, as if he had lost energy.

 

It was an odd expression that was hard to describe.

 

“…You seem to lack the self-awareness of a saint.”

 

“Ah…”

 

I almost retorted that I didn’t need to be a saint because there was already another saint.

 

I swallowed my words with heroic patience, but Yves was unfazed.

 

“You show too much emotion on your face. After you are officially recognized as a saint, you will have to stand in front of many people, and it will be a great weakness if you can’t get rid of that habit.”

 

The whole premise was wrong, but the truth was yet to be revealed. 

 

Perhaps he realized that it did not contain a soul. 

 

Therefore, there was only one answer I could give, “I’ll fix it.”

 

At this answer, Yves did not seem pleased.

 

But when I persisted, Yves recognized that I was talking out of thin air, so he brought up a different topic.

 

“Do you remember the first time you met me at the inauguration party?”

 

Of course.

 

I remember seeing the back of Yves’s bare hand.

 

But there was one thing in that sentence that needed to be corrected.

 

“Ah, but the first time I saw the Count was last year.” 

 

“…Last year?”

 

Poor Laura. She had been chasing him for a year, and Yves hadn’t even recognized her until she threatened him.

 

‘There are so many aristocratic young ladies after Yves, it’s no wonder he didn’t recognize her.’

 

Understanding his predicament, I spoke casually.

 

“Yes. I first met the Count at a party the royal family hosted last year.”

 

“I see.”

 

He stroked his chin with his index finger as if he was rummaging through his memory.

 

‘Yves’ beauty is maddening.’

 

For a moment I was too frightened to recognize it, but Yves’s features seemed especially radiant today.

 

Just another day in their lives, but it feels like a masterpiece of the century, painted by a painter who would go down in history!

 

I used to think it was strange that Laura could be so close to someone who could stare at her like he was going to kill her, no matter how beautiful he might be. 

 

But once I got over my fear, I could understand it.

 

‘Yes, I too marveled at Yves’ beauty, even as I felt unexpected pain on the first day of my possession.’

 

As I recalled the events of my past, blurred by the regression, I suddenly wondered about the intent of the question.

 

“Why is that suddenly…”

 

“Who was your partner at the foundation party?”

 

But my voice overlapped with Yves’, and I had to think about my question before I could finish.

 

‘Did Laura have a partner?’

 

I could see Laura’s memories, but the opposite was true, what Laura couldn’t have remembered, I wouldn’t know either.

 

‘I can’t think of anyone in particular.’

 

It would have been embarrassing to attend the party alone, but it’s possible that Laura, without a friend or fiancé, would have gone alone.

 

“I’m not sure because I tend to forget things that aren’t important, but I think I went alone.”

 

When I excused myself by saying that I wasn’t sure, he stared off into space again, seemingly lost in thought.

 

Unnecessarily annoyed by his stiff reaction, I asked with a questioning glance.

 

“Is there something wrong?”

 

“No, I’m heading back.”

 

For a moment, I thought something was off today, but it was business as usual: him saying what he had to say and leaving.

 

‘Maybe he just wanted to make small talk?’

 

Alone in the room after he left, I replayed the conversation from earlier and still couldn’t figure out what he meant by asking that question.

 

💫

 

Today, I was struggling immensely.

 

‘If I’m going to regress again, I’m going to have to decline the stipulation that I have to learn divine power.’

 

Of course, it’s best if I don’t regress, so I’d like to improve my relationship with Yves and attend Oannes’s party this time around.

 

But who knows what’s going to happen with that…

 

“You’re distracted.”

 

Oh my gosh, those eyes were haunting.

 

‘Or maybe he’s a mind reader.’

 

It wasn’t in the game, but I didn’t know if Yves could read other people’s thoughts.

 

Before I could finish the threadbare delusion, Yves clicked his tongue.

 

“Why don’t you just wear a mask instead?”

 

“Yes, I think I’ll wear a mask next time I’m in the Count’s presence.”

 

Seeing each other daily had dissipated much of the tension between us.

 

‘So much for the halfway to the beginning.’

 

After what seemed to be a difficult relationship, things were moving in a good direction.

 

Yves seemed to be used to my nudges, and it felt natural.

 

“Well, it’s getting late already, so let’s call it a day.” 

 

For a few days now, Yves had been spending more time in the room after class.

 

It’s hard to call it a conversation, just a few short questions.

 

‘So, it’s only a matter of time…’ 

 

As Yves sat there doing nothing, I was suddenly reminded that the long-awaited D-Day was just around the corner.

 

The beginning of the game, and the day Selene makes her social debut.

 

“Why are you hiding it?”

 

“What?”

 

Yves’s impeccably timed question caught me off guard.

 

‘What, did you notice something?’

 

I asked, darting my gaze away to hide the wobbly pupils that were obvious enough without checking the mirror.

 

“Can you tell me exactly what you’re talking about?”

 

“That you’re a saint.”

 

I was relieved by his next words.

 

For a moment, I thought he’d realized I wasn’t Laura.

 

Of course. Even if he suspected that I’d changed my personality, the idea of a soul change wouldn’t occur to a normal person.

 

There’s no way to verify it.

 

‘I’m embarrassed that I made a spectacle of myself when a petty thief stabbed my foot.’

 

I responded sheepishly with a modest smile.

 

“There’s no particular reason for it, but I just feel like I’m not a saint, and surely there’s got to be someone better and more powerful than me?”

 

“There are already plenty of people who are greater and more amazing than you.” 

 

Suddenly, Yves struck a bone.

 

‘You’re so right, I can’t even argue with you.’

 

I was caught off guard, but I had no defense.

 

“But you’re the only one with a divine pattern, and I don’t think you need to hide your abilities, whatever they may be.”

 

Oh, how he sounded like a priest.

 

‘Oh, no, not that.’

 

I was surprised. More than anyone, I expected the last thing he’d ever admit was that Laura was a saint.

 

It’s like giving me a bottle and giving me medicine, which doesn’t make me feel all that good.

 

“I don’t want to be recognized as a saint.”

 

The answer was unexpected, and for the first time, Yves’s face showed emotion that I could fully read.

 

A slightly raised eyebrow, eyes larger than usual, mouth slightly gaping.

 

‘You look so freaked out.’

 

I let out a small giggle at Yves’s intense reaction, and his face crumpled in an instant.

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

Intimidated by the fierce look in his eyes, I quickly wiped the smile off my face and apologized.

 

The crease between Yves’s brows deepened, but the silver eyes that had been staring at me shifted to the table.

 

‘Phew, I survived.’

 

As I breathed a sigh of relief, the man who had never touched a thing since coming to Baron Laurus suddenly placed a teacup on the table.

 

The shock didn’t end there.

 

Without a moment’s hesitation, he gulped down the liquid in the cup.

 

‘This is ridiculous. Yves drinks the tea!’

 

The game’s Yves Leblanc never took food from anyone else’s plate.

 

This was because Yves Leblanc was beautiful from a young age, popular wherever he went, and, like Laura, he was constantly plagued by a maniacal stalker.

 

Love drives a person to do crazy things, including spiking Yves’s food with potions.

 

And not just once or twice.

 

Most of the time it was an attempt, but a couple of times he took the substance himself, the game explained.

 

‘Of course, they all got what they deserved for having poisoned the royalty.’

 

As a result, he was traumatized by food given to him by others.

 

“Why?”

 

Oops.

 

Another mistake.

 

Deciding that I couldn’t hide the shocked look on my face, I briefly racked my brain to come up with an excuse that would be acceptable.